#flower crown coloring page

[c0l0r-w1th-m3]

[gloomwitchwrites]

Flower Crown

Aragorn x Female Reader

Content & Warnings (per the warnings MDNI): fluff, light angst, kissing, non-descriptive intimacy

Word Count: 2k

During a spring festival, the man you love returns unexpectedly.

ao3 // taglist // main masterlist // spring 2024 masterlist

The sky is a cloudless, endless ocean above your head.

You breathe deep, savoring the scents in the air. Newly bloomed flowers, freshly baked bread, and roasting chicken all infiltrate your nostrils, reminding of you the celebration that’s about to begin. Anticipation buzzes under your skin like a swarm of startled bees. You’ve been waiting for this all winter. Spring is finally here, knocking, ready to be greeted. The flowers are in full bloom, and the trees have awakened from their solemn slumber.

Every year the small village in which you’ve lived your whole life celebrates the changing of the seasons. A community-wide festival is held. Each person is involved in their own way, and the duties are often assigned at the beginning of winter to allow everyone to prepare. Sometimes, these responsibilities shift, but a few remain the same.

Last year, you attended the baker in their duties to provide baked goods. This year, you were tasked with sewing new dresses for all the unmarried young women. The base fabric, an off-white cotton, remains the same. It’s like a blank page awaiting colorful paint or black ink, each dress ready to be designed with every young woman in mind. You, and several of the married women, take great care in personalizing each dress to the young ladies’ personalities.

It is not by chance that this happens. It is more than tradition. Rebirth and renewal are the themes of the festival, and with that comes an influx of weddings. The dresses are for that very reason, as a form of matchmaking, along with the presented flower crowns and the festival itself. You’ve always thought it silly but never truly commented on the matter. Fortunately, with you on sewing duties, you were able to work on your own dress.

With the dresses come flower crowns. They are given to the young women by unmarried men of the village. It is always the married women and village elders who quietly determine which man will gift what crown to who. They’re intuition is almost always correct. It is rare for a pair to not eventually marry. Sometimes it is quick, and sometimes it is years later before either realizes they belong together.

And the flower crowns are the true beauty. Another group handmakes each one. But because you know how intricate they are, you did nothing for your dress. It is simple. Plain. Just because you’re forced to be part of this tradition doesn’t mean you want to try and find a husband. You’re perfectly fine alone, because the man you do want is far away.

He isn’t avoiding you. Not on purpose. Aragorn is a ranger. He thrives in the wilds, seeking out the darkness to rid it from the world. But you do miss your wanderer. He tries to travel through your area as often as he can just to see you.

Over the years, the friendliness has grown, becoming heat and tension.

None of the other men in the village make you feel the way he does, and they likely never will.

In the shade of a tree, you smooth out the front of your dress. The tips of your fingers itch and you need to move them just to calm yourself. That alone is silly. What do you have to be nervous for? The process is always the same, always consistent, so why do you feel like this?

The young, unmarried women begin to congregate near the arch of flowers. Breathing deep, you march forward, finding your spot where it always is. You can taste the eagerness in the air. The women around you are just as nervous, nearly bouncing on their toes. They whisper to each other, giggling, but none of them glance your way or address you.

All day, and not even one has thanked you for your work.

But you won’t let it eat away at your resolve. Today is a good day. You’ll drink berry wine and gorge yourself on delicious food while listening to the married women gossip about their husbands.

As the village elders arrive, all talking ceases. That is the cue, and just like the women in line, you curtesy. You’re not allowed to look up, to glance into the face of the man who will place a crown upon your head. You keep your head bent and gaze on the ground.

There is shuffling, the rustling of hands lifting crowns. You focus on the green grass beneath your feet. You’re the only one up here not wearing shoes. You breathe in, and out, watching as so many pairs of polished boots pass by.

When someone does stop before you, the boots are not clean. They are muddy and have seen travel. You almost want to laugh but really, you’re curious. Who is this? Who would be so bold to come to the crowning with filthy boots?

In the next moment, the crown is placed upon your head. You don’t move. Don’t breathe. The stranger’s fingers brush the underside of your chin, pressing gently. You respond. You can’t resist. It is natural to do so.

Your gaze takes in this stranger as your head lifts. And when you see his face, you realize that this is no stranger at all.

“Aragorn,” you whisper, and his response is a smile.

There is applause, and good-natured cheering all around, and yet you respond to none of it. It is only him, this man you’ve been missing, standing before you.

“What are you doing here?” you ask just as the music starts up. It’s too early. Aragorn often arrives in the fall when the leaves start to change.

Others are already wandering off together or going their separate ways. You’re left staring, happy to see him but not understanding why.

“To see you,” he replies.

To see you. To see you. Whatever nervousness you felt before is gone, replaced with a giddiness that sends heat right to your cheeks.

When you don’t reply immediately, Aragorn frowns. “Have I upset you?”

“No!” You reach for him, grabbing his upper arm, taking a step forward. “Not at all. I’m just…surprised.”

His gaze softens, and you could fall into his depths. “Didn’t think I’d come?”

“You always visit when the weather begins to cool.”

“I do,” he agrees. “Couldn’t stay away.” Aragorn says this almost absently as his fingers toy with a white ribbon on your dress.

A young woman shrieks with delight, and you and Aragorn both turn as she’s hoisted in the air.

“Would you like to dance?” he asks.

The answer is immediate. “Yes.”

He presents his hand, and you take it. His palm is warm. Strong. Aragorn leads, and then you’re moving, matching the correct steps. It’s not an intense dance but it isn’t slow either.

“Did you just arrive?”

He smiles. “As they were distributing the flowers.”

“Is that why you’re so dirty?” Aragorn laughs as you lean in and sniff, making an exaggerated expression. “And smelly?”

“I thought you liked the way I smelled after a ride.” Aragorn wraps his arm around your waist, turning as he does so.

“A ride,” you correct. “Not a journey.”

The music swells, dips, and then increases in pace. You’re left focusing on your feet, going through the motions. But Aragorn knows what he’s doing, and he leads you through it effortlessly. It’s difficult to speak, but his hands do enough talking. Aragorn’s touch lingers. He might squeeze slightly or allow his hand to wander. It stirs something hot in your belly that travels lower until you’re blazing everywhere.

When the music comes to an end, and the two of you are out of breath, Aragorn places his hand on your lower waist and guides you away.

“Something to drink?”

“Please.”

Berry wine is had before Aragorn takes your hand again, the two of you strolling off into the nearby orchard. Between the trees, there is privacy, the two of you walking in gentle silence. It’s just your hand in his and the warm breeze that stirs up your dress.

“I’m glad you’re here,” you say, stopping next to an apple tree. There are leaves on its branches but no blooms.

Aragorn comes to a stop beside you, his chest nearly brushing your shoulder. “Glad? That is all you feel?” With a soft touch, Aragorn turns your head in his direction. His head is angled downward, and there is no escaping what you see in his eyes.

There are times when the two of you have found a bit of quiet, some peace only with the need to explore the other. As you gaze upon his face, you are entirely aware of what he wants, but Aragorn is an honorable man. He will not push or insist on more unless you’re the one who seeks it out.

The berry wine is warm in your blood. Aragorn’s nearness is just as intoxicating. His fingers play with that same ribbon, and you lean into his touch until your noses brush lightly against each other.

“There is plenty I feel,” you reply, your voice a whisper amongst the birdsong and breeze.

“Is your heart willing to share?” Aragorn tugs lightly on the ribbon, loosening a portion of the bodice.

“Is yours willing to hear the truth?” you counter, knowing that you’d give him anything in this moment.

Aragorn tugs on the ribbon again, loosening the bodice further. Air rushes into your lungs as your chest receives a bit of freedom. “Tell me now. Under the trees. Let the sky listen.”

“You’re far too sweet to be a warrior,” you laugh, and Aragorn grins, closing the distance. The kiss is chaste and lovely, sending heat down to your toes and up to the crown of your head.

Your fingers find the front of his tunic. They curl inward, pulling of their own accord, seeking his closeness. Aragorn indulges, deepening the kiss until your bodies are pressed together. His hand rises, clutching the back of your neck. There is only you and him and your repeated meetings.

When you finally break apart, your lips are raw, and you hunger for more. You ache for deeper things, and long to tell him so.

“Is this all right?” he asks, fingers brushing against your exposed collarbone.

“Yes,” you murmur in reply, shivering under his touch.

Aragorn returns to your mouth, and you open for him. Your own fingers explore as much as his, but it is Aragorn’s fingers that venture beneath fabric.

You inhale sharply, and his hand retreats. “Apologies.”

“Don’t stop,” you say, grasping his wrist to guide his hand back to your skin.

Under the shade of the apple tree, Aragorn follows your lead, the two of you finding a dance. Although time has not been kind, keeping the two of you parted, there is no need to rush. You are happy simply existing with him, taking time to explore and savor what you’ve missed over the last few months.

Every caress is a song, and each kiss not only satiates but fuels the hunger that sits low in your belly. Fingers press and dig into skin. Clothing opens or falls away. There is no one else around, and Aragorn’s warmth is all you seek.

“Will you stay?” you ask between kisses.

Aragorn pauses, drawing back slightly. “For a few days.”

A few days. A few days with him and then separation. With Aragorn arriving now, will he return in the fall? Or will this be your new normal?

Even as these doubts swirl in your mind, you know the truth.

You don’t care.

As long as he comes, as long as he returns to you when he can, that is enough.

taglist:

@foxxy-126 @glassgulls @km-ffluv @firelightinferno @glitterypirateduck

@tiredmetalenthusiast @protosslady @childofyuggoth @coffeecaketornado @cherryofdeath

@berarenado @therealbloom @ninman82 @thewulf @ferns-fics

@beebeechaos @hantheconqueror @miaraei

[tetzoro]

⟡ — zoro roronoa x reader. fluff. zoro calls reader woman once. kind of a continuation of this. divider by cafekitsune. — WC : 954

Since a young age, you’ve always been fond of the flowers that grew in your village. Greedy little hands would pluck every single one that caught your eye, tucking it away with you to store in the vase that resided by your bedside or safely nestled them behind your ears.

As you grew older though, your hands stopped itching to reach for them as much, guilt locking your fingertips from picking a flower and ripping it from its home.

That is, until you found ways to preserve the beauty. Such as creating beautiful bouquets for your friends, watching their faces light up with a smile that will forever shine in your memories.

Or quietly reserving the petals of the colors you were sweet on, pressing them between the crinkled pages of your journals to cherish forever.

The beauty was to be shared, to be appreciated. Each flower had a meaning and a story behind it.

“What are you doing?” Zoro gruffs out. Despite the roughness of the question, his eye remains shut, at peace with whatever you were up to.

