#felt like posting the art apart from the Lore

[highabovethecloudssomewhere]

something something wing AU

[meruz]

hi meruz please tell me all your thoughts on outer wilds I am absolutely Living rn

HI oh my god i have so many thoughts. I think I'm gonna keep posting fanart so this definitely isnt gonna be my last word on the matter but wow what a game! um... idk if I wanna just type forever but I can give you at least a few key thoughts I had...

It took me a second to get into! I had been waiting for the switch port so I was really excited starting out but there were a couple early play sessions months apart where I was struggling with the controls and overwhelmed with the openness...I have a hard time with a lot of open worlds games because I just..dont have a lot of free time LOL. But I was complaining abt this to my brother and he was also having a hard time rly digging into the game so when he flew over to visit me a couple weeks ago I was like ok lets do this together (incentivizing gaming by making it social/co-operative). And we had a blast!!! it rly is the type of game you can play as co-op just by having someone else on the couch or on stream doin the thinking alongside you or bouncing theories off of. I do think he's a much better puzzle solver than me though lol (he works in research, so he's got that researcher brain), he made a lot of the leaps of logic way early while I was still turning things over in my head lmao.... AND he's better with the controls because he plays a lot of flight sims?! i think he got annoyed watching me bumble around anytime i had the controller. my sole contribution was doing the stealthy parts in the dlc because im stupid and consequentially lack fear.

I kind of grew up playing majoras mask and windwaker like that was the era of zelda games I was rly activated and engaged for as a kid and I didn't realize how much I was missing and craving that type of experience again LOL. I think especially with how I personally felt that tears of the kingdom was narratively and structurally a step down from botw... idk... i mean you can tell from interviews abt Outer Wilds that the devs clearly have a lot of affection for and thoughts abt the Zelda series as well and I think Outer Wilds was like such a good encapsulation of everything I loved abt those games and also everything I wish they would do lol!! IT ALSO kind of solved a lot of my pain points with open world games and did it in a way that was so elegant... like I think i initially recoiled at the openness but then when i started exploring and realized the scope and level of detail it rly clicked into place.. im just in awe.

umm i love every hearthian they were all so charming. it rly did feel like an older school of nintendo rpg where every npc has so much personality lol. i loved that every alien race in the game was some weird animal like the designs for all of them were rly good. i love that it was a "worn" universe and that everything looked old or used. I love astronomy and space and space concepts but I don't really like really lofty and impersonal/minimalist scifi so i feel like this was a great and accessible art direction for me personally. i especially thought the backpacking/outerdoorsy aesthetic was really inspired! I think "exploration" sometimes exists on a spectrum where one end of it can be really colonialist/militaristic LOL... UM which im not like. fully against i think it can be an interesting idea to dissect? but i feel like we see it a lot and it was neat to see this which felt like the complete opposite end of that spectrum. weirdly enough playing Outer Wilds made me immediately go and finally finish Firewatch right after but I felt a little spoiled I was like ehh..that was good but it wasn't Outer Wilds LOL.

i think a lot of the themes reminded me of lord of the rings/tolkien lore LOL IDK. I GUESS THIS IS LIKE BIG SPOILERS SO if you havent played dont read but like. the entire concept of being born at the end of a great and enormous world/age with a rich history and you only getting to see the end of it, living in the shadow of great civilization...keeping your humble home in your heart idk. but then also the new world being a song ... I'm a sucker. I love it.

yeah sorry only compliments. anyways yeah i want to do more fanart... soon!! hopefully!

[drenched-in-sunlight]

"Marika becomes the sum of all the Fromsoft girlies" is nice but you forgot Nashandra who actually has parallels with Marika! Recommending to check it out, she's cool!

let’s get this out of the way now… I love DS2, I think the vibe and gameplay is immaculate and I’ll defend it as a whimsical and enjoyable videogame experience till the end of time.

But my god, I hate how they handle female characters in that one 💀

In fact, I don’t like how they handle female characters in DS franchise in general. It got a bit better in Bloodborne and Sekiro and especially AC6, but overall ever since I started playing Fromsoft game in 2020, my main gripe with them is they only have 2 tropes to shoehorn their female character into: helpless victim of a system that would mangle and exploit them OR serious sword lady. And if I’m being real, it’s the main gripe I have with Elden Ring base game too?

I didn’t discuss it on tumblr because back then I were still trying to keep this blog art-focused, but when the game came out in 2022, I did express my concern on twitter that I found the female characters cast… strangely lacking. Because I went into the game expecting Ema-level of writing (literally Sekiro’s Ema is one of the best female characters Fromsoft has ever written to this day I could and have talked ppl’s ears off about her. And I’m glad she on her own is very different from Marika. That means they could at least write 2 more types of female characters now the bar is on the floor but I’ll take it and cherish what I have), but it felt like they got reset back to DS franchise with ER base game.

(This has an added layer of me being a girl born, raised and lived in a Sinosphere country that is entrenched in Confucius values just like Japan, so yes I do understand and experience firsthand the underlying culture values that shapes their writing. Hell, I live and study postgraduate in Japan for 2 years too).

But we are going off track, this is about DS2. Now, my problem with DS2 is, see, with 1 or 3, the female characters either have very little agency or no agency at all. And it just…. be like that. The male characters are somewhat the same, so it really doesn’t bother me that much. The cool, unique, not sexualized design is enough. But 2?

2 has a lot of female characters…. who either play no role in the world setting or sinister figures that charm men and bring ruins to kingdoms? What?

(Before anyone says “but Lucatiel—” Lucatiel is the beacon of light in that game, yes, but at the same time her purpose centering around her brother is… also a problem I have with the way they handle Malenia’s story. My Fromsoft experience has lore to it as well jfc)

Like, it’s just ??? to me half of those women have no agency or backstory whatsoever apart from being the Dark’s daughters that would bring doom everywhere they go??? You can say everything wrong in DS2 world is their fault and I actually wouldn’t have much to argue. Actually, it’s interesting you bring up Nashandra because I do think Nashandra has parallel in Elden Ring. But not to Marika.

Nanaya.

That’s who reminds me of Nashandra in Elden Ring. Literally the mysterious, lowkey nefarious lady and her old man husband with questionable dynamic DS2 trope 🧍‍♀️ you can actually see that in their name too.

If I have to pick a character in DS franchise specifically to make parallel to Marika, it’ll always be Gwynevere. Because I honestly think it’s amazing they took a character that has the least amount of agency they’ve ever created, and turned the core concept of her (warmth, healing spells, sunlight, mother, daughter, queen, faith) into another character with actual good writing.

That’s why I didn’t include Nashandra in my previous post. Not because I don’t know about her. It’s because I know.

[leahnardo-da-veggie]

Introductions (2.1.1)

About me:

↪ Leah, she/her/any pronouns

↪ In my early 20s

↪ Reader, writer, sometime animator and artist

↪ Big cannibalism fan. Huge, really ;)

↪ Been doing martial arts for over a decade

↪Fan of CJ Cherryh

↪I reblog stuff from @leahpardo-pa-potato

My writing:

↪ Generally horror, with sides of fantasy

↪Posted in regular chunks of 500-1k words

↪I love tag games, esp OC ones :)

↪I do mini-series, one-shots, and novels

↪I will love you forever if you send me an ask

↪See my full list of one-shots here and my longer pieces below

My art and animation:

↪Masterpost here

↪Mostly blender 3d animations, though I do a bit of drawing too

↪ Don't expect it quite as often as my writing ;)

↪Just interact here to join the taglist!

WIPs / Longer stories

The Unwanted Visitor: (Completed)

Aida's house has been haunted by a spirit for as long as she can remember. Thing is, she's grown used to her Unwanted Visitor (or Vis, as she likes to call him). So when exorcists come after him, she does what any sane person would: protect her brother friend.

↪ Urban fantasy-comedy, very light-hearted

↪A lot of found family and sibling squabbling

↪If you like teens causing chaos, this is for you!

↪Final bit here

A Perfectly Normal Schoolgirl: (Completed)

All Katherine wants is to eat mortal food, bask in the warmth, and be a normal schoolgirl. But when a boy begs her to help him save her parents, she finds herself fighting for her (and his) life once more.

↪Urban fantasy with a side of horror

↪ Basically an inversion of a bunch of tropes

↪My attempt at writing fantasy without mentioning magic by name

↪Full thing here

Convenience Store Vampire: (Completed)

You'd expect vampires to be imposing and terrifying, masters of the night and princes of darkness. But that's not Davie, no siree. He's stuck down by Sunny Mart, working all day to scrape by. The last thing he wants is any trouble. Unfortunately for him, that's exactly what he's getting.

↪Silly urban fantasy shenanigans

↪ What it says on the tin + slice of life

↪Full thing here

A Tale for A Mouse: (Completed)

Who doesn't like to listen to evil old dark lords monologue about their childhood? Take a seat and come hear the story of the Spirit Emperor, as told by the man himself!

↪Cannibalism. Lots of it. World building too :D

↪High fantasy told via monologue

↪I cannot stress how proud I am of this.

↪Full thing here

Fast Food:

An embarrassment to his entire tribe, Hash is lazy and uninterested in anything. So, when he reaches majority, he gets unceremoniously booted out of home. Follow his adventures through Triworld, as he somehow ends up in every single single conflict across the continent.

↪High fantasy with a side of humour

↪Very heavy Lore™ and Worldbuilding™

↪ My excuse to ramble about fictional history

↪Latest bit here :)

A Tale of Love, Death, and Maggots:

Doc's been wandering through hell for a good twenty years, now. He thought he'd seen it all. He thought he'd felt it all. He thought he'd lost it all. But it turns out love just has a way of crawling back into his chest and breaking his heart again.

↪ Tragedy, fantasy?, horror?, Idk it's a weird little thing

↪I hope you like death because this sure has a lot of it

↪Latest bit here and here's a moodboard of it

Lich-Queen (Completed):

Iraela has all but won: the King of Ceredell and his bride are gone, the cities fallen to her army of undead, and the way to the throne cleared for her. But her coronation, and her sanity threaten to fall apart under the weight of duty. Can she hold it together until she truly becomes Lich-Queen?

↪High, dark fantasy with some horror and gore

↪Watch Ira slowly lose her mind in real-time

↪If you like cannibalism, you'll love this

↪Full thing here

The Novel™ (Mind of a Mercenary):

Luna, Terror of Garvenoi, mind-mage extraordinaire, has been caught at last. Whilst everyone celebrates, she is given an ultimatum: Be an indentured hunter for the government, or die. But when she signs on with them, she finds that perhaps death might have been a better choice...

↪ Urban Fantasy set in a Non-Earth world

↪Starring a sassy, mean-girl villain protagonist

↪Enjoy several hundred pages of Luna trying and failing to run from her duties

↪Find snippets here (find the others on my masterlist of writing)

Finally, my taglist! If you interacted with this post/already asked me to add you, and you don't see yourself here, please remind me! I may have accidentally missed you :')

Oh pls kill me I felt so silly doing this- Anyways bye guys hope to see y'all around don't judge me for this

[cityofmeliora]

kinda late but here is the Terzo childhood headcanons AKA new yorker Terzo post. for @plaquerat <3

ok so. i don't really have a solid interpretation of the lore, and my headcanons aren't very detailed. i'm open to floating a lot of different ideas. here are some that i like:

i've liked the idea that Terzo was primarily raised by his mother ever since i first saw the interview where TF (as nameless ghoul) suggests Terzo may be nicer than Secondo because "he seems to have, i dont know, a kinder mother?" and then i found the official instagram post mentioning Terzo's mother attending his concert in New York, and i was like 'oh! maybe she lives there. maybe Terzo used to live there with her.' it got me thinking...

Terzo was born in california and then moved to new york with his mom after she and Nihil split.

seeing the skyscrapers in new york for the first time was a really formative experience for him. that sense of awe he felt eventually inspired his interest in art deco and futurist art. new york became the base for his imaginary city of Meliora. (this is partly inspired by my own experience as a native californian because we don't really have tall buildings in california and i FREAKED OUT when i visited new york and chicago and saw REAL tall buildings.)

Terzo's mother was an artist and he spent a lot of time in the studio with her and her artist friends. their apartment walls were covered with Terzo's own art.

art and music and culture have always been at the center of Terzo's life. he and his mom would always be listening to music or viewing art galleries or watching movies together. i think Terzo's dynamic with his mother was very much like this anecdote from Carly Rae Jepsen:

My mom and I would sit and meticulously go through Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell lyrics together. Even from a young age I remember her being like, “I’m playing this Leonard Cohen song called ‘Famous Blue Raincoat,’ and when it’s done I want you to tell me what’s going on in it.” She would give me like a fake glass of wine when I was 8, and I would listen and be like, “I think there was an affair.” Pitchfork - Carly Rae Jepsen on the Music That Made Her (2019)

Terzo turned out to be a gifted child. super smart and naturally talented at a lot of things, but he particularly loved to build with lego / blocks and play piano.

Terzo had a great relationship with his mom. she always supported him and encouraged him to pursue his interests and to do his best.

Terzo missed his dad though. his parents had been together long enough for Terzo to remember him. he was just a kid. he didn't know any better.

when Ghost debuted and Nihil became an internationally famous one-hit wonder, Terzo developed this idealized image of Nihil as a cool rock star cultural icon in his head. idolized him a bit.

after this, Terzo decided he wanted to get serious about becoming an entertainer / musician. started doing piano recitals and competitions. youth theater. film club. all the things.

if anyone asked Terzo why he wanted to become an entertainer, he'd tell them it's because it's what he's good at. and he's always wanted to be famous. which was true, but...

what he wouldn't tell them is that a part of him was trying to emulate [his idea of] his dad and secretly hoping that if he shared that interest / became famous his dad would want come back into his life.

he knew his mom was always there supporting him, but every time he went onstage he would look out into the audience hoping his dad might be there to surprise him. (he never was.)

