#except for tabi

[kindheartedgummybears]

the girlys are fighting again :(

[logicalloony]

I really am so happy that so many people liked my silly psychonaut magma doodles. I had a lot of fun drawing them, figuring out colors and shapes, and making them fit the art style. It makes my tism brain happy

[alex-dontknow]

heuehudheudhehfuegfkehfkwgjr going feral

me + @k1rameki 💥💥💥💥

[izvmimi]

cw: selfship-coded. sappy. first kiss. isekai elements referenced if you pay attention. aged-up characters to early 20s. reader is part of the corps however not from time period nor country. love triangle.

Tanjiro is exactly where you expect him to be when you find yourself unable to turn in for the night, slipping your feet into tabi slippers, and finding the courtyard where he trains.

You’re no longer at the Ubuyashiki Estate these days but at the Butterfly Mansion, a welcome reprise from the rest of the Hashira with the subset of your comrades you’re most comfortable with - your best friends, in the same predicament as you, slumber in their own respective bedrooms. You can imagine that one has slipped into the room with Genya at some point in the night, and the other is probably asleep, her own gentleman (gentle really only with her and perhaps his pet beetle) caller having sent word that he’d be visiting in the morning. The Butterfly Mansion is truly a beautiful, restful place compared to the bustle of the estate but your heart has been aflutter ever since you came here.

You hate to admit it, but Kanao gets under your skin. 

For a moment, as from afar you watch Tanjiro practice his strike for what may very well be the thousandth time that night, you stand transfixed, wondering if it is worth it to break his concentration to tell him what’s been on your mind. After all, perhaps all this for him it’s something silly and inconsequential, something you’ve only built up in your mind. The draw to him may not be something real even, and even if it were, you are not destined to stay in this land or even this time period.

Whether or not you like him doesn’t matter. Whether or not you love him is moot. You can’t stay. Knowing how he feels about the situation will not serve to clear the muddy waters, plus you have never been one to draw unnecessary love triangles, anyway. 

Before you can let your own misgivings overtake you and turn tail, Tanjiro spots you from afar.

He calls your name loudly, one last strike before his sword is sheathed, and set by the trunk of the nearest cherry blossom tree. He’s fast, and before you know it, he’s by you, grinning widely as he does when he’s excited, despite the exhaustion evident in the very marrow of his bones, communicated by the sheen of sweat overlying tense, overworked muscles. 

“You’re up,” he says, and you try to come up with the best way to organize your thoughts. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asks, carefully. He’s moving back to where he’s left his sword, but this time he’s taken your hand gently, pulling you along as one does a small child. He has the tendency to do this, reach out to you without considering it first, still unable to understand the effect his touch has on you. He hasn’t picked up on the fact that you let only him and your closest friends touch you casually, and you wonder how he would take it if he realized.

Has he realized yet how special he is to you? 

Your mouth opens then closes as he unsheathes his sword again, and puts himself back in stance, throwing a glance at you to make sure you’re out of striking distance.

“Is it okay if I keep going? I assume you want to talk, but I’m not done. I can still listen, though.”

You nod then look around. Part of you is surprised Kanao isn’t out here, watching him with loving steady eyes, a mind that is as unreadable as her feelings are obvious. You can’t tell if she sees you as a threat or not, or if she sees you at all. But she’s nice. And you are nice. 

That’s all you are to each other and this arrangement is what you wish it could remain. 

Regardless, Aoi’s words have unsettled you.

I know how you feel and I’ve felt that way, but Kanao needs him.

Just thinking about how she practically accosted you, while well-meaning, terribly abrasive, you can feel your teeth clench. 

You haven’t done anything wrong except be yourself. You don’t know how to control the fact that he gravitates towards you. You haven’t tried to seduce him; you understand the roles of girl code, that she was there first, that she loved him first, that she was by his side when he was comatose, when he was fighting, when he was becoming what he is now, and you have no right and yet-

“Talk to me.” 

Tanjiro pauses, and he’s looking at you again, eyes washing over you in the moonlight as though they’re looking for any pain he can assuage. It hurts how he can care about you so deeply, like the most attentive of lovers, when all you’re fated for is a short-lived friendship. You have to remind yourself constantly that he does this for everyone, he loves everyone this tenderly, and thus let your heart stop racing, but there’s not much you can do when all you can think of is the way your lips met just days ago.

It wasn’t a kiss. Kisses are for people who love each other. Kisses are for him and Kanao. He is not for you, nothing is for you, everything is for Kanao.

“Kanao is in love with you,” you blurt out, and immediately regret it.

You can see his body tense, and then he breathes out slowly. You watch him move, and you can feel the night chill suddenly intensify, your arms wrapping around yourself for warmth but for comfort. Your body is trembling. Why did you say that? Everyone knows. It’s not a secret that they’ve been fated for each other for the past several years, long before you tumbled into this world that doesn’t in any way belong to you.

“I know.”

Heat rushes through your body. It’s the worst answer he could have possibly given you, polite and patronizing at once. He’s watching you carefully now, eyes matching your gaze, his hands running through his hair.

“I’m glad you know,” you finally convince yourself to say, trying to prevent your voice from cracking. Heartstrings taut to snapping, you try desperately to come up with a way to change the subject. You don’t care to hear about how easily he returns her feelings or any other part of their love story, whatever you’re not privy to.

“We’re supposed to head out in a couple of days, maybe you shouldn’t tire yourself out like this.” you offer. You turn your head from him, your hand on the tree trunk before you, pretending that the ridges of the bark are of particular interest to you now, although it’s mainly to catch a few errant tears threatening to escape your lash line. “When do you sleep?”

“__.”

He calls your name again, softer this time. Your heart sinks into your stomach. You can’t discuss this anymore.

“The soup Kanzaki-san made today was quite delicious, don’t you think? I have to ask for the recipe.”

There is a pause that is far too loud, and you’re now frozen stiff, holding back tears. You know he will not let you move on, but the idea of rejection in the middle of the night is just too much for you to bear.

Lovesick. Truly lovesick you are at this venture in time, and the fantasy has to last just a little bit longer. It’s all you have going for you in this awful situation, the dream that even if you’re trapped here slaying monsters for an indeterminate length of time, away from family and the technology you took for granted, perhaps he can smile and warm you like the sun. 

“I think Inosuke may have said my name right today, Tanjiro, isn’t that so funny?!”

You laugh, but it’s coming out disingenuous, a sound not unlike a barking sick cough.

“___,” he says again, his voice even softer now, pleading with you to manage your own font of emotions. 

It’s too much. 

You turn quickly and whisper something about being tired and needing to leave, and the moment you walk past him, he grips your wrist again, stopping you in your tracks.

Your heart thumps.

“I don’t love her.”

Your head shakes automatically even if it’s what you wanted so desperately to hear. “I think you should,” you say in the smallest of whispers.

Your hand pulls but Tanjiro doesn’t let go, instead stepping around to face you. Your head is turned downwards but gently, he takes your chin and raises it up to his face. You look away, but you’re biting your lip and the tears are starting to well up again. Your heart is racing out of control.

This isn’t what you want, but it is. You must still be dreaming, never having left the security of your bed. 

“Why are you crying?” 

Concern dripping in his voice, he’s thumbing away tears that you’re too embarrassed to explain.

“I…” you trail off. There’s no excuse, really.

“What do you want me to tell you, __?” Tanjiro asks. It’s a harsh question but it’s said with firm kindness; the gentle glow in his crimson eyes are patient still.

That you love me as much as I do you, you think, then dispel. Preposterous.

“I’m not sure,” you lie. He frowns, the immediately detected deceit disappointing him. He lets go of your chin, then takes both of your hands in his. Your stomach turns as he raises them to his lips.

“Kanao is important to me-” he starts. You wince and pull away, but he holds on tighter, “but you too are important. Very much so.”

“She loves you-” you start, and he quickly rebuts, “I love you.”

And this stuns you to silence.

“You…”

“Yes, you.”

A sharp inhale as your body recovers from sobs racks your body. Tanjiro pulls your knuckles to his lips and kisses, and you find your breathing erratic again.

“Tanjiro,” you start, and he pulls your face closer.

“I’ve loved you for a really long time,” he says, and the adoration in his eyes makes it so clearly true, sparkling in the moonlight. Your mind’s eye spins memories like films, every time he’s been too close, every time he’s been too careful, every time he’s wanted to be with you above everyone else.

“Are you sure?” you ask. It’s the lamest of things that you can ask but you have to hear it from him, the man who loves everything and everyone, that would choose anything before himself. 

“As sure as my blade.”

Your lips meet in a kiss that dizzies you before you can find his last statement cheesy. When the haze clears, you think of Aoi again, you see Kanao in your mind’s eye watching Tanjiro, butterflies in her hair.

“What about Kanao? She needs you.”

“I need you.”

He kisses you again, and this time you’ve lost all your reservations, perhaps too easily, your arms reaching around his neck to deepen the kiss.  You’ve never needed to tell him you loved him because it was written all over your face. It’s a part you’ve hated about yourself, that no matter how badly you’ve tried to limit your emotions, all comes spilling out through your words and actions. He might have known before you even did, your penchant for devotion spilling into every word you spoke to him, smiles you couldn’t quite temper.

Your friends saw it, Aoi saw it, Kanao saw it, the heavens above must have seen it.

Most importantly, he saw it. 

The tears remain free-flowing, now cathartic. You breathe in his love as he continues to kiss you, your lips, your neck craned, your back now supported by the tree that knows your poorly-kept secret.

“Tanjiro, I love you,” you admit finally, your noses just inches apart, breathless.

“I know,” he whispers. He smiles and kisses your neck. “And I’m so glad.”

