#but thank zu for gathering all of us to do this for you <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[dragon-tamer-1]

Happy Birthday Blue!! Hope you have a great day! @bluepallilworld

Drew your girl Vivid! And her parents! (It's cut off but Nightmare's left sleeve is tied cause of no arm from that time in the story). I couldn't resist drawing your Aftermare family for your birthday OwO

You're a fantastic person who I'm so grateful to have known for these last couple years. And I'm glad we both fell down the Aftermare hole together XD.

[waterfire1848]

AU where the girls are captured and the boys head out to save them. The girls manage to free themselves, but then the boys get captured.

Hello, @wingchunwaterbender !!!

1. One day, while the girls are out getting stuff that they need, they’re ambushed by a group of Ozai Loyalists. The girls, of course, didn’t go without a fight but tranquilizer darts to the legs will certainly do some damage. They’re taken to an abandoned prison in the Fire Nation and chained up (or in Toph’s case but in a wooden prison) and kept there until the loyalists get orders about what to do with them. Meanwhile, the guys realize that the girls haven’t come back and are starting to get really concerned. (Zuko: I think we should go look for them. Sokka: Did we forget who we’re talking about? I’ve seen Toph toss a guy 20 feet in the air by standing up, Katara was taking on master benders before she was a master, Suki’s a literal Kyoshi Warrior and you sister and her friends took down Ba Sing Se. Aang: That doesn’t mean they’re immune to being in trouble. Zuko’s right. We should go look for them. Sokka: Okay, but we’re gonna feel pretty stupid when we come back and they’re all there waiting for us to eat). They don’t find them.

2. Sokka, Zuko and Aang continue looking for the girls for as long as they can but come up with nothing. It isn’t until they hear from some people in town that weird guys with fire symbols were lurking around and realize that Ozai Loyalists were in the town and probably took them. They go back and get Appa so that they can search the area for their friends. Meanwhile, the girls are trying to think of a way to escape. Toph can’t metalbend so that idea is out the window and everyone else has cuffs on that either keep them from moving correctly or keep them from bending. (Katara: I have an idea. Suki: What is it? Katara: Here’s what I need you to do……Suki: GUARDS! GUARDS! Guard: What is the matter now? That time of the month? Azula: Katara isn’t breathing! Guard: What? Azula: Get in here before your boss finds out you let the Avatar’s girlfriend die! Guard: She’s not breathing. Damn it. Bo! Get in here! She needs to go to the healer! *Undoes Katara’s cuffs*. Katara: Hello. *Freezes him and Bo to the wall before stealing their keys and freeing everyone. The girls walk out with ease*).

3. The girls escape from prison and, thanks to Toph’s earthbending, are able to get a rough estimate of what’s around them. They run towards the nearest town to find some kind of directions since they don’t know exactly where they are. While they’re running through the forest, they don’t notice the massive sky bison flying over them or hear Aang, Sokka and Zuko screaming for them but the boys find the prison. Now, they don’t know if that’s where the girls are but it’s as good a place as any to look. They land and head inside. (Aang: They were here! But they escaped! *He’s pointing to the frozen guards* Sokka: Ha! Told you. The girls can handle themselves. Now let’s go back to the campsite and get some good fisssss…. Guard, behind them with a tranquilizer dart: You’re not going anywhere. Zuko: Oh, shiiiiiiii….)

4. The girls arrive at the town and take a moment to relax and gather themselves before they try to find a map and figure out where they are. However, while they're out there, Appa comes into the town, roaring in distress. Katara manages to calm him down and realizes that Appa wouldn't be this far unless Aang had brought him over here. The girls quickly put together that the boys must have left to go find them and then something happened to them. (Katara: Appa, where are they? Show us where they are). Of course, they're in the prison. The Ozai Loyalists have no intention of taking their eyes off of the Fire Lord or Avatar even for a second (sorry Sokka) so they're chained up in a separate room while Sokka is right where the girls were a few hours ago. Katara and Toph head down to get Sokka while Azula, Mai, Ty Lee and Suki leave to find Aang and Zuko. (Katara: Hi! Remember me? Guards: Waterbender! Katara: That's right, but I got a question for you. What do you call someone who can control metal? Guard: Oh, no. Katara: No- Toph: That's close enough. *Metalbends their legs and throws them to the side* Sokka: Those poor guards. Katara: Are you really feeling sympathy for them? Sokka: I can't help it! One of the poor guys was having problems with his girlfriend and the other guy wants to open a pastry shop after they take over the world. Katara:....Toph:.... Sokka: I'm allowed to care about things. Come on. Let's go get Aang and Zuko.)

5. Azula, Mai, Ty Lee and Suki slipped in through another part of the prison so that they could get the basement area which is where Aang and Zuko are being held while they wait for more loyalists to arrive. Zuko is chained up in a way to prevent firebending and Aang is chained up similar to how he was in the Blue Spirit with three people always having spears pointed at him (people learned from Azula about how to handle the Avatar in the Avatar State). The four agree to split up with Azula and Ty Lee going after Zuko (because spirits help her, Azula is never going to let Zuko live this down) and Suki and Mai going after Aang. Azula and Ty Lee slip into Zuko's cell by beating up the guards outside then setting him free. (Zuko: I'm never living this down am I? Azula: You really have to ask?). Suki and Mai are in the middle of trying to rescue Aang but it's a lot harder because there are more guards around him. The loyalists manage to take them down and say that they need the Avatar alive but not a Kyoshi Warrior and the Fire Lord's wife. They're about to kill them when Sokka intervenes and cuts the spears out of their hands. The two back up just as Katara and Toph join the fight (freeing Aang in the process) and Azula, Ty Lee and Zuko return. (Zuko: May we? Katara: Knock yourselves out, boys.) The Gaang walk out of the prison that day happy as can be while the Loyalists lay on the floor with a lot of broken bones.

[oddishblossom]

Tag Game

10 Characters, 10 Fandoms, 10 Tags

Tagged by the wonderful @still-gathering-roses 💖💖💖!!! Thanks for the tag! This favorite character challenge was so much fun. It took me a while because I’m SUPER indecisive so I kept changing my mind 😂. Also this definitely reawakened some dormant hyperfixations (so it may get long lmao). Anyway, here’s my top picks <3

1. Wei Wuxian (Mo Dao Zu Shi) - I’m sure this comes as a surprise to no one that I chose wwx first. He’s hands down one of my favorite fictional characters from any media ever. Period. He rides a fine line between “my poor little meow meow” and “reckless little shit (affectionate)” to me. My #1 “I wish to study you” character 💖

2. Tohru Honda (Fruits Basket) - My girl!!! I read this manga when I was a little girl and I was so amazed by what a great character tohru is. The way she loves so strongly and both inspires and comforts those around her. She is such an angel :)

3. Catra (She Ra & the Princesses of Power) - My poor little meow meow. Yes, she’s a mess, but she’s MY mess. She had me at “meow.” I only want good and wonderful things for her. Like therapy and love.

4. Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter) - An assassin with a heart of gold. My favorite trope 💖. I could actually talk about this little guy forever. He has one of the greatest character arcs in any story I’ve ever read. His journey from bratty assassin working for his family to learning how to pull himself out of his codependency and how to love himself and those in his life had me like 🥺💖💖.

5. Ash Lynx (Banana Fish) - …He is the best boy. I have nothing more to add 😭❤️ (if you ask me about this show, you’ll get the ramblings of a broken woman along with a lot of crying face emojis).

6. Dani Clayton (Haunting of Bly Manor) - Miss Clayton!!! She is so strong and I admire her so much. The ending to Bly Manor and Dani’s whole journey in general had me in tears but also feeling so many things all at once. It left me thinking about life and what it really means to love.

7. Zhou Zishu (Word of Honor) - “Depressed assassin who drunkenly stumbles his way into having a family again and relearns what it means to live.” Yeah, I can’t beat that perfect description. He’s a gorgeous disaster man who’s just trying to get by, but keeps getting dragged around by the plot :)

8. Lio Fotia (Promare) - From his very first scene, I was like whoever this masked person is, he’s my favorite. The ability to conjure thrones, motorcycles, weapons, and dragons from pink flames is cool enough alone. But to also be a courageous leader to a group of refugees, and to have the willpower to set out and change the entire world? AND to do it all while wearing the coolest outfit? Lio’s on another level 💖

9. Czeslaw Meyer (Baccano!) - An excuse to spread my baccano agenda. This is one of my favorite animes of all time (with one of the best endings to any story ever!). It’s like a super violent and convoluted mystery taking place during 1930’s America. Like a Quentin Tarantino movie, but animated. The story’s told out of order, some of the answers to the mysteries are in the very first episode. It jumps between 3 timelines. There is no protagonist. With a large cast of characters, it was hard to pick just one. But little Czeslaw, a young immortal with trust issues, is one of my favorites. He goes through so much trauma, but it never makes him stronger. He’s so terrified of his own kind, he would sacrifice innocents if it meant never letting another immortal get near him. The end of his character arc makes me smile and cry every time I watch it again.

10. Richie Tozier (It Chapter Two) - I couldn’t decide between Richie and Eddie, but alas I had to pick the loser who uses humor as a defense mechanism. I love Richie so much mostly because he is me. I remember seeing chapter two in the theater and just feeling… so exposed whenever Richie was on screen. I was like please get off the screen me but as a bespectacled forty year old man, I’m feeling TOO seen. He is a train wreck of a character with so many flaws. But he learns about self love and self acceptance and how to rely on his friends, even amidst his darkest moments, and as someone who struggles with the same things (and also had a very in denial/closeted teenage years. me trying to ignore my gayness 🤝 richie trying to ignore his gayness) idk his character just meant a lot to me.

Oops, this got a little long. If you got this far thank you for listening to my ted talk 😊

Tagging : (Of course, only if you would like to! Feel free to ignore if you’d rather not or have already done this 💖. OH! And if any of you mention tgcf, would you please do me a huge favor and keep it spoiler free 🥺? Like any big spoilers. I’ve only watched the first season of the donghua. Thanks a million! 😭) @maikhiwi00 @bioerin @shigacajun @hishoukoku @theheartconstellation @certified-bi-fangirl-disaster @fuckingspacequeen @multi-trashqueen @punk-weiwuxian @macsterism + anyone who sees this and would like to try it, too. Go ahead and say I tagged you 💖

[zu-is-here]

Hi Zu!

You are always welcome, and thank you too 💞

Are you any good at singing? And, regardless of the previous answer, do you like singing? Alone, in the company, perhaps karaoke?

Wow. Sounds like I just hit another right spot! And now I'm curious... Could I maybe see some of the photos you took? Anyway, seems like the visual part of the world is quite important for you, and you're good at expressing yourself through visual images as well. And I'm pretty nervous whenever I'm the one at the sight of a camera; taking pictures is much easier, I do that rather often. I'm not really good at it, but it's a habit nonetheless, since the people I love mostly live far away, so photos are the only way to share new things and beautiful sceneries. Merely another way of communication. Like, my beloved sees things around me, and I see things around her, and it almost feels like we're not so far away.

Kvas and Volga are the best! No idea about okroshka though, I don't eat salads, so it's up to mum to make it (and how). Or not make it, I don't know (x

Thanks for your support again 🌻 The way you believe in me always fills me with determination and hope, really.