“Sit still.” You hiss down at him even though he hasn’t made any attempt to flee from you. Many moons ago, he would’ve flinched away from the tenderness of your fingers dancing across his skin, but now he tolerates it. More than that, he’s learned to welcome it, to allow himself to melt under your loving touch.

“‘m not moving, woman.” But the question still lingers in his mind. Your constant picking and prodding at his hair, preening in a way that he’s never known piques his curiosity.

“I’m just playing with your hair.” You’re kneeled beside where he had settled in for his afternoon nap. Next to you lay a pile of various flora that you had gathered from your latest excursion.

Normally, Zoro was the one to gift you a flower from the island and the one that he had given you remains sweetly tucked behind your ear. But you had plucked some of your own this time with a very important mission in mind.

Each one has been delicately plaited into Zoro’s hair, the green serving as a beautiful canvas for a garden of flowers to blossom in. If he truly knew what you were up to, he’d probably swat your hands away and sport a blush that rivals the pink camellia that twirls between your fingertips.

The secrets you plant in the tuft of his hair makes you smile, a language that has yet to be deciphered by the man below you. Each flower held a feeling or a thought that carried the longing that laid within your heart.

Devotion, passion, loyalty, understanding.

One by one you plant the meanings along his head, letting the breeze kiss along the petals and swirl the floral aroma into the whispers of the wind in hopes that he’ll finally hear the gentle call of your love.

“There.” You smile, proud of your work. Dots of color decorate his hair, brightening up the green that lay underneath. Zoro cracks his eye open, peering up at you.

“I know that look.” He squinted, shifting around. His calloused hand flies up to his head before you have time to properly react, pinching onto a white daisy and letting it fall to the palm of his hand. He's quiet for a moment as he studies the plant. “Huh?”

“You like it?” you tease, grinning from ear to ear. He continues to take a few more out, inspecting each of them. “Hey! You’re ruining my hard work.”

He pauses at that, ever the sucker for you. With a heavy sigh, he takes the flowers that lay defensively in his hand and tucks the daisy behind your other ear. And then the rose petals upon your head. And then another, the carnation that compliments the one that he wears like a crown.

“There.” He crossed his arms with a familiar pout on his lips, but the air of acceptance wraps around you like a warm blanket. “Happy now?”

“Very.” The grin that spreads across your face and coats your features in a syrupy sweet joy causes his heart to thump a little quicker in the confines of his chest.

Zoro glimpses at you again from the corner of his sharp eye, his stoic mask cracking under the sunbeam that makes up your smile. The telltale signs of the subtle twitch of his lip, the fondness pooling in his steely iris, his large palm wrapping around your waist all emerge right before he tugs you into his hold.

“When are you going to tell me about the meanings of these things anyway?” He asks as you maneuver into a comfortable position, settling yourself in his lap.

The salty air licks at your face, the warmth of the rays that peek through the clouds seep into your skin and you figure maybe now is a good time to open the floodgates of your heart and let it all pour out into his awaiting hands.

Leaning forward, you swipe your thumb along his bottom lip, soaking up his sharp intake of air before closing the distance between you two.

The gentle kiss blossoms into a graceful dance that showcases all of your shared feelings, tongues tangling to spell out the unshed words that weigh on both of your hearts — I love you.

You’re not sure who pulls away first, foreheads kissing together as your lungs fight to steady themselves against the erratic beat of your hearts.

“Must I tell you things you already know?” You smile, eyes crinkling with affection.

“Yes.” Zoro breathes out, gaze falling back to your lips. “Because the words always sound so sweet coming out of your mouth.”

[cosmicpoutine]

introduction to the timbern hades and persephone au

i thought it would be funny to make the helm of darkness the shape of a bird skull to keep the bird motif. and his bostaff into a spine spear (which i love drawing). and i decided to make his limbs ghostly and show his bones bc i like bones, and im unoriginal.

i mostly associate bernard with the color blue. i know more about bones than about flowers, so i have no clue to what blue flowers should be in his crown. sorry bern.

I'm gonna post an illustration soon and then a 3 page comic. i have a lot of ideas for this au, but im gonna try to take it slow because i want to make them into illustrations.

[innerfare]

Sanji Fluff // Angst Compilation

Summary: A compilation of Sanji angst and fluff from my multi character posts (You're Wounded, Brushing Your Teeth Together, Flowers, Type of Date, You See His Cabin, Fighting and Making Up, Paradise, Nightmares, I Love You, You're Jealous).

Genre: Fluff // Angst

CW: None // SFW

———

You’re Wounded: 

Fusses over you while you see to your own wound, feels like they dodged a bullet, blames themselves for any harm that comes to you. “Never again,” they promise themself, bringing you a hot cup of tea to soothe you. 

Brushing Your Teeth Together: 

Slings his arm around you, gets a little too distracted by the sight of you brushing your teeth, ends up standing there with his mouth open and his toothbrush hanging out. Ends up speed running his when you’re finished so he can follow you out of the bathroom. 

Flowers: 

Classic red roses, at least a dozen at a time. He’ll buy you roses in shades of white and pink, as well as the occasional yellow, but a dozen red roses is his go to. He also makes very good use of the petals. Doesn’t need a special occasion to present you with a bouquet. In fact, he always makes sure you have fresh flowers on your nightstand. Additionally, he’s learned to cook a few dishes with edible flowers in them for you, presenting you with all manner of chamomile, chive blossom, and pansy dishes. 

Type of Date: 

This man will take you on the best picnic of your life, a picnic so good he’ll have you wondering why you ever thought restaurants were the epitome of fine dining. It won’t just be delicious, it will be an aesthetic dream, with a wicker basket, checkered blanket, and even a small bouquet of flowers in a glass jar. If he takes you on a picnic beneath the stars, he’ll light candles and be sure to have an extra blanket to keep you warm. Oh, and champagne. Definitely will open a bottle of champagne. 

You See His Cabin For The First Time: 

Sparkling clean, and yet, he’ll apologize anyway because the pillows aren’t fluffy enough, the rug isn’t completely straight, etcetera. His closet is very well organized, all of his clothes ironed and properly taken care of (Sanji’s the rare type to actually read labels and do his laundry accordingly). His most prized possession is a book on the All Blue, which he’s poured over countless times, using color coded tabs to flag various pages and writing detailed notes in the margins. He also came across one of Zeff’s old wanted posters in Loguetown, and he keeps it framed next to his own, the closest thing he has to a family photo. 

Fighting and Making Up: 

He’s far too protective over you, and it causes a lot of fights. He treats you like a china doll, and though that can be quite nice at times, he needs to understand you’re not made of glass. Alternatively, he’s the type to get upset with you for being too friendly to other men. There was also a miscommunication where he cooked something you didn’t like and you weren’t exactly gentle in your reaction to it, you thinking he already knew you didn’t like that thing when he didn’t actually know, him thinking you had an issue with his cooking and not an issue with one of the ingredients. He’s the type to bring you flowers even if you were in the wrong in order to jumpstart the making up process. Your fights never last long because Sanji can’t sleep, can’t eat, can barely even pull himself out of bed if the two of you are on the outs (early childhood trauma can be that way). 

Paradise 1: 

Wandering through a flower field and picking some of the more beautiful blooms that catch your eye, sprawling out on a picnic blanket in the late morning to bask in the sweet scent, enjoying the breeze as it ruffles your hair, weaving some of the flowers you picked into a delicate crown that they wear proudly while the two of you share sweet kisses. 

Paradise 2: 

Waiting until late evening to meet beneath a peach tree, speaking at first in hushed tones, worrying someone is on to the two of you, eventually forgetting about all of that and settling into easy conversation about nothing and everything simultaneously, him jumping up to pick a peach for you to have as an evening snack, you taking advantage of the last bit of light to carve both of your initials into the tree trunk. 

Nightmares: 

You’re in the clutches of his brothers while his father watches on in approval, and he’s trying to save you but to no avail. Suddenly, he’s seven years old again- too small, too slow, too weak to put up a fight, completely at the mercy of his brothers. Only, they aren’t tormenting him, they’re tormenting you, and from the looks on their faces, they sure are enjoying it. The look on your face, though, is one of complete anguish. And then you scream in pain, and he’s awake again, sitting up in bed with a sheen of sweat on his skin, the image of your face in such pain burned into his brain. He doesn’t register that it was only a nightmare until he puts eyes on you, and even then, it takes him several days to recover from the nightmare. 

I Love You: 

Sanji technically confesses first, but you’re the one who actually says those three words. He’s holding your hand in both of his, clutching it close to his racing heart, as he looks down at you, telling you all the ways you make his life better, all the things he’s looking forward to doing with you, all the energy he’s going to put into keeping you happy, healthy, and safe. And the words just sort of fall from your lips. He stops mid sentence, eyes wide and mouth open. The seconds drag on in silence before he’s pulling your lips to his. Both of you are very generous with these three words, saying them often and in public. If you ever hang up the transponder snail without telling him you love him, he’s calling you right back to make sure everything is alright. (Also, not really relevant, might do a separate post about this, but Sanji is definitely a heart-shaped jewelry sort of guy. He just is. Certified lover boy.) 

You’re Jealous: 

Even with a third eye, Pudding is stunning. And Sanji almost married her. It was before you two were together, but listening to the stories from Whole Cake, hearing how close he came to marrying another woman, knowing she really did fall in love with his kind heart and wonderful cooking, turns you into a little green monster. You know you shouldn’t feel jealous of a woman you’ve never met before, a woman Sanji chose not to marry, but you can’t help it. Sanji is completely shocked that you would feel jealous over his relationship (if it could even be called that) with Pudding, though after thinking about it some more, he does realize why you might be jealous that he had a fianc��. His solution is to bring you a bouquet of roses and walk you through the dark details of his life, telling you things he’s never outright told anyone, so you understand the special place you have in his life. 

———

Hope you enjoyed it! If you want more, you can check out my masterlist here!

[ohimsummer]

SATORU, your muse ｡˚✐~

— Satoru eases open the door of the house. You’re not home, so he doesn’t feel the need to make his usual grand entrance. Shoes are left at the door, jacket on the rack, and Satoru makes way to the bedroom. Once inside, something on your nightstand immediately catches his eye.

It’s your sketchbook; a now worn, leather notepad that he’d bought you months ago after the old one was filled. You rarely, if ever, let him see your artwork, so Gojo would usually resort to peeking over your shoulder to catch a glimpse of what you were working on. He always teased you for keeping your art a secret, but now that he has a chance to look at your projects uninterrupted, he hesitates. For a second.

