#desansen

[dotzines]

Countdown art by desansen desansen.carrd.co

[13daysadvent]

Out of the depths and into our zine, next up is @desansen 's piece featuring the Siyokoy! 🌊

Want to see the rest? Check out our monstrous zine and advent calendar by buying a copy at https://13daysadvent.bigcartel.com !

[poisonapplezine]

🕯️AFTERSALE🕯️

🍏 Don't wait to take a bite. The Poison Apple shop is available for the last time!

🍏 AFTERSALES EXTENDED: The shop will be Closing April 6th at 11:59 pm pst!

✦ https://poisonapplezine.bigcartel.com ✦

Supplies are limited! So get to the shop first to claim your copy of the project. Includes stunning artwork and writing by~

@tzviaariella | @kuropin | @crayolahell | @artwins | @aemiron-main | @beidak-art | @jabberwick | @iidarts | @baicaozhe | @zephyrbug | @jagalart | @andythelemon | @fleebites | @lgions2 | @crowingoverthis | @desansen | @eshpur | @kutty-sark | @kromanjoma | @elvrenor | @swampthingnepook | @sirswamp | @wyrdle | @mogielnik | @glizdojerz | @bigskycastle | @auroradiation

[malevolenttarotzine]

💛 Card Preview 💛

Next card preview! @desansen did this wonderful piece for the Malevolent Tarot Zine!

Preorders are open until August 15th! Check out our shop here!

[spectralrunezines]

CONTRIBUTOR LINEUP PT. 1 (Artists)

In order of appearance!:

@Shikaritani @whimrot @sbev-e @beelloon_ @zzz.elliot @briantheinsomniac @fumyalien @falterview @pandamito @snoweowl @desansen @artbygiraffe @just_livota @sipsteaandbleach @mossymildew @sunflowervc @_emxrah3838 @shan_nuo_ @valkyrie-jpg @wackyart @dr_depper @puddle_lane @nfoccasionalart @moonlit-minuet

[anizinesinc]

🌻 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐏 🌻

With the chilly season finally upon us, it is time to reveal our cast of wonderful contributors who helped bring this project to life! 💛

Be sure to support each of them as you await for our release. See you later this month!

🌻 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 🌻

@/ShKrimps (twt) | @aeriamamaduck | @asoeiki | @/rt_k1OO (twt) | @ceelisiowo | @cherryterryartblog | @creatorae | @/cryptiddotjpeg (IG) | @dzasta15 | @/Ritzshou (twt) | @danotiel | @deepobeepo | @desansen | @/DriedAcrylic (IG) |

@resxume | @/emerizard (twt) | @/2Emisnt (twt) | @/seacasters (twt) | @/hazukitanuki (twt) | @hyriaven | @/ipadkidthea (IG) | @rekteddd | @roastedbeefed | @kagilasgilas | @kayspnart | @keip | @/seytanitogepi (twt) | @kittenexmachina | @/kylieekaat (twt)

@/wafer_lemon (twt) | @/pakutheta (twt) | @liz-aster | @anartical | @/love_goblinn (twt) | @/LunahrasDraws (twt) | @samberrymochi | @/graviitydraws (IG) | @/pencilcase_prince (IG) | @mewy101 | @/midnightlobo (bsky) | @mintivee (IG) | @/moonjelly._.fool (IG) |

@/MrBobtani (twt) | @muckingup | @mugencosmonautart | @mambybambi | @mushratting | @pigifon | @psykoe100 | @/renanjaminp (twt) | @/etc_artwork (IG) | @ryolightswan | @melonsharks | @/Sh0rtSt0ryL0ng (twt) | @/SleepySquirrel_ (twt) | @/_Spaghetti4U (twt) | @/SpriteTheKnight (twt) | @/taache__ (IG) | @teaserweaser | @/teamageart (IG) | @/TianaJRG (twt) | @/tobytrashytrash (twt) | @/trashie_can (twt) | @/Cing_Kucing (twt) | @vexfulfun | @mangysuh | @/y_van_ (twt) |

🌻 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 🌻

@/ShKrimps (twt) | @cherryterryartblog | @happinessdeceit | @/cryptiddotjpeg (IG) | @/2Emisnt (twt) | @kikayyam | @liz-aster | @marimo-art | @/pencilcase_prince (IG) | @/mintivee (IG) | @psykoe100 | @rosered962 | @/Triky_Art (twt) |

🌻 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 🌻

@uselessundertalefacts | @cawthelesbian | @hananono | @/abovo_adastra (twt) | @thousand-winters | @/T1meslayerFics (twt) | @mangatxt |