Now that's true! Although personally I prefer to stay hungry for knowledge (x Food, not that much.

Why thank you 💞 I'll keep doing my best! And I usually watch walkthroughs, since my laptop's OS is Ubuntu, not Windows, so it's too tricky to download any games there, and we don't have PlayStation or anything. I wish I could play some games one day though. Returning to Undertale and Deltarune would be particularly nice. For now watching walkthroughs is sufficient, I guess. And Little Nightmares were so worth my time, it's incredible and beyond that.

A bit more news: yesterday I finally gathered the courage to contact the university, things start changing! Hopefully I'll send the documents they need in a few days, and then they'll return my documents to me so I can enter the university in my city. By the way, considering how likely it is that I won't get into the course with Chinese, do you think Spanish is a good choice? I mean, I'm going to continue learning Chinese as well, just not at the university. Knowing four languages (if we count Russian) by the time I graduate would be very nice anyway, but I'm still a bit hesitant to choose this fourth language. You learned Spanish, so I thought your opinion might help me a little.

Are there any reasons to panic? I get it's a joke, at least partially, but as they say, в каждой шутке лишь доля шутки (no idea if this has an English equivalent, to be honest), so I really feel the need to ask. Sleep and cocoa sound good though, especially now that you're working so hard. You deserve your rest, as well as those little yet very satisfying things (:

Any news or thoughts to share? I'm eager to listen to anything you have to say!

Take care 💞 *hugs*

Hi anfie╰(*´︶`*)╯

Oh no idea :D Since we hear our voice not the way it actually sounds,,, :') Besides, I'm not a big fan of singing even alone (I like playing the piano more <3), but being in karaoke with friends, how could I not join them to shout sing "Знаешь ли ты..." XD What about you? *^*

You did! So hard to choose (//∇//) I've always had a soft spot for sunsets though ♡ (I can look for better ones on my PC later—)

Another way of communication, that's it! ☆ For the visual can tell more than words, or even replace them, and that's incredible <3 Do you use a camera or a phone? *^*

Wait, you don't eat salads at all?? :0

I'm really happy to hear it! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Being hungry for knowledge is a really good habit heheh ☆

Wow— I've never heard about this OS (°▽°) How's it? Nothing replaces personal experience but watching walkthroughs is really practical and interesting, especially when the game itself is worth it <3

Oh yay!! Congrats! (*'▽'*) And good luck with final steps to the university ☆ Spanish is a really good choice and is pretty easy to learn *^*

No worries, I had reason to panic about the deadlines only xd but now that they're over I can finally breathe for a while ╰(*´︶`*)╯ All that remains is to rejoin the rhythm of life and embody the plans ♪ And you? ☆

Take care *hugs* ♡

[moss-sauce]

max and tin tlc. 5+1 thing.

1.

Maxis’ hair is notorious for being out of sorts, ruffled and scruffy as it may be. Being as it never catches a reprieve from being scuffed and rustled, it’s no wonder its state of being. The Hounds ruffle her hair as a brotherly sort of gesture, running their hands over her head roughly in a token of love, or as close as they let themselves get to it.

Tinleah, however, does it simply because it pleases both of them.

She is gentle when she does it. She doesn’t press down hard enough to feel Max’s skull beneath her fingertips, to where she knows it’d be uncomfortable. She knows Max would take it in stride, being the non-confrontational way she is, but Tinleah knows her best.

So, as Max sits in her Orbiter, playing with Taffy and Trouvaille, she starts the habit. 

On the floor, Max is still tittering happily at Taffy’s antics. The kavat chases a gleam of light shining off of Max’s armor in the bright room, scampering about. 

Tinleah takes her chance to strike. 

Just a casual walk past them, nothing more, she tells herself. But her hands act on their own accord, reaching out and running through the fiery orange locks impulsively.

Max freezes at the touch, and Tinleah fears she had pushed a boundary. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean--” she starts to explain.

“What?” Max is just as confused and muddled as she is.

“The hair ruffling.”

“Oh.” Max tries to shrug nonchalantly, but it’s apparent how she longs for more touches. “I’m just used to going still when it happens for fear of someone’s gear catching a clump and ripping it off of me,” she jokes.

“So... you don’t mind it?”

“Not at all.”

“Good.” Tinleah plants her hand back on Max’s head and scratches the way she’d pet Taffy. Max leans into it subconsciously, and she swears she hears Hush try to giggle from the sidelines. “Because now that I know you like it, I literally will not stop.”

“Good,” Max murmurs back. 

⁂

⁂

2.

One of Max’s tells is when she rubs the back of her neck; nervous, anxious, flustered, they’re all causes for the action. Be it Zus scolding her for being reckless, someone complimenting her, or Tinleah laying on thickly how much she loves her, Max will always rub her neck bashfully in the end. 

What would happen if she tried it? Tinleah wondered.

She waits for her opportunity to arise. Days on end spend waiting, planning for a moment to strike. 

She gets her chance one night in the Plains of Eidolon. Maxis enjoys sitting at the Gara Toht Lake shrine to listen to the erie wailing of the Eidolons, a forlorn sound to her. She feels for them, Tinleah knows; she understands the complex need to be whole after being broken once before.

Trouvaille chases waterbugs on the surface of the lake, splashing shallowly in the water. Hush perches on a dashwire and fishes idly, snickering to herself when she heaves a Norg out of the water. Datura rests beside them, laid out and relaxed. Out in the middle of the lake at night, there are no threats to worry about. The Grineer are holed up in their camps, and Vomvalysts cannot traverse water this far.

“Whatcha thinkin ‘bout? I can hear the gears turning from here,” she comments at Maxis’ silence.

“Not much.” Max mutters. Her head hangs between her shoulders, hunched over her knees.

“Not much?”

“Not much...good. I dunno.”

Her heart softens. Maxis is prone to overthinking and dwelling, something Tinleah desperately wishes she could drain out of her somehow.”About?”

“Things.”

“What kinda things?”

Max shrugs, the signal for ‘I don’t know how to word it right now’.

Tinleah reaches over, automatically rubbing Max’s exposed neck comfortingly. 

Max tenses. She’s still growing accustomed to letting the more vulnerable parts of her body be touched harmlessly. Her neck is closely guarded: a thick hood surrounds the vital part of her, and she rarely tilts her head in a way that would leave it exposed.

Which said a lot. She’s knowingly leaving it exposed to Tinleah. The back of her neck, one of the most vulnerable parts of her. Bared in the moonlight reflecting off the lake.

Max tenses at first, prepared to swat Tinleah’s hand away from the tender spot. She seems to stop and remind herself of who she is with, that Tinleah wouldn’t hurt her in any way, shape, or form. She forces herself to relax under the ministrations.

Tin rubs soothingly, back and forth along the strip of skin beneath her fluffy, fiery-red hair and the start of her Transference suit.

“It’s just a lot, you know?” The formal speaking catches Tinleah off-guard. “A lot to think about. A lot to dwell on. A lot to deal with.”

Tinleah rubs harder, reminding Max that she’s there with her. “You’re not alone in it anymore, though. You’ve a family now, one that won’t abandon you.”

“But what if--”

“They won’t,” Tinleah presses. “So help me God, if Zus and the Hounds harm you intentionally, I’ll rip their ribs out of their torsos and use them to beat their skulls in.”

Max doesn’t laugh, a sign of how deeply she was festering.

Tin uses her grip on Max’s neck to pull her closer. Max goes willingly, tilting on her heels, head still hanging. 

“I know you’ve been through a lot,” she starts softly. “You’ve been through so much. But you’re still here, kicking and fighting the entire way. You’ve made an impact on people: the Hounds, on Zus and Buffy and Dodge, on me. Don’t get caught up in your past too much. It’s in the past, it happened, and you can go on past it.”

Max stays quiet. Tinleah fears she had gone too far with her comforting rambles, before she heaves a sigh far too tired and worn for such a young body to bear.

“Thank you.” Max rubs her eyes tiredly. “I love you, y’know that?”

Tin smiles. “I’ve been told once or twice.”

⁂

⁂

3.

Maxis is maddeningly reckless at times when her life is at stake. 

Stalker had appeared out of thin air, taunting the two of them. Without thinking, in her weaker, more vulnerable Operator form, Max had barreled into the fight. 

For crying out loud, girl, Tinleah laments to herself. How many times do I have to scrape you off the wall before you learn?

But she understood, at least partially. Maxis had been brought up in a brutish sort of lifestyle, being essentially raised by Grineer for the past few years. They were taught to go in, and give their all; Maxis was no exception. 

Only there are no replacements for Max. There aren’t any clones awaiting deployment in her absence, none of them can take the role as an Operator. 

There is only one Maxis.

So when Stalker backhands her into the wall, knocking the breath out of her lungs, Tinleah snaps.

“You weakling,” she snarls from within Datura. “You’re as much of a pushover now as you were back then. Back when your glorious and gold masters pretended to care about you.”

Stalker pauses in his descent onto a wheezing Max. He turns, glaring over his shoulder. “No,” he hisses plainly. 

“Yes,” Tinleah hisses back in a derisive voice. 

Stalker clenches his hand into a fist, unsheathing War from his back. “No,” he repeats, stronger this time.

“Try me.”

He lashes out with War, the long blade giving him ample range, but Datura and Tinleah are faster. Datura dodges easily, engaging in hand-to-hand with Stalker as Tinleah jumps out of Transference. Hush has taken to covering Maxis, who’s still sitting on the floor and catching her breath. 

Tinleah is furious at this… this being. This pathetic excuse of an assassin. Targeting children. “You’re a lousy monster, you know that?” She shouts to his back. Her amp is at the ready, and when he looks up to her, she unleashes her Void powers onto him. He staggers, reeling from the intensity, giving Hush and Datura the chance to go after him in his weakened, unadapted state. 

Stalker hisses again, not unlike a kavat, oddly. He knows he’s outnumbered and outgunned. He slings one last barrage of energy at Hush, who blocks it easily, before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Tinleah gathers her wits for a moment, before Max chimes in.

“What a loser.”

“You,” she snaps. 

“What?” Max stares back defiantly.

All the fire dissipates out of her. She can’t be mad at her for being the way she is. “Please. Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Max challenges.

“You’re reckless,” Tinleah mutters as she walks over to the downed Operator. “Especially when you’re with me. Why?”

“Because I’d rather be beat up a little than lose someone I care about.”

The response is blunt and floors Tinleah.

“But what if one of these times you don’t just get ‘beat up’? What if you get seriously hurt?”

The implication is there: what if you die?

“I can handle myself,” Maxis defends. She struggles to her feet, wheezing and clutching her ribs. “You don’t need to babysit me.”

“I need to make sure you’re safe.” Tinleah snips back. 

“I only do things I expect myself to be able to handle.”

“You expected to be able to handle Stalker on your own?”

“I’ve done it before,” Max complains. “Hush helped, yeah, but I kept his defenses down.”

“That’s not the point I’m trying to make.” Tinleah shakes her head. “My point is, there’s two of us here, why not...coordinate our attacks. Make them stronger, instead of one of us barging in and the other bailing them out.”

“You don’t ‘bail me out’,” Max grits. “I can handle myself.”

“That’s not the point!” Tin shouts. It catches Max off-guard, rendering her silent. “My point is, you’re so eager to rush into something where you could be harmed or killed, and you think it’s for the better because others aren’t being directly affected!” She points an accusatory finger at her. “What are we supposed to do if you get seriously hurt, where you can’t recover?” She inhales shakily. “What am I supposed to do if I lose you?”

