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admiral-mason · 12 days ago

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The Ultimate, Unholy Checkmate: Chapter 1

Before we begin, this series' title is being changed from simply The Final Checkmate to The Ultimate, Unholy Checkmate because I clearly just stole Shotgun King's title and that sucks lmfao

Alright now, enjoy!

Reader is Gender Neutral

Warnings: Swearing, derogatory language, torture, sadism, angst

Dawn. The time of day when the sun arises from its secluded spot in the night, shining a radiant light upon all of Teyvat and its residents. A time when many still slumber under the coziness of warm blankets or in serene environments that belong to nature.

Yet during this time, someone advances toward their destination with high focus.

Clutching your shotgun in hand, you trudged your way to Mondstadt with no intentions of negotiation. Teyvat felt each step you took with great fervor, itself awaiting the entertainment you will inevitably bring.

Occasionally, you stopped to tidy up your kingly robes, a black outfit inspired by royalty granted to you comprised of silk from Liyue, jewels from Natlan, dyes from Sumeru, fur from Mondstadt, and metal from Inazuma for tiny little details. With Chiori tailoring the outfit, they clearly held regal looks at a glance yet you never wore them despite your acolytes' pleading for you to do so. You didn't want to be seen as a greedy royal or anything like that.

Clearly, though, times have changed. You no longer hold any regard for reputation or emotions, considering that your allogenes disregarded your dignity and your feelings for the sake of worshipping you akin to a cult.

'Fucking greedy leeches. They only wanted my blessings and blood, and they refused to provide me even a bouquet of flowers!' You internally thought, anger only bubbling by the second. Thankfully, Teyvat thought of the perfect way to calm you down.

"Chirp! Chirp chirp! Squeak!"

You looked down to see a creature in front of you: a small white ermine, out here in Mondstadt when it's not even supposed to be winter in Teyvat. It eagerly ran up to you, and you couldn't help but smile at the little creature.

(A/N: This is an Ermine)

(You will see why I introduced this little fella later)

Placing your shotgun to the side, you crouched down to pet the little unnatural fella. The ermine made no effort to escape you and instead leaned into your touches with its version of a smile. Teyvat must have created this creature since Teyvat accompanied and cared for you greatly after you escaped your former acolytes.

One such thing it did was to form several pets for you to take care of. Before you left for your solo crusade, you left them with enough food and water to last at least a week. Not that you may have needed to do that, since Teyvat's proactive motherly nature would have fed them anyway.

Not wishing to let the creature fend for itself, you put it in one of your robe pockets and let its head poke out. Picking up your shotgun, you two continued your trek to Mondstadt.

When you approached Mondstadt's gates, the time passed from dawn to morning when many would be awake.

"Welcome to- ...Your grace! We thought you disappeared!" Swan said before he kneeled and Lawrence followed suit.

"Yes, yes, I needed a little bit of time alone from the usual godly duties. I wish I could stay and chat, but would you two good men let me pass through the pearly gates to the nation of freedom?"

You topped your sugar-coated words with a warm smile, a white lie to your emotions. You wanted to blast the two to bits, but that would ruin the surprise you planned for Venti.

"Sure! Mondstadt will always welcome you, your grace."

'Welcome me so they can take me as a fucking blood bank again,' you bitterly thought as you strode on into the nation of freedom. Everyone was awake, and as such everyone noticed your presence and kneeled or bowed or did something to acknowledge your presence.

You ignored the civilians, for they were not allogenes and thus not targets for you to pursue. However, one of the vision wielders did show up: Outrider Amber.

"Oh my god- Your Grace you're back! We were so worried about you, and, uh..." She stopped before her expression turned guilty, and her peppy appearance appeared to falter. "On behalf of the Knights of Favonius and vision wielders of Mondstadt, I dearly apologize for our actions... none of us can atone for our sins, so we hope we can rebuild our trust..."

Amber aimed her head towards the ground, her demeanor and posture clearly in shame. You simply chuckled, your voice and expression still inconspicuous.

"Oh, silly little outrider! I hold no grudge against any of you. Seriously, not at all! In fact, I came here to give you all a gift." Amber did not expect your response, rather she looked surprised for a moment. Nevertheless, your response revitalized her giddy attitude.

"Really?! What kind of gift?!"

"THIS!"

In the span of one point five seconds, you aimed your shotgun at Amber and pulled the trigger. The gun fired a shell with a loud BANG! and sent blood flying everywhere. Amber's body fell to the ground, clearly bleeding out with several bullet holes in her torso.

Gasps flew everywhere around you two, and you no longer bore that benevolent expression you held a few seconds ago. You picked Amber up and looked at her dead in her eyes, not caring about her blood staining your robes.

"Listen here, you asshole of an outrider. I do not forgive you, and I never will. I remembered how you were amongst the many who greedily used my blood to commit acts of violence I never wanted for you to commit, and denied me offerings of simple things in favor of fucking skulls of ancient beasts and that shit. I remember it all, and I will ensure you remember it too."

You screamed at the end of your sentence and dropped Amber to the ground. Then, you took out a small bottle of red liquid and poured it all over the outrider.

"Do you know what this liquid does, Amber? It's an elixir that will force your blood to constantly regenerate itself, yet never clot any open wounds. That way, you can truly feel what I felt during the past few months of the hell that was my life!"

To add insult to her injuries, your ermine buddy decided to crawl out of your pocket and lick Amber's blood which caused it to stain its mouth in the process. You finally looked up from Amber's position and at the locals. Staring at all of the shocked expressions, you pointed the gun at them, forcing them to shudder and brace themselves for any possible shots.

"Citizens of Mondstadt! Let it be known that your Divine Grace has returned, and they are back with a vengeance! I have no direct grudge against you lot, so you shall be spared from my fury! But make no mistake: should you even dare to try and stop me, you shall meet your insignificant end with lead in your guts!"

You then heard two swords drop back in the direction of Mondstadt's gates, and you saw Swan and Lawrence scared shitless with their faces in pale complexion.

"Ah, it's the two gate guardians of Mondstadt! Tell you what, you two: I have a mission for you! I will give you exactly ten minutes to tell the rest of the Knights of Favonius and the vision wielders to face against me in combat!"

The two didn't move. "Well?! GET ON WITH IT, YOU YOKELS!" And then the two ran off into the city, not even bothering to pick up their swords.

Meanwhile, you reloaded your shotgun, breaking it open and inserting another shell into the left barrel of the weapon. You picked up your ermine buddy with a gentle smirk and placed him back in your pocket. "Come on buddy, let's go for a stroll."

Noelle began her day hearing two deafening, unnatural bangs, and when she exited her house Swan and Lawrence ran into her.

"Oh thank god you're up Noelle! Could you help us get any of the Knights of Favonius or vision wielders here?! Please it's urgent!!"

"O-Okay!" That was all Noelle could say before running with the two guards who normally guarded Mondstadt's gates to gather anyone specified they could find.

They gathered Jean, Kaeya, Lisa, Eula, Rosaria, and I think you get the drill, alongside other personnel who met in the headquarters. They met up in the Grand Master's office to clear up the situation.

"Okay, what's the situation you two?" Jean asked, clearly a little confused.

"Their Grace is back and I think they want our heads!" Swan yelled, clearly shaken up by Their Grace's declaration earlier. Everyone's expressions simply radiated confusion. Kaeya responded first, chuckling and looking at Swan and Lawrence with a glint in his eye. "Now now, you two. I doubt Their Grace would want our heads without a good reason. They were so benevolent while they were with us, no?"

"And may I add that they didn't decide to punish us for anything, darlings," Lisa added. "They clearly must not be-"

"THEY LEFT AMBER BLEEDING ON THE GROUND!"

Lawrence's outburst quieted the whole room, with everyone's expressions turning both shocked and fearful. "How?" Jean simply asked, and both knights started describing the nature of the unseen weapon in Their Grace's hands.

Amid the discussion, no one noticed that Noelle left the room.

Strolling around the streets of Mondstadt, you ignored the looks on the locals' faces as they flocked to each other, gossiping about what you did to Amber. Around five minutes had passed by now, and if no vision wielders or Knights of Favonius showed up in five more you would-

"[Name]!" A familiar voice shook you out of your thoughts.

Turning around, you saw Noelle with a worrisome expression. You simply stared back with a look of surprise and uneasiness, not noticing that your buddy poked his head out of your pocket to stare at her too.

You forgot that Noelle sought to become a Knight of Favonius, despite always failing their selection tests. During the months that you bled and bled Noelle always decided to serve at your beck and call, granting you what others would not.

In the times that you felt the pain and hurt from the cutting you performed on yourself, Noelle would do her best to comfort you as healers performed their duties.

She even began calling you by your name when you asked her to, when others would not even after several times.

She gave you what others would not.

She comforted you when you were in distress.

She treated you like a friend.

And though you may not have known this,

She was among the first to look for you not because of her mistakes, but because she was concerned for a friend.

"Noelle..." you quietly muttered to yourself as the memories rapidly flooded back into your mind.

As you used the ritual dagger to cut open your arm for the fifth time today, you watched as Heizou and Ningguang greedily consumed the ichor that fell into the deep channels of your temple.

"Your Grace, I give you many thanks for the divine blessings you oh so bestow upon us by the daily," Ningguang said. "As do I," Kaeya added, to which Ningguang glared at him for what she only considered a chaff response. You simply forced a convincing smile at their responses, a tactic you learned quickly after three weeks of bleeding.

"[Name]! I have your pancakes-" Noelle said before noticing the two other acolytes drinking your ichor from the channels, which was interrupted by Noelle.

"Oh, uh- sorry I'll come back once you two are done," the maid said as she turned around. "No, please," you asked, seeking her presence. "Don't go. Not yet at least."

Noelle gently waltzed her way over to you, giving you a plate of her Lighter-Than-Air Pancakes for you to dine on with a fork to go with it. Ningguang noticed this and scowled at her.

"Tell me, resident of Mondstadt. Why must you give Their Grace pancakes instead of anything of value to them? Do you believe you can win them over with simple sweet treats?"

"I-I very much believe it so, Ningguang," Noelle responded, gesturing to you hungrily devouring the pancakes with a stupid smile. "See- look at that face of theirs-"

"Have you ever considered that the expression may just be a farce to keep you happy?" Heizou asked, the bitterness in his voice evident. This shocked both you and Noelle, but clearly, he didn't notice as he turned to you.

"Your Grace, I am heading out to face Abyssal forces soon, and I intend to bring back something better than this individual's treats that anyone can make. Keep in touch, okay?" He smiled before leaving alongside Ningguang, who simply scoffed at the maid.

"Don't listen to them, Noelle." You simply said to her as you continued eating her pancakes.

"I know, but they act as if my actions are so sinful and disrespecting your very figure! It's so stuffy!" Noelle complained as she sighed before smiling at you. "But I can tell you love my pancakes very much, so I will keep bringing them to you!"

Your stupid smile was now a downright giddy grin. "Thank you, Noelle."

Your intimidating demeanor faltered as you reminisced on the topic, and you lowered your shotgun. All you could do in your position currently was stare at Noelle with a weathered expression.

"Noelle, I wish we could have met under better circumstances. But right now, I can only say one thing to you:"

"Run. Please, if not for yourself, then for me, because I am going to cause a bloodbath in this nation and I do not want you caught in my crossfire. Out of everyone that I bled for in this nation, I treasure you the most. And I do not want to lose you again, not ever in my lifetime."

Your voice grew more desperate as you spoke, revealing the vulnerable side you gradually locked up all those months ago except to Teyvat and the wilderness. Currently, out of all the people in Mondstadt, this was the one who you wanted to protect the most.

"So please, Noelle. Run away from this place, and don't turn back. I can only warn you this one time."

Noelle stared back with an uneasy yet firm expression. "...A-Alright, [Name], if that's what you want, then okay." And with those words, she turned her body and ran. You don't know where she will run to, but hopefully, it will be somewhere safe.

Then, you heard footsteps behind you and you turned your profile to find Jean alongside various vision wielders and the Knights of Favonius in your sight. You relaxed your current posture as you smiled benevolently.

"Ah, it seems that Swan and Lawrence weren't so useless after all."

You took a moment to look at the vision wielders in the crowd. At the front of the crowd was Jean, natural for her role as Acting Grand Master. Eula and Lisa were to her left while Kaeya was to her right. Rosaria and Mona stood further back in the crowd, with the Knights of Favonius everywhere else. Everyone's expressions were apprehensive.

"Your Grace... as much as I would like to say that I am overjoyed at your return, what did you do to Amber??" Jean asked with apprehension, a sentiment shared by everyone else at the scene except for you.

"I just gave her what I wanted to give her for months on end, you know after you fuckers coerced me to fucking bleed my guts out for your folly."

Jean flinched at how you raised your voice at the second part, and she had nothing to say to that so you continued.

"So, my offer to you, Acting Grand Master Jean, is to fight me with the full force of the vision wielders and Knights of Favonius right here, right now! And I hope you all fight with your full potential because I certainly won't hold back for this!"

You leaned harshly forward at that ending statement and Jean flinched. Eula, feeling the tension, decided to intervene. "Your Grace, please, we can solve this manner peacefully-"

"Fuck your peace offerings! There will be no negotiations with me, not anymore. You will fight or die trying!"

Eula remained silent after that, her expression clearly showing conflicting thoughts. Lisa spoke up next, her expression now looking sad and sorry.

"Darling... what happened to you in the months that you were gone? You were so benevolent when you gave up your blood for us unworthy acolytes, and your smile was so radiant..."

Lisa's voice grew more sorrowful with every word, yet your expression remained unchanging.

"And now... here you stand in Mondstadt, supposedly leaving poor little Amber bleeding on the ground. Just... why?"

You simply stared and blinked for a moment.

Then, you began to laugh.

"Ha....haha. Hahahahahah...Ahahahahah, ahahahahahah! *cough cough* AHAHAHAHAHAH!!!"

"Oh, you are such a fucking fool, Lisa! I guess your knowledge and wisdom did NOTHING to recognize what you and the others have done in these past months!"

Lisa shut up, and everyone's expressions grew more fearful.

"Have you all not considered that my smiles and compliments were fake? That I simply pretended to be happy to appease you writhing worms hungry for senseless warfare?! You and the vision wielders from the other nations simply wanted me for my blessings! Since clearly, when I couldn't provide artifacts or upgrade materials anymore, I was left to the dust!"

"And only when I left my temple, which I will remind you, was only constructed because I could bleed liquid strength in a bottle, only then did you all attempt to look for me! Not for me, not for my company, but FOR MY BLOOD!"

Your irate outburst further shocked and saddened the crowd, but you still had some steam going. This time, your tone turned anguishing.

"AT LEAST OUT OF EVERYONE, NOELLE CARED FOR ME LIKE A FRIEND! SHE GAVE ME WHAT YOU DENIED, BOTHERED TO KNOW ME BEYOND MY BLESSINGS, AND ACTUALLY TREATED ME LIKE A FUCKING HUMAN BEING!"

"I TOLD HER TO RUN FROM ME, NOT BECAUSE SHE'S MY FAVORITE ACOLYTE, BUT BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE I CAN ACTUALLY CALL A FRIEND IN THESE FORSAKEN LANDS!!!"

You yelled with so much hatred and grief that you even shed a few tears that dropped onto the floor with sparkles in them, but you coldly wiped your eyes ridding of any more.

And with that final action, you cocked your shotgun with vicious and sanguinary intent.

"SO PREPARE YOURSELVES, BECAUSE THIS CRUSADE IS FOR ALL THOSE MONTHS OF BLEEDING I WILL NEVER GET BACK FROM MY LIFE!"

Taglist: @the-moon-awaits-her-executioner, @bunniotomia, @bl1pbl0p, (comment if you want to be tagged!)

A/N: Did I cook?

#shotgun king #sagau #genshin impact #genshin sagau #crossover #genshin x reader #sagau bloodletting au #sagau cult au

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prozac · 10 months ago

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December 27th, 2008 is the day Anik Pillai was left behind. Trying to find his family, he travels the East Coast with his new friends, avoiding the bloodthirsty monsters created by a world-ending virus. ⠀⠀⠀🌹

⠀⠀

⠀

🌹 Season 1: 5 months (Jan-May)

⠀Anik Pillai, separated from his sister, makes friendly with multiple people in the chaos of the collapse of society. In this chaos, Anik raises a little boy who was also separated from his family.