[scn-thedog]

another pvpciv thought dump, except now it's focused on character design waow...

evbo has lamb/sheep features . peace and love on planet earth!! the more times he dies the more it becomes noticeable (to symbolize how he's dehumanized and treated like a farm animal. smiley face) so like in ep1 he only has lamb ears and itty bitty tiny horns. yes i know lambs don't have horns because they're baby sheep shh shhh

tabi is this towering figure in contrast to everything. she sticks out as a character because she doesn't fall back on violence immediately like others do and because she's looking for the truth and all that jazz, so i think her being like WAY taller than everyone else in the cast would be a nice touch that hints at this. red would be prominent on her design like not just in clothes and all red i like .. a motif.. because despite not being immediately violent. she's still out for blood in one way or another. also contrasts great with evbo's titular green

princezam is the only one who has sharp teeth. like i'm talking razor sharp. he doen't smile with his teeth because then his true nature or whatever is visible to the eye so that's why he's perpetually smiling like this -> :] . i don't know how to translate his design into drawing so i just went the boring unoriginal route and made him human ...uhrm anyways. he wears a LOT of jewerly (being a prince and all) but more specifically he wears a lot of rubies and gold. a lot of religious imagery like crosses are incorporated into my design for him too but most prominent features is his jewerly and the red/gold duo. the gold hints at the golden sword level and the red at the blood on his hands. wears a lot of white too to hint at trying to mask his actions as good. thumbs up

uhm i'll post more later maybe

[mashup-writing]

Power Naps; Donna Beneviento (Resident Lover)

-------------------------------------------------------

Requested? ❌

"Mananatili, sa iyong tabi mag damag."

"To stay, by your side for as long as can be."

Summary: Visiting your girlfriend, Professor!Donna in her office only to find her fast asleep. You try to wake her up, but she turns the tables and has you falling asleep with her on the sofa. It can't be comfortable, but with her trench coat draped over your shoulders you can't find it in yourself to fight the sleepiness off.

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: None

Resident Lover Masterlist

----------------------٩(◕‿◕｡)۶-----------------------

A sigh leaves your lips as you spare another glance at your watch. You've spent the ast fifteen minutes knocking at the door to Donna's office in intervals but each attempt is greeted with silence. You're never impatient when it comes to your girlfriend, but right now your feet are starting to ache from how you've spent the past fifteen minutes standing outside the door and almost your whole day running around campus to help finalize your club's upcoming event.

You decide to knock once more, giving it another five minutes before you finally knock for the last time and open the door without an invitation- Letting yourself in before immediately shutting the door behind you.

The sight of Donna's office never fails to stop you in your tracks, you haven't been in here a lot but it's stark contrast to how the interior of her house looks like never ceases to surprise you. The walls are bland, and the shelves are empty except for a few volumes of botanical and toxicology texts. A singular file drawer stands behind her seat and the desk is barren except for the tests she's grading, a desk lamp, and a pen holder with a total of three pens in them.

It's said that the way an interior of a personal space is designed can tell you a lot about a person.

You take a moment to wonder why your girlfriend has her walls up so high whenever she's on campus.

You squint for a moment in the dim lighting, and it hits you that maybe your girlfriend wasn't giving you permission to enter her office simply because she wasn't currently in it. You wonder where she could be, you're sure that she's definitely done with her lectures at this hour- And she hasn't gone home yet because she had after all promised that she would drive you back to your dorm today once you were done with your respective responsibilities.

Your questioning thoughts don't cease until after you've looked to your side to find Donna laying on he back on her office sofa, her coat draped over her front- The iconic black trench coat, treated as a makeshift blanket. The sight almost makes you smile, but you take note of how Donna's using the arm rest as a pillow and you frown instead. That's gotta hurt.

You walk over to her side, kneeling on the carpeted floor before you gently brush her bangs away to place a gentle kiss on her forehead and on her scar separately.

"Mahal, wake up. It's almost 7 PM."

Donna's always been a light sleeper, so all it took was a gentle shake to her shoulder for her to start stirring in her slumber. She takes a deep breath before turning her head to face you, a gentle smile taking hold of her lips once her eyes adjust to the dimness of the room and she spots you by her side.

"Hello, Tesoro."

Donna takes your hand in hers and wastes no time in placing a kiss to the back of it. You feel her soft smile slowly shift into a grin when you chuckle at her actions.

"It's time to go home Donna, that couch can't be comfortable at all."

You move your hand to gently rest on her cheek, using your thumb to stroke skin in a gentle sweeping motion. Donna hums, her chest rises with a deep intake of air and her eyes flutter closed again.

"You are correct Tesoro. However, I believe I know of an immediate solution to this issue."

You're unable to get a word out before Donna moves quickly in a flash of black and grey, the next thing you know is that you're lying down on Donna and you're being readjusted so that the two of you can comfortably fit on the couch. A laugh escapes you as your girlfriend peppers your temple and your forehead in kisses.

Struggling against her grip was futile. So you choose to shift until you're comfortable before eventually calming down and just basking in how right it feels to be held in the Botanist's arms.

"We'll regret this when we wake up, I swear-"

Donna laughs without showing her teeth, eyes still remaining closed as if snatching you from the floor and onto the couch with her took no effort at all. She only shushes you before she stats to trace patterns on your back.

"Mia cara flore, that? Is a problem for future us. Right now I simply wish to share the silence and the serenity with you by my immediate side."

She places a lingering kiss to your lips, and you concede to her arguement with a contented hum before pulling away from her and settling down once again. You could never find it in your heart to deny Donna anything she asks for after all.

"A problem for future us. Agreed."

Donna adjusts her coat to cover your frame, the coat now acting as a blanket for the both of you to the best that it can as the ticking of the clock on her office wall lulls you both to sleep eventually.

----------------------٩(◕‿◕｡)۶-----------------------

Translations:

Mahal - Literally translates to "Love" formally it is a word for the emotion, but it is also used as a pet name for a significant other.

Mia cara flore - My darling flower

[the-somwthing]

Okay real pvp civ spoilers time, me asking the real questions:

WHY TF CAN’T AXES BE IMMORTAL???

Like, I understand the netherite thing. It makes sense that only swords can achieve netherite immortality, since the other options are Bows, Shields, and Tridents, which can’t be upgraded to netherite (or at all)…

EXCEPT AXES CAN??? SO WTF. WHAT’S GOING ON HERE??? Surely it’s not an oversight… surely there’s something going on here… but what???

Also. My questions about the Shield Civilization are not only still here but actually there’s even MORE. Are they in EVERY civilization??? I love to imagine they got chased out of Axe Civilization due to well. If you know anything about PvP you would know why.

But like are the shields there for the same reason the other weapons are there? To farm the swords? And they’re just not hiding it like the others? I don’t understand mannnn. I don’t think the guard friend has any real idea that Everyone In The World Wants Swords Farmed. Unless he’s also secretly working with like Tabi. But I feel like if we’re supposed to be suspicious of him, there wouldn’t be that random part where Evbo talks to him and finds out he’s just starting his self discovery or whatever.

Last thing I want to say: “why is there a shield in his bed” was so funny

[itzharplikealways]

We know that Evbo talks and monologues (It's literally mentioned by other people and confirmed by Evbo himself).

WHO is he talking to? Of course, the first theory would be to himself, like any teenager has done alone in their room (Except Evbo does it everywhere for whatever reason). But my second theory would be him talking to the audience (if we count the 4th wall breaks as completely canon).

Either way, we don't see or hear anyone else talking to themselves. Not Tabi, not PrinceZam or the guard. Evbo is the only one (if you don't count the time Parrot muttered when he gained Evbo's message from the video machine).

So why is Evbo so different from EVERYONE ELSE?

What I'm trying to get at, is that the whole IDEA of Evbo monologuing brings sooooo many questions and theories...

I hope Evbo (the actual youtuber) addresses it in more detail. I don't care if it's behind scenes or the actual plot. I NEED TO KNOW.

[sunandflame]

Flame and Water, Chapter 12

Ship & Trope: Kyojuro x Fem!Reader (Water Pillars Tsuguko) / Slowburn

Warnings: canon-typical violence / fluff / mention of trauma and fire

Word Count: 1880 Words

pinterest board of Flame and Water

crossposted on AO3

Masterlist of Flame and Water

The old lady's statements opened many questions for Kyojuro. Even when he said goodbye to her, he brooded over her words, but came to no conclusion. He was confused and a little hurt. Didn't you two trust each other that day so you kept something that important from him? Why were you hiding it? He thought that you were both close friends. He couldn't answer the question and would ask you about it later when you were feeling better. First, he had to talk to his father. He needed to know what had happened back then.

He entered the room where his father spent the most of his time and didn’t see him lying on his futon for the first time in years. Usually, he was either drinking and laying sideways while reading in that book but now he sat on the engawa, and his eyes were staring into the distance. Respectful as Kyojuro was, he sat down on the tatami mat to keep a distance and just as he was about to open his mouth, Shinjuro interrupted him.

"Is your girlfriend okay?"

Kyojuro had not expected this question. She was not his girlfriend. In general, he hadn't expected his father to ask about anyone's wellbeing, but it looked like he was sober. "Yes, she's unconscious, but-"

"And her burns?"

Kyojuro's eyes widened at this statement, and it hit him like a slap. Even his father knew that crucial detail about you. His gaze dropped as he clenched his fists on his knees. "The old lady next door treated her. She said she will be fine and should wake up in the next hour or so. She also told me that Y/N has several old burns. Something you seem to know about, father."

Shinjuro turned his head sideways to give him a silent look, before he turned ahead again and sighed. "15 years ago, there was a fire demon who attacked a village. His eye bore the sign Lower Rank One. A powerful opponent who managed to spread a firestorm and turned countless people into demons. It was something I had never seen in my lifetime as a slayer."

Kyojuro swallowed and listened to his father's words. Lower Moon One? He remembered the fight he had against Lower Moon Two to become a Hashira and how he had terrorized a whole city with his bombs.