Satoru flips open to the first page. It’s just random doodles of flowers and animals, ones he recognizes from the garden in the park you two frequent. The next page warrants the same mundane results: bugs and trees and the tops of skyscrapers and whatever random things that would grab your interest while you two enjoyed the heat of the sun.

The next page catches Gojo by surprise. It’s a bird, but not just any bird, he realizes. It’s a songbird, one he’d half-heartedly pointed out to you one day because he recalled reading about it online. You weren’t even listening to him, or so he’d thought. It’s kind of endearing actually that you’d take the time to draw it. And it’s not just the bird, either. It’s the macaroons he’d mentioned wanting to get one evening, a bouquet consisting of a flower Gojo’d randomly plucked and presented to you, a familiar pair of sunglasses resting in grass, dabbed over top with faded blue watercolor paint. Numerous doodles of such small memories.

Satoru continues flipping to look at your little illustrated photo album. Some of these drawings are of stuff he barely remembers talking about, like a cracked open piggy bank obviously referencing a story he told you in passing. Gojo doesn’t even remember why he brought it up, but you’ve immortalized it here in your sketchpad with pencils and ink.

The drawings only grow more detailed as he gets deeper into the book, and a proud smile stretches across Satoru’s face at your talent. Rapid sketches of buildings and passerby evolve into self portraits of yourself, and he thinks you look so captivating in all of them. Gojo takes note of the silly doodles of even himself in the margins of the paper. Him in his sunglasses, him wearing the flower crown you’d poorly put together, him surrounded by ice cream and candy and the plethora of sweets he so enjoys. His favorites are the inane drawings of you two together, tiny and inhabiting multiple corners of every page. Each one is a delightful surprise to spot.

Satoru turns the next page, and he’s sincerely taken aback. Drawings of eyes, and they all look alike. They’re so detailed, adorned with pretty lashes and shaded so beautifully. He doesn’t have to wonder long on whose eyes these are, the next page bursting with the color blue tells Gojo all he needs to know. He’s glad you’re not here to see his reddening face and the way his breath hitched. This page, the next few actually, are all dedicated to his eyes. They’re inked perfectly, some are at different angles, and you’ve managed to portray emotion into all of them. Satoru wonders if he could draw a picture of you and showcase the absolute adoration in your eyes the way you’ve done with his.

And it doesn’t stop there. Page after page, it’s all Satoru. Him sleeping with a mushed cheek against your chest, him drinking a soda, him looking out the window, him playing the game with Geto, when did you even draw these?

“Satoru?”

He quickly slams the book shut at your call, carefully placing it back on your nightstand and ushering himself from the room. There you are at the door, shaking the rain from your umbrella and leaving it on the mat near the entrance.

“There you are, love.,” you beam at his approaching figure, and Gojo squishes you in a warm embrace. “How was your day?”

Satoru kisses the crown of your head, and grins against your skin. He can’t wait to tell you all about today, maybe give you some more brilliant ideas to memorialize in your sketchbook.

[genshin-impact-updates]

Version 5.0 Event Notices Compilation

"Turbo Twirly!" Event: Progress Through the Archon Quest "Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn" and Invite "Mottled Gold Yet Unsmelted" Kachina (Geo)

〓Event Duration〓

Permanently available after the Version 5.0 update

〓Event Rewards〓

〓Eligibility〓

Complete the Archon Quest "Bedtime Story"

※ After completing the Archon Quest "A New Star Approaches," you can use the "Quick Start" function on the event page to begin the Archon Quest "Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn" directly.

〓Event Details〓

Progress through the Archon Quest "Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn" to invite "Mottled Gold Yet Unsmelted" Kachina (Geo).

※ You can only invite "Mottled Gold Yet Unsmelted" Kachina (Geo) once while progressing through the Archon Quest "Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn." The event page will close once you have invited the character.

※ Before you invite the character, the event page will be available before the Version 6.0 update. After the Version 6.0 update, the event page will close. Then you will no longer be able to use the "Quick Start" function via the event page, but you can still invite "Mottled Gold Yet Unsmelted" Kachina (Geo) while progressing through the Archon Quest "Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn."

"Traces of Artistry" Event: Take Part and Obtain the Event-Exclusive Weapon, Ash-Graven Drinking Horn (Catalyst)

〓Event Duration〓

〓Event Rewards〓

〓Eligibility〓

Adventure Rank 20 or above

And complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom"

※ Complete Archon Quest Chapter V: Act II "Black Stone Under a White Stone" first to get the best experience from this event.

〓Event Details〓

● During the event, head over to where Children of Echoes, People of the Springs, and Scions of the Canopy reside respectively in search of inspiration and unlock the following gameplay modes: "Flow's True Form," "Blazing Extremes," "Of Aspects Vivid."

● In the "Flow's True Form" gameplay, you must use the skills and special traits of different Saurians to reach the destination within a time limit and collect as many Challenge Coins and Orbs of Inspiration as possible to increase your challenge rating and obtain better rewards.

● In the "Blazing Extremes" gameplay, you must head to multiple arenas one by one to defeat the opponent(s) in a designated area and challenge powerful foes to complete special objectives.

● In the "Of Aspects Vivid" gameplay, complete challenges including taking photos, picking regional specialties, unlocking Statues of The Seven and Viewpoints, etc. to obtain the corresponding rewards. After the event begins, picked regional specialties, unlocked Statues of The Seven and Viewpoints, etc. will all count towards challenge progress.

● Complete the challenges in search of inspiration in different gameplay modes to gain Colorful Contemplations. Reach a certain amount of Colorful Contemplations to obtain Ash-Graven Drinking Horn (Catalyst), Primogems, Crown of Insight, event-exclusive Weapon Refinement Materials, and other rewards.

"Genius Invokation TCG" The Forge Realm's Temper: Game of Wits

〓Event Duration〓

Available throughout the entirety of Version 5.0

〓Event Rewards〓

〓Eligibility〓

Adventure Rank 32 or above

Complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom"

And complete the World Quest "Battlefield of Dice, Cats, and Cards"

〓Event Details〓

● After the event starts, Travelers can go to Prince at The Cat's Tail to select stages to challenge.

● This event includes 4 stages and some stages will have special victory and defeat conditions. Each stage also has specific rules related to the victory and defeat conditions.

● Fully utilize the special rules and avoid the conditions for defeat to complete these stage challenges.

● Complete stage challenges to obtain the corresponding rewards.

[dusky-dancing]

Love and Light

Summary: In the future, Sora takes Kairi to a festival he knows she'll love. Amidst the merriment and festivities, the pair reflects on all they'd been through together.

Length: ~2500 words

Pairing: Sora/Kairi, minor Rapunzel/Eugene|Flynn

Written for @twosidesfanzine.

The banner and all spot art was done by @nosieposie! Please check out her page and see her main piece for the zine as well!

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Kairi half-mindedly wondered which world Sora would take her to as she leaned against the glass dome of the Gummi Ship, more focused on the space dust and starlight around them. 

Sora had promised her that she’d love every world they visited, and he had yet to be wrong. She was in no rush to see them all at once, but waking up and leaving on time that morning had been a first for Sora. He was determined to get there quickly, so whatever world it was must be good.

“I told you, it’s a secret,” he’d playfully reply every time she’d asked. It didn’t mean she’d stop trying. With all their teasing and laughing, their ship wouldn’t run out of fuel anytime soon.

Once they touched ground, gripping one another, Kairi barely had time to recover from teleporting before the world drew her in. The smell hit her first, of grass, bark, and wildflowers. Birdsong surrounded her, and Kairi didn’t have to guess what kind of world they’d landed in before opening her eyes.

The familiar oceanic breeze swept over her as she found herself standing on a narrow shore. Treetops and shimmering grassy hills stretched behind them, and across the bay before them sat a town built on a hill. Kairi turned to Sora, only to find him watching her in anticipation. 

“I love it,” she said with a cheer, and his head lifted with pride. 

He stepped forward and threw his arms out wide. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Corona!”

Sora being free and happy and…himself, filled Kairi with more joy than he knew.

She stared in awe as they walked along the shore to a stone bridge. Despite the kingdom’s size, the warm colors and atmosphere welcomed her in. Even along the narrow bridge, the cobblestone bustled with friendly faces and joyful chatter.

With several eyes turned to them and their other-worldly clothes—and Sora too busy watching Kairi to notice—Kairi teasingly pulled him aside and suggested they try to blend in. Lucky for them, clothing vendors lined the streets for some kind of festival.

Kairi fitted herself into a light pink corset dress, tight in all the right places while still fun and flowing. When Sora emerged from the changing tent, he sported a strapping dark brown vest covering a blue tunic and long, tan trousers.

In retaliation for all his staring, Kairi openly admired him. At heart, he maintained the joy of a child, but times like this reminded her of just how much he’d grown. When he found her and faltered in his steps, she wondered if he had similar thoughts.

Smiling, she approached and straightened his vest. “So fancy, but one thing’s missing.” Dipping her fingers beneath his collar, she sought his silver chain necklace and pulled the signature crown from underneath. “All better!”

“T-thanks.” He blushed under her attention, but made her red in return when he added, “You look beautiful, Kairi.”

A nearby flower vendor, excited over Kairi’s red hair, kindly offered to braid some pink and white flowers into it. She accepted and soon felt like she stood out even more. 

Before food vendors could grab her attention, Sora took her hand and led her to an open town square with a tall mural depicting—she assumed—the royal family. Below the mural sat a half-empty box of colored chalk. Sora took some pieces and turned to her excitedly.

“Let’s draw!”

She giggled and took a yellow piece. Together, they found untouched cobblestones and began drawing. Without looking, Kairi guessed what Sora chose to make and risked matching it. Sure enough, when they revealed their pieces to one another, two paopu fruits extended to sketched versions of themselves, just like in the Secret Place.

They caught one another’s gaze and smiled, sharing a non-verbal how did you know? between themselves.

Kairi broke the silence when she shrugged and said, “If only they sold paopu fruit here.”

“I have something else planned for dinner anyways.” Sora winked.

Before Kairi could ask, live music began to play nearby—bright string and wind instruments trading the melody. Sora perked up, grabbed Kairi’s hand, and pulled her towards the sound, forgetting about their chalk-covered hands.

Already, a crowd of townsfolk had gathered, clapping and dancing along with the music. 

“Don’t worry, it’s easy,” Sora said as he encouraged her further into the crowd. Kairi would never refuse a dance with Sora, so she followed eagerly when he spun her in close. Despite the free style of it all, the dance had some structure to the steps and spins. “When the music signals, we change partners.”

Kairi pouted playfully. “But what if I want to keep dancing with you?”

“I wish.” Sora leaned in closer and reassured her. “I’ll find you by the end, promise.”

