#ea acts like a deer i think

[echosian]

once again aggie dot io

[galedekarios]

gale's early access dialogue transcripts - part 2 b: the loss scene

in early access, gale had two additional major scenes in act i: the deer stew scene and the loss scene, both of which would happen during a long rest at camp.

the scenes in early access usually happened in this order:

-1: first night long rest scene (still in the final game) -2: mirror image scene (still in the final game) -3: deer stew scene (cut content / partially reused in act i) -4: weave scene (still in the final game) -5: loss scene (cut content) -6: tiefling party scene (ea version cut / partially reused in act ii last night alive scene)

you can watch the entire scene here. below you'll find the transcript of the scene itself as well as some additional info / context.

the loss scene revealed more about gale's life before the game, his abilities as a chosen of mystra and as an archwizard, as well as his status and his relationship with mystra. sadly, it was cut and only seems to have survived as (as of now) obsolete code:

at a long rest, gale would have a ! and stand by the fire, trying and failing to cast a spell:

Gale: [Fails to cast a spell] Gale: Khat-Tsjin Deth-Thra! Protag: [Wizard]: That was a failed spell if ever I heard one.  Gale: Failure. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. It’s getting late. I think I'll turn in. Perhaps some sleep will do me good. - Protag [Option 1]: You don't sound very happy there, Gale. Gale: Happiness is like a stray cat; sometimes it seeks you out, sometimes it ignores you. Tonight, I'm ignored. It's getting late. I think I'll turn in. Perhaps some sleep will do me good. - Protag [Option 2]: Is something wrong? Gale: Let's just say not all is right. But that goes for all of us. - Protag [Option 3]: Do you mind? I’d like some peace and quiet Gale: Quiet you can have – peace I can’t guarantee. Especially not peace of mind.

Protag [Wizard]: I didn't recognize your hand gestures. What spell were you trying to cast? Gale: A bygone spell from a bygone age. It doesn't matter. - Protag [Option 1]: They say you should never go to bed angry Gale: Isn’t that advice for couples? The only one I’m angry with is myself. Please – just let it rest. - Protag [Option 2]: Ever the mystery man, aren’t you? Gale: I simply have a lot on my mind. - Protag [Option 3]: Suit yourself. Goodnight. Gale: Goodnight.

Protag [Option 1]: [if Protag intiated Gale's romance during the Weave scene] Come, you know I care about you. I showed you when we shared that spell. Gale: So you did. Very well. -> See below - Protag [Option 2]: [Insight] We shared the Weave the other night. Now share what's on your mind.    Gale: [Failure] Tonight's not a night for sharing. Tonight's a night for regrets. With that I bid you an evening better than my own.  Gale: [Success] -> See below - Protag [Option 1]: [Persuasion] I’m the leader of this party. I need to know what’s going on. Gale: [Success]: Very well. Just now, I was trying to cast a spell I once cast with ease, but I failed. You see, this fire – there was a time that I could make it come alive. That it would take the shape of a dragon and roar in delight. There was a time I could silence a Beholder with a word, and lift a tower from its foundations with a flourish. There was a time I was all but one with the Weave. But no more – a mere shadow of the wizard I used to be. Why? Because I’ve lost. Gale [Failure] You're the leader and I will follow you where you go, not down the path of my own regrets. With that I bid you good night. - Protag [Option 2]: [Intimidation] You will tell me, and you’ll tell me now. Gale: [Failure] I said ‘please’, but that courtesy was a mere formality. What I meant was; you will let it rest. With that I bid you an evening better than my own.  Gale: [Success]: Very well. -> See above

Protag [Option 1]: I don’t understand. What is it that you’ve lost? Gale: I’ve lost… - Protag [Option 2]: Who are you? Gale: I am the man who came after – after having lost... - Protag [Option 3]: If this is meant to be suspenseful, I assure you it’s not. Gale: You don’t understand! I’ve lost… - Protag [Option 4]: It’s all right, you don’t have to tell me. Gale: Thank you. You’re a good friend. I want you to know that  - Protag [Option 5]: [Persuasion]: You can tell me. You can trust me. Gale [Failure]: Trust is not the issue. The issue is that the truth doesn’t matter. Secret or revealed, the outcome is the same.  Gale [Success]: I’ve lost Mystra. I sought to impress her personally. To turn the eye of my muse upon me. To win the favour of a goddess. But I failed, and all I invoked was death and dismissal. My death. Her dismissal. - Protag [Option 6]: [Insight] Go on. Every burden is easier to carry when shared. Gale [Failure]: I’m strong enough. I’ll carry on alone. With that I bid you an evening better than my own. (Die/Dice Roll Fail) Gale: [Sucess] An apt enough observation.  I've... lost... Mystra. I sought to impress her personally. - Protag [Cleric of Mystra]: I'm sorry. I cannot begin to understand being abandoned by the goddess. Gale: Thank you. You're a good friend. I often think of that moment we shared- - Protag [Cleric of Mystra]: When devotion is blind, the goddess loses sight of you. Rightly too. Gale: You pray to the goddess for every spell and every blessing. You devote your life to her – are we truly so different? Then again, if that is how you judge me, there’s little I can do to change your mind. But know that I have this ambition still. First to save myself, and after that, the licence to dream.

Protag [Option 1]: I’m sorry for you. Protag [Option 2]: I don't know what to make of what you've told me, but I sympathise. Gale: Thank you. You’re a good friend.  Gale: [Weave scene wasn't romantic] I want you to know that. I consider myself very lucky to have found you. -> Protag can initiate alternate romance route here -> See below - Gale: [Weave scene was romantic] I often think of that moment we shared together – one under the Weave. I hope you think about it too. / I'm glad to know you think about it too. [end] - Protag [Option 3]: Another fool pays for his arrogance. A tale as old as time. Gale: Arrogance? Ambition, rather. And ambition is a fine thing – until suddenly it no longer is. Then again, if that is how you judge me, there’s little I can do to change your mind. But know that I have this ambition still. First to save myself, and after that, the licence to dream. [end]

the loss scene also offered another way to initiate gale's romance:

Narrator: *You sense a moment of unspoken affection. You want to know where it may lead.*  Gale: I consider myself very lucky to have found you. Protag [Option 1]: I think perhaps we could be more than friends. Gale: Perhaps. - Protag [Option 2]: I consider myself lucky too Gale: Good. Goodnight. And thank you for your patient understanding. / And try not to think too poorly of me. A cat can look at a king. A wizard can look at a goddess.  - Protag [Option 3]: Don’t get carried away imagining feelings that aren’t there. Gale: I see. Say no more. Goodnight. And thank you for your patient understanding. - Protag [Option 4]: You are a good friend too, Gale. Gale: Hold on to that thought. I may just have to remind you before all is said and done. Goodnight. And thank you for your patient understanding. - Protag [Option 5]: Lets not get sentimental, shall we? Gale: Fair enough. Goodnight. And thank you for your patient understanding.

after the loss scene ended, the player-initiated dialogue had several options following it: you were able to initiate the romance on gale's perhaps, you could address the fact that he mentioned that he thinks about the weave scene with the player still, and lastly, you were able to ask how he can still cast if he had lost mystra's favour so.

if you picked the "I think perhaps we could be more than friends." option during the loss scene, you could talk about what exactly he meant with gale after by intiating a conversation with him again:

Protag: When I said we could be more than friends, you answered 'perhaps.' What does that really mean? Gale: If I recall correctly, the Waterdhavian Dictionary of the Common Tongue of Faerun defines it as an adverb that conveys the meaning of 'it may be that', or 'possibly'. Sorry, sometimes I can't help but being quite insufferable. Gale: In seriousness, I’m glad you asked that question. Gale: You see, I'm not a big believer in fate, but I do believe in serendipity. Life is a tempest of events that sometimes we brace against and sometimes we embrace. You are on such event, that soon, I would like to embrace.

you could also follow up with him on the mention of him thinking about the weave scene still:

Protag: You said you think about the moment we shared under the weave. Do you think about it often? Gale: Do you? - Protag [Option 1]: Yes. Gale: So do I. You see. I'm not a big believer in fate, but I do believe in serendipity. Life is a tempest of events that sometimes we brace against and sometimes embrace. You're one such event that one day soon perhaps I'd like to embrace.  - Protag [Option 2]: From time to time.  Gale: So do I. You see. I'm not a big believer in fate, but I do believe in serendipity. Life is a tempest of events that sometimes we brace against and sometimes embrace. You're one such event that one day soon perhaps I'd like to embrace.  - Protag [Option 3]: Not really. Gale: And yet you ask. I do, as a matter of fact.

the follow up for the loss scene would also include this dialogue:

Protag: There's one thing, I don't understand. If Mystra abandoned you, how can you still cast magic? Gale: The Weave is still here. All around us. Inside of us, too. As long as the goddess lives, magic is still a tangible thing for those who know how to touch. I've studied magic for many years and in as many ways, I'm still a more than capable wizard. Gale: It's just that I'm no longer able to perform those feats even archwizards would marvel at. To have one hand at the pulse of divinity. You have to remember that the Weave is a living thing. Both the embodiment and the extension of Mystra herself. Gale: She can give and she can take away. I'm afraid I'm still very much on her naughty list.