Max stays quiet. The gears in her brain are obviously turning as she thinks over an appropriate response.

“I don’t quite know, then.” She answers simply. “I just thought that’s how it went.”

Tinleah wants to throttle her neck, slap her silly, hug her, kiss her, all at once. “Why don’ we work on it, then?” she suggests. 

“That works.” Max mumbles tiredly. 

Tinleah approaches, delicately touching her undoubtedly bruised shoulder. “You’ll need something for that. Ice packs, probably. When are you expected back?”

“Not for a while.”

“Good.” Tinleah rubs her back tenderly, and Max relaxes into it like a kubrow would relax into a back scratch. “You’re coming back with me for a bit. Solise will put you back together.”

“There’s nothin’ wrong,” Max mutters. “Jus’ sore.”

“That’s what you say now. When you’re out in the field tomorrow whining because your torso hurts because you wouldn’t listen to your girlfriend, you’ll understand why.”

Max huffs, but relents. “Fine. One condition.”

“This isn’t a negotiation,” Tinleah chimes with amusement. 

“It is now,” Max says. “You have to keep doing that.”

“Doing what?”

Max shrugs her shoulder under Tinleah’s hand, urging it back into motion on her back. She sighs and leans into the touch like Ruckus would. “That.”

“Fine. I’ll rub your back if you metaphorically scratch mine by staying safe.”

“Can do.”

⁂

⁂

4.

Max is physical in how she acts with her loved ones. 

She playfully swats and slings punches to the Hounds, though she dampens the blows when they rain on Tinleah. It’s not out of the ordinary, for her: that’s how she’s lived for the past several years, among rowdy, energetic soldiers in cramped spaces.

Tinleah finds it within herself to tolerate it.

Max flicks a cluster of pollen off her shoulder at her girl, smirking when it collides with Tinleah’s Transference suit and disintegrates into a small flaky circle of yellow.

“You test me.”

“I know,” Max chips. “It’s what I do.”

“You’re lucky I love you, then.”

“I’m lucky you love me? I’m lucky you’re tolerant. I’m blessed to be loved by you.”

“Oh, my God. That’s…”

“Awful? Cheesy?” Max pesters. “Cliche? Corny?”

“That’s lovely,” Tin finishes between her friend’s chattering. “You’re a poet and you don’t even know it.”

“I can’t write poetry,” Max scoffs. “God, have you seen my penmanship? I can barely write regularly.”

“Yes, I have. You’re right, though, it is awful,” she grins.

“See? Even my gal agrees I’m awful at some things.”

“No,” Tinleah says, the humor leaving her voice.

“That’s growth,” Max answers matter-of-factly. 

Tinleah is stunned silent. “Do you hear yourself when you speak?”

“I try not to.”

Tinleah snorts, slugging Max in the shoulder reflexively. Max hardly budges with the blow, but smiles genuinely. 

“Aw, you’re smackin’ me back. That’s growth, too,” she says.

“Shut up,” Tinleah swats her again. Max doesn’t budge again.

“All’s fair in love and war,” she warns. “Keep it up. I’ll slug you back.”

“You wouldn’t,” Tin scoffs.

“I would,” Max nods solemnly. She raises a fist. 

“Maxis Morgenne, you would not.”

“You’ve brought the surname out?” Max gasps. “Oh, it is serious, now.” She rises to her feet fluidly, like a predator. 

“Maxis!” Tinleah shrieks. There’s no stopping the onslaught, now. Max makes a dramatic show of prepping her fist, polishing it and winding up a punch. Tinleah can hardly breathe between her giggles.

Max swings, full force, but slows as soon as she comes close to Tinleah’s shoulder. It glances off the suit harmlessly, though she continues with faster momentum once she’s passed.

“I warned you. That would have been a seismic blow.” Max nods to herself.

“‘Seismic’?”

“You shoulder? Gone. That’s my power.”

“Your power is somehow being endearing while you’re actively threatening to slug me,” Tinleah snorts. 

“Exactly.”

⁂

⁂

5.

Maxis is still learning how to express affection physically.

With her brothers in arms, she punches, swats, flicks, kicks, and trips.

She doesn’t do that to Tinleah.

She’s figuring it out. She tries to be more delicate with her.

She’s also trying to figure out how to process it herself. 

“Gross. Did you just...lick my cheek?” Max snorts with a twisted face.

“The hell?”

“Did you?”

“No, moron.”

“Then what did you just do?”

“I gave you a kiss on the cheek,” Tin explains, deadpan. “You know, like what people in love do.”

Max falters, face melting for a moment. 

“Is...that okay with you?”

“I just never been smooched by someone that isn’t my parents. So, you know, it’s been a while.”

“You poor thing,” Tinleah whispers, drawing her into an embrace.

Max goes with it awkwardly. “Like, nothin’ wrong wit’ it, just--”

“You’re not used to it,” Tin finishes for her.

“Yeah.” Max shrugs. 

“By the Void, through Heaven and Hell, you’re going to get used to being treated tenderly, girl,” Tinleah takes her face in her palms, squishing her cheeks in her favorite way. “If I die doing it, you’ll still learn.”

Max stares dumbly back at her, before opening her mouth.

“Don’t you dare try to tell me otherwise,” Tin snaps to her. “You’re worth it, believe it or not.”

“Wasn’t gonna object none,” Max says. “Was gonna point out that you got glitter on your face, somehow.”

“Glitter?” She takes one hand to rub over her face furiously. “Where the hell would it have come from?”

“Hold still.” Max leans in, acting as if to swipe it off with a finger.

When she swoops in and kisses her cheek instead, she flushes.

“Love’s a two-way street,” Max smirks knowingly. “So if I have to learn it, you do, too.”

⁂

⁂

+1

“You ever think about...everything?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean like...everything. How did we get here? How did it all start? Where’d we come from?”

“Don’t get philosophical. I’m too tired for it.”

“No, like,” Max fumbles for words. “You get these giant creatures like Eidolons, but we still have tiny, microscopic critters everywhere. We’re jumping planet to planet with ease, within the Origin System. But what’s outside of it? Bigger creatures? Smaller ones? More interesting stuff to see?”

“There’s Tau,” Tin suggests.

“I’m not talking just Tau. I’m talking ‘how far does space go?’ What are we missing out on?”

“God, you’re so…” Tin trails off.

“Everything’s gotta start from somewhere, so where did all this come from?” Max takes her facemask off, rubbing her temples tiredly. The act itself is vulnerable: Maxis never took the thing off if she didn’t feel safe.

Hush flicks a rock into the water with a plunk! Datura scoffs at the behavior. 

“Like, of all the situations we coulda ended up in,” Max continues, “we ended up here.

I met you, you tolerated me, I got Hush, you got Datura, all that. So much could have gone differently.”

“I see what you mean,” Tinleah murmurs. “Quite lucky to have ended up where we are, then.”

“‘Course,” Max nods. She stares ahead at the water’s surface for a moment. 

“Max, your heart and mind are too damn big for your body,” Tin chuckles. “You--”

She’s cut off with lips meeting hers.

Max is a god-awful kisser. She’s uncoordinated, her lips are always chapped, her face is always covered in dirt of some sort, but by God, she tries. Her lips move gently against Tin’s, coaxing a noise from her throat, be it surprise or whatever other emotion she’s feeling in this maelstrom. 

Max pulls back awkwardly. “S’rry,” she grunts, scooting away.

“Don’t you dare be.” Tinleah snaps to look at her. “You’re so brave in combat and every other discipline, but you’re still scared to get close to someone, I know. You doing that on your own volition means a lot.”

“It’s not that--”

“Shush. Let me speak. You’re still learning to let yourself be vulnerable, I get that. Up until now, I’ve initiated all the contact between us, and I’ve no problem with that. You’re still getting your bearings with it. So you doing this, now, on your own, is huge. Maxis, darling, you’re lovin’ now.”

Max stares at her. Her green eyes reflect the light of the moon. Hush fawns over them from her spot by Datura.

Tinleah pulls her in again. “I’m willing to practice,” she smirks against Max’s face, their lips touching ever so lightly. 

Hush clutches her heart, throwing a hand on Datura’s shoulder dramatically as she clings to metaphorical life. Datura just rolls her head at Hush’s antics.

“God, get that Warframe of yours under control first.”

[noirbriar]

MDZS AU Headcanon dump: Stay (6)

(Part 1 here)  (Part 2 here)  (Part 3 here)  (Part 4 here)  (Part 5 here)

LWJ did regain his mobility gradually as Wen Qing has said. A-Yuan seems flustered why WWX is so distraught but LWJ have taught the child well,( or as well as he could he thinks ) he didn’t fuss or wail, but going as far to bring his toys and give his Xian gege and try and cheer him up.WWX was still physically weak but not as bad as LWJ who got poisoned.What were the odds seriously?

But until the talisman burns, they will wait. they will keep faith. Brother, Uncle, please. Don’t. LWJ hopes quietly. After sometime, a-Yuan tired himself out reading and fell asleep between the two. LWJ can move his upper body but his fingers are still numb, as he shifts and adjusts the space among the three of them to let the child sleep better.While WWX is tucked beside him ( LWJ you opportunistic lil shit ) “Lan Zhan.” 

“Mn.” 

“Do you think...things would have gone differently?If I had not been so reckless.So foolish? So idealistic in thinking I’m infallible and now, everyone around be just...just..”

 “You did what is right, Wei Ying.” 

“Lan Zhan.” 

Why did you choose to stay?” 

“...” 

