#kirin character study

[arcadian-litterateur]

bury it | kirin o'connor

𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

summary: kirin has a no-side-effects solution to dealing with trauma: he buries it. but as time goes on while he’s trapped on the island, he realizes slowly that this “no-side-effects” solution does, indeed, have side effects—and they might just be eating him alive.

word count: 1.7k

warnings: mentions of ab*se and r*pe

a/n: i know we never got kirin’s full backstory in the wilds before it was cancelled; only a tiny part of it, so i decided to use what little information we had, kirin’s obviously trained responses with josh’s situation, and fan theories to create my own backstory for him. this is a super dark one shot, guys, and it’s not romance or anything. it’s just a backstory for kirin, but i do indeed plan on making more kirin one shots that will most likely use this backstory as a foundation, so keep an eye on that! this is like my own little the wilds world-building, ig you could say. also... @mirchoff here it is! probably not at all what you thought the "kirin one shot" would be but i have a dark side ig. don't worry we'll get less dark kirin content soon.

𝗞𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗦 no stranger to this shitty feeling. This shitty feeling of not mattering to the people he's supposed to matter to. It hit him early, and it fucked with his soul. He had a choice: let it fuck him up, or bury it.

He buried it, and he's been burying it ever since.

On the outside, he's always been the golden boy, the star athlete, the happy, popular jock who has everything he could ever want. He's always been a stereotype; a cliche…an easy-to-read, hard-to-get-with jock.

On the inside, he figures he's still a cliche, just a different one. He's an eccedentesiast. Someone who hides pain behind a smile. The golden boy, sure, but the golden boy with a dark past.

Maybe that's all he is: a remix of all the other broken, blond white boys. After all, what piece of Kirin O’ Connor isn't borrowed? He acts like his mom—she's a good woman, but she’s emotionally unavailable to him, much like his emotional withdrawal from the people around him. He looks just like his dad—fucking piece of shit. He got his jock attitude from the popular boys he used to idolize on television—now he realizes it was easier for them, because they had a script, and he didn't even get a plot summary. His talk comes from his coach—who saved his life, for which he'll always be grateful, but then ended up being a shitty, racist person just like the rest of them, and he hates him for it.

If he thinks about it, Kirin O’Connor doesn't truly like being this convoluted chemical reaction of different people. He wants to be something of his own. But he isn't sure how. And when he's honest with himself, he acknowledges that he's scared he's too fucked up to be anything on his own.

It started when he was a young, young boy, and his mother's father—he will never call him his grandfather—kicked them out of his house. He's not sure when he realized that relatives aren't supposed to be jerks, but he knows without a doubt that the only thing he and that man have in common is blood. He swears he will never be like his mother’s father; he will never sentence someone to cold nights in a car with the backseat for a bed.

Kirin still remembers clearly the days before he was popular. When he was still living in his mom’s car, abandoned by his father and now his grandfather, he watched his mom slowly slip away from him. And when he voiced his concerns to his teacher, explaining as best as an eight-year-old can that his mom needed help, he was mocked by the other children.

He was bullied by the other children for being forced into the role of caregiver too early.

Kirin shoved that pain down and decided that he was above it all. He spent so much time above it all that eventually, everyone else worked their way up, pulling themselves to his level like they envied his life. Gosh, if only they knew what his life was like.

He’s had two stepdads, and neither lasted. The first was named Grant, the second was Harvey. They were both artists, like maybe his mom had a type or something, and they were both sick. Not disease sick, but fucked up in the head, gross sick. Grant would always come home drunk, the classic stepdad with a beer belly and a loud, “Honey, I’m home!” He’d force Kirin’s mom to make his gross, alcoholic friends bean dip and casseroles. They’d trash the living room and then complain when Kirin didn’t clean up after them. 

Kirin didn’t understand why his mom put up with it for as long as she did. It was only after Harvey was gone, too, that his mom showed Kirin the scar from the fireplace poker that Grant had stabbed her with when he was too drunk to think straight, whispering out the nasty threats Grant had made towards Kirin if she didn’t keep quiet. Kirin remembered that trip to the ER, but his mom told everyone she’d tripped and bumped the poker. And everyone had believed it, Kirin included.

But if Grant was awful, Harvey was a demon from hell. Actually, Kirin had contemplated this theory totally seriously at one point, so confused as to how someone could be so cruel. What his mom had seen in this guy was beyond him, but once the new couple got back from their honeymoon, Harvey turned nasty, and Kirin had to sit and watch. Harvey didn’t even try to hide the fact that he abused Kirin’s mom from the boy, who was fourteen at the time. He’d almost boast about it, as if he expected Kirin to take his side, too. Instead, Kirin learned the hard way that Harvey was harder to expose than he thought.

Sometimes, if Kirin is feeling especially masochistic, he’ll pull up his shirt and brush his hands along the dull, dark lumps of scar tissue all over his stomach from the countless times Harvey put out his cigarette on the boy’s pale skin. Maybe that’s one of the reasons that Kirin stays tan—it doesn’t hide the scars all the way, but it makes them seem less suspicious. Like they’re birthmarks or freckles.

But the cigarette burns were the least cruel abuse that Harvey subjected him to, and he doesn’t really want to even think about the other shit Harvey put him through. Kirin hasn’t told anyone about the darkest parts of that time in his life. They’ve heard about all the physical abuse; the violence, but he’s never told anyone about the worst of it. Not his therapist, not his CPS officer. Definitely not his mom, even though she’d endured the same, or even worse. If he talks about the hazy memories from those nights, he has to confront the fact that they were real, and so he leaves those memories be. Tells himself they’re just nightmares.

It could be true. Harvey is a consistent visitor in Kirin’s dreams. Even if the real man is locked away in a prison somewhere, he still haunts Kirin’s sleep like a specter. 

He haunts Kirin now, even on this godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere. Kirin knows in his head that even if Harvey escaped prison and found Kirin’s old high school, he’d have no way to get to Kirin, because nobody fucking knows where he is.

Even Kirin doesn’t know where he is.

Maybe his memories that he swears are nightmares are the reason he could tell something was wrong with Josh. Kirin can’t explain what exactly tipped him off, but something inside his chest got super fucking tight, like it was constricting all of his blood and was going to rip his heart apart, and so he jumped in and told Josh to come with him. He was convinced he was being paranoid.

But now, staring at the welts on Josh’s chest, Kirin feels his blood chill, his fingertips finding the small pebbled cigarette scars on his torso as goosebumps rise on his body. Josh spews some excuse about gluten when Kirin confronts him about it, and Kirin isn’t having it.

He isn’t proud of what he does next, but he’s desperate to get this boy to tell him what’s wrong—or what isn’t wrong. What might just be in Kirin’s head, like all the nightmares. 

So he brings up Seth, uses him as a weapon, as a match that he waves under Josh’s nose, trying to light the fuse in this meek boy, trying to get him to snap and admit something, anything. And just like Kirin knew it would, it works. Josh is yelling at him, talking about how Seth is the problem, and the way his voice quivers as he trails off and his fists tighten up in a defensive stance makes Kirin want to crumple to the ground.

Because he knows that look. That terrified, angry look. He knows that look, because he’s seen it in the mirror on himself. Josh isn’t Josh right now as Kirin stares down at him. Josh is fourteen-year-old Kirin trying to explain away the odd wounds on his stomach to his coach, who isn’t buying it. Josh is fourteen-year-old Kirin breaking down in the lacrosse team’s locker room, finally admitting what Harvey’s been doing. 

And in that instant, even before he asks Josh to elaborate, Kirin knows what Josh did. He knows without a doubt what a sick, demented fuck Seth is, and all he can see when he blinks is Harvey, leering and spitting and screaming at Kirin, hurting him in more ways than just physical.

Kirin sees red, and he knows at that moment that he’s going to make Seth pay for what he’s done to Josh, because no one ever made Harvey pay for his worst crimes against Kirin, and Kirin can’t stand to see another r*pist get away with it. 

Kirin freezes as the thought flashes through his mind, a hand flying up to his torso again, numbly pinching at one of the scars. He’s never been willing to even think it before. To ever truly face the reality of Harvey’s twisted abuse. But he just did, and the full force of it is crashing down on Kirin, bringing tears to his eyes. He blinks them away, rage almost bubbling out of his throat as he growls,

“I’m going to kill him.”

And he isn’t truly thinking about Seth at that moment, not really, but since he can’t get his hands on Harvey to tear him limb from limb, he’ll have to settle. 

Even after he’s pulled away from Seth, the sick asshole sadly still alive and breathing, Kirin knows that he won’t stop protecting Josh. He won’t let Josh do what he did. Because when Harvey hurt Kirin, Kirin buried it. That’s what he did with the hard shit. He buried it. And slowly, it’s killing him from the inside out. Kirin doesn’t want Josh to fall prey to that. Kirin doesn’t want Josh to bury it.

And Kirin thinks to himself that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to pull out a shovel and start digging. Not a grave for Seth or Harvey, (oh, how he wishes), but a hole into the deep abysses in his heart, so he can finally start to unbury all of the shit rotting away from inside him.

