#arch-arsonist

[monstersdownthepath]

Do the Outer Planes all border one another, or is there a planar geography that they're ascribed to? Like, let's say Demons from the Abyss wished to attack Heaven or Elysium. Could they go *directly* to the edges of those Planes to attack, or would they have to pass through a Neutral Plane like the Boneyard or the Maelstrom first?

-----

BOY OH BOY YOU'VE GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO BRING THIS BACK UP

(this isn't sarcasm, I genuinely enjoy this bit of lore)

I've mentioned before that all the planes of existence have only a rough idea of what "distance" and "direction" mean in regards to where they all are in relation to one another; my favorite canon Pathfinder fact regarding this is that every Elemental Plane borders every other Elemental Plane from multiple directions at once. The map from Rage of Elements was deeply enlightening, so I'll present it to you here:

(Rage of Elements, page 8)

All the planes are settled into the Malestrom like islands poking above the ocean's surface, anchored in place by their own self-sustaining stability, something that drives Proteans up the wall with anger. In a sense, they are exactly where they need to be, but the Maelstrom is constantly changing around them so no one set path will ever lead you from one plane to another.

The easiest way to answer your question exactly is that any plane wishing to invade another plane must pass through the Maelstrom, much like how an army wishing to invade somewhere that's across a body of water must cross that body of water, one way or another.

Such a thing is effectively unfeasible without some major resources being put into A) Protecting your invading forces from the ravages of the Maelstrom, B) Hiding such an enormous movement from your foes (or neutral onlookers who may warn them), and perhaps most importantly C) Navigating the Maelstrom. If you thought the Fey got weird and wild with petty ideas like "travel time" and "going towards your destination will eventually let you reach it," you have no idea how little the Proteans care for it.

Launching an invasion by crossing the Maelstrom is almost impossible. This is why most extraplanar invaders utilize either small strike teams (who can avoid drawing the Maelstrom's attention) or stable portals directly from one plane to another, letting them skip the need to travel the chaos entirely. If you want to invade territory that's across some impassable terrain, it's going to be more expensive and time-consuming but significantly easier to just build a bridge and drop it into place.

However, that in your example you mention the Abyss by name, and you may notice that the art for the Outer Rifts/Abyss contains an ominous little easter egg: It's got tentacles branching out and sticking into other planes. The Abyss can bypass traveling through the Maelstrom because it has tentacles that go around, outside the Outer Sphere, and snake back in, letting the demons and qlippoth slither their way into places like Elysium and Axis without anyone knowing how they got in, because how do you detect a secret tunnel that goes through a dimension you can't see or imagine?

The only plane the Rifts haven't crept into is the one that opposes it completely on the alignment axis, Heaven.

[cc-tinslebee]

currently experiencing JJK and Brooklyn 99 brainrot at the same so

JJK B99 au time baby

Welcome to the 66th precinct!

Gojo is the police precinct’s captain, and Nanami is the Sergeant overseeing them. They went to the police academy together :3

Shoko and Suguru also went to the academy with them. Shoko eventually decided she didn’t want to peruse it, and cheated her way through medical school. She’s a doctor at a nearby hospital. Suguru… they don’t like to talk about.

Yuji’s the Jake Peralta type, golden retriever, wanted to be a cop because of action movies, comes up with elaborate personas when he goes undercover

Megumi and Maki are both kinda Rosa Diaz. Steely badasses who have hidden soft spots that are volatile when touched

Nobara’s DEFINITELY Gina if she were a cop, judgmental and opinionated, but easily controls the room. She manages (bullies) other sectors

Yuuta and Maki as Jake and Amy <33 Maki makes up petty little competitions with him and he couldn’t be more in love (DETECTIVE MAKI OKKOTSU EVERYONE)

Panda 100% pulls a Charles Boyle and has a ten year matchmaking plan that pre-dates Yuuta joining the precinct by like. three years

Toge’s def still the precinct prankster, and always develops elaborate covers with Yuji :3

dunno where Kirara and Hakari are but they’re definitely floating around somewhere

(the idea of the Kyoto students being a different precinct is good but hear me out: they’re firefighters that they constantly beef with)

Junpei as Doug Judy‼️ except he’s a troubled young adult who keeps on crossing paths with Detective Yuji Itadori, who simultaneously tries to befriend Junpei while insisting that he’s his arch-nemesis

Choso as Pimento where he was undercover for so long that he low-key forgot how to be a normal person/detective

Jogo as a prolific serial arsonist, that is all

Mahito and Kenjaku are the worst of the criminals they’ve dealt with. Both prolific serial killers who enjoy maiming people a la Silence of the Lambs

Kenjaku is still Choso and Yuji’s mom/dad, and is a deadbeat with a bunch of kids all over like Papa Peralta

[stabbyfoxandrew]

ohh i missed last week and almost forgot it was wednesday😦 Could i have some arsonist neil🙏

WIP Wednesday (5/22)| Arsonist Neil / Firefighter Andrew AU (Part 177)

Andrew is almost done with his brownie mess by the time his phone goes off again. He scrapes the bowl and licks his spoon clean before shoving the bowl onto the coffee table. Then he picks up his phone and all the air leaves his lungs. Breathtaking, he thinks. Literally breathtaking. 

The only time Andrew ever met 10 in the daylight, he’d had his hood up. With light on his eyes, they’re even brighter. Somehow even bluer. The scars are a bit better and a bit worse than Andrew has been remembering them, deeper maybe. But they don’t really take away from his cheekbones and jawline, they’re just... embellishments. 

Andrew zooms in for a moment, trying to determine how the scar under his eye got there. He’s never asked about 10’s scars before. Mainly because if someone asked Andrew about his own he’d cut their tongue out. Plus, it’s goddamn rude. Andrew zooms back out to the full photo and begins analyzing everything about it.

From this photo alone, Andrew can tell 10 doesn’t take many photos of himself. From the awkward smile on his face to the deer-in-headlights look in his eyes, which has been there every time they’ve met face to face, to the rigid way he’s standing straight as a rod. Andrew could send the idiot a compliment, but he doesn’t think 10 needs one. 

Andrew You didn’t have to send me a mugshot. A casual photo would have sufficed. 10 Fuck you. I did my best. Where’s yours?

Andrew takes a quick selfie and inspects it, making sure he looks alright. As he checks it over he notes that he looks sort of different. He’s not sure why that is until he realizes he’s used to seeing his brother’s piercing-less face. And the circles under his eyes are lighter than usual. How nice.

After he sends the picture, he goes to set his bowl in the sink and comes back. Before he sits down, he peers out the window to see that the rain has stopped. And that there’s a rainbow arching over the building next door. It’s sort of faint, but it still counts. So he snaps a picture of it and goes to send it to Renee. But his finger slips and he forwards it to 10 instead. 

“Oops.” Andrew hits undo but it’s too late. So he just shrugs and selects Renee’s name to send it to her as well.

[hypernova-writes]

KinkTober Day 12

[Sensory Play - Pyro]

[Pyro noticed you were stressed, so they wanted to help you relax]

“So…let me get this straight Py..” You say as you allowed the arsonist to place a blind fold over your eyes, you only were wearing a robe and the two of your were in your room.

“This wax..you’re about to pour on me..it going to feel nice?..”

Pyro hums in response, they made sure your eyes were covered. You feel them tap you in your side, signaling for you to get up on your bed. They lay you back on your bed as they slowly pulls your robe open.

Pyro happily makes a sound you couldn't tell, but you could suddenly feel their hands caressed your body, massaging your breasts and trailing down your body with some type of oil down your body.