Nihil was the first of many many disappointments in Terzo's life.

oops! i made it sad.

anyway here's a doodle of kid Terzo getting a postcard from his dad... he didn't hear from his dad again for a very. very long time after that.

there are a lot of details i haven't square hammered out, but it's okay because these headcanons are mostly for me to like, frame Terzo's character development over time. might post more later :)

[nicomoon69]

I’ve made up so much Bernard lore in my head so I’m just going to dump it here

so post Louis Grieve in my head Bernard transferred to an all boys boarding school his junior year (someone suggested Brentwood so I’m gonna go w that). his parents sent him there as a bit of a last ditch effort to straighten him out, get up his grades and push him out of his silly habits. this also included them making him buzz off his hair since they deemed his old hair unprofessional.

all of it was a huge blow to Bernard’s already fragile mental health and self esteem so at Brentwood he was kind of a mess. he wasn’t exactly a bad student but the people around him considered him even more of an outsider than he was before at Louis Grieve.

eventually Bernard did find himself with a small group of friends (might further develop them as ocs??) who were much like him outsiders. one of said friends also being the first time he fooled around with a guy, which led to several more though none of it was ever serious.

there was lots of denial at first but by the time his time at Brentwood ended Bernard had accepted himself as queer.

he applied for a few colleges, some outside of Gotham but he ended up settling for GU bc part of his couldnt handle leaving his city behind. he chose a double major because he thought that would make his parents most proud and bc biology and physics were the only subjects he enjoyed.

despite everything seemingly going well for Bernard he felt an emptiness that nothing could fix, that is until he found the Children of Dionysus. despite knowing the risks of joining a cult he did. he was in the cult for roughly eight months before he got kidnapped to get sacrificed.

that was a rough version of what happened in my head. I have some more details that I couldn’t fit smoothly into that word vomit so here’s some more

Bernard came out to his parents his first semester, which they took pretty badly and led him to getting kicked out and having to couch surf for a bit before landing on the apartment he was living in during TD:R.

to keep himself afloat with no support from his parents Bernard worked two jobs, one at a diner around the corner of his apartment and the other at a coffee shop closer to GU.

at Brentwood Bernard did a lot of experimental stuff with his appearance ranging from spiking his hair after it had grown out a bit to getting his ears pierced multiple times. a tongue piercing came along somewhere in his time at the cult and Bernard genuinely doesn’t remember getting it.

during junior and senior year Bernard joined the basketball team. he was surprisingly good considering he had never showed any interest in the sport and wasn’t particularly athletic before then. basketball somehow also led him to training himself in martial arts.

since I do hc the Children of Dionysus to have some more Dionysian practices I think Bernard developed both a distaste for wine and eating raw meat (omophagia).

Bernard has been refusing to get drastic hair cuts after the buzz cut and is unlikely to get one any time soon. he’s been taking kitchen scissors to his hair and freestyling it if he feels it needs more shape.

though he’s been out for a while Bernard hasn’t actually dated anyone long term before Tim. most people he’s been with were flings or were blocked after a few dates.

the way Bernard got into contact with the cult is through one of his high school classmates, who he’d seen talk about the ways that joining it had improved their life and how they were much more enlightened. he due to his circumstances was an easy victim after his initial skepticism

there’s just a lot of permanent scarring due to the cult, but Bernard doesn’t bother covering them up with make up or clothes. at least not post getting rescued.

Bernard actually goes to therapy after the cult and was also diagnosed with autism (let me project a teeny bit). it helped him make more sense of his life and gave him more direction.

his cooking passion came from his early childhood, being dimmed out in middle school and only returning after high school. he mostly enjoys writing his own recipes and experimenting with taste. there was ofc the added challenge of budget, but it was one of the few things that made him happy.

his conspiracy theorist side mostly calmed down until he was thrust back into it when he started dating Tim. this was due to odd behavior from Tim and until Bernard found out he was RR (which really didn’t take that long) he was balls deep on conspiracy blogs and threads. he didn’t really quite after putting the RR pieces together though, bc he enjoyed being able to subtly help Tim with his cases.

due to the two jobs and double major previously mentioned Bernard has a terrible sleeping schedule. he regularly stays up past three only to have a morning shift that starts at seven.

gonna quite rambling for now lol, might edit this post to add more in the morning but I’m sick of typing. sorry if it’s a lot, I just think abt him a lot……. yea..

[zeondraws]

I may be blind and have not tried to explore all the file locations in fmodel until now.

Found where the map textures are located, or for example all the people that died like Jamie, Kelly and all. I finally got a good look at Kelly!

This here be Kelly

Poor bastard

Okay, with this in mind I'll go through all folders in fmodel at some point, I have to see what else I can find. Found some unused/to be deleted folders which I found interesting

Hhmmm yes

So much work ahead, it really eats away my time, I've noticed, couldn't finish artworks recently. Mostly tried to work on that one AU drawing to have it almost done. But all this research eats my time which results in less time for art. Then I watch everyone else draw so much and I sit there thinking, man..

When I listen to soundfiles I can't draw at the same time since I need to stay focused on the sounds. However I managed to listen through 2k yesterday. I really really wanna be sure I have all the sounds for the Muir video, I literally found a different version of a perch howl yesterday! That one was not inside the actual Muir folder.

raaaah, the lore thickens. This could mean I can stumble upon other soundfiles from Muir that aren't in his Puppet folder. I only have... 16000 files to go through now. Number is getting smaller (I managed to listen to over 8.000 now).

If anyone ever wonders if I'll make a video of the soundfiles of other Puppets... maybe.. but I'd have to sort all these darn soundfiles from the Media folder. It's probably why people before me didn't bother at all. It took me over 2h and 30min to listen to 2000 files. Now calculate how much I need for 16000

Hhhmmm forbidden gummi, these are from Roper-

But hm, I currently want to finish that one artwork, then I need to sit down and draw something for a friend of mine for Secret Santa. Want to finish this Muir video before the year ends (I want to see it finished soooo badly). And maybe continue that super detailed Muir painting I had to put on hold, due to moving. The one I mean is shown on my pinned post here, that already took days to make and I'm not even halfway done with it. I want to see how far I can push my render skills atm.

Oh and draw a bunch of buses again, but on paper to get better with traditional art.

I always had problems managing my time (nothing new for me, so don't be confused if I do 6273728 things at once XD), tho I probably will figure out how to deal with this at some point. I always got yelled at, at my old workplace for taking too long on things, even tho my coworker kept giving me new tasks to work on so I couldn't finish the first thing he wanted, so he became more angry at me if I spend 3 weeks on something. Or spend 3 days on a task he usually finishes in 1 day, like. What? Like, he became soooo weird about it, that he tried to be angry about anythiiiing. And then he got confused when he heard what I told other coworkers in private. When he said that, I got flashbacks to my other uncle being angry that I told teachers how bad I felt mentally (at school). This is so confusing

I got praised for my work in the new job, which is wild that they don't expect me to work like a machine but to take my time. People aren't so focused on speed here.

So I don't know if my way of working on things is super bad, or if it's just dunno, big projects require so much energy and time. And then I watch everyone do so much art and I'm like waaaaiiit I wanna draw too Aaaaaaa. I wish I could eat art, because I frkn love art so much I shake my fists in the air whenever I see gorgeous artworks from others. Or see some absolutely stunning moviessssss.

I need to buy frames- I need to hang some drawings.

Okay Fellas, imma go tidy up my apartment and sort some stuff. I still have something to do in my bathroom.

busbusbusbusbusbusbusbusbusbusbbusbusbusbusbusbus

[iturastwordblog-youdidntseethis]

MASSIVE MAIN PIN POST FUCK YEEAH

Anyways uh Hi if you found this blog here's like a massive elaboration:

I feel I have to elaborate on the contents of my own blog why I draw/write what I do. This could also go for anyone else who finds this blog out of curiosity.

For starters, this blog is purely safe for work, no kinks no explicit art/subjects, none of that. I don't mind any people of any age interacting with my account as long is it's sfw on MY account as well. I want the safety to go both ways for me and other people. I as well want people to be able to explore their own tickle-related interests as I did on here, and I do so by posting about wholesome, fluffy content that's comforting, which is purely what corresponds with me as a person, leading onto point 2.

Getting personal here, I have absolutely 0 friends outside of my internet life. I stopped making friends around my junior year after too many just stopped or drifted apart from me, and the thought of just losing another person who knows me irl just kind of numbs me. And I've graduated. And the downside of going to a school in a different town is not knowing anyone at the town you live in. So I'm an anti social mess that just spends most of my time at home or at work, or being outside and exploring if it's warm enough.

Having no outside relationships is something I've gotten used to, but on a personal level, I am a sad touch-starved piece of shit who just enjoys the thought of the physical touch love language, (as well as some gift giving, but, like I said, no irl friends to give gifts to.)

Lore time. My curiosity kind of sprouted back in uh... 6th grade I think. Watching yt videos and looking at art on Google in secret and remembering I felt kinda uncomfortable at the kinks?

Eventually I made this blog around 2022.. I think. Was never active, but at the time I was very into the DSMP, loved it, but I am upset I joined that fandom so late. But, out of curiosity, I decided to come here and search "DSMP tickle" and that set everything into motion for me. I saw fanfics, art, headcanons and that was the spark that lit everything to me. I can thank that wonderful side of the DSMP for unleashing myself and allowing me to step out of my comfort zone, making a dsmp-sona (which is now Itura but in my personal fantasy SMP) and molding at her lore.

I loved being apart of the dsmp tickle side of it all, making friends and such, but eventually, the members of the dsmp started to get bad reps and I eventually stepped back from the fandom and created and planned out my own fantasy SMP, the WingSMP. I very much want to make it real in the far future, but right now, all I have is two ocs and my boyfriend's Oc. I still need to expose the basic lore.

But at the same time, I continued to make tickle content and still earned followers while doing so. I'm proud of the amount of followers I have now, and I hope that more people would like to make their own WingSMP ocs or become tword art mutuals, just drawing each other's ocs back and forth.

Yeah. I'm touch starved, I wanna be platonically cuddled/held/tickled just so I actually feel physically comforted for the first time since, what, 2nd grade? Mental and emotional comfort is just numb to me at this point. "You're doing a great job!" "I'm proud of you!" "You don't have anything to be sorry for!" Is all just in one ear out the other. I just wanna be tickled from time to time (And mayyybe with some teases >///>) and just given aftercare once it's over. I find that the purest form of comfort in my opinion and I want to experience it.

Am I cringe for wanting this? Absolutely. Am I embarrassed to be admitting all of this to anyone who sees this. Without a doubt. But to those who ever come across this, whether it's from tiktok, discord or some other platform, at least knowing this may help better understand one of my more hidden secrets.

Now Onto the OC ref sheets (WIP, Post will be edited)

_____________________________

Itura and OverWing finally have their ref sheets made! And soon, OverWing's tickle ref sheet will be made soooooon! (Itura's is made already). This will be a pinned post once and will be edited once I get these concepts along with my main Sona's ref sheet (*cough* and uh, tickle ref sheet). These 3 Ituras will be the recognized concepts of this blog!

Itura (bound)

OverWing

Tword ref sheets: (In the works when I actually feel motivated.)

[floofers-1]

One Piece: Dove

Summary: The brightest lights often illuminate at the moment things seem the darkest. After consuming a devil fruit a young celestial dragon is kicked out of Mariejois and things fall apart until when all hope seemed lost a certain pink bastard shows his face, pulls her from hell and into paradise.

Pairing: Donquixote Doflamingo x Saint Maria (OC)

Word Count: 11.2K

Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Human Trafficking, Original Devil Fruit, Romance, OCs, Torture, Death, Lore heavy

Notes: I decided to try posting some of my ao3 content onto Tumblr. This is the lore of my oc for a pairing with Doffy, I'm very normal about this man. The angstiest thing I'll probably ever post in terms of topics. Italics is either thoughts or emphasis on smth and I make it decently clear when it's thinking. Line breaks indicate time passing/ major scene change, Art done by my wife @wattabotta / Now with better dividers and and keep reading!

In the holy land of Mariejois, 16 years prior to the Straw Hats and Trafalgar Law overthrowing Dressrosa. Inside a large manor a 12 year old girl was harassing her father for what must have been the umpteenth time of the day. The girl wore a short white dress with floral patterns at the base of the skirt and cuffs of the slightly puffed shoulders. Her neck adorned with a silver necklace, her legs covered with a pair of white stockings that meet her black slightly heeled shoes. She had milky brown hair in an elegant braided bun on top of her hair with some bangs swept to the side.

“Father, pleaseeee I need that fruit!” She whined whilst tugging on her fathers white and gold coat. Her father groaned and rubbed between his eyebrows. He was normally not a man to deny his daughter anything, but the request this time simply felt unnecessary.

“Maria, how many times do we have to go over this?” Her fathers deep voice was laced with frustration. “You cannot consume one of those fruits no matter what power you may gain.” Her father then shoved her to the ground. “It was a mistake to let you read those fairy tales and an even greater mistake to let you look into that vile encyclopedia. You are a descendant of the gods. What use would that fruit have to you?! You have all the power in the world at your fingertips already, You can have endless slaves.” The man sat down in a large purple felt chair and without even needing to snap his fingers, a shirtless man crawled over and let his joints lay on the ground acting as a footstool. “Want a exotic pet, name it and it’s yours. Wish for someone’s execution, shoot them yourself and no one will bat an eye.” With one large clearing of his throat a cup of tea was placed in front of the man by yet another nearly nude male.

“You don’t understand papa! With that fruit, I’d be even more divine, no doctor in the world can give me what I need. That fruit is my only hope at being happy, life is worthless without it.” Maria’s brown eyes began to well up with tears.

“Maria, don’t you dare give me those fake tears. A young lady like yourself should not be crying at this age.” Maria’s father then snapped his fingers signaling a pair of slaves to rush forward and start a fire in the large and regal fireplace that stood a few feet away.

“What would mother think about you saying no to me!” Maria shouted, causing the room to fall silent and her father to rise.

“You spoiled brat!” Her father’s hand struck her face with a loud smack echoing in the room. Maria’s face stinging caused her to curl up and begin wailing, a few well dressed female slaves rushed over and attempted to comfort the sobbing girl. Seconds began stretching longer and longer as the wailing wouldn’t stop, each cry eating away at Maria’s father.

“Why don’t you love me father?” Maria’s gentle voice managed through sobs. That was the final straw; her father swooped in picking up Maria and rocking her. He simply couldn’t stand it anymore. She deserved what she wanted and he would get it for her however possible.

“I love you so much Maria. I’m sorry I hit you and said no. My baby girl deserves the world fed to her on a spoon if she wants. I’ll see what I can do to get you that fruit.” He cooed and gently began to hum as Maria clung to him.

“Thank you father! I love you too!” She continued to sob but this time out of joy. Her father sat down and let Maria sit in his lap while a slave brought over a transponder snail for the man.

“Let’s see what the navy can do for us.” He murmured while picking up the receiver and made a call.

It only took a month for the fruit to be found. It wasn’t all too sought after nor costly in berries. It was a fruit with little to no combative abilities, no pirate needed it except to brag about having a devil fruit to spare on board. No average citizen wanted to lose their ability to swim in the ocean over it. So it was only a matter of a one on one negotiation that certainly raised a few eyebrows. The pirate crew who did have it felt little need in keeping it but when they found out the navy wanted it clearly it meant something and thus the price began to rise and then stagnated. Once delivered to Mariejois a certain girl was over the moon.

“Father, look!” Maria cried as she jumped around, her hair rapidly grew longer than herself before returning to her natural hip length. “It’s perfect, I can style it how I want whenever! I’m not limited to the yearly waits and pains of the trash!” She spun around and danced while her hair fluctuated lengths.

“Yes it is beautiful Maria, but you have to promise me something.” Her father crouched down in front of Maria, his voice quiet and sprinkled with a hint of nervousness.

“What is it?” She raised her eyebrows slightly and attentively looked at her father, stopping her dancing.

“You must not let another dragon know about this. If you do, you cannot let them know how you obtained it.”

“Why?” Maria didn’t understand, part of the reason she wanted this fruit was to stand out and be the most beautiful lady in all of Mariejois, heck the whole world but that wouldn’t be hard since most of the world was filled with trash beneath her.

