#kyran is just tired

[smol-sirens-garden]

@diverse-hearts-ocs Has Asked: “ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID???”- Kyran / Chu

"Apparently because I'm dating you!"

He seriously didn't know how the yelling started this time but at this point he didn't care. He was tired, sore, just wanted to feel something for once other than a lab rat. He didn't feel like a partner at all.

"Seriously we go back to this every couple of months and we do good but than falter. You are such an ass and yet I stupidly try to see the good in you. Even Dazai didn't treat me as much like shit and all I was to him was a good fuck."

He scoffs, crossing his arms as he glanced at the door of the apartment, debating just walking out. It would be such a relief to get away from this.

"You know what you are Kyran? Your not human. I know I am one to talk but at least I have the empathy of one but your so caught up in whatever your end goal is that you don't care about forming relationships and you're going to die alone. You say its weak but I would rather be weak than heartless."

He reached over to the couch, picking up his hate and coat, walking past him to get to the door.

"I'll get my stuff late but I can't do this anymore. We need to just end whatever the hell this is."

[iwhumpyou]

BTHB: Hurts to Breathe

Rose - requested, Origami Rose - filled.  Anyone can request any square, any character, any universe.

The second half of @whumpedupvesper​‘s request.

Masterlist.  Kyran.

Bedside Vigil.

~#~#~#~#~#~

His breaths were agonizing. That was the very first thing he registered, before everything else came filtering back into his head, and it was really nothing more than he expected – between an angel who never snapped his wings back in and several distinctly unfriendly glares, he had long since gotten used to being short of breath, to burning as he forced his lungs to take in breaths despite the suffocating pressure and the lightheadedness and the ringing in his ears.

And it had only gotten worse after the cave, with magic still slipping against his fingers and nothing to brace against the pressure, to stop the panic catching in his throat and –

Elizabeth, sneering. Gabriel, snarling.  A punch, and it was so much more than physical pain. The weight on him, the panic clawing against his veins, the magic that wouldn’t come, the pressure that became all too real as fingers closed and his windpipe was inexorably crushed and those dark, hate-filled eyes –

Kyran startled up, gasping, his fingers flying to find pressure that didn’t exist, grasping his neck to assure himself that the constricting bands were only in his mind.

His neck was bare, but every breath felt like fire.  His ribs were unbroken, but pressure contracted around his lungs.  There was nothing stopping him from breathing – nothing except memories, years of them, of hateful eyes and sneers and restrained power just waiting to snap.

Dark eyes, a clouded face – no wings, but he flinched back all the same, because the last time he’d seen this particular angel, he’d been dying.

He could still feel the fingers around his throat – not a memory, not a bruise, no, he could still feel them, and he had to grasp his neck himself to make sure that it wasn’t real.

“You’re awake,” Gabriel croaked.  He sounded like he’d been choked, his voice raspy and hoarse.  But there were no dark bruises around Gabriel’s neck.  And magic still bled dully inside Kyran, sparking at his touch, and there was no way Kyran could’ve fought an angel without magic.

“No thanks to you,” Kyran said in a voice that sounded like crushed gravel, and Gabriel flinched at the blow.

Actually, now that Kyran was paying attention, Gabriel looked horrible.  He was slouched in the chair, his skin waxy and his eyes rimmed in darkness, and he stared at Kyran like he couldn’t move.  In all fairness, Kyran felt worse, but it wasn’t a competition.

“It was a hex,” Gabriel said haltingly, “Rae destroyed it.”

Kyran took a deep breath and let it out, abruptly exhausted.  “Of course it was,” he murmured, sliding back into bed.  He kept an arm curled around his neck.

Gabriel didn’t move as Kyran slipped back into sleep.

~#~

The next time he opened his eyes, it was to confusion and an eerie sense of timelessness.  The sun shining through the windows had shifted to the shadowy light of dusk, but Gabriel hadn’t moved an inch.  He sat with the same slouched posture, hands twisted together, staring at Kyran.

“You’re awake,” he said again, as though he’d decided to take on the job of stating the obvious.

Kyran didn’t feel awake. Kyran felt like he was trapped in a dream.

He couldn’t breathe. He could hear the gasping breaths, could feel his chest rise up and down, but he couldn’t breathe.

He closed his eyes.

~#~

Gabriel had moved this time, though not by much.  The chair had been adjusted to afford a better view out the window, even though Gabriel was still staring at him.  His hair was damp and he looked tired.

It was the last that sparked the rage.  Gabriel had no right to be tired.

“Get out,” Kyran said, levelly, steadily, neutral if they both ignored how his voice couldn’t rise beyond a rasp.

“Kyran,” Gabriel started.

“Get out,” Kyran said, and he didn’t have the energy to make the words hurt.  He didn’t have the energy to enforce them.

Gabriel sighed and stood up and walked out.

Kyran took a deep breath.

~#~

Rae was next.  She was waiting for him when he woke, and she handed him a glass of water to soothe his throat.

Gabriel hadn’t given him water.  Gabriel had perhaps assumed, rightly so, that Kyran would never take a glass of water from him again.  As it was, Kyran dipped a finger in it to ensure it was truly just water before he drank it.

“It was a hex,” she said. Kyran hummed.  “We destroyed it.”  Kyran focused on taking small sips.  “Lilith and I have been focused on building better wards.”

Of course.  Because Kyran couldn’t, because he was useless now that he couldn’t do magic.

Rae took the glass from him when he was done.

~#~

Adam looked terrible, even worse than Gabriel had, and Kyran blinked at him, confused, before it dawned on him.  The witch. The puppet.  The control they’d exerted over Adam, until the blood of hundreds stained his hands.

