#butterflies and hurricanes 2.0

[thexgrayxlady]

Snippet Sunday

Chase spun away, nearly dodged. Still, the glancing blow set him tumbling over the ashy ground. He only just managed to catch himself. He took just enough time for a single shaky breath to reorient himself. But it was too long.

The ground shot up, engulfing his hand in volcanic rock.

His eyes flicked between Wuya and his hand bound uselessly to the ground. He writhed, drawing back until his shoulder felt about to rip apart. Rough stone chafed and scraped against his wrist. His friends were too far away. Too caught up in their own battles to help.

The witch cackled, green flames flickering around her fingertips as she advanced. He looked away, back to the damn restraint. His heart beat slow and heavy. Muffled and distant, as if underwater, he heard Guan shouting for him. For what felt like forever, he could only stare with horrible calm at where his wrist met smooth black stone, unwilling to accept certain defeat.

He still had one more option.

As much as he could, he clenched his hand. He set his jaw, took a deep breath, and locked eyes with the witch. Then he jerked back with all his strength.

The world went white. Pain lanced through his hand, shot up his arm. Bones cracked. The skin over his knuckles shredded. In a split second, his hand came free with a spray of blood over soft white ash.

His vision came back slow, crackling and gray at the edges. He doubled over, cradling his mangled hand in his good one. His fingers flopped at strange angles, making his stomach churn and his head spin. Blood dripped, thick and red, through his grasp. He bit his tongue to keep from shaking, but couldn't hold back choking gasps.

He staggered backwards, heat rising in his palms. He tried to imagine the lecture he'd no doubt face later to distract from the feeling of raw ligaments and tendons moving under his good hand. The stench of boiling blood filled the air. It wouldn't be enough, but it was all he could do.

Then, swallowing bile, he uncoiled to face the witch again.

[fairysarah]

I have a better idea how the duos could happen that for some reason would make more sense and would be more amazing Praxina meets Tsubasa when he comes to Ephidea on some sort of mission, Not knowing how mean The princesses are especially after finding out Banes is Zanavian Iris, Adrianna and Talia would become more fragile and in a bad way. Anyway so Mephisto and Praxina was attacked by the princesses because Praxina accidently freed Zanavian. So Tsubasa and Praxina are in love one couple down one to go, Tsubasa tells The twins about Ageha and Mephisto freaks out and says I'm going to unite the 2 of you. So Mephisto convinces Ageha and couple 2 complete square of love complete!!! But Iris, Aurianna and Talia find out about Tsubasa and Ageha being just like Mephisto and Praxina and decides to invade Skyland, So our Mephisto and Praxina 2.0 must transform into cure Wing and Cure Butterfly and now that there in love with Mephisto and Praxina they also have Dark Crystal magic but it won't corrupt them at all along just like Mephisto and Praxina. 2 new attacks are formed Explodium Telenoc Butterfly Press and Wing Atruina attack our Mephisto and Praxina 2.0 fights The princesses there able to beat Talia and Aurianna, But when Iris unleashes her shanilla it's time for some Miracle lights. Mephisto and Praxina tell everyone wing and Butterfly need you're help raise your miracle lights. Up to the hirogaru sky. Everyone including Sky,Prism and Majesty yell Wing Butterfly do you're best and Butterfly and Wing preform a giant Dark Crystal Magic Spell defeating Iris and Mephisto and Praxina are safe. Ephidea becomes the land of sorrow to the Skylandians and people of Sorashido city and now that Mephisto and Praxina have Joined its time to dance and sing Fly together, Sky,Prism and Majesty try to beat the mean princesses but fail any way the 7 sing Fly together. Sora,Mashiro and Elle are involved more in this then what is said but it is Tsubasa and Ageha who finally end the princesses and save Mephisto and Praxina then I think there should be a sequel to Hirogarusky Precure if this really happened with storm themed villains and the final antagonists name is Colin like hurricane Colin I'm iffy about trusting. Iris,Aurianna and Talia they do stuff magical girls would never do ever and it would be cool plot twist of the princesses being the bad guys and the Twins being the good guys this whole time and the twins form a band that would be a great ending

[neatbender]