[ajeasterday8]

Meet the amazingly talented contributors behind Valhalla Awaits: A Norse Mythology Anthology! We have 26 writers and artists creating original comics, illustrations, short stories, and poetry for the anthology. Here they are:

Ace Hetisimer, Brandon Mullins, Chris Dance, Hap Pierson, Hunter Savell, Leif Sanchez Carreras, Seth Miller, Abby Smith, @little-amb, @cal-sab, @desansen, @catinelle, @miarayart, @naumin, seasideflora, @carelessapples, @sunflowervc, Void, Wyvern Loopy, Zen Kitsune, C.L. Spencer, @librivore42, @snailor-bee, StarsinmyTea, Freyja, and @heymacareyna

[ocrosemagazine]

🌟 ROSE: Stelliferous Contributor Lineup 🌟

Meet our contributors! This year we have 63 brilliant artists working with us with OCs that shine like no other.

We're so excited to be working with this team and we hope you look forward to meeting them and their characters in the coming weeks.

Artist links below cut:

appleebees – Twitter

arkeis – Tumblr

Arztea – Twitter

Ayu – Instagram

Azurearts13 – Tumblr

Blu – Website

Bratzoid – Twitter

Cas Lynn – Twitter

Chikao – Twitter

Chrispy.Inks – Twitter

Circlejourney – Website

Cleanne – Instagram

cyborb – Tumblr

Denpe – Twitter

desansen – Carrd

Egg – Twitter

Eko – Carrd

Eliot Lime – Tumblr

Elo H – Tumblr

Emil L'Amour – Carrd

FaerieRune – Linktree

Foxpirate's Art – Instagram

ghoulgeists – Tumblr

It’s Raining Color – Website

jayc-art – Tumblr

Kay Vasudevan – Twitter

kellerybird – Instagram

lavenderbed – Twitter

Lenaffin – Instagram

Little Miss Luna – Instagram

LogicalBreak – Tumblr

magpiemurder – Tumblr

Max Concannon – Instagram

Merissa Mayhew – Website

Mic S – Twitter

MOTHCULA – Twitter

Nekophelia – Twitter

PD_evil – Twitter

Peppermint Bubble – Twitter

Phenylart – Instagram

Pine_Niidles – Carrd

Punk Pixie Arts – Instagram

PXLPASTRY – Twitter

Raleigh Priest – Carrd

RaptorKizzie – Twitter

Sam – Instagram

Sam Inverts – Twitter

ScheloftheSea – Tumblr

Serrannitto – Twitter

shegry – Twitter

Sidhedust – Tumblr

silverwingstorm – Twitter

solarsnapp – Tumblr

Stardust in June – Twitter

tinypaperstar – Twitter

torgwn – Tumblr

Valcuum – Instagram

Valyce Negative – Twitter

Wolf Rocket – Twitter

yokaiy – Twitter

Zabwis – Tumblr

zerosphera – Twitter

ZombieGaby – Instagram

[ff14untamedzine]

🐥 UNTAMED 2 CONTRIBUTOR LINEUP 🐤

Meet the 52 talented creators who are ready to guide you on a new adventure! (with new creatures!)

Mark your calendar 📜 PREORDERS OPEN MAY 5

Unleash your wild side & join the adventure! The Untamed expedition welcomes you.

Creators and their tumblr/socials linked below ⬇️

Moderators: aaronmwill | nmlopez | Julormi

Merch Artists: @dapandabanda | Lin | @nyansarts | @ooowyn

Cartoonists: Cat | @goodlouse | @snoozedraws | @4threset

Writers: Augustin Andre | Breeann Ortega-Roberts | @januarywren | Morgan | Winterune | @xygdrasil

Cover Artist: @inktho

Illustrators: @42wv | @sabattons | @apric0tfield | @athena-ishnuala | @bigskycastle | @cassigator | cham | Chonunhwa | Crayola_Hell | desansen | @dovahcaine | eggu_v | iidArts | ippus | Jess | JJ | @jyzen | Ken | @kingofreddragons | KuShu | @amaretta | @peculiarmarsu | @pitrepan | @rowanclair | Sarah Mason Art | @ponpekopon | @sierrasketches | Smugcomputer | Trina | @whispyart | @whitecatarts | @loyaltykink | yammu | Yutacustoms

[vampirehunterdzine]

⚔️𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖇𝖚𝖙𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖕𝖔𝖙𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙⚔️

Please welcome fantasy illustrator and romantic Desansen as page artist! 🖤

[bestiaryforukraine]

🪶🐈🐶 MEET OUR ARTISTS: Check Out Our Full Contributor Line Up 🐶🐈🪶

Please say hello to the artists who have been hard at work the last few months to bring Misplaced Creatures: A Bestiary for Ukraine to life! As a team we couldn't be more excited to share their beautiful art with you in January 2023 to help raise funds for displaced pets in Ukraine.