anyhow, this wraps the loss scene up.

overall, i'm extremely sad this was cut. i think with minor adjustments this scene would have worked not only to combat the scene disparity amongst the companions, but it also would have fleshed out gale's backstory and character even more!

i hope this was helpful to some of you!

coming up next:

-part 1: the three tadpole dreams -> completed -part 2: major cut scenes: the deer stew scene & the loss scene -> completed -part 3: minor cut scenes: abandoned temple of jergal, failed to save arabella, talking to the paladins of tyr and agreeing to go after karlach, edowin and the tadpole reveal, mayrina giving ethel's wand to her or breaking it, handing astarion over to the gur or defending him, reaching the druid grove, killing lae'zel, reaching the goblin camp & looking for halsin, killing the druids, priestess gut & the brand & the cult of the absolute, dror ragzlin and talking to the dead mind flayer, ogre couple, necromancy of thay, ethel, zhentarim chest, myconid colony -part 4: gale's condition & the way it was treated in early access

taglist: @chainsawmascara, @randomfanner, @tacogoats, @khajiit-necromancer, @gwinharper, @galesenchantedpanties, @swampfaerie, @ardently-queer, @nirraein, @gale-enjoyer, @xiv-wolfram, @kairoswouldnever, @a-psychopathic-dream, @toboldlydammitjim

i thought i'd tag the people i'd seen taking an interest in my original post! if you want to be taken off the taglist, or added, please let me know!

[yanderes-galore]

Hey there :> May I request Evan aka The Trapper from DBD with prompts 11, 23, and 61 from your list? Thx!

Sure! @okchijt helped me out with the plot for this one as none was given ^^

Yandere! Evan MacMillan (The Trapper) Prompts 11, 23, 61

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!"

"You're crying... come a little closer, I'll make it all go away."

"Being alone is worse than you hating me."

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Slight sadism, Blood, Wounds/Gore, Stalking, Trauma, Violence, Angst, Manipulation, Kidnapping technically, Forced relationship.

When it came to The Entity's realm, time was hard to keep track of. It didn't matter if you were a survivor or a killer. Not many could remember specific trials as they only ever had one goal. Slaughter, or survive.

While Evan didn't remember every trial he was apart of, there was one he's always been fond of. It was the trial he met his favorite survivor. He always looked back at it with a warm feeling in his gut even if it was a long time ago.

Evan remembered when he met his favorite survivor caught in a trap. He originally thought of them, thought of you, as the usual prey. However, he wasn't sure why he didn't come and claim his prey.

Instead of claiming you as another victim, he watched you struggle. He watched as you cried out, whimpered, and grunted while prying the spring-loaded metal clamps. Even from a distance he could see the blood pool down onto the grass. You're wounded prey...

Instead, he sees you as a sad wounded animal.

Evan saw you as a weak animal caught in an unfortunate situation. Even when you freed yourself, you never used the medical kit in hand on your wounded leg. You prioritized the team, you wanted to keep them alive even if it was pointless.

Seeing you so selfless made him think that not all of his humanity is dead...

You give those around you hope... even when it's so easy for you to fall victim to a killer.

Ever since Evan saw you in that trial, he never stopped thinking of you. You were always his little obsession, one he always wished to spare. In a land of darkness and demons, you shined like some sort of angelic savior.

He understood you were scared of him. He isn't the worst killer out there yet you still couldn't trust him even if he spared you. He may have to slaughter your team to appease The Entity, yet he tries not to touch you.

Evan found himself falling down a dark hole when it came to you. It felt like he was following a light at the end of a dark tunnel. You're his light, one he wishes to preserve the best he can in a realm such as this.

When it came to you he wanted to spare you of the gore and blood. He didn't want his traps to maul your skin, he didn't want you to bleed. He wanted to be alone with you. He wanted to connect with you without all the fear.

The Entity is a god in this realm. The unknown Entity thrives on the emotions shed in this realm. Its favorite is fear, but then there's the unrequited feelings of Evan...

A new flavor of feast just begging to be discovered.

Killers must perform well to appease The Entity. As a result, they must be encouraged with rewards. The Entity is not blind to Evan's feelings.

He's been problematic in the past, but if given what he really wants, perhaps that can change.

The deed was done in the blink of an eye. You and Evan are sent to The MacMillan Estate to meet. There is no exit, no gate, no hatch... just you and Evan, the killer you fear.

To Evan, a dream...

To you, a nightmare....

As you roam the estate, the moonlight shining upon you... Evan greets you. He sees you freeze like a caught deer and tries to play it casual. His voice is hoarse from the lack of use... but he manages to say his name.

You merely watching try to be less threatening. You watch as he tries to approach you like you're a scared animal. He tries to act like he won't hurt you, like he's never hurt you...

Which you both know is untrue.

You don't easily toss aside the trauma Evan has caused you. For Evan it's easy to excuse, not for you. You remember the hooks, the traps, everything.

Evan tries to reason with you, he points out the fact there's no hooks here. It's just you, him, and a home to call your own between trials. You stare at him in fear as he tries to pull you closer.

"The Entity has rewarded us...." He murmurs towards you as keep away. "You'll see your friends in trials, the rest of your time is with me."

Evan sees your tears and looks within himself for ways to soothe them. You then begin to wail and collapse to the ground. You're trapped, a mere mouse in front of a cat. The Entity has caged you with someone who, in your eyes, is a monster.

For what? Its entertainment?

"You can do this to me...!" You sob. You aren't sure to who, be it Evan or The Entity, but it leaves your mouth nonetheless. "I don't belong here! I belong with the others! Not here! Not with you!"

Despite the pain in his heart, Evan steps closer and watches you. Even now you still think of others. The Trapper fears the other survivors are using you. You're too kind to be with them, you need someone like him.

They don't deserve you like he does...

He'd do anything to keep you happy while they just use you.

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!" Evan growls before removing his mask, grabbing your shoulders to look you in the eye. His voice is threatening, sounding thick and authoritative. You freeze in his arms at the sudden threat. "Only I appreciate you for what you do. I deserve you... I deserve this...."

You sob more at his words, fear crawling into your system. You fear your trials will grow worse with Evan's threat. You feel you've doomed those you've called family in this realm....

Your cries of pain and sorrow make Evan's corrupted heart throb. He feels horrible, forgetting the differences between you completely due to jealousy. He must've scared you with his face too....

"You're crying... come a little closer, I'll make it all go away." Evan offers, shoving you to his chest a little rougher than he intended. He gets to work with rubbing your back and feeling your warmth. You continue to sob yet try to stifle them the best you can. You comply just to keep The Trapper from threatening your friends again.

Evan takes it even if it feels it's just to make him docile. His strong arms hold you to his frame as he digs his face into your hair. He is eerily gentle when soothing you, pulling you onto his lap as he enjoys your embrace.

Minutes pass and Evan hears you talk to yourself. In an attempt to self soothe, you talk to yourself about the campfire. You talk to yourself about your friends. You tell yourself to think of anywhere but here. Evan tries to say soft phrases to help you cope but you keep rambling.

Soon he feels you settle into him amidst your rant. Yet it appears you forgot he's even there as you say you not only hate it here... but you hate him. After that you go rigid in the killer's hold, slowly looking up at Evan who has gone completely silent.

You hiccup... already about to cry again before Evan grasps your chin and raises your gaze to meet his. He's calm, almost understanding. Despite this you take no comfort.

"Being alone is worse than you hating me." Evan softly admits, kissing your forehead as he holds you closer. You slowly process what you've just been through before losing it. You give up, sobbing into his chest as he continues to try and comfort you.

Evan is patient as he listens to your cries and screams. He allows you to vent it all out, believing it will all work itself out. You'll love him eventually as he does you.

Even if not... he has you all to himself now.

The Entity will eat well tonight on this sorrow, too.

[thessalian]

Thess vs The Big Corps, Again

Dear gods, every time I turn around, one of these big corporate jackasses is saying or doing something trying to force "generative AI" into the public consciousness as something positive ... and failing ... and doing it anyway.

The best one so far was Chris Corps, of Amazon, who actually straight-up said that there's not really any acting in video games. Yeah, tell that to Neil Newbon - the guy who did that scene (you know the one, after a very character-defining stabfest moment?) in one take, unscripted. Yeah, tell me AI's going to do something so glorious that the director's going to go, "No, we are not trying this again, we're just getting this lightning in the proverbial bottle and running with it!" I will laugh so hard.

(See also - one of the biggest reasons that SAG-AFTRA is currently on strike.)