No, Adam wouldn’t have taken kindly to magic controlling his movements once again.

They had nothing to say to each other, but Adam looked slightly better when he could see Kyran, could reassure himself that the demon wasn’t dead, and, if nothing else, Kyran knew that Adam hated being controlled far too much to do it to someone else.

It was not impossible to breathe with Adam in the room, but it was still difficult.

~#~

Lilith chattered. About magic, about her day, about what she’d eaten for her last meal – when she’d eaten, however, she did not mention – about the leaves outside the window. She brought him water, and food, and books.  She didn’t want a response to anything she said, which was the only reason her presence was tolerable.

She didn’t mention the hex. She didn’t mention Gabriel.  But her eyes never strayed long from the bruises around his neck.

~#~

He hadn’t expected to see Elizabeth at all.  He barely knew her – once the warrior princess that had massacred his people, then the tragic martyr.  A death he’d carried – no, not carried.  It had never been his to carry.  But it hounded at his heels, no matter how far or fast he ran, and when he thought he was safe it would snap at him again.

He would never forget Gabriel’s eyes, wide with horror and terror and grief.

He had made himself into a monster for this woman, for the sake of her death, for all the people she’d left behind.  And he had no idea who she was.

Elizabeth had haunted him for years, but the truth of it was that she had never known who he was.  He’d been shackled to her murder, had cursed her name and life and death, but she had never even heard his name.

“Do you want some water?” she asked.  A princess’ courtesy, polite but distant.

“No.”  He didn’t know her.  He didn’t trust her.  And whatever else she claimed, she had been Zane’s sister once.

She merely nodded, as though that was perfectly reasonable.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Kyran couldn’t stop his eyebrows from raising.

“Excuse me?” he rasped.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, still polite, “You’re not a piece of trash, or scum.  I’m sorry for what I said.”

“It was the hex,” Kyran said hoarsely, eyeing her with suspicion, “Not you.”

“The rage was the hex,” Elizabeth said, her tone steady, “The words came out of my mouth.  For that, I’m sorry.  You should not have had to hear that.”

He stared at her.  He had not expected that.

He also did not fail to note that hers was the first apology he’d heard.

“You’re healing very slowly,” she said, and he’d seen it on everyone’s faces when they looked at him, when they skipped from gray skin to the bruises he could still feel to the exhaustion he couldn’t hide.  “I was under the impression that demons healed faster than this.”

Kyran had been under the same impression.  But wielding magic still hurt and the exhaustion had settled into his bones long before he’d been choked by Gabriel.  Long before Elizabeth had burst into being.  Long before everything, because he couldn’t remember a time when he was not tired.

“I can’t breathe,” he confessed.

Her face went sharp as he swallowed, bringing a hand to his throat.  “I can’t – I don’t know what – it hurts,” he said, and his chest burned with every gasp, “I can’t breathe.”

“What do you need?” Elizabeth asked, still princess-soft, but there was steel in her tone and determination in her eyes.  Her posture had straightened and she looked at him expectantly – a warrior, awaiting orders, a strategist, seeking information.  A queen, who could not solve the problem unless she knew what it was.

Kyran thought about it. His throat constricted and his lungs seared and he thought about the way Gabriel filled the room and tightened the pressure around his ribs and the way Rae’s gaze felt like an iron on his chest and Adam’s haunted gaze twisting something inside Kyran and Lilith and the way her words never seemed to give him space to take a breath.  He thought about Elizabeth, the living proof that he did not kill her, and Gabriel, who choked on guilt and stayed in silence. He thought about breathing.

“I need to leave,” he said. Something in her face shifted.  “I cannot stay here.  I cannot breathe here.”

“Will you be safe?” she asked.  There was no skepticism in her tone, no doubt, no judgement, but the weight of her gaze was heavy.

Kyran dredged up a smirk. “I lived many years after your death, princess,” he said, “I am not that easy to kill.”

She didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she watched as he levered himself out of bed, wincing as the movement pulled at bruises and sore muscles. She followed him as he stumbled out of the room and down the steps.  The house was dark and silent.  She watched him as he stepped outside, taking a full, deep breath of the chill night air.

“Remember,” she called after him, her voice calm and sure, “Remember you can always come back.  Whenever you like.”  He turned back to stare at her.  “This is still your home.”

No.  This was never his home.  But he appreciated her words all the same.

“I’m glad I didn’t kill you, princess,” he smiled, and he kept walking.

It still hurt to breathe, but it was getting easier.

[tearlessrain]

there’s seeing a flaw as soon as you post something and then there’s looking at something you posted weeks ago and thinking “how could I have let that out into the world looking the way it does”

[redvelvetpdf]

Name: Ferelith Pronouns: She/Her Gender: Cisgender Female Sexuality: Aromantic Asexual Species: Elf Race: Greek MBTI: ISTP-T (Turbulent Virtuoso) Moral Alignment: Lawful Good

Some things about Ferelith:

Kyran's best friend

She's one of the lieutenants of Kyran's parents' army. She hopes to be the captain someday

Her parents and the king and queen all want her to be Kyran's lady-in-waiting, but through her hard work, she maintains her lieutenant post

It goes against her nature to be obedient, though she tries

Dark academic

She loves to read, and reads a lot

Dresses feminine and likes fashion (is very good at it too)

Knows how to use most weapons, but is most comfortable with a sword

One of the best fighters in the kingdom

Sick and tired of explaining that she just can't feel attraction

Very brave and has a sense of honor

Also kind of insecure

Very organized but not punctual

Overthinks way too much

Justice and fairness are very important to her

[diverse-hearts-ocs-a]

@frozcnlight - plotted starter

It seemed as though the Gods truly had forsaken them. Perhaps they simply never fell under the watchful gaze of such an entity? Not that Chuuya was religious but he’d found himself preying when stuck in those dark rooms, when cut open, when pain would course through his entire body and he’d find himself thinking back to her and the pain she must have gone through. He’d thought he’d killed her - had never imagined for one moment that he’d be reintroduced into the jaws of hell from that very same angel that he’d tried so hard to protect.  That same Angel who was now fighting so hard to maintain their freedom. He couldn’t do much other than a few timed punches and kicks here and there, his new addition to his abilities still not under full control and he didn’t want to strike Miran or Shirase by accident. But did they really stand a chance? They were fighting against not only the mafia but the sick bastard that had hurt them so badly. Twice now in his case. 