All money raised by this charity zine will be donated to Притулок Сіріус/Sirius Shelter, the largest animal shelter in Ukraine.

Cover Art:

CCJ Ellis @/ccjellisart [Insta] I @/ccjellis [Twitter] I @/ccjellis [TikTok]

Merch Art:

Elle @elle-arts [tumblr] I @/elodiechen.art [Insta] I @/elodiechen_art [Twitter]

Rogue Kai @/roguekaiart [Insta] I @/RogueKaiArt [Twitter]

Page Art:

Sugar Beetle @/sugarbeetles [Insta] I @/SugarBeetles [Twitter]

2D Pyramid @/2dpyramid [Insta] I @/4DPyramid [Twitter]

desansen @/desansen [Insta] I @/DesansenArt [Twitter]

JustaSuta @/justasuta [Insta] I @/JustaSuta [Twitter]

Cosmopoliturtle @cosmopoliturtle [tumblr] I @/cosmopoliturtle [Twitter]

Daydreamdeuce @/daydreamdeuce [Insta] I @/DaydreamDeuce [Twitter]

Hana @/soijakuningas [Twitter]

Bratzoid @/bratzoid [Insta] I @/bratzoid_art [Twitter]

V01DRAM @/v0idram [Insta] I @/V0IDRAM [Twitter]

MizuShiba @mizushibart [tumblr] I @/MizuShibaPL [Twitter]

Junior @vigoburrito [tumblr] I @/vigoburrito [Insta] I @/VigoBurrito [Twitter]

VILEBILE @vile-bile [tumblr] I @/vile.bile [Insta] I @/VILE_BILE [Twitter]

ttrys @ttrys [tumblr] I @/ttrys.art [Insta]

Risto @risto-licious [tumblr] I @/Risto_Licious [Twitter]

Hoff @ceilingcow [tumblr] I @/CeilingCow [Twitter]

Aleksandra Lipka @/awu.digital [Insta] I @/art_awu [Twitter]

thesmartbluebox @theartbluebox [tumblr] I @/thesmartbluebox [Insta] I @/thesmartbluebox [Twitter]

Atomy @atomyarts [tumblr] I @/atomyarts [Insta] I @/atomyarts [Twitter]

RA @/therottingsun [Insta] I @/The_rottingsun [Twitter]

Syd @/itscaffeinebee [Insta] I @/Caffeine Bee [Facebook]

Kymberli Janine @kymjanine [tumblr] I @/kymjanine [Insta] I @/kymjanine [Twitter]

Punto @/punto.png [Insta] I @/punto_png [Twitter]

psophode @/psophode [Insta] I @/psophode [Twitter]

Camillatorisk @/camillatorisk [Insta]

Amanda Brack @/amandabrackillustration [Insta] I @/AmandaBrackArt [Twitter]

Nalak Bel @/nalakbel [Insta] I @/NalakBel [Twitter] I @/Nalak-Bel [DeviantArt]

Little Dismay @/little_dismay [Insta] I @/Little_Dismay [Twitter]

Noxlucent @noxlucent [tumblr] I @/noxlucent [Insta] I @/Noxlucent [Twitter]

RileyFae @/rileyfae_ [Insta] I @/RileyFae_ [Twitter] I @/RileyFae [DeviantArt]

Cynthia Conner @/dracontiar [Insta] I @/dracontiar [Tiktok]

Valentino Lasso @/valentino_lasso [Insta] I @/valentino_lasso [Twitter]

Mods:

PewPewPew @pewpewpew [tumblr] I @/pewpewpewart [Insta]

Humanbobjeanpants @humanbobjeanpants [tumblr] I @/humanzines [Twitter]

RaeGunBlast @raegunblast [tumblr] I @/raegunblast [Insta] I @/RaeGunBlast [Twitter]

Azuzel23 @azuzeldraws [tumblr] I @/wyvern_loopy [Insta] I @/Azuzel23 [Twitter]

Signed,

The BFU Curators Committee

🐾[ Carrd || Mod Intros || Twitter II Insta ]🪶

[Reblogs appreciated tysm!!] @faneventshub, @zinefeed

[dotzines]

🌼 PRIS-M-AGIC! RELEASE!!! 🌸

Happy International Friendship Day to everyone!!!  This fanzine is a digital book about fandom and original magical girls divided by rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, viole, pink, white, black), featuring 145 amazing artists from all over the world.