Kirin is done burying it.

𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥

[karnaca78]

(screenshot taken on PS4)

"Nights are short; too short for a man who wants to hold the future at his fingertips.

There’s the pungent smell of chemicals, permeating the room; burying itself in his nostrils, almost forcefully, as he tries not to choke on them. All is quiet in the apartment, save for the low hum of his voice when he mumbles something in the midst of a delicate operation. The nearby window is ajar, allowing some fresh air inside. If only he’d listen, he would hear the sound of waves crashing lazily against bone-white stone, for his abode looms over the docks and the sea he so fears.

But for now, the only music in his ears is that of inspiration. It courses through his veins, ignites his brain cells one by one until they weave a single tapestry of light; a masterpiece waiting to be painted."

[Excerpt from Light Catcher, a story about Kirin Jindosh and the invention of the silvergraph. Read here on AO3.]

[lesathoart]

Since I have such a hard time drawing her consistently, some little studies of my gal, Kitra. Eventually I will settle on a standard outfit for her. Maybe. Probably. Possibly.

[capseisen]

More master studies [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] ,, November/December 2022

[florisnemis]

Arcane Studies🔮🧙‍♀️

A long overdue art trade with @kryptid-kat, featuring her character, Kirin ! <3

[unsanctioned-if]

I'm curious about the cast. Can you tell us more about them?

I’m so sorry this answer comes so late. One of the reasons for that is that, while I’ve had a good idea of the main cast and their personalities etc. from the get-go, things do change and shape as I write and I didn’t want to give out a bunch of information that I’d later change haha.

But at this point I feel like I’ve done enough work on them individually to be able to give a proper answer!

I’ll be including the characters that are set as “main cast” in the intro post (Cirern, Muir, Wren, Astra, Azora and Kirin) plus 3 additional characters that might end up being part of the main cast. Or not, I’m not sure yet. All I know is that they will appear, be important to some part of the story and that at least one of them will have a romance route option.

I’ll also include which characters are romanceable 😊

Cirern

Cirern might seem distant, coming and going on his own terms and keeping his interactions with the MC as short as he can. But like anyone, he has certain fondness for things and might end up saying more than he planned to when faced with particular questions or observations.

During his years at court, Cirern was known for being brilliant and polite, with an arrogance that would shine through only among his closest. He was seen either as a leader nor a follower, and luckily lacked the ambition that might otherwise make him an open enemy to Aíos’ crown. But little did those people know that his ambition was merely well hidden.

Those who knew him would describe him as lively with sudden bouts of melancholy, of thriving among people until he’d wordlessly withdraw without explanation. When the MC meets him, little seems to remain of the man he once was described as. But spending 19 years in someone’s presence is bound to draw out sides you might not expect to ever see.

Muir (RO)

When the MC first meets Muir, he is a dreamy child with curious eyes that seem to hold the universe itself. But as Muir settles into his skin those qualities begin to dim, and his strange sense of wonder turns into awkwardness and uncertainty, and eventually hardens him into a stoic and quiet adult.

Muir is simultaneously hardened to the outside world and very new to it. He doesn’t relish the prospect of talking to strangers or getting involved in business that doesn’t have to do with his and the MC’s goal. Your relationship with him is shaped and explored in chapter 1 and continues from chapter 2; it can be close or distant, but there is something inherent in his existence that ties him to you regardless of how either of you view each other.

Wren (RO)

Wren is a student at the Institute of Arcane Arts and is recognized by many of its teachers as one of its most promising minds. They come from a line of respected spellweavers who have become one of the most reputable houses in Aíos even with their shrouded and mysterious history.

Wren themself, while armed with a sharp mind that’s been honed by years of diligent study, lacks the experience of life outside of high, safe walls – both the walls of their family home and those belonging to the Institute. They would rather spend more time thinking than doing and is not always tolerant of people who can’t see things from their point of view. They can also be suave (or at least, attempt to be) and might show a very different (aka flirty) side if they take a liking to someone.

Azora (RO)

A young woman with a fascination for the arcane – moreso because of what it could do for her and her cause than any interest in the arcane itself.

Azora embodies many traits that humans are looked down on for by the elves – impatience and impulsivity, for one. But she is likewise willing to learn and holds strong beliefs that fuel her decisions. Most would call her charming albeit stubborn with a self-sacrificial streak when it comes to the things she believes in (for better or for worse).

She struggles with reconciling what she has been taught with what she comes to learn, what that means for her perceived purpose. Her own mind has made her its enemy, and she often relies on others to a potentially harmful extent when doubt creeps in.

Kirin (RO)

Kirin is quiet as a shadow and moves much like one, too, walking in and out of your life as he pleases. He is devoted to his beliefs and for all intents and purposes, he seems devoted to serve you, as well.

He is practical but also idealistic when it comes to his faith and what he does for that faith. But the nature of his order is vague and difficult to grasp for someone not directly linked to them.

Kirin’s personality is hard to pin down since he seems to hide much of it beneath his purpose, just like how he hides his face behind his mask. He is calm, though; sometimes eerily so, and often finds amusement in situations where people might find such amusement distasteful. (Although there’s much more I could share, I can’t do it without spoilers, sorry!)

Astra (RO)

As a vampire, Astra can be described as having little regard for mortal lives, and it’s not beyond her to manipulate and scheme to nudge things in the direction she wants them to go. Sometimes that means feasting on the blood of the unsuspecting, and sometimes that is extended to a grander vision and goal.

Although she can be cruel, she is also fiercely loyal to those she’s close with and trusts. Beneath her exterior, something darker and more unpredictable simmers, though she rarely allows that side of her to show.

Rhalyf (RO)

Rhalyf is an Ekkeran hunter from the far north. His job is to track down unsanctioned spellweavers and to protect people from forces of magic that would do them harm.

Most view ekkerans as a bitter, cold people, but Rhalyf is quite the opposite. The hardship he has endured has only strengthened his belief in trying to create a kinder world. And to him, that means exterminating cursed magic, including yours.

Eéithn

Pixies like Eéithn is a rare sight in Aíos’ so called civilized parts. A person who encounters a pixie might count themselves lucky to experience something most could only imagine, but such triumph would be short-lived if they’re not careful when dealing with pixies and their love for trickery.

Whether Eéithn is different from his fellow pixies or embodies all the same qualities that the stories warn about is something the MC will have to determine for themselves. He can seem as sweet as he can seem cruel and might cooperate one moment only to switch allegiances the next.

One thing is for certain, though; like most living creatures, he is desperate to survive.

??? (RO?)

A cryn woman with bright eyes that don't seem quite right. (I really can't say more about her right now.)

Thank you so much for the ask!

[brevityisnotmywit]

Waiting For The Worms

Rabid Pneumonia: Also known as Tar Lung, or Wet Lung. A respiratory disease that eventually attacks the brain of its host, driving them to violence.

The pandemic has been ravaging Equestria for five months...Twilight is running out of time.

(Content Warnings: Zombie AU, Gore, Major Character Death, Disease.)

Five months have passed since the initial outbreak.

One hundred and fifty three long days of fear and mourning.

Two hundred twenty thousand three hundred twenty minutes of desperate attempts to combat this sickness.

It took a few weeks before Twilight had identified the reason they had so much trouble containing the disease. It was something so universal, so basic…something no one could live without.

Water. This damned plague spread through fresh water. True, a bite from an infected creature would transfer it, but its main method of transmission was something every living thing required. It wasn’t even like the princess had meant to discover this. No, she had gone to refill the coolant tanks for her lab when she noticed it.

Some poor filly, lost in the pain of the sickness, had dragged her broken body to the banks of the river. This puzzled Twilight. By this point, it was clear that the little pony was in the final stages of Rabid Pneumonia. She would have been suffering from hydrophobia, surely. And yet here she was, gagging on the black bile flooding her lungs. After many long moments, the pathetic creature hurls herself into the stream, startling Twilight.

Of course she was aware of how often they had to fish bodies out of the reservoir. She’d just presumed that it was due to the rainy season washing them downhill…she had a new panel to run.

After that, they tasked the pegasi and dragons with getting the word out. All water had to be boiled and filtered before drinking. It helped, but not nearly enough.

Month two is when they had to accept that magic wouldn’t fix this. The four princesses had called upon Discord to work towards a spell to address this. Between the five of them, there was nothing they couldn’t do…or so they thought.

Tar Lung could bounce back from anything they cast.

Discord was particularly stunned by this. He certainly wasn’t used to putting in effort to get what he wanted. By the time it was clear that they would have to resort to modern medicine, the draconequus seemed to fall into a depressive episode. He’d blipped away, presumably to the fortified home he had built for Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. The latter had moved in after she’d lost her husband and their daughter…

Shortly after that, Cadence had heard of the illness reaching the Crystal Kingdom. She rushed home, only to report that she would be unable to leave her people. A week later, Twilight received the news that her brother had contracted it.