Then we had EA at this big investor's conference, talking about how "We already use it, we're going to use more of it, this is what it looks like in use, it's great! It's a tool for our creatives!" ...And then they had someone basically pretending to have AI generate architecture. Which ... feels more like putting a pink slip in the hands of "their creatives" instead of a tool. I know people who do that kind of work and it's a lot more than slapping together a few bits of skyscraper and coming out with something that not even London would allow in its skyline. I may have a thing about the Lloyds Building being the ugliest bit of modern architecture in the world. Not to mention this one building that's largely glass and somewhat curved and they had to stop people parking in certain places on the street outside because on sunny days, the light reflecting off that fucking building would set people's cars on fire. And yeah, I don't think even London's whole avant-garde architecture bullshit of the Gherkin and the Onion and the Shard (... well, okay, the Shard's pretty cool) would have some of the shit AI generates in its skyline. Seeing the "AI assistance" Google puts on search results if you don't take some very specific steps to not have it there (which I have on my PC but not on my phone, so...), I feel like AI would design a building like Tesla designed the cybertruck. It's like ... some games are only really as memorable as they are because of their skybox, and you want to outsource that to a machine? Really?

I cannot begin to express how tired I am of this whole AI thing. Video game companies are just the loudest motherfuckers about the whole thing, same as they seem to have been with NFTs and all that shit. The entire industry is going, "How can we get more money?" So they went to "live services" and subscription services and "recurrent user spending", and that wasn't enough. So they laid a whole bunch of people off (and are still doing so, I am aware) in the usual boom-and-bust cycle that Chris Deering was talking about awhile back when he was whingeing about how no, really, layoffs aren't about corporate greed! The cycle we're talking about is how they lay off a bunch of people to look their quarterly earnings sheets look good, and then have to hire them back to get anything done. Thing is, they always hire fewer than they need and then they get a reputation for crunch and "stress casualties" and all the rest of it. And now they seem to be pushing AI as The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread in the hopes that people will leave them alone and let them replace all those people they don't want to have to pay wages for with a plagiarism-and-climate-crisis machine.

I think they know there'll be a loss of quality. Thing is, I don't think they care. See, they don't really want us to love games. Or movies, come to that. It's what Matt Damon said awhile back - they don't want entertainment to be loved, because things that are loved, we watch (or play, or read, or listen to etc) again and again and again. They want us to consume it and then throw it away to leave our metaphorical decks clear for the next thing they want us to buy.

It's the meme, isn't it. "NO WAGE! ONLY BUY!" This is not sustainable. This kind of thing is entirely terrifying in the context of Texas, where a judge appointed by Trump ruled a labour board as "unconstitutional". We're expected to tolerate any kind of abuse - being overworked, being underpaid, being treated like shit, the whole nine yards - and we're increasingly not being paid enough to live, let alone spend the kind of money these CEOs want us to spend on what they seem to be deliberately making into homogenous forgettable crap so we'll have room in our hearts and minds (and wallets) for The Next Big Thing. It's supposed to be bread and circuses, but both are increasingly too expensive for what we're getting.

Honestly, I don't know what happens next. This will get increasingly unsustainable, because these jackasses in the money seats are convinced that unlimited exponential growth is possible and nothing but the loss of their fortunes will convince them otherwise. But before they lose theirs ... well, they won't lose theirs because a lot of it is probably in an offshore bank account somewhere ... anyway, the people who work to make them their money will suffer long, long before they get so much as inconvenienced. So Chris Deering can bite me about how hard layoffs are for managers.

All that to say that AI is just highlighting the absolute worst of corporate policy, and I hate it. But I point you to an interesting article titled "Challenging the Myths of Generative AI", which might help if you're anything like me and end up in arguments about things like, "using someone's AI voice after their death is ghoulish and gross and I don't care how much you want George Carlin to read you your homework".

[starlitwinter]

XXII

She couldn’t believe her eyes. What she was seeing, the truth laying bare in front of her. With frantic hands she tried to get up, her movements catching Ungoliant attention. Before the monster could jump on the human, a hand ordered her not to and to do what it was supposed to. Nenlissë with panic glanced a last time at her supposed husband before running straight away from the Trees.

In her run, she stumbled into Turko, the elf himself seemed terrified. He wrapped his arms around the human and Nenlissë hugged him back. Chaos surrounded them as all the elves were panicking because of the sudden darkness, the Valar seeming frozen, like deers caught between headlights. The human was frightened, frozen in her cousin arms as they observed the Valar finally act and make Ungoliant leave, Melkor had already flee.

“Are you alright?” Turko finally asked his cousin as he felt her shake in his arms, “Nenlissë, what’s wrong?” He asked, one of his hand reaching to cup her cheek and felt some tears on his palm “Darling, what’s happening? Why are you crying?”

“I’m so sorry” The woman sobbed, “I’m sorry”

Turko was discountenanced by her sudden apologies “Why are you sorry, Lissë? Is it because of the argument between our parents? Don’t worry about that, they got cross a lot of time, they are brother.”

Nenlissë shook her head “No… Turko… It’s Teivel… He…”

Her cousin’s grip on her shoulders tightened, “What have he done. Did he hurt you? Where? When?”

“No, he… Teivel is Melkor, Turko. I saw him.

-What are you talking about? Teivel… is Melkor?

-Yes, yes he is. And he destroyed the light of the Trees with a spider named Ungoliant. It’s his fault. We need… We need to tell the others or-”

“Wait. You knew this was going to happen? You knew?” He cut her off with a frown.

“I-Yes but I couldn’t say anything!” Nenlissë was panicking, trying to cling at her cousin and make him believe her. “Turko, please, you have to believe me… It’s more complicated that it seem to be!”

The elf stared at his cousin before sighing “Alright. I believe you. But you’ll have to explain everything to me later.” He looked around them and saw how the calm was finally arriving, as the elves gathered around the Valar, guided by the stars of Varda.

The two cousins joined back their families, staying close from each other in case something happened. The elves were silent as Yavanna rose and stood upon Ezellohar, she laid her hands upon the Trees, but they were dead and dark, and each branch that she touched broke and fell lifeless at her feet. Dust began to fly around the elves and Valar, as they mourned the death of the Trees. Nenlissë was fixing at Manwë then at Fëanor, knowing anxiously what was going to happen. She took Turko’s hand in hers and squeezed tight and gave him a little smile when he looked down at her.

“Is there a problem, Lissë?” He whispered and she shook her head “Do not worry, Turko. Just… Listen.”

Yavanna had begin to speak “The Light of the Trees has passed away, and lives now only in the Silmarils of Fëanor. Foresighted was he! Even for those who are mightiest under Illuvatar there is some work that they may accomplish once, and once only. The Light of the Trees I brought into being, and within Ea I can do so never again. Yet had I but a little of that light I could recall life to the Trees, ere their roots decay; and then our hurt should be healed, and the malice of Melkor be confounded.”

Then Manwë spoke and said: “Hearest thou, Fëanor son of Finwë, the words of Yavanna? Wilt thou grant what she would ask?”

There was long silence, but Fëanor answered no word. The Valar begin to argue, some wanting for Fëanor to speak up, others wanting to let him some times to think as the decision was important.

Fëanor spoke then, and Nenlissë saw the scene unfold under her eyes, not being able to change anything, knowing how that would doom her family for eternity.

“For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only; and in that deed his heart shall rest. It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart, and I shall be slain; first of all the Eldar in Aman.”

“Not the first,” said Mandos and Fëanor replied “This thing I will not do of free will. But if the Valar will constrain me, then shall I know indeed that Melkor is of their kindred.”

“Thou hast spoken.” replied Mandos. And as Nienna raised to go cry beside the Trees, some elves gasped, glaring at Fëanor, not understanding his refusal to give the Silmarils to the Valar.

Turko looked down at Nenlissë “Did… Did you knew that?” He asked quietly and she nodded before speaking “Turko… I must warn you of something that is going to happen.”

He stared at her, their hands joined together, waiting for the human girl to finish.

“It’s… Melkor. Melkor is… He went to Formenos. He went and slain Finwë before stealing the Silmarils.” She blurted out her words and the elf gasped, letting out her hands. “Are you sure?” He asked and she nodded “Yes, yes I am. Turko. Your father is going to do something terrible. You… You have to try to stop him!”

The elf looked at his father before hugging the human “I’ll try, Lissë. I’ll try. Be careful” He added, placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving her to go to his father and brother’s side.

Nenlissë went back to her own family and before someone could ask her where was Teivel, messengers appeared and told that a blind Darkness came northward, and in the midst walked some power for which there was no name, and the Darkness issued from it. But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. And they told that Melkor had broken the stronghold of Formenos, and taken all the jewels of the Noldor that were hoarded in that place; and the Silmarils were gone.

Fëanor began to curse at the Valar and Nenlissë turned away, not wanting to see what was happening in front of her eyes.

She heard her father try to calm his half-brother before a hand came to rest on her forearm.

“Nenlissë? Are you alright?” It was Finrod, her older brother who was looking at her with worry.

“I messed up, Findo” The human girl whispered “I messed up big.

-What is it?” The elf asked calmly, stroking her forearms in a smoothing manner, drawing the attention of theirs siblings.