The zine is available for free! The only thing we ask is to share our Tumblr, Twitter, BlueSky & Instagram release posts and follow our contributors ♥

CONTRIBUTORS

Cover Art

🌼 rumiaere

Artists (check their links in the itch page)

⭐ _spacekitten__ ⭐ 0v0theo ⭐ a cup of felicity! ⭐ aaron ⭐ Aenyah ⭐ AlyKuro ⭐ Anila ⭐ anterograve ⭐ Ars ⭐ ArtisticallyTwistedTea ⭐ Awkturtle ⭐ Beartie / BeartieXianSheng ⭐ Bianca Sando ⭐ Blehcado ⭐ Bubbles ⭐ cappycode ⭐ Cas Lynn ⭐ castledoctrine ⭐ CentaurWorks ⭐ Chibsi ⭐ chthonicArchivist ⭐ cinnamoonroll.art ⭐ citruscantus ⭐ Clow ⭐ čmárání ⭐ desansen ⭐ Doodle Dragon Lisie⭐ Eerie Dearie ⭐ Eevee Miscellaneous ⭐ Emmy ⭐ erbezdiez ⭐ evearellie ⭐ f.lorui ⭐ FairyTheArtHog ⭐ Faulticode ⭐ Fawndolyn Valentine ⭐ Feiyu ⭐ Finn O'Sullivan ⭐ Floeer ⭐ FloofPoof/2devils ⭐ FloX ⭐ Girlpire ⭐ Glutton ⭐ GoblinsAndTea ⭐ Gryphon982 ⭐ Gutterpink ⭐ Hanabyka ⭐ Hannah Spoons ⭐ herbleol ⭐ Horijion ⭐ Hyzkoa ⭐ ItzRayla ⭐ Jealous Izrafel / Izra ⭐ Jichu ⭐ KeaneArts ⭐ kk ⭐ Koamaterasuhime ⭐ korryd ⭐ Kory ⭐ lavenderjellies ⭐ Lexi ⭐ Lily ⭐ Lora B ⭐ Lunarials ⭐ madelemon ⭐ Maggie ⭐ MakioKuta ⭐ Mangetsu ⭐ Maxwell "That Guy WIth A Game Boy Camera" Scheller ⭐ Maxx ⭐ Memento Moray ⭐ meowbot39 ⭐ Mewtkaiba99 ⭐ MK ⭐ MolleyC ⭐ Mortellana ⭐ mottledmango ⭐ mousec1ub ⭐ MugenColoris ⭐ Muzzthemoo ⭐ mysticusfreeze ⭐ neoxonicart / Xainn ⭐ nijahsart ⭐ Nikki ⭐ Noni ⭐ Nutmeg Nautilus ⭐ Nyansae ⭐ ObservantPhantom ⭐ okenki ⭐ onionhead ⭐ parashy ⭐ Peach ⭐ pechapanda ⭐ Pencokun ⭐ Pip ⭐ Pitangawang ⭐ PitohuiArt ⭐ Plutonia ⭐ pnwmango ⭐ PocketShna ⭐ Poicyss ⭐ Poppin_pom ⭐ PoppyMori ⭐ PoundToundHound ⭐ Pulcella-Lulu ⭐ qitty ⭐ Qu_eefan ⭐ Raichana ⭐ RaptorKizzie ⭐ ReactorCoreArt ⭐ Reid ⭐ RenKeiru ⭐ Rio ⭐ rumiaere ⭐ Sakura ⭐ SakuraKotoni ⭐ sanchoyoscribbles ⭐ Sasha Void ⭐ SchmeapBW ⭐ Shades ⭐ shadow24090 ⭐ Sidewalkleaf ⭐ Bearydevilish ⭐ Sipsteaandbleach ⭐ SleepyPrincee ⭐ Sophia ⭐ soulzerofever ⭐ SpamHands ⭐ Spectralreplica ⭐ Spoopypluto ⭐ StardustStorm ⭐ starilights ⭐ starrdrops ⭐ Tem ⭐ tenderperil ⭐ The Rabbit Follower ⭐ Théanoia ⭐ TheFuchsiaFallacy ⭐ Troggo ⭐ tsumibo ⭐ VanDuxy ⭐ Wisteria Writer ⭐ XilaXena ⭐ xleaph ⭐ xXJaydawggyXx

Mods

🌸 nini - Host & Organization 🌸 Max - Graphics & Formatting 🌸 Girlpire - Graphics & Formatting 

Download the zine on itch.io

Share the love as much as you can ♥ (you know, since it has links it can’t be view on tumblr search)

Please continue to support us and we hope to see you in our future projects!