She scowled, and shook her head. If her magic didn’t help, that was fine. Twilight never let herself lose sight of the practical side of her studies. She was particularly skilled in chemistry. So she called upon anyone experienced in medicine. Earth ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, Kirin, Zebras, if you knew your way around a lab, you were invited.

Zecora had been a big help to their cause. She had convinced a few buffalo to join her, one of which was Little Strongheart’s daughter. The zebra made it clear that Twilight was to show the utmost respect to all who answered her summons. If the princess didn’t understand traditional methods, that didn’t mean they had no merit.

The implied accusation stung, but Twilight understood why Zecora made it. She’d definitely had moments of dismissing science she considered primitive.

As it would turn out, some of the biggest advances the team made began with the group helmed by the zebra. Their deep knowledge of the local ecosystem had resulted in significant breakthroughs. They hit a snag when the disease mutated again. The first documented jump was to the local population of timber wolves. They hadn’t anticipated it would be able to spread to plants…

Ink Rot meant a whole different threat.

Applejack wasted no time in assembling a crew to figure out why their crops had begun to die. Clearly it was related to the pandemic, but how? Tar Lung started as a respiratory disease, it shouldn’t impact this.

And yet, here they were.

Thankfully Ink Rot didn’t seem to be able to transmit to animals. At least, not like the virus could. It definitely could make you sick if you consumed too much contaminated matter. But it just resulted in something akin to food poisoning. The biggest danger was how it weakened the immune system.

Anyone recovering from Ink Toxicity was significantly more likely to contract Tar Lung. Even if they took every possible precaution. The sickness was getting stronger every passing moment.

Applejack was the one that suggested rain was no longer safe. After the outbreak, Cloudsdale had allowed the weather to self-regulate. They would do their best to prevent natural disasters, but their numbers had been falling to the virus at a significant rate.

As the storms rolled through, cases would skyrocket. Out of frustration, Applejack lamented that the petrichor smelled sour. Of course. Of course it was the rain. They couldn’t possibly boil every lake in the world.

The timber wolves had started to reach the final stages, so they would likely be drowning themselves like the previous carriers. Zecora had guessed that Ink Rot stemmed from their decaying branches.

Twilight issues a command to have Cloudsdale evacuated. She finds some comfort in the knowledge that Dash wasn’t around to see her home in this state…wherever she was. The princess tried not to dwell on her fallen friends. They both would just tell her to keep working on the cure.

A few days after the fall of the pegasi kingdom, Zecora caught it. The moment the acidic bile began to seep from her snout, she walked into a holding cell. She reassured Twilight from her glass cage that everything would make sense soon. The alicorn had everything she needed to save the world.

It was a rough few weeks, watching one of her most valuable teammates collapse under the strain of the sickness. Watching as it reached her brain, being forced to hear the zebra rip at her burning chest. The wet choking echoing off the walls…Twilight cried herself to sleep regularly.

She was failing her community. She was running out of time.

Which brings us to now. 

Five months.

One hundred and fifty three days.

Two hundred twenty thousand three hundred twenty minutes.

A brilliant flash blinds the princess. She scrubs at her eyes, squinting against the light. She’s surprised at who stands before her. The lord of chaos himself. Discord had returned. He looks exhausted. His thin mane had grown out, forming mats that swung heavily as he offered a half-hearted bow. His mismatched eyes were haunted…something was wrong.

“Discord?” Twilight asks softly, not wanting to startle him. The lab had too many delicate items to risk him bolting on her. “...What happened?”

It was clear from his expression that he anticipated the question. The draconequus knew she was a clever one. She saw right through him. As per usual. His voice is rough, as though he’d been screaming for hours.

“Observant as always, princess .” He spits out her title like the word is rotten on his tongue. “I take it you’re not getting anywhere?”

The jab digs into her spirit like an arrow. Twilight’s wings lift subtly, making her appear bigger. “We’ve made significant progress towards a cure. We’ll have our vaccine by the end of the year.” She snorts, flicking her tail. “Not that you care.”

The air shifts. Discord’s form distorts, chaos magic leaking out. The princess catches a glimpse of his true appearance. A twisting fractal, branching out into impossible angles and planes. He snarls, teeth rotating and multiplying endlessly. After a very tense moment, he reels his power in. The window into his reality closes.

The venom in his voice remains. “I resent that accusation.”

Twilight forces herself to stand strong. She was the only one that could fight him if needed. “State your business.” She snaps. “But I’m only going to warn you once. If you do anything to jeopardize our work, I will not hesitate to stop you. Keep that in mind.”

“Oh I’m so frightened, I just might shake myself apart.”

“ Discord .” She takes a step towards him.

“Ugh, you’re still no fun.” He rolls his eyes. Literally. Before Twilight can respond, Discord’s tone becomes serious again. “I’m here to help you.”

“You know none of our magic works against it.” The princess reminds him.

“ Yes . I am distinctly aware of how useless I appear to you.” He folds his arms, his tail flicking with irritation. “This whole thing has gone too far. You need someone that can get you anything in a matter of seconds. I am your obedient servant .”

He punctuates this with another, more dramatic bow.

Something’s happened, Twilight realizes. “Not that I’m going to turn you down but…why are you offering this now? You could have shown up at any moment, you know.”

“They caught it.” Discord states bluntly.

Twilight doesn’t need clarification on who ‘they’ are.

“I couldn’t protect them…I poured everything I had into keeping my-” He pauses, glancing away. “Keeping them safe from this. You know me, I could care less if this world implodes…or at least I did. I’m a selfish creature, it’s in my nature. I’m sure you understand.”

The princess nods, motioning for him to continue.

“...I can’t let them die, Twilight. I might not be able to snap this disease out of existence, but if I can do even the smallest thing to help expedite your work?” Discord meets her eyes, and she can see a hint of his old resolve. “I’ll make it happen. Just say the word…and please, we may be desperate, but let’s not forget our manners, hm?”

A harsh laugh bubbles up from Twilight’s chest. She can’t believe this is what it took to snap Discord from his isolation…actually, yes she can. This was perfectly in character for him.

“Alright. We can discuss details later, right now I need-” She was interrupted by a panicked Spike bursting into the room.

“Hey! Twilight, I’ve got a message from the Castle!” The dragon holds it out, allowing his friend to grab it with her magic.

She unfurls it, expecting a long update. What she does find, however, are three sentences that chill her to the bone.

‘The disease has breached the barrier. The Sisters are no longer with us. Please hurry…”

[n3on-graveston3s-calling]

When You Move, I'm Moved

COMMISSION: @cebwrites Characters: Kirin ( OC ), Law, Penguin, Shachi, Reiji ( OC ), Izzy ( OC ) Ship: LawRin Word Count: 5,228 Rating: E Warnings: None; just a fun bit of action & smut. Author's Notes: For my first time writing Law in a long form piece, I'm p happy. Thank you for letting me play around with Kirin <3

The sun was high in the sky by the time they dropped their anchors. The island appeared to be relatively uninhabited- at least, on this side of it. As long as the shoreline appeared empty, undisturbed- that was good enough of a sign for the pair of crews. Kirin stretched languidly, almost cat-like, as his crew mulled about, trying to decide whether they wanted to feel the sand beneath their feet or take this time to rest. He could already see Penguin and Shachi on shore, the latter chasing the former across the white sand. Perfect. Swinging his legs over the bannister, he settled onto the gangplank with a soft ‘thunk’. The board bounced with each step, causing him to hurry along just a touch, even if the dock didn’t look any more promising.

The dock they’d settled at was old, he noticed; brows furrowing as he crouched down to study the wood. No one had used this in years- at least a decade, if he were being generous. The wood hadn’t been treated in far too long, threatening to give beneath his weight if he didn’t balance properly. The sound of footsteps drew him from his curios thoughts; Law approached, a brow raised, the silent question of what the fuck he was doing evident. “Old dock. Needs work,” he explained, rising to his full height. “I’m surprised it’s holding either of us, really.”

“I’ll make sure Bepo doesn’t get on it,” Law murmured, their gaze flickering to the Polar Tang. “Though, he’s more likely to just jump into the water.” The thought of Bepo taking a step onto the dock, the wood splintering beneath, and Bepo falling into the water in a near-comical fashion almost brought a smile to their lips.

“Can’t let you fall in, can I?” Kirin murmured, a hint of a smile curving his lips as he walked alongside Law, bumping his arm against their own gently. His hand twitched; the urge to take hold of Law’s own flashing through his mind before he quickly set that aside. Not here, not now.

Penguin screamed as Shachi tackled him. To the winner, the spoils.

“Funny, ha, ha.” Law huffed, rolling their eyes as they stepped off the dock, settling into the sand. They study their surroundings for a long moment, hands stuffed into the pockets of their jeans. “… Do you think if you released enough electricity at once, you’d turn the sand to glass?”

“What, like how lightning does?”

“Yes.”