Shinjuro continued. "Your girlfriend looked at me the same way back then, full of fear and terror. Unfortunately, she witnessed how I beheaded her parents while protecting her. They had been turned into demons who wanted to eat their own daughter. I was able to decapitate the Lower Moon One… but at what cost? There was no one left to save. He had killed everyone without exception or turned them into demons which forced me to kill them all. Only she survived, but she ran away from me like I was the monster… I found her buried under a heap of rubble and wounded with the worst burns I have ever seen on a human being. Her chances of survival were slim and yet I wanted to save at least one person in this tragedy. The scale of the catastrophe was great, the village burned beyond recognition of its existence. Just as she bore her scars from it, I too have one from this fiery hell."

Shinjuro turned his foot around so Kyojuro could see the burned soles. "The demon slayer uniform protected me, the tabi socks didn't and yet I wished that I would be the one who's skin burned and not that of a little child. I can understand if she doesn't want to talk about it. It must have traumatized her badly. Even I-"

Suddenly a stifled sob sounded behind the shoji door. Father and son immediately turned their heads and knew that you had been listening to them the whole time behind the thin paper walls.

You had woken up alone and scared in a room with a headache. A penetrating herbal smell immediately hit your nose. An earlier memory from your childhood had come alive again and you knew immediately that you were covered with a burn ointment. A similar one that they used on you as a child. One quick look under your hakama and you saw the reddened skin. Your leg couldn't get any uglier than it already is, you thought dryly. You stepped out of the room and looked around for Kyojuro and couldn't see him until you heard his voice.

You stood there petrified and listened to the complete story of Shinjuro and your village. So that's why your memories were patchy without even knowing. There was simply no one left to tell you about it because they were all dead and your parents- Your breath caught and the memory of them coming at you with contorted faces came back with a bang. They- they tried to eat you! You hadn't even noticed how the tears flowed down your cheeks when a choked sob escaped you and you immediately covered your mouth with your hand. You looked in the direction of the shoji door in fear and hurried away with quick steps. You didn't want to be seen by them - not in this state - and entered the first room that you saw.

You dropped to the ground and cried uncontrollably. A heavy burden seemed to have been lifted from your shoulders and the unrestrained grief over the death of your family and friends overcame you. You finally knew the complete truth without knowing you were living a lie. You were not alone because you were avoided, but because you were brutally robbed of every person you ever knew.

With your head on your knees, you succumbed to your grief when you suddenly felt a presence next to you. You looked up with tear-stained eyes right into golden-red hues. Kyojuro's gaze contained no pity and yet they were filled with sadness and empathy for you. "Y/N..." He took your hand in his and pulled you up. "You are not alone in this. I won't allow that, so share your pain with me." If Kyojuro could, he would take all your pain to never see you cry again.

More tears gathered in your eyes until you couldn't see anything anymore. "K-Kyojuro-" With a sob, you threw yourself into his arms. He immediately wrapped his arms around you tightly, holding you in a fierce embrace.

You cried into the crook of his neck. It took a while for you to calm down, but that didn't matter, Kyojuro was here to hold you. His tight warm hug, it was like he gathered all the broken and burned pieces and made you whole again. Without realizing you nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck and took in his scent which sent you into a light buzz. His scent was warm like the ray of sunshine with an earthy undertone. It was so comforting for your senses that you wanted to nuzzle your nose more until you realized what you were about to do, but you didn't pull immediately away. Kyojuro’s grip on your yukata was so tight, his face buried also into your neck. It seemed like as he didn’t want let go of you, like he had to make sure you were still whole.

It took a while for the two of you to loosen your grip on each other. Very slowly you moved your heads apart but only to look deep into each other's eyes. Still in his embrace, you gazed into his beautiful golden red hues, which always radiated such a passionate optimism, but now seemed to have a gleam you had never seen in him before. A pleasant tingling spread through you, and you felt the looming tension between you. Without realizing your faces came closer until your lips met.

It was soft and chaste, fleeting - the touch of his lips hotter than you thought in the short moment you kissed. The butterflies in your stomach fluttered excitedly when you saw a hint of blush on his cheeks.

"I- apologize!"

"For what?"

"For touching you in such an inappropriate way!" His face was now completely red, and you could not help but start to giggle.

"I think it’s called a kiss, Kyojuro."

Mesmerized, he stared at your lips while you giggled. "Yeah, and I think I am going to do it again..."

He was about to bend down to give you another kiss when you quickly placed your finger on his lips. "W-Wait! What if someone just barges in here?" You looked around with a slight panic.

You heard his deep chuckle. "That is not going to happen, since this is my room."

“Oh,” was the only thing that left your lips. You looked around wide-eyed and indeed, it looked like it belonged to him. You just went into the next available room in such a hurry that you didn't even notice it, but on closer inspection it was obvious. It included the usual things a room needed. A futon to sleep, a chest of drawers and a picture of his family. But there was one thing- no two things that stood out. One was a small chest that seemed to hold writing stuff and the other was a hanging scroll where "protection" was written in a calligraphy. It was above his futon. The origin didn’t seem to be himself.

“Do you like it?”

You nodded and started to blush madly when you realized how intimate this situation actually was. You were here alone in Kyojuro’s room as the said man was still holding you.

He laughed his boisterous laugh, and you felt his laughter vibrate all over your body. Your blush was just so adorable that he couldn’t hold himself back and kissed your cheek. Another silent moment passed between you when you just looked into each other's eyes and then he suddenly shouted. “Y/N!” His face was red like a tomato. “I love you and I would be happy if you could become my girlfriend!”

His confession was bold and like a burning fire. He literally was the Flame Pillar as a slayer and in his private time. You smiled as you pulled him in for another kiss, holding his face in your hands. It was not a long and passionate kiss as this was the first one you ever shared in your life, that was followed by several others. Each of them was short and soft, feather light like the butterflies that were fluttering in your stomach. Each kiss had him sigh in delight, between each kiss you whispered how you loved him too, how much you wanted to be his, until you rested your head on his chest with closed eyes, and heard the strong and steady beat of his heart. You heard how excited he was that the feeling was mutual.

He noticed your exhaustion of the day and laid down on his futon, pulling you close in a comfortable and comforting embrace. You nuzzled your face into his chest, the symbol of protection over both of your heads, and you indeed felt protected for the first time in your life in the embrace of a Flame.

🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥🌊 🔥

Big thanks to my lovely friend @desi-the-blue-eyed-kakushi for beta reading and editing❤️) As some might have realized that the story is close to the end. Chapter 13 will be the last and then there comes an epilog. I hope you will stay tuned till the epilog. And again I am open for discussions and critique. All likes, reblogs and replies are highly appreciated!

Taglist:

@krillfromsky @kingmultiverse404 @deepressed @nelissecrectplace @yomoya-girl @theycallmemrsbarnes @roninishere @beelzmunchkin @kyojurismo @stuckinthewrongworld @lynnw @love-me-satoru @felix99999l @noarawriteszr @strawberrymm @rye-flower @demonslayeranimex @kittenssss-blog-blog @hanatsuki-hime @kxthxrinx3180 @thatw3ird0 @lovely-nayiq @annie-napier @cole-silas @inonezu-808 @witchy-scribblings @drowsydoggy @anjox @xkanrojimitsurix @ahashiraswife @mamayan @flametrashira

[konjaku]

緋色茸[Hiirotake] Pycnoporus coccineus

緋色[Hiiro] : Scarlet; also called 緋[Hi], 色 means color

茸[Take] : Mushroom, toadstool

These were growing on a rotten wood lying on a dimly lit forest road the day after a rainy day. This group of mushrooms that grow vertically on tree trunks is called 猿の腰掛け|胡孫眼[Sarunokoshikake](The Polyporaceae). 猿[Saru] means monkey, の[No] means of, 腰掛け means stool.

There is an imaginary creature named 猩々[Shōjō] who always drinks alcohol, has red hair and face, and resembles a monkey. There is a Noh play of the same name, in which the performer appears all in red, his head hair, mask, and costume, except for the tabi (a kind of footwear). And, there is a vivid scarlet named 猩々緋. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōjō https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jinbaori_with_crossed_scythes_design_on_scarlet_wool_ground_3.jpg

[moonsgemini]

seeking arrangements- iii

summary: Jealousy is an ugly color on everyone except for Thomas. As Lola and Rafe spend more time together the more they feel like it’s becoming too real, and the boat rides and cocktail parties don’t help.

warnings: escort!rafe x oc, fem reader, shitty family, kissing, alcohol, bad descriptions of a yacht, fluff, mentions of cheating

wc: 4.7k

an: ahhhh we’re getting into the more fun stuff, I hope you all are enjoying <3 there’s about 3 more parts left if I’ve planned correctly. Honestly this part was hard for me to write, but I did it. Also I don’t know shit about boats okay so don’t come for me.

series masterlist - previous part

“Uh Rafe?” Lola called from the bathroom. She was finishing getting ready for their boat day.

“Yeah?” He called from the room as he placed his hat on his head.

“Can you help tie my bikini please?” She asked with slightly pink cheeks.

They had spent the night together, Lola insisting on creating a pillow wall. But when they woke up the pillow wall was gone and Lola’s legs were tangled with Rafe’s. She had woken up before him so she quickly untwisted herself from him.

He walked into the bathroom and she had her back to him. The strings of the floral bikini hanging behind her as she held the front up. He cleared his throat and began tying the strings. His fingers brushing against her soft skin making them burn.

“All done.”

“Thankyou,” She said softly turning around to face him. She lifted the straps of her overalls to clip them to the front.

“You ready for today?” Rafe asked her as he leaned against the sink.

She shrugged, “I guess so. Being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean with all these people that think I’m a loser? so ready.”

“I don’t think you’re a loser, and I’ll make sure they know you’re not a loser.” He smiled.