“Melkor… Or Morgoth… It’s… It was Teivel.” She confessed with teary eyes. “I’m sorry.”

All four looked at her with stupor. Finally it’s Artanis who spoke first. “Lissë… How… Why did you never told us?”

“I didn’t knew. I swear. I learned it earlier. I saw- I saw him become Melkor.”

The elven siblings shared a look before Finrod wrapped his arms around the girl and their siblings joined in the hug. “It’s okay, Lissë. It’s okay.”

Around them, Fëanor had continued to curse at the Valar. The siblings stayed in a hug, unaware of what happened before their parents reached for them and told them they had to listen. Nenlissë decided to leave, to avoid the mess that would occur so she went to Aclar and stopped, her hand on his muzzle, thinking.

“How about we go on an adventure, huh? Just you and me” The human whispered to her horse.

“An adventure?” A voice rose from behind her, making her turn around.

Turko was there. “You scared me” Nenlissë said with a smile before looking back at where Fëanor was beginning to gather the Noldor around him.

“Why are you here?” She asked her cousin

“I was you leave. Where are you going?” He asked back with a little frown.

“I can’t stay here, Turko. I’m a spy for him even if I don’t want to. He can see through my eyes if he wants to.” She said softly, keeping a smile. “I’m sorry Turko. I wish things were different. But they aren’t.”

Turko stayed silent, looking down before he pulled her in a hug. “I’m sorry too.” The elf mumbled against her hairline. “I’m sorry I wasn’t courageous enough to woo you before him. Maybe… everything would have been different and easier.”

Nenlissë looked up at him, giving him a tender smile. “It’s okay, Turko. Everything will be okay.”

He finally let her go and she mounted her horse. “Go, Celegorm. Rejoin your family” She gave him a last smile before riding off. Up north was her destination, to try to join Middle-Earth.

Turko watched her leave until she was out of sight and went back to the crowd around his father. Before he could join his brothers side, he was stopped by Eärwen.

“Where is Lissë?” She asked him, looking panicked

“She left” He replied “She left to be free.”

Eärwen frowned “Free? But she always been free. We let her do whatever she wanted! We need to go search her!

-She… I think Nenlissë never really felt free, aunt. She got here and even if you let her do as she wanted, Lissë always did things for you, to feel integrated in the family. Then she met Teivel.” The male elf looked away before continuing “Morgoth… must had seen something to use in her. And Nenlissë saw in Teivel a mean to feel as if she belonged here. With us, with elves. And as soon she had fallen in his grasp, her freedom was taken away.” He smiled at the blonde elf before brushing past her and going beside his brothers as his father was, unknowing, dragging their family into doom.

—

On the other side of the sea, two figures were discussing. “Should we kill her?” One asked and the second, the leader shook his head. “No. She still can be useful.”

The first voice seemed a little perplex at the reply. “Doesn’t she hates you after what happened? Will she give you more information willingly?” The second didn’t replied immediately, staring away in the darkness. “She fell for me once. She will again.” He looked back at his servant “Find her. And bring her to me. Alive and unharmed.”

[vixxenfox]

Things I’ve noticed after watching the pilot over and over again

And things I just find amusing

- is it just a coincidence that when Charlie says “I wonder if it could be me” the center angel’s face lights up?

- not important but the “F*ck you heaven!!!” Sign is hilarious

- I hate Valentino with a burning passion, look at him texting Angel

- people drop from the sky to get to hell, more importantly without clothes which means each flippin person has to get specially made clothes for their weird demon bodies like sir pentious needs clothes to fit his snake body and stuff... idk just interesting

- the place beside the “we couldn’t come up with a catchy slogan but we sell hardcore drugs” building is called “begg slut”

- imagine dying, going to hell, and realize that you’re an egg

- egg #23 is the best

-one of the eggs like does a weird walk thing with their hand on sir pentious’ tail

-Cherri Bomb’s clothing is so asymmetrical and I love it like she is literally wearing a high-heel boot on one leg and like a tiny shoe on the other

- really just poor Tom he’s great

- Vaggie says “it’s all highlighted” but none of what we are shown is highlighted

- Also read the parts of the list we can see, it’s adorable

- “I don’t touch the gays” I find Katie great

- Jeffrey Dahmer obviously (Also the sticky note saying “who approved this show?)

- When Charlie scans the crowd another tv head just says ‘words’

-The person Vaggie punches isn’t in the crowd

- I love Razzle and Dazzle TvT

- Those two owl demons in Inside Every Demon is a Rainbow are most definitely references to Timber

- CHARLIE YOU JUST KILLED A PUPPY

- I love that there is a boo section

- Tom watches Angel Dust’s stuff confirmed

- I love the sonic spring noise when Angel launches an egg into the air

- Sir Pentious probably has a son that might be in hell so look out for another snake

- Do you see how happy Cherri Bomb is near Angel Dust, best friends! :D

- Aawww Angel pushes Cherri out of the way

- Angel didn’t just sprout a third set of arms, he also pulled an entire gun out of his body sooo... what’s with that

- I think you would just stop existing if you died in hell Angel

- That creepy fan has a body pillow of Angel

- Charlie takes off her pink... jacket(?) in one scene and the next she has it on again (you see her wearing pink in the closeup)

- Lilith is an absent mother

- There goes everyone’s fanon about how Lucifer acts (why couldn’t we get a nice stupid one T~T)

- I think they changed Alastor’s knock but I’m too lazy to check

- They fixed Alastor’s disappearing monocle

- I like that the mic has an eye sometimes it’s cool (how many “sentient-ish” things does Alastor’s have, first the shadow and now this)

- Alastor can teleport at least short distances and he appears as the shadow for a second

- They really make Alastor a very animated character and I love it

- (we knew this already but) Alastor clearly puts himself on a different level than the other sinners, he thinks of himself as justified and better (he doesn’t say “us sinners” he says “loathsome sinners” w/o him in the picture)

- Valentino, Rosie, Lilith (obviously), the girl from the porn studio, and the tv head dude (Vox, thanks @lavipsi) are all some of hell’s “strongest demons”

- TV head (Vox) is in the middle and top so he must be very powerful and behind him there’s also a green and red demon that reminds me of the wolf/fox demon from the bar scene

- Husk is very blocked out by Vaggie’s face but he’s clearly in the picture with Alastor (it looks like a fight but I don’t want to assume) like we know they know each other and stuff but it’s just weird that Husk is in the art when Vaggie says he’s “a dangerous Blahblah” and has entire speech of how dangerous he is

- I love the symbols that float up when Charlie isn’t looking and then the squeak as he turns to a more “innocent-like” Alastor when Charlie looks back

- Alastor rolls his eyes at Charlie when she says “No trickster, voodoo strings attached.”

- Talked about this before but the way his smile gets wider when Charlie says “for as long as you like”

- Why does Charlie have at least 2 posters about alcohol up if she didn’t want it in her hotel?

- I love how Niffty comes in and her bug-like noise when she appears

- You can see their reflection in Niffty’s eye during the closeup and Charlie is too adorable in it, Angel and Vaggie look ready to kick her out XD

- Everybody’s reactions to Niffty rambling on is beautiful, just watch them go from defensive to confused

- Alastor just following Niffty’s every movement as she zooms around

- Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t immediately see Husk as a cat? I honestly thought he was a dog for a while because he looks sort of like a Husky and his name is Husk, which got me thinking about the contradictions with Alastor not liking dogs... then I realized Husk was a cat.

- “are you sh!tt!ng me” “no I don’t think so” and “you think I’m just some clown” “..maybe” are some of my favorite lines

- Was I just supposed to know that on the bottom of Alastor’s boots (shoes? Hooves?) there were deer prints?

- So did Alastor really just teleport two sinners and basically copy part of the bar Husk was at and it’s just going to be there forever? Like you can see where the bar’s like territory ends because it’s walls are green while the hotel’s is red

- No like seriously Alastor you can copy a part of a bar but you can’t make the walls match the rest of the hotel’s walls?

- Husk seems slightly taller than Alastor

- Also Husk also has yellow teeth and if we go by Alastor’s teeth are yellow because he’s a cannibal, Husk might have been a cannibal when he was alive

- Husk clearly knows Alastor, he’s not afraid of him (to an extent, he was still a little shaken by the... Sir Pentious thing). Husk obviously voices his complaints without restraint and isn’t afraid of Alastor hurting him (I guess), and even when he was shaken up he was still the second person to follow Alastor back to the hotel.

- The entire relationship between Husk and Alastor is very intriguing to me! Husk doesn’t fear Alastor, Alastor called him a friend (obviously another jab at Husk but still), and they were in the same picture when Vaggie talked about Alastor being dangerous. I’m guessing they were probably friends once, maybe the picture is them both fighting another demon or fighting each other in like a fall-out.