Dota 2 Update - December 19th, 2017

* Added the following abilities to Ability Draft: Fire Remnant, Psionic Trap, Chakram 7.07d: == * Neutral Ancients gold bounties reduced by 10% * Arcane Rune: Manacost Reduction reduced from 40% to 30% (same as the cooldown reduction) * Aeon Disk: Recipe cost reduced from 1600 to 1350 * Butterfly: Bonus damage reduced from 30 to 25 * Helm of the Dominator: Attack Speed reduced from 10 to 5 * Helm of the Dominator: Attack Speed Aura increased from 15 to 20 * Hurricane Pike: Cooldown increased from 15 to 18 * Linken's Sphere: Recipe cost increased from 1000 to 1200 * Manta Style: Attack speed reduced from 15 to 10 * Manta Style: Movement Speed reduced from 10% to 8% * Mask of Madness: Movement speed bonus reduced from 17% to 12% * Mask of Madness: Armor reduction increased from 7 to 8 * Meteor Hammer: Channeling time reduced from 3 to 2.5 * Necronomicon: Mana Break increased from 20/30/40 to 30/40/50 * Necronomicon: Mana Break damage from 60 to 50% * Nullifier: Cooldown reduced from 14 to 13 * Nullifier: Manacost reduced from 100 to 75 * Alchemist: Unstable Concoction damage increased from 150/220/290/360 to 160/240/320/400 * Bane: Enfeeble duration reduced from 20 to 14/16/18/20 * Bane: Brain Sap damage rescaled from 90/160/230/300 to 75/150/225/300 * Brewmaster: Drunken Haze cooldown increased from 8/7/6/5 to 11/9/7/5 * Broodmother: Spiders vision reduced from 1100/800 to 700/700 * Chen: Base damage increased by 5 * Chen: Movement speed increased from 300 to 310 * Dazzle: Level 10 Talent from +175 Health to +200 * Dazzle: Level 10 Talent from +60 Damage to +75 * Earth Spirit: Boulder Smash stun duration from 0.75/1.25/1.75/2.25 to 0.5/1.0/1.5/2.0 * Enigma: Base strength increased from 17 to 19 * Enigma: Eidolons movement speed increased from 280/300/320/340 to 280/310/340/370 * Medusa: Strength gain reduced from 1.5 to 1.3 * Medusa: Movement speed reduced from 285 to 275 * Medusa: Level 10 Talent reduced from +25 Damage to +20 * Morphling: Attribute Shift can no longer be activated while stunned (but will continue if activated in advance) * Morphling: Waveform damage reduced from 100/175/250/325 to 75/150/225/300 * Morphling: Level 15 Talent from Waveform Attacks Targets to +15s Morph Duration * Morphling: Level 20 Talent from +15s Morph Duration to Waveform Attacks Targets * Nightstalker: Hunter in the Night attack speed rescaled from 45/60/75/90 to 30/50/70/90 * Omniknight: Purification cast range reduced from 575 to 450 * Omniknight: Level 20 Talent from +4 Mana Regen to +3 * Omniknight: Guardian Angel cooldown rescaled from 160 to 180/170/160 * Pudge: Meat Hook manacost increased from 110/120/130/140 to 140 * Razor: Static Link cooldown rescaled increased from 32/30/28/26 to 40/35/30/25 * Sand King: Burrowstrike damage reduced from 100/160/220/280 to 85/150/215/280 * Shadow Demon: Level 10 Talent changed from +10 Strength to Soul Catcher Creates Illusion On Death * Storm Spirit: Ball Lightning AoE rescaled from 125/200/275 to 200 * Storm Spirit: Level 10 Talent reduced from +2.0 Mana Regen to 1.75 * Tinker: Laser cooldown increased from 14 to 20/18/16/14 * Tiny: Grow attack speed reduction increased from 20/30/40 to 20/35/50 * Winter Wyvern: Cold Embrace base heal reduced from 15 to 10 * Winter Wyvern: Arctic Burn damage reduced from 7.5/8/8.5/9% to 6/7/8/9%

[rincongamers]