Kirin fell quiet at the question, his head tilting. Now THAT was a question, one he hadn’t anticipated- nor really thought much of, really. “You know… I’m not sure. Never paid much attention to that.” His gaze flickered from Law, to the sand, to Law once more, a slow smirk curving his lips as they groaned at the familiar mischief that had taken over his gaze. “Wanna see if we can? I mean, you’re the one who’s supposed to know everything, aren’t you?” He teased lightly, stepping closer to the other Captain. A glance around their surroundings to ensure that no, no one was looking at them in the moment. Perfect.

“Hold on-” Law sighed, hands held out, palms facing out- the universal sign for fucking wait you overgrown puppy dog. “When we cross over into the New World- it’s going to be different. There will be stronger fights, more danger than anything we’ve experienced- both together, and apart. It isn’t going to be easy.”

“You say that like I don’t know that already.”

“I’m saying this because I need to get stronger.”

“… Oh?” Attention sufficiently caught, Kirin dropped the taunting tone for the time being. “You’re afraid something will happen out there that you can’t handle, right?” Law’s brow twitched. Bingo. “So you wanna take this time that we have now before we head in to… Get stronger?” No answer, not verbally. Sometimes, getting Law to talk was almost like pulling teeth. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me, love.”

Ah, that did it. Law groaned, dragging a hand over their face, fingers dragging against the stubble that had settled along their jawline. They hadn’t shaved that morning. “I don’t want what happened to the Straw Hats-ya to happen to us,” came the admittance. What happened on Sabaody had been a shitstorm and a half. “And I need to be able to take care of it. Of everyone.”

“So, let’s think. You have your sword, yeah? And obviously, your Devil Fruit.” Kirin murmured, slowly pacing through the sand as Law watched him. “And I have my electricity-”

“Kirin.”

“Wha?”

“How does that… Work, exactly? The electricity.”

“Well…” He shuffles his feet in the sand, watching as a crab skittered away towards the water. “I dunno, really. I can just… feel it, you know? Like, you know when a storm is brewing? And you’re standing on the top of the Tang, watching the clouds gather? You can feel the air cooling, and there’s this… This charge in the air? Ozone, I guess you could call it. That moment before lightning strikes- when your hair stands on end and you realize that there’s a current flowing through? I can feel that- all around me. In me, too. In you- everything.”

“In… Me?”

“Yeah, so- if I were to stand close to you like this,” his lips curved into a slow, small smile as he stepped closer. “I can feel it even stronger. And really, if you think about it- really think about it,” his voice softened; a conversation just between the two of them. “It’s just a matter of learning how to harness that energy, to make it… Bend to my will.” A subtle brush of his fingers against Law’s arm had the Doctor stilling, their breath catching in their throat. “But if anyone can figure out how that works, it’s obviously going to be My Doctor, right?”

Zap.

The small jolt of electricity drew a sharp hiss out of Law as they took a sharp step to the side, their gaze narrowing as they studied Kirin for a moment. “I have an idea, then.”

“I’m all ears, sweetheart.”

“Stop that!”

“Stop what?” Kirin feigned innocence as he raised his hands, lips curving into a wicked grin more befitting a predator about to pounce upon their prey. “Dunno what you’re talking about, Captain.”

Without warning, Law struck out, for once choosing physical hits over using their Devil Fruit. Their hand connected to Kirin’s palm, whose fingers closed over their fist, but they used that to their advantage. With a shove forward, Kirin stumbled back one step, then two, then three.

The fight began.

“There they go,” Reiji sighed, settling down in the sand beside Izzy.

“Pen and Shach are “sparring”, too.” Izzy muttered, an arm tossed over his face as he essentially sunned, lazing on the warm sand. If this got Kirin’s pent up energy out? Good.

“I won’t go easy.” Kirin warned with a smug smirk, watching the way Law straightened up, their brows furrowing over their gaze.

Their hand raised, head tilting to the side slightly as they watched Kirin shuffle around in the sand. “I’d be insulted if you did,” they countered, followed by the command of “Room!”

Kirin leapt to the left, watching as the blue aura settled over the area he’d been mere moments before. Law cursed beneath their breath as they followed through, dumping a few stray rocks off to the side in an annoyed movement. If they wanted to get out of their comfort zone and get stronger? Then he’ll drag them out, kicking and screaming. He lunged forward, taking Law by surprise, tackling them to the sand.

“Bastard!” Law wheezed, grabbing onto Kirin’s shoulders, hips rocking up to roll him over- a movement that normally worked, but now? Teeth gritted, they tried to force him to move, to roll, but Kirin was locked in place, knees in the sand, one arm braced against their chest, the other hand holding his weight. An annoying, and rare, grin spread across Kirin’s lips, baring sharp teeth.

But he wasn’t the only one with tricks.

Law fell still, studying Kirin for a moment before his fingers twitched. “Room!”

“Shit!” Kirin scrambled back, but it was too late, the aura settling around both of them.

Law lurched forward, grabbing his arm, only to get a sharp pulse of electricity coursing through them. A muffled yell escaped as they released Kirin, stumbling back as the aura broke. This was why they liked fighting from a distance, rather than up close and personal like they currently were. “Stop that!”

“Make me.”

“Damn brat.” Law ducked as Kirin spun, a kick that certainly would have done damage just barely skimming over their head. Kirin’s heel was directed into a small boulder- or, what was once a small boulder, as the rock cracked. Law backtracked quickly, putting as much distance between them as possible as the rock fell to pieces. So much power in one movement; it made them wonder what would have happened had that connected with their skull.

No, nevermind. Not something to focus on now.

“Room!” No hesitation could be found within their movements as they turned their hand over, catching Kirin off guard. “Shambles!” The aura dissipates as Kirin is sent spinning through the air, much to his annoyance. Law watched in barely hidden amusement as he flailed about in the air before landing none too gently on the sand. Almost like a cat. If a cat were less graceful. Maybe a rabbit would be a better animal… Law took the moment to grab hold of the hilt of Kikoku. The weight felt comforting in their grasp, a reminder of what they could do.

“C’mon, Captain!” Kirin hollered as he rose up to his full height, rolling his shoulders and neck. Electricity crackled along his skin, sparking across his knuckles, over the tip of his tongue as he swiped away a bead of blood from his lip. “Get over here.” Sand clung to their legs, to their arms, hands. Wasn’t fair that they were the only one covered in dirt.

“How’d you say it again? Oh, right,” Law hummed, shifting their stance. “Make me.”

Bloodlust began to sing within twin veins; hearts racing within chests as they met in the middle, the blow strong enough between the scabbard of Kikoku and the fist of Kirin. The shockwave generated was certainly enough to draw attention, followed by the one after, and again-

“How many is that?” Penguin asks as he wanders his way back over, Shachi trailing behind, brushing sand off of his cap.

“Six.” Tetsu hummed as he leaned back against the trunk of a tree, enjoying the shade it offered with its fanned leaves. Another shockwave; a near pulse of electricity danced through the air. “Seven, actually.”

“Get used to it.” Izzy spoke up, though he didn’t bother to open his eyes as Shachi plopped down to his left. “If you think this is bad, imagine how it’s gonna be when we cross over into the New World.”

“You think it’ll be worse?” Penguin asks, attention flickering between Izzy and Ikkaku, who had waved Bepo over to comb sand out of his fur. Izzy let out a snort, rolling over onto his front. Might as well get an even tan. “Oh, I know it’ll be worse than this.”

“Great. Awesome.” Penguin muttered, scrubbing his hands over his face, wincing at the sound of Law yelling. “At least the captain's enjoying themself…”

“Give up yet?” Law asked, panting heavily as they stood across from Kirin. Their hat had been set aside mid-fight after falling off.

Kirin wiped at his nose, smearing crimson. “Like hell.” He lurched forward as electricity crackled like lightning across his skin, reaching for Kikoku but falling short. Using the momentum of his fall, he struck out with his leg, tripping Law as they backed up. They didn’t fall, but that’s fine.

He slammed his palms upon the ground, watching as electricity crackled across the surface, racing towards Law who couldn’t dodge it, not this time. A muffled yell escaped as they went to their knees. To their right, a tree cracked as the remainder of the electricity discharged into it, the trunk splintering up the center.

Kirin surged; four large steps had them tackling Law forward into the sand, effectively knocking both Kikoku from their grasp, and the air from their lungs. As they wheezed beneath him, he looped his arm around their neck into a sleeper hold; cautious too keep it loose, just in case. Law fell still within his grasp, their breaths rattling.

“Yield?”

A beat of silence. Kirin tightened his hold subtly, feeling the way Law’s jaw clenched. “I yield.”

“What was that?” He taunted smugly.

“I yield, get off.” They grumble as Kirin releases them. With the grace of a newborn leopard cub, Law clambered to their feet, grimacing at the way their body ached in this aftermath. Sand clung to their cheek; they brushed it away with the back of their hand before reaching down for Kikoku, slinging the blade over their shoulder, which sang with the threat of a pulled muscle.