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for you doing so much for me, for the Wen family and all.For staying beside me.Its just...strange. My mother used to say I should always remember the good others do for you, never the good you do for others.To be honest, I can fathom why you would do all this except-” “Wei Ying.” “Lan Zhan, you...are especially nice.I like you.” ”...!” ”Its not simply out of gratitude or whatever nonsense.You are really nice Lan Zhan.This lifetime, or another, I can think of no one else to be with.” ”!!” ”I want to go on Night Hunts with you forever.” LWJ froze.WWX can feel the cultivator next to him going rigid, he can hear the man’s heart for goodness sake. And quickly tried to salvage this awkward situation. “Ah.Ahaha.Ha...I mean, no one who do all this for a nobody.I know its weird and we are men and Hanguang Jun must have fair maiden you are keen about. But its true you are really nice. Ahahaha! I’m sure your uncle is flipping out now and demand that we release you or something!Or that I got you possessed! Imagine that! The righteous Hanguang Jun getting controlled by the scary Yiling Lao Zu-” The next thing WWX knows, is a hand grabbing the back of his neck and LWJ’s crushing his lips on his.Neither chaste nor gentle, its reason was clear.In no way he had expected this but he isn’t weirded out by it, in fact, deep down he welcomed it...?All those days hanging around LWJ, spending time together, those small soft feelings started bubbling up inside.WWX knew then.And he swears, if weren’t for the fact he can’t feel his limbs, he definitely wouldn’t with how intense LWJ is kissing right now.All he can do is return it, his tongue softly running over LWJ’s velvet lips.And-wait a moment. WAIT A MOMENT. ”L-Lan Zhan!Stop stop stop stop-!” ”?!” ”This, I-, Lan Zhan...was it you who kissed me on Bai Feng Shan?!Was that why you-Oh.Oh hoh.Ho.” ”I-” ”Lan Zhan.Lan Zhan~Lan er gege~Why are your ears so red?Was I right?Ahhhhhh!It was you! Wait!How long-Have you really liked me for-no no no, how long have you been hiding this!Ahhhh, Lan Zhan, I’m so happy, Lan zhan~Lan er gege~” LWJ shut the demonic cultivator up once more, making sure to bite the smug man who was grinning into his kisses. (FFS you two have a kid there!Right there!) Without a sign still, LWJ finally regained his mobility. and went to check on the things Wen Qing had prepared for them ( “Lan er gege...release me?”’No.You will go running into danger first.””But-””Its been awhile, if anything happens, it would already have.””True...””We promised the Wens.”) Provision, medicine, Bichen, Wangji Qin, notes for cultivating a core by Wen Qing herself, Chengqing...Suibian is missing but then again, LWJ isn’t even sure if WWX knows where is it himself. A-Yuan woke up and got restless, going back to his books beside WWX when they heard of people approaching.LWJ quickly went over and undid WWX’s locked points and they gather up a-Yuan and his butterfly toys. Could it be Wen Qing was too late in warning them?He was too careless! Things happened quickly then, Nie cultivators had come up the Mounds and NMJ slowly approached the trio. He barely glanced at them and continued his survey of the area. LWJ had Bichen out and ready. Even though he is barely in any condition against the leader of Qinghe Nie with his Baxia, making sure to shield WWX and A-Yuan behind him. “So?Where are they Wei WuXian?” “Who?” “Wen cultivators.Your army.Fierce corpses.” “....They went to meet you and the other leaders didn’t they?Are you here to finish up and get rid of menaces like us-” “Wei Ying-” Although nothing could have prepared the cultivators for an unexpected attack. Especially not NMJ, as he looked down and finds the huffiest and most baleful looking child to look back at him. The exact same child to tried (key word tried) to knock his leg over that also looked like he’s about to cry. “You are a bad man, go away!You are making everyone upset!C-Cultivators are suppose to help people!Wen Yuan wants you to stop!” ( throw back to the second seige where Sizhui snapped ) “...” “...” “...” “Oh heavens, a-Yuan.PLEASE.WHY.” (Part 7 here)

[radishearts]

Confession week: ladynoir july

previous chapters:  

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19453693?view_full_work=true

this specific chapter:  Chapter 16

 it’s still day 4 but it’s part 16 - Oblivio:

There were many choices.

Kiss the turtle and hope for the best?

Or act like a damsel in distress, and wait for some prince to come and save her.

She looked out the window, sure enough, there were mummies and knights climbing up her tower.

That crazy pharaoh and the knight guy came back.

And Anasi as she spun a web around the building looked like it too.  

ok.

She was going to have to do it.

She was going to have to save herself this time.

And the opportunity was right there.

In the form of a turtle.

She didn’t want to do it.

“I can’t believe I'm doing this.” she muttered, scooping up the turtle and holding up like simba.

“Here goes nothing!”

She kissed the turtle.

Suddenly magic sparkles filled the air.

The turtle changed back to it’s normal form.

And they were back where they were.

Right in paris.

Right where they were before the akuma attacked them.

‘The dark ominous cloud of light was above them in the sky.

Bunnix was right, she was going to send everyone into the fairytale.

And there was nothing they could do about it.

Nothing.

“There going to be ok.” carapace whispered

“I hope so, that's my best friend there nino, and yours too.”

“I know.” his voice barely audible as he wrapped her in a tight embrace, “ I know…” - “What if i just grabbed your face and kissed you?” she said, voice barely above a whisper as she watched the two guards poke around the area where they had seen ‘robin hood’ and his so called accomplice, ‘lady mariam’.

“What?” he whispered “is this some type of joke?”

“What never kissed a girl before?”

“Yes..no...maybe, what's it to you mary poppins?”

“Dude i may be mary poppins, but at least i slay, you my monkey friend fall short of any measure of fabulousness!”

“Whatever, stop being extra, we both know the truth i am more fabulous than you could ever be.” he paused as the superheroine rolled his eyes at him, “but anyway, why would you kiss me?”

“Don’t get it twisted dude, i don’t want to as much as you do, but if we’re in the fairytale: robin hood, which i’ve heard recited over a million times by one of my friends, then what happened in the end is that  we fall in love get married  and kiss.”

“Really?”

“Is it that had to believe? It’s disney dude.”

“I meant really, as in you think it’ll work.”

“Kisses break curses, and whatever dis is,” she gestured around them, “ is a living curse.”

“Well ok then.”

“don’t get it twisted, I don’t wanna kiss you as much as the next person, but like, to get out of his mess, we might have to.”

“are you implying?- hmph!”

She grabbed his face and kissed him.

leaving them with a whole new set of problems.

1. he started kissing her back

2. she surprisingly wore a fruity lipgloss, and he wa saddicted

3. rena and carapace were staring at them

but as she deepned the kiss.

(if you could even call it that, more like a makeout session )

all the problems in the world seemed to melt away.

- The huge bell tower struck 12 and magic sparkles flew down the dragons pink dress leaving her a torn gown.

“Finally!” she sighed “ those two minutes in that monstrosity was a pure horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I dunno, you looked pretty adorable”

If you ever call me that again I will slit your throat.”

“Alright, so what are we supposed to do? I think the clock and the magic pumpkins and mice squirming about, says this is cinderella.”

“Whats cinderella?”

“Child please tell me your’ve watched disney.”

“Whats ‘this knee’ about?”

“Did you just pun?”

“I’m serious, whats is ‘this knee’ about?”

“She needs help serious help.”

“Tell me what this ella of cinders was about, i’m very interested.”

“Once upon a time there lived a girl who was brave and beautiful, however she lived with her stepmother and her two ugly step sisters, who quarreled over everything. They made her life miserable and made her a servant of the house, however one day while out in the market, she met a prince however at that time she didn’t know it. He was smitten over her and even though he was to marry a princess, he felt the need to meet her again. In doing this he proclaimed a ball, invited every maiden in the land to the prestigious event, cinderella wishing she could go made a dress, however when the time came for her family to leave they ripped her dress and forbade her from going. After crying for a little bit suddenly her fairy godmother appeared and with a little bit of magic she went to the ball, she met the prince, danced with him and at the stroke of midnight the magic wore off, she ran away, a single slipper left on the staircase a clue to where she was, fast forward the prince found her after a shoe tryathon and they got married and lived happily ever after.”

“That's a very unrealistic story line.”

“It’s a fairytale for children, it’s allowed to be.”

“So what are you suggesting we do?”

“How about i put your shoe on?”

“What a strange request? But if that what it takes to get out of here i shall comply.”

She slipped off her shoe and sat on the staircase and he slipped it on.

Magic sparkles flew around them and they found themselves with rena, carapace standing above them. Roi singe and bunnix a few meters away

The sky had darkened, ladybug, chat noir, pegasus and queen bee were still no where to be found.

The looming doom of being sent back into fairytale raged over the city and they all (bar roi singe and bunnix who weren't paying attention to anything else and were still kissing eachother) said a silent prayer.

- “Makeup supplies, beauty products come and get your pick at madam zu zu’s shop!”

“Oooh, i didn’t know they had make up in fairytales, lets go peggy!”

“My name is not peggy and I would not advise you go in there without taking the proper precautions!”

But it was too late, queen bee had rushed in the house. That's when he heard a scream, which he assumed to be of delight before several minutes of silence.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

He bust opened the door to find ‘madam zu zu’ or in her or shall we say his true form as kung food stirred a stew with queen bee tied to a post ready to be dropped into the soup.

She was squirming and shouting retortes that were muffled by the tape that was over her mouth. The akuma threw bread crumbs at him, which was definitely a twist to the fairytale.  He opened up a teleportation portal and quickly untied her before they teleported there butts out of there.

“Thank you peggy” she whispered embrcing him “ i was stupid, i shouldn’t have done that.”

“What was that?”

“If your expecting me to repeat that you may as well put that piece of tape on my mouth again.”

Pegasus rolled his eyes, brushing off the bread crumbs that had stuck to his costume.

Suddenly light flashed around them and they both found themselves in a place that really didn’t look like paris.

Dark.

Cold.

And eerie.

The 4 superheroes crowded around them helping them up.

The bunny and the monkey miraculous holders still engrossed in what they were doing and not caring that the two most powerful miraculous holders still hadn’t shown up.

-----

Chat cradled her in his arms. Style queen let out an evil cackle sending shivers down his and the other akumas spines.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing that you can’t fix.”

He looked down at her, cold and lifeless.

What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to fix this?

To his surprise some of the akumas gathered around him.

Most specifically the love akumas.

Dark cupid, glaciator and one of their most recent akumas, the shipper which they had mocked over her choice of name.

“Are you familiar with sleeping beauty?” the shipper asked - “What is taking them so long?” rena said on the verge of tears, embedding herself into carapace chest.

“They’ll be fine, they got this, we got this.”

“I swear, if chats kissing her and that's why they  aren’t here I will punch him where it hurts and then i’ll hug him.”

“The likelihood of them kissing is at 99.9%” pegasus stated not battering an eye nor using a calculator.

“Good to know the odds are good, five euroes says i’m right.”

“ ten euroes says there secretly already dating.”

“Doubt it, chat would have proclaimed that to the entire world if that was the case.”

“She is his world, of course he would have told her.”

“ I meant social media you dork,”

“Oh.” he said looking down at the ground in shame.

---- “I’ve watched the movie a few times.” chat sniffed, it appeared he was crying, as he wiped his eyes “why, what would that have do do with- ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh……”

His bran clicked and he suddenly he realised what she was hinting at.

Those sly akumas.

“She’s done it before, i’m sure it wouldn’t hurt if you saved her life?” dark cupid smirked

“You two really do act like a couple!” glaciator agreed

“And you’ve kissed twice!” the shipper added

Chat looked down on her.

Pretty- no beautiful as ever, just deeply asleep.

“I can’t.”

“What?”

“Excuse moi?

“Why?”

“Of course I like her, but i’m not going to kiss her without her permission, it’s not like were dating so i just can’t.”

All the akumas gave him THAT look and he shrugged sheepishly and he tucked a stray peice of hair behind her hair, gazing at her lovingly.

“Only if she’d have me.” he whispered. “ and I can't ask her that right now….”

Whispers filled the silence of the room.

“He really does love her.” copy cat sighed

“The childs an angel and a gentleman.” bubbler gushed dramatically raising his hand to his forehead and falling into lady wifi’s arms who of course dropped him in 0.0002 seconds.

“Hold the heck up people!” lady wifi said quieting down the crowds of akumas “ we can’t encourage this stupid and blind cat, of course the girls in love with him, like the shipper said, she’s kissed him twice, if thats not enough evidence, what is?”

“A formal announcement on social media?” the guy with the green glasses (that chat couldn’t pinpoint when they had defeated him.)

“Do shut up gamer.” she flicked her head back at chat noir “sha. La. la.” she said very un- enthusiastically so much so that chat almost feared for his life “ kiss the damn girl.”

Oh, she was referencing the little mermaid.

“ i just can’t.”

Everyone in the room gave him T.H.A.T look.