It was good enough for Kairi. She nodded with a smile, and soon the music picked up. With a wink, Sora spun her away and released her hand.

She found the gaze of an older blond man and, with an open-handed invitation, initiated the next dance. This continued for several more rounds, and she traded both male and female partners. So many people were dancing that Kairi never had the same partner twice.

Each one seemed eager to dance with her, until she flew into the arms of a tall, handsome man. His gaze wandered over the crowd, obviously looking for a specific person. Kairi cleared her throat to get his attention.

“Sorry.” He shot her a charming smile before beginning the dance. “Not that you’re not a lovely young lady, but I’d like to make my way over to dance with my wife next round.” He gestured with his head over to the side. “The jumpy brunette, can’t miss her.”

Sure enough, Kairi spotted the woman twirling and dancing with more energy than anyone else. Laughing alongside her as she danced—coincidentally—was Sora. Pride filled Kairi’s chest, not only from Sora getting to be himself, but also spreading that joy to others. He tended to have that effect on people. 

“Of course.” Kairi turned back to her dance partner with a smile and followed his lead. 

When the music crescendoed, her partner prepared to spin her out of reach, but froze.

“Sora?!” he asked, puzzled.

Kairi turned, and recognition showed on Sora’s face.

“Eugene, look who it is!” His wife grabbed Sora’s arm and pulled them all out of the crowd.

“You know Sora?” Kairi asked, unsurprised considering Sora made friends everywhere he went.

“We sure do, gosh it’s been years!” The woman beamed. “You must be a friend of Sora’s too?”

At that point, Sora swooped between them and put his arm around Kairi. “More than a friend actually,” he said proudly with his whole heart. “Rapunzel, Eugene, this is Kairi. Kairi, these are my friends here. Rapunzel is the princess!”

“Nice to meet you.” Kairi smiled and offered her hand to each of them.

Eugene took her hand and bowed apologetically. “If I’d known you were with Sora, I wouldn’t have brushed you off. Sorry about that.”

“I can’t blame a man for wanting to dance with his wife.” Kairi winked.

“Wife?!” Sora startled beside her. “You guys got married? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Rapunzel giggled and shared a knowing look with Eugene before showing off her ring. “I was about to.”

Grinning, Sora pulled them all into a group hug, mumbling congratulations into their shoulders.

Pleasantries were cut short, however, when the clock struck the hour. Sora pulled back. “I’d love to keep dancing, but we’ve got a dinner reservation.”

“We do?” Kairi asked.

Rapunzel and Eugene chuckled, sharing another look before Rapunzel spoke. “Don’t let us keep you from your fun. Enjoy the Festival of Lights, and visit the castle before you leave, okay?”

“We will,” Sora promised, then Rapunzel swept Eugene back into the fray.

“You reserved dinner?” Kairi teased.

“It’s a surprise.”

With that, Sora led Kairi through the town until they reached a restaurant on the water. With a look of recognition, the host led them past the main dining area, up a narrow flight of stairs, and through double doors to a balcony outfitted with a single table. Candles lit the environment against the evening as they took their seats. 

Kairi could feel Sora watching her just as he’d been doing all day, priding himself on her reactions. Soon, the chef came out and personally served them the prepared dinner, a golden braided pasta dish. Maybe it was just the brightly colored flowers accenting the food or the rich scent of lemon and parmesan, but it seemed to hold a glow on its own.

“Rapunzel’s Gemelli,” the chef explained. “A dish named for the princess, inspired by how her long golden hair first captivated the kingdom and lifted our spirits.”

As lovely as the dish’s presentation was, it smelled even more delightful and didn’t keep the pair from digging in for long. The perfect al dente noodles mixed satisfyingly with the lemon garlic sauce, leaving behind a citrus tingle. Before she knew it, Kairi was halfway through, singing its praises with Sora the whole time.

Then Kairi paused for a moment, recalling the chef’s words. She could see how the pasta could resemble hair, and no doubt Rapunzel’s presence would inspire any artisan. But one detail confused her.

Kairi leaned closer to Sora and asked, “Isn’t Rapunzel…a brunette?”

Realization crossed his expression and he lowered his fork. Kairi had a feeling there was a story to this.

“She is now, but it wasn’t that way before. Her hair used to hold Light, so it was golden. If it was cut, it’d lose its magic, so you can imagine how long it used to be.” Sora chuckled at that last bit.

The mental image both amused and bewildered Kairi. She’d heard of magic living in strange places, but never someone’s hair. Then, the connection with the royal family mural clicked.

“So…why’d she cut it?”

Sora’s gaze fell, as did his smile. “She didn’t. Eugene did. An evil woman held Rapunzel hostage, using her hair to stay young forever. Eugene tried to rescue her but was injured. Instead of letting Rapunzel use her hair to heal him, he cut it to set her free.”

“How heroic and selfless.” Kairi leaned on her hand, fully enraptured by the story. 

Sora nodded in agreement. “Without magic, the evil woman died, and Eugene nearly did too. But there was just enough Light left to help Rapunzel’s love bring him back.” He shook his head. “I witnessed the whole thing. He was willing to sacrifice himself for her freedom.”

Kairi giggled lightly and reached across the table to brush his hand. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”

Sora smiled bashfully. “I could say the same. At that point, I already knew that I loved you. But after witnessing that, then seeing you use your Light to save me—and everyone—after that wave of Heartless…I realized that maybe you loved me too.”

His gaze drifted, fixating on painful memories, so Kairi squeezed his hand to return him to the present. “You were right, and I still do.” She smiled. “Thank you for taking me here. I can see why you chose this day.”

Sora glanced out the balcony for a moment before turning back to her with a gentle smile. “There’s one more thing tonight.”

But they’d already done so much. Wordlessly, Sora stood and led her to the railing. Below, the water shimmered, and the evening sky opened above. The kingdom darkened with the setting sun.

Kairi held onto Sora and followed his gaze up to the castle. Suddenly, a single light dotted the sky from the top balcony. A golden lantern. 

She watched as it slowly floated up and away from the castle. A moment later the entire kingdom was illuminated as hundreds of identical lanterns were simultaneously lit and released into the sky. Before she knew it, they were all around her, so numerous that she couldn’t tell they were lanterns anymore. They reminded her of the lights that fell upon Destiny Islands as it reformed before her eyes.

Sora stepped aside and offered an unlit lantern. She held the fragile paper in her hands while he lit it with a simple fire spell. 

“These lights once called Rapunzel away from her captor and back to her kingdom,” Sora said. “In the same way, you’ve called me back. Rapunzel’s home now, and thanks to you, I think I am too.”

For all the words Kairi had written to Sora over the years, she now stood speechless while holding the warming lantern. All she could do was smile and try to fight back the tears that she knew Sora could see in the light.

He held the lantern with her, and together they released it to join the symphony of floating lights above them. Empty hands soon found one another as the couple allowed the evening’s peace to fill them. Kairi silently vowed to always guide him home, while praying she’d never have to again.

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Epilogue:

The sights, smells, and sounds when first landing in the Kingdom of Corona would never grow old to Kairi. Even all these years later, the same wildflowers bloomed as the trees around them grew taller, and she swore the birds passed their melodies down to their offspring. It was so different from their home, yet it filled both Sora and Kairi with a similar peace. Some years had made it more difficult to travel than others, but for the past ten years, Sora and Kairi had always set time aside to visit Rapunzel’s kingdom for the Festival of Lights. The two couples had become close friends, and the continued tradition was living proof that the worlds were safe and healing. Above all else, the jubilee made them feel like kids again, not that Sora ever needed help. His childlike wonder never left him, a trait Kairi loved about him more and more each day. Even now, as their eldest bound down the grassy hillside, Sora’s competitive urge overtook him, and a race ensued. Another clung shyly to Kairi’s skirt for a moment before the hill called to him as well, leaving Kairi alone with the small bundle against her chest to take in the view. Cobblestone paths withstood years of heavy traffic, and besides some homes and fishing docks being built along the shore, much of the kingdom remained the same.The local shopkeepers, who simply knew them as visitors from another kingdom far away, had begun to recognize them after a few years, and greeted them more warmly with each visit. Kairi bought a bundle of primrose and gently tucked a stem into her daughter’s beanie so it poked out just above her ear. She smiled at the sight as her winded family joined her side. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Corona.”

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A/N: Thank you so much for reading, and Happy Holidays! I'm later to publishing this piece than I normally would be, but I still want to take a moment to express my whole-hearted appreciation to the @twosidesfanzine team for accepting me to this project, to @phoenix-downer for beta-reading this piece at every step and offering invaluable feedback, to Liv for formatting the final product, to adri(@/faedriana on twitter) for the delicious gemelli recipe, to @nosieposie for the beautiful banner and spot art that helped bring this story to life, and to every zine contributor who read and reviewed this piece while it was in-progress,.

Some author's notes for anyone interested: Tangled is my favorite Disney movie. As soon as I knew I'd be writing for this world, I knew I wanted to have Sora and Kairi visit the Festival of Lights a few years post-KH3 (a trip to the Snuggly Duckling was tempting too). Even though Sora and Kairi didn't get to enjoy the festival in canon (yet), I knew that these two would fit perfectly into the world with Rapunzel and Eugene. Both couples are so romantic but also silly and fun-loving. It was a challenge to stay under the word limit because the possibilities are limitless with the Festival of Lights. Ultimately, I knew SoKai would never resist a dance, and I thought the idea for the Secret Place sketches with the street chalk would be really cute too.

I also wanted to draw on the themes of Tangled, which are very similar to that of Kingdom Hearts. Light is more than just photons, instead acting as an ensouling entity and a powerful source of magic, symbolizing healing, goodness, and purity. The title, "Love and Light", comes from the fact that the two forces often intermingle and strengthen one another. Rapunzel's love for Eugene not only drove her to trade her freedom for a chance to heal him, but it allowed her last drop of Light to bring him from death. Likewise, Kairi's pure heart of Light and love for Sora restored him from his Heartless form, brought him and Riku from the Realm of Darkness, and saved him and the other Warriors of Light after they were first defeated by Organization XIII. Sora himself drew this connection when, as Kairi led him hand-in-hand to safety, he recalled witnessing Rapunzel save Eugene. In my opinion, this is when Sora realized Kairi loved him as more than just a friend. This is also why I chose to have Sora and Kairi be in an established relationship for this story. After that "light in the darkness" scene in KH3, the barriers between them began to fall. They were holding hands and hugging like crazy (thank you, ReMind). After a few years, especially after Sora returns/is rescued from Quadratum, it's safe to assume they're well-established ;)

I believe there's also a parallel between the lanterns' lights calling Rapunzel home, and Kairi's light guiding Sora home. We don't know how Sora will find his way home from Quadratum yet, but I'm hoping the Light from Kairi's heart plays a primary role, as she always has in the past.