“Thanks Rafe, are you ready to go?” She asked.

“Mhmm I even packed the bag like you asked,” He walked into the room motioning to the trader joes bag she had instructed him to fill with sunscreen her sunglasses and other essentials.

She laughed, “What a good listener, so we’re meeting everyone at the dock. Is it okay if Tabitha rides with us?”

“Yeah of course. I think she might also be the one person I like here.”

Lola laughed and grabbed the bag before walking out the door. Rafe couldn’t help but think she looked so cute in her overalls. He had to admit he was looking forward to making Thomas jealous.

“Tabi, are you ready?” Lola called as they walked down the hall.

Tabitha opened the door to her room all dressed and ready to go, “Of course I’ve just been waiting for you two love birds. I know the morning is the most sensual time of day so I didn’t want to rush you,” she winked.

Rafe chuckled following the women. Lola rolled her eyes and blushed, “Please we’re at my parents house.”

“So? That’s never stopped anyone.” She laughed. They walked out to Rafe’s car where he placed their bags in the trunk. He placed his sunglasses over his eyes as he got into the car.

“Very nice car Rafe,” Tabitha commented from the back seat, “So what do you do?” Lola couldn’t help but feel nervous now. Last night when they went back out withe everyone they were all a bit tipsy so no one gave him the third degree. She had also excused them from the night early, she had felt too overwhelmed with everyone and needed time to decompress. So when her and Rafe went back to the room they just watched Pitch Perfect together.

“Thanks, I have a real estate developing company in North Carolina.” He said as he backed out of the drive way. Lola giving him directions towards the dock.

“Wow that’s fancy. But you live in New York? How did you guys meet?” She asked leaning forward to look between them.

“Yeah I go back and forth a lot. It’s a family company,” He looked over at Lola, “we met at a bar in Manhattan. I saw Lola and couldn’t leave without talking to her, she caught my eye from across the room.” He smiled thinking of a memory that didn’t exist. At least that’s what Lola thought but he was thinking of the first time he met her. She looked like a lost puppy and he couldn’t help the attraction he felt towards her then. If she was just a girl at a bar he definitely would have gone up to her.

“You’re love story is so cute, Lola you have to tell me more later. In private,” she winked at her cousin.

“Tabi you’re insnae,” Lola laughed.

-

Rafe had his arm wrapped around Lola as they sat on the boat, Harry drove the boat out into the ocean more looking for a good place to anchor. Ever since they had met up with everyone Thomas hadn’t stopped eyeing Lola and Rafe. He watched as Rafe held Lola’s hand helping her onto the boat. Even now whenever he glanced at them it was with a hateful stare. Lola leaned into Rafe, she felt relaxed.

The sun felt good on her skin she closed her eyes resting her head on his shoulder, it was the perfect day. That was until her sister plopped down next to them, reminding her that it wasn’t just her and Rafe here.

“You guys have to tell me everything,” Penny exclaimed facing the couple, “How’d you meet? How long have you been dating?” Rafe placed his hand in between Lola’s shoulder and neck giving her a comforting squeeze.

“We met at a bar, Lucy’s. Rafe came up to me and we just hit it off. We went on a few dates and well here we are. We’ve been seeing each other for almost uh five months now?” Lola said almost like she was asking.

“Mhmm yeah babe five months,” Rafe iterated.

“How come you’ve kept him away from us sis?” Penny asked, almost in a condescending way.

Lola shrugged, “I guess I just wanted him all to myself.”

“I don’t blame you,” Penny glanced at Rafe with a mischievous look in her eyes to which he just grabbed Lola’s thigh with his other hand and placed her legs over his.

“Who wants drinks!” Harry shouted as he finally stopped the boat.

“Me!” Penny yelled and ran towards the coolers to hand them out. Rafe took a beer and Lola settled for a seltzer.

“Are you good?” Rafe asked her.

“Yeah, are you?”

“Of course, I just want to make sure you’re comfortable,” He smiled leaning closer, “Also he’s been glaring at us since we got here.”

Lola smirked, “Good. I hope he feels even just slightly as bad as he made me feel when I caught him.”

“Can I do something?” Rafe asked, his hand on her shoulder rubbing soothing circles.

“What?”

“Can I kiss you?” He looked down at her lips that looked so inviting, “To make it look real of course.”

Lola felt her whole body tingle at his question. Rafe was so different from Thomas, which was the last guy that she was with, and he made her feel things in the last 48 hours that Thomas never could in the two years they were together. She wanted him to kiss her whenever he pleased. Lola had to remind herself that this wasn’t real, but for now she would enjoy it. She would enjoy the feeling of being wanted even if she thought it was all an act.

“Yes please,” she murmured. Rafe could have died then and there just at her response.

He grabbed her chin gently and brought her face closer to his. Their lips brushing against each other with hesitancy at first but then Rafe leaned forward more pressing his lips firmly against hers. They were soft and she tasted like cherry’s. Her sticky lipgloss getting all over his mouth but he couldn’t care less. The way he held her made her want to melt. His lips were so soft and full, it felt so natural with him the way their lips moved against each other.

“Ugh get a room you two!” Penny shouted throwing a bag of chips at the couple. They pulled a part remembering where they were. Lola rolled her eyes and threw the bag back, Penny just laughed.

Harry walked over and stood in front of the pair, “Dude let me give you a tour of the boat,” he said to Rafe.

“Uh sure man,” He turned to Lola, “I’ll be back baby.”

The two guys walked towards the inside where the wheel was, the other guys following suit. When they were gone all the girls came flocking over to Lola.

Tabitha sat next to her, “Tell us babe how is he in bed? I can’t believe he’s so sexy.”

Lola blushed, “Tabi! You guys are insane.”

“Come on Lola, you have like the hottest boyfriend you need to tell us everything,” Riley the other bridesmaid said.

Lola knew she was going to have to make up stuff because they were like vultures who needed to be fed, “It’s really good. He’s really good. He knows what to do, like I don’t have to tell him what I need or like he just knows. And he makes me feel so comfortable.”

“God that sounds like a dream,” Olivia sighed, “I bet you don’t even have to ask him to go down on you?”

Lola shook her head, “Never. It’s his favorite thing to do.” At this point she was just saying things to impress them, but she had a feeling that if she did have a chance to sleep with him he would be exactly how she described.

“And he makes you finish?” Tabitha asked almost on the edge of her seat.

“Always more than once,” She smirked.

Tabitha sat back dramatically, “You have the perfect man. I’m jealous.”

“Thomas is sooo jealous. He’s been asking me so many questions since last night,” Penny smirked. At least Lola’s plan was working.

Riley rolled her eyes, “Good, he cheated on you right? So he has no right to be jealous.”

“Exactly. But the revenge must feel good huh?” Tabitha asked.

Lola shrugged, “I guess so. I haven’t paid much attention to him. Especially not when I have Rafe with me,” she wasn’t fully lying. She did forget that he existed for a second until Rafe brought it up.

“Does Rafe have any hot friends you guys can introduce me to?” Tabitha said sighing.

Lola laughed, “Probably. I haven’t met many of his friends.”

-

In the cockpit where all the guys had congregated they were also giving Rafe the third degree. Not about Lola but just about himself since they didn’t know him.

“So Rafe where you from?” Harry asked as they all sat around in different areas of the cockpit. Rafe knew that he was about to be grilled by the games, and he was more than happy to answer their questions. Especially Thomas’.

“North Carolina, the outer banks,” He took a sip of his beer.

He nodded his head, “What are you doing in New York?”

“I wanted to get away from home and from here I’m still able to run the business,” He shrugged.

“Dude so you’re like rich?” Mateo said with a smirk.

Rafe laughed, “Uh not having a house and a yacht in the Hampton’s rich.”

Thomas cleared his throat, “So what’s up with you and Lola?” He asked completely changing the subject.

Rafe’s brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”

“Well like are you guys serious?” Thomas rolled his eyes as if it was an obvious question.

“I guess we are, I mean we’ve been seeing each other for a few months now. She’s great, I really like her so I hope it’s something serious,” The words were so easy for him to say because part of him wished they were true.

“She seems happy with you man. Every time Lola’s come around us she always seemed so like depressed and super fidgety. She seems relaxed. So whatever you’re doing dude keep doing it,” Harry laughed. He cared about Lola, she was about to be his sister in law. But he cared about her like a sister and when Thomas cheated on her he was angry but not angry enough to drop him.

Thomas scoffed, “Please dude she seems miserable. I bet she hasn’t even put out yet. It took like weeks for her to even touch my dick. You know we dated right?”

Rafe stood up straighter, “She did mention there’d be some prick who cheated on her here, just didn’t think she went low enough to date you. Also I respect what Lola wants to do, I don’t force her to touch my dick like a horny teenager.”

“Okay guys,” Mateo began to speak before he was interrupted by Thomas.

“She just wasn’t good in bed, I had urges. What am I supposed to do just be unsatisfied.”

Rafe laughed bitterly, “That’s funny because I remember her telling me that you were the worst and smallest dick she’s ever had,” he took a step closer to the shorter man, “she doesn’t even remember her own name when I’m fucking her brains out. I bet you couldn’t ever make her finish huh? Now never talk about my girlfriend that way again or we’ll actually have problems. If you’ll excuse me I’m gonna go check on my girlfriend.” Rafe walked out not wanting to be a part of the sausage fest anymore.

As he walked back out onto the deck he saw Lola laying out on the chairs, she had taken her overalls off to soak up the sun. He smiled to himself as he watched her nod her head along to the music. The other girls were also laying around getting a tan. He stood over her creating a shadow.

She opened her eyes squinting at his tall figure, “Hey, everything good?”

He nodded, “Perfect.” He couldn’t help his wandering eyes as they took her in. The bikini she picked looked good against her skin and it left little to the imagination. He was so attracted to her he couldn’t deny it anymore, especially now looking at her half naked he just wanted to touch her.