⠀

🌹 Season 2: 1 month (June)

⠀Anik and his friends try to escape the city before it is bombed by the remnants of the United States’ government.

⠀

🌹 Season 3: 2 months (July-August)

⠀Still unable to find his sister & parents, Anik and friends meet a capable married couple, and head to a safe settlement called Wheatville.

⠀

🌹 Season 4: 1 month (September)

⠀The main group learn more about the state of society and science after the fall.

⠀

🌹 Season 5: 3 months (October-December)

⠀The main group learn more about the virus that has made the world implode.

⠀

🌹 Season 6: 1 year (January-December)

⠀Those who remain stay at the first major rebuilt faction: a settlement called Libertytown.

⠀

🌹 Season 7: 4 months (January-April)

⠀While the group is forcibly split, Anik and those with him travel to the city formerly known as Atlanta, which hosts another rebuilt faction: Center for Safety.

⠀

🌹 Season 8: 1 yr (May-May)

⠀A period of rest. However, the surface of calm begins to bubble…

⠀

🌹 Season 9: 2 months (June-July)

⠀Anik learns more about the state of the world outside of the embrace of the powerful settlements.

⠀

🌹 Season 10: 1 month (August)

⠀THE MEAT FACTORY.

⠀

🌹 Season 11: 11 months (September-July)

⠀Anik is alone.

⠀

🌹 Season 12: 6 months (August-January)

⠀Valentino King, hungry ruler of the Kingdom faction, strikes a deal with the mourning Anik Pillai. Anik takes that deal.

⠀

🌹 Season 13: 1 year 4 months (Feburary x2-June)

⠀With society on the coast all forming alliances, the new faction Home begins to become a place of respite.

⠀

🌹 Season 14: ~3 days (July)

The war begins to end.

⠀

🌹 Season 15: 6 months (July-December)

⠀Anik Pillai finishes what was started.

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🥀

#DAIL #DAIL Summaries #❤️💚💙🧡#Zaxart

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chiyoso · 1 year ago

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HERRSCHER OF DEATH x HSRVerse PART TWO

▶SYPNOSIS. after successfully finding welt yang, as well as dealing with other encounters, you sought out to explore further, hoping to learn and differentiate this universe between being a new reality, or something constructed artificially by the imaginary tree. the xianzhou luofu for example, being one of many stops that you took interest on.

▶CONTENT. crossover, headcannons + combined oneshot, hsr x hi3rd, hi3rd elements, heavy descriptions of fighting, female reader, serious themes, no usage of y/n, flirting, reader's just a tease, heavy topics, dead dove: do not eat.

“You're beautiful.”

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 is perturbed, taken aback by your straightforward, words for him.

You were discovered floating, at least stomach level at one of the balconies where the Jade Gate resided grandiosely behind you, floating and laid comfortably, suggestively against your elegant, divine key—your lance, the very lance which caused attention to artisans within the Luofu.

It was twice the size of you, it was darker than midnight, flowers that patterned on its surfaces were replaced in glittered lines of gold, a more elegant, eerie version of the normal Abyss Flower than that one Schicksal Valkyrie had.

And with that, you held death—it was beneath you, leisurely, awaiting your commands.

You remained motionless on air, gravitating lazily, up and down idle, nonchalant towards the leading looking figure, and the people stood before you under his command.

A ruler? He did look the part, ravishingly at that.

Not caring too much, you just wanted to explore, traversing this bubble universe, all without too much usage of your limbs really.

Since a specific someone, frilly, pink and uplifting, somehow had managed to tire and drain your mentality through rigorous, unrelenting questions about you, your nature, and the relationship you had with the previous Herrscher of Reason—no, he had previously told you to stop addressing him by that title.

The mission in search for the missing Sovereign of Anti-Entropy had reached its peak, the task was completed, you were done.

What was not, was the overwhelming curiousity you harbored towards such a complex, and sturdily built universe. This world—this... bubble universe. Behaving so accordingly, properly. The stability of everything, it was almost anxiety inducing, frighteningly perfect, you were uneasy from how detailed, sentient and alive everything and everyone was.

Perfection is non-existent wherever sentience prevailed, but this... this is truly next, next level.

You're certain that this world wouldn't fall victim to the Sea of Quanta's abyss, not after being birthed with a vast, new whole new star system, ecological ruptures scattered in highs and lows, numerous amounts of advanced technology existing in all kinds of ways and forms, each world having their own ways of tech akin to their aesthetics and traditionalism.

And if the imaginary tree can create such complex systems, visuals—just how powerful, potent and complex is it to create godlike beings similar to you that could eradicate any existing molecule if they so wished? All the more reason to explore and gather valuable data for those awaiting you in your original world.

That's speaking if you do manage to find your way back, given the knowledge from Welt Yang that he hasn't found a way yet. Safely at least.

Speaking of perfection.

Golden irises met yours, he studied your intricately and interesting designed eyes, they were different, abnormal, but he was accustomed to concepts such as yours, at least, that's what he'd like to believe.

Northern star shaped pupils, a hollow, gradient iris as its bastion, one of many things he noticed about how ethereal you really were.

To give you a compliment with those words would be an insult, it was an understatement.

You were more than mesmerizing, extraordinary, otherworldly, but one thing was most clear to the General; you were also a threat, a large scale one.

He was no diviner like Fu Xuan, but the premonition of unease settled in, engraved so deeply within his gut.

“Your kind words are received, however,” sharp sounds of armory clinked and shifted, winds being cut forward as the horizontal row of spearsmen that positioned themselves behind the general, weaponry raised—all defensively towards you,

What a predicament you've gotten yourself into.

“What are you, and what do you stand to achieve at this hour of day, my lady?” His unidentifiable gaze remained to your direction, occasionally, subtly glancing down towards the weapon you had displayed under you, and back up to meet your hypnotic eyes.

The commotion from the civilians only grew, be it humans, Foxians, or the Vidyhadras.

Some had caused an uproar from your overly grand appearance, some were whispers, quickly plaguing gossips of you being a high Emanator from the deceased Aeon of Beauty Idrila, and the majority—perceived you to be a threat.

All assumptions based on how their mighty, Arbiter General had his Cloud Knights stationed protectively for them, and with apparent offense towards you.

Even if you were, Jing Yuan remained that positive demeanor, he had to, for the lives that resided in Central Starskiff Haven.

“Your... negative, internal inputs of me are so loud and misplaced, handsome,” you had to deeply inhale back a visible reaction, the way he stiffened when you gave him a nickname was nothing but so utterly, endearing.

“But, to avoid rousing concerns and disputes that you are so desperately trying to avoid,” you exaggerate, musing him with a chesire-like smile.

“I'll lower myself down to your standards, all for you,” your mouth slightly parts into a small grin, taking in that miniscule amount of surprise that showed on his face from the upgrade of handsome to that.

Lovely, just lovely. That twitch in between his brows, the slight pursing of his top lip, kissing it to the bottom, the way he'd raise his head to stand tall, masking whatever emotions that stirred cruelly inside him.

Subtle his reactions may be, his embarassment was present to your keen observations.

Your lance beneath your body dissipates into a golden light, leaving behind particles of particles, your form now straightened again, taking footing on the railing of the balcony, your hands raised to the sides of your head.

To diffuse the intensity of the situation of course, even if you did have to make yourself look weak by a small amount, aware that last time's show of strength towards the Astral Faction did a number of them—mentally anyways.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 would push unnecessary thoughts to the back of his head. Unorthodox thoughts related to attraction, ranging from the way your fingers effortlessly be positioned in a way similar to dancers that visit the Luofu, enthralling, captivating, the way your eyes—those eyes, the way those stars would glide, seize him, his knights, and the overall dauntiny situation.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 wasn't one to fear, but you were just haunting, overflowing with elegance, and you were dangerously coy, something that would, at theory, weaken and enable that primal instinct you see in charmed men.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 would slightly lower his guard down, signaling his men to lower their weapons, his own right hand moving towards the side of his head, mirroring half of your surrendered gesture.

But alluring your appearances may be.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 will not waver, nor will he allow his self-mastery of calm resolution to be wavered by your antics. To protect the Luofu, he'd add, defensively, even if the very concept of radiance stood confidently, and defiantly before him.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 would see you, see past your entity-like behavior, observing how you behave once his golden eyes travel enough, just enough to know you were a work of art underneath the silk you wore.

You were otherworldly, but you were still human.

”My lady...” He took a step to you, eyes never leaving your more visible physiq—your eyes.

He took a few moments to claw at any given thing that would reclaim his previous state of calm again, the silence, accompanied with a light buzzing and bustling commotion, filling his ears, uncertainty dulling his senses for a moment.

Be strong, General. He reaffirms himself, steeling his mind and heart, a noticable shift in his demeanor while you both locked your gazes to one another.

“You... are not a citizen of the Xianzhou Luofu, that much is obvious. Vast, the Astral Express may be, I have not heard word of you having an alliance with the travelers accustomed in traversing within the stars,” Oh, them?

“I have also noticed that you don't bear the crest of the Interastral Peace Corporation,”

Ah, so that's what it means. Previously hearing one, or a hundred continuously yell abbreviations during their chase for you.

For an alliance that wore the word 'peace' proudly in their name, their tactics were sure far from it.

“And the way you appear and hold yourself in such high, confident regards, even in my presence...” Mm?

So there is something special about hi—

“You, are not human, and of this world, are you? At the very least, one of which where the Luofu presides,” the air shifted, Cloud Knights once at ease, now filled with confusion, mixed with an alarm as they hear their General speak out with stern, a tone that can't be differentiated between being a question, or a threat.

Ha.

...

Even that Schicksal maid couldn't discern large, and small scale details that quickly upon just meeting a stranger such a few minutes of close contact.

“...You'd be more than correct.” You attempted to hold yourself and your facial muscles motionless, keeping your hands up to both sides of your head for him. You wouldn't hear the end of it from the trailblazers if you displayed such a disrespectful, unwelcomed, excitement. It was unbefitting of this situation, that much was obvious.

Mmh, but you would digress, for this man was so very, truly fascinating, one that interested you the most. Apart from the blue haired man that craved death in earlier events.

You would assume his abilities, almost purposely rousing him to invoke terrifying reactions you know he's capable of underneath all that reservation and mental fortitude.

His observational skills, overwhelming, giving you a surge that you are being preyed upon on, cat like eyes and reflexes, dilating towards everything subtle you do. That hollow, yet welcoming enough smile that doesn't reach to his pretty eyes, staged for the civilians in confusion, protecting them from feelings of panic and terror.

The highlight in his eyes that would shine brightly as if he just solved every problem there is, the problem being you perhaps, solving you without hints and solutions, guiding him to this battle of composure. A trained body language and demeanor so used to being in regal command.

And a mouth so well versed in literature and strategic prowess, knowing what words to use in all times. you could just...—

“An Emanator, then?”

...

Huh. What did he just call you?

His voice sounded lower than before, almost threatening, the delivery of tone in which you only picked up on since that expression still retained on that pretty face of his.

It may be a pleasant, questionare he'd staged carefully to not alarm his knights and the people present, but to you—you were aware it was only masked hiding the fact that it was an interrogation.

Maybe, a deserved one at that from your sudden appearance within their faction, but since it was a public confrontation, he'd trust your judgements that you wouldn't act so rashly, especially with innocent lives around the luofu were present.

What a bold, bold man.

Already trusting you to the stars with just a few moments of talking, since establishing main key points with you in entirety, of this conversation.

Wait. No, wait a moment.

The young March 7th did ramble to you something about an adventure of theirs not too long ago—containing a word with Emanator, or Lord Ravager within the storyline of hers. Ah.

An emanator. A defeated one. Phantylia, was it?

“Tch,” You didn't like that comparison, assumption it may be, it irked you, especially since encountering a being far greater than her, at least, almost, just barely almost the same level as you being a Herrscher.

You were only nothing but...

“Greater,” you lowered your hands to your sides, standing tall, chin raised with your eyes, fierce and lowered to them—towards him.

“...Greater.” Jing Yuan would repeat, slowly, as if he was relishing the intensity of the meaning behind your answer, the both of you staring each other down, neither side's auras waning down, exceeding amounts of hostility by the second, even if his was misdirected towards you.

He could only assume negatively then, but you were only reciprocating their behavior, after all.

You move both limbs up to your sides once more, a gradiose pose, unphased to the endless sky that accompanied this enormous grand hexafleet that reminded you of the Hyperion of Schicksal.

A step back from the railing would be a mortal man's doom to, perhaps, between, a fate of an endless free fall, suffering from loneliness, with death not being able to cradle and bring you to salvation—or, you would be accompanied with a fear and thoughts of inevitable doom as you fall to something ranging from abominations of the so-called Aeon of Abundance, or.

A simple, boring splat, meeting the ground with a gruesome, inelegant end.

His eyes narrowed with your gesture, finding himself—or the hand behind him subconsciously ready to summon his glaive, a defensive stance so buried deeply into his body that the simple word 'reflex' can't do it justice.

“By 'greater', my lady, you mean you are...—”

Ancient. Everlasting. A covenant.

“Immeasurable, inconceivable, a vessel to humanity's fatal destruction that reached over fifty thousand years ago, a concept humanity has yet to grasp in those countless eras of waste and fruition,”

“An ornament, a paradoxical lament to something greater, far, far greater than destruction itself,”

“I am greater, than those who were labeled the greatest.” It wasn't as if you were trying to appear narcissistic, nor overly confident in your abilities.

But that was only the bigger, and bitter truth.

And it is how Raiden Mei (Herrscher of Origin) would potentially word things given her serious, primordial nature—and your claims of such power, being supported due to the sudden glowing of your eyes.

The sound of cracking, and shattering glass that only you and the General can only hear since he was the closest, sourced from the skin behind your exposed back, a dark mist seeping out of it little by little, along with your Honkai energy levels that were growing simultaneously in an alarming pace.

What's worse—you were unaware of the phenomenon you were displaying right now for it was subconscious, as you revel in the truth of your words with a grin. A misplaced, mistrusting grin you weren't quite aware of you were showing for the General.

Not a Welt Yang within the area right now.

Not a Sovereign, nor a retired Herrscher in your sights to control the situation with knowledge he only held about your kind—your existence.

Not a creature that matched your power and strength, living or not, to stop you in your glory.

The weight of your words manifested into something heavy, full of density, full of dread, it felt awful, sickening, suffocating, his Cloud Knights and those who were near to hear your frightening words of calamity tensed, sweat starting to surface underneath the fabric that hides their terror, their feet glued to the cement as a helplessness guided them to their internal panic, his Cloud Knights in desparate waiting for any sort of order, movement, any syllable from the man before them.

The Jade Gate behind you blocked the brilliant light for the singular, attentive individual that remained tall, a pillar that he had to be for the ones cowering in the heaviness of your words—the Arbitrator Charioteer stands tall, immovable to your claims of calamitous power.

A Lord Ravager, then. The thought internalized inside his mind based on the grevious words, words of grief worthy testaments, laid bare for the citizens to find themselves in a state of fear that doesn't have the need to use any vocal chords.

“A threat,” he voiced, low and firm. His weaponry materializing from the back, the long length of the spear-like weapon, an oriental, traditional looking glaive, finding its solace within his grasp, making him appear complete his weapon apparent.

“You say you are the home to an enemy of humanity, do you acknowledge this, my lady.”

The glaive's tip finds its way towards your direction, the seriousness of the situation finally weighing down as you, your pupils landing on the weaponry pointed at you.

You look to your surroundings beyond the man, arms lowered as your gaze dissects the crowds near you.

Fear, and only fear.

Something you are so accustomed to since bearing the Will of the last Herrscher of Death, and only those who were equally—if not stronger can only ever truly look at you in the eyes, like how this man before you is currently doing.

“You raise a weapon to me.”

“A weapon with intentions to protect those who stand behind me,” his hold tightens around his weapon, his expression mirroring the seriousness of yours, excluding the disbelief you had, mixed with... something else he couldn't discern, at least not yet.

A long, deep inhale. To the point where you exhaust your lungs of air, then exhaling through your teeth, the few last seconds of it being shaky with lips parting slightly, forming into a small, horizontal oval.

They are only fearful. A kind voice reassured in the center of your mind, though it was faint, it was impactful.

That fear being you, you mean. A familiar, malicious one intruded, causing you to bring a hand to your head again, grasping the side as you clicked your tongue.

Even talking about a truth relating to your power, urges the Houkai?