“If they found out you ate a devil fruit and I gave it to you, we could be kicked out of the holy land.” He began to sweat and panic at the idea. The only time someone had left the holy land permanently was that idiot from the Donquixote family who robbed his children of the life they had deserved. Maria began to shake at the thought of being removed from Mariejois, the idea of no longer being an all powerful celestial dragon simply couldn’t compute in her pampered brain. “So Maria, whatever you do, don't say a word.” At that moment, the clock began fast forwarding. The holy land of Mariejois felt more and more like a land mine when it came to mentioning Maria or why her father had begun to tighten his normally loose wallet until one fateful night.

“Father!” Maria screamed at the top of her lungs as she flailed against the marines now carrying her away. Her father meanwhile was bound to a pole with a pistol near his temple. “Let me go, you marines! Do you know who I am!?” Her struggles were futile. “They are going to shoot my father! Please stop them! He’s one of them and so am I! I’m a celestial dragon, put me down!”

“You were a celestial dragon.” A large man with a large marine jacket hanging off his shoulders spoke. “You then wasted that by consuming a devil fruit.” Maria’s eye’s both widened and shrunk. “To them and to us you're just some run of the mill commoner who’s tainted their blood.”

“Why are you taking me away, please help-!” Her voice went silent as a gunshot echoed over Mary Jois.

“Your father is being put down for tainting a dragon.” The large marine spoke once more and grabbed Maria by her head with one hand taking her away from the other marines. “Now you be quiet while we drop you off somewhere.” Was the last thing Maria remembers hearing before rudely waking up on a summer island in the middle of the grand line.

Through trials and errors she managed to fight for survival in the wilderness steering clear of the small town nearby for fear of what they might do to her. She recognized it. It was the island her father and her would visit for a 'mind opening experience'. Most of the time they simply abused the townsfolk for their goods and even killed a few who didn’t comply. They would surely recognize her if they saw her.

10 years prior to the chaos in Dressrosa. Maria, much to her reluctance, had become a somewhat capable outdoorsman. But one thing constantly remained an issue, she heavily lacked a green thumb and the ability to garden, thus leaving her reliant on stealing food from the townsfolk. Multiple incidents nearly revealed her identity and many nights she would go to bed hungry early on.

She had developed well despite the hunger; only losing a few inches to a foot in height from her lack of food early on. She had now started to concoct a plan to craft a small vessel and set sail across the seas in hopes of finding an island she could merge into and lay low. She was well aware she couldn’t return to Mariejois. Her father had constantly reminded her of that once she ate her devil fruit.

“That Donquixote boy was denied re-entry for his fathers actions, I’m positive the same would happen to you.”

It was just another evening for her. A little grab and go so she could eat. As the townsfolk prepared to close stalls but still sell was when they were most distracted. The evening started smoothly like any other. Most vendors didn’t even notice. She was sneaking down an ally to her final stop. The cured meat. It wasn’t her favorite but protein was protein. She took a deep breath and used the small puddle of water formed by gutter drippings as a mirror to see if the vendor had left or turned his back. She saw it, her split second opening. She swiped at some meat before her wrist was painfully cut off by a tight grip from a large hairy hand.

“Gotcha!” The meat vendor announced proudly to the whole street market. “We have our little thief!” He tugged Maria into the setting sun light. While she may have changed plenty of 6 years, the town immediately recognized her. “It’s you!”

“That celestial dragon brat has been stealing our stuff for the last few years!?” Another vendor shouted.

“If you’re stealing…” The meat vendor’s face contorted into a furious yet twisted smile. “That means you have no power anymore doesn’t it?” Maria was frozen, she was never able to properly hunt, when she did she was a trapper. Now she felt trapped herself. “Gather up the town! Tonight we have our revenge on our tormentor!” The townsfolk began to cheer loudly before Maria felt a heavy bonk on the back of her head.

Smoke and constraints aroused the girl from her unwanted slumber. She looked around in a panic. The sky was shimmering with stars, but black smoke began to pollute the skyline.

“She’s awake! The party can start!” One of the townsfolk notified the rest. Maria attempted to move but couldn't as she looked down, below her was a small sea of fire just barely missing her toes. Rope bound her to a tall post.

“Who gets first dibs!?”

“I got it!” She felt a smack and splat against her face as someone clocked her with a tomato that exploded against her. The crowd below her began to holler.

“Me next! She stole from my stall most often!” One woman protested and pelted Maria in the gut with a good sized rock. Quickly more and more rocks began to pelt and bruise Maria. She began to feel her eyes sting as the pain was rapidly becoming overwhelming.

“Please stop!” She wailed over the roaring mob which was greeted with laughter.

“Hear that everyone?!”

“She’s crying!”

“She’s begging trash like us to stop!”

“Give her hell!”

“She didn’t listen to our cries, why should we hers!”

Maria continued to take the onslaught, she had no choice and every single object that hit her chipped away little by little at her pride, her fire to survive. It was all her fault she was in this situation. Had she never gotten so greedy and wanted a devil fruit. She'd still be with her father happily in Mariejois. She wouldn’t have been stuck with this trash, forced to live below them.

“Hold on!” A feminine voice took over the crowd. The mob turned their heads to see a woman with blue hair pulling back an arrow in her bow. “Once the arrow is in. Aim for it.” The arrow whizzed in the air before piercing Maria in her right side, forcing a scream out of her. The mob followed up quickly by continuing their onslaught of rocks, vegetables and even a few attempted to take arrow shots.

“What’s going on here?” A gruff voice asked a townsfolk in the back.

“We found out a celestial dragon who tormented us was removed from Mariejois and has lived on our island for years stealing from us.”

“Oh a little revenge. Rather beautiful.” The voice’s owner, a large obese man with a hairy chest, a captain's hat, red coat and unusually long boots that merged at his hips, began to let out a hearty chuckle.

“Wait a minute- RUN IT’S THE BOOT PIRATES!!!” cried out the one townsfolk and caused a mass panic. The long booted figure made his way through the panic and kicked down the pole which constrained Maria who had fallen unconscious from the pain.

“I’ll be taking this, I bet the slave auction would go wild for you.” He once again let out a hearty laugh while he freed and re-constrained Maria before carrying her off to his ship.

The salt from the sea water poured into Maria’s nostrils waking her from yet another forceful slumber. “Hello?” Her voice was weak from her desperate please from the previous night.

“Oh you’re awake, good good.” The booted man sat opposite of Maria who was leant against a wall. “My doctor said you’ll be fine, maybe a scar or two on your hip where you were shot but alive.”

“Let me go, you pirate!” Maria attempted to flail only to hurt herself and wince.

“Lil lady. I just saved you from your own demise. You should be thanking me. Now you’re gonna help me out here. We’re on our way to Sabaody Archipelago, not too far from where we are now, just a few more days.” The man adjusted his boots while speaking. “I’m sure you would know all too well what lays there.”

“You wouldn’t dare. I’m a celestial dragon!”

“Bwah hah hah!” The man couldn’t help but laugh at the pathetic sight in front of him. “You were! Seeing how those townsfolk treated you I bet there’s a sicko who’d pay big money to torture you for the rest of your life!” Maria sunk down and everything began to feel dull. From being thrown out by the celestial dragons, to tortured by townsfolk, to captive to a pirate crew and then to slavery. She had fallen all the way down to the bottom of the trash. “Don’t get too sad on me lil lady. I had some crewmates dig up dirt on you. You got devil fruit powers. Why don’t you show me. Let’s keep raising that price tag the auction house is gonna pay me.” Maria didn’t know what else to do and she complied and her matted hair began to slither on the floor. “Maybe some weird freak would love to use you for who knows what.” His chuckle felt much more ominous than before and Maria stopped using her power. “Why don’t we clean you up for the auction, I’ve got a few ladies on my crew. They can fix your hair and hide some of those bruises.” He stood laughing once more and leaving Maria alone with her thoughts for a moment. She may have soon been given company but nothing felt more insulting right now than being ‘dressed up’ to be auctioned off to some freak right now.

“Only 100,000 berries!? You’re killing me Disco!” The booted man’s shouts interrupted the head auctioneer who sported a weirdly shaped hat with flowers.

“I can’t even be sure she’ll sell for that! We don’t often get her crowd of people here.” Disco snarkily retorted. “Take it or leave it before it falls further.”

“Fine.” The booted man tossed Maria towards Disco who had two employees catch her.

“Careful with the merchandise.” Disco then let out a sigh as he contemplated how he was going to market this peculiar piece of merchandise. “Perhaps as a mystery main event? I can’t have her wait till the end. We have a very special and low patient guest today. I guess we’ll peak in the middle. Who knows maybe she won’t even sell and that will crush the auction. That damned boot.”

“We still do have a mermaid, remember. She’s under 30.” One employee calmly reminded Disco as he took Maria behind bars to wait for her turn.

“Oh yes, beautiful. Mermaid after her to recover incase of failure.”

A large pink ship anchored at Grove One of Sabaody. The ship’s head is a flamingo wearing red sunglasses with oddly shaped white frames. The sides had large wing designs. And the jolly roger was a simple circle with one line of teeth for the bottom, two eyes and a line through the left eye.

“Is that the Donquixote pirates?” A passerby began to sweat as they headed to the auction house.

“Yeah. What are they doing here… Didn’t their leader become a warlord of the sea recently?”

“Keep your head down and just get to the auction house, they might hear you idiot!” One passerby whispered.

“Young master, we have arrived.” a young woman calmly stood in the doorway of the captain's quarters and informed the captain. A blonde male with very short hair. His legs on top of his desk and crossed at his heels. He was leaning back with his hands in the pocket of his white pants. A white dress shirt unbuttoned showed his tan chest. A massive pink feather coat draped over his shoulders and red sunglasses hid his eyes. He gave the woman a large toothy grin as he slowly uncrossed his legs and rose.

“Wonderful, for how long a trip it is here from Dressrosa, it’d have better been worth it.” His arrogant voice filled the room. His oddly wide steps as he made his way out of the captains quarters and onto the main deck, making him stand out even more.

“Would you like anything prepared while you're at the auction young master?” The woman bowed down whilst the man's pink coat fluttered by her nose.

“Have the ship ready to leave for Dressrosa at a moment's notice.” He ordered while he walked down the stairs to the main deck and then off the ship to the auction house.

The auction house itself was bustling with activity as many a noble clambered for seats, word had spread about the mystery and that there was also a young mermaid. Bright lights engulfed the main stage where Disco stood with a microphone in one hand and using the other to hide his mouth as he conversed with a few employees on the order of items and any last minute needs. The man with the feathered coat entered and sat above in an extravagantly large red chair with a view of the entire audience and stage. A single employee wordlessly bowed and offered a list of the items to the man who lazily took it while relaxing into the large chair, one hand holding the list so he may scan it, the other being propping up his head while he leant on the arm of the chair.

Ambient music began and the lights on the stage dimmed ever so slightly leaving one brighter patch where Disco stood.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We have a very special auction for you tonight, our normally biggest fish, a young female mermaid, is number two to our main event!” The audience cheered and murmured in excitement about the mermaid and possibilities of what this main event could be. “Now it’d only be fitting for a big auction like this to start big!” The curtains that acted as a backdrop began to rise revealing a giant.

Maria who was slumped and chained against a wall heard the excitement of the auction faintly. She couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge that many of the other items were glaring at her. Her kind most often bought and toyed with them and they were so close to being able to get a little catharsis, yet so far. Little by little the cage she was held in became emptier and emptier and she felt the life drain from her more and more, her eyes had long since grown dull and tired from the whirlwind that was her last few days. The bleak reality that laid in front of her weighed her down.

“It’s your turn c’mon.” An employee jostled Maria who lazily shuffled along what may as well be death row for her. The excited murmurs of the crowd growing louder, she could now begin to make out the head auctioneer’s sell job.

“The moment you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived, it’s time to meet tonight’s special item, we’ve had this young lady properly appraised and everything I’m about to tell you is true to the letter.” The man in the feathered coat rolled his eyes. The auction had long become dull. “Tonight’s main event has fallen ungracefully from the holy land of Mariejois! She has consumed a devil fruit and just turned into a mature woman if you catch my drift!” The crowd was silent and something had finally caught the man with the feathered coat’s attention, as Maria stepped onto the stage before being thrust down onto her knees. 

Disco continued to try his best and sell Maria while unease and whispering began to fill the auction house. “I’m sure plenty of you have encountered a celestial dragon in your time here at this very auction house, seeing how they can rip away anything of yours on a whim.” Disco spoke carefully, despite no dragons showing for this auction, you could never be too careful. “Wouldn’t you like to see one grovel at your feet? One beg you for the torment you put it through to stop? Or perhaps you have some acquired taste.” Disco turned to Maria who was blankly staring towards the crowd. It almost insulted her more that no one had jumped at the chance to own her. Was she not even good enough to be a slave? “Would you be so kind as to show us that devil fruit of yours?” Maria complied and her hair that had been cut to her waist snaked its way down before slithering along the floor a few feet around her, her hair having separated into small sections reminiscent of flower petals. “This item is a once in a lifetime opportunity, no joke, we get mermaids now and then but a celestial dragon who fell from grace? We may never see this again in the history of the world! Why don’t we get this auction started, do I have 200,000 Berries!?” The crowd hushed and Maria began to tremble, she was worth more than that and yet no one even bothered to bid. Were they afraid of her? How could they be she had no power.

“I’ll give you a bag of seeds instead.” One audience member had broken the silence. Greeted by a few muffled posh laughs that spread through the auction house.

“Would a stone be above that?” The snarky comments poured in, Maria allowed her head to droop and amidst everyone cracking jokes a well dressed gentleman had snuck on stage and towered over Maria.

“I’ll give you one berry for her.” His posh voice was tainted with sarcasm as he pulled out a pistol he had tucked away in his suit. Maria finally decided to speak and verbalize her frustration.

“You dare compare me to the stones you walk on, then offer a single berry for a divine being like myself?” Maria’s voice and body was trembling with rage as she looked up and stared down the pistol. Her tired pupils seemed so small and shook. A broken, infuriated smile had taken over her lips.

“Precisely.” The man shook the pistol in an attempt to threaten Maria. Maria simply began to wheeze out a laugh.

“You don’t have it in you.” Maria taunted whilst the gentleman raised an eyebrow and readied the pistol.

“I don’t? Watch your mouth slave.”

“None of you could possibly pull that trigger!” Maria became hysterical as she stared down death. “You are all filth and dirt on the bottom of my feet!” Even if nothing mattered with death moving in for her she had to die with her pride. “I am divine! So go ahead kill a god! You can’t!” Maria’s words were drowned out as the gun fired. Everything felt like it froze. The bullet inched closer and closer and Maria dared not flinch. Just as the bullet would have met its target, it stopped mid air.

“W-what?” The gentleman had begun to freak out as not only had his bullet stopped and suddenly dropped to the floor, his own hand began to point his gun towards himself. A haunting chuckle took over the auction house as the pink coated man made his way down the stairs and to the stage.