Panic was striking his chest. He never used to feel this level of fear. Then again, he’d never thought of those labs, of that man, of that uncomfortable sludge feeling that came when rising out from the depths of sleep and back into the cold steel jaws of pain. None of them wanted to go there and he had a feeling both he and Miran were quite aware that there was an extra face here. They’d pulled Shirase into this mess. Chuuya’s friend and Miran’s old friend from her time on the streets. He’d learned a little more about their relationship since they’d spent months living together now. They’d been foolish to linger here as long as they did...but he was so weak. He was the one to keep holding them back and now it looked as though he’d be the one signing their death sentence. 

Shirase was the first to fall - one of the men having spotted the slight time delay that came whenever he used his astral projection, Chuuya attempting to kick the mobster off his friend as Shirase fell down, only the slight rise and fall of his chest letting them know that he was still breathing. That didn’t do all too much to ease the worry that was flooding him though. Miran was strong but this was Kyran. He knew how to counter them, he knew how to stop them - a point proven as Shirase as dragged out the house and a purple like mist filled the air - Chuuya trying to yell out a warning towards Miran before the world fell into darkness. 

It ached. That sharp pain he’d grown to fear, the pain racing down the length of his spine. With a groan of pain and with more effort than he cared to admit, eyes slowly opened to take in the bleak picture of the fate that his tired mind had been trying to convince him was not waiting for him. Slowly, hands were placed on either side of the cold cot he laid on, the thin blanket doing little to conceal the chill of the metal below, the thin gown he now wore doing little to trap any remaining heat that may linger inside these white walls. Panic was rising but a few deep breaths were taken, Chuuya jumping down from his ‘bed’ and over to the other sleeping figure in the room.  She looked so peaceful. It was almost a shame to wake her. Asleep, she’d be unaware of what was happening, where she was, what was going to happen next. Miran was - she may have changed but he stilled cared so much for her, even after everything to have happened since their reunion... she was trying to change, trying to be her own individual self. It wasn’t her fault that Kyran had tracked him down...that was partly his fault for showing off with his ability so much. 

“...miran...”, he paused to clear his throat. Fear was threatening to take grip already and he had only just woken. If he wanted to be there for her this time then he needed to get his act together. Could he though? Could he really be of any help? To either of -  Where was Shirase!? The sudden thought had him shaking Miran’s arm to try and jolt her awake quicker, eyes scanning the room for any sign of another body - which was impossible given how small the room was. There was just about enough space between the two cots to allow one adult to stand to the side of either one - it was otherwise rather cramped feeling. “Miran!”, so much for trying to remain calm. His heart was racing, mind trying to compete with it, trying to think on a reason as to why Kyran might find Shirase useful, might keep him alive. He had to hold onto that hope - as selfish as it may seem to others. He couldn’t lose anyone else. He couldn’t.  “Miran...you need to wake up...Shirase has...”. He didn’t need to say anything else as the scream to fill the otherwise silence of the room - other than the low hum of the lights - wasn’t hard to guess just who it came from, Chuuya’s heart truly feeling as though it may burst through his chest at any moment, all desires of being brave falling away as he pressed himself against the wall, sliding down to hold his head in his arms, trying to block out the delayed screams that seemed to echo around their small prison.  “I cant...I can’t...I can’t...”

[sheabutterskyes]

The Mask of White Waters

XLIII | Clarity | Part 2/2

Content warning: Blood, Violence, 

–

There were three Envisioners standing around a small fire, voices low, but energy tense. Two men and one woman – each of them tracing sigils in the loosest layer of dirt, and none of them aware that they were being watched.

Caia was unable to identify if there was a warden present. They all wore similar and ordinary clothing, scarfs hiding any identifying marks on their necks.

A night-bird’s call echoed through the make-shift camp once, and then twice before someone looked around and nudged their companion.

“Hear that?” she asked quietly.

“Why are you spooked? Never seen a masked warrior?”

All three of them had straightened up now, but none amused.

“That was a joke… even Marlowe hasn’t seen one.”

The second man shook his head.

Caia waited for a third call before breaking a branch over their knee and tossing it towards the humans.

The panic was instantaneous in two of them, the pair stumbling into each other before summoning power to their fingertips.

The other, Marlowe, slowly turned to face Caia’s direction.

If there was a warden among the group, it was him.

A branch was thrown from the other side of camp, and the pair once again startled and changed directions.

Marlowe did not move.

Caia nodded at that, and began to move away, disregarding their hiding spot. They moved slowly at first, waiting for the Envisioner to catch sight of them.

By the time he had decided a course of action, the others had already been lured away, recklessly throwing out their powers.

Marlowe cursed beneath his breath, looking back towards his comrades, and then back at Caia before turning his back completely to the masked warrior and racing to get the others.

He was smart. Though this now left Lueth outnumbered.

Caia quickly went to accompany them, finding one of the Envisioners bleeding on the forest floor along the way.

They almost hesitated.