You gasp as Pyro ran a flame across your body, seemingly just to get you adjusted to this.

You then hear them make a noise of confirmation. You responded with a small nod.

Pyro grabbed the warm candle wax before gently pouring it across your stomach with one hand, while their other trailed down to your cunt. You gasp as the hot wax hits your body, you whimper put as Pyro decides that's the perfect time to slip their gloves fingers in.

You were bound, at your Lovers mercy as they tease your body with the warm wax, pulling it off before pouring fresh wax onto you, it seemed like they were drawing a heart on your stomach as they pumped their fingers in.

You arched your back, feeling them curl their fingers that had your vision going blurry and you could’ve sworn you were seeing stars. “O-oh fuck..baby..n-Ngh..” You stuttered out as you squirmed underneath them. You could hear them make a soft sound that you assumed was a groan or a moan as they picked up the speed. You whined as you bucked your hips, you squirm and toss, the warm oil and wax on your skin only raising your pleasure to a point you’d never imagined.

“P-Pyro! I-i..” You couldn’t even get your words together as you came crashing down from your high, They caress your thighs as they remove their fingers.

You giggle breathlessly as they pull their blindfold from your face before nuzzling their face mask against your face. “Mhm..I-I’m okay Pyro..”

You watch them as they decide to peel the wax from your body, making sure to be careful. They then pull a warm blanket out for you, covering you with it. The made a motion, that you knew meant. “Rest please! I’ll be right back.”

You give your lover a kiss against their mask, and you could hear the giddy sound they let out before they head out the room, probably going to get more stuff to help you relax and stuffed animals so that you could cuddle and go to bed together.

[omegaremix]

Omega Radio for July 19 & July 20, 2014; #56.

Wu-Tang Clan “Can It Be So Simple”

Public Enemy “Tie Goes To The Runner”

A Tribe Called Quest “Lyrics To Go”

Wu-Tang Clan “Da Mystery Of Chessboxing”

Black Moon “Crooklyn”

Gang Starr “Take It Personal”

Organized Konfusion f. O.C. “You Won’t Go Far”

Boogiemonsters “R.T.N.S. (Recognized Thresholds Of Negative Stress)”

Bushwackass “Ruff, Rugged, And Raw”

Jeru Tha Damaja “Mental Stamina”

AZ “Rather Unique”

Notorious B.I.G. “Unbelievable”

Group Home “Suspended In Time”

Funkdoobiest “Doobie In The Head”

Q-Ball & Kurt Kazal “Makin’ Moves (Bass Radio VER)”

Smooth Da Hustler “Broken Language”

Mic Geronimo “Shit’s Real”

Half A Mil “Another Homicide Scene”

Kool Keith (as Dr. Octagon) “Blue Flowers”

All City “Move On You” (RMX)

Reflection Eternal f. Gil-Scott Heron “The Blast”

Big L “Holdin’ It Down”

GZA f. DJ Muggs “When The Fat Lady Sings”

Bad Seed “For The Kids”

Deltron 3030 “Virus”

Hieroglyphics “Oakland Blackouts”

Smut Peddlers “One By One” (demo)

Kool G Rap & RZA “Cakes”

Slum Villlage “Raise It Up”

KRS-One “Underground”

Nas f. Large Professor “Stay Chiseled”

Peanut Butter Wolf “Dopestyle”

Company Flow “8 Steps To Perfection”

Yak Ballz “Nasty Or Nice”

Arsonists “Flashback”

Chi-N.Y. Network “Keep The Fame”

Dalek “Trampled Brethen”

Rubberoom “Evil Arch Angels”

Murs “H-U-S-T-L-E”

Company Flow “Collude / Interlude”

Cannibal Ox f. Vast Aire “Atom”

Smut Peddlers “Smut Control”

MF Grimm f. Kool G Rap & Akinyele “AIDS”

Cage f. Jello Biafra “Grand Ol’ Party Crash”

King Gheedorah “Take Me To Your Leader (Fazers)”

Madlib as Quasimoto “Return Of The Loop Digga”

MF Grimm f. MF Doom “Foolish”

Vast Aire “Cholesterol”

Madvillain “America’s Most Blunted”

MF Doom & MF Grimm “Tick Tock pt. 2”

King Gheedorah “G-Force pt. 2”

Molemen “Put Your Quarter Up”

R.A. The Rugged Man “On The Block”

CX Kidtronik “Wild Kingdom”

Jonwayne “404 Garbage”

Matches Malone / PIllsbury “It’s Like That”

Tragedy Khadafi “Best Of Both Worlds”

Diverse “Ain’t Right” (DJ Mitsu RMX)

Immortal Technique “Harlem Streets”

Tech N9ne “Who Do I Catch”

Action Bronson “Savage From Sarasota”

Jonwayne “The Come Up”

Skeme Team & Brooklyn Academy “Con Artists”

Serengeti “Directions”

DC The Midi Alien f. Vinnie Paz “Man-Made Ways”

Bonus Omega; overnight golden-era and backpacker hip-hop / rap.

[cranberrymoons]

all you have is your fire

prompt: monsterfucking (kinktober), "arsonist's lullaby" by hozier tags: demon eddie, monsterfucker steve? rated m notes: a sort of loose interpretation of today's @eddiemonth prompt but i was looking at kinktober and listening to the song and i think if you get it, you get it... you know? it's a Vibe thing more than anything. anyway this is out of my usual style! i hope you like it 🔥🦇

—

The tail slithers around him, the wings holding him close, and Steve gasps, breath and hands and lips trembling as he’s drawn further in.

“There’s no need to be scared, honey,” the thing says, smooth as silk as sharp-nailed fingers skim down the hot column of his spine. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The hand reaches the crest of the small of his back, and Steve gasps, short and sharp. The fingers crawl lower, the press of lips at his throat and the threat of razor-sharp teeth grazing his skin, and Steve feels it shiver through him like an electric current.

“Who are you?” His voice comes out as a barest whisper, shaking. “Wh – what are you?”

It laughs, a low and rumbling purr that rattles its way through Steve’s bones. The hand ghosts lower still, and the tail tightens its hold around his waist to tug him even closer until his hips are pressed tight against other hips.

“Very good,” it says, amusement curling through its voice. “My smart little thing, asking the right questions already.”

The wings wrap around him, blocking out the rest of the room until all Steve can see is the face in front of him, the eyes and the lips and the teeth and cheeks dotted with pricks of starlight. It scans over him eagerly, hungrily, and its other hand pushes back through his hair, moving it away from his face. Steve feels his breath rattle again, and it hushes him as if it’s soothing a small child, then it bends forward, and Steve’s eyes flutter shut in spite of himself as he feels its tongue lick over his lips and into his mouth. 

Claiming him. 

Possessing him.

“You can call me Eddie,” it says quietly. “And I don’t want you to worry your pretty little head about what I am.” 

The fangs flash, just enough to bring a bead of blood to Steve’s lower lip. Eddie’s tongue darts out to lick it away as Steve feels something skate over his shoulders and down his back, and he arches toward him, gasping, hips stuttering.

“All that matters is that you’re mine.”

[also on ao3] (same length on ao3)

[calcitedraws]

if Mc was food poisoned by the golden arches or a brand of frozen food,

Whos getting an arsonist degree or law to enact justice ⚖️?

Unless the food poisoning was a directed attack, neither August or Fen will be committing arson. But hypothetically, what would they do if someone actually attacked you? It mostly depends on the severity.