Dota 2 Update - December 19th, 2017

* Added the following abilities to Ability Draft: Fire Remnant, Psionic Trap, Chakram 7.07d: == * Neutral Ancients gold bounties reduced by 10% * Arcane Rune: Manacost Reduction reduced from 40% to 30% (same as the cooldown reduction) * Aeon Disk: Recipe cost reduced from 1600 to 1350 * Butterfly: Bonus damage reduced from 30 to 25 * Helm of the Dominator: Attack Speed reduced from 10 to 5 * Helm of the Dominator: Attack Speed Aura increased from 15 to 20 * Hurricane Pike: Cooldown increased from 15 to 18 * Linken's Sphere: Recipe cost increased from 1000 to 1200 * Manta Style: Attack speed reduced from 15 to 10 * Manta Style: Movement Speed reduced from 10% to 8% * Mask of Madness: Movement speed bonus reduced from 17% to 12% * Mask of Madness: Armor reduction increased from 7 to 8 * Meteor Hammer: Channeling time reduced from 3 to 2.5 * Necronomicon: Mana Break increased from 20/30/40 to 30/40/50 * Necronomicon: Mana Break damage from 60 to 50% * Nullifier: Cooldown reduced from 14 to 13 * Nullifier: Manacost reduced from 100 to 75 * Alchemist: Unstable Concoction damage increased from 150/220/290/360 to 160/240/320/400 * Bane: Enfeeble duration reduced from 20 to 14/16/18/20 * Bane: Brain Sap damage rescaled from 90/160/230/300 to 75/150/225/300 * Brewmaster: Drunken Haze cooldown increased from 8/7/6/5 to 11/9/7/5 * Broodmother: Spiders vision reduced from 1100/800 to 700/700 * Chen: Base damage increased by 5 * Chen: Movement speed increased from 300 to 310 * Dazzle: Level 10 Talent from +175 Health to +200 * Dazzle: Level 10 Talent from +60 Damage to +75 * Earth Spirit: Boulder Smash stun duration from 0.75/1.25/1.75/2.25 to 0.5/1.0/1.5/2.0 * Enigma: Base strength increased from 17 to 19 * Enigma: Eidolons movement speed increased from 280/300/320/340 to 280/310/340/370 * Medusa: Strength gain reduced from 1.5 to 1.3 * Medusa: Movement speed reduced from 285 to 275 * Medusa: Level 10 Talent reduced from +25 Damage to +20 * Morphling: Attribute Shift can no longer be activated while stunned (but will continue if activated in advance) * Morphling: Waveform damage reduced from 100/175/250/325 to 75/150/225/300 * Morphling: Level 15 Talent from Waveform Attacks Targets to +15s Morph Duration * Morphling: Level 20 Talent from +15s Morph Duration to Waveform Attacks Targets * Nightstalker: Hunter in the Night attack speed rescaled from 45/60/75/90 to 30/50/70/90 * Omniknight: Purification cast range reduced from 575 to 450 * Omniknight: Level 20 Talent from +4 Mana Regen to +3 * Omniknight: Guardian Angel cooldown rescaled from 160 to 180/170/160 * Pudge: Meat Hook manacost increased from 110/120/130/140 to 140 * Razor: Static Link cooldown rescaled increased from 32/30/28/26 to 40/35/30/25 * Sand King: Burrowstrike damage reduced from 100/160/220/280 to 85/150/215/280 * Shadow Demon: Level 10 Talent changed from +10 Strength to Soul Catcher Creates Illusion On Death * Storm Spirit: Ball Lightning AoE rescaled from 125/200/275 to 200 * Storm Spirit: Level 10 Talent reduced from +2.0 Mana Regen to 1.75 * Tinker: Laser cooldown increased from 14 to 20/18/16/14 * Tiny: Grow attack speed reduction increased from 20/30/40 to 20/35/50 * Winter Wyvern: Cold Embrace base heal reduced from 15 to 10 * Winter Wyvern: Arctic Burn damage reduced from 7.5/8/8.5/9% to 6/7/8/9%

[thexgrayxlady]

WIP Whenever

Chase ducked his head and twisted so that his shoulder hit the ground first. He rolled across the temple courtyard and came to a stop spitting sand with Guan’s staff at his temple.

He rolled his eyes and swallowed his pride for long enough to accept his friend’s outstretched hand helping him to back to his feet. He tucked the loose strands of hair behind his ears and rubbed some mud out of his cuffs before retrieving his dropped weapon to try one last time. His knuckles paled on the staff and meditation and breathing exercises be damned, he couldn’t relax his death grip on the weapon.