“Wanna go for a swim? I’ve been waiting for you,” She smiled taking the last sip of her second drink now.

“That sounds great actually it’s hot as fuck,” He set his drink down on the floor to take his shirt off. He threw it onto the end of the chair along with his sunglasses. Lola just about melted then and there. She could tell he definitely worked out, his arms were so muscular she wanted nothing more than to be tossed around by him. This is definitely the drinks talking, she thought.

Rafe held his hand out to her and she took it gladly. She felt like he was too good at this boyfriend act, it was making her feel things she shouldn’t. Especially for someone she paid to pretend to like her. They walked to the edge of the boat hand in hand.

“Ready?” He asked with a smirk. She nodded her head mimicking his smirk. They jumped into the ocean hand in hand. The cool water feeling good against her skin after being in the sun.

Once they surfaced she started laughing, “God I haven’t had this much fun here in so long.”

Rafe brushed his wet hair back swimming towards her, “Good. You deserve to have fun.”

“So uh how was it with Thomas?” She asked a bit hesitant.

Rafe shrugged, “He’s a fucking prick that’s forsure. Nothing I can’t handle tho,” he smirked.

“We’re coming!” Tabitha yelled from the boat as they began also jumping into the ocean. Lola laughed and swam closer to Rafe wrapping her arms around his neck. He grabbed the backs of her thighs to wrap her legs around his waist. Lola’s skin felt like it was on fire despite being in the water.

“God this feels so good!” Tabitha exclaimed as she resurfaced joining the couple.

Olivia smiled swimming up to the group, “Remember that summer we got stranded out here because we ran out of gas and went skinny dipping.”

“Oh god,” Lola mumbled, “We were like 20 and then when the coast guard showed up we were all naked in the ocean.”

Rafe laughed, “There’s still a lot I don’t know about you huh?”

“Oh so much, she used to be a bit of a firecracker,” Tabitha said.

-

After a few more dives into the ocean and a few more drinks Lola and Rafe were back on the chair soaking up the sun before they had to head back and get ready for the late engagement party. Rafe was sitting in the chair and Lola was sitting in between his legs, her back resting against his chest. It was to make sure they looked like a real couple. It was all part of the plan, at least that’s what they said. Rafe may have been enjoying the feeling of her skin on his a little too much. Lola may have been enjoying the way Rafe’s arm wrapped around her chest and played with her hair a little too much.

She felt so comfortable around him. The voice in the back of her head telling her this was all going to end in a few days was getting quieter to let her enjoy these moments she had with him. Soon she’d be alone again, just her and Sailor in her apartment and Rafe would be a fond memory. The thought alone made her squeeze his thigh gently to remind herself she’s there now with him and to enjoy it.

Thomas had been glaring at them the whole afternoon. It made her happy to know he was bothered by them. The group had just been sitting around and exchanging stories, a few games on uno had been played as well. Lola felt so content, it was the first time in a few years she liked being with this group of people. She felt like herself again.

“Babe our song!” Tabitha exclaimed as everywhere by fleetwood mac came on the speakers.

Lola’s eyes lit up. She turned to Rafe, “On spring break a few years ago we were in Greece and this song came on at the club and it was the best night ever!”

She got up and joined Tabitha as they started dancing to the song. Singing along to the words, Rafe watched with curious eyes. A grin spreading across his lips. The other girls getting up and joining them as they started singing to the chorus. The drinks she had that day had definitely made Lola a lot bolder than she’d usually be. As Lola danced with Tabitha she tilted her head back laughing. Rafe took a mental picture wanting to remember her like that forever. He had a feeling in his gut that Lola couldn’t just be a temporary fixture in his life. Not after the way she’s made him feel.

She ran towards Rafe grabbing his hands and pulling him up to dance with her. He gladly obliged, the other guys joining as well. When she sang the lyrics to Rafe as if she truly meant them, and she kind of did. She wanted to be with him everywhere. As they danced together the world around them faded and it was just them to, he spun her around and she giggled furiously. The song ended and they all cheered and clapped.

“You guys are the best bridal party a girl could have!” Penny exclaimed with teary eyes, she definitely had too much to drink.

Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder and he kissed her cheek, “I think it’s time we head back.”

They headed back to the benches to be safer. Lola rested against Rafe’s chest as his arm wrapped around her. She felt a bold so she leaned up and kissed his cheek.

“You’re the best Rafey,” She smiled at him.

Rafe smiled, he couldn’t help himself. The nickname she had given him made his chest turn a light shade of pink. He cupped her face and brought her up for a kiss. It felt just as good as the first one. Lola sighed as they moved against each other, only pulling away because she remembered there were other people around. She would kiss him all day if she could.

-

Once they got back to the house they had taken and showers and began getting ready for the cocktail party. The bride and groom decided to have a late engagement party so that everyone could attend and it’d add to the wedding week festivities. Lola felt like she was on cloud nine and it was all because of the man laying on her bed scrolling on his phone.

“Rafe, can I ask you something?” She asked from the bathroom as she applied her makeup.

“What’s up?”

“Can you tell me more about yourself?” She asked with a hopeful voice. She really wanted to know more about him.

Rafe smiled to himself and got up to walk into the bathroom. She watched as he put the toilet seat lid down and sat down watching her do her eyebrows, “What do you want to know?”

“Anything,” She shrugged.

“Well I’ve told you the truth. I have two sisters, I’m from North Carolina, and that developing company is actually my other job.”

She nodded her hair, “What about your parents? Your childhood?”

He looked away finding the towel rack more interesting, “Uh my mom she died when I was 10. My dad’s very much a hard ass. We don’t really have a relationship other than a business one. In my late teens I didn’t really have a relationship with my sisters. Especially Sarah, she’s a few years younger than me.”

Lola looked over at him with curiosity, “Why’s that?”

“I did a lot of um dumb stuff,” he cleared his throat, “I got mixed up with the wrong people and made terrible choices. I treated the people around me like shit. But I cleaned up my act after my freshman year of college. I got sober and I started going to therapy.”

“Wow Rafe, that’s really good. You should be proud of yourself.” She said looking over at him with a warm smile.

He smiled back, “Yeah I’ve come a long way. I’ve burned some bridges that I can’t fix but I don’t dwell on it anymore. I just focus on what I have now. Sarah and I are close now. Same with my other sister Wheezie. I go back home every couple of weeks to see them and have meetings with my dad.” He didn’t really know why he was telling her this. Rafe felt like he could actually open up to her and feel vulnerable. He’s never told anyone this much before, let alone someone that was supposed to be a client.

“Why do you still this other job on the side?” She asked a bit hesitant.

He thought for a second, why did he do this? “I guess I like helping people not feel alone like I felt for a long time. Even if it’s just for one night for a stupid christmas party or something like that. I guess I like feeling needed.”

Lola smiled, “You’re too good to be true. You’re very selfless Rafe. That’s a hard quality to find, especially in a guy.”

He chuckled, “I’m not perfect, I just hide my flaws better. But I’m working on it.”

“And that’s what counts.”

There was a moment of silence as Lola applied blush before she paused not looking over at him, “Rafe, can we still be friends after this?” She asked softly. Afraid if she used her real voice she’d be too loud and scare him away. Lola didn’t want to lose Rafe even if it meant just having him as a friend.

His heart was beating loudly in his chest. She was so extraordinary to him, how could she want to be friends with him after he just told her that he used to be a wreck. Rafe felt like a ticking time bomb, at any minute he could become the old Rafe again. But when he was with her it felt like that Rafe was completely gone, “Of course sweetheart.” That nickname he first called her made her insides stir with something sickly sweet.

-

They had arrived at the restaurant that the party was being held at, already filled with friends and family. Rafe had been introduced to a a handful of people now. He couldn’t focus on anything other than Lola in the dress she was wearing. It was tight in all the right places, he felt like she outshined everyone in the room. Her makeup looked flawless and her hair just as perfect. He wanted to ruin it all, kiss her until her makeup was all over the place and her lips were swollen. Run his hands through her hair messing up the perfect strands.

He was leaning against the bar drinking his vodka soda as Lola talked amongst her mom and some of her mom’s friends. He watched making sure she didn’t need him to come in and save her from painful conversation. Tabitha came up and ordered herself a drink, before turning to him. She watched him watch her cousin with that look in his eyes.

“She’s been through a lot,” She said speaking up, “She’s not the same Lola that I used to know.”

Rafe looked over at her, “How so?”

“The last few months she was with Thomas she started changing. It was partly because he had become distant but it was also because her mom and her had a huge fight about her mom’s drinking.” She scoffed as she looked towards her aunt, “Clearly nothing has changed. But it was because her mom got hammered at Christmas and she made out with Thomas who was also hammered. They probably would have had sex if she hadn’t walked in on them.” Tabitha rolled her eyes.

“What the fuck? She never told me that.” Rafe said with furrowed brows, he wasn’t upset at Lola but upset at how everyone just walked all over her.

“It’s not something she talked about. She doesn’t come around as much anymore since then because after that incident she started getting suspicious but brushed it off. Then clearly she gets proven wrong when she walks in on him again. I hate that little fucker,” Tabitha seethed, “Lola shut down. She already didn’t have many friends and she lost the ones she did have. She kept to herself and her light dimmed. I haven’t seen her so carefree and full of life like this is so long. You’re really good for her.” She put a hand on his arm and smiled genuinely at him.

Rafe gave her a lopsided grin, “I’m trying my best for her. She deserves to be happy, I think she’s helping me more than I’m helping her though.”

“She has that effect on people. She has a good heart, maybe too good sometimes.”

He looked over at her just as Lola looked at him with a tight lipped smile and pleading eyes, “That’s my queue to save her.” He excused himself from Tabitha as she jokingly saluted him.