But, Fen would mostly be worried about making sure you make it through your sickness. Keeping you hydrated and as comfortable as you can be in this situation is what Fen funnels their nervous energy into. I think Fen has a really good chicken noodle soup in their little binder of family recipes.

August does something similar except he can't cook so it's canned soup for you.

[mara-xx217]

Ayo I love the way you write the DBD stuff! May I request something NSFW with Blight and a Female Reader, where he's being gentle, and has that sweet 'n fluffy jazz going on if, pretty please?

Woah! This might be the first ask I've gotten for the Blight! Awesome! Love my goopy boy lol

Warnings: Fluff and Smut, Wet Kisses, Handjobs, Oral, Gentle-ish Sex

The sounds he made were more like those a wounded, sick animal would make but you didn't really mind so much anymore. You were now able to decipher the noises Talbot would make. A scoff of indifference, a gurgle of glee, a shudder of pleasure...

There wasn't much of a mouth to kiss, at least in the traditional sense. It was always wet, not that he could help it much, but really how could you possibly complain? It was sloppy and overflowing with saliva that was laced with that bright orange serum that runs through his entire body but it was also intoxicating and sent a thrill down your spine as it dripped down your chin and ran down your neck....

You leaned over Talbot's lap and fiddled with his belt as his hand smoothed down the length of your spine. He all but purred as you freed his cock, taking its hard length into your hand and giving it a slow stroke as you pressed your lips to the tip of its head. Pale, orangish precum was already leaking from its tip and it along with your spit helped lubricate his member as you took it into your mouth.

The way he stroked your back and pulled your hair out of your face while making sure to not pull it too tightly made you feel a little warm and fuzzy on the inside. Talbot was gentle- far more gentle than you ever expected him to be- not only for his role as a killer but merely in general. He didn't treat you like glass though. It was more like you were something to be treasured but not put out of reach. Something important to him, to his daily life, not merely to be used but to be enjoyed as well... It was so... So...

You arched your back a little as you felt one of his clawed hands slip underneath your underwear. Talbot wasn't shy about feeling you up, especially in moments like this, where you were already taking him into your mouth and more fun was in the foreseeable future. Not that you minded. You leaned forward even more, giving him better access to your lower half, something that had him growling as you bobbed your head up and down his cock while sucking harshly.

His fingers found you wetness and didn't hesitate to explore your core. Your eyes fluttered shut and you hummed softly as he pressed inside of you. Already, even you were this wet... You didn't want to wait long, Talbot could tell from how well you took his fingers and how much of him you took into your mouth at a time.

He couldn't wait much longer either, so the feeling was mutual...

The pace always started out slow. Talbot wanted to enjoy every moment as he teased his way inside of you. You're so wet and warm and soft... He can never keep himself still long enough for him to truly enjoy it though... Talbot's hips have a mind of their own accord and they show no mercy as he sinks all the up to the hilt inside of you.

"O-Ooohh-! T-Talbot-!~"

You couldn't say much else as he began to fuck you with enough ferocity to leave you breathless and stunned silent. All you could really do was hold on for dear life as Talbot fucked you senseless over and over again.

His sharp nails always bit into your skin but he never broke through your skin. He made you feel so good... Every moment, every movement, was pure and utter bliss...

You're always left breathless and trembling underneath him. Filled, overflowing and spilling out at every thrust of his hips. Your face wet with saliva and tears- tears of pleasure and joy- as you gasp for air...

Oh, he always made you feel so, so good...

@prettycutebunny, @infinitewhore, @kennbb, @slutwithadegree, @dead-bxxxtch-walking, @space-arsonist, @pink-soft-shadow, @sinlessdesire, @hoemine

[deffdread]

“The Arch-Arsonist is a semi-mythical figure in the empire of Charadon, for he counts his victories not in worlds conquered, but those left burning in his wake.” - Ork Codex 4th edition 2007

#warhammer #warhammer40k #40k #orks #archarsonist #charadon #inktober #inktober2023 #orktober

[dracomeir]

Here are all my current AUs. Any that are underlined are linked to their story on Ao3, and any without the underline haven't been written yet. Pairings/ratings are subject change as the story progresses. Long post ahead.

Rated M

Renegade Detective (On-going) | #fnf renegade detective BF x Pico Detective Pico, leader of the Special Crime Forces, broke up with an incubus called Boyfriend after being betrayed by him. Years later, his worsening mental health causes him to get an emotional support demon. That demon happens to be his ex-lover, and a journey through depression, and regaining trust commences.

Soul Bound Detective (Sequel to above) After becoming mentally stable, Pico helps Boyfriend become an arch demon while they try to solve a serial murder case.

The Musical Trail | #fnf the musical trail BF x GF x Pico, Darnell x Pico, GF x Nene Otis always thought Pico was a hero, but when his cousin turned against the family to become the leader of bandits, his world was turned upside down. As he journeys westward, he learns family is more than just blood, and must stop the ginger's criminal activities before it's too late for redemption. (Most characters are in their mid twenties - early thirties.)

Drowning in Ecstasy (Complete) | #fnf drowning in ecstasy BF x Pico, BF x GF Not really having a purpose in life, incubus Boyfriend and security guard Pico meet each other at BF's bar one day. They learn about each other's problems, and the- Just read the summary on Ao3. It's too long for here. lmao

Life is Fleeting (Sequel to above) | #fnf life is fleeting BF x Pico, BF x GF | Major Character Death After 36 years have passed, the trio open up a café & bakery combo business. The café is open from 10 AM - 2 PM, and the bakery is open from 4 PM - 7 PM. Only people with reservations will be served during café hours, and people must order a week in advance for specialty baked goods. This is how the trio enjoys life as Pico nears the end of his.

Rated 16+

Funkin' Adventures (Complete) GF x BF x Pico Uh... Fuck if I know, but a story totaling 347,522 words separated into multiple arcs for easier reading. This series is the first thing I've written after years of not writing, so the quality goes up, down, and all around.

The Arsonist's Garden (On-going) | #the arsonist's garden Darnell x Pico, Darnell x Nene Darnell is no ordinary alchemist. He happens to work for an order of assassins working to eliminate those in power, and push towards a future where slavery is illegal. Encountering a thief with ginger hair that seemed to occasionally shed tiny embers one night, he learns that this man is not only blind, but a runaway slave. He helps him avoid his former master, but there's more to this person that causes his somewhat peaceful life to turn into one on the run.

The Undying Dragon | #fnf the undying dragon Darnell x Pico, BF x GF A knight employed by the Dearest family called Pico was tasked to slay one of the chromatic dragons terrorizing the kingdom. These dragons formed a cult that was taking over the towns and cities one by one, and a black dragon that had the cunning of their green brethren razed Pico's home village to the ground. Seeing the ginger haired knight following him, Darnell decided to have a little fun. He was caught off guard by the human's combat abilities, and ended up with a burn scar on his chest. After several more encounters with Pico throughout the war, the dragon took a liking to the strong willed warrior. He decided to get captured on purpose with the excuse that he'll gain the intel needed for the cult to overtake the kingdom, but in reality, he just needed a reason to harass the ginger on a daily basis.

Sanity's Embrace | #sanity's embrace Darnell x Pico With the death of his father, angel Darnell is given the crowned halo along with the king's final wish. His unorthodox way of ruling causes doubt to stir in the royal council, and his sanity is questioned as the path of blazing destruction tempts him everyday.

Odyssey of the Sea Pico x Darnell Pirate Captain Pico, and his first mate Nene stumble upon the underwater city Atlantis. After being caught attempting to steal an artifact, they are thrown into a water filled cell where they meet a mermaid called Darnell who was imprisoned for simply "playing" with fire.