Almost.

They should have known that when it came to Envisioners it would not be so straightforward to simply lead them away and end it there.

When Marlowe found his last remaining comrade, she was shivering.

“Kyran was supposed to be meeting us out here. What if he gets caught alone?”

He reached out to grab her shoulder, “Kyran will be alright… where is Domenic?”

She shrugged his hand away, “They got him.”

Her hoarse voice was nearly a whisper, yet rang loud and clear to Caia.

The Envisioners fell silent.

Lueth’s voice was the next thing they heard.

“If we push them slightly closer to the village, they will likely turn back for the night.”

Caia nodded, “Good. Push them.”

Lueth was fast and nimble and all but silent. Caia could hardly follow their movements... until Marlowe had decided enough was enough. There were sigils forming around his feet, glowing as if the very heart of the earth was becoming exposed. It shined in his eyes before he uttered a single word and threw his hands towards the surrounding darkness.

Trees snapped, birds took to the sky, and Caia saw how Lueth had barely escaped being hit.

Perhaps Lueth was fast, but that had been too close.

Caia removed their mask.

The branches scratched at their face, the ground beneath their feet uneven and slippery from damp leaves. Every other step, the night erupted with light and energy, and Lueth was no longer the hunter, but the hunted.

Caia quickened their pace, attempting to get to Lueth and pull them away. The Envisioner’s methods were familiar. This was a warden they were dealing with.

Somehow, the two Envisioners had closed in, and Lueth had begun to slow down just enough to be knocked back a time or two.

Caia hesitated behind a large tree, catching Lueth’s gaze.

The moment they took a breath they felt a new rise of energy in the air, and pushed away from the tree, grabbing onto Lueth roughly, throwing them down to the ground just as a powerful torrent caught Caia and sent them crashing into a tree.

They hit the ground and rolled over, scrambling to their hands and knees only to be hit again. The pain was not as harsh as they recalled, even as blood dripped down onto their hands as they pushed themselves back up.

The warden was close now, yet there was no anger in his energy.

It was not until he turned away in surprise that Caia realized there had been a furious ringing in their ears drowning out the sounds around them.

They glanced around for any sight of Lueth as they shakily got to their feet.

“Stop!”

The new voice was the first to greet them as the ringing subsided.

Marlowe held his hands out in warning, which did not stop the person from approaching. The man all but crashed into the warden as he immediately caught sight of Caia.

There was a moment of clarity as they stared back. But it was quickly lost to confusion and a wave of weariness as they stumbled onto a sigil in the dirt, one that had likely been placed there earlier.

It was a heavy, tired feeling that pulled them back down to the ground.

“Don’t kill them,” the newcomer pleaded.

“Kyran,” the warden started.

Caia blinked, feeling themselves fading.

“I can’t, I can’t let y-you.”

There was an extended silence, and when the warden replied, they could not make out the words. All they knew for sure before fading completely, was that the Envisioners were moving away from them.

--- ---

TG -> @alwolfe​

[smol-sirens-garden-tobemoved]

@diverse-hearts-ocs​ asked:  ” Don’t give me that look" - Kyran/Chu

He was looking up at him with sorrow and fear. A normal look considering the pain he was currently in. He was too scared to move, all he could do was look up at the other as his arms still burned from the oil that had gotten on him after he fell. A simple mistake landed him here. A mistake that wasn’t even his fault.

“You kissed me! I was distracted by your tongue in my mouth I...” He knew better than to keep speaking out but he couldn’t help you. “It’s just food. It shouldn’t be a big deal when more can be made or ordered. It’s not like I wanted it to burn. I just wanted to do something nice.”

A soft sob escaped as he reached up to hold his face and curl up smaller. He was in pain. He was tired. He was scared. He just wanted tonight to go well but it looked like there was a change in plans.

[gayfanficsanonymous]

The squad sits in an uncomfortable silence; everyone pondering what to do next. Galieo squint his eyes as he makes a decision in his head.

"What?" Kyran asks his uncharacteristically serious friend, "You're staring at the counter like it stole the last cookie."

Galieo wips out his phone and scrolls deep within his contacts.

"I'm making a call to a friend." He finally answers the firey red head. It barely took one ring for someone to pickup. "Marci, Baby~" a sweet smile briefly graces Galieo's face. "Mhmm I know, I know. Listen sweetness, I need a favor." There it was, that serious face; it contrasted the honeyed voice that slipped from his lips. Meanwhile Styx looked at Atticus for an answer. Atticus signs that he doesn't know and shrugs. She turns her head to Kyran who looks as if he was about to laugh. A smug smirk paired with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he stared Galieo down.

"Uh huh, thank you Mari. Have a fun night sweetness." Galieo ends his phone call and writes down an adress. He looks up to see Kyran's face and rolls his eyes. "Don't ky-"

"Mari huh? No one else you could have called?" Kyran teases.

"Im doing this to save your ass, the least you could do is hold you mockery."

"Yeah, ookay. sweeetness" Kyran chuckles, "damn you really couldn't drop him could you, is he really that amazing Gay- Leo"

"Yes! Not that your asexual ass would ever know." Galieo smirks, if only for a moment. "Just make sure everything is ready, we're leaving tonight." He orders them all before leaving to the hotel room attached to the one they were in.

hours later

Galieo smiles seeing Styx still passed out. He places his hand on Atticus's to stop him from leaving.