- Vaggie is very exaggerated when she’s complaining about the bar and it’s beautiful

- Husk in the background as a still image just chugging booze is beautiful

-Angel’s angry face as Vaggie complains about the bar just before he leaves to lunge at her is beautiful and my favorite face

- 27:46 Alastor flipping FLUTTERS HIS EYES AT VAGGIE and you can hear a small sound effect of it and I just thought that was beautiful

- At the same moment Charlie is just rubbing her cheeks and it’s cute

- Right before Alastor starts singing, he throws some red... fire in the air and Charlie follows it with her eyes and she just so awed by it

- The fireplace in the background has an eye and a top hat above it and it just reminds me of Sir Pentious

- Alastor’s song has so many Friends on the Other Side vibes and I love it

- There are so many Christian symbols (and Satanic symbols) in the background of this song and I just don’t want to spend that time looking at each one :l

- Alastor’s shadow is also here further nailing the Friend on the Other Side vibe (not to mention the other shadows and voodoo doll things)

- Poor Niffty, she should never get hurt

- When Sir Pentious is talking and it shows the chibi characters, Charlie, Angel, and Niffty are looking at Alastor and when it zooms in for a split second Angel’s face is the most innocent bab ever

- There’s a building in the background with (again) one eye and a top hat, there’s also a cat building right next to it

- You can see heaven as a planet with a halo...

- There’s also a sun(?) or moon(?) or planet(?) with a pentagram on it

- I know that Egg Boi #OUCH is just a joke, but what if after 666, Sir Pentious just started giving them stupid names like that?

- Again, religious symbols float around Alastor that I’m not going to look into because I’ve taken so much time T_T

- Niffty is actually unfazed by Alastor summoning tentacles and destroying Sir Pentious’ ship. Really she has a normal smile and face and she immediately follows Alastor when he walks back to the hotel

- Angel is still flirting with Husk

- Charlie reassuring Vaggie is adorable

- Are we not going to talk about the carousel and gigantic steam boat that’s just protruding from the hotel

- I also love how the windows at the top of skull designs <3

- There’s an eye on the top of the building and the sign of Happy/Hazbin Hotel could also look like a top hate (why are there so many one-eyed top hats like Sir Pentious’...?)

- Stay tuned TM

- Not from me but, Alastor changes the name to Hazbin Hotel and Hazbin means something that was great before but is terrible now or something that is meaningless

- So Alastor liking terrible jokes is now canon? The dad joke thing wasn’t just a stream thing, it’s actually canon?

- Alastor actually has a red ‘X’ on his forehead, you can see it right after he destroys Sir Pentious’ ship

- The art in the credits shows Cherri Bomb having a tattoo

- I would like to talk a little about the design that’s in the background during the credits. So in the middle is an apple that’s being held by two sharp hands, there are three snakes coming out of it with only one snake fully out but still seems to have originated from the apple. The snake that’s completely out is on the top and has some designs around it that emphasize it, making it look more like a king (the devil, duh). The other two snakes are going down (probably referencing Adam and Eve maybe? Even though they also seem evil I just think of Adam and Eve.) Under them is another snake head. There are two sets of eyes around the top snake, one set has a line going down the middle of each eye like a scar while the bottom set has eyelashes. Even though the bottom set looks more “girly”, it reminds me of Lucifer because of the dots under them. If you want to grasp at straws the complete bottom snake’s tongue sort of looks like the bottom part of the symbol of Lucifer. The three snakes that clearly originate from the apple in the middle can also look like “Three snakes and one charm” if you squint. The symbol above the top snake looks like the infinity symbol combined with the cross, but it’s not the leviathan cross, so maybe just eternal... crucifixion?

- The smoke coming from the pit that Alastor made has souls in it

- I think #23 is depressed because he really wants to be shot... and he was just sitting there next to a bunch of dead hims

- Vivziepop said on a stream something about Lucifer being “generally goofy, but it depends on his voice” or something like that, please correct me if I’m completely wrong. This makes me things that Lucifer is going to have multiple voice actors.

-The Loading Crew “Everything We Know About Hazbin Hotel” brings up a point that it seems like the only things that can kill demons and sinners are the Exterminators’ weapons which are sometimes left behind that demons scavenge, Vaggie also appears to have one. I recommend watching his video, it’s very quick but also brings up points I haven’t addressed. 

And yeah, that’s all for now! ^_^ comment if you have something else to add or think I should change something

[chronicallyhaughty]

I just love being with you

@ricky-toffee​ WELP. This... took a while. Ironically this was mainly because I fell in love with the prompt, lol. But here, have almost 3k words of me loving demons loving each other.

[Genyatta, AO3, Ko-fi]

———————————————

The plot of land is small, but it has everything Zenyatta needs. The little orchard he tends barely qualifies for the name, being more a copse of apple trees, but the apples they produce have an unusual sweetness. His blatant interest in the apples the moment Ingrid offered him one to try when he first came to look at the house must have been what convinced the Lindholms to allow him to purchase the house.

Like most of the other houses on the surrounding islands, the cottage Zenyatta has called home for the past three years is a deep red with bright white corners, and simple black shingles cover the roof. With help from his neighbours, he has renovated it piece by piece until it is very much his own.

It is a one floor building with an attic best suited for storage instead of people, but Zenyatta has considered preparing the space for year-round habitation. There is a brick chimney for the open fireplace in the living room – that would help keep the attic warm in the colder months, as it does for the bedroom – and the room is traditionally furnished with sheepskins and wooden sofas that double as additional storage.

The back of the fireplace juts into the bedroom, helping the radiators keep the whole house warm during the colder months. The solar panels on the roof provide enough power for lights and even hot water for the shower, in moderation. In the winter months he boils water on the kitchen wood stove for the dishes and laundry, and walks or skates across the ice to shower at the Lindholm’s house.

The island is small, just under ten acres, and pine trees take up most of it. He has a small dock and a rowboat with a motor that he rarely bothers to install, much less use. It is not a long trip over to his neighbours, after all, and he enjoys the exercise. Beside the house there is a root cellar, a garden shed with an open section for firewood, and a hammock he has set up between two of the sturdier apple trees. The wildflowers and rose bushes, strawberries and raspberries thrive, and the floor of the pine forest, small as it is, is covered in bilberries and lingonberries.

He has placed a little fox statue by the door, for protection and good luck.

This particular day has been spent picking berries in the forest, and as afternoon turns to evening he’s just putting on a pot of coffee to go with the bilberry pie he baked, when there is a knock on the door.

Now, a knock on the door wouldn’t be alarming for most people, but, well. Zenyatta happens to be the only occupant on this island. The only visitors he usually receives are the Lindholms, and they usually call ahead, or at the very least announce their presence with the engine on their skiff.

There has been no rumble of an engine tonight.

The knock comes again, and Zenyatta hums to himself, “’Tis some visitor, nothing more,” and goes to open the door.

Beyond the door stands a man. Perhaps. Many minute details about this man tell Zenyatta that there is more to him than what meets the untrained eye, like the way he holds himself, the way he quickly glances over the hall before finally settling on Zenyatta.

“Can I help you?” Zenyatta asks regardless, because he has manners.

“I saw the light on, decided to come say hello.” The man smiles winningly at him. For a second he glances down to the dock where only his own boat lies at rest, considers calling out the absurdity of that statement, but, then again… Zenyatta smiles back, enjoying the swiftly disguised surprise on the other’s face.

“Well, do come in. I just put on some coffee, in case of an unexpected visit. How fortuitous!”

Should the man prove troublesome, Zenyatta is confident he can handle it. Should he bring no trouble, well, then he will have made a new friend.

“Sugar? Milk?” Zenyatta checks the oven. “Pie?”

At that, the man, who had been casting his eyes about Zenyatta’s home with interest, visibly perks up and focuses on the kitchen.

“Yes! To all three. Please,” tacked on almost as an afterthought. Zenyatta doesn’t mind, letting the man admire the cornflower blue cupboards as he goes about fetching another cup, plate, and dessert fork.

“I believe that in our excitement we forgot to make introductions,” he remarks as he puts on oven mitts and carefully extracts the pie. “I am Zenyatta. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Genji, and likewise. Man, that smells amazing.” Genji is suddenly nearly right on top of Zenyatta, looking over his shoulder at the pie. Zenyatta hadn’t even heard him move. He gestures at the plates next to the pie tin.

“Guests first.”

—————

“There’s something about you,” Genji says through a mouthful of bilberry pie. It is nice to have his cooking appreciated. “You are far from home, I think.”

“And you are not?” Zenyatta retorts, and Genji laughs, not answering. A true enigma.

Together, they manage to demolish half the pie in between hours of conversation, until Zenyatta glances outside to find it pitch black.

“Oh dear, it has gotten so late already. Can you find your way in the dark?” Genji begins to say something but cuts himself off when Zenyatta continues. “Or perhaps it would be safer for you to spend the night?”

“Well, well…” he leers, and then, “Hey! Safer? I’ll have you know that you’re the one who’d be safer if I spent the night!”

“Be that as it may, I will prepare a place for you to sleep, then,” Zenyatta laughs, and again at Genji’s exaggerated pout when he realises that this place won’t be Zenyatta’s bed.