Kirin did a damn number on them, but it felt good. So good, in fact, their jeans felt a touch snug. The joys of bloodlust; the warrior’s true drug of choice. Speaking of Kirin…

Blood swiped away with the flick of a tongue draws their attention first. Kirin grimaced at the way his lip stung; Law fought the urge to reach out to grasp his face, to turn it this way and that way to study the damage that had been dealt. The feeling of sun warmed skin beneath their palms still lingered, fingers twitching as they turned away from their lover to study the beach.

“You made glass.” They break the silence, kicking a piece of what had once been sand, turned glass, towards him. They walked over to where their hat had been placed and took hold of it, shaking off the sand that clung to the fabric. They settled it back onto their head, shielding their gaze from the sun overhead.

It's too warm here.

Kirin leans down, grabbing hold of the glass with curious fingers. “Well, ain’t that neat?” He mutters, pocketing the glass as if it were some souvenir he’d found at a shop rather than a random beach in the Grand Line. He watches as Law rolls their shoulders; their lips curve into a grimace. “I know that last one hurt, Law.” He sighs as he steps closer, smoothing a hand over their back, feeling the way they tense before relaxing- sort of. “C’mon back to mine, lemme rub it out?”

“… Sure.” For once, they agree; they can feel the way the muscle is wanting to tense, and there’s only so much they can do themself. Walking ahead of Kirin, they catch a glance of Penguin and Shachi ducking behind a small rock formation. Ikkaku had settled down on the sand, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. Further back, Tetsu in the midst of a conversation with Hake that looked far more animated than Law wanted to even try to decode. Izzy almost looked like he was sleeping.

Huh.

“Oops,” Kirin murmured, gaze settled on a new cut on the back of Law’s arm. “Think when you took that fall, you hit a rock.”

“Did I?” Law huffed, raising their arm to look at the underside, brows furrowing at the sight of dried blood. It wasn’t anywhere near deep enough to leave a lasting scar. “Blame you.”

“Me?” Kirin gasped, though no heat was found within his tone as he stepped ahead of Law. “And to think I'm inviting you onto my vessel…”

Law hummed, gaze openly roving over Kirin's back; the way his muscles flexed beneath tanned skin, how sweat and sand clung to him. A quick shower would do them both some good, really, but something was lingering beneath the surface. their gaze trailed lower; Kirin had such a nice waist, that much was obvious. To feel the way their fingers settled on his skin, how his skin always felt so warm. Alive.

They swallowed roughly around nothing.

“Anyway,” Kirin continued; they realized that he’d been speaking this whole time. Oops. “Let me look at your arm while we’re here, yeah? I wanna make sure it isn’t too bad.”

“Mm.” Law hummed in agreement, climbing over the railing to settle on the deck.

Kirin smirked, reaching over to tug Law closer by one of their belt loops. The sudden pull surprised them, a soft grunt escaping as they collided with their lover’s chest. “Everyone’s on shore,” he murmured, ducking his head down to steal a quick kiss. He could feel the way Law had frowned at the display of affection- still so openly. “We’re alone on my ship. Alone. Completely.”

“You’re insatiable.” Law muttered, despite the way they, too, were craving their lover. It’d been over a week since they’d last been able to even sleep in the same bed, let alone anything more physical. Their fingers twitched as they moved further in, casually heading towards Kirin’s quarters. “C’mon.”

“Really?”

“I’ll change my mind.”

“Fuck, no, get in there.” Kirin’s voice dripped with excitement, a velvet purr that sent chills across Law’s skin and excitement pooling at the base of their spine. They reached out as Kirin passed by, grabbing hold of his waist and pushing him against the wall with ease. They pressed close, leaning on their toes to offer a kiss against his throat. “Law,” Kirin whined softly, brows furrowing at how easy it had been for them to move him.

“Could take you right here-”

“Don’t tempt me,” Kirin breathed, excitement beginning to take hold once more, mingling with the bloodlust that still sang for more. More violence, more grappling, more of feeling Law so close, their skin beneath his hands-

“-but I’d rather see your face.”

“Fucker.” Kirin muttered, though he didn’t try to shake Law loose. Rather, he shifted his hips, pressing back against Law, head tilting to the side to offer more space. His hand reached back, cupping the back of Law’s head, playing with the soft strands of onyx at the base of their skull. The press of lips against his skin had a soft sound of pleasure escaping as Law’s hands roved. Their fingers settled over his chest, thumbs brushing against sensitive nipples in a teasing manner. “Fuck, Law,” he whispered, eyes falling shut as the sharp sting of fingers pinching, twisting, shot through him, only adding to the pressure that had begun to build at the base of his spine, to the heat that was taking him over with each little ministration from their talented hands.“C’mon, don’t make me beg for it.”

“You look good when you beg,” they murmured against the side of his throat, teeth catching against skin, offering a soft bite that had a keen escaping Kirin’s throat.

“You gotta try harder if you want that, then.”

Law took that personally. Their hands gripped his hips, pulling him back against their chest. “Room,” they murmured, “and Shambles.” Kirin didn’t even have a chance to tense before the pull of being essentially pushed through space, only to land in Kirin’s room, took hold. It was always a touch disorienting, his head swimming as their hands left his hips. “Bed.”

“Bossy.” Kirin snickered as he turned, tugging his shirt up and over his head, tossing it aside. He paused for a moment, smoothing his hands over his chest. The ache that settled in the muscles came from that one hit Law managed to get in. A soak in a bath could help that, later.

Law descended upon him quickly, one hand reaching up to cup the back of his skull while the other settled on his hip as their lips met in a none too gentle kiss. A hiss escaped Kirin at the feeling of Law’s teeth nipping at his lip; he could feel the way Law was smirking at the reaction.

Two could play at that game.

Kirin’s fingers ghosted along their sides, sparks of electricity dancing over the thin shirt that Law wore. A stuttered gasp spilled free into their kiss as they tensed, much to his glee. “You want this just as much as I do,” he murmured against his lover’s lips, reaching a hand up to pluck the hat away from their head, taking care to set it aside out of the danger zone. “Just give in, Captain.”

“Kirin,” the muffled groan of his name was all the warning he received before Law was pushing him back, back, back, until the back of his legs hit the edge of the bed. Down he fell with a soft laugh, gaze roving over Law, drinking in the flush in their cheeks, the way their chest rose and fell with quick breaths. The heat in their gaze was more than enough to confirm Kirin’s suspicions regarding their earlier activities.

“Why’re you pausing?” He asked, brows furrowing over a golden gaze that was darkened with lust. His hands roved, fingers drifting across his nipples, tracking the way Law’s gaze followed every movement.

“Enjoying the view.” Law replied, their lips tilting into a small smirk.

“The view’s better up close.”

“Brat,” Law muttered with a roll of their eyes. Their shirt was tugged off, tossed aside with little care to note where it landed. They settled between Kirin’s thighs, hands smoothing along the still-clothed appendages. “I could leave. Just go back to the Tang.”

“No, you won’t.” Kirin reached out, fingers dragging down their chest, leaving trails of sparks in their wake. Law groaned, the sound music to his ears, as they shuddered. “C’mon, Law. I want you, I need you.”

Law huffed, fingers making quick work on the first of Kirin’s belts, internally cursing their boyfriend for having a complicated wardrobe. They had half a mind to simply tear the clothes, but decided against that just as quickly. Kirin lifted his hips, helping them as they tugged their pants down once, twice, three times before they were falling to the floor. “Someone’s worked up,” they taunted, a smug smirk curving their lips as Kirin groaned, eyes rolling in annoyance. They always did this, teased him until he was near delirious with want and begging to just be fucked.

“I can and will kick you across this room if you do not-” Kirin’s complaints fell quiet at the grip Law had on his thighs, nails digging in as they leaned close, pressing a kiss to the large scar on his left thigh. “Oh,” he sighed, head falling back against the bed. Law descended upon him, then; tongue drifting against damp skin, toying and teasing in ways that had Kirin’s fingers smoothing through their hair, tugging on the short strands. His hips canted up, but each time, Law would draw back with a shake of their head.

Damn them.

A chorus of whines and half-formed begs later, Law had settled high between his thighs, their own pants half-tugged down in their haste to be close, to touch, to feel their partner. The need to feel his skin against their own, to feel the way he reacted to each small movement, each grind. How each press of lips to heated skin was driving them closer and closer to an edge they weren’t ready to dive over just yet. “There’s somethin’ I wanna try,” they murmured as their hips slowly rutted forward, the head of their cock bumping against his piercing over and over. “Trust me?”

“‘Course I do,” Kirin huffed, reaching out to cup their cheek, thumb brushing against the flushed skin. He’ll comment about how fucked Law’s hair had become later, even if it looks damn good like this, currently. “Whatever you wanna try, Law.”

“Good boy.” Law sighed as they adjusted, brows pinching inwards as the head of their cock caught on his entrance. They groaned as they sank into the tight heat, eyes falling shut as Kirin whined beneath them, his thighs tightening on either side of their hips. It was a stretch each and every damn time, regardless of how often they found themselves tangled together.