No—illogical, it attacks your mental capacity.

To weaken it. Your emotions, your willpower. You'd long forgotten since then, for it had been quite long ago that anyone, had manage to waver your mental strength.

But you can't help it, you hate being looked at with such genuine fear. You hate it, you really do.

It was unfair, it really was. You only do good.

You've been only good. Only nothing but good.

You breathe unsteadily, giving yourself to the silence to calm yourself for a few, long moments, selective hearing at play.

Something was amiss, the General would observe in his guarded silence, lowering his weapon to his side, vertical, the end of his glaive grounded to the cement. He was to take a step, treading in eggshells, making his way with intentions of closing the gap between you and him.

But a hand, yours, a palm towards him had stopped him dead at his tracks, halting his attempt of a succor—towards you.

You're not one to seek help.

But, stubborn as you are, it would be devastating to put this hyperion like faction to a ruin that you've gotten used to seeing everywhere.

Ah. You, again. Me, again.

And so? You are unwelco—

Being a Herrscher, a catastrophic one, at that.

What is a Herrscher like you blending in with human civilizations, through time and time again?

...Ha. You are weak, I have conquered you, stabilized you—and myself long, long ago.

Yes. Yes, that would be the case right now, wouldn't it, partner of Death.

But recall, where a Herrscher presides—is where my existence remains intact.

For my will... is neverending.

Just like death, infinity and everlasting.

Tch. To choose the unpredictable willingly, that was your forte, to use the unknown in retaliation against the calculative will inside you, to descontruct the threatening finality of your stupor.

It is a new era. This one especially, the world of Pegana, the world that habors no virus that nestle inside you—at least, that's what you believe and have observed in your short time in this 'bubble universe.'

They don't struggle against the Houkai that resided inside you, and that was good, relieving.

Not until traumatic imagery, thoughts of you bringing a fate worse than whatever hell already existed for them, visible, cruel, and horrible.

The fragment of that possibility fine tuning muscles on your face to something sour, having that expression noticed immediately by the General that stood brightly before you.

“You,” you let out a call towards him, similarly to a snarl in your mental discomfort, gaining his attention. You sought out in voice, seeking out warmth, pacing yourself internally, resuming to reassure your will with familiar words that led to alleviate your worries.

“I don't desire to cause harm, and—”

“—And yet, you speak in alarming malice, my lady, such brutal, unfathomable words, coming from that mou-.. from- from the way you speak.”

...What was that pause?

“Listen,” a slight jolt from him, “and listen well,”

You appeared just before him in one step. His fingers twitch, his reflexes, motor skill, practicing heavy, heavy restraint to just have a swing at you.

Time had stood still for him, seeing you closer, you were no taller than him, but you remained intimidating, if anything, the differences made you appear more alluring, accompanied with lucent eyes he only started to focus on once captured by your gaze, an eager eye contact that matched his vigor, that subconscious curiousity and excitement, growing ever so finely, but then.

He remembered those under his command.

“YIELD—yield your weapons,” his free hand simultaneously moves up, open, signaling his Cloud Knights just in time, the muted rustling of equipment now heard, winds that were sliced from their cloud piercers towards you now halted abruptly, and of course, you hadn't wavered one bit. “Wise,” you add, tilting your head up to him.

A vicious, musing smirk, one which of which he couldn't decide to detest it, or to be smitten by it.

At least for right now.

“...If you think and speak of me in such ways, why haven't I brought said ruination into this beautiful, well constructed flagship we currently reside in?”

“Mm,” A great point. He'd look over his shoulder, towards the Cloud Knights coupled defensively, a sum of Xianzhou locals, astral tourists, stilled by fear and unease.

One last deep breath—you straighten your form, the hand from your head moving downwards to your chest, this time inhaling through your teeth. Simultaneously, the glow from your eyes would dull, along with the rejuvenation of your cracked skin, closing up a rift-like wound that was sourced at your spine.

The General sighs, the free hand moving towards his head, now letting frustration that had been tugging at him since this encounter with you.

It was unhealthy to someone imbued with mara.

There were only a few lasting seconds to take a stand, an initative, a singular choice that wouldn't provoke, you—nor worsen what the crowd that flocked together was feeling.

It was truly a taxing, and difficult situation.

Only for him anyways.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 will move with purpose, in every action in his next courses of actions. You would think in his 800 years of loyalty and commitment to the Xianzhou Luofu would easily override his curiousity for you—not at all. Eight centuries of repetitiveness, without the need to indulge in the other mysteries of the universe, and that will also be eight centuries of boredom, perhaps something the discover of your existence can begin to alleviate.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 is a man, an immortal one, the mara that presides within gnaws at his mind, but death isn't able to welcome him just yet, he is unmoving to that concept, but finding himself hesitant, yet feeling that want to play this game of cunning and intelligence against you.

𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 found eerieness, and a not so welcomed serenity the moment you introduced yourself formally, grand and opening, having you in the center of the divining area within the Divination Commission, wrists, ankles binded separately, ones that held you together, rendering you immobile were something of astral configuration, projection, but some sort of space manipulation, enchantment you can't fanthom, and most importantly—can't get out of.

And 𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐔𝐀𝐍 would himself revel in that little smidge of discomfort you had, the little creasing between your eyebrows despite the polite and forced smile you had, amused at the way your hands would move, wriggle against the starry chains, and finding himself more impressed once you manage to hold your expression tightly, along with managing to hold back a sound with that pretty, pretty mouth of yours.

Because every time you would try to free yourself, your entire being feels this electrifying, unpleasant burning, it is invasive, mind and emotional means, it runs through your very soul, it tugs at it, warning you, and it behaves similarly like the Houkai within you, and it is sickening.

Sickening to feel something foreign creep up to you again, to try and destroy you from the inside out, what's worse—it had no traces of Houkai Energy, so you weren't able to identify and manipulate it at all, and everytime you would use your own abilities, you would be met with something sharp, a weapon immediately pressed against your nape.

Curiousity had once killed a cat, but what feline is there to be seen, for they have grasped only but a predator.

“You were the one who asked to be binded,”

“To cease any worries, of course,” a half truth. You feign another smile, one that he would mirror with slight amusement. Just where is this confidence he was getting from? You'd think, wincing as soon as your body naturally tries to free itself again, biting your bottom lip to stifle any noise.

“These... binds, they allow you to sense any malicious activity, yes?” The General would let out a musing hum, walking towards you, eyeing you.

“As much as I would love to partake in offering you knowledge,” he looks towards a direction, and you follow his gaze. “Unfortunately, you'll have to relay your questions to the Diviner over there,” A pink colored hair, a hue you wouldn't associate with Ms. March, her demeanor held respectable prowess, something you can admire.

“I see,” you reply, short and neat, sighing.

“Is this necessary, you question.” he narrates for you, taking the words that were already subconsciously forming in the back of your head.

You found it endearing, cocking your head to the side, a genuine smile this time, one that shifted immediately into a smirk. “You'd have to stare at me in long amounts to know what thoughts I currently harbor,” his head returns to your direction, finding those golden eyes gleam along with yours, his lips almost curling upwards.

Almost, but he won't allow it. Not just yet.

“Mm, you would be correct,” So, so dangerous.

“But almost anyone would think that once they know Lady Fu will be invading one of humanities vulnerabilities—the mind, being one of them.”

“Hmp, so much resistance for what...” you mumble softly, complaining about the way he would deflect your advances—he had been since encountering you, especially when you were on the way to the place where you currently are.

“I don't know what you mean,” you were heard. His answer made you look away from him, towards the calm ether, an atmosphere showered with golden leaves, most likely sourcing from the beautifully large scale tree you saw on the way to here, and those golden leaves, caught and nestled within the fabric of your outfit, only enhanced the state you were in—you being flushed, or almost from his comment.

And he'd think and believe, that this current expression suited you far more than the hierarchy fitting description one you masked yourself with.

You sigh, walking a few steps towards him. “As if I would act on malice,” you correct, fatigued, just arriving beside him, knowing he has you in his peripheral. “No, but you are still actively trying to escape, are you not?”

“If there's one thing that would unsettle me, it would be not able to move freely,”

“...Yet, you haven't, not once, have complained during your willing capture, especially when I was proving you immobile.” What are you doing, General. He berates himself internally just after saying that.

“...Your hands did feel better than these things after all,” silence. He answers with silence and three deep breaths, arms closed defensively, your words clearly, clearly affecting him, troubling him.

“Say,” he breaks the silence, and your amused humming. “Are you really fifty-thousand years old? Or did you mean it, harboring something of that age,”

“The latter,” you're quick to answer, now turning heel, moving towards the edge of the platform, eyes squinted nonchalantly. “Are these skies endless as they seem, or is there something that would await you down there?”

“I wouldn't know.” “Why n—”

“Because I haven't indulged myself in a free fall,”

You turn, looking over your shoulder, meeting his golden eyes, unable to choose between annoyance or attraction from his sudden sarcasm.

“General Jing Yuan,” a voice interrupts your reply, your head both turning to the source.

Mm. Jing Yuan, huh.

“Ah, Lady Fu,” he'd acknowledge the pink haired's presence, placing her attention quickly to you, and it only amused you, given how she had this look of disapproval, a twinge of curiousity.

But of course, emotions are more stronger when facing the unknown.

“The Matrix of Prescience is functioning at its finest, any unsealing, rudimentary or advanced would be completely left unscathed, and any type of escape will not be possible for the acting God as per dire request, at least, in 824 possibilities I've calculated f—”

“How accomodating,” you interrupt, shooting the Diviner, and the General an unamused look, a wry smile to hide a slight bitterness that you won't deny within you.

“Only for the best,” He'd add, low, teasing, grasping your attention effortlessly, noticing that slight tensing of your body language, quite liking the effect he had on you currently.

“Only for me, then?” You're quick to retaliate, now striding towards him, smirking and you'd purposely exaggerate your movements, alluring and elegant as you move, catching that miniscule, quick shift in his eyes.

“For the ones unwilling to share their truth,” he looks down as you arrive, indifferent you'd think, but he looked stiff, too professional, unnatural.

“As if your questions wouldn't be answered if you asked in the first place,” you're correct and you know it. “I digress, Lady Herrscher,” the pink is quick to interrupt. “There would be far more possibilities to assess if we were to take that free, unpremeditated route considering your claims of absolute destruction, whether it'd be the escape of your existence, endangering the Luofu, or—”

“That gate, it is acting as a fine line between the stars, and your faction, yes?” you interrupt, liking the slight crease of annoyance between her eyebrows.

“...You would be correct.” Fu Xuan answers, jolting shortly after once your head lowers to her, eyes dark with suspicious amusement.

“Be aware, had your shortly assessed claims prove multiple chances of being true, I would have already done so the moment I stepped foot into what you call the Jade Gate,” you answer with a wry, cold smile, your voice carrying a serious tone this time, along with your expression just like earlier tall, menacing, and haunting.

But still beautiful, the thought nestles comfortably in Jing Yuan's mind, eliciting a heavy exhale through his nose, and you can't identify if it was exhaustion, or frustration, but what you have determined is that he was calm, too calm for someone who is in the presence of a Herrscher.

...Or do the concept of Herrschers not exist in this universe?

“Hm,” the Diviner's eyes narrow, considering, thinking deeply, ignoring the threatening indications in your tone.

“That would... erase 7,254 possibilities of you wreaking havoc, causing no harm and chaos towards the Xianzhou Alliance, as well as having the idealogy, the possibility of you being a Lord Ravager, as well as the part where your loyalties lie for the Aeon of Destructio—”

“Thank you?” “It isn't a co—” the General interrupts by movement, and the action of coughing dryly onto his fist, stepping in between both you, and the Diviner.

“My lady, would you be so kind to indulge and alleviate our worries? It would be of much great help to the Xianzhou's mental fortitude, as well as mine,” he brings out his hand, trained, calloused yet well taken care of, towards the direction of the large, and no doubt advanced technology that was currently up and running, ready for you.

But, if you were to round up the little information you were given based on this sole interaction alone, this astral looking device would, in theory, be able to read, or pry into either your mind.

And that wasn't good for you, neither it is for the Houkai Energy that takes home in your body.

“I have a favor to ask both of you, and the Luofu,” they'd both perk, the word unexpected showing in their expressions to your sudden request.

“Whatever it is that is ongoing, cease everything once you witness something, anything, fluctuate, do everything to render me immobile, unable, or useless,” you'd look to the General for the last part of your sentence, a serious yet silent pleading on those lovely eyes, recognized by him.

He wouldn't need an explanation, he had already witnessed it, the sudden rouses of personality that didn't fit you, the physical and mental discomfort you displayed, grasping your head in earlier events and the radiant glow of your eyes.

“Do you understand, my mighty General?”

But even then, you'd still be able to surprise him, attract him despite being steeled by your vague warning, and that itself was dangerous already.

“I'm starting to destest this... lack of respect, and self preservation in your words and demeano—”

“Let's... start, Lady Fu, let's not keep our guest, waiting,” such strong words, but you'd know that you've only greatly affected him, considering his guarded expression, stoic and stern, but his eyes continue to glue to yours, unidentifiable, but determined, you just don't know if it's something related a positive one or not.

'My' General, you say. He'd pause, attempting to keep composed, giving a subtle, brief squint to you while he played your those lines over and over in his head. "I could wait all the time for you,” you muse with a teasing chuckle, letting him guide you towards the platform of spheres.

Astrological symbols and starry projections, it was pleasing to the eye, but its mechanism were unbefitting of the aesthetics, knowing this enclosure is one that is enable to invade your mind, your memories and your being.

It's funny, you are to stand within something so similar to how you are, it was beautiful, primordial like, and it was also something that people didn't want to associate themselves with. Just like you.

Jing Yuan would hum, mirroring your amused expression, he could only assume what thoughts had presented themselves to you as you gaze towards the Matrix of Prescience.

Fu Xuan's emotions dive into the categories of reminiscence, nostalgia and a twinge of guarded anticipation, you being inside it bringing memories flickering, familiar imagery of cunning, allure and authority flashing your figure.

Kafka. She'd sigh heavily, now attaining suitable form, ready to dive into mysteries that settled surfaced, or deep in your mind.

“Whenever you're ready,”

Whenever they're ready. A crude internal voice slips out, causing you a slight discomfort.

Behave, I believe they have the technology to get rid of you, and they're just unaware of it.

And considering the possibility that without me, you are nothing.

What makes you, yourself—is me.

I don't mind losing you.

You let your face muscles contract into a wicked grin on your face while your head remained low, your breathing intervallic with purpode to concentrate.

I've already found another that has the means and capacity to replace your greatness, if not greater. You look up, now taking witness to the light illuminating the entirety of you, all before placing your gaze at the General that stood with anticipation next to the initiator of this conduct.

You'd give up your divine principles for a nothing but a miniscule speck of human companionship?

Why not? You bore me.

...That is only the result of you not using me to immeasurable extents, destroying a continent, for example.

There are other ways to destroy things. Your chuckle is seen, confusing the Diviner and the Arbiter General, especially one that sounded out with endearment, especially once you bit your lip to the General.

You are all the same. Mm, yes.

I never did claim to abandon my humanity in the first place, no? That's n—

“Oh Miss lovely Diviner,” you call out, shunning the other internal voice out, closing your eyes, bliss and free, despite your restraints.

“You will be dealing with three consciousness,” you open your eyes, biting your bottom lip to stifle laughter from the priceless reactions of disbelief and confusion in both their faces.

“What.” Her eyes leave whatever she was working onto the astral projection, constellations floating adrift within her hands, just like you at the current.

“What do you mean by... three consciousness?”

“Steady, you are unfocused,” you chuckle thereafter, your words only snapping her out of seconds worth of shock, denying to process her emotions of disbelief.

“It is as literal as I can get, three, individual consciousness.” You bite your bottom lip harder, cheeks puffing and just stifling to let a sound of laughter out, your circumstances amusing the General as he crossed his arms, closing his eyes while you mused her with your teasing antics.

“Me, the last successor of the power I hold currently, and the culprit of ruination that I, have mentioned prior my captivity—the lovely General would know what I'm referring to,” you glance briefly at the General, dead in the eyes, admiring him before returning your eyes to the Diviner.

“So tread with utmost care, for once you stray off from mine, you will be dealing with fifty-thousand worth of memories, all filled with inconceivable amounts of terror... and otherworldly struggles.”