“Child please, of course you can kiss the girl, and if your not going to do it willingly, I will accidentally-push-you-into-her-so-you-face plant-on-each-others-lips, and trust me child i’m VERY accurate at that.”

“Something tells me you’ve had practice.”

“Nothing you can prove , now kiss her.”

Sighing chat noir brushed away her bangs and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

He wasn’t going to kiss her. Not today. And not like this. He actually had planned out on the eiffel tower, a romantic scene when finally he would tell her that he L-

Ladybug woke up.

It was no time for these thoughts.

The akuma sighed handing over the moth-infested object at a confused ladybug who cleansed the akuma unfazed.

But yet they still remained in the alternate dimension.

still stuck in the fairy tale.

@ladynoirjuly2019

[space--cadet-glow]

Translation: “The Minish Cap” in German, Part 24: Gather ALL the Things

We interrupt this program to get our hands on things to help us on our journey. Tune in next time to find out if the Blade Brothers ever shut up. Here is my translation of the German version of "The Minish Cap" to English!

My translation key: DT: „direct translation" (translated word for word) EQ: “English equivalent” (as in, as close to an English-sounding sentence as it’s gonna get) DT/EQ: „"direct translation/English equivalent" (for when the DT is so similar to an EQ that it’s practically English already) OE: “official English (translation as given in the European English version of “The Minish Cap”)“ (NOTE:) "anything I need to point out” (exactly what it says on the tin) BG: „backwards German” for the Minish language in reverse form

My translation work under the cut.

Magnus: „Nanu? Dieser Mantel! Und du bist noch geschickter geworden!" DT: „Well? This Cloak! And you are still skillful become!" EQ: "Well? This Cloak! And you're still becoming skillful!" OE: "Aha! Yes! You have the Roc's Cape! And you have acquired new skill!"

Magnus: „Ja! Jetzt können wir eine neue Technik trainieren!" DT: „Yes! Now can we a new technique train!" EQ: "Yes! Now, we can train a new technique!" OE: "Yes! I am ready to train you again!"

Magnus: „Bist du willens, bei mir zu trainieren?" DT: „Are you willing, with me to train?" EQ: "Are you willing to train with me?" OE: "So? Would you like to train here?"

POSSIBLE REPLIES: „Ja bitte." oder „Nein danke." DT/EQ: „"Yes, please." or „"No, thank you." OE: "Please" or "No, thanks"

Magnus: „So sei es! Ich werde dich nun die Technik der Sturzattacke lehren!" DT: „So be it! I will you now the technique (of) the Downfall-attack teach!" EQ: "So be it! I will teach you the Downfall-attack technique!" OE: "Now I will teach you a new technique, the Down Thrust!" (NOTE: For once, the German name sounds cooler! DOWNFALL ATTACK.)

Magnus: „1. Ziehe den Greifenmantel an!" DT/EQ: „"1. Put the Griffen-cloak on!" OE: "First!! Equip the Roc's Cape!!" (NOTE: „anziehen".)

Magnus: „2. Rüste dich mit dem Schwert aus!" DT/EQ: „"2. Prepare yourself with the Sword (x)!" OE: "Second!! Equip the sword!!" (NOTE: „ausrüsten" as well.)

Magnus: „3. Spring hoch in die Luft!" DT/EQ: „3. Jump high in the air!" OE: "Third!! Jump!! Then..."

Magnus: „4. Zücke das Schwert am höchsten Punkt des Sprunges!" DT/EQ: „"4. Pull out the Sword at (the) highest point (of) the jump!" OE: "Fourth!! At your jump's peak, swing the sword!"

Magnus: „Es ist vollbracht!" DT/EQ: „It is accomplished!" OE: "That's all, young swordsman!!"

Magnus: „Hast du das verstanden?" DT: „Have you that understood?" EQ: "Did you understand that?" OE: "Do you understand?"

POSSIBLE REPLIES: „Ja." oder „Nein." DT/EQ: „"Yes." or „No." OE: "Yes" or "No"

Magnus: „Höchst erfreulich, dass dein Verstand so schnell arbeitet!" DT: „Most gratifying/enjoyable, that your mind/understanding so quickly works!" EQ: "Most gratifying that your mind/understanding works so quickly!" OE: "Yes! You see it, do you not?!"

Magnus: „Doch Schwerttechniken muss man mit dem eigenen Körper erlernen." DT: „But Swordtechniques must one with the own body learn." EQ: "But one must learn Sword-techniques with their own body." OE: "But one must FEEL the technique, not just hear about it!"

Magnus: „Ich mache deinen Körper zur Marionette und lasse dich die Technik ausführen!" DT: „I make your body to the puppet and let you the technique perform!" EQ: "I will make your body a puppet and let you perform the technique!" OE: "That's why I will now possess your body so as to demonstrate the technique!"

Magnus: „Nun also, die Marionettentechnik von Meister Magnus! Sehe und staune!" DT: „Now so, the Puppets-technique of Master Magnus! See and marvel!" EQ: "So now, the Puppet-technique of Master Magnus! See and marvel!" OE: "I call this the Swiftblade Switcheroo technique of training!"

Magnus: „Eins, zwei, drei..." DT/EQ: „"One, two, three..." OE: "Watch this!! Urrngh!!"

Magnus: „Marionette nun sei!" DT: „Puppet now be!" EQ: "Now be a puppet!" OE: "Switch...Ah...Roo!"

Magnus: „So! Nun versuche es selbst!" DT/EQ: „"So! Now attempt it yourself!" OE: "Phew... Now! You must try it yourself!"

Magnus: „Zieh den Greifenmantel an, springe hoch in die Luft und..." DT/EQ: „"Put the Griffen-cloak on, jump high in the air and..." OE: "Equip the Roc's Cape and the sword!! Jump!!"

Magnus: „...zücke das Schwert am höchsten Punkt in der Luft!" DT/EQ: „"...pull out the Sword at (the) highest point in the air!" OE: "When you reach your jump's peak, swing the sword! That's all!"

Magnus: „Sehr gut! Ich überreiche dir diese Schriftrolle der Schwertkunst." DT: „Very good! I hand over to you this Scroll of the Sword-arts." EQ: "Very good! I hand this Scroll of the Sword-arts over to you." OE: "Yes!! Fine work! You know the way! I will now give you this Tiger Scroll!"

Magnus: „Falls du eine Schwerttechnik vergessen solltest, kannst du dort nachsehen!" DT: „In case you a Sword-technique forget should, can you there check back!" EQ: "In case you should forget a Sword-technique, you can check back there!" OE: "If you ever forget this technique, you can review it with this scroll!"

ITEM GET: „Du hast die Sturzattacke erlernt! Mit voller Kraft vom Himmel herab!" DT: „You have the Downfall-attack learned! With full power from (the) sky down!" EQ: "You learned the Downfall-attack! With full power down from the sky!" OE: "You learned the secret Down Thrust fighting technique!"

Heureta: „Und fertig! Die Fernzünder-Bombe! Genau wenn du's willst, macht's "Bumm"!" DT: „And finished! The Remote-detonating-Bombs! Exactly when you (it) want, makes (it) "boom"!" EQ: "And, finished! The Remote-detonating-Bombs! Goes "boom" exactly when you want it!" OE: "At last, it's complete! The Remote Bomb! It blows up whenever you want!" (NOTE: GERMAN BELARI, WHAT THE HECK.)

Heureta: „Probier es aus! Wenn du normale Bomben brauchst, tausche ich sie dir zurück." DT: „Try it out! If you normal bombs need, exchange I them (to) you back." EQ: "Try it out! If you need normal bombs, I'll exchange them back to you." OE: "If you ever need normal bombs again, just trade me back for them. So..."

Heureta: „Gegen Fernzünder-Bomben tauschen?" DT: „Toward Remote-detonating-Bombs exchange?" EQ: "Exchange to the Remote-detonating-Bombs?" OE: "Want to trade for Remote Bombs?"

POSSIBLE REPLIES: „Tauschen." oder „Nächstes Mal." DT/EQ: „"Exchange." or „"Next time." OE: "Sure" or "No, thanks"

ITEM GET: „Fernzünder-Bomben erhalten! Drücke den Knopf, um eine" DT: „Remote-detonating-Bombs received! Press the button, in order a" EQ: "Received the Remote-detonating-Bombs! Press the button in order to" OE: "You traded for Remote Bombs."

ITEM GET: „Bombe abzulegen! Drückst du den Knopf erneut, explodiert sie." DT: „Bomb cast-down! Press you the button once more, explodes it." EQ: "cast down a Bomb! Press the button once more; it will explode." OE: "Press the button to use a bomb, then press the button again to detonate it."

Heureta: „Komm einfach vorbei, wenn du normale Bomben haben willst!" DT: „Come just by, if you normal Bombs have want!" EQ: "Just come by if you want to have normal Bombs!" OE: "If you ever want to use normal bombs again, just come see me."

Gorone 1: „Auch zu dritt haben wir es nicht geschafft..." DT: „Also (in a group of) three (x) we it not make..." EQ: "Even in a group of three, we did not make it..." OE: "That's a tough wall! The three of us together couldn't even break it..." (NOTE: „zu dritt". Idiomatic.)

Gorone 4: „Es riecht nach leckeren Steinen... von der anderen Seite der Mauer her." DT/EQ: „"It smells like delicious stones... on the other side (of) the wall here." OE: "I smell delicious stones... They're right on the other side of this wall."

Gorone 2: „Hilfst du uns?" DT: „Help you us?" EQ: "Want to help us?" OE: "Can you give me a hand? Gorogoro?" (NOTE: Basically idiomatic.)

[garlemail]

Reports, Theories, and an Editor

Shirogane Apartment Tower

Another day and another sunset filtered through the windows of the Shirogane apartment-turned-office. Said setting sun found the Lalafell's bed unoccupied in the back room. Ququsi jen Qusi, and her savage husband Zuzukuta Rerekuta, usually liked to enjoy themselves at the end of a long day with a soak in their tub▬provided someone remembered to prepare a bath. Unfortunately, today’s lack of relaxation stemmed not from forgetfulness, but from duty. A request for a report recently chimed over the magitek communications terminal installed near the back of the room.

Having actually been away in Limsa Lominsa for the better part of a month, today marked their first night back on the far eastern archipelago. Despite their annoyance at the length of the trip, both were in seemingly good spirits as Qusi stood before the blinking device.

“Furthermore," Qusi quipped as she geared toward concluding her report, "we recommend that you locate a merchant who prefers to sell directly. One who asks few questions and listens to even fewer tales; who only wants to take your gil and for you to piss off at the end. Since this is such a delicate request, for the good of the Cohort, we’d recommend a simple Limsa Red. It goes great with nearly everything and is very refined. And generally, the winery uses plain bottles. So, you can just rip off whatever labeling they'd put on it, repackage it, and send it to the throne without alerting anyone to its place of origin▬until after his Radiance has found it desirable.”

“Didn’t they say it goes best with fish?” Zu called out from where he was seated across the room, sorting through the wine bottles they had brought back from their trip.

“Yeah," Qusi nodded, "but the rumor is: the emperor doesn’t like fish.”

"Scared of 'em?”

“Ya know..." Qusi trailed as she tilted her head, finger tapping thoughtfully at her chin, "He might be.” A grin spread across Qusi's face as she broke into laughter.