“That was quite the performance, little lady.” Maria stared towards her savior. With one hand in his pocket and the other contorting and almost dancing in the air while the gentleman’s mouth opened and the gun placed inside.

“J-Joker please I apologize for the chaos, this never happens.” Disco begged his superior for forgiveness.

“Apologize? Had this not happened I would have left this snooze fest.” The audience began to murmur as they recognized the recently appointed warlord of the sea, the captain of the Donquixote pirates, Donquixote Doflamingo. Maria couldn’t help but feel like the now spotlight on her savior made him radiant. A muffled please don’t came from the gentleman before one more bang rang out and the gentleman fell backwards, blood leaking onto the floorboards of the stage. “Now keep the auction going, we’re at one berry.” Doflamingo commanded as he struts around Maria getting a proper look.

��D-do we have any other bids?” Disco's voice trembled for a moment as he collected himself. The audience remained silent. No one dared to challenge for a bid, it all was superficial and mattered not, they knew whatever they said would be out bid. By this point Doflamingo had already decided he’d out bid anyone, why risk upsetting such a pirate. While Disco desperately tried to get the audience to bid, Doflamingo squatted down behind Maria.

“W-what do you want?” Maria had finally had her adrenalin rush fade and felt the fear of being so close to such a pirate, yet that fear swealed in her stomach, it contorted into a knot of fear and joy.

“They don’t litter my wanted poster all over of Mariejois as a warning then? That’s a shame.” His deep chuckle after he spoke reverberated in Maria’s chest and she had finally clued in.

“Y-you’re Donquixote Doflamingo?” Suddenly that fear quelled a little, perhaps someone like him understood her struggle. Maybe, just maybe she’d not live surrounded by trash but by someone like her once more, someone divine.

“In the flesh, tell me your name Dove.” Maria’s heart began to flutter at the idea, the hope of hearing her name come from this god behind her, he had already blessed her with hope and a new name if he cared not for her current one.

“Saint Maria.” She was quick to answer, she needed him to save her once more, she couldn’t stand the idea of knowing he had been right behind her, his warm breath passing by her ear and then having to leave his side and be below the trash that lacked any respect for her.

“Already so obedient.” Maria could hear the smirk forming on his lips. Disco had looked defeated, not only had he failed to sell such a unique item, he did so in front of his boss, surely his life was at stake. “Disco.” His body and mind halted. “I’ll cut you a deal since I’m in such a good mood. I’ll reimburse you her cost if I get to take her with me.” Maria’s eyes had widened, the brown color no longer dull but restored. Disco rapidly began to thank his boss for the bailout and ordered some employees to remove Maria’s restraints as well as the self detonating collar via Doflamingo’s request.

“We shall take a short break to clean up and then return.” Disco informed the bidders who stayed seated as Doflamingo walked by with Maria right beside him. His hulking figure made the normally tall woman seem so small, so frail.

“I think that was enough of this snore fest don’t you?” Doflamingo asked Maria who nodded and let out a mhm sound.

“Young master, I see you found something interesting at today's auction. We are ready to sail, would you like me to prepare her?” The woman from before bowed and asked.

“Yes, get her out of those rags she was given then send her to my quarters.” Doflamingo waved the two women off while he went to his quarters.

“Come this way.” The woman led Maria down to a servant room where there were two bunks, one empty the other for the woman leading Maria. “I see the young master removed your collar.”

“Yes, I am indebted to that gracious man.” Maria swooned as she was assisted with changing into a simple pink dress with a feather pattern at the bottom. “Are you also from the auction house?” Maria was so over the moon about being free from that torment she hadn’t really taken in her situation.

“I was yes.” The woman furrowed her eyebrows as she walked around Maria thinking. “I can’t believe your collar was removed so fast, he must like you. So what’s your story.” The woman began making slight adjustments to the dress’ fit on Maria.

“I’m a-” Maria cut herself off. “I was a celestial dragon, just like him.” She may still be divine but after everything she has begun to resent associating with them. The woman nearly choked on her own spit. “Don't ruin this dress, I need to continue my good first impression.” Maria almost panicked at the thought of upsetting her savior.

“Y-yes I understand.” The woman finally understood why the lady in front of her was so special, why she was freed of her slave collar. She had her own unique collar already within a matter of minutes, infatuation. The only reason she could assume the young master had purchased her must have been for some deep personal reason, after all why would a king need to buy a slave when he had a country at his feet now. “Would you be so kind as to let me style your hair?” The woman had hoped her request wasn’t crossing boundaries, she had accompanied the young master before and seen how nobles acted.

“You want to style my hair?” Maria’s eyes sparkled with excitement, she had never had someone other than her mother and the slaves do her hair and only her mother ever asked, the slaves were all ordered so her father didn’t deal with her. “Go ahead, If you need more or less for what you wish to do let me know I’ve got a bit of a talent.” She giggled before skipping onto a bunk sitting at one end while the woman sat at the other and began to work relieved to have not upset the potential landmine in front of her.

“We should be done. What do you think?” The woman gently inquired, while she was proud she still worried for the thoughts of her canvas.

“It's…” Maria went silent as she admired her hair. It had been braided almost like a crown along the sides of her head before meeting at the back in a bun that looked almost like a rose. “Unbelievable. I might just have to keep you as my own personal stylist.” Maria, still over the moon, had let her drilled in dragon mannerisms slip away and shone a bright smile to the woman. “Maybe not all people outside of Mariejois are trash.” The woman felt a sting in her eyes.

“T-thank you, p-please go on and don’t keep the young master waiting.” Maria hopped up and exited the cabin onto the main deck absorbing last embers of the setting sun. Behind that spoiled and bratty exterior was a little girl who dreamed of being a princess, ushered away from the woes of the world by a prince. The woman thought as she sat on her bunk collecting herself she still had to bring dinner and could not allow a moment of weakness just yet, not when the young master could call upon her.

Maria made her way up to the captain’s quarters. She gently knocked on the door twice, getting muffled enter from behind the door. As she entered she did her best to curtsy. It had certainly been a few years so she was a little out of practice but nonetheless she had earned a minor chuckle.

“C’mere.” Doflamingo ushered Maria to his side where a stool sat, she made her way over and sat down, her nervous mind a wreck, she was sitting right beside him again. This time no longer chained but free, how should she act, how would he want to be addressed, he did buy her from the auction, was she just a slave to him? Doflamingo simply watched the gears turn in Maria’s head while he himself pondered the goal of this acquisition. It was a rare heat of the moment action for him, he didn’t need a servant, he would have plenty in Dressrosa, he certainly didn’t need a plaything woman threw themselves at him in Dressrosa, he was their king. Perhaps simply having her belong to him was all he needed, yes that was all the reason he needed.

“Young master?” Maria had settled on this being the best approach, it was what the slave had called him, while she hated the idea of being on equal footing this felt like her best option. That certainly had a nice ring to it, but if she was truly something so special to him, perhaps she could skip a few steps on the ladder she would much rather address such a spectacular man by his name, maybe even a nickname one day when she was far more sure of her stability. This situation, while a blessing, was far more harrowing to navigate then surviving in the wilderness. How else do you treat a god than utter obedience, but when you’re divine yourself how do you attempt to keep equal footing. It had simply been so long since she was in a position to have wiggle room, a voice to be heard. Doflamingo raised a brow and gave a hum of acknowledgement. “What exactly is our arrangement?” Maria began to hold her breath, did she dare speak her mind clearer, and risk being seen as biting the hand that saved her. She must, she isn’t just some ordinary slave. She was divine herself, he would respect that to some degree surely. “I would ideally not like to be another run of the mill slave-” A finger pressed against her lips quieting her oncoming rambling.

“My dear Dove.” That nickname once again, her heart skipped a beat, his deep voice had rapidly become a soothing sound on her ears, no matter the undertones. “Our arrangement is such. You are mine, you do as I say and I’ll give you what you desire.” He was what she wanted, to stay by his side. That was security, that was safety. She couldn’t help but stare into his lenses, while all she saw was her, it still gave her comfort that he was looking back behind those crimson shades. He removed his finger from her lips, as if to signal her to respond.

“I understand.” She hesitated for a second, nervous that this was a mistake but finished her sentence. “Doflamingo.”

Sailing back to Dressrosa, was a simple journey for the experienced crew but certainly became more annoying with the ever growing comfortable mini-flamingo onboard. Maria while not nearly as cruel as Captain Doflamingo was, she was however at times unreasonable and drove the crew off the wall when she wasn’t contained in the captain’s quarters, instead constantly talking her mouth off or even once she attempted to lend a hand during a cannon fight with another ship once across the Red-Line into the New World. Her assistance only cost them a shot, her miss so terrible that while she was being scolded by one of the actual cannon operators Doflamingo’s laugh dominated the soundscape. While Maria was starting to gel and freshen up her social skills as well as her dragon mannerisms. Doflamingo had much to consider, while he was certainly confident word in Dressrosa would stay in Dressrosa about the king having a personal attendant, what would more powerful forces say. Would the navy dare bare their teeth at him? Would a future customer attempt blackmail? One thing was certain, once Maria had stepped foot onto Dressrosa she would never take another step off without him there. This woman had stolen a minute corner of his brain and needed to be caged properly, it wouldn’t be hard, she was already indebted to him. Just a few simple tugs in the right direction.

The Donquixote ship had finally docked at Dressrosa late into the night, Maria was out cold on a couch in the captain's quarters, the smell of burning wax of a candle and the lingering scents of Doflamingo on the cushions had sent her into a deep slumber. With a few hush orders, Maria was carried off to a room in the castle he had requested made for her. She needed to be close but she couldn’t be too close, he had already felt himself becoming too attached to the woman. With quick flicks of his fingers he soared through the night sky, skipping off his own strings to the castle.

Maria could barely wake up when the sun was dancing through a window onto her face. The lush bedding, the silky and fluffy pillows, the warm and heavy blankets had her wrapped up in the idea of sleeping in. The smell of breakfast forced her awake, sweet maple syrup, starting to melt butter and the aroma of powdered sugar, pancakes. Maria rolled over to see a tray, with three stacked fluffy pancakes and an icy glass of water dripping with condensation. It was like she was a little girl all over again, a luxurious bed and breakfast warm and ready to draw her away from resting more. As she sluggishly sat up she examined the golden tray, it held her breakfast and required utensils as well as a note and timetable? It was littered with schedules and names of people she had no idea of. Only one name was recognizable and that was Doflamingos. His schedule was simply torn out. As she examined the note she noticed the tears at the edges. ‘Welcome home Dove.’ It read on one side but flipped. It was a schedule but not a single slot was filled, but there was one more section of writing. ‘Enjoy your present.’ What present? The door clicked and opened, in the doorway was the woman from before.

“My lady, may I enter?” She bowed in the doorway. Maria put two and two together based on how she was addressed.

“Yes you may, would you be able to fill me in. Doflamingo certainly left plenty out when we discussed our arrangement.” Maria sunk her fork into the delicate pastry before her, carving out a piece and indulging her hunger for quality food.

“Of course.” The woman shut the door behind herself and pulled a stool opposite of Maria before she began to explain the situation to the girl before her. “You are in the kingdom of Dressrosa where the young master reigns as king. I have been assigned to be your personal servant, I will be at your beck and call for whatever you may need.” Maria nodded as she continued her delectable breakfast. It was nice to have a slave back under her control, but she couldn’t help but feel like perhaps her years of isolation and this woman's gentle attitude had earned her a slightly better title than slave in her mind. Was she being too soft? That was something to discuss with Doflamingo, a good reality check. “Once breakfast is completed I will help you prepare for the morning. The young master instructed me to give you a tour of the castle and introduce you to the family.”

“The family?” Maria spoke after a large swallow.

“Anyone who is a higher up in the Donquixote pirates is part of the young masters family, the one exception being you.” The woman borrowed the blank schedule and pulled a pen from her apron and drew a little higher-archy. “The young master is the top, followed by the top executives and then below them are the standard executives. You stand somewhere between here.” The woman drew a line with two sides of arrows pointing between Doflamingo and the top executives. “I know a lady as radiant as yourself would like to be as high as the young master.” Maria pursed her lips a moment before letting out a deep breath from her nose, the woman began to sweat slightly, worried she had already upset her new master.

“That…” Maria paused and then relaxed her shoulders. “Is acceptable.” The woman let out a sigh of relief. She had no idea what she was getting into, she’d had served Doflamingo and he was certainly a special man who she could not afford slip ups with. This young lady seemed to have more patience than him, but she was a celestial dragon like the young master was, nature or perhaps the young master had softened and reigned her in already. “I have a request for you.”

“Whatever it is, consider it done my lady.”

“I’d like your name.”

“Penny, my lady.”

“Well Penny.” Maria rose from the bed as she had finished her breakfast. “Shall we pick out something cute? I have no idea about the fashion in Dressrosa, or how I should do my hair.” Maria headed over to a large wardrobe.

“Of course.” Penny quickly accompanied her new master. “We can go to the market if you’d like later and properly fill this up.”

“That would be wonderful.” As Maria scanned the half filled wardrobe it was very clear to her she only had her necessities and some of them certainly seemed a little personal. “Any suggestions?”

“It will get warm in the afternoon…” Penny’s voice tailed off as she thought and looked through the wardrobe, taking out a pair of rather short pink shorts, knee high socks, pastel pink mary janes with a small platform, a nearly white but hinted pink short sleeve dress shirt and the piece de-resistance a pink coat with a feathered collar and cuffs. “You can put the jacket around your waist if you get too warm.” Maria snagged the clothes eagerly.

“Wonderful, turn around now while I change.” Penny did as told and turned, she took a couple steps forward grabbing an expensive looking hair brush that sat on a small pillow, the pillow lay on a desk with a mirror and stool for Maria to sit and pamper herself if she so chose. The sound of fabric slipping off and shuffling was all that was in the room as Maria had changed. “I’m thinking, something simple and classic for my hair today.”

“A ponytail and bow sound good my lady?” Penny opened a draw scanning through the assortment of accessories, finding a large silky pastel pink bow.

“Very good.” Maria sat in the stool once changed and allowed Penny to swiftly work. “What is the family like?”

“They all are wonderful, perhaps a little intense.” the soft sound of the gentle bristles running through Maria’s hair accompanied Penny’s voice. “I should prepare you for two specific members' special traits however.” Maria hummed in response. Her legs gently swayed. “Master Pica has a rather high voice, it’d be in your best interest to not comment and Master Trebol does not understand personal space.” Penny finished brushing and began to contain Maria’s hair high on the back of her head.

“I will hold my tongue, I suppose, if that would make Doflamingo happy.” Maria sighed, it was a sacrifice she’d have to make, if Doflamingo considered them family, maybe it’d end up like Penny, a pleasant individual.

“It would be very important to the young master.” Penny stepped back once the ponytail was in place. “My lady you look wonderful, shall we begin the tour?” Maria stood and nodded as she walked back to her bed and grabbed the time table, putting names to faces would be important, this was her new family after all.