[rainbowcaleb]

FICLET FRIDAY: My Flowerhaired Prince

Prompt: long hair Essek | Pairing: Shadowgast | Rating: T | Wordcount: 811 | CW: none

A trio of wind chimes ring in Caleb’s head. He puts his hand on the page of his book, and looks towards the front hall. The afternoon sun is low enough in the sky that the floor is confettied with colored splashes from the stained glass inset on the door. He watches and waits. There’s a shuffling against the door, but no secondary alarm goes off. Caleb lets out his breath and returns to his book. He’s borrowed it from Veth and it’s long past due to return to her. Apparently she’s trying to start a bookclub with Jester and this is their first pick. He smiles to himself; The Gale and the Raven is a rather raunchy pick, but he can see the appeal. The descriptions are lovingly, explicitly, detailed.

The door opens and Caleb turns his page. Only a rare few know where he lives, and even rarer who have a key. It has been seven years and his anxieties, while not gone, slumber like a cat in a sunbeam more often than they roar.

“Caleb, I’m back.” It’s Essek, because of course it is. He lives here, comfortably settled into life with Caleb, three cats, and friends who come and go whenever they are in town.

“How was the market?” Caleb calls out. “Do you need a hand?”

“No, no, it’s all in one basket. Ah, darling, you won’t believe how ripe the plums are right now. Mister Aplinn was kind enough to set aside a carton for me, which proved fortuitous as Jester’s pastry errand took a while first.”

Caleb finishes up his page and picks an envelope off the endtable to use as a bookmark. It’s the outside of the wedding invitation from Jester and Fjord, the contents of which he’s memorized.

“How is Jester? Did you send along my regrets? The problem with teaching isn’t the students, it is always the endless meetings—” Caleb stops talking. Essek has just entered the room. “Oh.”

Essek raises an eyebrow. “What is it?” He starts towards the kitchen to unload his basket. Caleb practically throws the book onto his seat and goes to follow him.

“Essek, you look…” Caleb feels completely tongue tied. Yes, he saw Essek just this morning, early sunlight through peachy curtains making his bare skin glow against the covers of their shared bed. But Essek has returned looking different.

“Yes, ah, well you see Jester is practicing.” There’s a hint of color starting to dust across his cheeks.

Caleb raises his hands and cups those warm cheeks and turns Essek to face him. “For the wedding?”

“Yes.” Essek holds his gaze. “Do you like it?”

“Dear, you look lovely.” Caleb can’t help but twist a finger around one of the curls that has fallen across Essek’s forehead. Jester has taken full advantage of the new shoulder length growth, braiding a crown of hair around his head and leaving the rest to gently fall in waves. Intermingled with the braids are fresh flowers; dainty pink, spring green, and blue petals frame Essek’s face like gilding surrounding a fine painting.

“Jester didn’t have a mirror, but I did try and glance in a shop window. It’s not really me, I would say, but—” Essek pauses, and Caleb can sense the words tumbling until smooth. “It is something new.”

It warms Caleb’s heart, and he can’t help but lean in and press a kiss to Essek’s smiling mouth. “If you wear this to the wedding, it is only fair that you braid my hair too. We should match.”

Standing this close together Caleb can practically see a sparkle in Essek’s eyes at the suggestion. “Yes, yes, a very good idea. But you can’t wiggle this time. It’ll ruin your hair.”

Caleb pouts. “When do I wiggle?”

Essek reaches up and threads his hand through Caleb’s hair, tugging a little as he goes. Caleb leans into his touch immediately, barely stifling a humming moan.

“See?” Essek kisses his neck, now handily bared as Caleb leans to his side. “You like it too much.”

“That simply means we need to practice, get it out of my system so to speak.” Caleb slides his arms down and around Essek, pulling him flush against him. “Good news, my evening plans are wide open. Shall we begin?”

“Caleb!” Essek does not pull away, but his tone is all playful admonishment. “But the food needs to be put away, the plums…”

Essek should have seen it coming. Caleb tugs him tighter, palming his backside in the process.

“Yes, the plum, which I have right now.”

That earns him a yank of his hair, but Caleb’s reaction is all reward, not punishment. Essek kisses the tip of his nose.

“Fine, you win. But you are making dinner afterwards.”

“Whatever you say, my flower haired love, now let me take you to bed.”

[k9punkout]

it's that time again

here's my analysis on the Anakt Garden artificial flowers and what they represent to the characters and story overall

the anakt flowers are consistently featured on screen throughout alnst, whether it's in the videos, official art, or the comics. they can't be shown that often if not to mean something, especially in a show as detail oriented and heavy in symbolism as alnst.

okay so there's been this theory running around that these flowers had hidden cameras in them used to monitor the children.

in the artbook, that theory was proven to be true.

so we know now that the anakt flowers are secretly cameras. seemingly innocent and beautiful decorations are used to spy on the children, a testament to the fact that they had no right to privacy, that their lives were not their own.

the fact that mizi ADORED those flowers but had no idea of their true purpose is reflective of her dream to sing in alnst. something idealized and gorgeous, but with darkness residing just beneath its exterior. she sees the world through rose colored lenses and is unaware of the evil that lurks just beneath her favorite things/dreams.

her reality is way more disturbing than she realizes, the aliens are way more cruel and invasive than what she expects, and her love for the spy devices disguised as flowers shows just that.

im not too sure if sua KNEW about the cameras, but she knew about the Snow Thing, so im gonna assume she knew abt the cameras too.

her letting mizi play with the flowers without telling her a thing and even allowing her to craft flower crowns out of them is an example of her deliberate avoidance of the truth behind alnst. through mizi's joy, she forgets about the harsh reality they live in, and escapes through that.

whenever mizi's holding them, the flowers almost look real.

the fact that she lets mizi give her flower crowns and put them on her head, and does the same in turn... she's willingly giving in to the system to keep mizi's blind-sighted joy alive. dooming them both because she can't bring herself to break the bliss.

as for till. he initially began to like the flowers because mizi likes them. till has always liked pretty things.

his talent being floral art, even if the flowers are spy devices... sort of reminds me of one of his coping mechanisms--making art that's representative of his pain.

he takes something terrible or twisted and reforms it into something pretty. something that can be appreciated rather than avoided.

(page 59 of the artbook has a quote referring to till that reads: “When I couldn't sleep because of insomnia, I could only fall asleep by squeezing out my physical strength with creation. I like to doodle, so I doodle anywhere, and I often write poetry (mainly about mizi) to support my emotions.”)

in comparison to many of the other ways till uses his hands (fighting, breaking things, playing loud and powerful melodies, etc), the way he handles the flowers is methodical. gentle. precise and careful.

we're shown his kinder side for the first time THROUGH a flower, too.

he knows his illusion is particularly fragile, so he does all he can to not mar it before getting lost in it. he uses it as a distraction.

till tends to trail behind mizi and sua with flower crowns/chains of his own because he wants to play with them as well, but he rarely makes the move to approach them.

at the end of the day, the false reality, the illusion of purity, is not till's to keep. no matter how peaceful the garden may seem, there will come a period of time when till has to go back. when he must be reminded that his body doesn't belong to him.

ivan never had much interest in the flowers. in fact, he was more often shown breaking them or stomping on them rather than playing with them. (whether that's because he KNEW about the cameras or simply because he wanted to piss till off (or both) im still iffy on but there's that)

ivan has always been the most connected to reality out of the group. he sought no form of escapism, in fact, he frowned upon it (he says mizi's optimism is too much for him at times, and criticized sua for living in a wonderland despite knowing how it will inevitably end. for nurturing mizi's innocence for so long and then shattering it in the cruelest way.)

he fell in love with till, who had no choice but to face reality head on and he relates to sua, who's also had her fate sealed by the society she lives in. he's very honest to himself about these facts.

he doesn't run from suffering, having been exposed to it since infancy. no point in avoiding the truth if it's being perpetually shoved in your face all the time. he keeps it real.

no interest in the flowers, no interest in a plastic paradise. (i could find a way to tie this to that one acrylic stand of ivan eating a flower but i think that's just a silly doodle. nothing SUPER DUPER deep about it.)

(look at him. what is his PROBLEM <3)

as for the overarching meaning, flowers in general tend to symbolize innocence, purity and beauty. by that logic, FAKE flowers would symbolize a fabrication of purity.

a flower that is not only fake, but used as a spying/restriction device, a tool of oppression, symbolizes a prison painted as a paradise--such is the world of Anakt Garden.

[chic-a-gigot]

The Delineator, no. 4, Vol. XLVIII. Autumn Number. October 1896. Published by the Butterick Publishing Co. London & New York. Colored Plate 19. Figures D41 and D42. Autumn Toilettes. Internet Archive, uploaded by Albert R. Mann Library

Figure D 41. — LADIES’ PROMENADE COSTUME.

Figure D 41. — This illustrates a Ladies’ costume. The pattern, which is No. 8631 and costs 1s. 8d. or 40 cents, is in thirteen sizes for ladies from twenty-eight to forty-six inches, bust measure, and may be seen in three views on page 418.

Rich myrtle-green broadcloth and silk are combined in this elegant costume, with lace edging for the jabot and iridescent spangled trimming and narrow lace edging for decoration. The basque adjustment is made by single bust darts and the usual seams and the closing is concealed by a double jabot of lace edging. A frill of narrow lace edging falls over the stand¬ ing collar, giving a soft and dainty touch. Bolero jacket-fronts are a pleasing feature of the costume ; they present a rounding outline and are reversed above the bust and extended to form a deep round collar at the back. Between them the jabot of lace appears fluffily, the edges of the lace falling softly on the boleros. The end of the jabot droops over a pretty crush belt of silk that is gathered at the ends and crosses the front under the jacket-fronts. Pointed epaulettes bordered with spangled trimming stand out stylishly over the one-seam leg-o’-mutton sleeves, which flare in puff effect at the top and fit the arm closely below. The back of the waist is lengthened by a peplum that ripples gracefully.

The three-piece skirt consists of a front-gore and two circular portions that meet in a seam at the center of the back, where the skirt is gathered at the top. At the sides and back the skirt falls in stylish rippling folds and at the front it flares in the approved fashion.