The familiar silence again, not including the sounds of stars and shapes moving around you, runes, magic circles appearing and diminishing in tempos. “...Do not take me lightly,” the Diviner refocuses, her attention and concentration towards the particles of light and spacial matter before her sights, and her fingertips.

“Hmhm,” “You need not tease her,” your full attention returns to the General, giving him that coy smile that unsettles and pleases him all in one.

“You'd prefer if I do it to you instead, then?”

“...I said no such thing,” “I don't hear resistance.”

There, that color. It suits him, and he wears the hue so, so well. He'd look away, down to the ground to avoid your smug gaze, arms crossed, as if that defense would stop you from continuing your attacks. “You hold so much beauty, General.”

Says you who continues to be frustratingly magnificent and irresistible. “Focus on the ta—”

“Mm, are you talking to me, or to yourself?” The General takes a deep breath, refusing to meet your gaze, his golden irises tearing away from yours and out towards the other platforms of the Divination Commission.

How long had it been since having himself indulge in interactions such as this? Too long.

You'd expect from the Mighty Arbiter General of the Luofu to not indulge himself in things that will hinder is work, distract him from protecting the Luofu, but you'd be surprise for how long 800 years can really be.

Eons that were accompanied by friends that named themselves longing, loneliness and emptiness, and even faced with emotions he wasn't acquainted with, the emotions being satisfaction, and this warming anticipation...—

He wouldn't, he wouldn't. He would not allow himself, or rather, the Mara wouldn't allow him.

He wouldn't let the one who will enter, capture and steal his heart witness his inevitable fate, one that involved the blossoming of ginkgo leaves, painted with the scarlet red that reeks of a cruel, unhappy death, he would rather just—let no one suffer, he will protect those who need protecting.

But of five people, four had only paid the price.

And right now, the sight of you, all tied, almost vulnerable, mixing in with the memories of pleasant interactions you and him had since the encounter.

To seek out this vixen of a woman, play her games as she did with his, testing him, observing him in the same manner he would to her.

He would gladly be the last.

How could he resist? His charms, wit, intelligence, it was all mirrored by someone so cunningly attractive, not only in physical but the way you hold yourself, his reflected charms being reciprocated if not better?

It all made him feel good.

So good, and maybe, just maybe, he can finally... at least once more in his immortality, can he finally prioritize something else other than the Luofu, other than—“General! General Jing Yuan!”

Yanqing? Familiar voices snap him out of his deep trance, eyes widened, confused, alarmed at the sight that came to be. Two floating blades of ice, both horizontal to block a large scale whip, it was dark, serpent like, exuding black mists—and it retracts again, golden dust particles trailing off from the direction it had attempted to attack him.

The serpent like whip slithered, back, back and forwards again, moving—“ABOVE!” It attacks again, its speed and velocity unmatched for the ice swords the little commander, the density and strength once it clashes with four, five blades, overruling it, shattering each sword with ease.

“Watc—Tch,” The General immediately acts, lunging and taking hold of the blonde boy to move out of the way, him being caught off guard making Jing Yuan barely dodge out of the way.

“At ease, Yanqing,” Rubbles, dusts, the aftermath of the shock scathed his skin in small cuts and dust, ornamental clothes dirtied.

“S-Sorry General... I was—” The platform gives out an unpleasant noise, one that threatened its unsteadiness as it rumbles.

His balance becomes unaffected once he steels himself, strong legs now bastioned against the floor, an arm wrapped around the blonde boy's torso. “Converge, and awaken!” Strategems of constellations manifest into the reality, its canvas a circular gradient of condensed energy, illustrated as magic circle of spatial patterns.

“Lady Fu—” “In short,” her summonings had fade, rejuvenating the two and those around within the vicinity within the Matrix of Prescience of fatigue and light injuries. The Master Diviner drifts down in glittering elegance, using her omniscial abilities to avoid rubble, footing now obtained, assuming a defensive stance to the omnidirectional moving whip, eyes attentive to any and every movement.

“A memory, one of most grief, it provoked something, triggered something. One moment she was well, infuriating, and what followed af—”

Grief? “Is—Is she... safe?”

“Physically, that would be a given, but in psychological means...” She followed his automatic gaze, up towards where you were continued to reside in. You were still restrained, but there were new details no one would miss, the first of few being your struggle that showed on your face, eyes closed, teeth grinding against each other, beads of sweat trickling along your skin.

Your skin would have these cracks, dark mists with golden particles as rifts this time would be plastered vertically on one half of your face, like train tracks, down and down to your neck, to the fabric of where your chest was located. It was beaming, pulsing, bright, despite the dark mist that shrouded you whole.

A source? Plausible. He'd reaffirm his suspicions, setting down the blonde that continuously squirmed in his arms. “G-General what—”

“Retreat, all of you.” Thank you for your consent.

He referred to your warning of earlier events, to stop you in your tracks, to harm you, to end you.

“B-But—!” “If you will, Lady Fu.” She looks over her shoulder, glaring at him, mumbling 'fool' before encasing herself, Yanqing and those who were valiant in the field, all into her spherical realm of stars, disappearing from the premises of danger. “Now then,” the General resummons his glaive, light manifesting in accordance to his hand movements.

“An attempt of harm towards the Master Diviner, my Cloud Knights, Commander Yanqing, and the Arbiter General,” he bends his knees, hands gripping the length of his weapon.

“Causing public disruption, disturbance and damage within the Divination Commission,” wind pressure forms, circular and forceful around him.

And including... particular indecencies. He adds internally, sighing, blushing, the General lifts his gaze to you, to the troubled you, radiant with no peace, veiled in darkness.

“By order of one of the Seven Arbiter Generals, you are to face judgement through the Ten-Lords Commission,” he lunges, strong and with intense speed, up and above with a grunt escaping him.

“A punishable degree, possible of long time imprisonment within Shackling Pris—” he jolts, offensive form faltering the moment he sees your eyes open slowly. “Welt... Welt Yang,” you mutter, rasp and low, struggling to maintain hold in your consciousness. What? He retracts, stopping the subconscious swing he was about to do, maintaining to float as lightning crackled all over him, keeping him leveled to you.

“Th-The Sovereign...—” You're quite accommodating, keeping this man at bay for me.

The moment your eyes widened in realization to your surroundings, the sight before already had taken a drastic turn, he had barely parried the serpent-like whip with his glaive, his strength barely able to hold against the weight and thickness of the entity like weapon.

Tch. You squirm, struggling, remembering the binds that hold you in place. “General!” You hold out both arms out towards his direction, desparate, giving your wrists out to him.

He sees you from the corners of his eyes, glancing for a second before forcing his focus to the assailant that threatens his life with ease.

Without hesitation, the General uses the weight of the whip, lowering his usage of strength and himself, now using the overwhelming momentum to force it downwards, barely dodging the vertical strike by tilting his side, a sharp air following, grazing his skin.

“Quite contradicting, are you?” His admirable strength and words that followed up bring you a sense of relief, amusement afterwards, as after images of parallel strikes, vertical, horizontal, diagonal free you from your binds.

“You like it,” you don't miss the chance to tease, grinning, moving your wrists to the opposite of each other, now moving with after-image like speed. “Do I distract you that much, General?”

“You-...” Instinct, instinct, instinct. His irises dilate, now sensing, feeling a throbbing dread that put him in a stunloc—“Focus,” you say, clicking your tongue, appearing just right infront of him again.

Your reflexes act, hands moving in elegant patterns, your own abilities manifesting that familiar golden dust-like summons as each particle hardens, coming into contact with multi-shooting, razor sharp attacks, parrying them in unsettling precision.

I truly don't understand the need to protect such selfish, greedy, imperfect anthropoids.

Cease your pet, I don't like how it uses my body to fuels itself.

Hmhm, you carry me most of your life, what's the difference of another presence?

It invades and drains me continuously, in a disgusting, putrid way most possible. Unlike you.

Flattering, somewhat, but no. Sounds of cracking could be heard, but you wouldn't hesitate to reinforce, the space all around you and the General filled with aerial destruction and explosions with each attack and defense.

You multitask, sighing, a hand moving lazily, snapping your fingers to the air beneath the two of you, setting up a barrier to protect those that remain on the Divination platform, and the whole floating structure itself.

You didn't have to protect, but you did. The natural reaction—no, reflex, for you being another surprise to the General, his eyes lowered to the see through glass-like barrier, protected from debris and the individual entity that caused the mayhem in the first place.

Then again, it did still stem from you, no?

The General glances back up to you, now standing idle, strucked with disorientation, his thoughts clashing with one another, like what you were currently doing right now.

No, you were performing, this was just another day for you, another day of familiarity. Just how much did you lose, endure in order to reach this state of almost Aeon-like advancements?

How... exhausted were you despite the strength you held? Those eyes, not once have they glimmered like in earlier events as you fend off the stray that came from you, or wherever else it came from. The radiance in your eyes, dulling, bored as it dilates to every precise attack it brings you, pinpointing its contact points with precision.

Not even Phantylia reached one-tenth of your speed and summoning.

“Sorry,” you mutter under your breath, only once had the sounds of explosions cease briefly, your unexpected apology heard and snapping Jing Yuan out of his thoughts. “I'm horrible,” you add, weak and nonchalant, but that undertone of bitterness was clear. To him only anyways.

He straightens, glancing between you, and what you had graced the ether with. A blazing, field of gold, mixed with a flashing images of the thick, dark colored serpentine that continued its relentless attacks, and you were still protecting not only him, but the whole Divination Commission space.

You were one to erase stars, your history of destruction painting over the world with your own light. Only to realize, in that self-made darkness, you were left alone time after time, surrounded by the Houkai you left behind. Huh? What?

...Don't mix your cognitive fragments with mine.

As if I could help it? You click your tongue in annoyance, deciding this situation was far too unnecessary, prolonged. You raise your hand, two fingers targeting the fast moving serpent, an orb that simulated a black hole, materializing, pulsing at the tip of your middle finger, the difference to it would be the color and how it works—it being made something of purity, transparency, visible-esqué sound waves, the closest you could describe it with, silly it may sound.

Hmph, you were experimenting with me.

A warning, actually. It surges, the orb sending off towards what your other conscience had manifested in speed even you can't quite grasp.

A low buzz it emanated, it was invisible to the naked eye, but not the sharp splitting of the clouds, Jing Yuan unable to process the severity of your strength as the clouds separate in a visible, razor sharp line. It was booming once it claimed impact, and you were unphased at the sound of a high frequency sounding explosion, once the serpentine expands in a gruesome way, withered and dissolving in its next sequences of death. It was just another day for you, but you can't say the same for the General.

Even in his 800 year long longevity.

He sighs, heavy. It's over. “...And you call you self horrible, after such a commendable, otherwordly feat?” The small frown that didn't suit your face goes unnoticed, right as you safely lower yourself and the General, drifting towards safety and back to the land. Minimal damage, in your eyes, but it was still damage, one that you had caused inevitably.

“What's commendable about all this, General?”

Rubble, cracks. Disorder, panic and peril. All in deafening, hollow silence. You'd see some people in the other platforms, safe, distanced yet disoriented, and their slowly increasing panic will become so much more once they will come to a realization that someone foreign to the Luofu had caused something so terrible.

Since visitation, of this grand hexafleet, whether it was brief or not, you would notice a troubling aura in the air, and beautiful—the skies, covered in raining gold, each leaf that welcomed themselves everywhere felt malicious, and the thought of causing destruction, hidden in beauty, hidden in aesthetics, it had set something so primal within you, it sickened you, disgusted you.

Given the chance, you would want to shrivel up in agony, processing the fact that these people's higher entities, hide their indefinite strength of terror behind something, masked in something.

They hide behind their emanators, commanding them, upholding their bidding, bestow them with a piece of their strength, and give those who choose and preside their path an even smaller fragment—all for what, exactly?

Lazy, prideful, lawless and with no purpose. They make factions based on their powers, limit those who follow their path with one or a few goals, dedicated to benefitting their Aeons wishes.

A few words out of many that you would describe how Aeons are really are. Then there's you, a Herrscher, one from a world that wasn't theirs, a concept they cannot understand, but it is human nature that they will try to do so—and it was human nature to take control of what threatens their species. Unknown specimens like you.

“...The IPC, as well as the Intelligencia Guild will certainly take interest in you, Miss Herrscher,” he breaks the silence, snapping you out from your heavy thoughts. He stood beside, staring with you onto the unpleasant sight. “They already have,” you add, moving your head to his direction, meeting his eyes, eyes that held softness.

“Just like me then,” you squint, processing his words. “You look at me as if I didn't just almost destroy a bit of architecture within the faction you lead, General.” You both fight back grinning, stifling the sly corners of your lips.

“And you certainly berate yourself like you just didn't protect the Divination Commission,” you clench your fist. This was protection? You tear away from his gaze again, letting the guilt overtake your amusement instantly, viewing the destructive sight you created. “You attempted to minimize the damage with the barrier, you kept your defenses purposeful, accurate, precise,”

He turns fully towards you, taking your attention with no effort, his words casually welcoming that swelling, warm feeling inside you again.

“You haven't attacked, not once during when my soldie—when I, encountered you,” what. The said heat only creeps up, up and up, grounded all over your face, spread to your ears. He was knelt on one knee, a hand placed over his chest, and all you could do was stare and still, trying to gain control over your facial muscles.

“Only until the last second, where you claimed victor against what threatened the Luofu, attacking only once, and it wasn't against our faction,” he looks up, assuming that charming smile, shifting even more into amusement once he took witness to your cute, confused expression, painted in flustered red.

“I didn't do—” “You did more than what I could,”

It really wasn't much. You purse your lips, not expecting him to interrupt and retaliate immediately. “I don't know how many more favors the Xianzhou Alliance will continue to owe, but with defending a part of our faction,” he lowers his head, bowing down.

“The Arbiter General will personally see to it that what you have caused within the Divination Commission would be sentenced to something more... forgiving.” Oh. That was funny. The audible exhale catches his attention, now rising his head to see you smiling widely, fighting back to laugh. “I was going to say... it would be very unsettling if I were somehow left unpunished,”

He'd mirror your expression, now pushing on his knee to stand, your gaze following his height as he stood tall, ravishing, and amused to your antics. “Mm, perhaps it would also be a chance to lengthen your stay, at least for a bit longer,”

“Missing me at the thought of my departure already, General Jing Yuan?” You'd see him freeze, his breathing paused, but his eyes would not dare to leave yours. If only you knew how deeply affected he was by you addressing him with his name the first time since the entirety of this.

“...You're dangerous,” he tilts his chin up, golden irises darkening with a certain glint.

“I did warn you,” you reply in the same tone, taking a step, closing the two-hand inch gap by one, your womanly instincts having a chance to let loose as your eyes mirrors his glint, seducing, alluring, and the cherry on top being that chesire-like grin, captivating him further.

And you knew he referred not with your strength, but the way you kept him provoked, challenged, on his toes, teasing and testing this generous, fine line between professionalism and another.

Your eyes shift instantly, a reflex as you see movement from him, his hands near reaching for your wais—“THERE YOU ARE!” A high pitched voice, all so familiar, jolts the both of you in place.

“Ah, it's Mar-... Wh—”This pink fool. Your foot rotates to her direction with dark prism-like barriers, quickly materializeling and sequenced like dominos towards her direction as she takes her rough landing with an 'oomph'.

“HAhua! See Mr. Yang? I told you she'd be fast enough to catch me!” Yang? Ah. You cock your head to the side, seeing past march to see a few others following her direction, towards you.

“That—that was still reckless March,” The Vidyhadra groans disapprovingly, only to have March laughing wryly while she rubbed the back of her head. “I'll... have to agree with Dan Heng, even I couldn't have done anything if something were to go wrong.” Welt adds, moving along with Dan Heng, two twins following along behind, only for one to shove past between her twin and the Vidyhadra, running—no, sprinting with emergency towards March, tackling her.

“Mm,” the whole spectacle leaves you dumbfounded, yet nostalgic in silence, all while familiar individuals gather and move towards you and the General. You assume they were called for assistance, but Welt would already assess that everything was already over, despite the disorder.

“...Whatever it is waiting for me,” you take the chance to break off the confusion, having a limited amount of privacy with the General left.

“I wouldn't mind being imprisoned again if it means keeping myself under your gaze, my General,” you return your sly, confident gaze to him, only for that to crumble, not having enough time to react and process as he leaned towards you swiftly.