[13daysadvent]

Contributor Spotlight: Lurking in the depths, our next page artist is desansen!

Desansen will be drawing the water-dwelling siyokoy in their piece. 🌊

Check them out here @/DesansenArt , on carrd, or Instagram/Tumblr @desansen !

[poisonapplezine]

🍏 This is Poison Apple 🍏

A collection of illustrations, comics, and writing based on villains and creatures from myths and legends around the world.

↓ For more info + Bonus Giveaway ↓

--~~~~~~~-🍏-~~~~~~~--

Due to requests, the aftersale is extended to APRIL 6 220 Pages | Hardcover | Tarot | Merch See our shop page and claim one of our last full bundles or build a custom collection of your favorites.

🍏 https://poisonapplezine.bigcartel.com 🍏

Supplies are limited! So get to the shop first to claim a bundle. Includes stunning artwork and writing by~

@tzviaariella | @kuropin | @crayolahell | @artwins | @aemiron-main | @beidak-art | @jabberwick | @iidarts | @baicaozhe | @zephyrbug | @jagalart | @andythelemon | @fleebites | @lgions2 | @crowingoverthis | @desansen | @eshpur | @kutty-sark | @kromanjoma | @elvrenor | @swampthingnepook | @sirswamp | @wyrdle | @mogielnik | @glizdojerz | @bigskycastle | @auroradiation

--~~~~~~~-🍏-~~~~~~~--

・✦GIVEAWAY✦・ CLOSED

Congratulations @wax_artist on Twitter! You have won a free copy of Poison Apple! Send me a dm with your shipping info to claim your prize! 🍏

Join our raffle and win a FREE copy of the zine. *If we reach 75 entries the prize will be upgraded to an Enchantment Bundle!

🍏HOW TO JOIN🍏

Reblog+❤️ this post

Follow

# or comment your favorite folklore/mythology character.

~Join on Twitter for an extra chance to win~

[lilradridinghood]

FULL PDF HERE

Art and layout by the wonderfully talented @desansen

This is the story I wrote for @enduremyheart-zine, which was supposed to be a collaborative zine about two twins going from world to world trying to get home. Each world has an artifact that will open a portal to the next one. This was supposed to be the fourth level out of twenty-two.

I hope you enjoy this little section of Juno and Sylvie's journey! Full text is under the cut in addition to the pdf linked above~

When Sylvie and Juno tumble from prickly bushes onto the ground below, Sylvie can’t help but let out a long, frustrated groan.

They made it out of the previous world. Good for them. But they still have no idea how much longer they’ll have to keep this up—or how much longer they can keep this up. As if to emphasize her suffering, Sylvie’s stomach growls like one of the baby griffins she likes to play-wrestle back home.

“Hungry?” Juno says, the slightest smile on their face.

Sylvie scowls. “Obviously. When I get my hands on that old wizard-”

Suddenly, someone shushes her from a nearby bush. A man glares at them in heavily adorned armor.

“Are you trying to wake the dragon?” Rich Boy says.

Sylvie finally looks at the sight ahead of them—really looks this time—and sure enough, in front of a tall, narrow tower rests the most enormous dragon she’s ever seen.

The shock on her face only makes Rich Boy even more smug. “What? Did you expect a smaller foe to be worth such a bounty?”

While Sylvie resists the urge to punch him, Juno scopes for information: “What bounty?”

“Are you really that dense? The king’s messengers have announced it everywhere. He’s offering a bounty for anyone who can save the princess from that monstrous beast.” Rich Boy lifts his chin. “Of course, I’ll be the one leading the mission that actually succeeds—provided peasants like you stay out of my way.”

With that, he turns his back toward the twins and motions his men forward. For one irritating moment, as they sink their swords into the dragon, Sylvie actually thinks they might win.

Then the dragon’s eyes snap open. Sylvie watches with a mixture of horror and excitement as it locks its gaze onto its assailants and lets out a fierce battle cry. Its tail sweeps the knights aside like mere chess pieces, and one man cries out as claws latch onto his armor.