He quickly gathers bedclothes and extra sweatpants for his guest, forgoing a shirt as none will fit. He keeps a mattress inside the storage compartment of one of the wooden couches, and easily sets it up with the linen and pillow and duvet on the living room floor. Genji shamelessly changes right there in the living room, but Zenyatta only laughs. His enthusiasm certainly is charming.

“Good night, Genji,” he says at the door, smiling down at the man wrapped up before the fireplace.

“Night, Zen,” Genji murmurs. The door closes softly between them, and Zenyatta meets the eyes of the little jade fox figurine on his dresser.

It doesn’t move, of course. It is only jade. But it still reassures him that the night will pass peacefully.

—————

“I swear I heard a scream in the night,” Genji says at breakfast. He’s certainly putting away cheese toast like he’s unbothered by it.

“It might have been a deer or a fox. Their calls can sound eerie if you haven’t heard them before.”

“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it was a ghost.” Genji grins at him, and Zenyatta can’t help but laugh.

After breakfast, they go for a walk around the little island, Genji making faces at the sour lingonberries and threatening to throw Zenyatta into the sea when he laughs at him. They get back just in time for Zenyatta to hear the Lindholm’s outboard engine start up.

Genji loses some of his good humor as he helps Zenyatta fill two baskets with jars of apple jam from the root cellar, and plops down into the hammock as Brigitte berths.

By the time Zenyatta has helped her fasten the skiff and asked how her family is doing, Genji is on his phone, playing some game by the sound of it. Brigitte startles when she spots him.

“Brigitte, this is Genji.”

“Oh, um. Hello!”

Zenyatta can practically see the cogs turning in her head, how there’s only Zenyatta’s little boat at the dock beside her family’s skiff, how any visitor reasonably would have to pass by the grocery and mechanic shop her family runs, but this man definitely hasn’t – at least one of the many Lindholm children would have noticed a boat coming or going, and they surely would have made a ruckus.

Genji doesn’t even bother to look up from his phone when he says, “yo.”

She shoots Zenyatta a curious look, to which he can only shrug. He honestly still isn’t sure how Genji got here, either.

“Well, I won’t intrude too long,” she says, easily picking up the two baskets full of apple jam, heavy though they are.

“Good,” Genji mutters, loud enough to be heard. Zenyatta stiffens.

“Be safe, Brigitte. And let Ingrid know that the roses she gave me seem to be coming along wonderfully,” Zenyatta says, louder than intended, as he accompanies her to the dock, keeping the skiff steady as she gets on with her cargo. Brigitte gives him a sympathetic smile and a cheery tack! before she cranks the outboard engine awake on the second pull and expertly navigates the little boat back to the larger island.

It takes some doing to irritate Zenyatta, but even he has his limits.

“Finally,” Genji grumbles.

“That was unnecessary.”

“Her visiting? Yeah.”

“Your rudeness.”

At this Genji deigns to look up from his phone, clearly startled. Zenyatta takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly.

“Do as you please, I suppose.” Zenyatta puts his sunhat back on. Trimming the beautiful roses Brigitte’s mother so kindly shared with him earlier this year sounds like an excellent activity to focus the mind and calm it down.

Zenyatta is almost embarrassed at his outburst. While Genji certainly has acted a bit spoiled, Zenyatta still feels somewhat betrayed. He’s known Brigitte for three years, for goodness sake, and Genji for mere hours. Why would he act like this? As though he is entitled to all of Zenyatta’s time and attention. Bizarre.

He busies himself with checking over the vibrantly pink roses climbing the lattice by the kitchen window, childishly ignoring Genji while his temper is still simmering. There is no need to react when he’s like this. He will calm down and they will discuss what happened. In a while.

He loses himself in gardening, finding almost meditative calm in the work, until a strange shadow passes over his flowers, breaking his concentration. He looks up to find Genji on the roof, for some reason. Once he notices Zenyatta’s eyes on him he easily jumps down, landing heavily but rising unharmed.

“I, uh. I fixed the shingles. Some of them looked like they were about to fall off.”

He’s rubbing the back of his neck, head bowed and eyes elusive. Zenyatta politely doesn’t mention the abnormally deep grooves Genji left when he jumped down.

“Thank you, that was very kind.”

“I’m sorry,” he bursts out, looking like it confuses him a little bit to say it.

“You do not need to repay me, not for the food nor the bed, and while I appreciate the apology, I am not the one who was slighted,” Zenyatta says, meaningfully.

“I know,” Genji grumbles, but he’s fighting a smile. Like a puppy, he’s excited to get approval.

“But, if you’re bored, you can always help tend the strawberries.”

“Sure! What do I do?”

—————

“Why don’t you just buy food? This seems like a lot of work,” Genji interrupts as Zenyatta is explaining how to recognise a weed. Not rudely, per se, more out of genuine interest in the answer.

“It is rewarding work. And besides, someone has to do it somewhere.”

“Doesn’t have to be you,” Genji shrugs. Zenyatta gets the sense that whoever Genji is, or was, many things have been handed to him on a silver platter.

“I enjoy the work. It is strenuous at times, but helping something grow? That is a wonderful thing.” Zenyatta is happy to explain. Genji looks thoughtful, and pays close attention to the rest of Zenyatta’s instructions.

There is something deeply endearing about Genji’s intense concentration as he shuffles around in the dirt, muttering the name of each plant and weed to himself as he checks one and removes the other. Zenyatta can’t help but smile as he watches Genji nurture, in slightly too small dungarees that Zenyatta isn’t even sure where he got. Maybe Ingrid? They look almost comedic with how short in the legs they are, and they stretch to a worrying degree over Genji’s thighs. Yes, quite the tight fit…

Genji swears loud and sudden, slapping at a mosquito, and Zenyatta rips his gaze from his houseguest’s shapely behind before he’s caught looking.

“Man, that bug would have regretted everything if it had gotten any of my blood,” Genji laughs, turning his head to grin up at Zenyatta. Zenyatta makes a split second decision.

“Why?” he asks.

Genji blinks up at him, opening his mouth, then closing it again. Zenyatta looks back at him evenly.

When no words seem immediately forthcoming, he raises an eyebrow.

“What gave me away?” Genji asks, and Zenyatta has to slap a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing at him.

“You literally just implied– oh, Genji,” he does laugh a little, he can’t help it. Genji looks so put out by Zenyatta having figured him out, even a little bit. “You show up out of nowhere, at a very unlikely location, eat like a horse–”

“Hey!”

“–and expect me not to figure out that something is going on?”

“In my defense, most people don’t even want to consider the possibility of… supernatural things.” Genji flaps a hand, indicating said supernatural things.

“You’re not wrong,” Zenyatta allows. Genji gets to his feet, clasps his hands, unclasps them, goes to put them into his pockets before realising it’s too tight a fit, instead leaving his hands to rest limp on his thighs. The very picture of nervousness.

“I don’t mind,” Zenyatta continues belatedly. “That you are… whatever you are.”

“You don’t even know what, exactly, I am. I’m, Zen, I’m not… a good creature.”

“Arbitrary.” Zenyatta surprises both of them with the sharp word. “Good is an act, not a state of being. You have done nothing but good things here.”

“But I…”

“Even humans have spats from time to time. It is how you react to the disagreement that truly defines you.” Zenyatta softens. “You apologised. That says more about your character than your classification does.”

A beat passes.

“You’re right.” Genji nods to himself, then again, more determined. “Hey, Zen. Wanna see something cool?”

Zenyatta makes a gesture as if to say, the floor is yours, and Genji grins, boyish and excited to show off.

Then he flicks his pants open, and drops them.

Before Zenyatta can react to that, Genji’s now boxer and t-shirt clad frame starts to change. His already muscular form grows even more imposing, fabric stretching to the point of near tearing, and his skin darkens to a mild greyish color, decorated by red markings. Horns in that same dull red sprout from his forehead, and his teeth lengthen to fangs. He grows at least thirty centimetres taller.

Transformation complete, he cracks his neck, practically oozing self-confidence.

“Like what you see?” he asks, flirtation even more evident than previously.

Zenyatta looks him over. He does like what he sees. And now that he knows what Genji is – an oni, unless he’s forgotten everything his mother ever taught him – well, is there any harm in indulging?

Genji leans in, towering over Zenyatta in this form, grin decidedly shit eating.

“Well?”

Zenyatta hums, contemplative, before smiling back.

“Well, show me what you’ve got.”

—————

Zenyatta sits up properly and stretches with a groan. He certainly tries to stay active and fit, but during the cold winter months his options are limited and some of his musculature tends to slip. It is always a bit of work to build it up again in the warmer months. But he seems to have managed adequately this year.

Genji is breathing heavy, face turned to the side as he’s on his front. The pillow is torn, likely thanks to Genji’s fangs and claws. Zenyatta lets the purple bruises littering that grey tinted neck and shoulders soothe any irritation he may have felt at that.