“Then,” you let him lower your guard, letting him make you feel vulnerable, small yet womanly, letting that hand of his, opposite from the nearing group, slither from your hips, up towards your waist, seducing and with purpose, gripping your curve firmly as your cheeks brush against each other.

“Shall I bring further judgement to increase your punishment, Miss Herrscher?”

reblogs boost my audience reach, thank you.

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thescarletnargacuga · 2 months ago

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Spy fic but its just Kinger going around the circus and capturing all the plastic spiders then getting real sad at the end when he realizes they're fake

A/N: I put a twist on it, if you don't mind

MISSION ARACHNID

A DIGITAL CIRCUS ONESHOT

WARNING: arachnophobia?

~~~

An infestation. That's what it was.

All through the month of October and well into November the circus was covered wall to wall in tiny, indistinguishable little black dots with spindly legs. They moved at random, sometimes gathering in clumps, but never stayed in one spot.

As creepy as it was to have spiders crawling the halls at all hours, they were harmless. They never interfered with the cast. They seemed to only exist as living decorations.

Kinger was the only one pleased with this arrangement. He'd spend hours stalking the little dots across the circus. Climbing over any obstacles in his way, including other residents of the circus. He wished he could climb the walls like they do, but alas, he is bound to stay on the ground.

He loves the little spiders. He wished they could stick around all year. Maybe keeping a few wouldn't hurt. The Halloween decorations hadn't been taken down yet, but they would be soon. He had to act fast.

Kinger collected the fake spider webs all over the circus, wrapping and weaving it together to create a singular rope. A got a few large jars from his room and started his spider spree.

He tied the ropes around his middle, and hung it from part of the giant slide in the main chamber. With one hand, he hoisted himself up. The other held the jar, ready to capture stray spiders. Every time one dot went too far away from the others, he scooped them up.

He spent hours filling jar after jar with spiders. The circus was still covered in them, but Kinger had gathered quite the collection. He untied the web rope and proudly headed for his room with his many jars.

Caine appeared with Bubble out on the main floor, a good distance from Kinger. "Well Bubble, I think about that time. The circus is due for a change in decor!" He snapped and the Halloween decorations exploded into clouds so fake snow, revealing Christmas decorations.

Bubble stuck out their tongue to catch some of the snow. "MMM! Anthrax!"

Kinger checked his jars. The writhing mass of spiders had turned into peppermint candies. His heart sank. He had really looked forward to keeping them. The jars clinked to the ground as he dropped them with deep disappointment.

Caine heard the noise and turned. "Kinger!" He flew over. "How are you on this fine day? Excited for the holidays?"

"What holidays?" Kinger asked, the saturated colors of the circus blotted out his memories.

"Ha! Good one, Kinger! The same holidays we have every year!" Looked down at the jars full of peppermints. "Ooo! Where did you find these?" The jars flew off the ground and hovered in front of him.

Kinger blinked. "I....don't know..."

Caine shrugged and telekinetically opened one of the jars. "No matter! Candy!" He popped one of the peppermints in his mouth.

Kinger wandered away. In a corner of the bright circus was his fort. He sat inside and sighed as his mind cleared. He couldn't get all the spiders in time. "Oh well..." He moped.

Soft chittering came from beside him. Along with the subtle scent of peppermint. Kinger saw a small red and white peppermint candy crawl across the floor towards him. He lowered his hand and the candy came right to him. Its long, striped legs gently hold his fingers as he holds it close to his face. The candy spun in a little circle, chittering happily.

Kinger's eyes smiled. "Hello there, little one."

Caine hovered high above the fort. "Enjoy your new friend, Kinger." He smiled.

#the amazing digital circus #tadc #tadc fanfiction #tadc caine #tadc kinger

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softxsuki · 1 year ago

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Kya! I saw you write for one piece and 🥰🥰🥰 don't worry, I try not to spoil you!

How would Luffy react to a female magician s/o that can Do so effin much without a devil fruit, and perhaps making cute requests to make him fly or showing him underwater World. Just someone who is lovely, kind and super sweet

Headcannons/drabbles... I leave that to you how you want it🥰🥰

Have a nice day/afternoon/night 🩵🩵

Luffy With A Magician S/O

Pairing: Luffy x Fem!Reader

Warnings: none

Genre: Fluff

Post-Type: Headcanons

Word Count: 610

Summary: In which you're a magician, part of the straw hat crew, and Luffy's s/o!

[A/N: So excited to write another request for one piece! I wish I could write for them more often but I have so many pending requests for other fandoms as well. I'm doing my best to evenly write for all the anime's on my writing list! But please send in all your OP requests, I need them <3 Thanks for sending this request in! What a fun idea <3 Hope you enjoy!]

Luffy:

Okay so because this is the One Piece universe, I’m gonna say that even though you don’t have a devil fruit, as a magician, you hold true magic! Okay? Okay

With that being said, Luffy is so entertained by you

Yes, his crew needs a chef, a musician, a navigator, a doctor, etc…but once he met you, he realized his crew also needed an entertainer

No, you weren’t a typical magician that pulls rabbits out of a hat (even though you probably could) but your magic allowed you to do so much more than your average trick

And Luffy loved your abilities so much, they brought him so much excitement

He’s always asking you to do something outrageous, going above and beyond with his requests to see how far your abilities truly go

From making him levitate, to cutting someone in half without killing them, his requests are endless, and sometimes even a little exhausting to keep up with

One of his favorite requests though are to see beneath the ocean; since he can’t swim, Luffy loves being able to see the ocean floor and the creatures that reside there

So if you’re able to create a magic bubble around you both and take him in the water, he’d love you forever (he already does)

You both love fooling around on the ship together, pranking the other crew members with your magic, and honestly the crew is fed up with your antics, but it’s nothing they aren’t used to already with Luffy onboard

During battles, Luffy sometimes gets distracted because he wants to see what crazy thing you’re going to do to your opponent using your magic

Catch him clapping his hands and laughing as you turn a marine’s sword into a balloon sword lol

“Ohh me next, turn my hands into metal Y/N!”

He’s so unserious, we love it

Though the cons to having magic and using is all the time is that you become drained very quickly, and when that does happen during a fight, Luffy is speeding to your side to protect you

After all, you’re more than just another crew member to him (or an entertainer as he recruited you as), you were his girlfriend and he would always make sure to take care of you

As much as he loved to see your magician abilities, your well-being was way more important to him

So whenever you do get drained, he takes you to a safe place, presses a kiss to your temple, and tells you to rest up while he and the rest of the crew take care of things

Of course sometimes you don’t listen to him; you’re part of the crew after all and if you just sit by and rest while everyone else surpasses their limits, you end up feeling a little useless

So you so what you can from afar, turning the opponents weapons into harmless objects, sometimes making their clothes vanish so they become flustered and distracted long enough so Sanji or Zoro can use that to their advantage, and sometimes you even help your crew avoid some hits by making them levitate or teleporting them to a safer area

You were definitely a very helpful member of the crew despite how tiring being a magican can be sometimes

Luffy gets a little upset that you didn’t follow his orders in staying somewhere safe and resting, but he’s grateful regardless

Once the fight it over, he’s carrying you back to the ship where he makes sure you spend the rest of the day resting without using any of your magic

He really loves you so much and you’ll always know that

REQUESTS ARE OPEN :D

Posted: 08/23/2023

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purestxblood · 2 years ago

Text

𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫

(𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤 𝙭 𝙛!𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧)

You could’t remember a time where you didn’t love Miles...you’d just wish he’d open up his heart and see it.

Adult!Spider. Adult!Reader. Nicknamed!Reader. Fluff ☁ . 3.2 k words.

Your eyes rested at a close while your body nestled perfectly in the patch of flowers. Petals were dancing across your abdomen, while your palms were open, stems tickling their ways as they interlaced your fingers, creating floral jewelry around your hands and up your arms.

Tranquility. Bliss. Solace. Home.

Upon your back, succumbed to the florals and scents of bloom inhibiting your nose, were one of the only times where you truly felt at peace and connected to the lingering hope and feeling of home– a time where you weren’t just orphaned but connected to the mother who bore you in her womb. In the brush, patches of flowers, you were being held by the mother you wish you knew.

You had heard stories of your mother – a scientist– obsessed with nature and plants, primarily floral forms throughout Pandora. It was no surprise that the second you could walk, you were throwing yourself into fields of luminous bloom, connecting yourself to the flowers lingering about the forest.

“Every flower has a story– a life about the bloom, emotions and stories they carry. You’ll protect them my Flora, when I can no longer, and in the end they’ll protect you.”

When your mother had died, far too young for you to understand, you hadn’t shed one tear. You watched as her body dissolved into poppy, luminous gold twinkling in farewell until in time she’d return in full bloom.

You were connected at the touch of a stem, inhale of nectar, and stroke of a petal. Her adoration towards nature had resided in you and among the posy you found yourself. It was as if each stem caressed your skin while the tips of their petals would lull you away in song, nurturing you as they sang you to tranquil.

In between harmonic bloom, you could hear faint snaps of bare feet squishing among the brush.

He’s coming, the petals would whisper to your ear, he’s near.

Without a hint, you knew he was standing before you. There was a scent lingering upon your nose, a mixture of his natural musk twine from his forest runs. You were in a meadow higher than normal– hiding underneath whimsical flowers that entrapped you within their luminous bloom. He would’ve had to track you in order to find you, which you knew he had done so, savoring you for last as you had heard bursts of laughter from the Sully kids echoing about.

You stilled, waiting for him to uncover you yet what felt like minutes passed, your eyes snapped open one at a time. Your eyes peered between gappings of flowers, yet all you could see were blue skies in between greens of tree canopy. Pressing your palms among the ground, you slowly lifted yourself up, petals upon petals showering you to pool around your waist.

The ambiance of the forest were the only tunes soothing your ear drums, the sound of laughter being a mere memory. Your waist twisted side to side as you surveyed the area, your eyes squinting as you grazed over every crevice.

“Got ya!”

The sound of Spider’s voice, vibrated against your ear as he pressed his mouth to your skin while his hands grasped you by your sides, pulling you back to lay down. A soft squeal of surprise had squirried through your lips as you moved.

In a swift union, he had dragged your body with his, lifting you up and over until you were straddling his frame. His arms enveloped your lower half while your hands perched around his head, brow arching. “Who’s got who, hm?”

Spider’s head quirked to the side as he peered up at you. His fingers twitched around your hips, the pads of his fingers tracing the bareness of exposed skin underneath your top. An ample sense of delightful longing bubbled in your stomach. Your palms fisted the brush as you held yourself upward, your eyes fixated upon Spider’s dark gaze.

The masks upon your face were a blessing and a curse, and in this moment you didn’t know which one you hated more: the fact that the oxygen and glass kept you from brushing your face to his or prevented you from giving into the desire of filling his lips on yours. You didn’t know whether it was a good thing or not… you didn’t know how he’d react or if he even felt it too.

You pushed the thought of longing to the back of your mind, focusing upon the main task at hand. You were determined to hold your weight but by the way Spider’s fingers caressed your sides, the more your body gave way to relishing in the sensations of his touch. He knew exactly what feelings he was evoking, he just had to. The bulge nudging your inner thigh as you straddled him solidified it.

The beat of your heart intensified and your eyes closed – and for what felt like minutes of serendipity, had only been short lived. Just as he sensed your body give in to his, Spider devoured your break of vulnerability to deter your body to pin you underneath him.

Your eyes snapped open to meet Spider’s grin of pride, “I do!”

Spider broke into a fit of laughter and you huffed, shoving him backwards and off of you.

“I had to, you cheated,” he stated as he scooted himself to sit towards the end of the meadow. “I did not cheat,” you swallowed, fixing your clothes to cover your skin properly. You crossed your legs as you sat next to him, noticing how flowers had been smashed in the process of your downfall.

You frowned, wrapping your fingers around the petals, smoothing them out and fixing their stems. Spider watched you intently as you took each flower and brought it back to life. You could feel him fixated upon you until he too began soothing the flowers underneath his legs.

You both sat in silence until you could hear the Sully’s nearing close. You glanced upward, watching as Kiri leaped from a branch and fell into a pool of water, laughter erupting as she broke air.

Spider’s attention drifted between you and Kiri, a smile toying upon his dimples.

“Flora.”

Your name upon his mouth made you hum. You looked to him in question, watching as his brown eyes roamed from the top of your hair to your bare toes then back up to meet your face. “You’re a girl,” he said to which you rolled your eyes, “glad you have taken notice, it’s only been how many years?” Spider shook his head and dismissed your sarcasm with his hand, “no,” he scrunched his mouth, “that’s not what I meant.”

Your brows lifted in curiosity, urging him with your eyes to continue expanding upon his obvious observation. Spider was silent. His shoulders slouched as he picked a spring flower you had just rejuvenated, his fingers toying with the petals as his face scrunched together at his nose in bewilderment. You could see the inner workings of his thoughts jumbling about as he stared aimlessly while wrapping the stem around his index finger.

“How do you know when you love someone?”

His question caused your own brows to furrow and you tilted your head, “Sorry?” you hummed, urging him with your eyes to continue.

Spider persisted, shrugging his shoulders as he tossed the flower. Your hand reached out, catching it in your palm, before delicately returning it to his patch. You frowned at his carelessness to which he sheepishly smiled apologetically.

How do you know when you love someone?

The answer was too broad. There were various attributes towards knowing your feelings of friendship had grown dire throughout the years. Considering Spider had them in question, only solidified that you had been quite secretive as you hoped.

“I think it depends on the person,” you stated, “like there’s different types of love so to say.”

You only had one crush in your lifetime (it’s not like you had many options to choose from) but you were certain that regardless, if there had been many your age throughout the years that your eyes and heart would still be set on Spider.

Granted, there was one time you found your heart accelerating when a Na’vi boy asked you to dance at a night dance when you were sixteen. With him, you would say it’s more so the puppy type love you read about in the romance books lingering about the library. Still, your feelings for the Avatar had been short lived when moments after he kissed you, he had been smug, stating to the rest of his friends in the tribe he could woo a sky person.

You absolutely hated that. Hated that your first kiss had been lost to someone you mistook for love. He used you for his own demise and you hated that; and so did Spider upon finding you crying just after. He took your first heartbreak into his hands by punching the Avatar straight in the nose. Spider had lost that fight but still, the way your heart rapidly pounded against your chest, you knew that the crush – the puppy love – you felt towards the Na’vi boy had been silly.

The way your heart felt kissing the Na’vi was nothing compared to the way it felt when Spider comforted you in his chest and hit the Na’vi for playing you like a piece of chess.

Then there were the Sully’s.

Like Spider, the family had taken you as one, providing you with the love of family that you hadn’t endured since you were carried in your mother’s womb. You didn’t have the love of a mother but you felt the idealistic love of a father and siblings and though Neteyam was near your range of age, you didn’t feel the same type of love you felt towards Spider.

There were varied types of love you were certain.

“We love our family,” you began, “that’s obviously nothing compared to the love we feel towards others…like…remember when I had my first kiss?”

Spider’s lips churned into a frown and he kicked out his leg, “do I want to?”

You shoved him at the shoulder and chuckled low. “Well, with him, when he kissed me my chest felt tight, I was nervous and felt like I had tiny bugs tickling my toes,” you thought back to the memory, “but it was nice and my heart beat really fast, it’s like that cute young puppy love, you know, it was once there when you’re young but–”

“But what?!” he jerked, his voice breaking you midway.

“That feeling was nothing compared to…” you paused in consideration, breaking your attention from Spider to look down at the falls of water. You were playing the words in your head, forming sentences and depending whether or not to voice them aloud. You always kept them to yourself, spilling your secrets to the flowers instead. It felt different trying to piece them together to say aloud to the one person they were truly about.

“It’s nice when we’re young,” you continue, “we…well, at least I, stars know you’ve never picked up a book,” you slightly tease while Spider rolls his eyes in feigned annoyance. You lightly giggle before going on, “in the books I read when I was young, there’s always a prince whisking the girl away to a castle, they’re stories with happy endings, simplicity… It's simple when we’re young because at the time we don’t think about future ends… we think about the picnics, the dances, how you want the other to see you, the first kisses where you feel like you have thousands of butterflies fluttering in your belly… It's puppy love.”