Juno steps forward with concern. “We should help,” they say.

Sylvie smirks. “Or we could step in after the dragon eats the prick and his friends.”

Juno just looks at her.

“Ugh, fiiiine,” Sylvie says. “Any idea how we can get that bounty without getting eaten ourselves?”

Juno feels around the insides of their pockets and smiles. “I might have something that can do the trick. You think you can distract it while I slingshot a sedative into its mouth?”

Sylvie grins. “Easy.”

“Just be careful.”

Sylvie rolls her eyes. She’s about to prove her sword fighting skills to both her twin and smug little Rich Boy over there. He’s in the middle of screaming and backing away from the dragon when Sylvie calls out.

“Hey! Over here, you overgrown lizard!”

Sylvie charges forward, and when the dragon’s death glare sends a sharp jolt through her body, she knows she’s caught its attention. She leaps into action, jumping and rolling and rushing out the way, keeping the dragon occupied with each narrow miss—until eventually the dragon knocks her sword out of reach. Sylvie’s heart races. She trips, stumbles. She looks up to find the dragon towering over her, mouth bearing fangs.

Then the dragon stops. One look at Juno’s smiling face tells Sylvie all she needs to know. They’ve done it. The sedative made it in.

Only it doesn’t work right away.

The dragon turns its head toward Juno, just as the smile on Juno’s face twists into an expression of pain. Oh no. Sylvie reaches forward, frantic, ready to scream or cry or do anything to keep the dragon away from her closest family—her closest friend. But someone else steps in before she can.

The girl appears almost out of nowhere, her wild dark hair stark against her prim pink gown. The dagger in her hand glistens. She plunges it deep into the dragon’s tail, and it’s enough for the large beast to shift its already groggy gaze. Its body collapses just as it’s trying to turn around.

A moment passes where everyone is too afraid to move. The thud from the dragon’s fall seems to reverberate through the air even after the sound is long gone. 

Then Rich Boy comes out of hiding and immediately starts talking down to the girl from the tower.

“Honestly, of all the stupid, reckless things you could do-”

“Would you rather I let the dragon tear apart your men and our heroes?” the girl says. She lifts her chin in defiance, her pride matching even Rich Boy’s.

When he doesn’t respond, she takes the opportunity to walk over to Sylvie and Juno—and that’s when Sylvie notices it. The tiara on the girl’s head. The persistent pull Sylvie feels toward it.

There’s no doubt in her mind that the tiara is this world’s artifact.

It glimmers as the princess greets them with a slight bow. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she says. “I am Oksana. May I ask the names of my brave heroes?”

Juno introduces themself first, bowing in turn. “Juno,” they say. “The pleasure is ours.”

Their sister simply crosses her arms and says, “Sylvie.”

If the princess is at all bothered by such curtness, she doesn’t show it. In fact, she smiles. “You’ll have to excuse D’Quaad. I know he was rather hoping to save me himself.”

“Prince D’Quaad,” he says, stepping up beside her. “And this is Princess Oksana. So show some respect.” He gives Sylvie a pointed glare.

But Oksana rolls her eyes. “I hardly think that’s necessary after they saved my life. In fact, we should be celebrating them. How would you two like to join us tonight for a feast at the castle? I’m sure Prince D’Quaad here would gladly lend his services to escort us there.”

“Oksana, don’t be ridicu-”

“Princess Oksana,” she reminds him. Sylvie smirks. “You brought the carriage for me to ride, did you not? Our heroes can ride in it while I take one of your men’s horses. They don’t all seem in condition to travel after the fight.”

She’s right, and the prince knows it. He opens and closes his mouth a few more times in irritation before finally, he relents.

And so the ride to the castle begins. Sylvie fills Juno in on what the artifact is. After a little convincing from Sylvie, Juno agrees to wait to leave this world until after they’ve had some food and rest. With that matter settled, Sylvie kicks back for the rest of the ride, eager to finally get their grand reward.

Juno, on the other hand, stays alert, back straight, all through the rest of the ride. The same goes for the walk into the castle and the wait outside the throne room—where after a short wait, their whole party is granted audience with the king. Juno bows along with most of the others before glancing up and nudging Sylvie to do the same.

Before Sylvie can bow, though, the king steps forward.

“There’s no need for that,” he says. “Rise, my friends. My daughter speaks highly of our new guests. Let me thank you for your heroic deeds.”

Carefully, Juno lifts their head. The kind stands before them, bearded face smiling and arms open in welcome. He almost seems trustworthy.