“Been too long.” Kirin whispered, worrying his bottom lip as he shifted his hips subtly, glad they remembered to put a pillow beneath his hips. It certainly made all the difference, now. “God, you’re so deep already,” whining, he opened one eye, only to feel his breath catch in his throat at the sight he was greeted with. Law, with their eyes shut, their jaw slack, chest rising and falling with heavy pants. What an ego boost, he thought to himself, a breathless little laugh escaping as he rolled his hips experimentally, listening to the way Law grunted at the movement, dragging them back to the present.

Hint taken, they reached down, grabbing hold of his thigh to press up, up, up- knee to Kirin’s chest, intentionally spreading him wider. “There we go,” Law muttered as they rocked forward, pelvis rutting against Kirin’s piercing, drawing free a warbling moan.

“Shit, Law, that’s- oh, God, you’re deep,” Kirin reached out, gripping onto the back of his own knee, holding it against his chest as Law began to move. It felt as if the air were getting punched out of them with each one, moans catching in his throat as he reached out to grip onto Law’s shoulder with his free hand. Nails dug into the flesh, creating crescent moons from how hard he gripped onto them. “Don’t fuckin’ stop, please.”

“Since,” Law grunted, slowing their pace to a slow grind, hips canting upwards to press just right, “you asked so nicely, I won’t.”

“Wha, like you had plans on stopping halfway through?”

“I could edge you.” It was a warning; a threat. They would. They had before.

“That is… Cruel and unusual punishment.”

“I dunno, sweetheart. Do you deserve to be punished?” Law all but growled out as they slid down to the hilt, leaning over their boyfriend who nearly yelled with the sudden movement. A smug chuckle escaped as they stole a kiss. Kirin’s hand found its way to their hair, tugging on the short, dark strands. “I think you do.”

“No, no, no,” Kirin begged, head whipping back and forth in desperation. “Please, I’ve been good! I’ve been so good, Law, please-”

“Dunno. You threw me around a whole lot out there. That wasn’t nice, was it?” They taunted, enjoying the way Kirin grew rapidly more desperate with each taunt, each faux threat. “God, you got even tighter around me just then. Do you want me to stop? To leave you here, unsatisfied? Not let you come like you’re begging me to?”

“Law!” Kirin gasped, hand slipping between their bodies- only to be batted aside by Law’s own.

“Tsk, greedy little thing.” They mumbled, though their concentration was beginning to slip. Kirin was so warm, so wet, drawing them in with each stroke.

His hands reached out, smoothing across Law’s chest, up towards their throat, fingers trailing against the sides in the ghost of a proper hold- but it was enough.

They groaned, forehead dropping to his shoulder as their hips rutted against his; they wouldn’t last much longer, not like this, not with how good he felt wrapped around their cock. They could feel the pressure building at the base of their spine, could feel the way Kirin pulsed around them, hear the desperate pitch in his tone. “Fuck, I love it when you beg,” muttering against their collarbone, they press open mouthed kisses along the warm skin before them. “Remember what I asked? If you trusted me?”

“Yes?” Kirin answered, a touch breathlessly, as they continued to punch the air out of his lungs with each thrust. The strain on his thigh was starting to wear on him; he shifted his hand, letting go to allow his leg to splay to the side. “Right there, right there- ‘m so close, please!”

“There we go,” that’s what they needed to hear, pushing back up to settle back on their knees, dragging Kirin’s hips up onto their lap as if he weighed nothing to them. Ragdoll; their little toy to use in that moment.“C’mon, come for me.” This was the fun part; their thumb brushed against where they joined. If they were right with this idea, then it would be the best god damn orgasm either of them had had in their lives.

“Countershock.”

Kirin stiffened up, a scream of pleasure tearing free from his throat as his climax fell over him in a startling crash, like a wave crashing over rocks during a swell. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure what had happened; it felt as if electricity had come from Law, as if they had localized it to where they had been joined. His heart felt as if it had stopped; head swimming as Law stilled within him, spilling with a startled cry of his name.

Law sighed as they leaned forward, resting their head against Kirin’s chest. They couldn’t move even if they had wanted to at that moment. Everything was shaking, vibrating. It was like Kirin had shocked them- and truthfully, they think that he did, just a little, adding onto the charge from Countershock. They hadn’t anticipated coming from it, but they certainly came. Subtle rocks from their hips extended the pleasure for both as Kirin whined from the borderline overstimulation.

“How did you…?” Kirin asked after catching his breath, fingers brushing against Law’s spine slowly as they shifted.

They were careful as they pulled out, mirroring Kirin’s grimace at the drag. “Figured it out a few weeks back. Wanted to see if it’d have the same reaction that your little tricks do.” A smug smile curved their lips as they pushed themself up, gaze meeting Kirin’s own. “I guess it does.”

“Oh, you asshole,” Kirin huffed despite the smile that spread across his face. He reached up, smoothing a hand over their cheek, up into their hair, ruffling the dark strands even more. “You know…”

“Hm?” Law hummed, eyes closing as Kirin’s fingers offered a gentle scratch against their scalp, prompting chills to erupt across their skin. Just like a big kitty, Kirin thought to himself, amused at how easy it was to get Law to just relax when they were alone. “Ship’s still quiet…” He trailed off, leaning up to press one, then two, then three slow kisses along the expanse of Law’s bared throat. His teeth grazed against the sensitive skin, dragging out a shudder from his lover. “And you’re still hard.”

“Kirin.” That was a warning.

But warnings were suggestions, in Kirin’s mind. Grinning against their throat, he used his larger mass against Law’s slighter form and rolled them over, settling victoriously above them with a grin more akin to a wolf staring down at its prey. “Tell me you don’t want it.” He taunted, hips settling over Law’s own, grinding slowly. Law’s hands settled on his hips, squeezing the flesh there. Not pushing- no, pulling him closer, pressing harder, dragging a moan free from him.

“Show me what you got.” Law’s voice was hoarse, strained with lust, but the look in their eyes was nothing short of challenging.

“Yes, Captain.”

[ask-healthy-light]

What inspired you to start writing?

It started a while ago, thanks to a certain Pony we all know… But writing followed some time after…

Late 2021, I chatted a bit with Banana Pie, who invited me to visit his theme park. I had just drawn my first Kirin character, Light, and decided to make a couple of story-related drawings like I had seen others do often before.

Eventually, though, after I started a study course towards work, it was becoming less enjoyable to draw for so long, using what little time I had outside of travel, my study, and other activities, to only receive so much internal satisfaction and external appreciation for my drawings.

After finishing a set of drawings I wanted to use to build up to a big reveal, that of the security/surveillance office Light found in a series of strange tunnels under Pie Park, I did post a few sneak peaks to my art in progress, where Light opened the door to find a lot of screens and surveillance imagery - more on this later.

At one point, though, I was wandering around during a break in class, when I got the idea to to write a story around the art I had, using it as extra visuals for the story I wanted to tell.

Now, over a year-and-a-half later, with over 500 story episodes and dozens of bonuses written, I’m very glad I made the choice to write the story I wanted to show as opposed to drawing it, even if it sometimes is challenging to fit everything together tidily.

I actually never thought I’d write so much or get this far into the story with so many tangents to other things, while the story of the Catacombs has kinda been left behind - but I am planning on returning to this!

Whether later in the main story, or in a shorter or less-frequent series (most likely in drawn art form), I want to return to the Catacombs to dive more into the strange oddities that I referenced in the earliest episodes, such as how others’ voices could be heard as clear as crystal (read: asks), the surveillance footage of others with whom Banana Pie had interacted (read: other blogs), and what happened to Pie’s Daughter Mousse - whose blog sadly is no longer active.

For now, since I only just got back from hospital yesterday after surgery, even though I feel well and am doing great, I’ll take the time to rest up, and I’ll let folks know when I continue with the story in the next few days.

Thanks ever so much for your ask! ^^

[azure-wolf-227]

The Mane 6 and Spike

Some headcanons about the Mane 6 and Spike in my reboot au. Their personalities are largely unchanged from canon but stuff like appearances, family history and other things will be different.

This post is subject to updating in the future as I come up with more headcanons.

Edit: Aging up the characters for reasons.

Edit 2: Changed the ages back to my original idea.

Twilight Sparkle

15-years-old at the beginning of the series; turns 16 in Sweet and Elite. She is the youngest of the Mane 6.

Twilight’s birthday is in Spring as the Canterlot garden party is a Spring event.

Twilight is an early bloomer as she got her Cutie Mark when she was almost six years old.

Twilight is a year younger than her schoolmates as she was admitted into the School for Gifted Unicorns a year early.

Taller than the average Unicorn mare, even a Canterlotian one (Unicorns from Canterlot are usually taller than those from other places). She is still shorter than her older brother and is not very physically fit - at first.

She gains some inches after becoming an Alicorn, but AJ is still the tallest of the group.

Her height (and Shining Armor’s) is due to possessing Alicorn blood from her father’s side.

Twilight has Kirin blood from her mother’s side, explaining why she sometimes bursts into flame when she’s really angry.

Before moving to Ponyville, Twilight used to look unkempt because she was more focused on her studies so she didn’t care too much about her appearance.