“But real, true real love, you start to think of the realities… you think of the person you want to grow with,” you toyed with the stem of a flower, lifting it to Spider with a smile on your lips, “of who you want beside you when it rains and your petals can’t hold upward, the person who will do whatever they can to help shield you and bring out the sun so you can continue to grow as one until you make a meadow of your own.”

Spider let out a breathy chuckle, “you and your flowers…I like that though.”

“Have you?” he began then shook his head as if the thought was stupid.

Your heart stammered, “have I what?”

Spider pursed his lips then met your eyes, “felt that kind of love?”

No. The word yelled in your head, liar, the flowers roared. This was your moment to reveal the truth, even if it meant altering your friendship but, what if something more were to blossom? It was worth a shot.

“Yes,” you admitted hesitantly.

With who?

You wanted him to ask you. You wanted him to continue to pry this feeling of love and who you felt it towards. As stars twinkling nights away, you longed to find the courage to reveal the way he made your insides warm. This, this was your breakaway.

“I think,” his brows furrowed as he focused once more upon the Sully’s and Kiri splashing around the streams, “I think, that’s how I feel about Kiri,” he admitted.

Those eight words made the blood in your veins grow cold. The corners of your lips twitched and your smile drew to a thin mold.

Spider continued to speak, however, you couldn’t process anything spewing from his confession.

That’s how I feel about Kiri.

It felt as if you were watching endless grazes of flowered meadows burn to a tortuous crisp and no matter how hard you tried to revive the stems and bring them back to life, with each attempt the new growth wilted and burned in your palms.

Spider’s hand touched your thigh, “Flora?”

You looked to his hand upon your leg and then to his concerned face. Your face narrowed into annoyed anger and you shook your head.

“You’re so dense,” you huffed, lightly placing your palm to his forehead and giving him a shove. Sliding from the branch, you left Spider by his lonesome. “Wait,” he called. You ignored his demands to stop, his eagerness to get you to listen, only making the pride in your stride greater, sliding through the brush until you were back in the trailer.

Tossing your mask off, you squeezed your way through, quickening your steps into your room. Your fingers went to grip the lock, however, just before you could slide it into place, Spider pushed it open and peeped through the crack, shutting it before him. His eyes were molded to yours as if he were waiting for you to either speak up and yell or throw him out of your room; while you were waiting for him to continue with his reason behind begging you to just stop and listen to what he meant by his words.

The latter occurred, neither of you speaking what the other silently willed and instead, you tossed your arms up in defeat with a groan. “I don’t have time for this,” you mumbled, turning your back towards him to search for a book in your mini library shelf. You didn’t know exactly what book you were looking for. You had already read through the book of classics and floral encyclopedia’s your mother left behind for you so really, you didn’t not have the time for Spider.

You did have the time, you just feigned needing alone time with a book in your hands – it was the only way he normally would give you space.

Your room was awfully quiet, just enough to hear the mixture between your unsteady and Spider’s heavy breathing. No matter how hard he tried to be sneaky, he could never prowl up to you. You were always aware – intuitive – upon Spider’s presence.

It wasn’t a surprise that you could feel him creeping up behind your back as your eyes burned into the spine of books while your index finger sauntered over the titles as you pretended to search for any book for the matter.

You were doing a great job at ignoring him, pretending to be distracted by your books as if he weren’t even there. However, it was his hands that made your heart plummet to the bottom of your stomach.

Spider’s left hand hesitantly met your wrist, his fingers wrapping around it while his right hand fell upon the side of your left hip. “Flora,” he said, his mouth humming into the back of your ear, “what’s wrong?”

Electricity shot up your spine from his mere touch, your eyes closing while your body slightly gave way to the crave of close proximity between your bodies. It was almost pure torture being towards his innocent embrace and though you knew it wasn’t nothing more than an innocent coaxing of fervor, you couldn’t help yourself but dive right in.

His simple brush was enough to get you to drop your dome walled exterior. Spider gave your body a little tug and you allowed him to turn you around so you were face to face. When your eyes connected, Spider’s right side of his mouth lifted, giving a willing closed mouth smile.

Faintly, you admitted, “you.”

Spider was taken back by your stoic expression.

You – Him – Spider was what’s wrong.

“I didn’t do anything,” he disagreed, “you ran off.”

You shook your head, “exactly because you don’t get it,” you waved your arms. “What is there to get Flora when you wont tell me,” his voice heightened, his own annoyance slightly beginning to make way. His tone made you roll your eyes in which he scoffed in response.

“I’m right here, Miles…” your arms plopped in defeat, resting at your sides, “I’ve always been right here.”

His name… His human name tasted like honey and the sound of it upon the tip of your tongue was like a melodic symphony to his ear. His face coated with confusion, his bushy brows furrowing together while the tip of his nose pointed upward in union to his pondering eyes.

You swallowed the nervous lump in your throat and took a step closer to him. If words weren’t enough to bore into his thick skull, then you’d just have to show him and hope to the stars that he’d understand.

With shaky fingers, you pressed them to the side of each cheek, holding his face in place. His eyes twitched as he followed your movements. Part of you felt uncertain of your hold, however, Mile’s placed his own upon your hips and his hold upon your frame supported you with courage.

Your eyes pierced his brown ones as you delicately took in his features, the way his brows curved in curiosity, his darkened gaze of languish, and his unsteady breathing. It was when you noticed his tongue poke out to lick both of his lips that you leaned in, noses brushing across the tips, and pressed your lips lightly to his.

His lips were salty and rough at the bottom, however, as his pressed lightly to yours, it was as if you were ignited.

All within the one kiss, one peck of yearning.

“I’ve always been right here,” you whispered into his mouth.

Thank you all so much for your never ending support with all my Avatar one-shots. I absolutely love reading your thoughts and comments, and I can’t thank you enough for your patience. I hope I did this one justice and that it was worth the wait for you. If you enjoyed this and want to read other drabbles and one-shots you can check out my, 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥��𝗜𝗦𝗧.

Return to my main 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 . Join my 𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 for notifications of future one-shots.

𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧— @liyahsocorro @lovefromloks @aarahlubena @yeosxxx @ellabellabus07 @nessarosefiction @babyvinnie

#Spider x Reader #Miles Socorro x Reader #Spider Miles Socorro x Reader #Spider x f!reader #Avatar #Avatar: The Way of Water #atwow

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saphira-artandoc · 2 months ago

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C3 Swap AU

Chetney Pock O'Pea

•

This post can contain spoilers!

If you wonder what the swap AU is, I recommend checking it out right here!

Major thanks once again to @theplatinumcritter for helping with Chetney's story!

Character information

Title: Chetney Pock O'Pea, Paragon Protector of the Lycans

Age: Before Aeor crashed around 45. Looks to be 400 in 843 P.D. but really, who's counting?

Class: Rogue (brainwashed assassin), blood hunter

C3 E7- E55

Chetney used to live in Aeor before its downfall.

He has a tattoo with the letters ATA underneath a crown with five prongs, which is later revealed to mean Aeor Toy Authority, and the crown being the 5 known wards of Aeor.

He was known for his incredible talent for toy making at the Ars ward. With the calamity ongoing, he managed to give children of Aeor a chance to smile through darker time.

When he woke up centuries later, he could barely remember his name. All that was left was a dreadful memory of falling and then time… stopped.

Chetney was found by Drixlitch Ovana and Deanna Leimert, an unlikely duo travelling Eislecross. Drixlitch, being a fan of metal creations, heard rumours of rare constructs left around the crash site and decided to explore Aeor for his own gain. He paid Deanna a fair price to make sure she’d heal him if they ever found trouble on Aeor.

While Drixlitch did find some old rusted pieces of metal he could use for trinkets, the discovery of Chetney was something else. While many stasis bubble stayed put years after the crash, the one Chetney resided in broke before their eyes, quickly changing the gnome from an adult to elderly in matters of seconds. If Deanna hadn’t cast healing spells on him, Chetney could have died.

He left Uthodurn around 839 P.D. and hoped to never come back, especially if it meant he’d face Drixlitch. On his travel in Wildemount, he learned about hemocraft with the Claret Order, but never made the full ritual to become a lycan. He had a downfall with the order and decided to leave Wildemount to continue his learning with Gurge Kisgregg, last seen in Marquet. Chetney wishes to to be able to protect lycans from people who would turn them into mindless killing machines.

Masquerade ball

Just like his original counter part, Chetney also choose to wear a dress for the ball, with a wooden mask covering half of his face.

However, since he is not plagued with lycantropy, Chetney's mask looks more human-like than his canon self.

He travelled with Lord Ariks Eshteross, Ashton, Laudna and FCG to the ball.

Brainwashed assassin : tin soldier

While Chetney seems like a standard old gnome, he unfortunately is a victim of one man’s desire for power and control. Drixlitch began to slowly manipulate Chetney into proceeding with psychological sessions to “regain his memories” from the crash of Aeor, but the elf had other plans. He needed a tool to be able to intimidate competitors into either joining his toy emporium or disappear.

Chetney was the perfect candidate for such project: his already defective memory could be a boon for including new ones, which Drixlitch decided that at the mention of “tin soldier”, Chetney would attack anyone close to him.

While he doesn’t remember what happens when the phrase is spoken, Chetney manage to break free of the brainwash when attacking Oltgard, remembering him for his kindness and letting Chetney work for him.

In 843 P.D. Ashton accidentally triggered his brainwashed abilities due to a conversation going around the prospect of toy materials. They didn’t think Chetney “wouldn’t be able to go far by only creating wooden toys” and that he “ could try using other materials like metal to make something like a tin soldier”. Next thing Ashton knew was that Chetney stabbed him.

Thankfully, remembering his newfound friends works to bring him back from the brainwash. No one in Bell’s Hells mention the phrase since the incident.

When asked about what should be done to Drixlitch, Chetney told his travelling team to let him be, since they had found proof of his many wrongdoings inside the shop, enough to ruin the elf.

Uthodurn - Saviour of the Diarchy

One of the main differences from this version to the canon one is the addition of a coat, with the same symbols as his tattoos embroidered on the right sleeve.

Since the deal with Morrigan Calloway, Chetney is able to infuse wooden toys with magical boons, distracting those who make contacts with said toys.

Vasselheim - Paragon Protector of the Lycans

Same as canon Chetney, but this version does have a crimson jacket and a different kind of breastplate.

Demonshell armor : C3 E98 - current

Same as above but this time with the Demonshell armor.

Relationships:

The Pock O’Peas : although he has no memories of his family long lost to time, Chetney used to care a lot about his siblings.

Deanna Leimert : both gnomes bonded over their own circumstances with life and death, and by the time the trio arrived at Uthodurn, Deanna developed some feelings for Chetney, but never expressed them fully. He never told her what was going on with Drixlitch either, worried she would betray him. When they met later during the Apogee Solstice, she told him she was just a cleric Drixlitch paid for his travel and if she had learned sooner what happened to him, she would’ve make Ovana disappear. They had a fling with Fearne while travelling to Molaessmir.

Fearne Calloway : he had a fling with her and Deanna back in Wildemount, and while the two do flirt with one another it has never been a serious relationship. Fearne will reach out to him for his wisdom, helping her deal with certain emotions.

Orym of the Air Ashari : Chetney never had a chance to start a family in Aeor, but does see the halfling as a son. Chetney recognizes the lycanthropy in Orym and was the one who pushed him to let it out when Bell’s Hells fought Ira Wendagoth in his lair. Chetney tries to help him control his curse using what he learned from the Claret Order and later, from the Gorgynei.

Bells Hells : Chetney used to be a late addition to the party, and used them to track back Gurge Kisgregg. He didn’t leave them even after finding the lycan, seeing BH as the best, weirdest friend group he has ever had. He is the second voice of reasons after Ashton.

•

That’s it for Chetney! Can you believe me when I say this guy didn’t have a concrete backstory until this week? We knew we wanted a Winter soldier type of deal since he had part of FCG’s canon story (different from canon, of course), but we didn’t work much on him until a few days ago. Thank you again Dona!!!

Next week, we will reveal Imogen and what changes were done to her.

#chetney pock o'pea #c3 swap au #critical role #critical role spoilers #cr3 #cr3 spoilers #my art #my au #artists on tumblr #bells hells swap au

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laismoura-art · 10 months ago

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Heya, folks! Who's ready for a new AU?👀

Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel, founded 5 days ago by Cetrion's ✨️delusional✨️ daughter, Harumi Shirai :D

Now, this is a Scorpion!Harumi AU... AU! So I'll be using the Scorpion!Harumi Crew and their dynamics as reference to parallel the characters. With that in mind, let's meet the hotel staff!👀

THE PRINCESS, HARUMI SHIRAI:

She has a dream! She wishes to tell! It's certainly laughable, but hey kid, what the hell? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Harumi is heir to the throne of hell, but she doesn't think much of it. Her focus lately has been solely towards this one thing:

The Hazbin Hotel!✨️🌈🌸💕 Where she will guide Sinner towards a path to salvation and away from Heaven's annual Extermination!

Hopefully...

THE BODYGUARD (AND GF), LISA LIANG:

At first glance, Lisa Liang may seem rather scary, but when you get to know her... she's still pretty scary!

But underneath all that anger (obvious unresolved trauma), mean attitude and secrets beats a lovingly and devoted heart!

Devoted to Harumi and Harumi only!

Seriously, DON'T mess with Harumi!

After being terribly injured during an Extermination, Lisa was rescued by Harumi, and from that day on, Lisa made it her life mission to protect that beautiful soul at all cost, do everything in her power to assure her dreams were fulfilled!

Even the seemingly impossible ones...

THE (ONLY) PATRON, KUAI LIANG:

The Hazbin Hotel's first (and only) guest. Don't mind him. He's only staying here for the free rent!

Or is he?

Kuai may not seem much at first glance, but stick around, and the demon will certainly surprise you!

Take the information as you will...

THE BARTENDER, HANZO HASASHI:

Need to vent? Then talk to the bartender! He may look like he's not interested, but trust me, he is the shoulder to lean on!

But don't push your luck! He's not here because he wants to be. He's here because his damned boss decided to play hotel manager and needed a doll to play with (ugh! Such an insufferable guy)!

But despite his boss's antics, Harumi's incessant singing, Lisa's constant scolding, and Kuai's insistent flirting. They weren't the worst lot to be around.

He could get used to it. Yeah... he could.

THE MAID, FROST:

She kills bugs!

That's all you need to know.

Seriously.

Move on. (ಠ_ಠ)

THE MANAGER, (DARK) RAIDEN:

The damned boss.

He's been here since day... he's been here a week. But is faithful as a nun! Or something...

And he wants to help!

Why, you ask?

SHEER. ABSOLUTE. BOREDOM :D

Probably... ig... who knows? I don't!

And neither do you :)

THE QUEEN OF HELL, CETRION:

Absent awkward, mother. She's trying, but she's usually busy.

She was once an angel, you know? Helped create stars and gardens!

That cool plant you like? She probably made that one!

Nowadays, she makes plants mostly for herself...

She has a garden of her own and all! She grows her very own flowers, unlike anything heaven's limitated ass could ever think of!

I mean, could heaven ever make

✨️The Magi-tastic Backwards Lily Flower?✨️

✨️THAT SPITS F I R E??✨️

Yeah, didn't think so😌

THE FIRST (SECOND) GUEST, BI-HAN:

Pretty sure he once had a big army, maybe he was even a leader or something. But nowadays? He's just a bit silly!

He came to the hotel as a spy, sent to keep an eye on Raiden.

But the "super villain" started to grow a bit too comfortable in the hotel and too accustomed to the compliments.

He got sloppy and was caught embarrassingly fast!

But with a simple sorry spoken straight from his core, he was given a second chance! Not that it will mean much-- H*LY SHIT HE [MAJOR SPOILERS]!!

THE HEAD SERAPHIM, ASHRAH:

Look, she's not evil! Just misguided...

She wants to protect her home and her sister and is willing to do whatever it takes!

But maybe she will calm down once she meets Heaven's newest resident...

THE OTHER SERAPHIM, SAREENA:

You can call her Sareena, Reen, Sa, Ena, whatever!

She's usually very sweet and bubbly, but she's not feeling particularly bubbly at the moment. She's learned some stuff, you know?

Maybe a new friend may help her raise her spirits?

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

BONUS CHARACTERS:

THE LEADER OF CANNIBAL TOWN, DELIA:

I want to start including Delia in more on my stories, she seems like an interesting character who totally deserves more attention! Plus, I like the idea of her and Raiden bonding as (not elder) gods!

Plus imagine Delia using a big hat like Rosie's to cover her eyes!👀

THE WEAPONS' DEALER, SINDEL:

Fierce mom of two girls who would do whatever it takes to protect them.

We all know I don't need to elaborate

KUAI LIANG'S TWIN, TOMAS VRBADA:

Congratulations to Tomas for being the only one of Kuai's siblings who managed to remain his sibling on this AU, lol!

THE YET TO BE RESIDENT, CYRAX:

As Kuai's friend, I think she would fit as Cherry Bomb! It's not like Cyrax is not familiar with bombs, am I right?👀

Now, there are a couple characters that I'm still figuring out, Adam and Lute for once, have been particularly tricking!

I'm also still pondering The Vees and Lilith...

Regarding who I already choose, I know some of the choices may seem odd (Raiden, Cetrion and Bi-Han most likely) but I had my reasons for them, if you're interested in hearing them, feel free to ask, I'll gladly elaborate!

Also, please, if you have ideas to who may be the other characters, do share! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A bit of a disclaimer before I wrap this all up!

Crimson Shadow (Bireena) is one of my main ships and is a thing in here, too! So Angel!Bi-Han will date Seraphim!Sareena. But that DOES NOT mean I ship Emily and Sir Pentious! This ship is for the AU ONLY!

That's all folks! Hope you enjoy my crazy AU!

Tagging the AU Squad:

@mikka-minns @madamealtruist (fellow Hazbin girlies)

@thedragonholder (cause you like AUs)

@running-with-the-feels (my not so discreet way of tempting you into watching Hazbin Hotel, lol)

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howetragic · 1 month ago

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DARP Advent 2024: Day Six

HALFWAY THERE!

Let's talk about INFLUENCES and ADMIRATION! Mun Portion!:

1. What inspired you to get into DARP? Former RP experiences? Just a love for the games? Oh boy. So I actually have a looooooong history of RP since I was in like middle school??? My best friend in the entire world and I actually met on Neopets!!! on the RP boards. I was in this group called the Annoyers and we would "raid" creepy/weird RP threads and/or just flood the boards. Some of us got banned. I then went on to lead this group in a multi-fandom mix of boards. We had a b2g board and a... gosh I can't remember what it's called. We were also on Gaia Online. I was a moderator with Dragon Ball Z / greek mythology muses (hilarious spread there, I know). Then I got on Tumblr, I started writing Dragon Age fanfic for my Hero of Ferelden. And Shink, Pandy, and Tabbi were foolish enough to allow me to RP with them on my personal blog until I finally took the leap and made myself an RP blog and the rest is kind of like history. 2. Name one (or a couple) of your fellow writers that you think are neat, and why! Can be famous, on Tumblr, in your real life, on AO3, whatever. My baes both on AO3 and here are @theshirallen and @theharellan, and I'm also in love with @fatedvoyage, @turlums, @mercysought. Can't recommend those nerds enough. 3. Has anyone in DARP (past or present!) really helped to define or reimagine a character for you? Or made you rethink perceptions that you held? Oh God yeah. Most notable being Tas with Solas - before I met Tas I didn't really give a shit about Solas and wasn't particularly interested in him or his story. Unfortunately for my brain if Inara doesn't Vibe with a character I don't pay too much attention to them at first, and Solas resided in that gray bubble. Tas made me love him and be fascinated even before that turned out to be a very plot-relevant thing to be. 4. What other fandoms/works/writers have influenced your writing style and the way that you view writing and creative expression? lololol maybe see above but overall my writing was influenced very early on by Douglas Adams and Phillip Pullman. I wanted to be magical, but also amusing. 5. Do you have any friends that have created a Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor/Rook that you've basically adopted? Yes. I still use Pandy's Hawke but also steal @fatedvoyage's Van. I love Thora for Inquisitor but am coming to love Asharen more and more since I've been back here, as well as @keepslore. There's a lot of great Rooks so far I'm sure I'll absorb one. 6. What's a fandom work (writing, art, etc) that you think is super cool and you wish more people would see it? Share it with us! I mentioned this Sebastian and Nathaniel fic from Gaia to @mournflame the other day and I think all of you should read it too.

Muse Portion!:

1. Who or what are some things/powers/people that your muse admires? Unfortunately for Nathaniel, his greatest hero was his father growing up. He admired the man very much. 2. Does your muse have a "hero" that they look up to from canon? In an extension of the above, Nathaniel saw Rendon as a hero for his contributions to the Rebellion. He really believed that his father was courageous and brave. 3. What legends, tales, or stories helped to form your muse's ideas of power and heroism? Many! He heard all the stories of the Heroes of the Rebellion as he grew up, from Maric and Loghain to his own father. Standing against the odds, acting noble even when your title has been stripped from you and taking back what is yours by right. Those are the stories that inspired him. 4. Conversely, what sort of legends, tales, or stories formed their idea of what a villain is? Much the same. Nathaniel does not care for Orlais, though chevaliers are a bit softer in his mind thanks to his time with his mother's cousin. 5. Are there other muses in DARP that your muse admires? Or reviles/fears? (be careful with that second one and be RESPECTFUL.) In DARP I think he would admire @mercysought's Anora. He begins hating every HOF that slaughtered his father but especially Couslands. 6. If your muse is someone who has companions or is one of the groups of companions from canon, how do they and their companions play off of each other? Are they friends? Enemies? Two dudes who'd cross the street to avoid each other? What are their most powerful connections within their "group"? He's got a wide variety in the Awakening crew. He and Sigrun are fairly close. He has a crush on Velanna, but she rebuffs him. Anders frustrates him, Oghren disgusts him. Justice... Justice tends to piss him off.

#DARP Advent 2024 #about muse

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gaysindistress · 2 years ago

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When Night Comes - eight

Summary: Who would win in a staring contest? New York’s resident mob boss and master of the side eye Bucky Barnes or the daycare teacher who really wants to go home and smoke?

pairing: Mob!Bucky Barnes x reader

warnings: mob!Bucky, cursing, the feels, angst, mentions of past abuse (Alix is a terrible person)

word count: 4k

seven | masterlist

Tag list: @vickie5446 @cakesandtom @buckybarnessimpp @hidden-treasures21 @unaxv @mal-adaptive-dreams @elizacusi-blog

a/n: We’re jumping between 3 or 4 different scenes here so strap in and get ready.

disclaimer: credits to original creator/poster of image/gif. found on Google/Pinterest

The first thing that flashes through her mind when she wakes up is Yelena with the kiss quickly following suit. Pulling the covers over her head, she creates a bubble to ignore the world around her. What the actual fuck did she get herself into?

She isn’t allowed much peace when her phone goes off. Jessica made sure that she had her own ringtone almost immediately after they met, claiming that she was just that special when it was really because she wanted to make sure Sunny always answered her calls.

“Hey girl hey!” She cheers through the speaker phone.

“What?”

“Ouch, what crawled up your ass and died?” “It’s been a long night. What’s up?” Jessica stays silent for a few seconds, debating whether or not to reveal her secret, “Well remember how I said that I wasn’t going to get back with Peter?” “I swear to god if the next thing you say is ‘surprise, we’re back together’, I’ll literally lose my shit.”

“Ye have little faith. No I didn’t get back with Peter but you also didn’t let me finish. I’m going out with one of Yelena’s friends Friday and I would love if you could help me get ready for it.”

“Who is it?”

“You don’t know them.”

“No shit,” Sunny says while pushing the blankets off so she can breath fresh air, “What’s their name?”

“Natasha.” “Oh a girl? I thought you didn’t like girls.”

Shuffling is heard from the other side, no doubt as a result of Jessica flopping onto her stomach on her bed, “I said I wished that I was so I figured why not give it a try? What’s the worst that can happen?”

“You lead her on and she gets hurt.”

“I would never do such a thing. I’m always honest about my feelings even if it hurts a person which reminds me, why is Yelena sulking?” “I’m going to need more info than that,” she huffs when the woman in question appears on her fire escape.

“She’s been such a downer lately and I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Mr. Sexy.”

“Why would I know the answer to that?”

“Because you’re like all she talks about.”

Sunny glances over at Yelena who is leaning against the window now, examining her nails and pretending that she can’t hear their conversation.

“That’s interesting but no I don’t know and I have to go. Bye, love you.”

Jessica sputters in confusion at her quick hang up but manages to sneak in a “love you too bitch”.

“I’m not sulking.”

“I didn’t say that,” Sunny says, pulling her blanket back over her shoulders, “why are you here?”

“Ouch,” Yelena fakes being offended and drops herself onto the bed next to her, “You aren’t even a little bit excited to see me?”

“I didn’t mean it like that… It's been a long few days.”

“Want to talk about it?”

She shrugs her shoulders and lets out a long sigh, “Not really. You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

“Checking on you, making sure you haven’t committed any crimes.”

“You’ll be the first person I call if I get arrested.”

“I’m honored that you’d call me before Bucky.”

“Well he would probably lose it on the entire police station so…”

“You could’ve just said “Yes Yelena. I would call you first because I like you a lot more than that douche bag.” I would’ve taken that.”

“Yes Yelena I would call you first because I like you WAY more than that man.”

Yelena’s face goes blank as she says, “Were you thinking about me when you kissed him?”

Jessica groans as someone pounds on her apartment door. The smell of wet dog invades her living room as the pounding grows louder and the person responsible grows less patient.

“Jessica open the fucking door!”

“What are you doing? Are you trying to get the cops called?” she hisses at Alix who is soaking wet from the heavy rainfall outside. Alix goes to reprimand her for speaking to her pack leader that way but Jessica yanks her inside.

“Stay here. I don’t want water and wet dog all over everything,” she tells Alix as she disappears to find towels and extra clothes.

The sound of wet clothes dropping onto her floor comes from the living room and as she walks back in, she finds Alix in just her tank top and underwear, her jeans and zip up on the ground around her.

“Give me that,” she demands, snatching the towel out of Jessica’s hands and starts to dry off her body and braids, “What do you have on the Strigoi?”

“Nothing like I told you last night. Y/N isn’t saying anything and I can’t get close enough to anyone else.”

“What about Peter?”

“Ghosted me.”

Alix raises one eyebrow, “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did something?” “Because you always do.”

Jessica wrinkles her nose at the insult, “I may have slapped a girl he was kissing.”

Alix stops wringing out her braids and closes her eyes while taking a deep breath, “Your only job is to keep tabs on Bucky and his group. How the fuck did you manage to mess that up?”

“No no you said to watch Y/N and to TRY and keep tabs on the others. I am doing my job just not the side tasks.” A growl rings through the small apartment, “So help me God, Jessica. The more you act out, the more likely your cover is going to be blown. Speaking of which, who knows about you?” “Peter and Yelena obviously but Y/N doesn’t.”

“Has anyone brought it up?” “Peter did but only to ask if it’s true that I turn into a wolf every full moon. I don’t think Yelena cares and Bucky or Steve don’t come in enough to notice.”

“We both know that Yelena cares but is just waiting to see what happens. What about Peggy?”

Jessica shrugs, “I don’t answer the door so I’m assuming not.”

Alix rolls her eyes before tossing the towel back at Jessica and brushes past her to raid her closet for dry clothes.

“How close are you to going through with the plan?” she calls out.

Jessica hums for a second, thinking about her progress, “It’s going to take longer than I thought. Y/N isn’t telling me anything so I can’t tell what’s going on with Bucky or Yelena.”

“But she’s close enough to them though?”

“Kinda. Juliette, that dumbass, had a meeting with him and Steve at the restaurant that we were at and she saw, assumed they were a couple, and dipped. She did go out with Yelena but I don’t think she’s going to give him the time of day again.”

Alix comes back out wearing some of Sunny’s clothes that she had left behind during late nights. She takes a seat on the couch, fully leaning back into the plush cushions, “I don’t really care who she gets close to as long as it’s one of them. All we need is an opening to take out the Rogers and Bucky so we can get her back to Fresno where she belongs.”

“Do you really think that’s going to work?” Alix’s eyes flash gold like they usually do when she’s angry, “Of course it is. She belongs to me. Taking out those bloodsuckers, who mind you have been trying to kill me for years, is just a welcomed side effect of bringing her home.”

Jessica rolls her eyes while taking her phone out to scroll aimlessly on tiktok.

“Did you send the text that I asked?”

“Yes.”

Sunny goes still under her blanket and feels Yelena watching her every move, awaiting her answer.

“How did you know?” “Aside from the fact that I can smell him everywhere, especially on you, a little birdy told me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Yelena scoffs and shakes her head in disbelief, “I should’ve known better honestly. He always does this.”

Sunny pushes off her blanket and sits up, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just did.” “I don’t want to hear it. It happened and you can’t take it back,” Yelena sighs as she stands and puts distance between them, “I hate to do this but I feel like I don’t have a choice; him or me.”

“You obviously.”

“See I don’t believe you.”

“I promise, it’s you. Whatever I need to do to prove that it’s you, I’ll do it”

Yelena backs away as Sunny stands and tries to get closer. They give each other hurt looks as the other continues to damage the relationship.

“I don’t believe you or trust him for that matter. Nothing could make me believe that Bucky wouldn’t try and pull something. I won’t be put through that. I’m sorry but I’ll get Bucky to find someone else to watch over you,” Yelena says over her shoulder before slipping back out the window and leaving Sunny fuming.

She wants to scream at the top of her lungs but she can’t risk her neighbors calling the cops so she settles for screaming into her pillow. Her phone distracts her and she’s scrambling to answer it but freezes when she sees that it’s Bucky.

“Bucky what the fuck?” she growls into her phone.

“Well hello gorgeous, how are you?”

“Fuck off what did you do?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific, what are you talking about?” “You told Yelena that we kissed.”

“No I definitely did not.” “Don’t lie to me.”

“I swear draga, I’m not lying. I haven’t talked to her since yesterday but she’s supposed to be meeting with me in,” he pauses, “half an hour. I’ll talk to her then, but I promise I wouldn’t have told her without first calling you.”

“Give me your phone.”

“I was just starting to actually like Y/N, did I really need to do that?” Jessica groans as she tosses her phone over to Alix.

“I don’t care what you want to do” Alix mumbles while reading the messages between Jessica and Yelena, “Good job. Any internal conflict we can cause amongst their ranks, the better.”

She hands back the phone as she asks the question that’s been on her mind for hours, “Did she look like she enjoyed it?”

“It’s not like I had a front row seat. I was on the fire escape, how do you expect me to know that?” “I don’t remember asking for any attitude or did you forget who you’re talking to?”

Jessica lets out an over dramatic sigh, “No I didn’t. I’m sorry for giving you attitude.”

Alix smiles to herself at Jessica’s submission, “Good girl.”

Jessica bites her tongue to keep from saying something that will get her kicked out of the pack or worse, given how moody Alix has been lately.

“I think she was high and you know how the saying goes.”

“Come on,” Alix says unimpressed with Jessica’s read of the situation.

“What? It wouldn’t be a saying if it wasn’t true.” “Drunk actions are sober thoughts? Don’t even try and convince me that her being high was the only reason why she kissed him. She kissed him because she wanted to.” “Alix I really don’t think she has any interest in him.”

Alix growls her warning to stop talking before it gets worse and reclines further into the couch. Regardless of what Sunny may have been feeling when she kissed Bucky, she still did it and that’s far worse of a betrayal to Alix than anything else. During their relationship, Alix had to constantly remind Sunny that she was hers even when that meant leaving bruises and marks. Sometimes the physical reminders of her place were the only thing Alix to get to work. On numerous occasions, they were the only thing that kept Sunny from leaving the house and kept her out of trouble.

“Just do what I ask and don’t question me. I am your leader, Jessica, and I’m done with reminding you.”

Jessica scoffs and takes her phone back, “You’re done? I’m the one who’s had to slum it with humans and Strigoi for the last few years.” “And you do it because I told you to. Quit with the complaining. I don’t want to hear it anymore.”

“Or what? You’ll send me back to California and then what? You’ll have no one here who is as close to Y/N as I am and you’ll be back at square one or even worse since I’m sure she’s going to find out that you’re here soon enough.”

Within seconds, Alix is off of the couch and has Jessica pinned against a wall, “What did you just say?” “I’m your only shot at getting her back.”

Alix’s hand comes up to grip Jessica’s neck and squeezes hard enough that she starts to gasp for air.

“I don’t need you for anything,” she growls with a deep anger, “I could care less about what happens to you so there is nothing stopping me from exposing who you are to Y/N or the Strigoi and leaving you to fend for yourself. Barnes and Rogers won’t like knowing that an rival spy has been working with that filthy demon spawn of theirs. Do you really want to test me right now?”

With the hand clasped tightly on her throat, she can’t say anything but barely nods and whimpers, something that Alix finds great pleasure in.

“Good,” she loosens her grip just enough for Jessica to get the air she desperately needs, “Don’t fucking do that again or I won’t be so nice.”

Yelena and Bucky sit across from each other, both waiting for the other to speak first. When she arrived, she made an effort to not say a single word and to maintain her stoic face no matter how piercing his gaze may be. She figured based on his matching behavior that Sunny had called him to tell him that their kiss was no longer a secret. Steve had given them questioning looks when she came in but left nonetheless even if he was concerned for either of their safeties.

“You know.”

Yelena scoffs, shaking her head as she glances around the room, “Obviously.” “Good then we can be adults about this.”

“Says the one who pouted and threw a tantrum when he found out that we went on a date.”

“I didn’t do either of those things.”

She settles her eyes on him for the first time since she sat down, “So what do you call dragging her into your office and then going to her apartment?” “The first thing is called a conversation and the second is called being a gentleman. I was checking on her.”