He walked up to the group of women and wrapped his arm around Lola’s waist, “Excuse me ladies would you mind if I steal my beautiful girlfriend away?” He gave them a charming smile.

“Speaking of there he is! Isn’t he just so handsome,” Lola’s mom said speaking to the other women. Completely ignoring Rafe.

“You are one very lucky lady Lola,” One of the woman said to her while winking.

Lola laughed awkwardly not really sure what to say but Rafe saved her, “Oh I think I’m the lucky one. Lola truly is something special.

Her mom hummed, “I guess so sweetie, she’s always been a bit unique.” The comment came more as condescending than a compliment.

“Lola actually rejected me the first time I asked her out but I couldn’t give up on her. Women as beautiful, smart, kind, and extraordinary like her don’t come around much.” He gave her waist a gentle squeeze. Lola wanted to die then and there because he was actually a dream come true.

“We’re going to go get a drink,” Lola smiled before dragging Rafe away. Once they were farther away she burst into a fit of giggles.

Rafe smiled widely, “What are you laughing about?”

She smiled up at him, “Like I said, you’re too good to be true.”

“I just sleak the truth,” He shrugged, “and I’m not gonna let anyone subtly bash my girl.”

My girl. Lola was so screwed. She was in deep deep shit because that warm tingly feeling in her stomach was starting to feel a lot like love.

-

tags: @rosal1nd @magicwithaknife , @f4ll-for-you , @hotch-meeeeeuppppp , @loveu-always

(if you'd like to be removed or tagged let me know!)

[cirrem]

browsing through the pvp civ tags

people are (rightfully) bringing up that bc prince zam is able to respawn, it seems likely that anyone can as long as they hit the armor stand.

i kind of assumed that his status as an undying chosen one is what made him useful to the diamonds - they want to use him like everyone else.

but hes not the only one that can respawn, so hes not the chosen one. so. why do people care about him? why is tabi using him? why do the diamonds seem to want him, specifically? why is parrot treating him weird? why was zam setting him up? what is going on?

i think a lot of people are hiding secrets.

ranking up isnt hard, except for iron -> gold, which requires you to lose a life for knowledge, and gold-> diamond, whoch requires you to actually be good at pvp. wood -> stone -> iron seems common.

pronce zam can revive, parrot knows the durability of a gold sword and has a mansion & video machine (he can probably also revive), tabbi who had a history with the diamond swords started the series ad a wooden one (she may have been killed and revived)

could being able to respawn be an intended mechanic by whoever is in charge of pvpciv? and people just dont know about it? and its been forgotten by all but a few (or kept repressed?)

like, do we know for sure that anyone evbo killed is actually dead?

[getosugurusbangs]

pov: i cosplay geto except the only thing that’s different is how instead of wearing his tabi, i’m wearing these

[nintendoni-art]

So the Night Terrors.

Since by the time of this circulating around there's gonna be at least 2 of these guys in tournaments, with one of them being in one already, it felt about the time a post should be made about each of them with a bit of info attached. As a group, the lot of them are from a Sonic Chronicles AU-ish timeline where the Nocturnes didn't get pulled into the Cage, and the Knuckles Clan successfully got the Master and Chaos Emeralds, causing both groups to eventually fizzle out into a centuries long cold war, and causing untold damage to the environment as they gathered up resources. [And then it rolls into the OTHER AU I've been working on...] Fair warning, this is gonna be long under the cut, so heads up! [Also, a quick thank you to @galactirabbit for all the art I'm using!]

Tabi - Currently in @sonic-oc-showdown 2!

The leader of this motley crew of ragamuffins, Tabi is a fearsome little critter who's brain is just as terrifying as their brawn. Though most of their deeds are more legend than fact, their ability to keep those under their watch safe out of the hands of those who may want to exploit the abilities of their species [or worse, used to recharge and power devices with the chaos energy they're made out of] is second to none. Originally a healer to a group of mercenaries who got dumped in a forest after a terrible injury, their views on Mobians are dim at best, to outright despising them on their worst days. Still, they refuse to confront them directly, instead robbing them blind and using said resources to keep their actions hidden as much as possible from prying eyes, keeping anything they find "interesting" to themselves. Also after another incident, they have a bit of a complex when it comes to "helping" other species they come across by bullying them until they lash out, mostly to make sure they're tough enough to survive if something bigger attacks them. They'll also swear up and down they're in the right about it, which has caused some...issues. Serious, driven, is just ...so very, very tired.

Trackball

When the village they were raised in was evacuated, and everyone except the old, infirm, and "pets" were left behind in order to slow down an advancing army, Trackball refused to back down when Tabi came to scavenge what they could find for themselves. After a battle that lasted until sunup, they ended up gaining Tabi's respect, friendship, and services in protecting those who were left. After the last of the Mobians who lived in said village passed away peacefully, Trackball pledged the rest of their life to Tabi's service, and to follow them wherever they, or "the demon in their employ" would go. Granted, this action and Trackball's wording slightly weirded Tabi out a bit, but as the Night Terrors grew, Trackball eventually became second in command, and the defacto leader if Tabi isn't around. Always the first one awake, they're usually found double checking heist plans, arranging scouting and salvage teams, and making sure things run like clockwork behind the scenes. Quick thinking, dependable, Is far more adept than what they think they are.

Shortfuse

As the environment was collapsing around them, some factions tried to replicate species that were dying out, to...mixed results.

Shortfuse here is one of those said artificial lifeforms, and the only one out of all in the project that made them that ended up anything close to stable. Alas, the rest of their fellow A-Life constructs proceeded to go feral and tear apart the scientists that made them, so that left Shortfuse alone. All who loved and wanted them, dead. Cast to the Wilds with no defense, or support. You know, besides the warp powers. And the immunity to any and all toxins and poisons. And the sheer amount of explosive devices they could just summon at a moment's notice. Honestly, most of the Night Terrors don't even remember when Shortfuse showed up. When other members pointed that fact out, Tabi just said they are a chao, they think Shortfuse is cool enough to stay and if anyone had an issue with it, they could take it up with them, and that stopped most questions. Shortfuse generally has their trademark smile plastered on their face, and aside for a few giggles with different tones, is pretty much mute, which, crossed with their generally silent movement can badly startle those unused to that. It's also sometimes hard to tell if they're paying attention, and the fact they can use their stomach as extra storage space has left some a bit disquieted at their actions. Still, they're an integral part of the heads of this gang, if not with their explosives expertise, then with their ability to quickly write down and organize records, and making medicines and helpful compounds by breaking down what components something is made out of by....licking it. Ok, so they're a little off. And they're well aware of this. But the Night Terrors, despite their eccentricities, accept Shortfuse as their own, construct or not, and are more than willing to be patient with them. And that's something Shortfuse will absolutely fight for, no matter what.

Eccentric, a lover of the arts, a bit of a sad clown some days.

Rime

Driven by rumors of a treasure guarded by a fearsome monster that lived deep within the aqueducts of a fallen city, when the Night Terrors went to check out these claims, Rime was the only living thing there. Mutated to twice the size of a regular chao, with a cast iron stomach, keen sense of smell, Rime was also more adept to living in more aquatic climates, fresh water be damned. With the rest of their pack not evolving fast enough to survive said toxins, the joy of finding others of their own species was enough to follow the rest of the Night Terrors anywhere, really. Though they may play up their size and ferocity, and they'll keep quiet to seem like a brick wall both physically and mentally, Rime's a tenderhearted creature who gets lonely easily, and can get a bit awkward when they want to interact with others, easily getting flustered and getting self conscious about being a big fish in such a small pond for so long. They're in charge of training regiments, aquatic scout work and underwater salvage. They're also super picky when it comes to food, and uses their sense of smell to help prevent spoilage from overtaking food storages, and knowing the best time to covert fruits into seeds. Stoic, hardworking, really just wants a hug most days.

Slight -

Currently applied to @chao-race-tournament !

Forced to flee for their life after their more aristocratic family fell out of favor with those more in charge, Slight was basically left to fend for themselves on the street with only their security blanket. Still, their drive to survive, and their ability to talk themselves out of [or into] most situations, Slight managed to rule the streets of the city their owners used to run until one too many lies caught up to them and Tabi decided to see exactly who'd been saying they beat them in a fight. Still, Tabi couldn't help but be intrigued by this upstart who had the sheer audacity, and after securing Slight's territory firmly under their rule, allowed them to stick around, allowing them to work their way up into the organization. Currently, they're team treasurer and keeper of all the warehouse keys. That being said, they aren't the most moral chao, and don't quite have the same qualms the others may have with selling, say, chao eggs they "found." Wicked cultured, mildly neurotic, will sell you for one corn chip.

Zori - Previously in @sonic-oc-showdown, out in round 3!

Zori is the most....unique, of the Night Terrors, and possibly the second oldest member of it all. They don't really deal much with the day to day minutia of running a crime syndicate, generally preferring to patrol any gardens under the groups protection, testing out defense systems, or digging up neat ore or rocks Tabi might like. More of a mascot, despite their attempts to seem more ferocious, they also take care and do upkeep of any bases the Night Terrors are operating from unless their expertise in umbrakinesis or electromagnetic manipulation is needed. Deeply curious, loyal to a fault, great with younger team members.

Jika

An unofficial leader of the Night Terrors, Jika was a wanderer and a scholar, and did their best to keep ancient traditions and rituals alive, using their travels in gather and write down stories and histories before they were gone forever. Seeing how the world was slowly but surely driving itself to entropy, however, they started working on plans in order to try and save the rest of their species, working with Tabi, who'd by that point, they'd known for ages, and who Tabi saw as their closest confidant. Yet... Before they could see their plan to save the rest of their species to it's completion, the actions taken drew the ire of a raptor hawk using falconer. Frankly, they had to choose between fleeing with the chao that were starting to scatter despite everyone's best efforts, or drawing it away from keeping Tabi cornered, and hoping that what they wrote down was enough for the rest of them to keep going. ... It was, but you know how it is with choices. Sometimes even with the best of intentions, ones sacrifice can cause such consequences. Trickster, academic, The most doomed by the narrative

[astoldbyaja]

The Orisha and the Hashira-CH.20

Normal POV

Femi had been working on the painting nonstop which worried his big brother. While their sister was on a mission, he took it upon himself to be present. He didn’t like the idea of both older siblings being on missions. Bambaataa watched Femi swing around the air with a wooden sword.