Zu followed suit before pointing at the device, noting the blinking red light, “It’s still on.”

“Oh, let it be on," Qusi waved her hand dismissively. "Everyone knows the emperor has a thing against fish. Well, that’s the theory at least. It's probably some dumb rumor a jealous rival started for whatever end-game. Was maybe part of an attempt to take him down with an army of fish…”

“A great fish primal?” Zu looked up from his wine with a smirk.

Releasing an even greater laugh, Qusi then turned fully towards Zu, "YES! It’ll just be a giant form of the idiot ones around here." With hands held up in a mocking attempt to be threatening, her voice dropped into a lower tone, “TREMBLE, MORTALS, AT THE RINGING OF MY MIGHTY BELL….ALSO, I HAVE SOME MERCHANDISE TO SELL YOU, HALF-OFF!!”

While watching Zu roll off his chair from laughing, Qusi needed a moment to stifle her laughter before turning back to the device.

“That’s all!" She concluded with a clap of her hands, "Deep-Cover 1 out.”

Seeing Zu still on the floor trying to compose himself, Qusi stepped closer and reached for one of the wine bottles placed on a nearby table. After filling a pair of tumblers, she set one before her husband with a laugh, “It wasn’t that funny.”

“Call it my ‘savage’ sense of humor,” he grinned.

Qusi nodded with a hum, “We’ll need to work on that.”

Sitting up with his cup, Zu takes a large sip before shaking his head. “Is my Rose no-longer amused? Mayhap, she’s become too Imperial for me, now,” he sighed with emphasized dejection.

“Don’t ya start with that shite again.”

“There is my Rose,” Zu smiles, rising is tumbler in a toast.

Upon seeing the man's cup raised towards her, Qusi just sighed and returned the gesture. About to inquire about preparing a relaxing bath, or dinner, she was suddenly interrupted by the terminal flashing behind her.

Noticing it first Zu, immediately pointed toward the terminal, “It’s flashin' again.”

“Again?" Qusi turned to face the device, "But we already did our stupid…" She trailed in confusion before stepping closer, "Which button is this one?" Channel opened with a press, the lalafell answered the call, "This is Deep-Cover 1.”

“What in the names of the Twelve are ya two shites doin'?!” A mocking female voice erupted over the line.

The two lalafells signed upon hearing the aggravatingly familiar voice; it was Deep Cover 4. Whereas Deep Cover 3 and 5 were, respectively, at least tolerable, this woman just wanted to keep on being special. So special, in fact, that other members of the cohort were often called upon to double check this Miqo’te’s work▬to confirm she that actually did something for the company.

“What do you want Tudmu?” Qusi asked flatly.

“It’s C’tudmu.”

“Yeah..." Qusi drawled as she swirled her tumbler of wine, "I ain’t gonna remember that. Ya ain’t worth it.”

“Hmph," Qusi could practically hear the miqo'te folding her arms in a fit of pique over the channel, "And ‘ere I though ya little ones were jovial an ‘appy.”

“The last time I was 'friendly' with you,” Qusi pointed out in annoyance, “I was the one who had to travel all the way to some bloody Castrum to confirm that I wasn’t mentally unfit for my duties.”

“Yeah, yeah," was C’tudmu's blithe response, "At least ya got a little sight-seein' done with the ol’ savage ball-an'-chain.”

“THAT AIN’T THE POINT!" Qusi took a breath to calm her self. Mostly. "What do you want?!” While noticing Zu stepping beside her, Qusi tries further to calm herself with a drink.

Despite the innocence in the cat’s voice, that trip to the Castrum was not fun. And since their current job paid the bills for their two rooms in Shirogane, Qusi had no choice but to make the trip. While thankful that Zu accompanied her, neither would have called their journey fun.

“I was just callin' to see why ya put all that nonsense at the end of ya report.”

“What nonsense?" Qusi pulled back from her drink to blinks at the terminal, "I just dictated a message for H.Q.”

“HehehehahaHAHAHAHAHAHA." C’tudmu exploded into a laugh that made Qusi's ears ring, "Ya dumb little shite! That wasn’t the dictation line! It was the report line! The entire organization is gonna see that nice part 'bout a giant fish primal.”

Qusi paled.

Immediately checking the device's settings, neither Qusi nor Zu couldn't locate an error with the equipment: It was set for the same frequency they always used for transmitting their reports to H.Q.

“Impossible, this thing hasn’t change unlss…" Qusi's paler turned ruddy as realization dawned and gave way to anger, "HE CHANGED THE BLODDY FREQUENCIES! AGAIN! DIDN’T HE?!”

“He changed them two weeks ago,” C’tudmu confirmed.

“While I was on his stupid assignment, then!?”

“Well, there ain’t nothin' to be done 'bout it, but laugh." C’tudmu laughed to punctuate her point. "Still, I gotta thank ya. On mah way to Limsa," she drawled, her tone turning lusty, "I needed a good ice-breaker for ol’ Three.”

“He ain’t gonna mate with you,” Qusi stated flatly.

“Unlike you, I know what a male wants. He’ll crack… eventually.”

“I’m sure he will," Qusi confirmed unconvincingly. "You’ve got a better chance doing that through some magitek then through ya got with your disgustin' 'charms.'”

“Still mad they worked on ya savage?”

“Oh, go and get rejected, ya gil-'hore’!”

Killing the signal, Qusi turned to Zu. They looked at each other in shared annoyance. Neither wanted to talk about the last “meeting of the deep-covers” in which, to impress Deep-Cover 3, also known as the Sike’ya lux Zhusne, C’tudmu wore something barely classifiable as clothing.

Although it attracted the attention of Deep Cover 5, Lambin Pyr Gardner, and the Garlean agents stationed nearby, it did not draw the intended target's attention. Instead, the miqo'tean architectus was more focused on fielding Qusi’s questions concerning upgrading the cohort's equipment. Upon taking Sike’ya's apparent dismissal of her seductive efforts as a personal offense, C’tudmu turned her attention toward Qusi's husband, Zu▬who was quite wined-up at the time.

Some bouts of yelling and screaming later and the group was forced to take their seats for the meeting▬Zu having cuffed Qusi’s hands and gagged her to prevent further arguing. Although this would usually be considered an offending act on Zu's part, Qusi couldn't blame for taking such action. During her time as Deep Cover 1, Qusi has gathered many blackmail-worthy secrets. It would not du for Qusi to spout those secrets in a fit of anger. Instead, Zu saw fit to help his wife hold her tongue, and save those secrets for a situation more dire, or useful, than a drunken cat flirting with him.

While neither blamed the other, it was still an annoying memory. The only thing more annoying, now, was the communications terminal blinking away.

Qusi slapped the button to open the channel, “WHAT DO YA WANT NOW?!”

There was a pause, then a voice answered stiffly, “….This is Headquarters.”

Almost immediately Qusi froze as Zu hung his head his head: H.Q. practically never called unless something went horribly wrong.

“I, uh, sorry, Barafroea. Thought it was Number 4... an' all.”

“Of course," there was a brief note of understanding in the dispatcher's voice before her tone took a more serious air. "We received your latest 'report' concerning the wine idea.”

“Uh, well," Qusi hedged, "I wasn’t informed about the updated frequency.”

“Clearly. Your report was transmitted to all agents within the cohort, H.Q, the printing section, and G.I.N. central. While we appreciate the first half of the report for its diligence, your final sections were…problematic.”

“It was a joke!”

“Clearly," Barafroea repeated perfunctorily. "However, G.I.N is not exactly interested in your “primal fish” theories. Expect a visit.”

“A visit?" Qusi laughed, if a bit defensively, "What? Is their censor's 'local rep' in Kugane gonna come out ‘ere and spank me for saying stupid things?”

Barafroea sighed, “Your fetishes are not our concern.”

“Y-YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!” Qusi shouted with a sputter. Needing Zu to pull her back from doing something irreparable to the communications terminal, Qusi sighed as she waited for the dispatcher to continue.

“You’re in luck," something in Barafroea's tone indicated anything but, "The Vicarius is at the Kugane Embassy, right now, on assignment. And he is aware of your...report.”

“The Editor?!" Qusi gasped in horror, "No... By Thal! Please, no!”

Barafroea hummed in confirmation, her tone bereft of pity, “The Vicarius was ordered to come and to review the two of you, at once. I would expect a visit tomorrow.”

“Come on!" Qusi pleaded, grasping at anything to prevent the Garlemail's odious Editor-in-Chief from paying a personal visit, "Surely we can just write a paper-long apology?!”

“I shall suggest it to our superiors for the next incident," Barafroea hummed once again. "Enjoy your day; we’ll pray for your tomorrow. Garlemail Dispatch out,” Barafroea terminated the transmission with a sadistic grin that Qusi swore she could hear in the woman's voice,

Qusi watched to protest more, but the day's dying light said all there was to say on forestalling the matter: the future could not be changed.

Almost immediately, Zu downs his cup and heads to the back room. Qusi was rubbing her face in exasperation before she noticed her husband's quiet departure, "Where ya goin?!”

Zu looked over his shoulder back toward Qusi, “Your boss is comin'." The air grew heavy with all that entailed, and Zu returned his gaze toward the back room, "I’m gonna check on that tub, the wine supply, and then I’m gonna go to Kugane.”

“It’s practically night time! You’d miss the last ferry!”

“Yeah," Zuu nodded with a sigh, "But something tells me we’re gonna need a nice meal when your boss leaves.”

Again, Qusi wanted to say more but found she could not. She dropped her head and groaned, this visit is gonna suck.

Following Day Shirogane Apartment Tower

Zu returned in the morning bringing with him a potentially good dinner. However, before either lalafell could even consider preparing their meal, they first had to unlock the safe and pull out their uniforms.

Today was supposed to be an off day, and yet, the OPEN sign they had installed under their room's placard switched on. On any other day, they'd have no problem with being seen as Imperials, but most days didn't require the that day's forthcoming interaction.

Luckily, though, they are warmed up through a couple of unexpected visits. A ferry worker arrived, looking for some easy gil in exchange for a story that a Kugane elite who, with a theater actor, had taken passage on the last ferry of the night. The second visitor brought information that would prove more immediately useful: a group of 'savages' planned to lure an Imperial patrol into an ambush. While Zu handed the reward over to the visitor for this information, Qusi was once again before her communications terminal.

“Are you certain?” The tesseraris voice drawled, the tone of her voice bringing to Qusi's mind that of someone idly filing their nails.

“It was is a civilian source....” Qusi hedged.

“Trustable?”

Qusi sighed, “The man probably reported it just to get a reward. I don’t trust him, but I can’t dismiss him.”

The woman hummed, and Qusi could hear the sound of terminal keys clacking. “Very well. I’ll relay the tip to the centurius. He’ll more than likely double the patrol.”

“That could also be the intention.”

“I shall make him aware of that as well. Thank you for your tip. Castrum Nova out.”

The moment Qusi switched off the device, the door swung open.

Both lalafells turned toward the door, hoping for the arrival of another loose-lipped local greedily in search of gil. Who they saw enter, instead, was a blond miqo'te clad in the black-dyed, gold-accented, long coats commonly worn amongst members of the Garlemail Cohort. In addition to the coat's high collar, a pair of shaded goggles further hid the man's expression from the view. At each side of his hips rested a sword and compacted orrery.