FNF Soft: Detective's HeART (Complete) Toughie x Softie, Sven x Grace (Not focused on a lot) Detective Pico was tasked to solve a robbery at the Fairests' mansion, but ends up learning the parents aren't the charitable role models the city claims them to be.

FNF Soft: Investigator's HeART (Sequel to above) Despite being in prison, Benjamin's parents find a way to make Grace's parents frame Pico for a crime he didn't commit. With the ginger out of commission, it's up to private investigator Sven to clear his name, and put a stop to the Fairests manipulation for good.

FNF Soft: Dragon's HeART Toughie x Softie Pico was a dragon disguised as a human, and he worked as Prince Benjamin's personal guard. Another dragon pretending to be human called Cassandra severely injures the prince, causing the ginger to reveal his true form out of rage. The Fairests seized the opportunity to force him into servitude while keeping Benjamin in the dark of Pico's true nature as the kingdom's silencer.

Fall of Hell's Dynasty (Prequel/Sequel to Hell's Dynasty in Funkin' Adventures) GF x BF x Pico After devils destroyed the military school Pico, Darnell, and Nene were in, the trio end up serving the Dearest family. Quickly rising through the ranks, the "Mad" General Pico and his friends work together with Princess Girlfriend and a bard called Boyfriend to overthrow the shogunate, and free the humans from servitude.

King's Guard | #fnf king's guard BF x GF x Pico Assassin Pico and Prince Boyfriend were both pretending to be commoners when they first met, and end up falling in love after multiple encounters. Neither of them knew the other's true identity on the day Pico was tasked with assassinating the crown prince at a masquerade. After failing to protect his lover, the ginger was given a second chance at life by an archdemon called Girlfriend. Together they learn what truly happened the day he died, and find a way to free Boyfriend from his curse of silence.

Shot Through The Heart | #fnf shot through the heart GF x BF x Pico Pico was a spy tasked to become Girlfriend's bodyguard in order to gather intel on the Dearest family. He ends up falling in love with her, and betrays the organization as a result. Boyfriend, another spy thinking his lover was charmed by her, jumps in to save him from the demon's clutches, only to end up falling in love with her himself.

The Gods' Will GF x BF x Pico Pico was a general for the Greece military, and suffered defeat by the Romans after using himself as bait to allow his men to escape. He's forced to become a gladiator in order to prevent his friends from suffering a similar fate. Their safety was the only thing preventing him from escaping, and his win streak catches the eye of Emperor Girlfriend.

Guardians of Yggdrasil | #fnf guadians of yggdrasil BF x GF x Pico, Darnell x Pico, Darnell x Nene Pico was the champion of Fenrir, and he was feared by the village due to others thinking he will one day bring Ragnarok upon them. The wolf's rage was only kept at bay by a collar created by blacksmith Darnell, and this collar was named Fenrir's Chain as a result. Despite the ginger not doing anything bad, the villagers kept their distance. This causes the mostly silent man to stay at Yggdrasil for most of his time, and he ends up disappearing one day as a miasma envelopes the forest.

Funkin' Starlights | #funkin starlights Darnell x BF x Pico, GF x Nene After an tragedy caused by Cassandra on stage, idol Pico is unable to perform for years due to PTSD. His lovers and friends help him overcome his trauma while facing discrimination for what he is.

Rated 13+

Cyber Connection (Complete) | #cyber connection Pico x GF x BF After a century being offline, android Pico is awakened by Girlfriend. He doesn't remember anything though, and ends up learning what it means to be human as he regains his memories.

Soul Connection (Sequel to above) Pico x GF x BF, Darnell x Pico A month after the events of Cyber Connection, Darnell questions his own sexuality and gender as his past comes back to haunt him.

Chained By Fate (Complete) | #chained by fate Pico x BF Girlfriend decided it would be a great idea to send Pico and Boyfriend into another world for them to make up, maybe make out, and become lovers again.

Blind Guardian GF x BF x Pico Pico ends up with permanent blindness after being cursed by a devil, and his lovers help him readjust to life without sight.

Lone Wolf GF x Pico x BF Cursed with lycanthropy, Pico abandons herbalist Boyfriend out of fear of hurting him, and finds him again years later with a vampire called Girlfriend. Vampire vs werewolf shenanigans.

I Found A Cat In A Vending Machine & Now My Life Is In Chaos Darnell x Pico, Darnell x Nene Darnell finds a cat person in a vending machine one day, and it turns out to be his long lost friend Pico.

Judgement of Anubis idk pairings yet Something, something, Pico is a servant of Anubis, fuck if I know, Egyptian themed AU. (I thought about this for like a few minutes since it was an option for a path in Funkin' Adventures. My dice said medieval japan instead.)

[freewayshark]

anyone wanna read the arsonist Lucy fic I abandoned

There’s a knock at Buck’s door at exactly ten a.m. His mind had been racing, going over his evidence again and again, looking for holes and finding none, but the second he hears the sharp rap at his door his mind clears, a stillness settling over it that he usually only feels in the middle of a demanding call.

He answers the door, and just as expected, Lucy is on the other side, smiling.

Lucy, his friend, his partner while Eddie was gone. The woman he’d felt a kinship with.

Lucy, the serial arsonist.

“Hey, thanks for coming,” he says, pasting on a smile.

“Yeah, can’t say I expected to get a random invite to your apartment at nine in the morning, but I’m here,” she replies, stepping past him and eying the place.

“Yeah, well, you seem as interested in the arsons as I do, so I thought maybe we’d put our heads together, see if we can notice any patterns,” he says, closing the door before perching on a bar stool. He watches as Lucy dumps her backpack on the dining table and then pulls herself up to sit right on his island, peering down her nose at him.

“I don’t know if I would say interested,” she says, picking up an index card on which he’d scrawled information about the dispatch fire. “Maybe just vaguely curious.”

He nods, easy smile still plastered on his face. 

“Well, I’ve been looking at the incident reports from the suspected arson cases from the last few months, and I’ve noticed a few things.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. All of the fires have one big thing in common–they’re set by someone who knows a thing or two about fire rescue protocol.”

If he wasn’t watching very closely for it, he would’ve missed the way Lucy’s spine goes rigid, because it’s a minute movement. But it’s there. “So, what, you think a firefighter is doing this?”

He shrugs. “Maybe. Wouldn’t be the first time. There’s a long history of firefighters starting fires.”

She nods, looking back down at the index card still held tightly in her hand. “What makes you think it’s someone in the know, anyway?”

“Because the fires rarely block escape routes. The accelerants are never found near doors, or windows that are viable as escape methods. When the fire does obstruct these areas it’s usually only because it had more time to spread before being contained. The arsonist doesn’t want to kill people, and the types of places burned don’t seem to have any kind of connection, so that rules out any kind of revenge based motive.”

She arches an eyebrow at him. “Which leaves?”

“Glory. The thrill of walking into danger and coming out a hero.”

She laughs. “Something you know a little about.”

He doesn’t rise to the bait. “Something a lot of firefighters know something about.”

“Well, in that case, how do you narrow it down? How do you figure out what firefighter is doing it?” she asks, her tone too level to be natural.

He looks her straight in the eye. “Did you know that in 2021 the 147 responded to more fires than any other station in the city, by a wide margin? About five months ago they started averaging about the same as everyone else though. But the 118’s average started climbing.”

She stares him down, and he expects her to start refuting his claim, saying it’s a coincidence, or that he’s making it all up. But she just sighs, and drops his notecard on the pile with the others.