"Let me get those." Galieo picks up the last of the luggage from Atticus. "She's still sleeping peacefully, could you please carry her? I don't want her to wake in my arms and.. start a fight." He request of Atticus who nods. Soon enough all of the boys and Styx are in the van. "We've got a two hour drive ahead of us boys. Behave yourselves." Galieo orders as he pulls out of the hotel parking lot.

two hours later

Styx stretches and guards her eyes from the colorfull lights peaking through her window. "Mm.. where are we?" She mumbles as her door is opened for her. Atticus helps her out of the car. He sighs when he realizes he's going to be used as a human crutch until Styx is completely awake.

"A strip club honey, we had to stop so I could get the key from my friend." Galieo answers truthfully.

"Oh.. okay." She replies slowly, "annnd we had to come why..?" She rubs her eye as the enter the loud building.

"Because they should have the chance to meet their unexpected guests. Better sooner than later." Galieo explains to which Kyran laughs.

"Oh please Leo, you and I both know this mostly because you wanna see your, how'd you say it again? Oh yeah sweetness". Galieo chooses to ignore his brother and talks to a bartender.

"Mhmm Soda Steve. Thank you sweetheart." Galieo waves as the Bartender walks off. "Come on he said to wait over here." He guides the Squad to a small circle that dipped into the floor and was surrounded by couches.

It took Styx a few minutes to comprehend the whole conversation. "Wait what kind of stripper name is Soda Steve?" She asked still in a tired haze.

"Oh thats okay baby," a new sweet and smooth voice approached from behind. An intoxicatingly sweet amorous smell encases Styx as two arms wrap around her shoulders. "I know my name isn't sweet enough for everyone. But-" the stranger unwraps one arm and tilts Styx's head back towards them, "perhaps I could be sweet enough for you?" They wink as a loud and abrupt throat clearing intrudes the moment. The stranger looks up at Galieo and smiles ever so sweetly. With the way he lit up you'd think he had a halo above his head. "Im kidding Honeybee," they chuckled and swayed their way over to Galieo's lap.

"Everyone this is Marcelleen, Marcelleen this is Atticus and Styx. Oh and that snickering demon beside me is Kryan but you already know about him." Galieo introduces the stripper. "We'll be staying at Marci's place for a little while." ~🌌

my heart i- i love this so much-

[musicofglassandwords]

The Final Battle

The tailor’s daughter, the only star

Here to lead, here to scar,

She will scream, be tempted by sin

And in the end, the darkness shall win

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Seth’s blood soaked into her skin, but he was alive.

He was alive, and that was all that mattered. The two of them staggered towards the other guardians, and she gave a cry of relief at seeing them all safe.

Injured, bleeding, but still breathing. Safe.

The council was gathered near them, set on finishing off the last of the Vakas. Ella was certain that they would have to step in soon, but at the moment, they had the rare luxury of a moment of rest. 

“What’s going on?” Kyran said, limping towards them, smearing blood out of his eyes. Despite the fact that he was almost fatally injured, his posture was still as straight as a sword. He stopped, looking at all of them, making sure that they were alright, that all too familiar gesture. 

Ella blinked at a sudden movement behind him, a twisting wayward shadow.

And a deep red slash bloomed across Kyran’s throat.

His eyes widened, and he fell clumsily to the ground, a ghost returned to its body.

Someone screamed, and Ella was sprinting acorss the ground, desperation giving her energy, dragging Seth with her. Pain was nothing; all she felt was blank panic.

Nonononononononononononononono. NO.

The Vaka howled with delight.

“CATCH HER ALIVE!” Prince screamed at them, and in less than a second, Ella had planted her feet on the ground, and twisted up her arms.

Shadows sprang up in a jagged black wave and slammed into the Vaka. Slammed through her, and she soared off unhurt. 

Nothing material could harm this Vaka.

Ella cursed, hating herself, as she tried to summon light to her fingertips once more. Shudders ran through her body, as an arrow of light appeared in her hands. 

Please, please, please, she begged, taking aim in a way she had not done in decades. 

But Sahrina stepped forward, her eyes full of tears, and opened her mouth.

“COMEBACKNODARKSCAREDHELPNOMOREDANCEDREAMHEARTEVEVERYHURTTHORNBLEEDANDIYOUHERHURTHURTHURTHELPNOWNOPLEASEGETBACKDROP!”

Words that the Silencer had stolen over the years poured out of her mouth in an endless torrent.

A roar produced of nightmares, shattering the Vaka’s concentration and she dipped down towards the ground.

Instantly, Nato was there, slamming a dagger through her arm, and dragging her over to Rina, every movement mechanical. 

Rina pressed a hand to the Vaka, and she stilled, her chest rising and falling with breath.

“VALERA!” Prince yelled, his voice harsh and monstrous, “RAISE A BARRIER.”

Red shields of light created a dome around the seven as they gathered around Kyran, who lay on the ground, a puddle of blood slowly seeping into the earth around him. A coffin of stone and scarlet liquid. The council looked at them curiously.

Ella wanted to throw them all into the ocean. 

She paled, looking down at Kyran,  still holding onto Seth, whose eyes fluttered open. Rina rushed to his side, her ahnds shaking,a s she tried to heal him. Ella dropped to her knees, pressing a hand to Kyran’s chest.

His heart was a butterfly tired from the storm, each flap of its wings slower than the next until it fell.

She couldn’t think.

Her mind was empty.

Even the voices were terrified enough to stay silent.

Kyran, fifteen, with his unfamiliar features, his eyes of twilight. Teaching her how to fight, bandaging up her knuckles after every session. Laughing as she told him about her day. 

A hundred years later, still laughing as the two of them danced among the stars, the others around them.

His insatiable focus as he practiced his sword repetitions a thousand times, perfecting his warrior stance.  

The way he had cried when he realized that he no longer hurt when he killed. The hours they had sat up with him, as he threw up out of guilt and sickness.

Decades later, as he stood before them, hand in his indigo hair, confessing that he could not reach his magic.