Lingering in the doorway, the man seemed to tower before Qusi and Zu. Unusually tall for a miqo'te, Qusi recalled the rumors she'd heard about the man allegedly being the half-bred bastard of some pureblood politician and his Sharlayan mistress. Formally around the G.I.N., however, he was known as nonother than Garlemail's...eccentric... Editor-In-Chief, the Vicarius R'phael fae Cursor.

After finally seeming to take notice of Qusi and Zu's presence (both of whom were quietly watching their boss in muted horror), the Editor merely gave them a curt nod before he shut the door and switched off the OPEN sign's light.

Keeping his words to himself, the R'phael slowly walked a full circle of the apartment-turned-office, taking in the room and it's furnishing before he came to a stop in front of the fish tank. For what seemed like minutes, the lalafells starred raptly at R'phael as the man, himself, stared at the lazily swimming fish. The sound of shifting cloth sounded too loud in the room as the man reached into his coat to retrieve a small, leather-bound, book. Holding the book in his right hand, the man nudged his collar out of the way to rub at his stubbled chin with his left hand.

After a long silence, R'phael cleared his throat, “Printing press.”

Needing to look at Zu whose face confirms that yes, he just said that, Qusi stepped closer in confusion and addressed the editor, “….I’m sorry?”

“This tank is wasting space. Replace it with a press for fast printing.”

“…Sir," Qusi paused, not quite sure how to respond other than, "We’re not a printing station.”

“Nonsense. All can be printing stations.”

“Sir." Qusi passed bemused a glance toward Zu before returning her gaze to R'phael, "We’re on a neutral island where savages live as well. Headquarters decided that any local printing would be within the safety of the consulate.”

“It was?" The man asked, head tilted as though he could not remember such a thing. Then, "Oh! Right." He seemed to recall as he continued in swift, clipped sentences, "Safety of the agents. Silly idea. Still though, could be useful. To have you test out the latest in printing technology before having it set-up in the consulate.” The Editor then immediately stepped away from the tank while pocketing his book.

Watching the randomness of the man's actions as he took yet another stroll through the office, Zu and Qusi were caught mid-whispers when the man decided to speak again.

“This office is too small. Expand it.”

“Sir," Qusi slowly stated while cautiously watching R'phael, "This is an apartment building.... We can’t.”

“Where do you sleep?”

“The back room?”

Without even asking, R'phael threw open the sliding door leading to the back of the room. Taking one look inside, he nodded in self-affirmation, “Ah! There is plenty of space back here for a press! Remove this large obstruction in the center.”

“That’s our BED!”

“Oh right..." R'phael trailed, as though recalling concept that had escaped his recollection, "Sleep." Then, gesturing toward the far side of the room, he asked, "What about this on the left?”

“Our dresser," Qusi sighed.

“Clothing storage. Useful for cleanliness. Fine." Shifting his attention to the other side of the room, he prompted, "This big empty thing on the right?”

“You mean my tub?" Qusi questioned a bit too carefully, trying to suppress the rising ire toward what she suspects the boss to be soon suggesting, "Sir, that ain’t getting removed.”

“Then put the press in the tub.”

“By Thal sir!" The lalafell protested loudly, "THAT’S WHERE WE BATHE!”

Zu could only shake his head while Qusi to covered her face in exasperation.

R'phael then drifted out of the back room while stating, offhandedly, “Popoto’s need only to bathe periodically.”

Qusi twitched, “WE’RE LALAFELL’S!!”

Seeing the puzzled tilt of R'phael's head as their reaction, Qusi and Zu heaved loud sighs while muttering, “You really are an idiot…”

Suddenly, the halfbreed loomed over the lalafells, armed ominously crossed, exuding all the air and authority of an Imperial Vicarius. “Your marriage is sanctioned, only, at the discretion of the empire." R'phael suddenly spoke in a cadence now lacking its earlier clipped speed. Instead, it pitched deeper, was more enunciated, and sounded decidedly more...erudite. "And this allowance shall be permitted only so long as you both remain, in some productive fashion, employed by the empire. Any violation of your contractual terms could justify the nullification of your aforementioned marriage. Remember: under normal circumstances, it is still illegal to marry unvetted savages within Garlean territories.”

Instantly, the two did their best to hide their internal panic with nervous laughter.

“Hehe, right." Qusi hedged, grasping for a distraction, "Uh, didn’t you need to talk to us about something?”

The looming pressure suddenly evaporated into thin air.

Leaning back, R'phael tilted his, the gesture akin to a curious, if not absentminded, cat. His voice returned to his earlier tenor, “…I did?"

“The report?” Qusi prompted.

“The rep..." R'phael seemed to have an epiphany as he slapped a closed fist upon open palm. "Oh right! Your report on Savage Mating Rituals! It was incomplete. Inform Deep Cover 4 that I will need a demonstration.”

“...Sir," Qusi groaned, "That report was two months ago!”

“It was?” The tilted his head, again, before lifting a hand to scratch at the stubble of his chin. After a moment, he perked, “It was! Correct. I summoned Deep Cover 4 to a hamlet, that one suspected of housing savage black-market traders, located near the borders outer borders of the Garlean-occupied territory. She did provide that demonstration. It proved quite useful for the report…" R'phael nodded with a hum of thoughtful contemplation, "Quite useful, indeed. I should summon her again.”

Qusi tensed at the miqote's words while Zu tried to stifle his laughter, “I can only imagine her descriptions of things got a bit…”

R'phael shook his head with a wave of his hands, “Actually, she insisted upon providing a practical demonstration. I gleaned considerably more information through this methodology than I would have through simple observation.”

While R'phael expanded upon what, precisely, was demonstrated by C’tudmu, Zu applied all his focus toward not bursting into laughter. Qusi turned a deep red in mortification.

“…was, indeed, far more effective when she used her mouth. I suggested we attempt the act again with a…Oh, what was it?…She lifted her leg and I was supposed to…”

“SIR!!!" Qusi interrupted, not able to hear any more, "I mean, sir, you’re here for another report.”

“I am?”

“YES! The one about the fish?!”

R'phael seemed to list to the side as his attention driven somewhere beyond the Lalafells. “It was proven months ago that savages wouldn’t mate with fishes.”

“THE RECENT REPORT, YOU DAMNED IDIOT!!”

“The recent report?”

Qusi tried to lunge at their boss. While Zu held his wife back, with a sigh, he attempted to jog R'phael's memory in her stead, “The one with the primal fish?”

“OH!! RIGHT! The primal fish…." R'phael deliberated the probability of such a primal occurring before he shook his head dismissively, "Impossible idea. Primals only summonable by subjects possessing crystals and faith. The Namazu have neither." To this, the editor sighed with disappointment, "You should really work on your theories.”

“...Of course, sir." Zu glanced at his wife, "I’ll make sure to remind my Rose the next time it happens.”

“Next time it…" Qusi seethed before she recalled the very explicit transmission to which R'phael's said demonstration with C’tudmu had inadvertently lead, "Oh, wait... That right! BY WHAT REASON DID YOU TWO THINK TO SEND THAT THROUGH THE OPEN-REPORT CHANNEL?!”

Both Qusi and Zu are startled by the suddenly heavy air that rose around their boss. As the Vicarius towered above them, Qusi turned to see Zu slowly backing out of the room.

“WHERE YA GOIN?!” Qusi hissed at her husband.

Zu throw up his hands while further retreating, “He’s your boss!”

Grinding her teeth, Qusi turned to look at R'phael. With a strained smile that was nowhere near the politeness it attempted to display, Qusi tried to the topic of previous day's report, “Well... We went our report on the frequency assigned to the dictation line.”

“That line was changed two weeks ago...” R'phael stiffly responded.

“Yeah," Qusi noded quickly nodded, before continuing, "And ya had us in Limsa, two weeks ago, with permission to go 'silent' for our work.”

“I... did?”

“YES!" Qusi exclaimed hurriedly,  "THE WINE YOU HAD US FIND FOR YOU?!”

Like a flipped switch, the oppressive atmosphere lifted, and R'phael turned to crouch in front of the Lalafell, "Ah! Wine... The wine… Right. It wasn't for me. It was a favor requested by Garlean Imperial News. For His Radiance. A birthday party, I think. Or as a peace offering. Or bribe. Or consolidation for the death of his son.”

“Anyway!" Qusi interrupted before their boss said something that would probably get them all flogged, "Sir, we weren't notified of the frequency change.”

“Impossible." R'phael leans back on his haunches, "We relayed the memo through designated agents.”

“Well!" Qusi huffed, "Your designated agents did a terrible job of it!”

Abruptly finding R'phael leaning uncomfortably closer, Qusi braced herself as a hand dropped atop of her head. Startled, she looped up to see a creepy smile tugging at the miqote's mouth.

“…Are you sure you’re not a popoto?”

What?!

Qusi felt her blood start to boil as she was about ready to murder her boss; that was until Zu tacked her in an attempt to avoid bloodshed.

Not realize his close brush with death, quickly stood to step away from the pair of Lalafell, turning aside. Posture stiffening at the display, he coughed into his fist, “Mating in public is not permissible. Such exhibitionism has no place in civilized society.”

“I’m going to kill him!” Qusi shook her fists at the Vicarius as she fought to free herself from Zu's grasp.

Distancing himself further from the struggle, R'phael squared his shoulders and clasped his hands behind his back. With nose raised the air, he sniffed disdainfully, “Threats against your boss are considered… considered..." He trailed off as some random thought seems to spawn. "Threats," he hummed, "Threats... Right!”

Qusi and Zu stalled in their grabbing to see R'phael dart across the room toward the communications terminal. Both watched as miqo'te fiddled with the input until the annoyed voice of C’tudmu yelled over the comm.

“What do ya shites want?! I got a ferry to catch soon.”

“Deep Cover 4,” R'phael greeted.

A sudden clamor of falling objects, accompanied by sputtering, was heard over the channel. “E-E-EDITOR?!” C’tudmu gasped.

“Affirmative.”

“Well, well! This is a surprise!" C’tudmu spoke overly sweet tone as she giggled, "I trust my last report reached you in time?”

“Your report was received. However, your attention to detail is questionable. Why was the frequency change not passed onto Deep Cover 1 and Deep Cover 2?”

“The frequ-HAHAHA," C’tudmu's giggling turned borderline hysteric, "You did tell me to do that. Oops?”

“The mistake is unacceptable. Our superiors are irritated.”

“But at least it was a good laugh, right? Plus, they did get you the wine selection.”

"Correct." R’phael hummed with a nod as he scratched the stubble of his chin, "Still, I require a sample.”

“…A sample?”

“You will retrieve, for me, as many bottles as possible. We shall test the validity of their report.”

Watching from the floor, the expression on both lalafell's faces shifted from annoyance to humor, to rage, and back to humor. They turned to look at each other at the mention of more wine. The wine in question came from Wineport and Costa Del Sol. Other distributed charged far more than it was worth, and with the Cohort's limited funding, any more would have to be purchased directly from Wineport. Such assignment would take C’tudmu out of the Limsa Lominsa proper, and away from Deep Cover 3's station in the city-state. It was a point the two noted but kept to themselves.

“But, umm, sir." C’tudmu started hesitantly, "I was to have a 'meeting' with Zhusne.”