The tour was swimming along, Maria had found the library, the kitchen, dining hall and throne room. All unoccupied at the moment. Marias tour continued to the garden where a few servants were at work pruning flowers, trimming hedges and watering needs.

“It’s beautiful out here.” Maria wandered around peering over the shoulders of servants and squatting down at certain flowers for smells. “I’m unfamiliar with all of these plants. Are they all from here?”

“Yes, all flora is native to Dressrosa.” Penny then showed Maria a large hedge in the shape of a flamingo getting a snort from the lady.

“Charming.” She managed through a few gentle giggles as she covered her mouth partially with her hand.

“The young master has splendid taste, no?”

“He certainly does.” Maria agreed, her laughter was not in fun of her savior, she found it adorable. This big bad pirate had a gentle and serene garden with hedge art of his animal namesake, it very much pleased her.

“M’lady could I interest you in a hedge for yourself?” One of the gardening servants asked Maria. Who jumped on the idea.

“Yes please, would you be able to make a dove?”

“Most certainly, I shall request your presence once completed.” The gardener went to work post haste.

“I missed having such a wonderful garden at my fingertips.” Maria continued to wander the garden sitting on the edge of a large stone fountain. “My father would garden with me, it was one of the rare times he didn’t delegate me to my mother or the slaves.”

“Is there a plant you would like to add? I can arrange for us to grow it, my lady.” Penny pulled out a notepad, ready to make arraignments right there. Maria put a finger to her chin and thought. Most flora from Mariejois was of no interest to her anymore, this was an opportunity to explore, she had all the flora in the world at her fingertips.

“Give me a few days of going through some almanacs and I’ll give you an answer.” Maria had decided on not deciding for now. She simply absorbed the rays of sun that warmed her.

“Of course.” Penny returned her notepad to her apron. “We should continue our tour, by now I’m sure a few members of the family should be at the pool.” Maria hopped up, the idea of sitting by the water absorbing the sun sounding spectacular.

By the time the two had arrived at the pool the hustle and bustle of the castle had picked up and Maria could finally hear muffled voices.

“Do you think Doflamingo will be there?” Maria hoped out loud to Penny.

“Possibly, I have no idea what he is up to today.” The young master wouldn’t dare wander too far on your first day, you may not see him but he’ll be there my lady. “Are you going to be alright?”

“I will be fine.” Maria took her first step into the pool area, the sun dancing off her. The pool was crystal clear minus the effeminate looking boy with horns swimming and long chairs lay ready for company to tan. An excessively large couch sits at the end of the pool nearest the entryway. Off to the left was a large man with buck teeth that had the jolly roger of the Donquixote pirates on them. He seemed to be teasing a young teenage female with black hair.

“Buffalo, would you shut your mouth!” The black haired one shouted while she stomped her foot.

“It was an honest question Baby 5, you're getting to the point where it’s weird you haven’t had your first boyfriend.” Buffalo simply continued his teasing much to Baby 5’s dismay.

“Oh yeah?!” Baby 5 looked to Maria. “You, settle something for us!” Maria pointed at herself confused. “Yes you, get over here.” Maria made her way over. “You look like a well put together lady, when did you have your first boyfriend?” Maria was taken aback, no what's your name just straight into this childish struggle. However one problem remained, Maria would be no help in this argument.

“Well about that.” Maria began before Buffalo let out a dumb laugh and cut Maria off.

“You haven’t had one yet either?!” He taunted, Maria was fuming with anger and embarrassment, her cheeks had begun to feel warm. She bit her tongue for a moment, reminding herself to hold her tongue. She simply couldn’t afford to upset anyone just yet, but this guy was clearly just an officer, she should stand her ground.

“You dare taunt me like that, do you know who I am?” She retorted only to get a response that blew her top off.

“You’re the young master's new play thing!” Maria had already had enough of this dope, but before she could exact her revenge his laughter was cut off by Baby 5 jamming her fist into his gut.

“Don’t bother with him, he’s always like this. Head in the clouds.” Baby 5 sighed before properly greeting Maria. “You’re the newest addition to the family, Dove. I’m Baby 5.” Maria felt her chest twinge in delight, she was his dove and that's how he introduced her to his family, how wonderful.

“Thank you for that.” Maria focused herself back on the conversation at hand. “You’re the first members of the family I’ve met other than Doflamingo.”

“Oh then you are in for a very fun afternoon. Most of my family is out around this time.”

“Why, this castle so far seems wonderful.”

“There's the colosseum for starters, that’s where Diamante spends most of his time. Trebol has been glued to Sugar.” As Baby 5 continued to list off where members of the family were Maria’s head span as she attempted to intake the information. “Uh are you alright?” Maria snapped back to reality, she must have begun going cross eyed and looked like smoke was coming out of her ears.

“Of course.” Maria attempted to dismiss the idea she was overwhelmed very unconvincingly. “Just with so many members perhaps observing a dinner or something would be a little easier to digest.” Penny couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the irony of her master's words. “So, who's the one swimming?” Maria pointed to the still swimming boy.

“That’s little Dellinger, he’s a fighting-fish fish-man.” A fish-man, he certainly didn’t look as fishy as many other fishman she had seen as slaves.

“My lady, if I may intrude, we still have other sites to see.” Maria nodded to acknowledge her servant.

“I will be off then, it was a pleasure to meet you Baby 5, we should sit and chat over tea sometime.” Maria smiled before following Penny off.

“How was your first taste of the family?” Penny inquired while leading Maria down from the pool area and through the castle.

“It was fine, they seemed nice enough. Baby 5 seemed a bit young to be a pirate, no?” Maria emphasized enough before she allowed her curiosity to continue.

“The young master takes anyone with potential, Buffalo and Baby 5 have been part of the family since they were much younger. They had another child with them for a while, I am unsure what happened to him however.”

“So he’s like an older brother to them?”

“Exactly. Now after the royal plateau, where would you like to stop by?” Penny asked as she and Maria stepped into an elevator.

“Do we have money on us? I’d love to have a good shopping spree.” It sure had been a long time since she could freely roam a market.

“Of course, would you like me to request for a toy to help carry your things?”

“A toy?” Maria raised an eyebrow, how would a toy help?

“Oh yes you are new, my apologizes my lady. Dressrosa is a very wonderful place where we have walking, talking toys.”

“Then absolutely, and one for when my feet get tired.” Maria wiggled her toes in excitement at the idea of such large toys. Penny nodded and made a call on a small transponder snail from her apron. 

The market of Dressrosa was certainly lively, people and toys both intermingling, dancing, playing music, the streets were certainly packed but wherever Maria stepped the space always cleared up, much to her delight, she couldn’t imagine having to shove her way through. Her shopping started off slow as she was unsure just how deep her coffers were but when Penny assured her it was all taken care of by Doflamingo she simply couldn’t help herself, whether the item was something for her or something she thought Doflamingo might enjoy on her. She was having a grand time, this is what it meant to be alive, what she wanted when she wanted. Once she had her fill of shopping, the toys were sent off to the royal plateau where castle servants would receive Maria’s bounty.

“The colosseum should be nearing the end, I think it’d be wonderful for you to go watch. You should be able to go watch in Doflamingo’s personal observation deck.” Penny offered to keep her lady busy till dinner.

“Ohh, let’s make haste!” The two quickly made their way to the colosseum where video transponder snails were projecting the action inside between gladiators. A woman was working the reception as Maria and Penny approached.

“I’m sorry but seats are all-” The woman was cut off by Maria butting in.

“Excuse me?” This was her moment, the first instance of disrespect by someone below her that she could tell off. “Do you have any idea who I am?” The receptionist clued into Penny standing beside Maria, properly intaking the sheer amount of pink on the woman in front of her.

“Have more respect for the young master’s mistress.” Penny advocated while Maria had her chest lightened at the comment of being Doflamingo’s mistress.

“I-I’m so terribly sorry, please right this way.” The receptionist led the way to Doflamingo’s private nest.

“That’s better.” Maria huffed as she followed. “You are lucky I’m in a good mood this afternoon.”

“T-thank you for your forgiveness, everything you’ll need is in here.” The receptionist stopped at a door which Penny opened for Maria. The room was simple, it had a large chair that overlooked the entire colosseum, a pair of hanging candles and a carpet from the door to the chair. Maria leaned over the balcony deciding it’d be best not to sit in the chair, she was simply going to struggle to view over the railing. The roaring crowd over the sounds of blades clashing and blood splattering on the ground sent a small shiver up Maria’s back. This was beautiful, people fighting and dying for her entertainment, oh how she missed it.

“My lady, may I fetch anything for you?” Penny asked from behind the chair.

“Guard the door. I don't want to be disturbed unless it’s someone important.” Penny nodded and stood by the door while Maria felt her stomach twist in sadistic pleasure, it was slowly but surely coming back to her, while she had to remind herself to stay aware of the family, this was exactly what she needed. “Penny, there is one thing you could do for me actually.”

“What is it my lady?” Penny quickly sprang to attention.

“I need a chair, Doflamingo’s is simply too big for me, I'd struggle to see over the railing.”

“Right away.” Penny was gone in a flash while Maria continued to contently watch as the gladiators below dwindled down faster and faster. She heard a knock and turned her head, her ponytail slipping over her shoulder. “Who is it?”

“Penny and I have an important guest with me.” Was slightly muffled behind the door.

“You may enter.” Maria fully turned and tossed her hair behind her as Penny and a very tall Brunette with a long cape and fancier pirate attire themed like diamonds entered.

“This is master Diamante, he’s in charge of the colosseum and like you know from this morning a top executive.”

“So you’re Doffy’s Dove.” Diamante approached extending a hand. “A pleasure, does today’s entertainment suffice?”

“It’s exceptional.” She gently took his hand giving a shake. He seemed rather pleasant, Penny hadn’t warned her about any odd quirks which was a relief judging by the other Family she had heard off and seen. “You have an eye for proper entertainment.”

“No no, it’s nothing.” He insisted, Maria walked to the railing again and Diamante followed.

“You do, this is spectacular, I haven’t felt this much of a rush in forever.” Maria protested as she gazed out.

“Really there’s no need, it's nothing.” He continued to fight off her compliments.

“If you say so.” Maria then flinched as Diamante raised his voice in acceptance.

“Okay fine fine! It is spectacular, I have an eye for good entertainment!” Maria shook her head before sneaking a glance to Penny who shrugged like oops I forgot about that, warranting a small glare from her master.

“So.” Maria went to change the subject, getting a hm from Diamante. “You called him Doffy, do you think I could call him that too.” She placed her hands on her cheeks at the idea of getting to call him such an adorable nickname. Diamante snickered a little before commenting.

“You are his Dove aren’t you? You hold almost as much power as the top executives, I don’t think he’d give a crap what you called him.” Maria swung one of her legs up and down in joy as she leaned over the railing. Her mind starts to get lost at the idea of sitting in her Doffy’s large lap watching the violence below, her hair being stroked. She gently cooed Doffy as she stroked her own hair completely entranced.

“My lady, do not get lost in daydream mid conversation.” Penny’s voice jolted Maria back to reality where she pulled her hair over her face in utter embarrassment only warranting more taunting laughter from Diamante.

“And the battle is over!” The announcer’s voice concluded the entertainment at the colosseum.

“I suppose I shall make my way back to the palace.” Diamante’s laughter had subsided. “I look forward to you joining the family at dinner.” He informed her before departing. Maria silently screamed as Penny approached.

“We should return as well, I’m sure the young master will be there as well as the entire family.” Maria simply nodded, stuffing her hands into her coat pockets as the two left.

Once outside the already packed dining hall Maria heard a familiar voice behind her. One that had shoved any other embarrassment that lingered away.

“How was my Dove’s first day in Dressrosa?” Doflamingo’s question was superficial, after all he dared not let his Dove walk Dressrosa with a slave. Regardless of where she was, he was always watching. Maria quickly spun, her hair twirling behind. Her eyes light up brightly, it had simply been too long without him.

“Doffy!” She shouted happily, clasping her hands together excitedly. “It was good, I missed you though, she’s fine company but it would have been better with you there.” She gestured towards Penny before back to Doflamingo he chuckled lightly, his large hand gently tracing a finger along her delicate cheek.

“Can’t even go a few hours without me can you?” Maria’s cheeks flared up a vibrant pink, only more amusing to Doflamingo. “I figured you’d enjoy a day like you used to have.”

“A-and I did, I just would've much preferred spending the day with you.” Maria looked away twirling her fingers in her hair to cope with her overwhelming flusteredness, her rapidly beating heart, her body temperature rising, it was all so much around him. “Perhaps after dinner I could spend some time with you?” That was a beautiful sign of her mindset, she needed him.

“Let’s focus on dinner first.” He leaned close, his warm breath tickled her ears. He waved to dismiss Penny from duty, having already decided he would spend the evening with his Dove. As the two entered the dining hall, the table was set and only two seats sat unfilled, the head seat for Doflamingo and the seat to his left. Servants quickly pulled out the chairs and had the two sit before silver platters were brought in and set on the table. Most of the family was already mid conversation in anticipation for the meal. Maria simply watched, scanning quickly to find who she recognized. At the far end she saw Dellinger, Baby 5 and Buffalo. To her left immediate left was Diamante, across from her sat a rather oozy looking fellow with a club staff and on his right sat a man in armor with spades on his shoulder plates.

The other two top executives, Trebol and Pica. She put the pieces together as a plate was placed in front of her as well as a wine glass filled with a ruby red wine. Before she could get too enamored by the food she felt Diamante’s elbow nudge her and she jumped slightly.

“Stole my spot I see.” He playfully remarked. Maria hadn’t clued in that where she sat one of the other executives would have sat, with that sudden realization.

“I-” She was cut off by Doflamingo who had his usual grin across his face.

“Can’t have her sit too far now can I?” With one hidden flick of his finger under the table, a string tugged her chair along the floor closer to his, he rested his hand on her shoulder, once more increasing the heat in her face. With two more simplistic twitches, her food and wine was pulled beside his, not a spill in sight. Diamante couldn’t help but laugh at the situation and reaction this girl was in. Doflamingo rose from his chair for a moment tapping his glass to get the attention of the table.

Is he going to give a toast?! How do you expect me to keep composure after that!? Maria panicked desperately trying to collect her poor beating heart.

“Members of my family, tonight is a very special occasion. I am honored to be welcoming my little Dove here.” He extended his left hand as if he was presenting Maria. She rose with the gesture. “As the newest member of the Donquixote family.” The other members raised their glasses and Maria joined in. “To Maria, my Dove.” With that the family recited to Maria before taking a sip of all the drinks. “Now feast!” He commanded before falling into his chair, Maria being pulled down by his left hand into hers. 

One thing was for certain, with all the hustle and bustle of the family at dinner, there was no lack of entertainment, Maria often found herself busy watching conversations rather than consuming the food before her, she was however not shy about drinking.

“Is the food not to your liking?” Doflamingo asked while he stole a spoonful of Maria’s feast.

“It’s amazing, I just love people watching. I enjoy good finger food for moments like this.” Maria mentioned, not thinking anything of it, she would eat properly, she just wanted to get accustomed to meal times. That however did not fly with Doflamingo. He snapped his fingers, summoning a servant.