She wears glasses because I like how they look on Sci-Twi. Twilight’s glasses used to be thick and unflattering since she cared more about practicality than appearance. At Rarity’s advice (insistence), she switches them for nicer-looking ones.

On her mother’s family is tradition that the firstborn daughter is given the name Twilight [something]. This tradition goes back to long before Equestria was formed. The exact reason for this tradition has been lost to time but the most accepted theory is that an ancestor named Twilight did something worthy of honor.

This theory isn’t entirely wrong.

On her father’s family is tradition for the daughters to have Sparkle as part of their names in honor of the family’s founder. The sons have names that reference light ex. Shining Armor and Night Light.

Twilight is in the neuro-divergent spectrum, and Owlowiscious serves in the role of service animal. (Inspired by @princess-of-the-corner).

Spike

10-years-old at the beginning of the series; turns 11 in Secret of my Excess. I decided to age him up a bit for reasons.

Dragon Molt occurs around the age of 13 (is dragon-puberty) so Spike goes through it sometime after Twilight’s ascension.

It is explicitly made clear from the beginning that Twilight sees Spike as her little brother, as does the rest of the Sparkle Family. In fact, Spike was officially adopted by the Sparkle Family shortly after Twilight became Celestia’s student.

I’m not very fond of how the young dragons look so anthropomorphic compared to the adults, so Spike will be more ‘animalistic.’ Meaning that he’s mostly quadrupedal. He is still cute and chubby, though.

Spike can switch between walking on four legs or two legs, using his tail to balance himself when he goes bipedal.

Dragons are magical so Spike will also know or learn dragon-specific spells.

His letter-sending fire breath is a spell that Princess Celestia taught him.

Twilight was the one who gave Spike his name. She named him after a dragon from legends.

Pinkie Pie

15-years-old at the beginning of the series; turns 16 in Party of One. She’s older than Twilight.

Pinkie is an early bloomer as she got her Cutie Mark when she was five.

She has Pegasus ancestry on her father’s side and Crystal Pony ancestry on her mother’s side. The Crystal Pony genes explain why her mane deflates and her color dulls when she’s sad. (This last idea was inspired by @princess-of-the-corner).

Pinkie Pie is smaller than average for an Earth Pony and is actually the smallest of the Mane 6. She is a bit chubby due to all the sweets she eats, but she also has muscles from being raised in a rock farm.

Applejack

Almost 18-years-old at the beginning  of the series; she’s the oldest amongst her friends, so she takes on the role of big sister to the others.

Applejack is familiar with many non-pony races since her relatives live all over the world.

Applejack is the tallest and most buff of the Mane 6; most members of the Apples are bigger than average for Earth Ponies. Big MacIntosh is still taller than her.

Rainbow Dash

17-years-old at the beginning of the series; a few months younger than Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash is of average height for a Pegasus and has a streamlined body shape that is made for speed. He wings are reminiscent to those of a raptor bird.

Rarity

16-years-old; just a few months older than Twilight and Pinkie.

Rarity is an early bloomer as she got her Cutie Mark when she was six.

Rarity opened The Carousel Boutique and started her own business just a few months before Twilight first came to Ponyville. That it’s part of whys he’s so eager to make connections and get exposure from Canterlot.

Rarity has the average size and build of an Unicorn, being a couple on inches taller than Rainbow Dash without counting her horn, though a bit more muscular due to martial arts training. She still ranks high on Unicornian beauty standards.

Fluttershy

17 to 18-years-old; second oldest of the group, younger than Applejack but older than Rainbow Dash.

Her body shape is more like that of an Unicorn than a Pegasus: she’s very slim, long-limbed and delicate looking. She is taller than Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Her appearance fits Unicorn beauty standards, especially those from Canterlot.

Her wings are large and elegant, built more for graceful gliding than high-speed flight. Though she can still fly fast when necessary.

Her ears are larger than normal and tufted due to Thestral ancestry on her father’s side. She also has Earth Pony ancestry of her mother’s side.

[ask-cinnavanillamelody]

Elizabeth Koroscale, Youngest Daughter of Sanori Koroscale 🀄

Age: 12-13

Gender: Female Pronouns: She/her

Species: Half Dragon half Kirin Presenting Changeling

Elizabeth is very interested in, and scarily good at dark magic. She often likes to terrorize trespassers around Sanori's house. Sanori is ultra protective of her. (Maybe more than he is of Cinna)

Luna Moonstone, Daughter of Kodiak Darkstone. 🌒

Age: 19-20

Gender: Fem Non-Binary Pronouns: She/They

Species: Half Unicorn Half Kirin

Sexuality: Lesbian/Panromantic

Luna is a student at the Twilight school of magic, she is one of the brightest Unicorns in her class. She is often found reading up on her magic studies, experimenting with potions, or relaxing with her family (Usually showing off the lessons she's learned). She works very hard every day to make her parents proud of her.

Kira Darkstone, Wife of Kodiak Darkstone 💐

Age: 35-40 (though she does not look or act like it)

Gender: Female Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Bisexual/Panromantic

Kira used to live in the peaks of peril before she met Kodiak on one of his expeditions. She decided to follow him to Canterlot and fell in love with Pony society. It intrigued her, so she asserted herself in Kodiak's home. She still has a few wild tendencies, and she is a lot for her husband to handle. But through much love and affection, they've built a loving family together.

Virgil Venust, Youngest Son of Kodiak Darkstone. 🕸️

Age: 18-19

Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him

Sexuality: Gay

Virgil was born with a deformed horn, so his magic isn't as strong as his siblings. He is excellent at low-level Stealth spells, but as far as offensive or defensive magic, it's virtually impossible. He wears a crown to project the confidence of a young prince. It's all a façade to his true shy, timid, and insecure character. While he is the son of a nobleman, he is far from an actual prince.

(Here's a look at the newer characters to maybe sway your poll votes, enjoy! 🍫)

[loutalks2much]

Hpma Main Character Profile : Minji Kirin ! ♪

"Oh, yes, very interesting—plenty of smarts, a bit of bravery, too. There's talent, of course. And something more."

— The Sorting Hat regarding Minji whilst sorting her.

more information below! tap tap tap ⊹ ₊ ☟︎︎︎

↳ Birthdate: September 15, 1996

↳ Blood status: Muggle-born

↳ House: Ravenclaw

↳ Wand: 12½", Hawthorn, Unicorn Tail Hair Core

↳ Boggart: Dementor (usually), other unknown

↳ Patronus: Undecided (suggestions are encouraged!)

↳ Likes: Cats, Books, Mangos, Strawberry Yogurt, Astronomy, High Grades, Tulips, Periwinkle (favorite color)

↳ Dislikes: Arguments, Loud Noises, Low Grades, Lightning, Thunderstorms, Messing Up

↳ Good at: Dueling, Astronomy, Cooking, Playing the Piano

↳ Poor at: Divination Class, Maintaining a Proper Sleep Schedule...

↳ Weakness: Thunderstorms, Dust (allergy) ☠️

ⵢ₊˚ MORE .

↳ Her niffler is named Toulouse, and her snowy owl's named Oko. She doesn't know whether to name the golden snitch following her, but she's hanging on 'Lux.'

↳ Minji is generally very sweet and friendly. She's quite the social butterfly. (Her personality is exactly just like MC in-game ^^;)

↳ Because of that ^, she's quite well-known. Not necessarily popular, but a lot of people know her.

— "The Ravenclaw with the red hair clip? I think I know her, yeah."

— "Yeah. She's my seatmate. I asked her for her notes during class in a panic because I forgot mine. She's nice. She even offered to tutor me."

↳ She gives flowers to her friends randomly. Er, let's hope she doesn't pick a poisonous one anytime soon.

↳ Pets every creature she sees, though mostly stray cats and dogs. Oh it has fleas, probably has rabies, and likely carries 23 infections? So cute. It's wagging its tail. Hehe.

↳ Minji acts confident for the sake of others feeling less anxious and scared, but deep down she is quite insecure, and tends to doubt her abilities. (given her insecurities as a muggle-born)

↳ Minji tends to burden herself when she makes mistakes. Feeling immense guilt when she does something wrong.

↳ Oddly enough, there's not a lot of things known about her background or family. Other than the fact that her father is a doctor and her mother is a business analyst of the company he works in. She either dodges questions skillfully or full on refuses to answer them completely.

↳ Her intelligence is completely off the charts. Though she doesn't show this very smart side of her as much as Kevin does, she's quite easily one of the most brightest kids.

↳ She knows an incredible lot about various things, and often gives full-detailed explanations/logical answers—say, music, or animals, etc. If you ask whether she's greatly interested in the topic, she'll say no and that she just happens to know a bit about it.

↳ Minji is too humble for her own good. She doesn't not thank people, but she often turns the credit around and targets it towards them.

↳ Minji is a night owl. She often sleeps too late because she's either studying or exploring the Forbidden Forest.

↳ Additional to that, she's not a morning person ☠️ She's not in a bad mood, but best believe she's half-asleep 80% of the time she's preparing in the morning. One time she literally kneeled down the common room of Ravenclaw to sleep on the floor if it weren't for Ivy and Lottie stopping her.