The revival of broadcloth invites refined and artistic dress for the street and marked individuality may assert itself in the selection of colors and decoration. Warm, rich tints of broadcloth in such shades as garnet, dahlia, mulberry, chestnut and wood-brown are liked, as well as green, blue and black. For decoration, bands of passementerie, spangled trimming, fur, etc., are commended and a soft jabot of yellow lace is becoming and rich with any shade of cloth. Aside from broadcloth, there is an infinite variety of materials suitable for Autumn and Winter wear, serge, Scotch cheviot, camel’s-hair and novelty wool goods being all available. With any of these materials velvet or satin may be associated in a costume like this, the decorative fabric being employed for the boleros, girdle and epaulettes; or a third fabric may be used for the girdle. The effect is always enhanced by trimming, which, however, should not be tawdry.

The hat has a soft velvet crown and is trimmed with lace and flowers.

Figure D 42. — LADIES’ VISITING TOILETTE.

Figure D 42. — This consists of a Ladies’ basque-waist and skirt. The basque-waist pattern, which is No. 8659 and costs 1s. 3d. or 30 cents, is in thirteen sizes for ladies from twenty-eight to forty-six inches, bust measure, and may be seen in three views on page 440. The skirt pattern, which is No. 8599 and costs 1s. 3d. or 30 cents, is in nine sizes for ladies from twenty to thirty-six inches, waist measure, and is shown on its accompanying label.

The basque-waist is pictured made of salmon silk and decorated with velvet ribbon and lace edging. The lining over which the waist is arranged is adjusted by double bust darts and the usual seams and is closed in front. The square front-yoke is closed on the left shoulder and the full front fastens at the center. The front has its fulness drawn well to the center by gathers at the top and bottom and puffs out stylishly; the seamless back has two backward-turning plaits at each side of the center flaring toward the shoulders. The one-seam sleeves flare in leg-o’-mutton puffs at the top and fit closely below, and a frill of lace edging droops from the wrist edge over the hand. The yoke is trimmed with two frills of lace edging arranged to follow the square outline, each frill being headed by a row of inch-wide velvet ribbon, and the standing collar is encircled by a softly twisted stock of Avide velvet ribbon, a pretty fan of lace edging drooping over the stock at each side. A soft twist of the wide velvet ribbon surrounds the waist.

The skirt of dahlia crépon, known as the new bell skirt, is circular at the front and sides and in two gores at the back; it may be dart-fitted or gathered in front and presents the rippling folds at the sides and back now fashionable.

A very artistic toilette may be composed with this basque-waist and skirt, if becoming colors and stylish materials are selected. Silk will be most appropriate for the basque-waist and broadcloth, serge, crépon, wool canvas or novelty wool goods are commended for the skirt. Lace edging, spangled trimming, passementerie, velvet ribbon, etc., are popular garnitures.

The hat is stylishly trimmed with fancy plumage, ribbon and a jewelled ornament.

[pandoa]

love me like a valentine: into the night

what they do for you on valentines day ~individual endings~

~feat. diasomnia~ twisted wonderland characters x gender neutral reader ~headcanons~

late valentines special lol. each character has their own individual ending where you get to see how their night after valentines day goes. fair warning, though: it isn't for the faint of heart~ enjoy <3

silver makes you handmade flower crowns that match the color of your eyes. he made one for himself, too, as a way to match with yours. it initially takes him a little effort to decide what kind of flower to gift you, but with the help of a few woodland critters, the young man was able to find the perfect flower to crown your beautiful figure. he'd even enchanted the stems and petals as he wove each one together, using a simple potion he had gotten from his father that would help the flowers last an eternity. all that was left was to give them to you. he hoped you would accept not only the crown, but his feelings as well.

♡ Silver's Night ♡

sebek zigvolt writes you a love letter. it's the only way he trusts that he will get to say all the words he wishes to admit without lashing out or bursting into defensive shouts over how he really doesn't like you all too much. in truth, though, he really does. you may be a human, but there was a strange charm to your imperfectness that unfortunately drew him in. he's just a little too prideful to say it aloud. so, he thought that a letter coming from his most sincerest emotions would help ease his nerves as he planned to sneak the rustic-looking envelop between the pages of your alchemy textbook, hoping you'd see it without him having to directly speak to you. he just hopes that no one else will confess to you before he ever gets a chance to as well.

♡ Sebek's Night ♡

lilia vanrouge composes a simple yet lovesome song to serenade you with. being a man of his age, he was naturally more traditional when it came to the matters of the heart, and that included him performing a harmonious tune below your room's moonlit balcony as he let the music coming from his guitar guide the words sung from his mouth. this style of music was certainly much more different than the pieces he would play in the pop music club, however, the possibility of making your heart swell and swoon at his charm was more than enough to make the old fae laugh in excitement at the thought of your reactions. tonight would surely be magical, yes?

♡ Lilia's Night ♡

malleus draconia invites you to a field of fireflies he summoned only for you. he notices how you favor and gape at the tiny, green lights that illuminate each time he arrives to your meet-ups at ramshackle, and concludes that you must have a liking for luminous sights. you and your cat companion mumble about "fireflies" often, so you must adore them to an extent, correct? finding an open field adjacent to night raven's gates, he uses his magic to summon the little lightning bugs to create a shimmering setting. it's the perfect environment to confess one's romantic feelings; malleus would only hope that you'd accept his invitation later that night.

♡ Malleus's Night ♡

a/n: mwahahahahHAHAHAHA MWAHAHWA MWAHAHAHHAHA-

[serene-faerie]

Doriathrim (plus Beren and Túrin) as Aesthetics

Thingol— towering pine trees, fireflies, a sharp jawline, stern yet gentle eyes, baroque architecture, glittering caves, majestic stags, hands as strong and firm as stone, sweet pomegranates, red wine and roasted meat, neat handwriting, the smell of pine, a melodic baritone voice, kohl-lined eyes that make them sharper, a raised eyebrow to convey displeasure and anger, silver jewelry, neatly-combed hair, diamonds, hunting boots, hugs that linger, well-loved books with folded pages, loving one’s family, autumn leaves, wolves howling at night, tall grass, a great waterfall, graceful postures, roasted game meat, white horses, flowing robes, piercing gazes, soft humming, classical music, unyielding morals, the color of the sky at dusk.

Melian— clear night skies, knowing smiles, the silver light of a waxing moon, braided dark hair, a clear and crystalline voice, elegant harp music, deep-pink jewels, soft hands, flowing gowns, loving gazes, kisses on the forehead, motherly hugs, laughter that sounds like music, white wine, moonflowers, the smell of earth after rain, forest walks, bird watching, dark eyes filled with ancient wisdom, a gentle spring breeze, the pink skies of dawn, romantic paintings, lavender flowers, always knowing what to say, birds in the trees, a flowing river, a graceful doe, blackberries, whispered singing, eyes crinkling with joy, ever present sorrow.

Beren— golden sunlight, forest bathing, leather boots, sword-calloused hands that touch gently, long, tousled brown hair, hardened yet sorrowful eyes, smiles as warm as summer, green cloaks, the smell of amber and cloves, sleeping beneath trees, hearty laughter, falling in love at first sight, a courageous spirit, a rough but warm voice, promising to protect those he loves, loving despite losing everyone dear, patching up injuries, lingering touches, dancing among the flowers, wild berries, fiery sunsets, warm hugs, brown bears, scarred muscles, hand kisses, vows to protect, the coming of summer, forest meadows, reverent whispers of love, admiring gazes, sweet wine, campfires.

Lúthien— starry skies, soft skin, long and loose dark hair, flower crowns, carefree smiles, eyes full of starlight, a voice like crystal, laughter as warm as summer nights, blue gowns, bare feet, ballet dancing, rosy lips, nightingales in the trees, shimmering purple eyeshadow, loving with one’s whole heart, jasmine flowers, red cherries, the smell of lilacs, the loving warmth of spring, sparkling jewels, meadows in the springtime, gentle hand-holding, butterfly kisses, elderflower cordial, sleeping amidst flowers, breaking out of the shell, soft singing, summer storms, april showers, a light in the darkness, a courageous heart, the pale blue morning skies.

Dior— dark, tousled hair, bright eyes, sparkly jewelry, a rugged elegance, a young fawn, mischievous smiles, blue jays, close bonds with family, witty comebacks, blueberries, sharp teeth dripping with blood, righteous fury, defending one’s home to the death, childhood lullabies, swimming in rivers, stargazing, crackling fires, the smell of musk, challenging death head-on, gleaming swords, blood moons, silver rings on each finger, collecting rain in cupped palms, raspberry tea, cicadas buzzing at dusk, the warm caress of a late spring breeze, thunderstorms, flashes of lightning, violent winds.

Nimloth— flushed cheeks, long silver hair, eyes with a gleam both faint and fierce, cunning smiles, loving fiercely, flower garlands, green gowns, careful hands, the new moon, emerald jewelry, golden earrings, bathing in forest rivers, protecting family with one’s life, sharp blades, a mother bear, white flowers, floral tea, strawberries, thrushes, holly leaves, blood upon one’s cheeks, torn dresses, the cool air of dawn, honey cakes, killing one’s enemy at the cost of one’s life, embroidered sheets, cherry-red lipstick, no regrets, victory in death, dying with a smile upon one’s face.

Elwing— white seagulls, wavy dark hair, eyes that are hardened by grief and pain, glowing gems, blue ocean waves, collecting seashells, waters glittering with starlight, a quiet, firm voice, hands that tremble ever so slightly, thick blankets, a gentle sea breeze, gazing out at the sea, warm honey tea, bread and apricot jam, candlelight by the bed, fingertips stained with ink, counting the stars, a worn plush toy, white feathers, a heart burdened with sorrow, finding joy in the smallest things, whispered lullabies to oneself, the pale blue dawn, the smell of the sea, jewelry of silver and pearls, beachside walks with one’s family.

Daeron— wooden flutes, bookshelves with worn books, cursive handwriting, candlelight upon desks, quiet ambient music, a light, clear voice, quiet humming to oneself, a cool autumn breeze, falling asleep at a desk, a crown of leaves, seasonal poetry, flowing rivers, soft hair, lush green grass, pining silently, wandering the earth, living in solitude, the passing of spring, songwriting, warm tea with spices, trying to do what is right, loving one’s home, loyalty to one’s lord, eloquent fingers, singing at parties, knowing exactly what to say at the right time, midsummer nights.

Beleg— hair in a ponytail, feather-tipped arrows, fingerless gloves, keen eyes, silent footsteps, kind smiles, brotherly hugs, deer hunting, sleeping under trees, silver bracelets, cherishing the bonds of friendship, frost upon tree branches, the chill of winter, brown owls, icicles from rooftops, morning mist in the trees, roasted game meat, thick scarves, falling snow, frozen waters, rainy nights, thunderclouds, forgiving, tragic poetry, suppressing one’s emotions, polished hunting boots, bird calls, carvings in tree trunks, loving someone for their flaws, kisses on hands, goodbye kisses, lips stained with blood.