A boy of scars and dreams.

She could not let him go just yet, not even after a thousand lifetimes of memories.

They would not lose them. 

“He’s dying,” Nato said blankly, “And we cannot do anything.”

“No.”

Prince snapped his fingers sharply, “Rina, take off your restraint.”

Her hand went to her ear, wincing as she felt the torn lobe. “I lost it.”

“Snap Seth’s then. Nat, Val, and I all broke ours. And we are going to save Kyran.”

He was right, Ella realized dimly, the three of them were glowing with a burning power that she had not seen in them for so long. 

A celestial power that had been so long locked away.

“Ella,” he met her gaze, “I need you to go finish off the rest of the Vakas. The council will not be able to finish the battle in the next hour and we cannot risk to Vakas coming at us at once.”

Without a word, Ella stepped out of the barrier, and just as it closed behind her, she saw the pieces of Prince’s plan come together.

As Nato traced a sigil on Kyran’s chest, blessing him with luck, and Prince pressed a hand to the temple of the Vaka.

She shut out the screams and sobs of the Vaka as her life force drained away into the palm of Prince’s hand and ran towards the battle.

The two Vakas were still battling against the entire council who looked at Ella with relief as she charged in. 

Her arm was still broken, her ribs shattered, but she could feel her body trying to heal itself.

The Vakas were in the air, flapping their ghostly wings, a dozen skyals attacking them in the air, dozens more sending up attacks from the ground

“ELI!” Ella screamed at the shapeshifter, vaulting over a pile of rubble, “GET ME UP THERE!”

He shifted into a massive emerald dragon, and she slid onto his back, clinging to his horns as he flapped his mighty wings once, and they sprung into the air.

Ella needed only to finish one of the Vakas, and the last one, she knew that the council was actually capable of defeating. 

They flew higher and higher, until the chill of the air numbed the pain of her injuries.

Kyran, she thought, he will live.

He will.

He will.

That’s why you are doing this once more.

He will live. 

She sprang off of Eli’s back and slammed straight into the Vaka, shocking the elementals who had been battling him, and they sailed through the air. 

The Vaka jabbed Ice cold darts into Ella’s back, and she choked on blood.

Here there were no shadows.

There was only the burning hot sun above them.

The Vaka was as helpless as she was in the tangle of limbs as she fell.

They were both on equal ground.

Ella gasped as the Vaka, ever a warrior, slammed a fist into her face, and felt her cheekbones crack.

No time

No time for fear, no time to hesitate. She pressed a hand onto the Vaka’s face, summoning gold light to her fingertips. 

Something she had not done in so long. 

“BLINDNESS!” she screamed, kicking the Vaka aware from her, as the two of them fell like twin comets towards the ground.

Gold light built up between her hands and shot towards the Vaka, knocking the Vaka closer the ground and Ella watched him fall down to the ground.

And she matched his fall.

Through the air, she fell and fell and fell. 

Out of habit, she had thrown herself into a dangerous situation like this, on the instinctive knowledge that one of the guardians would be there for her. 

Mistakes.

Habits born out of trust would be her doom.  

For this time there would be nobody to catch her.

But the of wind of her fall was cut off as something strangely warm slammed into her, and she found herself on the ground, facing the council, the dead corpse of a Vaka in front of them. 

She looked up, and sobbed. 

“Are you okay?” Kyran asked, as she clung to him as best as she could through her injuries and cried. “i’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said, “Thank you for catching me.”

The other came up behind them, and Ella leaned against them for support.

As they stood together and faced the suspicions of the council, unspoken words were communicated between them, to just hold on, and get through the storm.

Soon the council would know about the restraints placed on the guardians so long ago. About how the guardians had been working with only a tenth of their potential power. They would learn about how the guardians’ power had been growing. How Prince had drained the life force of a living creatures and shoved it back into Kyran’s empty body.

The storm of words and war would come.

And they would fight to the death and even after that.

The Seven were ruthless and deadly.

Loving and loyal.

Only to themselves.

Above all, the Seven were only human. 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

And thus ends the battle series! This has been a journey!!

Tagging: @lmorasey, @nomadian-novelist, @onthewingsofwords, @feathered-quill, @stories-by-rie @sunlight-and-starskies, @coffeeandcommas @notquitenovelist @whatwasmyprevioususername​ @writingqueensworld  @feathered-inkling @extraisthmus @drowsy-quill @fictional-semantics @dowings @half-explored @writinginrosecoloredglasses @andiwriteunderthemoon @whimsicallytwisted @saxoniowrites @wordsofpaintandsmoke @peggydreadful @a-taleteller @blackcat1400

Let me know if you want to be added or removed from the tag list!

[smol-sirens-garden]

@diverse-hearts-ocs Has Asked: “Are you gonna be okay by yourself for a few minutes?” - Kyran / Chu

"I'm not five. Just tired, sore and a little woozy."

He groaned a bit as he made it to the couch, pretty much melting into it. He didn't know why he felt this bad but he just did. He released the breath he had been holding as he got himself comfortable.

"If you just get me a bottle of water quick before you did what you need to I know I'll be fine. I am just going to lay here."