“You couldn’t just take the glory I was bringing you, huh?”

He’d wanted to be wrong. He knew he wasn’t, but he’d wanted to be.

“I’m not in it for the glory.”

Lucy laughs at him. “Yeah fucking right. I’ve known you five months and the only times you’ve seemed alive are right after a big, dramatic save. You live for it, for the thrill.”

He shakes his head. “I love saving people, yeah, but I couldn’t give two shits about the glory.”

She looks at him almost pityingly. “We’re cut from the same cloth, Buck. I was right there next to you the other day talking to that reporter. I saw you smile when she called you a hero. Deep down you are just like me.”

“No,” he barks, standing abruptly, needing to put space between himself and Lucy. She just watches, practically lounging on his island. “I am nothing like you. I would never put innocent people in danger.”

“No you just want to throw yourself into danger and hope eventually the universe will take you out of the equation so you don’t have to.” He sucks in a breath, and she smirks. “Yeah, you know, you’re right, not cut from the same cloth, but two sides of the same coin. I want to live as a hero, you want to die one.”

“That’s not true,” he argues.

“Yeah, it is. I saw you, a couple of months ago, after that rescue that almost went south for you? I saw the disappointment, and I didn’t get it. Because you saved the victim! You had news reporters crawling all over you! But for just a split second, when you realized you survived, you were disappointed. Because you want to go out saving someone. You want to be remembered as Evan Buckley, the hero who gave his life to save the day.” She shakes her head. “At least I want to be around to enjoy people celebrating me.”

“Well, no one’s going to be celebrating you for much longer,” he says bitterly, and her eyes flash.

“What are you gonna do, Buck, turn me in? With all the mountains of evidence you have?” she asks, laughing as she flicks one of his note cards off the island.

He shrugs. “Maybe I don’t have real evidence, but I’m sure it won’t be hard for the investigators to find some. If I could put this together it won’t be hard for someone else to do the same.”

“Then why bring me here and confront me? Why not just turn me in and be done?”

“Because I wanted to be wrong. And I wanted to give you the chance to turn yourself in.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. Because maybe you can get the help you need instead of just punishment if you admit you have a problem.”

She sighs, looking disappointed in him. “You know, you should be thanking me. I heard that Eddie’s coming back next week. Seems like the dispatch fire made him realize he’s meant to be a firefighter. I got you your boy back.”

It’s true that the dispatch fire spurred Eddie into returning to the 118, but she’s wrong about one thing. “I don’t have him back. I never lost him to begin with.”

She looks down at his index cards again, spreading them around. She points to one. “You’ve got this one wrong,” she says, and he steps forward to see what she’s talking about.

He doesn’t expect the booted foot that smashes into his temple.

—-

His lungs seizing on a hard cough brings him back to consciousness. His head feels like it’s split in two, but that’s not his most pressing issue, because every lungful of air he tries to take is hampered by thick smoke.

He pulls his shirt up over his nose and mouth, but it barely helps, and does nothing at all for the smoke already in his lungs. He’s on his back next to his dining table, and something’s on fire.

He lifts his head, the movement slow and painful. He wants to retch, but he forces the feeling down, knowing it will only make him inhale more smoke.

He manages to focus his eyes, consciousness a fraying thread, but everything clears a little with the sight that greets him.

His front door is engulfed in flames.

He pats his pocket for his phone, but it’s not there. He pats around on the floor before he remembers the Lucy of it all and realizes she must have taken his phone.

Groaning, he rolls over onto his stomach. Everything spins, and he has to fight to hold onto consciousness, the head trauma and the smoke inhalation warring to send him into unconsciousness. But he holds on, and gets his knees under him, doing some semblance of an army crawl towards the dresser stationed between his living room and kitchen. Every inch is hard won, but his movements are so slow, taking precious seconds he doesn’t have. But eventually he gets there, and he uses the drawer handles to pull himself up, grimacing as it pulls him up into thicker smoke. 

He gathers his waning strength and pulls one of the top drawers out so hard it yanks it out of the dresser to crash onto the floor next to him. He drops back down to the floor, where the smoke is thinner and digs blindly through the contents of the drawer until his fingers brush a familiar box. He pulls it out and with shaking fingers pries it open. He fumbles with the bracelet inside, dropping the box when he’s got a firm hold on it, feeling over it because the smoke has irritated his eyes so much he can’t really see through the tears.

But he finds what he’s looking for, and he presses the button that will call for help before losing consciousness once more.

[monstersdownthepath]

How do the Infernal Dukes compare to the Demon Lords? Hell has nine layers, for which it has Asmodeus the full divinity as well as eight Demigods in the other Archdevils. Meanwhile, their ostensible equals in the ring, the Demon Lords, probably easily number in the dozens or hundreds, although I imagine that number fluctuates far more as some are killed and others rise. Still, they have vast numbers at their disposal and even greater numbers of nascent demon lords besides bulking out their hordes even more.

Granted they don't cooperate that well (or at all, I imagine the Worldwound was a unicorn of demonic cooperation) so Hell, along with the other Outer Planes holds its own, but that's still a big numbers gap that Asmodeus would probably want to close somewhat. I was considering what other powerful and unique fiends Hell can call upon when I recalled the Infernal Dukes, and was wondering how well these guys can hold their own vs. the Demon Lords. Not sure how much in the way of stats we have for the various ID's, but we do have some I know that, like that dude from Korvosa whose name I forget.

-------

We have stats for both Lorthact and Furcas, and BOTH of them are equivalent in power to a Demon Lord, which sets a pretty big bar for the other Infernal Dukes. Lorthact is actually weaker than Dukes are stated to be, at CR 25 (and even lower by the time we see him again in 2nd Edition) when the Book of the Damned says they hover between 26 and 27, but he's still powerful enough to hold his own against the greatest heroes of the realm.

The gap of power between Hell and the Abyss is great, but it's actually in Hell's favor. Each individual Demon Lord is incredibly powerful, but the devils' organization and willingness to work with one another (barring one exception) means that demonic forces need impossibly overwhelming numbers or underhanded plots to actually come out on top if a battle breaks out between the two... but this show of diabolic strength also reveals one of Hell's greatest weaknesses: Any devil that asks for help from a superior is likely to be seen as weak and unworthy of aid, to be replaced by someone more competent when the current crisis is over. No one wants to be the guy to deliver bad news to Asmodeus' desk, which sometimes means no news is provided.

They can command legions of perfectly obedient soldiers, but if a Malebranche finds itself facing a foe with superior numbers and power, its honor is on the line to do everything in its own power without aid before it requests reinforcements from its superiors, which will likely cost it even more in the long run. Just because they CAN organize together to become unstoppable doesn't mean they WILL, unless directly commanded to by the Archdevils or Asmodeus. Most of them are far too busy with their own problems and objectives, after all.

[dylawas-reblogs]

Baldur's gate 3 companions in order of likelihood that they'd smoke a joint, by someone who doesn't smoke weed

Halsin: hasn't had the chance for a while cuz of arch druid shit, but you bet once he's on the road with the gang he takes a moment to roll himself a fat one (or smoke it from a pipe? They've got cigars in Avernus idk what's the blunt economy like)

Jaheira: the fucking moment that woman gets to Baldur's Gate she's sending herself into the stratosphere. Probably the best at rolling the damn things. Rolls for the rest of the group.

Karlach: she'd definitely sit down and savor a blunt. Good way to shut her mind off to The Impending Doom (tm). Probably doesn't have the best prep technique

Shadowheart: has partaken in the past, but doesn't have strong feelings one way or the other about it. Will partake if the mood strikes.