“Zhusne?" R'phael tilted his head as though trying to place the name on a face. "Ah. Deep-Cover 3 was assigned to write a report on the development of Eaorzean armaments.  I sent him to Coerthas last month.”

“Coerthas?! THAT BASTARD SAID HE WAS IN LIMSA!!”

“More than likely a ruse. You are a great annoyance to both him and G.I.N.”

“Oh, you little…" C’tudmu hissed over the channel, "Wait’ll I get mah ‘ands on that damned neck of yours, ya bloody…”

“You sound tense, again." R'phael interrupted, nonpulsed, "One would theorize that your downgraded pay would inspire you to work more efficiently. Instead, you continue this disruptive behavior, much to the aggravation of your superiors.”

“Must ya always talk to me like I’m a piece of technology?”

"Your failure to inform Deep Cover 1 and 2 of the frequency change requires further review." R'phael decided, before promptly turning to Zu and Qusi. "You two. Where did you find that wine?!"

Covering Qusi’s mouth to prevent her from saying anything that'd get them into trouble, Zu pointed toward the map. “Wineport.”

“Wineport?" Phael hummed as he scratched his chin on thought. When he spoke, he was as though he was cold reading a list of attributes from some report he previously read, "Hamlet. Wine-specialized. Maelstrom presence is minimal. Close proximity to Castrum Occidens." Lowering his hand, he addressed C’tudmu, "Deep Cover 4. I shall conduct your review in this...Wineport”

There was a moment of silence on the channel before C’tudmu spoke with a certain amount of suspicion, “…Talkin bout me goin' all the way out to nowhere... Just to buy some bottles and wait for you to show up? Yer just wantin' ta sleep with me again, aren't ya?”

"Correct."

“…You keep this 'flirting' up, and I’ll be demandin' a ring soon.”

“Long-term discussion can proceed later. Make your way to Wineport.”

“FINE!" C’tudmu agreed with a huff. "Let me just sell my ticket to Limsa and buy ‘nother one to Costa. Just. For. You.”

“Your respect for the chain-of-command and your commitment to 'screwing the promotions out of the editor' are splendid examples of why you’re out there.”

“…Oh, you little shite! Ya better come prepared! I ain’t gonna go easy on ya this time!” With an exasperated groan, C’tudmu terminated the transmission.  

After a quiet pause, R'phael stepped back from the terminal and turned toward the two Lalafed, watching gaped-mouth, from the floor.

R'phael listed to the side as he gazed toward the pair, “Are you two still mating?”

Both jumped to their feet and yelled, “WE NEVER WERE!” “YA! WHO ARE YOU TO BE TALKIN' 'BOUT MATIN'?!”

R'phael straightened his stance, “Your mood swings seem to have exacerbated since our last meeting. I suggest taking time to relax in the Bokaisen Hot Springs. ”

While both wanted to scream at the editor, they chose instead to bite their tongues and bow their heads. Please, just let him leave.

“You concur? Brilliant!" R'phael stepped closer to the two, coming to stand before them, "Now then, your aether ring?” He asked as he extended a hand toward the two. Both immediately looked up at the towering cat.

“I'll have a long way to go, and it is far easier to traverse such distance with one of those things.”

“I thought you hated savage travel?” Zu blinked in surprise. As far as he recalled, the editor usually seemed adverse to teleportation magic.

There was a tightening stiffness in the R'phael's posture.  “Normally, yes, but..." The miqo'te swiftly crouched in front of Zu and grasped the lalafell's shoulder. With an air of urgency, he shook Zu's shoulders, "I need that ring! Should future circumstances like this arise, there is the chance your fellow agent will leave town before I arrive!”

Seeing Zu start to turn red, R'phael gave the lalafell's shoulder another shake, “Popoto’s should learn to keep their thoughts clean. Hurry, your ring!”

Qusi jumps in, then, practically throwing an aether-ring at the editor, just to get him out of their apartment-turned office, “I hope ya still remember how to use it!”

Releasing the dizzy Zu, R'phael picked up the ring, "Indeed." Standing full height, he turned to Qusi, "Must I return this one?”

Qusi shook her head with an emphatic, “No!" And then more subdued, she added, "I wouldn’t want you to waste your time coming back here.”

R'phael seemed to accept that answer with a nod. “Good, I shall present this ring to Deep Cover 4, then.” He then shoved the ring into his pocket.

Doing her best to contain her disgust, Qusi simply smiled as she watched the editor make his way toward the door.

Once there, he paused to look back toward the two lalafell, “All things considered, you two failed to function adequately. Your reporting methodologies are... questionable. Work on improving them. Forthwith, consider yourselves on notice; your employment temporary.”

Internally screaming in panic, Qusi forced a polite smile on her face. The panic increased tenfold as she watched her husband approach the editor and tap the man's leg, and said, “I think I can change ya mind.”

R'phael stared down at the lalafell through his goggles, “Oh? How?”

Zu’s grin was devious, “I know a little secret about Tudmu...”

Sunset

Once again, the setting sun crept through the windows. Within the back room, Qusi laid in bed as Zu watched her from the tub. With food eaten, wine drank, and stressful boss departed, the two spent finally spent the evening relaxing.

While happy about changing the editor's mind putting them on notice, silence had fallen over the apartment-turned-office since the Vicarius left.

It was Zu who finally broke the quiet with a sigh, “Ya think he’ll act on what I said.”

“…Yep.” Qusi sighed as she stared at the ceiling's slowly turning fan.

“Is it really that big of a problem?”

“Dear... Miqo'te tia, and the suchlike, aren’t incapable of having children. Now stop and think: do you want to see their potential children?”

Upon apparently seeing a series of horrifying images run through his mind, Zu turns around and sinks back into the tub. After a pause, looks back at his wife, “What do we do, then?”

Qusi shrugged, “Wait and see if that failure starts wearin' a ring…”

“So... This is our card against them?”

Qusi nod as she pointed a finger into the air, “Yes! And it will be played at every. Single. Possibility.”

With that declaration, maniacal laughter fills the room: The “Popotos” will have their day.

[deafhrothgar]

@nihil242

Been meaning to reply to your lalafell post few days ago, but I was on mobile so I couldn’t do it! Here she is, Vivi Vivoin! She was born and raised in noble family, but she hated the life as she was seen as her parents “object” to show off to their fake friends, and she never had freedom to do what she wants to; not even be able to go outside.  At the age of fifteen, she was forced to marry someone that she barely knows - and this was final nail for her. She gathered important things, and ran away. Eventually she settled into Gridania, a place where she loved due to the nature feeling of it, and she decided to take up lancer. However, she felt nobody would take her seriously if she’s female, so she had a haircut, paid for new trends that she used some gil that she’s been received but never spent them until now and took up new name which is Vivi Vivoin.

She eventually became Lancer Mentor, and is also Dragoon Mentor. In relation with other characters of mine, she’s ex-mentor of Aisbraena(Syvin) Byrfhis and great friend to him, as well to his brother, Zu Dzigo. She learnt how to do sign language due to spending time as mentor to Syvin, and still remained to hang out with him when he quit the life of Dragoon as good friends. She’s gentle and polite, however she’s strict. She isn’t afraid to say what she needs to; and if you dare to talk anything about sexual wise to her she will shoot it down. Sex does not -interest- her at all.

She’s lot older than Syvin - or any of my characters save Skye Fir, she’s 37 years old Dunesfolk.  Also @great-grey-raven and I RP’d with his main and my lalafell! It was really fun, and I get to do duel RP for first time ever! He won, but it was very close, haha. (3-2 to him)

Also special thanks to @felixani for taking what happens to be my favourite screenshot of Vivi ever ♥

[zu-is-here]

Hi Zu. Hope you're doing well 🌻

You said I can write you whenever, so I've gathered the strength to at least give it a try.

Lately I've been feeling... down. Very much so, and almost all the time. And there's one particular thing that seems to upset me more than any others (though there are a lot). It's my writing. In English and in Russian, fics and originals, it's all the same in the end. I'm so frustrated. And, well, I've never really liked the way I write, and I never understood how other people like it, what they see in my works. I just. Settled with the versions that I can't make better. But i want to. But I don't know what exactly is wrong, or how I could fix it. It's so frustrating. I don't know if it is my depression, perfectionism, or there's an actual problem with my writing, I'm always disappointed nonetheless. It's been getting worse and worse recently, and a few days ago it reached the point of hating myself for ever starting (in general, and especially all the fics here). I'm stuck in a loop. My writing is never satisfactory for me, I just can't feel the words and phrases I'm using. They don't ring to me, empty, meaningless. As much as I'd like to just believe other people's judgement (со стороны виднее, что называется), I can't. This frustration is always here with me, and it hurts me mercilessly. I don't know why I ever started writing, or why I keep doing it. I'm so lost. It's... normal for me, as sad as it is, but it's really getting too much. I've been crying for an hour straight the other day, and there were a few times I almost deleted my account here, if not everthing and everywhere at all.

I don't know what I'm expecting, honestly. But a little support wouldn't hurt anyway, so... Plus I think there might be people with similar problems, that's why this is an ask, not a DM.

Thanks in advance.

Take care.

Hi anfie <3

I feel you, and I'm sorry it's not easy for you now, but I hope everything works out very soon (ówò) including writing!

The thing is, our works don't have to be perfect! If they always satisfy us, we never have to improve. Sure, sometimes we just don't understand exactly how, and this frustrates and confuses us.

But it doesn't mean we should stop! (ò3ó) Especially when there are those who to move on for. Our works may not ring to us since we've literally put ourselves into them, but if they ring to others, if they like it, that's enough. Better to be dissatisfied with the work others liked than to be satisfied with the one they didn't.

It's not for us to judge our works. But we can observe other's, get inspired (sometimes that's all we need) and learn more! You're never alone╰(*´︶`*)╯

So please, don't underestimate yourself. Keep doing what you love. And never give up! You can always take a break cause you've already done great. And there's no limit to perfection. ˚✧₊⁎

Take care ♡

P. S. Don't you dare cry! Wipe your tears and prepare a mug for others', sweetie ♪ Crying is your fans' privilege, not yours ;)

UPD: Лови! <3

I'm glad to hear it made you a little better (ówò)

Tbh, while I was reading your ask, I came up with a simple question: do you have any writings that delighted you, many phrases which you like to reread from, which you are guided by? You don't have to call them, just yes or no ☆

And please, be careful with antidepressants. There are many good and healthful ways to get rid of negativity find peace╰(*´︶`*)╯

Lots of love ♡

So there are *^* a bit but still! That's good <3

No problem, and take care╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

[bluepallilworld]

IT'S THE GOOBER!!!! THE GREMLIN!!! PAIN-FREE BABY!

LOOK AT HER CUTE FACE WITH THAT LIL' TONGUE STICKING OUT!!!!

YOU DID ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MY FRIEND <3

You improved so much, those poses and anatomy looks greaat

They all have smiles that reach the eyes, it looks so warm and lighthearted ;w;

Noot got quite the neat outfit!

Thanks

I love you Drag'!

Happy Birthday Blue!! Hope you have a great day! @bluepallilworld

Drew your girl Vivid! And her parents! (It's cut off but Nightmare's left sleeve is tied cause of no arm from that time in the story). I couldn't resist drawing your Aftermare family for your birthday OwO

You're a fantastic person who I'm so grateful to have known for these last couple years. And I'm glad we both fell down the Aftermare hole together XD.