“With your tongue down her throat.”

“You did the same thing. I’d say you were throwing a tantrum by bringing her to MY club and kissing her 10 feet away from me.”

“She willingly went out with you, I can’t say the same about you. Also, why did you text me off of a burner?”

Bucky’s brows furrow in confusion, “I didn’t.”

She takes her phone out to show him the text that informed her of the kiss, “Yes you did.”

Bucky takes his own out to prove that he never sent her that text; she kissed me.

“Why would I text you from a burner phone?”

Before Yelena can say anything smart back, the door to his office bursts open. A fuming Steve throws the door open and all but slams his phone down on the table.

“Jessica knows Alix.”

On it is an old picture of Jessica hugging Alix, both smiling like little kids.

Yelena squints at the image, “Where did you get this?” “Peggy found it. I’m not sure where but she just sent it to me. We need to get Sunny to a safe house immediately.”

They look to Bucky who is already half way out of the door. The one person he trusted outside of his people has proven to be the most dangerous person he could imagine.

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sailingfireshipz · 13 days ago

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Can u elaborate on CF Reddit?

It's just a vile vile place where the saddest people in this fandom spew the most racist, misogynistic, sexist think pieces or opinions on Stella & Dawson specifically. (Of course not everyone on there are like this but an alarming majority are) It's the gutter as it relates to this fandom & for a long time i used to go on there and get so upset about the things they'd say until I realized that engaging with the trolls was feeding them the attention they so desperately need to thrive. So to preserve my mental health, I literally just stopped going on there after the premiere of 13x01 & i haven't been back since. I still get notifications of certain threads but have resisted the urge to read them because I know what the outcome will be.

Out of ALL of the platforms for CF i feel like that one is the most toxic imo.

#chicago fire #kelly severide #stella kidd #stellaride #fandom #create the bubble you wish to reside in #ask me anything #answered #always in my stellaride brainrot era

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sunbloomdew · 7 months ago

Text

I played the "Fields of Mistria" Demo! Here's my thoughts:

(that title sounds like something a youtuber would say auuughhhhhhhh)

I found out about this game completely randomly and decided to give the demo a try. And surprisingly, or maybe not at all, I am completely taken with it and i can't wait to see how the game will develop! :D

So for now, until the 5th of August arrives, here's what i liked, disliked and what i wish to see in "Fields of Mistria" in the future <3

strap in yall it's a bit long. but there are photos! like. three of them skfjdkhfksj

Things I liked:

You don’t choose your character model’s sex. Also because all of the models being roughly the same size, there’s freedom to imagine your characters’ body type however you want. Surprisingly I also don't recall any of the characters assuming your gender based on your pronouns, which is nice.

Multiple pronouns options! My one suggestion would be to add a She/He option as well ^_^

Wide range of skin tones available. There’s currently 36 in the demo. (to compare, Stardew Valley has 24 and 10 of them are unusual colours like blue or green)

The fact that you can set your birthday on the calendar, although it doesn’t seem to do anything for now. In one of my playthroughs I set my birthday on the 3rd day of Spring, and the only thing that appeared was a pop up saying “It’s your birthday!”. Understandable, this is only the demo after all. I wonder if the early access will have characters react to your birthday and maybe even give you some gifts!

The few available hairstyles are really nice. My absolute favourite thing about hair in the demo was that it has a moving animation! Small detail but it really delighted me.

Same goes for clothes, they are cute!

The customization isn't locked and you can create a couple of outfits you can swap any time! You can also change everything about your character's looks at any time, including their pronouns.

The predetermined palette of colours you can choose your hair colour from is pretty good. There’s 40 colours so far.

I have a small problem with the opening cutscene but the rest of the beginning cutscenes are good! I like the one when you arrive at the bridge and meet Balor and the camera slides to him. And the Juniper cutscene haha

Now that I mentioned NPCs, I really like the cute, personalized animations they have, like Adeline snapping her fingers, Balor flicking his hair before walking away, Celine working in her garden, Josephine and Hemlock singing.

I absolutely love all of the character designs in this game. The 90s anime artstyle, colours, their poses and expressions. I really feel like this is the thing that really drew me to try this game as I wasn’t interested in a new farming simulator. But here I am! All with the power of anime. For example, here are the designs of the romanceable characters! The photo is from the Fields of Mistria website:

Another huge NPC win for me is that the characters interact with each other a lot! I noticed that a lot of them meet during the day and talk with little dialogue bubbles. It feels like the townspeople know each other quite well, I hope we get to learn even more about them and their dynamics!

One of the best things about interacting with characters is that you can talk to them multiple times during the day, getting a bunch of different dialogues. Once you talk to someone you have to wait either for them to change their location or for one of the other characters to approach them, to talk. I really like it since it means you get to interact with everyone couple times a day and it honestly makes the game more enjoyable.

From the little crumbs of lore we got, I am really intrigued about the setting. Prior to the player’s arrival to Mistria, the region has been hit by an earthquake. The disaster caused the main trading route bridge to collapse, the area getting destroyed and a lot of residents leaving the town. The town leader Adeline (daughter of a Baroness and Baron of Mistria) with her brother, Eiland's, help comes up with the idea to seek out an adventurer who could help to revitalize the town. We learn that Mistria is part of the Kingdom of Aldaria (so we have a monarchy), it has its own guardian deities and rich ancient history with the Sleeping Dragon Inn being a historical landmark and that magic is not hidden from people who can’t use it (Juniper freely uses magic in front of the kids in her cutscene after completing her request). Some characters offer some little hits to what their story might be about: Balor says that compared to Elsie he didn’t have a good time in the Capital, and other characters note how he is mysterious and obtains his wares in unknown ways. Elsie is a retired socialite from the Capital with many past romance stories to share, she probably knows a lot of interesting titbits about the Capital and people there. Juniper says that there’s something suspicious about Celine and Juniper herself is stuck in a town she doesn’t really seem to like but seemingly has something she needs to achieve here. When you meet March he slips for a second and says “I- We have everything under control” so it seems he views the player’s arrival as a threat to him in some way (emotionally i presume, not literally). Errol used to be a miner, Hayden can possibly talk to animals? And so much more. And of course, there’s the statue of dragon Caldarus who appears to be a marriageable character…? Anyways, I can’t wait to learn more about this setting!

I loved that you can talk with animals like Dozy and Henrietta, give them gifts and pet them. I really hope we can do the same with our pet.

The interior designs of all the buildings is extremely cute! I really like all of them, my favourite must be the Sleeping Dragon Inn, Celine’s cottage and the Carpenter’s Shop. Plus Elsie’s room at the manor and Hayden’s house.

I also like the beach a lot. It just feels nice and there’s a light house and I sure do love a light house /reference plus there's good ambience there

If you go to the manor there’s a portrait of the Baroness, the Baron and little Adeline and Eiland over the fireplace in the dining room :3

I really like Holt’s dad jokes. Pierre could never-

Guys I need Valen I need her

You are able to swim! It’s really cool and the animation is cute. Plus you can dive in certain spots to find stuff.

You can hold down the button to eat a bunch of food if you have multiple of something.

Saving your game having a form of a diary is very cute and I love that. Same with the crystal orb serving as a weather channel.

Fighting monsters feels dynamic! You actually have to put some thought into learning each individual monster’s behaviour and attack patterns. It’s challenging but not too hard. But they do quite a bit of damage at the start. Fighting that red mushroom felt like playing “Baba Jaga patrzy” again haha.

And speaking of fighting, i like our own character's fighting moves! But it took a bit to get used to them since they make the character move and it's not just. clicking with the mouse repeatedly skdhfjsf

I like the sound design!

Soundtrack is very nice. Not all of it is very memorable but it’s nice while you listen to it and it fits the game. There are some tracks that already got stuck in my head :] I like the one that plays at the Blacksmith, it’s intense for no reason, just like March lol

I cannot stop gushing about the characters, so far even just from the designs they all feel like they have distinct personalities and each one of them has their own thing going on. They all feel so warm and welcoming even if their actions aren’t (looking at you March). I don’t know, something about the artstyle, the pixels, design and colour palette just has me very enamoured with them. I really hope their character arcs or stories will deliver.

I like Caldarus. And the music that plays when he first speaks to us in our dream.

The museum is so nice. Also I love that Errol is an actual character we can talk to… Unlike another museum curator I know /j

You can buy stuff from shops even if no one is around!

Level tenth of the Mines… I’m SO intrigued

I like that there’s magic and can’t wait to see what other spells we can learn!

You can craft at the crafting station in town even if you don’t have the necessary materials on your person, but they are in chests at the farmhouse. As long as the stuff you need is in your chests you can craft stuff which is pretty cool.

Lastly, what I really loved about playing the demo is that not once did I feel rushed to do anything. Farming simulators often make you feel like you have to maximize your time in the day *cough* SDV *cough* and I do enjoy that sometimes, but other times I just want to chill. Somehow Fields of Mistria demo achieves this feeling of not having to rush and playing at your own pace and it feels great.

Things I disliked:

Not a lot of things mentioned here are going to be stuff I actively disliked, more like felt annoyed or confused by. And before any of my little complaints gets the “this is only a demo!” response, let me assure you: I am aware. If things change before or after the early release that’s great! This is specifically what I find ‘meh’ about the demo so far.

When the opening cutscene in Adeline’s office starts playing the room is positioned oddly on the screen. I think it’s so later the camera can follow the characters’ movements but when the cutscene starts and you only see the bottom half of the room at an angle, it feels really weird, like the room wasn’t centred by accident.

I’d love for the character creator to have the option to rotate the model of your character. I think it would be good to see what the options you picked look like from different angles before you jump into the game. Although the customization isn’t locked and you can change how you look whenever. Still, this could be a nice option

So I just said that the colour palette for hair is pretty good. Can’t say the same about the other ones, for eyes and clothes. The colours we get aren’t bad but I feel like there’s too little of them. Speaking of eye colours…

Choosing the eye colour is annoying. Once you pick an eye shape (cool feature btw) a window pops up in the middle of the screen with eye colours. The icons are too small to see the eye colour properly, especially when you want to compare the darker colours. I had to move my face closer to the screen to see what was I picking. And after you pick something the window disappears and you can see the colour you chose on the model. Okay, cool but now if I want to try out different options it I have to open the window again. Constantly opening the colours window to check other options is tedious and a bit frustrating. What I think would be good instead is once you click to choose the colours, next to the options appears a close up of your character model, and the window doesn’t close until you click an “X” button. To sum up my main problems are colour options visibility and the colour picking mechanic. Hair colour and colours for clothes and other stuff is picked in the same way BUT all of those elements are bigger than the four pixels the eyes are made out of.

The controls are not obvious. The game shows you to progress dialogues with “E” key but nothing aside from that. I didn’t realise until the last day of my first playthrough that you can jump, because in my previous experiences, 2D RPG, and especially farming simulator games don’t usually have that option, and the only instance of jumping happened in a cutscene, so I thought it was just an animation for the cutscene. I think it would be a good opportunity to use that moment in the cutscene for brief player interaction so they can learn how to jump, however silly that sounds. I think the player’s experience would benefit from a controls tutorial, in form of a window popping up or them showing up on the side of the screen like in Stardew Valley on the first day.

While interior designs are really cool I feel like the outside is kinda empty. Not so much the building but the areas around them. It is felt the most in the empty stretches of land outside the town but running through the paved roads in it can also feel a bit odd. Like the area is too empty. It’s definitely not a problem on the farm due to all the overgrown grass but everywhere else you really feel like it’s just a flat stretch of nothing. I think adding some more details could be nice, maybe some streetlights, plants, a bit more texture on surfaces.

I had a really odd moment that took me out entirely. While playing the demo you can get Juniper’s request on the board to bring her a Lilac. Once you complete it, a cutscene set at the bathhouse will start playing right away, regardless of where were you when you completed the request. This felt incredibly jarring to me. The first time I did this request I gave the Lilac at the bathhouse, but the second time it was late evening at Valen’s house. So it was pretty surprising to be essentially teleported to a completely different place. I don’t think it’s a great mechanic. It would be better if a cutscene set at a specific place on the map started when you arrive there, to help it feel more coherent.

As much as I like the warm and cozy feel of the characters, it felt like there wasn’t a lot of variety in reactions to the player’s arrival. Everyone except I think literally one person is all cheery. I don’t mind this that much, cause the community being excited for your arrival feels sweet. It makes sense with the story too, the player is there to help out around the town, and who living there wouldn’t be happy about that? I just really hope the character’s don’t end up with poorly defined personalities, that’s my main concern for now about the story. It would be tragic if the game only ended up having cute designs but nothing else. Needless to say I have pretty high hopes for the final version! I really hope it works out and I’m 100% rooting for the team.

The inventory system had me kinda confused at the start. The spaces are all in one line in game but once you open your journal they’re stacked on top of each other? Yeah took me a bit to get used to that, and I’m not sure how I feel about it still.

The user interface is very cute, I have one problem though. It’s hard to tell what a lot of the little icons mean, for example, when you open the chest there’s a chest icon next to the two arrows that sort stuff. I have no clue what it does and when you’re hovering over it, it doesn’t have a name or an explanation either.

You can’t hold down mouse button to use tools continuously. This is because when you upgrade your tools, for example a pickaxe, when you hold it down you get to mine more spaces at the same time. I’m not sure if that exchange is worth it.

You have to click one by one if you want to throw multiple items out in the inventory trashcan.

It’s a shame you can’t land on rocks/big water lily leaves on the water. And you can’t walk into the sea, you have to specifically jump into it. This isn’t really a complaint, I just think I’d be cool if you could just slowly walk into the sea. Like slowly getting submerged.

I feel like the scroll wheel directions are odd… Scrolling upwards will move you to the right of the inventory but I feel like it should be the other way… Maybe it can be changed later in settings.

The buildings on the map are not named. It would be nice if, when you hover over an area you see its name.

Credits get blurry when moving. It hurt my eyes :(

Things I hope to see in the Early Access (and in the game in general):

Interactivity within interiors. So like looking at bookshelves to see what books a character has, reading letters or notebooks that were left out, finding some stuff in their drawers… Basically snooping haha. Oh and more interactivity with objects placed outside too. Right now there are some signs and items you can't interact with, like that tent by the dig site.

More settings for in-game scale! It would be cool if there was one between 3x and 2x, like a 2.5x.

The ability to sell stuff directly at shops. Sometimes you need money but waiting until the next day would ruin your plans.

Sitting! I wanna sit in spots next to the characters and vibe :]

While I do like available colours, I think adding a colour wheel or sliders would be neat.

I wonder what are gender identities and sexual orientations of the characters :]

More clothes and hair options obviously! And furniture as well

What gets implemented for the player’s birthday

How the museum exhibition will look like :D

Lastly, I might be way out of my depth with this one but it would be cool if the romanceable characters could also move in with you platonically… Or if there was a character like Krobus, a little friend you can invite to live with you <3

And that's it :] sorry for the stardew comparison, it's like the only farming sim i'm very familiar with

I've been enjoying playing the demo a lot and i definitely will play more before it closes. And i will for sure be following the development and waiting for the early access in august!

it was a really fun experience over all and if ur interested i reccomend you try it out :D

cya

#sunbloom talks #gamer hours #fields of mistria #indie games #cozy games #indiegamedev #indiedev #farming rpg #farming sim #90s anime

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