Their instructor critiqued and made corrections to their form and moves, but Chase only halfway listened.

This was happening too often.

He tried to remind himself that he was much better at magic and Guan hadn’t been able to touch his time on the obstacle course for months. But if was very hard to care about that when he lost more often than not.

As soon as their instructor gave the signal, he lashed out. Guan effortlessly parried and shoved him back. Rather than waste any more energy resisting, Chase withdrew.

As he did, Chase noticed that for all the power behind his friend’s blows, he left an opening on his right.

Chase pressed the offensive, trying to recreate it. But he couldn’t win through strength. He had to fight smarter. He was quicker and lighter and could dart in and then back to a safe distance.

He tried the feint Brother Liu showed them earlier in the week. Gaun didn’t fall for it, but his block left him just off balance and he was slow to regain his footing. Of course, he didn’t need to be quick if Chase couldn’t take advantage.

The corners of his mouth twitched in frustration. He just had to close the gap while his friend was off balance. But he didn’t know any moves he could use to do that. At least, none that would work. Anything that he knew, Guan did too.  

The impact of their staves jarred his shoulder. Though momentarily stunned, he came back to himself just in time to leap away when Guan tried to sweep his legs.

Chase tried the feint again, studying his opponent’s footwork as he countered. He moved well enough, but slightly slow and imperfectly balanced. His instructors would doubtless give him extra drills later, but it worked well enough for what he needed now.

That he could be satisfied with something that was just good enough was near enough to drive Chase to frustrated mistakes. Yet the idea of losing yet again due to his own impatience was just enough to keep him focused on his goal.

Chase followed up with quick darting jabs. Guan blocked most and the few that struck didn’t have enough power to knock his friend back. That didn’t matter. He just needed to keep his friend too distracted to start his own offensive while he planned.

He didn’t have to use the whole feint. The opening set him up to quickly change directions, but with a few modifications he could use the momentum to carry him over his friend’s counter. His staff would get in the way, but if he was being fully honest with himself, he fought better without it.

He began the feint one last time and now that Guan anticipated his movement, he was in place to intercept too soon and when Chase didn’t meet his counter, his momentum carried him too far. Chase leapt over his guard and landed light. He spun and kicked as his friend turned to catch him.

His foot connected with his friend’s side with a satisfying thud and he couldn’t catch himself before his own momentum carried him to the ground. Gaun motioned to yield.

Their instructor made a few critiques of their form, briefly praising Chase for ingenuity, before dismissing them for the afternoon. Chase was too caught up in the excitement of victory to do more than half listen while helping his friend to his feet.  

“That was really cool,” Guan said. “How did you do that last move?”

“It’s easy,” he said, grinning and practically bouncing as he led the way to another part of the training grounds. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”

[thexgrayxlady]

WIP Whenever

Chase danced just out of reach of the stone creature, trailing flames from his fingertips. He grit his teeth and flicked his wrist. The useless spray of sparks found no purchase in its face. He pivoted, skidding on the cracked ground and disrupting long settled ash. Its spiked arm passed just by his face. He would only later notice the stinging, bleeding scratches.

He leapt and wove around the witch’s creation, waiting for an opening. Between swings, he shot a glance at his friends. Guan was caught up with more of the stone soldiers. Dashi was still trying to save that crazy old lady instead of trying to fight Wuya.

He dropped back, trying to drag the fight towards his friends, only to stop at a faint tremor in the ground.

Just barely caching himself from turning to glare, he waited, clenching his fists, as the creature bore down on him. He tensed, frustrated energy demanding that he move, but he kept focus. It swung its clubbed fist. Just before it connected, he stepped back.

Its arm shattered against the wall of stone erupting in front of him.

It reeled, flailing its remaining arm at him. He flipped away, landing lightly atop a rising stone. He used the momentum to carry him up to land a vicious kick at the creature’s head. It cracked, sending fragments of chipped stone across the battlefield.

He waved his thanks and flicked loose strands of hair out of his face before spinning off to the next target.

[thexgrayxlady]

The first typed draft of the first chapter is done. I can't wait to start editing it tomorrow.