As he rises, suddenly starving, the oni whines pathetically, rubbing his face against what remains of the ripped pillow.

“Zenya, I can’t get up.” Zenyatta laughs at him and finds his underwear. Perseverance in the face of opposition is a virtue.

The fire in the stove is only embers, but they rekindle easily enough under Zenyatta’s ministrations. Zenyatta is chopping vegetables for an omelet when Genji staggers into the kitchen, gloriously naked.

“You’re a demon,” he groans in greeting, rubbing his face and electing to lean against the kitchen table rather than sit down on a chair. His words have no bite, rather the opposite, a wonderment and admiration reflected in his gaze when he removes his hand.

“You’re realising this only now?” Zenyatta teases, waving the wooden hilt of his knife at Genji, showing off yet another fox carving.

Genji blinks at it. Then blinks again, twice, in rapid succession. Zenyatta laughs, delighted.

“Oh! You hadn’t!”

“You–!” Genji gapes at him like a fish, and he’s still attractive. Then he throws his head back in a laugh. “Oh, I really should have, shouldn’t I, trickster?”

Zenyatta only grins, sharp and vulpine.

———————————————

[AO3, Ko-fi]

[lameblake]

The 100 Ask Game

I was tagged by @foreverandalwayscrysis​ ♥

1. What Station on the Ark would you be from?  Go-Sci because of the political aspect? Or maybe Agro because I could grow stuff and be very Monty-minded? 

2. What would you get arrested for on the Ark? Either protesting poor treatment or making a clumsy mistake and wasting a ton of oxygen or something idk

3. Would you take off your wristband when you landed on the ground? I wouldn’t want to, but s1 Bellamy would scare the hell out of me, so I probably would despite myself

4. What would the necklace Finn would make for you look like? (Clarke: deer/Raven: a raven duh..) An elephant

5. If you could resurrect any MINOR character who would it be? Wells for sure 6. Create a squad of 5 characters to go on missions with. Who are they? Bellamy, Clarke, Indra, Murphy, Emori

7. What Grounder Clan would you belong to? Floukru, Louwoda Klion Kru, or Trikru 

8. What would your name be in Trigedasleng? Alinya, maybe they’d pronounce the last syllable like ‘ya’ instead of ‘ea’ too?

9. Thoughts on Finn? Some people hate him, and others love him, so I’m curious. BAD HAIR.

10. Be honest. How willing would you have been to take the chip without knowing all the horrible things it does? I would do it to save people.

11. What character do you relate to most? Clarke; my love

12. What character do you like the least? Echo...sorry, not sorry. Really been struggling with Abby and Kane in s5 too....

13. Describe your delinquent outfit. (Would you wear something like Murphy’s jacket with the spikey red shoulder patch or have a trademark like Jasper’s goggles? Be creative, yet practical)  I think I’d have a signature beanie tbh and a jacket that made me look badass and skinny jeans (idc if thats not practical)

14. Favorite type of mutant animal? The butterflies!

15. What would your job be on the Ark? Researcher

16. Would you have willingly pumped Ontari’s heart if Abby asked? I’d see if anyone else could do it, like....I’d make sure I was the ONLY option, but I’d do it....unfortunately

17. If Lexa wasn’t Heda, but she was still alive, then who would have made the best commander? Clarke or Indra

18. How would you act if you ate the hallucinogenic nuts like Jasper and Monty?  I’d get even more quiet than usual. I’d just sit and stare at nothing

19. How would you have dealt with Charlotte’s crime? A more John Murphy approach or Bellamy Blake approach?  Bellamy’s approach, definitely

20. Who should have been the Chancellor, if anyone?  Diyoza (jk) no one

21. Would you have been on Pike’s side like Bellamy or on Kane’s side? Or Clarke in Polis?  Kane’s

22. Mount Weather had a lot of modern commodities. (example: Maya’s iPod) What is the one thing you would snatch while there?  Is laptop an option? id at least like to use it for typing

23. What would your Grounder tattoos look like? Hairstyle? War paint?  I’d have delicate tattoos up and down my arms, intense eye makeup and long hair with braids

24. Favorite quote?  “Screw fear, I’m telling my own damn story.”

25. If all of the characters were in the Hunger Games, who would have the best shot at winning?  Any grounder tbh, but Bellamy, Clarke, or Diyoza could have a shot

26. Least favorite ship? Favorite canon ship? Favorite non-canon ship? NOT INCLUDING CL OR BC OR BE

Favorite canon ship: Memori  Least favorite canon ship besides Becho: Linctavia? I can’t get over how he kidnapped her?? Favorite non-canon ship: Murven 

27. A song that should be included in the next season? If there had to be another guest star like Shawn Mendes on the show, who would you want to make a cameo?  I don’t know about song (im overwhelmed with options), but it would be fun if someone from teen wolf made a cameo as someone on sanctum (because jr)

28. What would you do if you were stuck in the bunker with Murphy for all that time?  Same as him.

29. You’re an extra that gets killed off. How do you die?  I go out a hero, trying (hopefully succeeding) to save others

30. A character you’d like to learn more about and get flashbacks of?  Diyoza, Jordan, Emori

31. A character you’d bang?  All of them....oops.

32. Would you stay in the Bunker? Go up to Space? Or live on your own in Eden? I’d live on the ring

33. In the Bunker, would you follow Octavia? What would you do to pass the time underground?  I would because I had no other options, but also I might feel like I owed it to her for saving us. I would keep my head down and try to get work done.

34. What crime would you commit in the Bunker that lands you in the fighting pits?  Rejecting something cruel and unusual that Octavia decreed.

35. Up in Space, who would you bond with first? Who would be the most difficult for you to get along with?  Realistically, I’d bond with Harper first, then Monty by association, then Bellamy - I’d seperately bond with Emori and idk how I’d fare with the other three honestly

36. How long do you think you would last on Earth by yourself? Years, honestly. I’m practically a hermit anyway.

37. When the Eligius ship lands what do you do?  Pretend no one’s home

38. Favorite Eligius character? Least favorite?  Love: Diyoza || Hate: McCreary

39. Would you Spacewalk?  If it wouldn’t break the rules

40. Would you prefer to eat Windshield Bugs, Space Algae, or Bunker Meat?  Algae (im laughing so hard at ‘bunker meat’)

41. Would you start a war for the last spot of green on earth? What would your solution be to avoid it?  Lol no. I’d employ people smarter than me to figure it out

42. Would you rather dig out flesh-eating worms or stick thumb drives into bullet holes?  Ugh...the bullet holes one...begrudgingly

43. Are you willing to poison your sister for the Traitor Who You Love? What would you do to stop Octavia? Yeah. I’d do that

44. Would you go to sleep in cryo or stay awake like Marper?  I would be in cryosleep as long as possible, babey

45. Who are you waking up first to explore the new planet?  Bellamy and Clarke--thats it

Do you want to do this? You’re tagged!

[uci-fanfic-requests]

uhh how about a standard naruto au?? like replacing the main characters with the escorts

Admin Notes: Recently, I heard that there’s asequel to Naruto! But I feel like I have to catch up on the old series if Iwant to start a new. Anyways, I’m laughing to myself about the escorts doingthe ninja run! –Admin Hirahara

In the quiet village hidden in the leaves, Rokkaku was halfburied in things he had to do. As the Hokkage of the Hidden Leaf Village, itwas supposed to be his job to oversee that the village prospered and missionswere carried out to assist those who were allied with them. However, he hadtaken a break momentarily to see how things were going with the young ninjas intraining, and somehow, when he returned, Kirika and Ayako must have brought himmore paperwork to do. At this point, he was never getting out of the room.

While he tirelessly worked to see which missions would bebest suited to be finished first, he looked upon one that he thought was easyenough for someone he knew to take care of. A guarding mission should be notrouble for a particular squad of three kids, and so with that, he asked forSaitou to come to his office so he could deliver the assignment.

Saitou, one of the best jounin in the village, looked overthe report, and promised to make sure he guided his students so that they couldcomplete this assignment. When he informed Kinoshita, Saeki, and Kirishima ofthe task, the three were very excited about the news. It would be their firstmission, after all.

“Lucky…” Hirahara moped when he heard the news. “We don’tget to do anything fun except train.” He, Tagami, and Tanizaki were from adifferent team, all under Kirika’s teaching. Of course, the mother like jouninalmost never left the village (since she helped the Hokkage), and thus, neitherdid her students. Kinoshita promised to tell them all about what it was like,and somehow Hirahara coaxed him into bringing him something back.

With their goodbyes for now said, Saitou took the kids offto the gate of the Hidden Leaf Village, where they expected to see the personthey were guiding. From the reports, Saitou already knew that it would be amedicine maker from the village hidden in the mist, but to his surprise, he sawa very young boy waiting for them. He had originally judged the person to beolder, and quite frankly, this was a big shock.

“Are you waiting for someone else?” Saitou asked, just toconfirm this mint eyed boy wasn’t just someone’s apprentice. However, the boyshook his head. “You’re the medicine maker?” He nervously nodded his head.