“Prepare her something she can absentmindedly eat.” He ordered, the servant darted off to the kitchen.

“Doffy, you didn’t have to do that, I'll be alright. I used to sit and watch people all the time before…” Her voice trailed off, some times when she was stealing food, she had no choice but to hide out and watch for fear of getting caught. She had spent hours one night sitting in a rather full trash can, before she could eat. While not pleasant it was a carry over. During festivities she’d sit and watch from the barren rooftops longing to be home in Mariejois. Doflamingo watched her for a minute as she collected her brain from its crash course of unpleasantry. “I’m used to waiting out for my food. Let’s just say that.” Had her brain not yet understood she was no longer in fight or flight, the food in front of her was not something she was stealing, it was a gift. Doflamingo used the stolen spoon, scooping up some food from her plate and holding the spoon to her face.

“Open up.” His deep voice was quieter, Maria couldn’t understand why for a moment before it clicked and she parted her lips slightly. “Good girl.” He cooed, causing a chill to run up her hips and spark in her brain.

“D-Doffy, I can feed myself.” Maria stammered out, he fed her. It was an act of care, during the trip to Dressrosa, he had the slave and crew tend to her unless he was helping her adjust to formal life. Yes he had done smaller and larger acts, like the wardrobe, the note and all the money she could ever spend. But this was tender, it was direct. In Maria’s short time with him, she had heard many tales that he could be cruel and sadistic. That was her first experience as she watched him blow the brains out of a noble. This however confirmed above all else in her mind that she was occupying some space in that brain of his and not just to be an object. She had value to him.

“Can you?” He teased getting another spoonful ready, Maria decided to enjoy this, her mind forgot about the table, the family. Her only focus was him. Before he even needed to speak her mouth was open. The two continued this little routine, occasionally taking a break to sip wine or allow Doflamingo to eat himself.

This was home. This was everything she had ever wanted. He was her radiant god, her king, her flamingo and she was his sweet little self indulgence, his queen, his dove.

[zoguy1]

So. Every June, I try to challenge myself by posting something for Pride Month. For the past couple years, it's been ships with cute little pride flags. This year, the priority focus will be on the Trolls Summer Gift exchange. But at the very least I'd like to show ya'll the ones I've made in the past.

2022 bundle:

Bi Hiccup x Gay Jack. Fun fact: This was the first gay couple I've ever laid my eyes on as a young child. I saw this ship and thought "I want that kind of relationship."

Bi Tony x Gay Rudolph Watching the 2017 movie, these two reminded me of Luca and Alberto so much.

Aro Merida You get it? Cuz she's an archer. It's funny. Laugh.

Bi Nan Fang x Ace Fu Yao The headcannon was based off of a fanfic I read a while ago.

Demi Ace Xie Lian x Gay Hua Cheng. I sevearly enjoyed the series. I occasionally eat fics of these two as comfort foods.

Pan Xu Xuan x Trans Xiao Bai White snake was basically 2 hours of "What you are doesn't matter, it's who you are that matters", THEE Pansexual anthem, and then the second movie Turned Blanca into a guy? This is cannon.

Ace Liu Qingge x Bi Shen Yuan Imma be honest. I didn't like SVSSS very much. Yandere's are not my cup of tea. And I was really hoping Shizun would have gotten with Liu-shidi instead.

Gay Luca x Gay Alberto I'm so glad Luberto was actually confirmed to be somewhat cannon. Though Nowadays I see Luca as bi, cuz if we're counting the concept art as apart of the lore, then Luca had a crush on both Alberto and Giulia.

Gay Jade x Gay Katie. Kate is the first character I actually felt scene as a queer person.

Genderfluid Shi Qingxuan I freaking love them so much. Easily my favorite character.

Aro Nezha This kid knows chaos and only chaos.

Pan Adam x Gray Ace Freddy I saw this crossover on DA and thought they made so much sense together. Adam the literal personification of nature, and Freddy the unification of humanity and animals.

Non-Binary Merz x Lesbian Alice These two are OCs of mine.

Aro Lesbian Isabela and Aro Lesbian Elsa. I ship this in a sort of queer platonic way. Like a "we don't really want to date people, but everyone thinks we're dating, and we just don't care enough to correct them." kind of way.

Genderfluid Camilo I want the ability to shapeshift so badly.

Pan Ao Bing x Bi Xiao Jiu Ya'll get brownie points if you know which Ao Bing this is and double points if you know who Xiao Jiu is. Lol. It was a random crossover ship I made because the company liked to crossover their medias for advertisements, and we see the adults interacting and having fun, and Nezha joins them. But we don't see the two teenagers interact at all.

Bi Verta x Bi Li Yunxiang Another crossover ship I made up cuz I didn't see a lot of Nezha Reborn and White Snake crossovers. Which surprised me, especially after Green Snake.

Gay Jiang Ziya x Gay Shen Gongbao These two lived in the same house together for 10 years and adopted a daughter together. I am convinced these two are a married couple.

Bi Mirabel There was a little bisexual rainbow on her dress. That's proof enough for me. Lol.

Lesbian Amaya x Lesbian Janai I loved seeing their dynamic in the show.

Non-Binary Kazi I love them. I'm glad they got more attention in the show.

Lesbian Susie x Trans Noelle "Why does Noelle have antlers. Is she trans? The Null the Null the Null the Null..."

Non-Binary Kris I love them. They literally never said a word, and I love them.

AroAce Krel Based on a comic I made.

Aro Blaze Another OC.

Aro Douxie Idk why, but I get that vibe from him.

2023 Pack:

Furry Omni Toby x Furry Demigirl Darci The moment Darci said she didn't want people to like her just because she was a girl, I felt that in my soul.

Bi Steve x Pan Aja I am not convinced Steve is straight.

Pan Simon x Gay Ao Bing This ship was inspired by a youtube video that had a list of crossover ships, this being on of them. And I freaking love it.

AroAce Sun Wukong and AroAce Tang Sanzang In Monkey King Reborn, out of everyone in the friend group, you can just tell that these two cared about each other the most. And I think that's just sweet.

Fuck. I can only have 30 images per post. I'll reblog with the rest of the 2023 pack.

[mawita]

I KEEP FORGETTING TO POST THESE BOYS

JEKYLL AND HYDE PONIES, AND YES, LORE EXISTS

Hyde on his own, and basically just a blog post with thoughts and process notes under the cut!

Personal Notes

Exams have been killing me, and i am, finally done!! Wooo!! Yeah, time for a break year, i hope I'll have more time for art :))

Anyways yeah, silly Jekyll and Hyde ponies, this is my biggest fixation here over the last year, its killing me, could genuinely turn into a special interest at this rate.

anyways, these two came about out of a want to illustrate book Jekyll and Hyde, but humans just, hurting me to draw atm, so ponies instead.

Design Notes

Shape! I wanted Jekyll to feel Big and Bombastic, fat Jekyll rights (although, I admit, I don't think I made him fat enough here, I'll out more effort into that in later pieces/sketches. I hope to develop their shape specifically a lot.) In contrast, of course as described in the book, Hyde is smaller, younger, and sharper. I gave him the teeth from the 1931 movie, cuz that's honestly the only part of that design I like apart from the flesh that starts to melt at the end of the movie (cough cough, racist charicature)

Colors! Admittedly a bunch of this was simply done because i thought it looked good. Jekyll feels inherently blue to me, and Hyde being toxic green just felt appropriate. But also, having them purely be cold would not be the most balanced pallete. I wanted to give them both warmth. Jekylls warmth comes from his Vest and Cravat, clothes he dons as an expression of his class and social standing. He cares a lot about his position in the upper crusts of London's society, and plays into his role with care. The colors on him that stand out the most, his warmth and his sociability, is performative in its expression. Hyde's only warmth is in his yellow-red eyes, from living an (exaggerated) version of his authentic self.

Cutie Mark! Potion bubbles mmmmmm :)). Important note tho! The cutie Mark DOES NOT CHANGE between the forms! Hyde is Jekyll! A truly fucked up Jekyll, a Jekyll most likely under the influence (in this au canon: definitely under an influence)

Also fun fact! These pony designs are based on my pony town designs of Jekyll and Hyde :3

Anyways yeah, when I've settled into my new apartment I'd like to explore these two buggers a bit more. Strangely enough, I believe the my little pony friendship is magic universe has some deep implications for the Jekyll and Hyde story, that I am very grasped by.

That ends it for this post, if you got this far, thank you for indulging me!!

[doom-nerdo-666]

Horror does have a place in Doom

(Mainly felt like making this post after a video by thebeansprout13, even if this comes out later because it was in my drafts for a while)

This is a very talked about, overplayed topic on Doom and it tends to repeat, sometimes because certain opinions/observations are more popular than others.

I think horror is an element in Doom and there's a lot of ways to talk about this, both in favor and against or even somewhere in the middle.

The 90's games

We all know about Doom Bible's canned ideas of the characters and story but even then, Doom is clearly inspired by Aliens, Evil Dead, DnD and so on.

But maybe this mix of inspirations (And the weird presentation of the games) means there's different things to pick apart.

If Doom was a movie, it could have been a B-movie with a goofy, campy nature and still have some eerie atmosphere or gross practical effects.

At first we have:

Some dark, suspense based music tracks.

Darker areas meant to show off lightning and "slow" moments.

Probably the default movement speed and the history behind "ALWAYS_RUN".

Doomguy being hurt in the box art and ingame status bar.

The Arch-vile's intended design of an eerie HR Giger inspired alien.

Textures like the flesh walls with metal pipes, twisted faces and some hanged corpses people thought were based on a real pic of Mussolini (But it's actually GI Joe figures).

But then there's:

The fast gameplay and combat that can happen.

Cartoony designs and assets.

The metal music (And other tracks like those that sound kinda like jazz).

The campy writing style in the manuals and intermission screens.

The presentation of Daisy's death.

Some of Doomguy's faces.

The name "BFG" and how some assets were made like using toys to make the guns.

Maybe whenever a level was clearly gimmicky and "gamey" or experimental.

The ridiculously low-tech aesthetic with blue carpet floors and maybe how Phobos' sky doesn't look like Phobos.

So it seems Doom always had a mix of elements and that's why people even argue over this, though i also see benefits of Doom being a "blank canvas" when it comes to its staying power.

Doom 64 was the more horror focused classic game with its take on Hell and some demon designs (But still not showing Doomguy's bloodied mugshot or some assets of classic Hell).

Even its theme song was barely metal (And i think John Romero really liked the PS1 port).

And D64 is also seen as "the real Doom 3" though this is a bit of a topic i mentioned in a different post.

Doom 3

A "reboot" of the series and a new entry in a time after the series was dormant (And mostly carried by fan mods).

D3 pushes things to a specific direction that John Carmack thought it was natural.

Some fans think the same, others thing it's opposite to what they expect out of Doom, some even accept it as a new thing.

D3 is much more story focused, with a bunch of cutscenes, background/lore, characters and most if it isn't goofy.

Demons are redesigned and some barely resemble their original versions (Might be because they looked "goofy" even if we have fanart that knows how to make them eerie; Meanwhile, D3's Arch-vile didn't capture the original design that much).

New demons represent a new art style that makes them "more serious and scary" or at least surreal.

The UAC stuff is still low-tech but in a more detailed, "professional" way.

Gameplay is slower, with a focus on reloading and the lantern.

Darkness focus and horror etc.

More serious tone, with little music.

D3 marine never smiles and looks worried most of the time.

Besides UAC and Hell, there's the Martians as a way to "extend" the universe but they're still mostly mysterious and not shown a lot.

The premise of a UAC marine having to fight demons after the UAC unleashing Hell is technically there, but it's also differently done from the original games (At least/specially if you look into the "lore" in the old manuals).

This game divided some fans, though a prespective i like to hear more is one that likes the idea but not so much the execution and i also always bring up how unfair it is that later versions (BFG edition and others) tend to have new problems or cut content for no reason, while not fixing certain flaws.

Because you'll still find some older fans thinking Doom was supposed to have some form of tension or horror, compared to those that prefer the fast action side of things.

Oddly enough, Hell in the series always had potential to be weird but D3, the game with the most experimental demon designs, didn't really took advantage of those elements.

At least D3 has some mods that fix some people's issues with the game, whether or not it leads to them respect the game more.

If you ask me: Doom 3's horror isn't just the dark corridors or slow "doomed" marine, but it's the crazy designs like the Bruiser having a screen on its mouth or the Revenant having transparent skin.

And i think D3 has its fair share of goofyness like the Turkey minigame (And the others in RoE that later versions deleted for no reasons) or that one fat zombie going "mmmm boy" that farts.

Doom 2016 and Eternal

D2016 is like an extreme opposite to D3: You are the horror and gameplay is more focused on movement and projectile avoiding that there's barely hitscan enemies besides the Possessed Security and maybe the Hellrazer.

Besides the arena focused combat, there's the Glory Kills, alt fires, upgrades, Mick Gordon's music, the character of the Doomslayer and so on.

But bits of D3's style are still present, speciall Mars and Hell a bit since Doom technically wasn't always "Mars" (Otherwise, more people would bring up the classic Phobos aesthetic and specific textures but even Hell still doesn't carry certain elements back).

(In fact, when D2016 was revealed, people complained about the lack of color and even said the demons looked "MOBA-ish")

The Hellknight is clearly inspired by its D3 design but one major difference is being eyeless instead of the weird eyes (Or are they sockets?) it had in D3.

Most demons have a rather "focused" aesthetic of chitin armored creatures and even lore explaining how they work or even how the UAC was involved in some being created/modified (Which may or may not affect the appeal of Hell being a weird dimension of evil that Doomguy has to put up with).

It's also somewhat known that D2016 was influenced by outside factors for Doom: The Doom comic ("Rip and tear") is obvious but there's probably other theories like anything to do with Death Battle or internet copypastas/webcomics joking about Doomguy (And i guess Brutal Doom but there's still arguements about it).

Doomslayer being a killing machine that scares demons is like an inverse to the "doomed" D3 marine: Putting classic Doomguy in the middle since he's both a strong action hero but still gets hurt (Even his portrayal in the 90's comic is like this).

The existence of D2016 is also a result of Doom 4 being cancelled: A game that was so deviated from Doom, it didn't even feel like a D3 sequel (And maybe it wasn't).

In a way, D2016's appeal relies on some bits of fanservice and at least getting basic ideas that people associate with Doom, which contrasts D3 not relying on "outside factors" but also chosing specific parts of the series while also executing them in a way that i'm not sure if it was ideal for D3 itself.

Then there's Doom Eternal, which builds up from 2016 in a lot of ways (And in was that people either like or hate it but it's still a very beloved and popular title).

The aesthetic is more colorfull and brings back some classic designs (Not entirely as they're put inside the new aesthetic), there's the concept of the "Doom universe", lots of new mechanics and a lot more to like (But also things that divided some fans).