Gale: maybe tried it once back at Blackstaff. Enjoyed it, but is too nervous to do so again with The Orb. Will offer to help others light up though.

Wyll: weed may not be illegal in Baldur's Gate (bc I said so I'm not bothering to look up Forgotten Realms Weed Canon) but he still very much has the stance of "uuhhh my dad said it's bad" (bonus: ulder definitely has had a blunt once or twice)

Astarion: would if he could, but being a vampire kinda makes everything Not Blood a dogshit experience if ingested. If he sucks blood off of someone who IS high, THEN he can join the fun. Not as potent though. Acts like he hates everything about it but refuses to leave the room.

Minthara: not interested. But only because she thinks it's too weak for her. "If you are going to drug me, you'd best make sure it incapacitates me. I will not be insulted with such minimal impact." In truth, she's never done it and is too proud to admit it.

Lae'zel: probably didn't know what it was before she showed up in Faerun, and after hearing what it does, is pretty vehemently opposed. She wants to be alert at all times, thank you, and everyone else getting stoned are idiots

Minsc: "'Smoke a joint?' That would be destruction of property! We are not arsonists! What's that, Boo? What? Oh. Oh! Erm, no thank you."

[stabbyfoxandrew]

🕊️ WIP Wednesday 2/21 🕊️

Tell me to work on my WIPs! One each, please and thanks. I’ll shut my inbox when/if I need to.

1. Vampire Andrew AU 2. Guardian Angel Neil AU 3. Mafia Front Restaurant AU 4. Arsonist Neil / Firefighter Andrew AU *click the links for masterposts for each au!

Here’s Angel Neil (Part 119):

“A lesson from dear ol’ dad?” Andrew asks, arching a brow.

“One of his associates,” Neil says, holding his hand out. Andrew gives him a curious look, but holds the knife out with the handle towards the angel. He lets go when Neil reaches for it, expecting it to clatter to the rooftop. But then it’s in Neil’s hand.

Andrew can’t stop his mouth from falling open. Neil can hold things? He can hold things. What the fuck? Andrew can only gape stupidly as Neil spins the knife around one finger, tosses it into the air, and catches it with the blade pointed towards the sky.

“That is a knife trick,” Neil says, looking back at Andrew. “Killing people is not.”

Andrew nods and Neil turns the knife over in his hand to run a finger along the blade, as if assessing it.

“They started teaching me knives when I was about five years old. Ones about this big, I’d say. Feels small now, but back then they were huge to me. Way too large for my tiny hands. Too hard to hold, too hard to… To use properly,” Neil says, emphasizing the word. “But I quickly figured it out, because if I was clumsy I got the shit knocked outta me.”

[mugiwara-no-toshokan]

Some Direction

CisFem Reader x Roronoa Zoro

CW: Language, stalking, violence, sexual themes and situations, ptsd -- surprisingly fluffy despite it all. 18+ only

Chapter 11: Log Posed

It had been two weeks since you were matched, and a week since your voice left you. Your body was covered in light bruises from training with Mihawk. It was hard, it had been years since you exercised regularly in the first place, and second to that, Mihawk was a strict instructor. You had had your choice of Zoro or Mihawk, and had chosen the elder vs the younger, not because you thought Zoro lacked in teaching in any way, but because if you became frustrated, you didn't want to be frustrated at him.

Things had fallen into a comfortable routine, comfortable in the feel of it at least, not that it was a routine you wanted to see continue for any longer than it had to. You woke up next to Zoro every morning, had breakfast with him and Mihawk, started your morning training, cleaned parts of the house, ate lunch, then afternoon training, spent as long as you could manage soaking in the bathroom, and then relaxed a bit before dinner. Some days you cooked meals, most days you didn't.

Mihawk insisted he enjoyed cooking, but you were pretty sure he was making sure you had time to adjust in all manner of ways.

There was no new news on the arsonist, and your voice still wouldn't work. You'd gone to a doctor, Mihawk took you to some nice blonde man who told you to call him Marco, and not Dr. Phoenix when your voice returned. According to his tests there was nothing physically stopping you from speaking, which almost felt worse.

You had been reassured so many times you were almost sick of being reassured. You just wanted to scream at this point, and that made things far worse. If you could just bellow, you'd solve all your problems.

You were sighing to yourself and feeling generally down as you dragged the trash out. You weren't paying attention like you had been and when you dragged the bin out of the gate you didn't look to see if the police cruiser was there or not. You weren't technically supposed to step past the gate by yourself unless there was a patrol car outside, but looking for one was hardly habit, as you generally didn't go out past the gate in the first place.

You drag the bin to curb and look up and down the empty street. Something about it seems wrong, but your brain was lagging behind, as you turn and look another direction you could see smoke rising in the not-so-distant distance. A few blocks down the road maybe, and it looked like a big wood fire.

The sound of sirens finally registers, and that sound clicks into your brain that the cruiser was missing. It had probably gone to assist with the fire, and a cold chill grips your heart. You turn back toward the door and stop short as something flies by you.

An arrow lodges into the doorway, slamming the door shut with a sharp thud and bang. You stumble back a step and another arrow lands between the cracks in the pavement by your foot. Suddenly you didn't feel like you were being hunted, so much as you were being herded, or toyed with.

Your heart is pounding in your chest, but you're oddly calm – your mind is clear even though your adrenaline is cranked. You put your back to the gate and step backward toward it. One step, two steps, nothing came at you through the air. You took a step toward the door and felt that chill again, pulling your foot back away from the door as an arrow arched into view and skittered off the pavement, landing where your foot had been.

Okay, you weren't going to go through the door. You could open the gate itself, but it was heavy and there wasn't a way to get through it easily. For a long minute you didn't move, scanning along the distance, trying to figure out where the arrows were coming from. Maybe if you dashed across the street the trajectory would be bad. The first shot had closed the door, and the second shot had moved you toward the gate, so whoever it was didn't want you panicking and going across the street earlier.

There's was a terribly loud high-pitched sound in the air, and a new arrow literally screamed toward you, landing deep into the gate. It hadn't been anywhere near hitting you, but it had sounded like a scream.

It sounded like you could've been screaming.

Your stomach sinks straight down into your feet. Whoever was shooting the arrows wanted you to stay out here because they wanted someone from inside to come out and find you. You weren't screaming for help because you couldn't scream for help. They didn't want to hit you and risk killing you, they wanted you to scream, and since you didn't, that's why they used such a loud shot after the first three arrows were silent.

"..." You whisper. Your voice is impossibly soft, but you made a noise. "---! ---!" you weren't forming words, but you were making sounds. You were so close!

You ran for the door, ducking down as you felt something brush along the collar of your Gi, and crashing into the door. It didn't give entirely the first time you threw your shoulder and body into it, but the second time you did you were accompanied by an arrow.

Whoever was trying to stop you from going back in had panicked, and the arrow slammed into your Gi, and then into the door at almost the same time that your body did. The door broke under the continued assault, and you fell into the property with a grunt as the door splintered under you. Rolling off to the side, putting the main part of the gate between you and the – by the gods, a sniper, were you really entertaining the thought that some mega-star sniper was harassing you?

Yes, you were staying in a Dojo, and you were matched to someone who had developed a three-sword style of fighting, and the world was a wide weird wild place, and hells you had survived a SERIAL KILLER as a kid, so technically no, this was not the most unbelievable thing to happen to you.