The earth Orisha sat with his legs and arms crossed watching to ensure his little brother was getting rest. Too much painting and focus could lead to a brain bleed, and only his sister could heal such a wound. He was not wearing his tabi socks which gave him access to the earth.

But he was not alone. A certain flame Hashira mimicked his position watching the boy with bright eyes. Bambaataa still did not like the Hashira, but he tolerated him for his sister’s sake. Kyojuro checked all the boxes that would have made him a suitable husband for his sister except one. He wasn’t of the tribe. His father, Ogun, would never approve no matter how strong the Hashira was or how wealthy he was.

Bambaataa is the first son, Ogun’s biggest contribution to the Mother Continent, so it was only natural the earth Orisha got his morals and principles from his father.

“Nice swipe, Femi! Keep a firm grip!” Kyojuro cheered. Femi looked at him and although his mask covered his face, he tilted his head with a gentle hm in response. Bambaataa looked down at the fiery haired man. He was always loud and constantly enthusiastic. How can Ayo stand to be around him? Orisha do not choose their mates, the higher powers do, based on the heart and morals of the Orisha.

So why would they choose someone who was not one of them as a partner for her? His head tilted up some to the sky in thought.

His muscles tightened a bit now and Femi paused in his strike of the air looking out into the same random direction as his brother.

“Ayo.” Bambaataa said lowly. Kyojuro’s attention was caught immediately at his love’s name.

“What is it?” He asked.

“She has opened the energy channels in her body to take control of every particle of water in her immediate vicinity. She must be fighting a very strong demon if she has taken to using this ability.” Femi said. Kyojuro was unsure of what this meant until he noticed Bambaataa standing up and picking up his large hammer, resting on his shoulder.

For an Orisha to open their energy channel, means to heighten their senses and ascend to a higher spiritual form over their human body. As Ayo controls water that means she has complete control of every living beings life. She can use them to fight for her or she can kill them with the blink of an eye. She can call bodies of water to her to flood the area or bring rain from the skies for months. Although she has control of this, Bambaataa knew he had to help his sister.

“If she truly is facing a strong demon, then I will go and help her on the battle field.” he said lazily moving away from the others. Kyojuro was on high alert and took a step after the large man.

“I will come with you!” he said. However, Bambaataa did not response. He walked a few feet out before the earth swallowed him up immediately and he moved through the soil.

Kyojuro winced. If Ayo was in trouble he must go!

“Kyojuro.” Femi said catching the man’s worried expression.

“You must not worry. She will return.” he said, his voice positive as if he were smiling behind his mask. He moved back to using the wooden sword. Kyojuro looked down with concern laced on his face. He raised his hand to gently clutch the spot over his heart.

‘Ayo, please be safe.’

Ayo’s POV

Daki was in my line of sight, but I didn’t see Gyutaro anywhere. Maybe he was attached to her. She used her belt to smack Tanjiro who did his best to stop her attack with his sword. Tengen ran past me.

“I’ll stop her belts, you go for the neck!” He called. Daki turned and snarled.

“Another annoyance! I’ll kill you all!” She roared her belts flying at the sound Hashira. He cut her belts down.

I jumped, tucked my feet in, and shot through the air like lightning jumping over his head. With a harsh scream I spun my body fast and swiping at the demons neck. The attack connected and Daki screamed as her head flew through the air.

“Ayo!” Tanjiro yelled with relief as I landed before him with a crouch. “You’re alright!”

“Where are the other two?” I asked. Tanjiro looked around.

“I- I don’t know!” He said in panic. Tengen joined us, his own swords out.

“They’re helping my wives evacuate the district. They’ll be along shortly. Now we have to find the other demon!” He called out. Tanjiro’s eyes widened.

“What another demon!” he yelled. We were met by a loud wail as we looked over to Daki, her headless body moving about the ground kicking and screaming while her head lied a few inches feet from her.

“HOW DARE YOU CUT OFF MY HEAD YOU BITCH!” She screamed.

“Her body isn’t dissolving after Ayo cut her head off!” Tanjiro noted. I kept a sharp stance as I waited.

“And this is an Upper Moon 6? I don’t believe it.” Tengen told. Daki’s eyes widened as tears flowed over her face.

“I am so an Upper Moon 6! I am, I am, I am!” She cried continuing with her tantrum. I winced feeling second hand embarrassment from just watching her.

“Show some pride in your defeat.” I replied. Her bodies hand pointed at me.

“How dare you talk down to me! Help me, help me BROTHER!” she screamed. I could see his movements. He shot out of her so fast. With a large inhale, I spun my body using the water to push Tengen and Tanjiro from the attack before placing my feet in the ground firmly and using my spear to dodge his blow. Our eyes connected with each other, both a look of brutality in our orbs. However the force from his body alone sent me flying back.

I landed but kept my spear out and pointed. Gyutaro growled.

“How did you get out of your room! I poisoned you!” He snarled. I tightened my grip on my spear, watching as the water filled both their bodies. By now Daki had already re attached her head. “Your body healed from the poison so fast! Good for you!” He growled.

Tengen and Tanjiro moved by me, their swords out.

“Ayo are you alright?” Tengen asked.

“Hm.” I replied with a nod. Gyutaro immediately looked at Tengen with wide eyes.

“Ayo…he calls you Ayo too! You let him talk to you like that! Don’t tell me he’s your husband! It would be a shame to have to make you a widow!” He growled as he began to scratch at his skin! Tengen scoffed.

“She’s not my wife although I have proposed she be my wife on many occasions.” he teased as if trying to lighten the heavy yet dangerous tension.

Gyutaro groaned as he looked the Hashira over some more. I could tell his anxiety and anger were rising.

“You’re a lucky guy! That face of yours. Nice I like your skin too not a blemish birthmark or scar to be seen anywhere! You really are a good looking guy, damn!I envy you, oh I envy you! Would you mind just dropping dead and in the most agonizing way at that! Like getting skinned alive or maybe even getting that belly of yours slit open!” He growled.

“Brother they aren’t the only two who’ve been harassing me! That woman even cut my head off!” Daki cried.

Gyutaro’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

“You… your hurt my little sister!” he snarled. I squinted.

“I don’t like being insulted.” I merely replied before squinting my eyes. Both the demons froze and groaned as the pain shot through their bodies. They needed to take in more water so that I could use my water stagnation on them.

“God what is this pain!” Daki roared. Tengen and Tanjiro took this time to run for the demons, their blades out. I squinted more trying to increase the pain to immobilize them, but it hardly slowed either of them down.

Daki came for me and we began going at it blow for blow, our weapons slashing at each other. It felt like we were fighting for hours, Tanjiro and Tengen were bloody and bruised, my wounds were also showing, but the more I fought the longer it took for my body to heal.

“Have no fear, Inosuke is here!” I hear the familiar voice of the boar headed boy. I looked over to see him and Zenitsu although Zenitsu’s closed eyes made me tilt my head.

“Inosuke… Zenitsu… Are you sleeping?” I asked him.

“RAAAAHHH!” Inosuke yelled before me. I blinked before looking back to the battle. If they were here then that meant the city must be cleared out of civilians.

“There are two demons, you must behead both. I may be able to destroy the female with my powers. I will do my best to immobilize them with the-” but before I could finish my sentence, a belt was coming at me. I dodged it immediately jumping high and landing on the rooftop where Daki was waiting for me.

“You! I’m going to rip you to shreds! You’re not even worth feeding to my belt!” She snarked and ran at me with great speed. I yelled hard and ran at her. I tried to use water stagnation and her body jerked some. She growled then laughed as numerous belts came at me. I sliced at them. l swiftly however they are sharp and cut at my skin at times. Daki laughed.

“What exactly is your power exactly? Why Lord Muzan would ever want you is beyond me!” She mocked. I jumped back and gave a gentle pant as I looked down at my body, my cuts closing immediately. I wouldn’t get anywhere attacking her like this with just my physical body. I slowly looked up at her, my hard face calming a bit more.

I took even breaths feeling my heart beat calm itself. I planted my spear into the rooftop. Daki watched curiously with a low huh. I closed my eyes and with the last inhale, I felt my lungs filling with water. My entire body began to shake and my organs tighten. It was time to open the channels of my energy.

“What the hell, are you drowning!” Daki shrieked. My energy flows like water in my stomach constantly moving in a peaceful circular movement. It represents balance. It is a smooth current and allows me to better control my abilities without letting my emotions dictate them. Some Orisha, like my cousin the lightning Orisha, refuses to keep his energy channels closed. He likes being able to go all out in a blink of an eye.

I can no longer breathe the air, but more so three slits opened on either side of my neck. I could see it all, are all the blue energy traces of water all around me. I dipped my hip to the left, the body of water in the vicinity swayed left. I dipped and swayed my hip to the right. Now traces of water appeared in the air as if swaying with my hip movements. Soft droplets of water began to come from the sky. Yes, opening all the channels in my body made me feel so alive, so powerful!

“Your hair…it’s all white. I-it looks even better than mine! Die!” say the figure shrouded in black who comes at me, claws out. I smirked

“Water stagnation!” I roared and suddenly her entire body stilled and my eyes widened as pain moved through her body only this time it was already at the highest of pain levels. The sun! She screamed as her body jerked heavily back and forth, a scream of pure terror on her face.