Eternal's "videogamey" pickups were technically based on how some people thought pickups in D2016 overlapped with the environment, even if people liked how items in D2016 "existed in the setting" (Because even in classic Doom, you didn't have those kinds of pickups).

There's a lot of debates about Eternal's lore and aesthetic that leads to comparisons to 2016 but i'm thinking on making a post dedicated to that (Specially with some prespectives, opinions and stuff that most people don't consider).

Regardless, Eternal has clearly different media influences compared to the originals and feels like a different genre.

Basically, if classic Doom is a "campy B-movie", Eternal is a "saturday morning cartoon with gore" (And D3 is a serious sci-fi horror movie, i guess).

(And let's not forget: Different people are behind these games, in a series where people already interpret them in their own ways)

Sometimes, i think Doom is like the Planet of the Apes movie series:

D3 is closer to the original premise but 2016/Eternal are seem to be the more liked iteration of the series.

(Meanwhile, we have Mighty Doom as the most cartoony Doom game but in a cute way while the RPG Doom's had a different cartoonyness and sense of humor and a rather serious intro comic)

"Horror" in Doom to fans (And what else)

If you look at some pieces of fanart (Or even fan redesigns) and some mods, there's definitely an appeal of Doom being more horror focused and tense, even without affecting certain designs or the personality.

It's why one could not only defend D3 but even think that D3's issue isn't being different but rather doing a flawed job at its own direction.

Because 2016/Eternal also have their own differences from the original games but they seem to mostly nail their own direction.

I even see "horror" complement the "power fantasy" concept of modern Doom: Making Hell weirder and stranger, which makes Doomguy/Slayer feel even stronger.

Because "horror" as a concept can mean a lot: Not just dark corridors or walking slow, but it can lead to really interesting designs that make Hell feel threatning and weirdly creative.

After all, if it's possible to make a game out of "fans want a Doomguy that is more powerfull and the gameplay is fast", i don't see why we couldn't have one that is "fans want a tense, bone chilling experience and the demons look scary but still cool", even if you see those cool fan redesigns as better than what we got in D3.

(I like to believe that different types of Doom can coexist)

Even D3 haters may find or cherrypick some parts of the game they like (Which also makes me think it's another good reason why MetaDoom is a really cool mod).

I believe it should be possible to make a game that has elements of both "paths" represented, even if it means like a level with disturbing environments and then you find a goofy collectable toy in a secret.

I also said this before but i kinda get D3 hate coming from older fans but not people who got into the series at 2016 and after, because you technically "skipped" the "dark age" that some fans went through.

How hated D3 really is depends on which opinions or mindset overcome the others, because fanbases and hobbies almost tend to have an "anglicized canon" that is rather pushed by some specific people.

Anyway, i tried to add as much i could in this post but i'd like if someone like a Youtuber or older fan were to analyze this and even add more to this or correct potential flaws.

It's a topic that could be more explored, because even people that argue "Doom was always X" overlook elements that support their claims.

Other links to check, i guess.

How i think a good D3 re-release could be.

Doom 3 power ups and Doom 3 enemy roster rant.

"Doom 3 alternatives" for some picky fans.

The D2RPG intro comic.

Bunch of stuff related to Quake and Wolfenstein.

"Remastering" the 90's Doom games.

How a Doom movie or show could be good.

I mean, there's more on this blog but these could be good enough.

[femmemortes]

Traps I came up with for my SAW AU of my WIP but not a WIP because it’s more of just a thing I write, part 1.

Halo of Death / Halo Trap

So, I’m actually pretty proud of this trap because I felt so clever coming up with this and because I’m a sucker for traps that are connected to the person/are symbolic.

This was the first trap I wrote for the AU and the victim is none other than my beloved oc, Maxine.

The trap itself is a steel ring affixed around the victim’s head, connected at a collar around the neck. Inside of the steel ring is a series of thin metal wiring on motors that are attached to a series of hooks that are placed on select points of the victim’s face. The idea is, once the time runs out, the hooks will retract rapidly and flay the person’s face.

(Maybe an amount of suspended disbelief is required here, I’m not too sure, but we roll.)

In order for the victim to escape they must use two belt sanders that have been placed either side of them to sand off their skin and flesh to uncover the two keys that have been embedded into their arms. Both are used to unlock the trap.

I would go more in-depth for the lore here but this isn’t an OC lore post so… As for the symbolism behind the trap, in short, Maxine experienced a great deal of damage and religious trauma at the hands of the Catholic Church as she was growing up, especially between the ages of 15-18. She is 21 in the AU. This, among other factors, lead her to be destructive to not only herself but also other people and this continues even after she rebukes and leaves the church and no longer practices any faith whatsoever. This is actually an integral part of her character in the “normal universe” as with other oc’s arcs, I just translated them over into the AU.

The main symbolic aspect of this trap is the ring that encircles Maxine’s head while in the trap. I got this idea from the way that saints, angels and other holy figures are depicted in art found in stained glass windows and paintings. Rather the halo being a horizontally placed ring, it is instead a circle behind the head.

Here’s some examples of what I’m talking about along with a very rushed and basic drawing of the general shape of the trap with Maxine in it. The wires and hooks could also be representative of the lines you sometimes see running from the circumference of the halo to it’s centre? But honestly that’s more of a loose connection.

The symbolism just doesn’t end here though. Maxine is pretty self indulgent when it comes to appearance. This mostly comes from the people she socialises with but also because I think there’s something to be said for losing so much all you have left is your flesh and skin, so she puts so much effort into it because in a way it’s all she has left. So then having the threat of that being ripped away from her, literally and figuratively, is pretty symbolic. That and the way she’s also torn others apart, so in order to escape she must do the same to herself concerning the belt sanders.

The belt sanders also play a role, she has to kneel and put her arms in these box like cages where the belt sanders are fixed inside. Kneeling while holding your arms up/open is a pretty common practice in worship. That and also I feel like I could make a comment about this playing into the fact John Kramer does very much in-fact have a god complex? Either way, this entire trap was meant to be a mockery of her and her experiences and a more fucked up twist on, “turn to God, it’ll save your life.”

[localgardenweed]

Ok I was originally gonna write how I wanna go back to Eddsworld and do stuff for it again but felt out of the loop with the modern fandom and shit but ended up being a rant about how I hate Beyond so like gonna write this again but keeping part of the rant cause i need to share how much i cant stand Beyond again

So like I wanna come back to Eddsworld cause as much as it was a dumpster fire for me it was my first real fandom I was apart of online so it holds a place in my heart. I mean probably technically whatever I did on Framecast was my first ever online fandom space but shhhh that dont count i was but a wondering traveler looking for my place in the world. It actually got me into Eddsworld someone made a animation to Youth by Daughter and had me hooked. But still was very important to me and my art development.

Its so crazy to me cause i was into Eddsworld HARD in the 2016-2020 era where alot of the ig modern fandom was born i watched cities fall and crumble I was deep in the amino trenches, Pork Sodaing and seeing so much historical fandom events happen before your eyes. I was watching everyone consume every piece of Prince of Mints and Moho art I was a sucker for them which probably wasn’t okay for like a 5th grader but i definitely turned out all right /j.

I left for a little bit on and off cause Hetalia was choking me and like keeping me prisoner but like it still had a place in my heart for it but like ya know i still was there but idk now I just dont find the same spark anymore from the first go around. Something changed and maybe cause i just had my tastes change and maybe cause my ex-best friend was making fun of my oc all the time but i made him when i was like 11 and figuring out identities and ways to express yourself without sticking to the gender norms and dealing with alot of stuff at the time i finally caved and just didn’t feel the same any anymore about the show.

Cause I loved that fandom more than anything but, I don’t know I just don’t know how to get back that spark and go frolic in the fields with my TomTordOc love triangle of my 5th grader dreams and just be cringe and free and feel joy again but I just cant enjoy the material anymore like THEY ARE MASSACRING MY BOYS WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THEMM

It doesn’t hit the same and i know i dont need to consume Beyond i doubt anyone actually does at this point but i cant stand beside while they murder everything i loved about the Classic and Legacy eras.

Also just, I think I hit a road block with it too like, I got stuck on where to do and what to do with Eddsworld like. I make aus i made ocs i made a ask blog i made animatics, now what? And like idk i felt weird and like stuck in the mud with them. Also just had the friend falling out who was also the co-creator of the ask blog so now i dont know how to pick it back up all by myself again but them again i really was just doing it by myself all the time anyway so i just have to figure out how to get back into the swing of things

I have some ideas for aus and maybe just finally be free and bring my oc back from the grave for realsies and make you all consume it but, I don’t know. Im scared to come back cause also weirdly alot of the new fans are younger than me or the older fans are older than me so its kinda awkward, also im just awkward im scared to talk to people online, there is and were some people i desperately wanted to be friends with both in and out of Eddsworld but im too scared and either just watch from afar or abuse the Anonymous function in ask boxes. 

If i cave enough i might come back to Eddsworld to at least finish my lore for the ask blog cause IM SORRY I LEFT YALL HANGING I HAD SCHOOL AND THEN JUST FORGOT ABOUT IT but forever haunted by the people who like every single post and then i get excited cause i see like 99+ notes waiting for me and i think one of my new posts blew up but no its just the ew boys who screw around likes and reblog and the occasional comment

One day ill return to my rightful birthplace and one day I shall be free and one with nature and draw as much as I want for it and as many ocs i want without someone telling me its cringe or make more for the ask blog or hell start doing animation and animatics again

Ok here is the Beyond rant now if you wanna read it

I feel the difference between Beyond and Legacy is that, Beyond is trying to horriblycopy their older brothers Classic and Legacy and almost dumb it down a bit with more childish humor, and Legacy takes inspiration from Classic: It’s different but a natural difference/evolution. Or the fact a whole new guy was writing it all with a slightly different style so he wrote what he knew idk maybe a bit of a factor idk

Also i cant stand the Tord bait sorry I cant, especially when they used to like get annoyed by the fandom by asking and then just realized he was a cash cow so like now we get Tord merch and the hints and Tori and the skit with the cavemen like OMG TORD- and he got crushed by a rock thanks gang, cause like dude I think as much as we love Tord like maybe this go around respect Larson’s choice to like not use him in the series anymore and take him out but like ig that doesn’t apply to merch so yeah lets do one more go around bring out the red one. Or idk maybe they contacted him and was like “yo dude can we like use him for merch” but i dont think that happened. I think it was just better to leave him absent from the show and be like “yeah no Tord guys, no Tord” and we could have all had our thumbs up and be like “Ok Eddsworld Beyond we are okay with that”. Like I know Red October was for charity but idk it still felt weird to use Tord, like could this really not have just been the main 3 or like bring in some deep cut old characters or side characters did we really need Tord here.

[beesincognito]

Perfect Strangers- part fourteen: The Not-Apartment

Viktor x Fem!reader (SFW)

part thirteen part fifteen    (start here!)

Takes place before Arcane and works its way there, did my best to combine the different versions of lore. (nsfw in parts)

(you and Viktor meet on your first day at the academy and bond over being habitual, awkward loners. The story revolves around class issues and a sense of belonging mixed with lore and Arcane plot.)

*no warnings for this part*

Word count: 2,346

******

Spring was underway, but the port city seemed to wait forever before properly heating up.

     Viktor sat in the courtyard by himself with the tiny sketchbook he had been slowly filling since you last visited the art store together. It was halfway to completion and he was quite proud of himself with the quality of his sketches. Of course, he was still drawing mostly technical things, machinery ideas that came to him on a whim and contraptions he would see around the city or academy grounds. But he was trying his hand at architecture on this particular day and so far it was going smoothly. 

     Curving the line of the pen was relaxing, documenting the dome of a building across from him and feeling satisfied with the completion of the sketch. It was a learning curve to abandon works which you insisted he allow himself to do when he lamented about never knowing when to stop working on a drawing. 

     Quotes and short lessons you shared about art carried weight in his mind just as many other things about you that he loved so fiercely to the point it occasionally frightened him. 

     The thought of you working away at the Kiraman lab made his ears feel hot, imagining you in your work attire, studiously pouring yourself into your projects. 

     Chilled from sitting outside for longer than he should, Viktor shook the damp off of his shoulders and began to make his way back to your rooms. He wanted to move in with you away from the dorms and was at a loss of words whenever he tried to broach the topic. All he wanted was a comfortable living space for you both unobstructed by a tiny kitchen and tiny beds. Dorms were comfortable enough, but he was heavy with plans of building a life with you and a large part of that for him was getting out of those rooms. 

     Piltover was expensive and you once offered for the two of you to live in the Kiraman building together since your lab was technically a fully furnished apartment. Viktor always felt like it would be an intrusion on your work and he was not a ward so it felt inappropriate to impose himself in the space. 

     Of course he was right, even if it disappointed you when he declined your proposition. 

     Instead of going straight to the dorms once he was lost in thought, he turned towards the edge of the academy on the impulsive urge to browse the nearby apartment building. It was a far fetched idea, stepping into the front office where a receptionist eyed him up and down from her glossy desk. A half eaten sandwich was between her fingers and she quickly lowered it, swallowing her mouthful of bread, meats, and cheeses, before greeting Viktor. 

     He knew full well your combined income was not going to cover an apartment just yet, but there was no harm in asking for future reference given raises were on the horizon after all the time put into your individual lines of work. 

     “How can I help you, sir?” She folded her hands together and leaned forward in her seat, perching the weight of her posture on her elbows after gesturing for Viktor to take a seat in front of her. “Are you a tenant?”

     “Ehm, no,” he settled into the seat and removed the winter cap he borrowed from you that morning, “I’m looking for a place actually, weighing my options.”

     “Marvelous,” the receptionist leaned down and procured a catalog bound with metal posts, placing it on the desk in front of Viktor and turning to the pages of vacant apartments for him to browse. “We have plenty of options available. How many people are you living with?”

     “Just the two of us,” he took note of the prices, exhaling at the number, but feeling more hopeful knowing it was achievable in the near future, “we don’t want a big place.” He was unsure of your actual opinion since you came from such a lavish home in the country from what you had told him, but assumed you would be comfortable regardless in a small apartment with just the two of you given how well adjusted you were in the dorms. 

     “Oh we have some lovely modest apartments for two,” she flipped through the pages with a speedy familiarity, “I’m assuming you share a room,” regarding Viktor’s timid nod, she stopped on a page that displayed a quaint apartment. 

     The apartment was toned down compared to the elaborate architecture he was used to seeing around the city. Wall paper with gilded accents decorated the bare walls. A small kitchen was cut off from the entryway with a low wall and led into a living room readily furnished with a couch, plush chairs, and a small plant placed on a wooden coffee table for ambiance. 

     Room space was more than enough for the two of you, split with a large bed in the middle of the floor and a large bathroom. It was perfect and the price was less intimidating than the first apartments he was shown. Suddenly the idea felt more tangible and he thanked the receptionist for her time before heading back out into the chill to go home. 

******

“You’re freezing!” you shrilled, making Viktor laugh when he playfully touched the back of your neck with his icy fingers after stepping into your dorm. “Where were you?” You referenced his absence since you assumed he would be in your rooms by the time you got back from work. 