You hear – and see – the front entryway door start to slide open, and your feet are moving before your body has fully understood the risks you were taking. There's a few feet of open air, even with the height of the gate, between where it's safe to stand and the door way to the house.

Clink, clink, clink.

You see the shining shimmer of three golden earrings and will yourself to move faster.

"ZORO!" You scream as loud as you can, and see his eyes go wide as he registers you barreling toward him as fast as you can.

The scream of the arrow means that the projectile's destination is already decided, but you have no way to know who it's suppose to hit. You, or him. Zoro has a better view than you do, and you see his entire demeanor change.

You've never seen him fight, you've only ever seen him practice or instruct, and even when he was practicing you gave him space and didn't watch him. What you saw now was such an alarming change in demeanor that you weren't quite sure that time was still moving forward for you.

Zoro steps forward and drops down to a knee, and there's a flash of something, you can't even see what, that flickers up from his waist to the air over his head. The screaming sound from the arrow ends in a shower of shattered wood. You can finally see the sword in Zoro's hand, as you dash past him and he closes the door behind the both of you.

There's a veritable rain of heavy arrows slamming into the front entry way of the house. The angle of the shots keeps them from getting into the entry way, but the bottom half of the door is a mess by the time things stop.

You stumble into the entry way, barely keeping your feet under you as you the arrows rain down on the house. Your eyes move from Zoro to Mihawk. They both look serious, and so calm that you feel a little like you're overreacting. Adrenaline is keeping you on edge, and aside from your heaving gasps as you try to catch your breath and calm down there's a long silence after the arrows stop.

There's a metal scraping sound and a clear chink! as Zoro sets the sword back down by the entry way, before turning toward you.

"Are you okay?" He questions, and the earlier demeanor is almost completely gone as he steps toward you.

Your mouth opens a couple times, and you shake your head, looking and back and forth between the two of them again for a minute. Finally, you pull yourself together enough to shake your head consciously.

"He aimed at you." You say finally, your voice is hoarse from lack of use, but you keep talking. "He – he could've killed me ages ago. I was taking the trash out front, and there's arrows out there too! He missed! He missed me on purpose like four times! He shot that screaming arrow cause I wasn't screaming, I couldn't! He wanted, he wanted," Tears over take the adrenaline and Zoro wraps his arms around you as you practically collapse into him. "You can't... you can't die, please. Please."

"I won't." He promises you, running his hand over your hair, holding you tight against him. "It's okay, I'm alive."

"You cut an arrow." Your voice was muffled as you spoke into his chest.

"I did."

"How?"

"Practice."

"You can do it again?"

"Yeah."

"You won't die?"

"I won't."

"... I believe you."

"(Y/N)."

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"... Yeah." You wrap your arms around him. "As long as you keep finding me, I'll be okay." You thought about it for a second. "How did you find me?"

The property was fairly large. There was almost no way to hear the gate breaking if someone was in the dojo, it'd be difficult to hear even from the kitchen, and near impossible from Zoro's room. If you were outside you might hear it, but there wouldn't have been a reason for him to go inside first to come to the front.

The arrow might've gotten his and Mihawk's attention, but it was so shrill it would be hard to say where the sound was coming from so fast.

"I just did." He replies, smiling down at you.

. . . . . .

Smoker and Tashigi were back in the family room with you, Zoro and Mihawk.

Again.

The police had been processing the scene for the last couple hours and you had recounted what had happened so many times you were tired of saying it.

Smoke and Tashigi bowed when you were all done talking. "I would like to extend my apologies," Smoker began. "The cruiser that was assigned to you left to assist with the fire as you had suspected, and now that we know the two incidents are connected, I want to apologize for the oversight that caused such risk, Miss (L/N)."

"They did what they felt was right," you reply. "I can't fault that."

With that the two of them left and you sank into the couch. You could feel Zoro quietly fuming beside you, even if he wasn't saying anything. You weren't exactly sure what had him in a foul mood. He'd been happy to hear your voice again after a week of silence, but after you had recounted the events, he just seemed to get angrier.

"What's wrong?" You ask quietly.

"... I wouldn't have been fast enough." He says after a moment, his voice sharp.

"You're angry at yourself?" You ask, and he grunts. "I went outside without you; shouldn't you be angry with me?"

You look over at him after he doesn't grunt or respond. His face is red and turning redder by the second as you look at him.

"Zoro?" You prompt.

He flushes more than you thought he possibly could.

"I'd rather be angry at myself, than you." He says finally, his voice so quiet you barely manage to hear him.

You feel the heat rush up into your face, because it feels like he just confessed his love to you. You realize you're staring at him in shock when he clicks his tongue, and almost growls at you without turning to look at you.

"What?"

You shift on the couch, bringing your knees up under you and turning toward him. There's still an aggravated look on his face as he turns to face you while you're reaching for him. You lean in and kiss him as the words on his lips disappear into nothing, your hands cupping his face. You can feel him tense for a moment before his body relaxes.

You lean back a little, eyes shifting from his lips to his eyes. You can feel the cool golden spindles of his earrings against your fingers, you can feel the heavy pulse of his heart against your body, and the warmth of hands that are holding onto you.

"I'm alive," you hold his gaze. "You're alive." Your face flushes and an apologetic look covers your features. "I'm sorry I wandered off."

He sighs, setting his head against your chest and pulling you snug against him, your hands slipping off his face to wrap around his head. You run your fingers through his hair slowly, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his embrace. His fingers flex in the fabric of your clothes.

"It's okay," he says, after a long silence. "I'll find you."

[ninjago-forever]

Ninternia: The Ultimate Elemental.

Chapter 1: Aspiring Villains Academy

(Art by @thepolyamorywriter )

Aspiring Villains Academy, or AVA as the students. called it, was a strange school. It was supposed to be the training ground for the next generation of "bad guys" but in reality, It was just a place where the current arsonists, thieves, and crime lords could leave their kids and forget about them. As a result, the students at the boarding school tended to be bratty bullies rather than actual evil masterminds. They were taught more about the comic book idea of evil than true darkness.

Soran was just one of many students who'd never known any home other than the school. He had fair skin, and was fairly skinny. His teeth were in desperate need of a dentist, due to numerous fights and a love of candy. He had wide black eyes and a small nose, making him look younger then the ten years of age he actually was. The only pleasing thing about his appearance was his thick, slightly wavey, golden blond hair. Not that he liked it. It caused him to be a bit of a target since "only heroes have golden hair"

Ducking his head Sonam pulled his hood lower to hide his blond locks. When they'd been asked create their villain uniform in sowing dass made sure to add the hood in the hope less kids would make fun of him. The rest of his outfit consisted of black pants and a long sleeve shirt with a skeleton printed on it, completed by a black cape with the previously mentioned hood. It wasn't the fanciest costume, but he'd been going for the "simplistic" look. He definitely hadn't thrown it together an hour before it was due.

Ducking into Mrs. Numbskull's science class, he breathed sigh of relief as he sat down right before the bell rang. Despite being taught that rules were made to be broken, punishments could be harsh.

"Students," Mrs. Numbskull rasped we have a new student with us today. This is Shadow Kaida."

A girl of about his own age strode into the room right on cue, Like Soran, she the skinny side of the spectrum, but while he was all knees and elbows, Shadow was simply lithe, like a cat. She had a pale, almost white, complexion, which contrasted strikingly with her inky black braid. Under arched eyebrows were two evergreen eyes, flashing dangerously as they scanned the room. To top it all off, she was wearing a loose, all black outfit that he'd never seen the like of before, and he was surrounded by wannabe supervillains. There was was no shortage of weird black outfits at AVA. 