↳ Minji is very caring and is a good listener. She offers the best hugs if you ever feel sad, and she will cup your face and wipe your tears, and maybe even kiss your forehead if you let her!!

↳ Minji is actually very wise and tends to have a wiser approach on things. Her friends tease her and joke about her being 'an old soul.'

↳ Minji smells like vanilla. That's all lol

[karnaca78]

ohhh for the wips: i would love to hear about light catcher :D

Thank you for your interest!! This story has actually been rotating in my head for a while.

Light Catcher will most likely be the next Dishonored thing I finish. It's a single-chapter story revolving around the invention of the silvergraph by none other than Kirin Jindosh around 1840. It's part of a series of writings about science in the world of Dishonored, but it can completely be read without prior knowledge of the other stories!

It stems a little from personal experience, too. Around the time I discovered Dishonored 2, I was following a class about the history of photography. Our lecturer started with the basics, so, the invention of the process itself and how it worked from a technical point of view, before considering the artistic debates it stirred. It made me think of the silvergraph and the way it inhabits various personal or official spaces in the game.

I don't think it will delve too deeply into technicalities, because it'd be a bit boring to read. Rather, I'd like to explore Jindosh's motivations and a bit of his life before DH2 through this particular topic. (I can't help it I'm a nerd for character and lore study)

And as a bonus, here's a little snippet:

"A glass of wine is suddenly pushed into his hand, and he glances up at the face of a young maid. Too white to be a local, and with a pretty crown of ginger hair; Morleyan. He traces the curve of her cheekbones with observant eyes, notices freckles and red circles under her gaze, and part of him will remember that Lady F— makes her servants cry. The rest; the majority will forget it, dismiss it as unimportant next to the march of progress and the age of enlightenment he seeks to lead.

When he turns his head away from her, it’s as if she does not exist anymore.

His peripheral vision catches Luca’s grin, and he imagines what the Duke’s son would like him to do— to become a mirror image of him, a hound without instinct, trained only to detect the scents of costly perfumes and pent-up desires. He’d want him to woo their hostess with naught but a smile and a few well-placed words, regular as the ticking of clockwork. Kirin can almost taste the sea breeze on her skin and a hint of brandy on her breath. They are sitting too far apart for this, and still; all of it and more is reflected in the upturn of the aristocrat’s lips.

Something makes his stomach lurch in disgust at the thought. His dark eyes scan her face in search for answers, and they find nothing; nothing there to indicate interest or intelligence. She’d take the scalpel in her flesh as a mercy, once freed from the constraints of a world she fails to grasp between her delicate fingers. Those, too, he’d like to see stripped. Bleached white and clicking together; he longs to hear the soothing song of skeletal remains again.

The Academicians destroyed his music machine. Perhaps, if he could recreate it — infuse it with yet more perfection and raw authenticity — then the sound of her voice would no longer screech inside his skull like nails on a chalkboard."

[thetantiger]

Quick Bio: Galactagosa

Race: Blue Dragon Class: Mage Specialization: Arcane Pronouns: She/Her

Galactagosa is a trans female Blue Dragon with a Kaldorei visage. This visage has pale skin, blue eyes and long, shaggy blue hair. Galacta served as a rebel to her Flight during the Nexus War, aiding the Kirin Tor in protecting a mortal's right to wield magic. After the war ended, she decided to blend in with the mortal races as Kalecgos declared their Flight scattered. Since the call of the Dragon Isles, however, she has rediscovered the Blue Flight and aids them in their archiving and study of Arcane magic with full enthusiasm.

Links: Body ref Trans day of visibility 2024 Galacta's Character Insight

Related Characters: N/A

<Toyhouse Page>

[askkrenko]

I'm creating a D&D setting that is geographically just Earth, but where political borders are based on what would occur in the context of magic, monsters, etc., with only a limited effort to mirror cultures on Earth. I've got a lot of the locations for various humanoids mapped out, but I would like your input as a . . . is it cryptozoologist or arcanozoologist? Mostly, are there certain monsters, humanoids, or other creatures that you think should absolutely be in certain places or not be in certain places? Obviously, Kirin should be in Japan, Couatl should be in Central America, and other things like that. And I'm inclined to make any European Elves consistent with the tale of Erlkonig (sp).

Any input would be appreciated, but I would like your opinion on two topics in particular. Where the heck should I put goblins? And what should I do about Golems? I know that D&D's treatment of Semitic topics is horrendous (Phylacteries in particular), but do you think I should leave them as is, put them in the Middle East in particular, or do something else?

One more detail about this world, in case it helps. Dragons run the show. Each of the ten types of dragon rule over a portion of the world (and Brass Dragons are over the Middle East).

This is a lot of question so lets see what I can do now and I'll be happy to talk about it in messages, but lets get started here! First off, "Crypto" " and "Arcane" can both mean secret, but more commonly "Crypto" means "Hidden" while "Arcane" means "Known by few." So a Cryptozoologist studies creatures that have not yet been proven, like Sasquatch and Yeti while an Arcanozoologist studies creatures that aren't well known. Really, Magizoologist is probably the best term, but that term is exclusively used in the Potterverse so I prefer to avoid it.

The term "Goblin" is often broad, but if you want the stereotypical "Short jackass who's just going around having fun at other's expenses," you want them in Western Europe- Germany, France, the British Isles, Spain, and Portugal. That said, if you're going this route, make sure that there are many goblins that work seamlessly with humans in addition to the wild ones. House goblins (also called Kobolds, brownies, etc) are common things, with the idea being that they're super helpful as long as you treat them with kindness and respect but will absolutely ruin your day if you're a jerk to them. Also, they're extremely introverted and don't like talking to people, even the people they share a house with.

Golems are not a race. Golems are guardians created by Jews to protect Jews. You can have guardian statues, but honestly, just don't use the word Golem if they're not hanging out with actual Jews. If you really want to have fun with it, you can have a self-perpetuating race of golems where all the golems ARE Jews, but if you're not prepared to make sure the characters are Jewish, just don't use Golems.

You probably want to fill the middle east with Djinn. Honestly, good luck doing a project like this without offending people.

...Which you're already doing by saying "Obviously, Kirin should be in Japan." Kirin aren't from Japan. They're Chinese. And Couatl are wholecloth D&D creatures loosely based on a single deity, not real representations of Earth mythology.

If you want to use Earth as a base, you're going to need to do a lot more research on each area to make it feel right. So much of D&D is its own stuff or is so highly bastardized from real myth that just transplanting it to Earth isn't clean at all.

[fel-temptation]

Describe a significant relationship in your character's life and how it has influenced them. I want to kno the tea

OC Questions

Let’s talk about Korrinths brother, then. 😇

Korrinth almost never ever mentions the fact that she has a twin brother that she grew up with, who was a very big part of her life, with whom she studied magic and was largely her best friend. They often pushed each other in their magical studies and formed a lighthearted rivalry to that end, though even so they would still always lend a hand when asked. Long story short, they were pretty close and enriched each others lives.

Flash forward to a few years prior to becoming an Illidari, the pair were doing field research and decided to check out some nearby cursed ruins that your average villager would be superstitious about. Another long story short; they found a secret passageway that led to an anti-chamber that looked like a warlock hovel. Looting the place and taking one (1) very ominous looking book.

As weeks went by that book began to reach out mentally to each twin respectively, coaxing them to use it, to learn from it, promising them both all the knowledge they desired. Korrinth was immediately skeptical of the talking book, but her brother Relivastus was not. He convinced Korrinth not to turn the artifact over to the Kirin Tor, and instead began secretly reading from the book when nobody was looking.

This cursed book corrupted Relivastus down to the core, culminating in him sacrificing their parents, and other villagers in the surrounding area that they lived, in a ritual that bound his body and soul with fel energy. (There’s a lot more lore on that but that’s a whole other…. Long story.)

Korrinth, now devastated, hunted her brother from one corner of Azeroth to the next. Finally cornering him in Feralas while he was looking for an artifact. She was able to imprison him with the help of her runic specialization. Afterwards, distraught, Korrinth vowed to find a way to return him to normal and save his soul. That is what led her to the Sunfury, and then to Outland, where she was convinced to become an Illidari in her pursuit of trying to find a cure for her brother. More or less that was the only reason she became an Illidari.

Just for fun here’s where I got with that story- unbeknownst to her at the time, when she became Illidari, the arcane magic she had used to jail her brother ceased to function properly, and then she was imprisoned for *insert time frame here*. When she awoke the war with the Legion was in full swing, and she continued to fight instead of her original goal. So she didn’t actually find out he had been on the lose for a long time.

Now, a lot of time has passed, and the leads on her brothers locations have all ran dry. While she hasn’t entirely given up on her goal, she is keenly aware that she has made little to no progress while her brother is out there doing gods know what.

Anyways that’s Korrinths origin story. Consider the tea spilled ☕️ @mothervvoid ! Also @tired-space-crow asked this one as well!