“That’s it,” the king says, as Juno stands. His smile widens as he turns to face D’Quaad. “Ah, D’Quaad, what a fine young prince you’ve become.”

“You honor me, Your Majesty.” The prince bows his head. Humility looks strange on him—that is, for the few seconds it lasts before he smiles. “Of course, the added offer of your daughter’s hand in marriage was the extra motivation I needed to do the job.”

Juno turns just in time to see the princess’s face twist in outrage.

“My what?”

“No one was saving you, Oksana,” the king says. He looks at her with tired irritation.  “I simply made the offer that I thought would be best for-”

“For whom? How could marrying this buffoon possibly be best for anyone in this kingdom?”

“Oksana!

The king’s voice booms, his face contorting with anger that rivals his daughter’s. Then his eyes meet Juno’s for a second. They raise an eyebrow at him, daring him to make his next move.

“We can discuss this at another time,” he says, schooling his features. His face brightens again. “Now, let us turn our attention to our two foreign champions.”

“Hell yeah,” Sylvie says, grinning as she slings her arm around her twin’s shoulders. “What do we get? Food? Riches? Servants to do our bidding?”

If her brazenness bothers the king at all, he doesn’t show it. “Perhaps if you agree with a certain… proposal.”

Juno frowns. “Proposal?”

“Yes. You see, that dragon is one of many dangerous creatures that pose a danger to my kingdom. We are in need of a royal champion or two, who could eliminate such threats in exchange for a place in this castle and all the status that comes with it. And from the way Oksana described your heroics, I’d say you’d fit the position quite well.” 

Juno looks at Sylvie, expecting to find some sort of agreement communicated between them. But Sylvie isn’t looking at Juno. She’s looking straight ahead, mouth open as if ready to accept.

“We’d have to give it some thought,” Juno says.

The king nods. “Yes, of course. In fact, I insist you at least think on it over dinner.” He claps his hands. “Servants! Show our champions to the feast!”

When they’re led to the impressive dining room spread, Sylvie digs in and eats as much as she can handle Juno tries to pace themself to do the same. After all, they don’t know when their next meal will be. Afterward, a servant escorts Juno and Sylvie to their own private guest quarters, and finally, they’re alone.

“Hey, Sylvie,” Juno says once they’ve settled into bed, “you weren’t really thinking of accepting the king’s offer, were you? Because you know we have to go home. We can’t stay here.”

“Says who?” At Juno’s incredulous look, Sylvie says, “No, really. Says who? Who says this isn’t where we belong? Who says we don’t get to be the chosen ones—to be royal champions?”

“We have lives, Sylvie.”

“What lives? The ones where every day is the same? The ones where we spend all our time working toward nothing? What kind of life is that? Why would I ever wanna go back?”

Juno shrinks back, voice soft. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes,” Sylvie says. “I do.”

Her eyes narrow, and Juno holds her stare, until eventually Juno gives up and sighs.

“I don’t think we have to decide anything right away,” they say. “Why don’t we stay another day, get another good meal in, and see how it goes? Then we can decide what to do.”

In the end, Sylvie reluctantly agrees and rolls over to turn her back to Juno, who lets out a sigh of relief. Big fight averted. Peace prevails.

But deep down, Juno knows. Sylvie’s mind is made up. And if she won’t make the decision that’s right for her—for the both of them—then it’s up to Juno to take matters into their own hands.

They wait until Sylvie’s asleep and slip away to find the artifact.

It’s still dark when Sylvie wakes up. There is enough moonlight, however, for her to see the outline of shapes in the room, and the first thing she does is turn over to find the shape of her twin missing from her side. Groaning, Sylvie gets up and ventures into the hallway.

It doesn’t take her long to find Juno listening outside a large door.

“Juno,” Sylvie whispers harshly. “What the hell are you doing?”

Juno looks at her with conviction. “I’m bringing us home.”

Just then, a man’s voice booms from the other side: “There is no one left, Oksana! This is the choice you’ve left yourself with! It’s Prince D’Quaad or no one!” Footsteps come near the hall.

“Hide!” Juno says, pulling Sylvie aside. They duck behind a vase, Sylvie scowling while Juno tries to peek around cautiously. They stay like that until after the king storms out of the room and into another one down the hallway.

Then the sound of crying escapes the room he left.

“Wait,” Sylvie says when Juno approaches the noise. “You’re not seriously stealing the artifact from her now, are you?”

“Of course not,” Juno says. “There’s just… something I need her to know.”