[diverse-hearts-a]

@shrimps-variety-garden continued from [X]

Everything was just too much. His entire body ached as the wind blew against his face, ruby eyes gazing down at the ground that was so far below, his mind trying not to think too much about just how resillent to death his body was. Falling from this height had to kill him, it just had to. His healing wasn’t that much improved and if he did survive then maybe he’d bleed out quick enough not to suffer too long. His hands were shaking as he read over the message from Chuuya, tears running down pale cheeks that were already marked with blood, fingers trembling as he tried to think on what to write back. He was sorry for leaving him, sorry that even though Chuuya had done everything he could to make his life better, things had still come to this. Hopefully, one day, he’d be able to forgive him - but he wanted out. He was so tired, so sore. If it wasn’t Dazai it was someone else. Kyran, his father... always someone digging something into his skin, kicking him around or screaming at him for some mistake he made...it was tiring. Everything about being alive was so painful. Apart from him. Apart from Chuuya. Maybe he could break Yumeno out and run off some place with him, and they could just live happily. Chuuya was strong, he could protect him much better than Garth ever had. All he’d ever been able to do was to take half of the pain, to share the pain, to bring his little brother back from death to repeat the same cycle of torment that he’d been trapped in since he was born and took the life of his mother. The door opening behind him caused him to jump, the phone flying out from his hands, ruby eyes watching as the small device shattered on the ground so far below. That was a long fall. Maybe it was tall enough after all. Maybe he’d be able to escape from all this pain. Blood dripped from the edges of his fingertips, from off his jawline and down his back, large gashes cut into his flesh, test out some type of new weapon Kyran was developing - he stopped paying attention at some point. He was pretty sure he’d passed out, able to make a run for it when the blondes attention was elsewhere. “Garth - you won’t survive such a fall. We’ve tested your endurance and - “ “That’s the whole point!”, he yelled back at Kyran, taking a few steps closer to the edge, heart racing quicker as he felt fear try to take a grip on him, try to prevent him from doing what needed to be done. Chuuya did his best, he really did...but maybe Kouyou had always been right. To get a taste for the light when wrapped up in so much darkness - it really did make everything sting just that little more than normal.

[iwhumpyou]

Congratulations on 1,000 followers! May I request Kyran + Collapsing thinking he's going to die alone and then waking up safe?

Oh, yes, poor Kyran.

Kyran.

~#~#~#~#~#~

All he could manage was one last teleportation.  He didn’t even know where he landed - the magic drained the dregs of his energy, and the room spun sickeningly around him.

His knees hit the floor, then his hip.

He was out before his head hit the ground.

~#~

Kyran wasn’t expecting much.  Death, maybe - demons were harder to kill than most, but not impossible, and running empty on magical energy while bleeding from a blessed steel dagger would be enough to overcome his healing abilities.  Or capture - his teleportation had failed at the end, he hadn’t managed to make it to ‘safe, alone’ like he’d been aiming for, he knew that, and he could’ve landed anywhere.  Or waking up collapsed in the middle of nowhere, aching and sore and so, so alone.

When he opened his eyes, he wasn’t met with the fires of Hell.  Or cage bars of blessed steel.  Or even emptiness.

He was met with warm light, a distant fire crackling, a blanket drawn over him, a soft surface below him, and wounds that weren’t aching as fiercely as they’d been before.

He slid his eyes from side to side, but he could see only a couple light fixtures on the ceiling from his limited point of view, nothing to indicate where he’d landed, or who had dressed his wounds.  He should’ve been trying to get up and get out, to claw back his armor and the taunting smile and the carefully calculated impression of the sly trickster he’d spent years cultivating -

But he couldn’t.  He didn’t want to.  He was tired, and heartsick, and sore, and he just wanted to sleep on the soft cushions and accept that, for once, he’d been found by someone that didn’t want him dead.  It wouldn’t last, of course - Kyran had a particular talent for inspiring murderous urges - but he was exhausted.  He could deal with a murder attempt when the time came.

Soft footsteps shuffled closer, and Kyran sighed.  He tried to gather up his weapons of words, all the jagged, poisoned blades that had served him well for years, but they kept slipping through his fingers because he couldn’t hold on.

“Hey, Kyran,” Rae said softly, appearing in his field of view.

Kyran blinked at her.  And blinked again.  Well, that was....surprising.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Tired,” he replied, drawing a wan smile to his lips, “Can’t you tell?  I’m sure my face is quite frightening.”

Rae huffed a small laugh.  “Your shadows have shadows,” she smiled at him, “It’s okay.  You can rest.  You’re safe here.”

For now, because that was what it always was - true safety didn’t exist, not for him, not for years, but he knew Rae, and he knew that she wouldn’t stab him while he slept, so he let his eyes drift closed again.

[diverse-hearts-moved]

@frozcnlight​ said:

“I promised to look after you and that’s what I’m doing.” { to Chu - reverse!AU \ O \ }

  60 ways to say ‘I love you’ (DW edition)   - Accepting!

He hated this. He hated how weak and tired he was constantly feeling, hated the way that everyone seemed to be tip toeing around him, as though afraid of being snapped at. Like he had the energy for anything close to starting an argument. He wasn’t sure of just all to have happened in that place but something had been done. The two notebooks currently floating around him having automatically jumped at the sound of Miran’s voice was evidence of such a thing. His ability had nothing to do with whatever the heck this was and his chest bore the scars of a surgery of some kind to have been done to him, arms full of small little holes and bruises, thin cuts now and then. He was covered in marks that he did not wish to know the origins of and every time this new ability decided to activate it just helped to remind him of what had happened. But this woman - this person to have stalked him, kidnapped him, tortured him and call him out for his fear - it was Miran. His Miran. The girl he thought so sure had died in that explosion. The death he’d took blame for...and yet she was here. Alive. And though there was a part of him that rejoiced at having her being alive, there was that bigger section of his mind that currently looked towards the woman with fear.

She was the one to have taken him to that place. Of course, they hadn’t known who one another was and no doubt that too was just a part of Kyran’s sick jokes but - she’d been willing to do all that to a total stranger. Why should she suddenly treat him so differently because of the shared history?