“AAAHHHH IT HURTS BROTH-“ but before she could finish her pathetic screaming, her eyes widened and her words were cut off as I smirked at the shadow that flew up her body.

The roaring wave of water slammed down onto the demon moving to enter her body through any hole on her body.

Water poured into the district like a raging flood and I smiled wickedly as the water continued to fill her.

“No Ayo don’t!”

I growled and turned looking down to see Tanjiro and the other boys holding onto a home for dear life as the water was threatening to blow them all the way. I looked up to see Gyutaro and Tengen slashing weapons and yelling.

“You can’t destroy the city, Ayo! Innocent people will get hurt!” Tanjiro yelled. I winced at his word. Should I care? Should I sacrifice their lives to kill this demon? What would my cousin say?

“Fuck em!”

No! I would never want you to sacrifice your humanity like that! Not for the Demon Slayer Corps, not for the other Hashira, and not for me! You are powerful, but I don’t believe that you are anywhere close to demonic. Demons are all led by one thing and one thing only: devouring humans. It’s all they know, it’s all they can think about in order to survive. I may not know a lot about Orisha, but after having met you I know you are more human than a demon can ever hope to be.

Kyojuro. His words echoed in my mind, his smiling confident face. I looked over at Daki whose body was expanding growing larger and larger. She could not even control her belt.

“This is no longer a battle, this is an execution.” I said. Now all the water that was flooding the city rose into the sky with a massive roar and began to move about the sky with such speed.

“What is that!” Inosuke said, and everyone looked as the water formed a roaring lion that roared so loudly it shook the earth. Daki’s eyes widened at the monstrous creature was coming at her. I smirked as it was all for show so no one would sense his appearance.

“Daki!” Gyutaro roared.

“Would you like this one… brother?” I yelled, the water evaporating immediately disappearing from every crevice in the town and I just smiled at Bambaataa’s large form appeared behind the bloated demon. Even as the water expanded in her body, she managed to shakily turn with wide eyes as Bambaataa stood there, hammer out. She screamed harshly.

“HELL YEAH!” My brother roared swinging his hammer as hard as he could until it connected with Daki’s screaming face. Her face popped and her body immediately disintegrated. My brother was yelling so hard, I did not even hear the pained scream of Gyutaro.

I watched as the body turned to ash.

“Oh damn you did it!” Inosuke cheered. However a form appeared behind my brother, sickles out and ready to slash my brother’s throat.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” Gyutaro snarled. He’s fast, but my brother is fast. He turns with such sharpness you would miss it if you blinked. His hand caught Gyutaro’s throat and that immobilized him completely. The demon let out a gasp, an actual gasp of pain. He tried to slam one of his sickles into my brother, but the blade did not pierce the black fabric at all.

Immediately Gyutaro’s eyes widened as he looked past him at me, and I just frowned as I watched my brother place his free hand atop of the demons forehead.

“Woah, he completely immobilized him!” Tanjiro yelled. Tengen wasn’t too far from the rooftop watching with wide eyes.

I tilted my head and watched as Gyutaro’s eyes began to blacken, his body shaking violently.

“You have experienced pain before. Your childhood is sickening. I can understand why you’d become a demon. But you put your hands on my sister.” Bambaataa said lowly. Gyutaro’s eyes widened. “So I will show you what true pain is.”

Bambaataa uses the energy from the earth. Those that have been tortured in the past, and buried have had their spirits combined into the soil and earth. My brother can pull that tortured energy from the earth and put that pain inside any human or demon. If it’s met the earth he can use the spiritual energy in it. It can render the body completely useless as the mind is attacked harshly.

Gyutaro’s sickles immediately vanished making everyone gasp at the sight. His body began to convulse and shake as pain began to devours his body from everything he was seeing. He snarled and roared clawing at Bambaataa yet he was not phased by the last minute attempt.

“Help me Ayo! Help me!” He cried out and I stared with a glimpse of pain because I know he is not calling for me. He is calling for my mother. The heat in the air rose and I watched as the sun began to meet the sky. As if he were trash, Bambaataa tossed him aside the rays from the sun hitting him causing his body to burn immediately.

I stared at the ashes for a minute before looking at my brother who approached me. He came because I opened the channels in my body. He came to ensure I didn’t go overboard with opening the energy channel inside me.

I didn’t really think he cared about anyone here in Japan. But I know harming even one human could cause a chain of events that would not just harm us, but also Femi and Kyojuro. I closed my eyes gently and just placed my forehead into his chest. I breathed lightly as I felt my hair darken minus my one streak and my stomach muscles lock up for a split second a sign all my channels were closed. My gills closed and I just opened my mouth letting my lungs drain of water and pour out of my throat.

“You could have done a lot worse, but you didn’t. No humans died. You did good little sister.” he praised gently into my hair and I sniffled and nodded.

“AYO, BAMBAATAA YOU DID IT!” Tanjiro yelled. Now everyone was approaching.

“My God you actually did it… you killed an upper moon. And with such a flashy entrance!” Tengen replied as if astonished. I smiled gently looking at the Hashira.

“It was Bambaataa who killed them both.” I said proudly.

“Had my sister not helped with her water stagnation then they would still have enough power to fight back. The sun was our biggest ally here. You all kept them out long enough and weakened them. You all did well.” he said which made me look at my brother stunned. I could tell Inosuke was happy as he snorted out a puff of air happily and Tanjiro only chuckled.

“Lord Ubuyashiki will be quite proud that his new allies helped destroy an upper ranked demon. With you both on our side, we may really have a chance to beat Kibutsuji.” Tengen said happily.

My brother and I both nodded before hi turned to me.

“I will return to the manor. Rest up and return home to your mate.” He said. My eyes widened at his words. He acknowledged Kyojuro not only as my mate, but his equal. I smiled and nodded and watched as he jumped off the building and was devoured by the earth. I looked at my wounded and tired friends.

“Come let me heal you all.” I replied.

“And then let’s get some food!” Inosuke said. Zenitsu peaked his eyes open and yawned.

“What I miss?” He asked gently.

Once our wounds healed, we made our way from the district. Things were still a little wet after the rain cleared and the water drained. I looked at the entrance of the quiet city now that the sun was out.

”Ayo.” Tanjiro said catching my attention.

”Eh?” I asked and he looked up at me with a gentle gaze.

”Are you alright?” He asked. I tilted my head.

”Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked curiously and he sighed gently looking down at the ground.

”when you were fighting the female demon… I watched as your entire form turned from you to something else.” he said. I wasn’t surprised by his words and I nodded giving a graceful smile.

”Don’t worry young Tanjiro. Whatever form I take, know it’s a form that must be taken to protect you all.” I replied placing my hand on his head. He smiled gently and nodded.

”Right!” He said happily and together we moved onto the road.

“Ayo you gotta tell me what kind of breathing style that was back there! I don’t know about you all but I’m pretty sure that wave of water looked like a lion!” Inosuke gushed with excitement.

”I don’t know what he’s talking about but it sounds intense.” Zenitsu said.

”Yeah that’s because you were asleep the whole time. I kind of like you better asleep.” Inosuke huffed making the two start to butt heads with Tanjiro trying to break it up. Tengen was beside me and he looked down at me with a light stare.

”You and your brother really surprised me back there. The master will be quite happy with the news we will bring him. But know this, Kibutsuji will be coming at you now with everything he’s got.” He warned. I nodded looking ahead now.

”I know.” I replied with strong eyes.

[scn-thedog]

PVPCIV WORLDBUILDING THOUGHT DUMP

i think there's differences in swords … not the actual swords but the people. like the wooden swords/pvp noobs are naturally more skinny and small and stuff because they can't afford food often… someone who was "born" in the wooden sword level will most likely be way shorter and skinnier than someone born in the stone sword level ←this is assuming spawning works kinda like how it does in parkciv and everyone doesn't just start out in the wooden sword level !! tabi is an exception to this and is Very Tall compared to most wooden swords :-)

iron swords are usually more bulky and fat because . they can afford to eat. most of them have claws or long nails because they don't need to fight teeth and nail to survive and long nails used to be a symbol of status (because it meant you could afford them to be long .bceause you didn't do farm work and stuff that would keep them short/make you cut them) . not a lot of people were born there though, the little ones that were born there are actually taller and pale-er than the average pvp citizen!

stone swords however are probably the most bulky …they fighting a lot!! and can afford food more than wood swords. most of the people born there have more scars than the average pvp civilization citizen since they're born in the level that fights the most . the second most resourceful level too, a lot of stone swords know how to use their items …and since they can actually get items they can do stuff with them (the wooden swords would be more resourceful than them if they could afford items more often) . typically very muscular BUT not tall

eating is seen as something very special and indicative of status since it's only ever used for healing most of the time, inviting someone to eat is seen as a super duper important invitation since food is so weirdly just …eaten . this only ever happens in the iron sword level though, and it's completely unheard of in the stone and wood levels

a lot of famine food like dishes go around since people prefer to ease their stomachs with something even if it won't help them heal or anything, so grass, bark, moss, seeds, etc. is commonly consumed to ease hunger. actual food is used solely for healing most of the time

↑↑↑wooden swords are the ones coming up with most of these dishes. it's so common for them to originate from there it's become common to refer to bad food (like beetroots and melon and other stuff that doesn't help with hunger) as "wooden food" or any similar variations

let's talk terminology !! "wooden" and "upper layer" is slang for cheap/bad. saying something is wooden would be to say it's cheap and/or bad (e.j.: "this is wooden food" "these are upper layer prices"). obviously a reference to the wooden sword level

↑wooden swords get back by calling layers below them moles, rats, and any less flattering variations like what zam called the diamond swords

stone swords are stereotyped to be the most agressive and irrational . it's not uncommon to say "stop being such a stone sword" to tell someone to calm down

i think that's it regarding pvpciv as the civilization. smiley face