Mablung— sharpened knives, a silent hunter, worn leather boots, even-tempered, always trying to keep a level head, a calming voice, sad smiles, making tea for others, late night hunting trips, strong hands, caverns that echo, light-footedness, elegant yet broken spears, always being the bearer of bad news, giving advice that is never listened to, windswept hair, the smell of bergamot and ginger, a heart weighed by sadness, bittersweet farewells, the thick morning fog, black ravens, mud upon one's cheeks, riverside walks, horse riding through forests, respect and love for one's superiors, fighting to defend one's home.

Túrin— long dark hair, turbulent scowls, sharp eyes full of righteous anger and pain, alcohol, poor decisions, black tea, bedtime stories, tiny smiles, laughter that is scarcely heard, carving wooden animals with a knife, clothes stained with blood, heart racing with adrenaline, lightning, the rumbling of thunder, a hoarse and deep voice, solitude, abandoned cities, shattered mirrors, unyielding stubbornness and pride, words that can cut deep, quick to anger, loving deeply, passionate about justice, running barefoot across the grass, wilted flowers, withered trees, lucid dreaming, dark colors, restlessness, heavy boots, hooded capes, gleaming black swords, tears of anger and bitterness, cloudy skies.

Nellas— robins, three-leafed clovers, tall grass, sleeping in the trees, daisies, red apples, messy braids, short and loose dresses, walking barefoot, freckled cheeks, eyes as warm as the sun, feeding the squirrels, uncaring of anyone's opinions, loving the woodland creatures, the countryside, herds of deer, clusters of poppies, playing hide-and-seek in the forest, folklore stories of animals that speak, dirt under fingernails, crisp air, muddy feet, stargazing from the tallest trees, shy smiles, red foxes, red maple trees, rosy cheeks, a cute button nose, quiet observation, dried leaves in tangled hair, hushed whispers, secret giggles.

Oropher— tall oak trees, loose silver hair, a heart full of unending grief, glittering deep green robes, memorial shrines carved in stone, rosemary and heather, climbing vines, the smell of incense, loves the forest, anger that quietly simmers, a piercing glare to silence unwanted chatter, firm but gentle hands, the sound of rushing rivers, only trusting those who have earned it, quills dipped in ink, leather-bound journals, a compelling voice, silvery light, vast, old-growth forests, black bears, always keeping promises, grey-blue eyes, a mind haunted by memory, reluctant alliances, firm and unwavering principles, late night reading, being slow to forgive, tales of the past, bitter nostalgia, night skies fading into dawn.

Thranduil— a crown of oak leaves and woodland flowers, sweet and fruity wine, tall and dark forests, the crisp chill of early winter, high ceilings, a gleaming sword with a golden hilt, a silver necklace with white jewels, autumn berries, family hunting trips, joyous feasts late into the night, loving the forest through all the seasons, rings of silver and gold, silver eyeshadow, sharp eyeliner that enhances one's eyes, pale straight hair, a heart weighed with bittersweet melancholy, gently rocking a baby's cradle, long hours in the library, a marvellous deer, shimmering eyeshadow, disdain shown through raised eyebrows, the smell of autumn leaves, silk robes, stories about the forests and the stars, befriending the woodland creatures, loving those who are lost.

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 45 Uh, Seriously?! Posting

So! Full speed ahead it is, internet void! What a dense chapter.

First up, John Hishaku and the Samurai Murderer Guy that was at Chihiro's house in chapter 2.

Guess we'll see more of him soon, how fun! It's not quite clear how many people are talking here, but Hishaku scheming is afoot and the game is on. The only question is how fucked the Kamunabi is going to be by the end of the arc IMO.

And don't think I missed that vase reappearing. My nemesis. The spiky boi on the mid-left drove me insane as soon as the raws dropped but I would like to tentatively propose that it is a kiku (chrysanthemum). Different colors have very different meanings so I still admit defeat on that front. But kiku are usually associated with mourning or Imperial imagery, so that's cool. I demand a treat if this flower arrangement turns out to be the world's subtlest hint that the Hishaku are related to an old regime or breakaway faction of the government.

But yeah... so much cuteness this week. Very welcome after the rich drama from the past few chapters.

Boys who commit patricide together fall asleep mid-conversation wake up together, apparently. And for all the fan artists/fanfic writers out there, it's now canon that both of them are wearing long-sleeved shirts under the other layers. I was kind of hoping for Chihiro to be wearing one of his dad's shirts but this is more in character...

Fine, okay, it's probably for convenience's sake since apparently these guys can only rest for one night before jumping into the lion's den. But I'm flabbergasted by their soulmate coding. I kind of expected Hakuri to pass out, but Chihiro conking out at the same time in the same pose is too damn cute! Barely over a week together and they've already perfectly synced their sleep schedules and postures lol.

I find it deeply amusing that the entire flashback sequence at the end of chapter 44 was purely for the reader's benefit though. Seriously! Hakuri asked Chihiro "So... what comes next?" and then they both immediately passed out sitting up. So the last four pages were there just to spare us from even more infodumping in this chapter, which is much appreciated.

That's something that Hokazono-sensei also did at the end of the vs. Sojo arc in chapter 18. 10 pages to him exploding, 7 to the situation at the Kamunabi (which will now come into play! EXCELLENT LAYERING OF DETAILS!). I don't know if I'm smart or educated enough to do a full analysis on the techniques he's using, but I love the style. He doesn't let the emotional points linger too long or waste a single goddamn panel in this manga. Yeah, I want more time with the characters outside of serious plot moments, but there's not much else for me to complain about. The need isn't particularly dire anyway since every scene is efficient in giving us characterization and info at the same time (example later this rant).

So yeah. Thanks to that excellent pacing decision, we get to witness this crowning moment of heartwarming:

LOOK AT THESE DORKS. LOOK AT THEM. I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE. Thank you for this moment of Team Goldfish x Hiyuki and Tafuku bliss.

And look at the food on the table! Hiyuki and Tafuku have earned a measure of trust with Team Goldfish! Just a bit, but Shiba definitely wouldn't have let them stay the night and eat with them if he felt they were dangerous.

It's also so sweet that Char's comfortable sitting in big bro Tafuku's lap... she's come a long way since her debut as a scared, scruffy orphan. Wonder where the gang is hanging though. Someone's apartment, I guess? A nearby hotel? More insignificant details this annoying reader wants to know...

TW for SF5-era tournament enthusiasts: That Stage appears in the first panel.

Did anyone have bets on Shiba wrecking Hiyuki in Street Fighter while waiting for Hakuri and Chihiro to wake up? I didn't, but I love it. And this scene highlights something I've really come to appreciate about Kagurabachi's writing: it's incredibly efficient. Almost every scene has more than one thing being conveyed at a time. For instance, here we learn that Hiyuki sucks at Street Fighter compared to Shiba but is too stubborn to quit (comedy & character consistency) and still doesn't know he's ex-Kamunabi (serious). This in turn tells us that Shiba's probably got something to hide from active Kamunabi personnel. After all, it's not like the org itself is a secret, and we wouldn't see Hiyuki questioning him twice if his circumstances weren't suspicious. So Shiba's subplot thickens while we laugh at the gag- peak efficiency.

The cuteness, though... the sweetness of this chapter, man!

Chihiro respecting Yuu's nickname and correcting Hakuri with such a gentle expression is incredibly adorable. He's so relaxed here... but oh wait, there's... chibi Hakuri and Chihiro apologizing for worrying Uncle Shiba?!

Chihiro and his new #1 enabler owe more than an apology but it's good enough for now.

This break wasn't quite long enough to reset the tension in my opinion, but it absolutely delivered on character moments. We definitely needed this after all the big feels from the previous few chapters. I wish there was more time devoted to letting us calm down before ramping up again but what we got here is pretty good.

And so we jump feet-first into laying the groundwork for the Kamunabi arc. A nice, efficient recap of the situation leads us into some additional context and a surprising bit of Shiba characterization. Whatever beef he's got with the Kamunabi feels quite personal for a guy who plays it cool and loose most of the time. We know he's glad he quit because they're too uptight, but there's gotta be more to it than that- he's subtly trying to steer Chihiro away from them while Hiyuki is having none of it here. I want to gently snap this man in half to make him spill his secrets...

At the end of the day, though, Shiba's not going to stop Chihiro from joining the Kamunabi. That's been his thing since Chapter 1: if Chihiro makes up his mind to do something, Shiba will offer advice and make suggestions but ultimately leave the decisions up to him. I wonder how much of his guilt over Kunishige's death plays into that...

Then!

PFFT. "I know what I'm doing here seems risky and unwise but It's fine, trust me. I've got Hakuri." OKAY BUDDY. You've been able to do a hell of a lot since you met this kid haven't you? It's like meeting him changed the trajectory of your life as much as you changed his.

Shiba's expression is very interesting to me. He's like "ah, I get it..." and he's not thrilled in the slightest. Adding Hakuri to the team means Chihiro can be even more reckless than ever before; what little influence he had over Chihiro's safety is all but gone now. And Hakuri himself won't try to stop Chihiro from putting his life on the line- he'll risk his own to help him do it! All this while they're poised to go somewhere he probably can't follow... poor Mr. Shiba.

And then!! AND THEN!!!

Chapter 32: Smile Unlocked (once has no meaning...)

Chapter 36: Smile Lost (twice is a coincidence...)

Chapter 38: Locked In (three times is a pattern...)

Chapter 45: Smile Restored (four times is fate)

The one pulling the other forward is always on the right, leading the reader as well.

When one calls, the other answers. What one starts, the other finishes. A and Un. And this time Hakuri echoes Chihiro's "you got it" catchphrase back to him! I hope this is their thing now, like the "How's my timing?/Perfect" bit that Shiba and Chihiro had.

I'm going absolutely insane over this interaction though. It's the first time Chihiro's gotten to hear someone affirm that they'll see things through with him at his own request (on-screen at least). The first time he's outright said he needs someone, even. And of course Hakuri responds so enthusiastically- he's finally wanted. Just a few days ago he thought he'd never amount to anything. But he's got so much hope thanks to Chihiro's faith in him now.

"What I need in my life is a samurai! THAT'S YOU!" is finally answered with "I'm going to need your help again." hnnnngh what in the hell is this chapter.

Platonic, familial, romantic- however you want to see their relationship, these guys are meant to be together. If I ever start to doubt Hakuri's importance again just smack me right upside the head- he's truly Chihiro's other half now. Let's cheer them on and hope nothing horrible happens to Hakuri ever again! Protect the smile of the boy who would die for you on command, Chihiro. You've been warned.