Without any further explanation, they walk over to the open doorway, with Sylvie trailing behind.

“Princess?” they say.

Oksana looks up and straightens. “Oh! It’s you!” she says, wiping her eyes. “I do hope my father didn’t wake you with his- his absolute drivel and his-” She cries and covers her face in her hands.

Juno moves to sit across from her. “Hey,” they say softly.

“I just wanted to find my prince,” Oksana says. “Everyone’s expecting me to, and I thought I’d find someone if I just kept looking. But now…” She sniffs. “Now I think I’d rather rule while unwed. I just don’t know if I could handle it.”

“Princess…” Juno takes Oksana’s hands in theirs. And then Juno says something Sylvie hasn’t heard in years—the words she’s kept close since she was a child. The words her mother gave her that set Sylvie on a path and shook her to her very core.

“You are so much more than what the world wants you to be.”

It was after a particularly mean comment from one of Sylvie’s teachers. Sylvie had never been a very well-behaved or attentive student, so it was expected that none of her teachers would be her biggest fan. For the most part, she’d learned not to care.

Except that day was different. Because that was the first day a teacher told her to be more like Juno.

Sylvie burst into tears the moment her mom asked her how school was, and when she repeated what the teacher had told her, her mother held both her hands and said those words. The words that affirmed her own dreams—expectations be damned—and drove her to teach her own classes so she could be better than the teacher who made her feel so awful that day. Those words helped her become who she is.

Now, one look at Oksana’s face makes it clear that the words mean just as much to her as they did to Sylvie.

The longer Sylvie listens to her and Juno talk—the longer she watches Juno comfort the princess the same way their parents used to comfort them—the more Sylvie realizes where she needs to be.

“Hey, Oksana,” Sylvie says, “if you’re feeling better, I have a favor to ask.”

To her relief, Oksana looks up with a genuine smile. “Yes, of course,” she says. “What can I do for you?”

“The thing is, Juno and I… we kinda have lives we need to figure out too. But to go back there, we’re gonna need to borrow your tiara.”

“AHA!”

At the sudden loud cry, they all turn to find D’Quaad pointing smugly in the doorway. Oksana stands with apprehension.

“I knew it!” D’Quaad says, stepping forward to stand between Oksana and the twins. “I knew you were only after the crown! You’re no champions, you’re just two insolent foreigners, lying to our poor misguided-”

Before he can finish, that “misguided” little princess punches him hard enough to knock him out.

“Nice!” Sylvie says with a grin.

Smiling, Oksana removes the tiara from her head and holds it forward. “For you, my champions.”

“Thank you,” Juno says, accepting it with a bow. “We’ll leave it outside your door.”

“So I suppose this is goodbye?” Oksana looks between the two twins, clearly disappointed.

“Hey,” Sylvie says. She punches Oksana softly on the shoulder, ignoring the sharp look she earns from Juno. “You don’t need us around anymore. You’ve got everything you need to be a badass in your own right. So give ‘em hell out there, yeah?”

After taking a moment to process Sylvie’s encouraging (if slightly vulgar) words, Oksana nods with conviction. With that, the twins step out to let the door to the room close behind them, hoping the next door they’re about to open will be the one that finally takes them home.

[sunnybeanbun]

Ooo thank you for the tag, @riinoaheartilly !

Last song.

Tongue Tied by GROUPLOVE. I was listening to a Summer Indie Playlist!

Last movie.

Kick-Ass. I didn't see it when it first came out, but I remember people praising it? It was a fun movie with some dark-humor take on super heroes. Admittedly we kinda just had it on in the background, but it had its moments and it was alright! 7.5/10

Currently watching.

Started watching Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch from Mercury with my husband! Its cute, and Suletta is a fun character, but so far it feels different from the rest of the series. I personally enjoy it so far!

Currently reading.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It was interesting in the beginning but my eyes are glazing over in the later half lol. I got about 100 or so pages left so I'm gonna tough through it and start something else soon (hopefully).

Currently craving.

Cake! ;-; Or cinnamon rolls. Or cookies.

Last thing I searched for drawing. 

Miwako Sawatari. For my profile drawings of the 13 Sentinel pilots! :)

Three ships.

Honestly-- I haven't been checking out a lot of media lately so I don't have any new ships in my head? But to answer the question: Link & Zelda from BotW/TotK; Claude & F!Byleth from FE3H; [OC] La'tier & [OC] Ohri from FFXIV

Tagging:

@desansen @erikavart @sugarcomatosed

And those who see this post. 👀 If you'd like to do it!