"Why's she wearing pajamas?" Soran whispered to the kid behind him. Next thing he knew was a sharp pain on his temple.

"OW!"he yelped, turning to find Shadow a foot away, her hand raised.

"Sorry did I-," she stopped abruptly when she saw his face, and a flicker of surprise passed over hers.

"What?" Soran spat at her, rubbing his ear.

"N-nothing," she muttered, taking the empty desk in front of him, looking strangely shaken. Soran just slid down his chair pouting.

Just great, the new kids already making fun of me too. Don't they know who I am!? I'll show them one day... I'll show them all... 

A few weeks later, he was a little closer to "showing them all." He had his first henchman, er, henchgirl: Shadow. Soran wasn't entirely sure why she chose to hang out with him, (Maybe because of his natural villain charisma?) but he wasn't complaining. Every evil mastermind needed a second-in-command to boss around and blame when everything went wrong.

"You ready yet?" Shadow said, poking her head into the boys dorm.

"You're not allowed in here!" Soran shouted.

"I go where I want!" Shadow retorted. He slammed the closet door and shoved her out of his way as the left the dorm.

"Do you ever wear anything else?!" he asked her. She was still wearing the same pajama thing she'd worn on her first day. Definitely not proper henchman attire.

Shadow gave him a look, "It's not like you wear anything other than your rip off skeleton costume."

"Hey! I'll have you know that this is a first rate supervillain uniform designed to strike tan in the hearts of-"

"Fashion designers?" she interrupted. He glared at her as they entered the classroom.

"Shadow, Soran, how nice of you to finally join us. I hope your lateness doesn't extend to your homework, otherwise have to send you to detention," Mrs. Numbskull said, looking at them over her glasses. Soran winced as Shadow set a sheaf of papers on the teacher's desk and went to her seat.

Thinking quickly, he said, "I would've had it done if... if I hadn't had to do Shadow's. It was also her fault we were late she was, um, doing her hair."

Mrs. Numbskull glanced at Shadow, who's hair was, as always, in a complicated, but perfect, braid.

"In that case," the teacher said, "detention for both of you. Shadow for not doing her homework and caring about how she looks, and you for helping her."

With a quick nod, Soran went to take his seat. He didn't care that he'd lied to get Shadow in trouble with him, he just didn't want to work alone. Anyways, it's not like she'd care. She didn't care about anything.

Or so he thought, completely missing the betrayed look Shadow shot him.

"Are you gonna help?" Shadow asked, flicking warm, soapy water at him. For detention, she Soran had been sent to clean the dungeons under the school.

"I'm supervising," he said, raising his arm to protect his face from the droplets. She gave him an exasperated look.

"It's your fault I'm even here!" She said.

"So?"

"You could at least run a wet piece of cloth across the wall."

"That's your job. l'm not doing a servant's work. l've got royal blood."

Shadow's face went hard as she wrung out her towel fiercely, and turned back to the wall.

"Forget it," she said. Soran just shrugged, and scooped a handful of suds out of the bucket. Sculpting the white foam into random shapes, he started pacing up and down the corridor. Staying still wasn't one of his strong suits. As time continued to pass, he resorted to studying the walls out of boredom.

"Are you done yet?" he asked.

"No." Shadow said shortly.

"Hey, I found something."

"If you say I missed a spot-"

"No, I actually found something. Take a look," he stepped aside to show her a .....

Brick.

"Soran Zhong, I swear to -"

"Oh shut up," he said and pushed the brick down. A grating sound resonated through the corridor as a section of the wall slid back and to the side to reveal a hidden passage way. Shadow stepped forward, gazing searchingly into the shadowed hall.

"How did you know? The brick didn't look any different than the others," she said.

"It was. There was a carving of the dark part of that one symbol. Y'know the one for dark and light or something?" he said, tracing a circle in the air.

"The yin yang symbol" Shadow said quietly.

"Yeah, that thing," he said, waving her off and heading down the passage, "Coming?"

He heard a sigh accompanied by her characteristic almost silent footsteps. Knowing she was following him, Soran turned his attention back to the passage way It was pretty dark, since the only light came from the torches outside, but he could still see well enough. Not that there was much to see. The floors, walls, and ceiling were made of smooth, grey stone. If you turned it on its side, or even upside down, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Before long the passage opened up into a large, dark room. Three of the four walls were covered in shelves all of them crammed with stuff. Some of the objects were familiar, such as books, helmets, and jewelery, but others were strange, alien. He saw an egg shaped sphere on a pedestal, it's surface hard and opalescent as big as his head; there was another peculiar thing made up of three levels connected be reflective, spiral wound supports, and that was only a few of the weird artifacts.

The fourth wall, the one opposite of the door way, was covered in pictures, weapons, and mirrors. Of the pictures: there were terrifying beasts, dark fortresses, and strangely dressed men and women. Of the weapons: there were males, spears, and staffs, but most of all, there were ornate, jeweled swords and daggers of varying size. As for the mirrors... Soran caught a glimpse of his reflection in one. It was somehow both him and yet not him at the same time. He shivered and moved to a spot where none of the mirrors could reach him.

Suddenly, a flare of light momentarily blinded him as his eyes adjusted from the dark to light. Blinking, he managed to focus on the source of the light: Shadow holding a flaming torch.

"Why'd you light that thing? It wasn't that dark in here," Soran said, then paused as a thought occured to him, "wait a sec... how did you light it? Do you carry around matches or something?"

Ignoring the second and third questions, Shadow said, "I don't know what your mean, it was almost pitch black in here. I had to feel around to find this."

"Hmmm... well anyways, let's look around. There has to be something cool in here," he said, grabbing a twisted sword with a black leather hilt off the wall and swinging it around. Before he could do anything else with it, Shadow took it from him, gave it a practised twirl, then returned it to the wall, leaving Soran staring at her.

"Where'd you learn to do that!?" he said, trying to mimic her move with a large, tightly wound scroll. She watched him with a faintly amused expression.

"I had a life before coming here, and I I think you should put that down. Pretty sure no one's ever cut themselves waving around a scroll but... nothing's impossible," she said.

Distracted by her tease, Soran said, "Very funny. I'm sure plenty of people have gotten paper cuts from this thing. It's ancient."

Shadow chuckled "Usually you talk like a stuck up bully, but every now and then you say something pretty good."

He gave her a blank look. Still laughing, she picked up a scroll of her own, and attacked him with it. Startled, he got hit twice before he raised his scroll in defense, but it wasn't long before his laughter joined hers, even though he was hopelessly out matched. Shadows skill with a sword, er, scroll was so good, she managed to school him at the same time. Soran lost track of time as they continued to spar with the rolls of paper, and it came surprisingly easy to him. He went for a sudden sneak attack, yet she quickly blocked it, and disarmed him.

"Hey! You broke it!" he said as it flew out of his hand, unrolling when it hit the wall.

"It's a scroll windbag, it's supposed to do that, "Shadow replied.

"Oh, uh- right," he muttered, and went to go pick it up. Curiously, he unrolled it the rest of the way to see what was on it. A wide smile came over his face when he saw its contents.

"Hey Shadow, check this out," he said. She walked over and looked over his shoulder.

"Its a map of Ninternia. Why should I care about that?" she asked.

"Because" Soran said, running his hands. across the ancient parchment, over mountains, forests, and rivers, holding all of Ninternia under his hand before he stopped over a strange symbol not far from AVA," it's a treasure map, and with your help, the treasure will be mine."