Protected Bearers

Cool stuff ahead, and tough times to go with them. I doubt things will be as simple as Chihiro successfully making his case and being allowed to start trying to Talk no Jutsu the former wielders. This arc seems like it could easily be longer and more complicated than the previous two combined. I kind of hope it is, just to get more time with everyone. I've never loved a cast of characters this much.

That said... In another series I'd be sure Chihiro would visit each area one by one in their own mini arc, but Kagurabachi is probably going to subvert the expectation somehow. We got previews of the areas so we'll be seeing all of them. Probably (we goddamn better after that gorgeous spread showing them off.), but not in the way we'd expect. This story is so fast I kind of expect us to blitz through all of them in a handful of chapters each... guess it depends on how in-depth we get with the bearers themselves.

As we originally saw them in chapter 18. The slightly updated designs from this chapter are pretty nifty.

I'm 100% sure the order they're presented here corresponds with the areas shown on the spread immediately afterwards. So eye scars is stuck in a temple, the girl is stuck in an onsen, kabuki monk guy is stuck in what looks like a floating shrine, and sushi chef is in... a sushi restaurant. Wow shocker.

I'm going to make the assumption that they got to choose where they were imprisoned for the rest of their lives. Maybe it was the government's way of expressing gratitude for helping the war effort? Which makes Magatsumi's wielder (the Sword Master) being sealed up like a nasty curse all the more intriguing... he's clearly fucked up but was he always that way or did the sword corrode his mind? Is there more to the lifelong contract with these swords than just being the only person who can use them? I better get some answers!

Anyway.

So Kunishige personally knew and chose these people... I wonder how meeting them will deepen Chihiro's understanding of his father's legacy. I sincerely doubt that all of them will make it easy for him to recover the blade they're tied to, but we'll hopefully learn a lot while Chihiro makes his attempts. Really seems like we are set up for Kunishige and Seitei War backstory so I am hype. Dead DILF lore! DEAD DILF LORE!

Hiyuki and Kamunabi Thoughts

Hiyuki also had some interesting moments this chapter. She understands that the current stalemate with the Hishaku has tied the Kamunabi's hands for the most part, forcing them to do less than savory things (like bidding on the Shinuchi) to keep the peace. And despite her hotblooded outburst before the auction, she still has rock solid faith in her org's mission. So I don't think she'll defect easily so as long as she believes the mission is doable under better circumstances.

And it seems like she thinks Chihiro might be the right catalyst for change... hmm. She's essentially using him as a chaos agent to shake up the status quo because he proved himself to her. She finds him worthy of deciding how to handle the blades, so now she's giving him and Hakuri the opportunity prove themselves to her leaders. Very cool. There's some rather deep stuff going on with her.

Hiyuki's much more establishment-oriented than her personality and actions suggest. I get the sense that she's there as an idealist who is willing to upset the status quo to see the mission through. A true believer in a bureaucratic institution- love that type of conflict. Can't wait to see more of her in this arc!

So now we're set to see Chihiro's philosophy and methods on trial. Super intriguing stuff and I'll definitely be looking at the questions each Kamunabi leader is asking to try and suss out their allegiance. Playing Guess the Traitor this arc is gonna be a lot of fun (I hope)!

Speaking of which... Azami as the traitor allegations don't move me, but I do think he'll be restricted this arc due to the ongoing investigation into his clandestine activities. Chihiro could well be on his own without an adult to watch out for him. At least he and Hakuri will be there for each other. ...With no one to try and stop them from doing reckless stunts. Uh oh.

So that's a wrap on this fuckhuge ramble. Hope the breakneck pace slows down just a smidge but I'm still very onboard with whatever is coming next. Thanks for allowing me to ramble as always, void.

[artsysurvivor]

Treat please! I'd love to read something featuring Halt with Will as a child ^-^

[Image ID: A 9 page comic featuring young Will in a baggy, patched up outfit and no shoes, and Halt in his normal attire but younger and with his hood up. They are in a large field full of flowers; behind will is a bunch of trees, and beyond Halt are rolling hills and a cloudless blue sky.

Page 1

Panel 1: The trees are framing the field of wild-flowers. Will is looking out into it, a silhouette against the colorful background.

Panel 2: Will is looking around, smiling open-mouthed.

Panel 3: Will spots something! His shoulders shrug upwards, there's a shocked look on his face.

Panel 4: Will's body relaxes as he realizes the ranger is not turned towards him (though Halt can see him out of the corner of his eye) but he still looks at the figure in front of him warily, ready to run at any given moment.

Panel 5: Will steps cautiously towards Halt. "Um... Hello?" he asks.

Page 2

Panel 1: Halt turns to look at him. Will starts sweating and backing up, putting his hands up in a "I surrender!" gesture. "Is-Is something wrong, mister?" he asks. Under his breath, he adds, "Please don't curse me."

Panel 2: Close up of Halt's face. He's squinting at Will.

Panel 3: He shakes his head.

Panel 4: Halt resumes his previous position. Will looks to the side and down awkwardly, clasping his hands together.

Panel 5: Will goes back on his heels, swinging his arms, and closing his eyes.

Panel 6: He goes forward, not quite on his tip-toes, swinging his arms back. He stares blankly at nothing. Halt watches him out of the corner of his eyes.

Panel 7: Will settles and asks "Mind if I sit here?"

Page 3

Panel 1: Close up of Halt turning his head towards him again. He asks, "Don't you know it's dangerous to be alone with strangers?"

Panel 2: Will arches his eyebrows in a frown, his pupils dilating and his mouth in an upside down 7.

Panel 3: He puts his hand behind his head and looks away. "Baron Arald told me, once. But everyone seems so nice. How could they be dangerous?"

Panel 4: Small Halt raises his eyebrow incredulously.

Panel 5: Will tilts his head, smiling nervously, he brings his palms up by his chest and faces them outwards. "I mean, aside from you of course!"

Panel 6: He looks to the other side. "I also have someone back at the ward who's mean, but I would just call him a bully. He wouldn't... I don't know... kill me... You won't kill me, will you?"

Panel 7: Side view of the both of them. Will looks up at Halt, who is crossing his arms. He says, "Are you willing to take that chance?"

Panel 8: Will puts his hand by his head, his palm facing upwards. "Well, in retrospect, I think you would've killed me already."

Panel 9: Will continues, "So, technically I already took that chance." As Halt is pinching the bridge of his nose.

Page 4

Panel 1: Halt has his eyes closed. One of his hands is like Will's, his elbow resting on the other hand. He says, "Someday, you might meet someone who won't be as merciful as me W—"

Panel 2: Will is looking up at him frowning, with dot eyes. "Boy," Halt finishes.

Panel 3: "... Maybe," Will says, looking to the side.

Panel 4: Close up of Will's eyes. He has noticed something!

Panel 5: "Hey, what's that?" Will asks, pointing at a golden heart laying in the grass. Halt turns to where he's pointing. /End ID]

More under the cut

[Image ID:

Page 5

Panel 1: Close up of the locket. Engraved on it are two gloved hands holding a heart with a simple crown above it.

"I'm-I'm sorry sir. That's too much, isn't it?"

Panel 2: A hand reaches into the panel to grab the locket.

Panel 3: Halt looks down at the locket, now in his palm. "No, no... it's a locket. I got it from someone very dear to me."

Panel 4: Halt has a small smile on his face while still looking down at it. Will looks at him with his arms behind his back. "Oh..."

Panel 5: Will leans forward. "It's very pretty," he says. Halt nods.

Panel 6: Halt looks at the locket longer. Will's mouth settles into a neutral expression.

Page 6:

Panel 1: Will's arms move to his sides and he straightens his back. "Um, so... It looks like it opens up."

"Yes, that's a function of a locket," Halt replies.

Panel 2: Will steps to the side, smiles nervously, and clasps his hands together again. "Do you mind if I look inside?"

Panel 3: "Obviously it's ok if not, I don't want to force you to do anything," Will continues. Halt rolls his eyes.

Panel 4: Will tilts his head back and looks to the side. His palms are facing upwards by his shoulders. "—I doubt I'd be able to anyway—but I was just—" During this, Halt waits with a clenched fist over top his palm.

Panel 5: Will pauses his charade, noticing the fist, and looks down at it. Halt plops the locket into his hand.

Panel 6: Will smiles, feeling the surface with his free hand. "... Really?"

"Really," Halt confirms.

Page 7:

Panel 1: Will opens the locket with a "Click!"

Panel 2: Side view of Will looking down at it, mouth open slightly reading the text engraved in it. A little ways beside him, Halt has a small smile again and is looking at him with fondness.

Panel 3: Bust shot of Will furrowing his eyebrows, a question forming in his mind.

Panel 4: "Where'd you get this?" He asks.

Panel 5: Back to the original set up, but Halt is now looking away into the distance. "... Hibernia."

"Ah," Will says, also looking into the distance. That's why he sounds weird, he thinks.

Page 8:

(The first four panels are the same set up: Will hunched over sitting Halt, both of his hands clenching the locket over his chest).

Panel 1: "What does it mean?" Will asks, a big smile over his face.

Panel 2: "You ask a lot of questions, don't you?" Halt replies. Will's mouth turns to a closed smile, sparkles lighting up in his eyes similar to how a puppy's look.

Panel 3: Halt looks away. Will stays the same.

Panel 4: Halt lowers his head slightly with a sigh. Will closes his eyes and smiles with his teeth.

Panel 5: Halt holds his hand and looks away, tilting his head slightly. "It means 'Best friends forever.'"

Behind him are various drawings of Caitlyn. She has long curly hair, half of it in two braids leading to a small pony-tail. She has puffy sleeves and on her chest is a circle with a high collar. With 15 drawings overall, there are two objects scattered within: a head of a teddy bear and a book of flowers. One of them is the head of a fluffy dog, Madra, with closed eyes. 5 of the drawings of Caitlyn are portraying her younger years: her brushing a doll's hair with her tongue sticking out; her with big eyes and food all over her face; her looking up at the stars with her hands over her chest; her reaching out a hand while pointing in the distance; her reaching up as if wanting him to pick her up, and her with her arms spread out, dress and hair blowing in the wind. In her older years, looking from 10-13, she's holding paintbrushes mischievously, smiling as if she's laughing about something, and holding flowers which frame her head. Down in the right corner, there's a picture of Ferris with his eyes crossed out, Caitlyn and Halt holding hands, and older Caitlyn, smiling, with tears rolling down her—

"I hope I have one of those someday..."

Page 9:

Panel 1: Halt looks down at a hunched over Will. He's looking wistfully at the locket he is dangling in the air.

It fades to a black background. "I'm sure you will.

Now, hand me my locket and get back to the ward before I curse you." /End ID]

Um- uh- Happy Halloween!!