     “Drawing,” deciding to leave out the idea of moving in together again made him clam up. Instead he placed his little sketchbook on your desk and left to change into leisure clothes on his side of the rooms. 

     You flipped to his most recent page and smiled at his drawings, flipping through a few pages you hadn’t seen yet and enjoying the look of his sketches. They were delicate and carefully crafted.

     It was sweet of him taking an interest in your hobby by participating of his own volition and you felt your heart flutter thinking about someday showing him your old studio at home. Then the thought came to a screeching halt when you remembered your parents and their ugly disdain for your relationship. You wondered if you would ever be welcomed home as long as you were with Viktor. 

     There was a letter waiting to be opened on your desk which had arrived at the Kiraman’s lab for you during work that day. It was sealed with your family crest and you were unwilling to open it, unwilling to face more of their ridicule, and unwilling to accept their wishes and give them the satisfaction. Whatever the letter contained was not important enough for you to open it since it was sent as regular mail and not a telegram. Nothing pressing could be afoot so you consigned to spending the rest of the evening with Viktor in his room, safe and warm.

******

“You were what?” You cocked your head to the side as you buttoned up your thick coat, already feeling the chill from outside through the glass of the window that morning.

     Spring was still taking its time going in full force, only allotting for brighter days occasionally or a wash of spring showers for days in a row. 

     “I was looking at apartments the other week,” Viktor confessed, keeping secrets felt wrong and even though it was a harmless one. It was constantly at the forefront of his thoughts and he felt ready to finally talk to you about possibly moving in together.

     Oh.

     “I’m sorry if that’s strange… it’s just,” he scratched the back of his head, sitting on the edge of the bed. Hand reaching for yours and taking it softly once you were done with your coat, “I thought of us moving in together, it doesn’t have to be right now or soon. It’s just been on my mind lately.” 

     You turned your personal timeline over in your head and thought of how long you’ve known him, how long you’ve been openly together, and sharing the split dorm. It had been years. Time had regrettably blurred after all and suddenly you were sorry for not savoring the days as they came. Familial pressures had rushed life in an effort to get things over with before real responsibilities took hold. 

     “We should,” you leaned down to give him a kiss, “but not right now.” Why would I say that?

     With a grin and a nod, he saw you off, watching you walk down the hallway all bundled up and heading to class. He saw you cross the courtyard later from his window before it was time for him to go to work as well. 

     None of the snow was sticking, but the bitter cold was still there and it bit at his nose on the way to Heimerdinger’s lab. He was grateful for the short distance once he was inside the building full of laboratories and offices. The heat was running, keeping the environment controlled for experimentation and general comfort. 

     It didn’t disappoint him to know you weren’t ready to move out of the dorms, if anything it put him at ease knowing he had time to build the foundations of a better life. Never had he thought he would worry about the comfort of someone so close before outside of simply helping people with his work. He wanted to be there for you and to know you were happy with your lives together even if it did not end in glory and notoriety. 

     Thoughts of his legacy were somewhat distant, a problem he could solve in the future since he had plenty of time to make a difference in the world. 

******

Another letter from your parents was waiting for you when you were finished with class and at the Kiramans’. It was smaller than the first and you rolled your eyes as you ripped the seal open with your finger. This time choosing to not ignore it lest you risk arriving to work with a slew of them stuffed under your door.

     It was an invitation. A bit formal for the context, but you assumed such formalities were necessary since the wedge you were driving between your parents and yourself was growing larger by the day. The invitation carried with it a shallow apology for your mother’s last comments on the eve of the Jubilee and it also extended to Viktor. 

     Inviting Viktor felt like another trap, but you wanted to give your parents the benefit of the doubt and you had to sit with yourself and think on it alone before consulting Viktor. That alone time consisted of tinkering away at a gizmo you assumed would make filing storage easier, for yourself at least, a rotating shelf for archival purposes. 

     Screws and fallen nuts distracted you from your nerves and allowed you to ponder your predicament of taking Viktor to your childhood home for a couple of days. It would be a short trip, possibly even shorter than a couple of days if your parents ambushed either of you on arrival or when you least expected it. 

     Thoughts escaped your lips as you angrily began to talk to yourself, expressing your thoughts a smidgen too loud. You got too caught up in the fantasy of giving your mother a piece of your mind that you knocked against the contraption with your elbow when you were turned, causing it to tumble over in a gracelessly loud clatter of metal cogs and springs. Gears rolled across the floor as you stared blankly around the room with shoulders slumped.

     A knock at your door broke your trance and you straightened your apron before stepping over the detritus of your accident. You pulled the door open, seeing a couple of students with worried expressions etched in their brows looking at you.

     We heard a crash, one of them started, asking if you were alright.

     “Oh, I’m sorry for the noise,” you laughed in spite of how upset you were feeling on the inside, “I’m just clumsy, thanks for checking on me though.”

     Apologies and expressions of relief were exchanged before you were able to close the door after they left, turning back to your mess and scratching your cheek absentmindedly. It didn’t feel worth it, doing all of the repairs and cleaning that evening when you could just do it another time. There was no rush and you were losing steam as the seconds ticked by.

     After resigning to leaving the mess alone, you took to wandering the hallway in an effort to clear your head. Rounding a corner without looking, you smacked right into someone holding a notebook that you accidentally knocked from their hands.

     “Y/n?” Jayce looked down at you after finding his baring. 

     “Jayce,” you apologized for not paying attention, dropping down to retrieve the notebook and handing it to him, beginning to leave after giving him a wave.

     “Wait,” Jayce caught you by the sleeve of your shirt, “it wouldn’t hurt to catch up.” 

     Rudeness was something you detested and the invitation was polite enough for you to feel bad turning it down. Instead of moving to a second location, you remained in the hallway, chatting while leaning against the wall. Students occasionally passed you by on their way to their own experiments.

     “I didn’t realize you were here,” Jayce rolled his head back against the cold wall, turning it slightly to look at you properly. 

     “I don’t really leave my lab except to go back home,” you slid down the wall next to him in a squat. “Plus I felt bad about ditching you… twice.”

     “Don’t be. How long have you been a ward here?”

     “Half a year. How have you been?”

     “I’m seeing someone, not seriously but it’s something,” Jayce smiled to himself more so than to you without the air of gloating, “and some of my research has been… at an impasse.”

     Research giving more trouble than it seemed to be worth was relatable and you were both able to complain about your projects together for a while. Laughing at your shared foibles and issues with finalizing ideas or successfully bringing them to fruition. His work teetered more on the side of figuring out complicated equations than the simpler mechanics that made up your own projects and commissions. 

     His interest was piqued when you admitted why you were wandering the hallways like a wraith, bemoaned with your project and the mess waiting for you in the apartment. He offered to help straighten the project out so you wouldn’t have to deal with it the next time you came in and you gladly accepted.

     “Brace yourself,” your door clicked open with the turn of the brass handle, “it’s unsightly.”

     Sans judgment, Jayce stepped into the apartment with you and got right to assisting you with moving the shelving unit upright once more. You handed him your designs, letting him study the drawings, their measurements and notes detailing exactly what the contraption was for. Work went on smoothly between the two of you, ticking away the hours until all of the missing pieces were back in place and it was further along in progress than you started with that afternoon.

     “Why are you looking for a place when you have this apartment?”  Jayce asked in reference to the natural flow of conversation that led to you complaining about how expensive the city was for anyone trying to live off of campus. 

     “My partner and I want to live together outside of student housing,” you shrugged your shoulders, tightening a screw with a grunt when the wrench refused to give way at first.

     “I’ll keep an eye out for something. Try to make the most of the space you have for now I guess.”

     You gave him a grateful grin, rubbing your forehead with the dark sleeve of your uniform shirt, feeling satisfied with the work, “I’d better get going, it’s late,” noting the time on the clock in the corner of the room, you pushed up from your stool and made your way to the door with Jayce in tow.

     Locking the door behind you this time, you made your way out of the hallway together, continuing to chat about your project. It was obvious he was trying to boost your confidence despite how frivolous it was, unlike a more useful invention that investors would clamor for. 

     At the entrance to the elevator, you shook hands as a goodbye before parting ways.

******

Wind whipped at your clothes the entire way back to the dorms. You were thankful for the doors shutting behind you once you were safe and warm in your room where you were surprised to find it completely in the dark. 

     Viktor wasn’t back from work yet, giving you time to decompress and get ready for bed while waiting for his return. There were leftovers in the icebox and you put it on the stove once you were done with showering and dressing in warm pajamas. Standing in the kitchen in front of the warm fire of the stove, you relished in the heat it gave off, feeling the wooden spoon through the copper pot and mixing its contents. 

     Both rooms were visible through the doorways on either side of you. Looking between them and glaring at your tiny beds, turning your head back and forth in a cursing manner thinking about how far apart they were and how their smallness irked you. They mocked you with their size which left you wanting every time you slept alone or when Viktor would insist that sleeping cramped together was perfectly fine. 

     Before you resorted to snapping the poor spoon in half, you marched over to your side of the room and began angrily dragging your bed away from the wall with little effort. It was lighter than you thought and you switched sides, opting to push it towards the kitchen and aggressively shoving it through the door. Unsurprisingly it did not fit through the doorway all in one piece so you lifted the mattress, blankets and all, off of the bed frame and dragged it through the kitchen and into Viktor’s room. Returning to your side to tilt the bed frame on its size and dragging it through as well. 

     After much grumbling and aggression fueled organizing, you looked down at your handy work feeling quite pleased with yourself. The beds were comfortably pushed together with a large sheet covering the crack between the two mattresses. Everything squished perfectly into one large make-shift bed and the frames didn’t shift when you rolled between the mattresses, testing if the beds would split apart once you both spent the night together on them- amongst other things that made your cheeks flush just thinking about it.

     Satisfaction, and the sound of soup boiling over, made you return to the kitchen in a flash while you continued to wait for Viktor.

******

“Did I miss something?” bemused with the new arrangements once Viktor noticed the beds shoved together, he looked for you in the kitchen where you were sitting with a book by a lantern.

     “What could you possibly be referring to?” You continued to feign reading, turning a page while a subtle grin threatened to creep through the placid façade you were attempting to maintain. 

     Viktor exhaled a quiet laugh, leaving the kitchen to begin getting ready for bed, “how did you manage this?” He mostly asked himself quietly in passing, imagining you in a frenzy moving the bed around the dorms and how comical it must have been. 

******

Blankets cocooned your bodies in the wonderfully spacious bed. Even with the two small beds pushed together, it was not as large as that old hotel bed had been, but it was leagues of improvement from the previous arrangement. Every night you spent in the tiny bed together consisted of tangled limbs uncomfortably stiff and you would have to use Viktor’s chest as a pillow.

     Not that Viktor ever complained, but you could tell it was not ideal for him being unable to move around if he became sore and needed to adjust his sleeping position with you plastered against him. 

     “I wish I could have seen that,” Viktor had finished poking fun at you after you described the antics that led to your bed finding its way next to his.

     You lightly smacked away his hand when he pinched the bridge of your nose in response to you rolling your eyes from the jokes, “We needed this.”

     Humming an agreement, Viktor stretched out on his back, feeling at ease after the long day he had and grateful for your ever endearing tenacity.

******

Thanks for making it to the end! :3

[guppygiggles]

((Oh shoot I was mid-ask and pushed the wrong thing and I’m not sure it sent so starting over 😅))

Anywho hello hi there I really hope you don’t mind the like spamming (and interactions in general from nsfw blogs); I just really couldn’t help myself bc I’m resonating so much with your content and tags and you seem like a genuinely lovely human with absolutely adorable artwork so I wanted to show you some appreciation 🥺💗 It immediately comes across how much you love and care for your OCs via the lore you’ve created and the utmost tender way you talk about them and the way they interact with each other ?? 😭 it’s impossible not to fall in love with them too. I also hope you’ve heard copious amount of feedback about how brilliant your writing is - so detailed, so warm, so intimate…it’s extremely flustering and endlessly endearing and I’m so grateful you share your gift with all of us on here! In particular, I’m positively fascinated with Avery’s backstory and anatomy and am loving discovering the depth of the layers of thought that you put into composing him. Excited to learn more 🥰

((((I’m also approaching my third decade of life next year and it’s always nice seeing rep for folks my age in the community who are still enjoying and exploring their relationship with this “kink”(using this term lightly bc I know everyone may not consider themselves to fall under that umbrella). I too met my partner on here, and it’s beautiful to hear that things can work out in the long run so thank you for that tidbit of reassurance 💗 sending wishes of happiness for you both!!))))

Sorry again for this long winded ramble I was just inspired and wanted to send the warm vibes I received while perusing your awesome blog back your way!!! Hope you have a lovely day 💕

-🐰

Anon... my god! 😭💙 /very positive

Crying into my tea on a Sunday morning... god, I am so touched by this, I'm just falling apart...

Let me respond to this sequentially, so I don't just get flooded with emotion (and if you've been watching how I post, you already know this is going to be long as fuck... Sorry! 🥲)

1. I am absolutely okay with NSFW blogs interacting with me, and spam interactions don't bother me at all! The only interactions I don't want are from minors and dickheads, haha. No worries on this, peach.

2. Fewer people interact with my fic than with my art, but when I tell you I treasure every single thing people say about my fic... god, there's just nothing like it. My fic is so, so close to my heart. I've been a writer much longer than I've been an artist, so I feel like I can really express myself through writing in a way I can't with art... I'm trying, but I'm not quite there yet! God, thank you so much for your kind words... I am so grateful that the warmth and love I feel when I'm writing is felt by others, too. I really try to capture the very essence of how these characters and their emotions feel in my mind and heart.

And you like the lore, too? 🥺 My long-winded rambling? My wordy expositions? God, my heart! 😭💙

3. I am so happy to know you met your partner in this community, too! I am really wishing the best for you, and yes, it absolutely can work out! My spouse and I are very different from each other, but we are still best friends after six years, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

4. I feel like this community tends to be younger, especially here on Tumblr, so it's kind of refreshing to hear from someone in the same phase of life as me. If there's anything I didn't expect, it's that I would still be exploring my feelings about tickling (and, well, intimacy as a whole) well into adulthood. It's funny how things come back around, though... I was making tickling doodles in my diary when I was just a kid, but I stopped (and, stopped drawing altogether, really) after high school. Had to work through a ton of shame, religious trauma, and just a metric fuckton of other shit, all to come right back around to doing tickling doodles again, haha! I was delighted to find that, at 30 (and with a whole lot of new experiences and context), it still makes me just as giddy now as it did then.

All of this is to say... There may be common threads throughout one's life, but we aren't really set in stone the way people think. You can absolutely discover, and rediscover, yourself and what brings you joy over and over again as you grow and have new experiences. If I can give any advice on this, it's this: Don't close yourself off. You only have this one life, so use it to experience all you can. Even if you're shy, like me... do your best to lend a kind word, an ear, or a hand as often as possible. You never know who, or what, is gonna set your soul on fire.

Anon, thank you so much for this ask... And if you ever want to chat, I'd be more than delighted. 💙