[thexgrayxlady]

WIP List - Dec2023

Anabranch

Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0

Raimundo and Chase discuss their life choices

Murtagh figures out solar power

[thexgrayxlady]

TBCH one of my favorite bits of this fic is a scene where Wuya realizes Chase has been teaching himself Heylin magic and makes him an objectively better offer than the one he got from Hannibal. If this is what he learned on his own with a handful of motheaten scrolls in the temple library and by watching her, imagine what she could teach him. His potential is being wasted on the Xiaolin side. And even though in the moment, he's in a very vulnerable state of mind, and the idea of power and forbidden knowledge is really appealing, he doesn't consider the offer for a second. He could never betray his friends like that.

[thexgrayxlady]

WIP Wednesday

The boy set down his pen and was halfway to rubbing the sleep from his eyes before he stopped himself and shifted the dying candle so that it could better illuminate the documents he was copying. He continued his work, making each brush stroke quickly enough that when he was done, he would have time to ensure the document was up to his standards. Not that he would need to. He didn’t make mistakes.

He glared at the candle while scraping spilled wax from his ink-stained fingertips. The sounds of the city nightlife filtered into the room. He tried to shut out the muffled chatter distant music and focus on his work. He couldn’t afford to be distracted.  

He finished the last few characters on the page and briefly glanced to the door. Then he shook his head, brushed his shaggy hair out of his face, and thought better of it. The other apprentices could sleep while there was work to be done. He was too good for that. He was too good to go back to that damn dock and his father’s stinking boat. And one day, he would be too good for this place too.

He rolled his too long, patchwork sleeves before taking another paper and resigning himself to another sleepless night. The room seemed a little brighter as a small flame hovered over a puddle of wax and a burned-out wick.

[thexgrayxlady]

Current WIPS

Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0

The Still Untitled World's Worst Groundhog Day Loop Fic

Chase and Wuya pose as Jack's parents for a school function

The Still Untitled Chase and Raimundo Discuss their Choices Fic

And now I have to goddamn add

The Prince Lindworm Chaun Fic

[thexgrayxlady]

Chase Young for the character asks!

favorite thing about them

I like how easily he can shift between different roles when I'm writing him very easily and still feel consistent. Like, he can play the straightman against Jack and Dashi's antics, he can commit the antics himself, he can be a menacing villain for the monks, he can be a tragic figure, succumbing to his own insecurities. I also like his intelligence and pride and ambition and his drive to achieve his goals, no matter the cost.

least favorite thing about them

He's a jealous little bitch boy who can't stand the thought of anybody being better than him.

favorite line

"It is not the strongest opponent who wins, but the strongest will," is a quote that's more or less informed how I've written him.

brOTP

I'm here for Chase and Guan having an epic bromance, until Hannibal takes advantage of some moments of insecurity and frustration and ruins everything.

OTP

I love both the angst, tragedy, and just barely missed opportunity of Chaun and the unholy matrimony of Chuya.

nOTP

I don't really ship him with any of the monks or Jack.

random headcanon

He was a scribe's apprentice before coming to the Xiaolin Temple.

unpopular opinion

I am thoroughly uninterested in changing my headcanon that he's the former dragon of fire.

song i associate with them

In the course of writing Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0, I've started to really associate Olivia Rodrigo's Brutal and Hozier's Arsonist's Lullabye with him.

favorite picture of them

This picture is a constant #mood.

[thexgrayxlady]

Every time I turn around the Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0 Project keeps getting bigger and at this rate, a July publication date is completely out of the picture, especially given that I have had to work late almost every day for the last month to meet the end of quarter goals.

[thexgrayxlady]

Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0 Playlist

Butterflies and Hurricanes (Muse)

God Shattering Star (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Born for This (Paramore)

Pressure (Muse)

Brutal (Olivia Rodrigo)

Oh No! (Marina)

The Kids aren't Alright (Fall Out Boy)

Icarus (Bastille)

Let the Flames Begin (Paramore)

The Dark Side - Acoustic (Muse)

Arsonist's Lullaby (Hozier)

Are You Satisfied? (Marina)

[thexgrayxlady]

The outline for Butterflies and Hurricanes 2.0 is finished! Now onto the handwritten draft!