“Oh? We’re escorting you?” Kinoshita asked, smiling andextending his hand. “I’m Kinoshita. This is Saeki and Kirishima. We’re Team 8.”Saeki and Kirishima also waved hello to the boy. He seemed very nervous andjumpy, but he shook Kinoshita’s hand none the less.

“I’m… M-Matsumoto,” the boy smiled, although it was a rathertimid one.

“Why is it that we’re escorting you, anyways?” Saeki asked,not meaning it in a rude way. Usually, they wouldn’t have to act as bodyguardsor anything unless the person was in great danger, which he supposed explainedthe jumpy personality. Matsumoto looked around, but seeing that it was just thefive of them, he sighed and pulled out a scroll.

“I came to this village to study medicine under the Doctorhere,” he explained, showing them the seal on the scroll. “He gave me this totake back to the Hidden Mist Village.” From the looks of it, Saitou coulddetermine that it was a very valuable scroll, probably containing informationon remedies that their rivals did not know. From the level of the seal, itwould probably take a very skilled ninja to open. Whatever information was inthere truly was a treasure; he was a little surprised to think that the Doctorwould have let it go.

“Well, if we spend our time chatting here, we’ll never leavefrom the front gate.” Saitou smiled, patting the kids along. “Come on, it’s athree days trip to the Hidden Mist Village.”

As the group continued further and further from theirvillage, the kids talked amongst themselves while Saitou kept a lookout for anypotential dangers that might be around. Kirishima was telling Matsumoto howthere was no need to worry, because their teacher was the best of the best.Saitou couldn’t help overhear the compliment and chuckle.

“Aren’t you forgetting I’m teaching the best team, as well?”He pitched in, surprising the three. All in all, the mood was high, and Saitoucouldn’t see this going bad any time soon. If they were lucky, they wouldn’thave any trouble the whole length of the journey. After all, thinking about itlogically, no one really knew what Matsumoto had, nor where he was taking it.

The group camped out in the forest when nightfall came.Matsumoto seemed very comfortable with the other kids, and Saitou couldn’t helpbut be happy about this. They took turns going to sleep, even though the slateeyed jounin insisted he was okay to keep watch on his own. In a way, though,the kids also wanted to take some responsibility on this mission, and theyinsisted that if Saitou was going to be in good shape to defend Matsumoto froman enemy attack, then he needed to sleep as well.

The next day, the journey continued to be smooth. They groupleft the forest that hid their Village from anyone’s sight, and soon came uponthe mountain that stood as the entrance for the Hidden Mist Village. Accordingto Matsumoto, after they climbed up the mountain, a great waterfall would bejust beyond, which broke down at the base into mist. That, he said, was wherehis village was. Since there was no point in starting the climb up a mountainwith no clear resting spots, the group decided that that should be all they dotoday, and should focus on finding things like food and water.

Saeki decided to take Matsumoto to go find a stream, wherethey could fill their water bottles again. Kirishima decided he was going tosee if he could catch some food, and Kinoshita said he would set up camp.Saitou, feeling uneasy now that they were almost at the village, decided tokeep watch. While the kids were off doing their own thing, Saitou definitelysensed someone not to far off from where they were setting up camp.

Quietly, he snuck behind some rock formations, trying to geta better view of his sensed threat. As he got closer to the stream where Saekiand Matsumoto were, he noticed two suspicious figures behind some large stones,looking like they were lying in wait. “Well, that’s no good,” Saitou smirked,using a hand seal to cast his genjutsu. His eyes flared red as he did, aneffect, he supposed, of the jutsu. Suddenly, the two suspicious men startedswatting around their heads, even though there was clearly nothing thereattacking them. The sound startled Saeki, and he quickly pushed Matsumotobehind him as he drew a kunai.

“It’s just me,” Saitou called, coming out from behind hishiding place. The other two also ran from their hiding place, panting andsweating like they’d seen a nightmare. “It seems like two unfortunate spieshave been caught.” He smiled, turning back to Saeki. “What do you think weshould do with them?”

“They look like… Sound Ninjas,” Saeki noted their headbands.“I’d say they were here to steal Matsumoto’s scroll.” The two finally seemed torecover whatever illusion they saw, and now furious, one drew a kunai whileanother one got ready to cast a jutsu. However, before he finished, Saitoueasily jumped down and whispered something in his ear.

Whatever was said, caused the man to freeze up, much to hispartner’s shock. However, the partner charged Saeki and Matsumoto, easilythinking he could overpower a couple of kids. First casting his hand seal,Saeki threw up one hand. He caught the man’s arm, and whispered something underhis breath. Then, Saeki pushed the man back with the force of a bulldozer.However, he recovered quickly and tried to attack again, only, he realized hecouldn’t move his arm. When he looked at it, he realized that it was slowlystarting to rot away.

“Sorry,” Saeki smiled, pointing at the man’s arm. “I cursedit with my jujutsu. You don’t have any feeling moving through there, do you?”He walked closer, lifting his kunai over his head. “If you’re here to steal thescroll, then you might as well be gone.”

When Saitou was done taking care of the first enemy, heturned back to see that Saeki had easily finished off the other man. Matsumotohad apparently hid himself in the stream, making a pretty good shadow clone ofhimself. “Are they gone?” He asked nervously, popping his head out of thewater.

“They’re gone,” Saeki reassured, wiping some blood off hischeek and smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

“It looks like word travels pretty fast,” Saitou sighed,patting both kids on the back. “By the looks of it, the Sound Village has wordthat one of our precious informational scrolls is wandering around close tohere. For now, let’s head back to camp.”

The three walked back to where Kinoshita had set up camp,and Kirishima had already returned, apparently with a deer in tow. He’d‘caught’ it with a trap, and cut it up so it would cook easier. Saitouexplained to the two of them that they were most likely to encounter moreninjas along the way, so it was better to be safe than sorry for the night.Hearing that, Kinoshita reached into his pouch and pulled out his seals,placing them all around the camp.

With a few hand seals, he easily secured the area with hisbarrier jutsu. “We should be good for the next few hours, Saitou,” he waved,coming back to the campfire. “As long as no one leaves while this is up, wedon’t have to worry about attackers at night.” The group ended up sleepingsoundly that night, although Saitou decided it was better for him to stayawake. As expected, it seemed that someone did try to attack them in themiddle of the night, but Kinoshita’s jutsu was far more powerful than anythingthe attacker could pull. Really, it’s only weakness was that it could be easilybroken from the inside.

The next morning, Saitou warned the four kids of the singleenemy that had tried to come at night, and for everyone to stay on high alert.He reassured Matsumoto, though, that they would keep him well protected untilthey saw him inside the Hidden Mist Village. They carefully climbed up the sideof the mountain, and as the sun set behind them, Matsumoto happily exclaimedthat he could see the entrance to his village.

“It’s just behind that waterfall,” he exclaimed, waving overthe others to see. “I can’t wait to get there and start working with the informationin this scroll.” The group began walking over towards the waterfall, Saitouthinking that things would go rather smoothly from here. As he thought this,though, his senses told him otherwise. He almost walked straight into the pathof a flying suriken, and he instinctively grabbed for one of his own and threwit back. There was the sound of a clank, like it was lodged in something, butfrom the looks of it, he’d missed the target.

“Tsk, he’s back,” Saitou squinted, unable to see the personin question. He must have had a very good disguise on. However, soon from thesame direction, another folly of suriken was launched at the group. AlthoughSaitou was about to deflect them all, it was actually Kirishima who stepped in,cutting the shurikens in half with his sword.

“I can handle this one,” he said, looking over in thedirection of where the attack came from. “You can’t see him, so you can’t useyour genjutsu, right?” Kirishima bit down on his thumb, drawing blood andsplashing it across the length of his blade. When he swung it again, threelarge blades of wind flew through the air, towards the hidden enemy. The soundsof rocks being slashed and broken could be heard, followed by a surprised yell.

With the ninja exposed, Saitou could use his genjutsu onhim, his eyes flashing red. The man suddenly became afraid, and whatever it wasthat he feared must have chased after him. He started running, but tripped downthe mountain instead. The group didn’t wait to find out what happened to him.They hurried towards the base of the waterfall, hoping to find the gates forthe Hidden Mist Village. Soon enough, Matsumoto recognized the symbol enscribedon one of the stones.

“It’s here!” Matsumoto happily chimed, running through thewaterfall. When the others followed behind him, they were greeted with thescene of a bustling village, very different from the barren mountain they justcame from. “This is my village,” he smiled, gesturing.

With the mission concluded, the three kids said goodbye totheir new friend, telling him he could come visit the Hidden Leaf Villagewhenever he wanted. With all’s well that ends well, Saitou decided to rewardhis students for the successful assignment, and treated them all to ramen whenthey returned. He made a note to tell Rokkaku that these kids would definitelybe able to handle any missions in the future, and looked forward to seeing themgrow more.