“Yeah. You’ve done a wonderful job of that”. He wanted so badly to get rid of this spite that dug into every word to leave his lips but weeks, no months of returning to that hellish world was leaving it’s mark and his thoughts just wouldn’t drift away from - Miran was the one to take him there. He’d risked everything to free her, had thought that he had lead to her death, had carried that fault and guilt for so many years - and all this time she was alive and well and apparently turned into a stranger. Well, a lot of years had passed. “...he’s going to come for us. He’ll keep coming...”, and god he hated the way his heart raced at such a thought, watching as the notebooks finally fell from the air, one landing in his lap that he nervously played with as she stared down at his lap, “What happened to you?”. Who are you? Where is the Miran he knew and loved?

[goodbyecringe]

(Un)Natural Selection Chapter 6

Enjolras

There was no more avoiding it. Thirty-five girls from different backgrounds with different motives were living right below me. I had done everything I could to throw myself more into my work than usual. I had taken to meeting with the dignitaries and pouring over caste related civil disputes. Of course Father said that this was the worst way to spend a prince’s time because there were majors and soldiers to deal with those things. However, it would be impossible to abolish the caste system without knowing what the specific problems were.

“I can’t believe it,” a joyful voice said from the doorway, “I don’t think I know a single man that could work if there were thirty-five women getting makeovers in their basement.”

“Ferre, when have you ever known for me to let women interfere with my work?” I said, turning around in my chair to face him.

“Well in the sixteen years that we’ve been friends I’ve only known of your relationship with the great Patria. It’s unfortunate you couldn’t marry her,” he said, clicking his tongue.

“It’s unfortunate I have to marry at all. How am I supposed to change the governing system of Illeá when I have to worry about finding a wife? He did this on purpose of course, maybe I somehow tipped him off,” I said putting my head in my hands.

“The only thing that tipped off your father was the fact that you invited eight aspiring political figures that are all openly against the caste system. In all actuality it could be argued that he did you a favor. Imagine if we were all that the media focused on over the next few months? By the time you were made King every pro-caste politician would have been able to perfect their argument. Of course I’m sure your father is hoping that the Selection will distract you from your responsibilities and Les Amis.”

“Yes, I’ve already thought about that theory a thousand times over. But what’s stopping me from eliminating thirty tomorrow morning? He never made me commit to a formal timeline-”

“And I’m sure you’ve already thought of the associative repercussions for doing that Julien,” he said, cutting me off. “You already know that the media would have a field day. You would be marked as a heartless slab of marble. Remember, you need the people on your side during the revolution,” Ferre became serious as he sat on the edge of my desk.

“No matter who I choose, the castes will be divided. Anyone lower than a Four would be seen as a saint to the lower castes, however the lower castes already stand with our views. We need to secure the support of those who we are removing from power,” I sighed as I restated the facts.

“We’ve been through this at least a dozen times, Julien. Isn’t that the entire reason you decided to announce that this would be a caste-blind selection? You just need to take it one day at a time. And since there are thirty-five eligible bachelorettes in your home, you should at least give them the respect they deserve,” Combeferre said, standing.

“I’ve haven’t even met them yet Ferre, how have I already disrespected them?”

“You don’t know any of their names, you don’t know what they look like, you haven’t bothered to learn a thing about them. But I could guarantee you that everyone of those girls knows everything about you.”

“Are you referring to those presentations I put Les Amis in charge of? I swear, if Jean Prouvaire’s presentation takes over an hour I’ll leave and simply review the applications in my office… alone.”

Combeferre chuckled as we walked out of my office. The walk to the Men’s Room was more eventful then I had ever expected. Dozens of servants were making final adjustments to the decorations. There were fresh flowers around every corner, the drapes were open, letting sunlight shine through the halls. As the new butler, Grantaire, opened the door, I had to restrain myself from rolling my eyes. The beautiful library space that I used as my philosophical escape to discuss the future of Illeá had been turned upside down. Feuilly and Joly were hanging a large piece of white fabric over a large bookshelf, and Bahorel was closing all the drapes so the setting sun didn’t blind anyone. I grabbed a notepad and took a seat next to Courfeyrac in the front row.

“Your Royal Highness,” Bossuet called out from his place in front of the projector.

“Our fearless leader and marble statue,” Courfeyrac laughed from next to me.

“We, the Friends of the ABC, are proud to present your future wife, or at least the thirty-five possible candidates for the title of Queen Enjolras,” Jean Prouvaire announced as the lights began to dim.

From behind me, Grantaire was laughing with Bossuet while he turned down the lights. Les Amis began to seat themselves in front of the screen, all armed with several manilla folders which I assumed held the applications of the selected girls.

“First, we will give a brief presentation about each of the thirty-five contestants and then we will tune into the Report and Enjolras will get his first real look at the girls.”

I made a note that if a career in politics never worked out for Prouvaire, he could take Kyran Cervantes’ job. Suddenly, the screen lit up with the faces of thirty-five young women of various appearances, all of which I was sure would be changing drastically during their makeovers.

“We have decided to present in the order of east coast to west coast, so first up is the lovely province of Hansport! So please give a warm welcome to Miss Teresa Gilbert!” The screen centered on a girl with near white hair that was sharply stopped just below her cheek-bones.

“Teresa is nineteen years old and is proud to call Hansport the place of her humble roots. She has been acting in television shows and movies since she was three years old. Her favorite role was a princess during the apocalypse where she learned what it truly took to be a royal! She says that she will never be afraid of the media,” Prouvaire finished, now sounding confident in his game show host role.

There was a massive amount of applause from the boys around me. Looking down at my notepad I jotted down, Teresa Gilbert: movie star, 2. There was nothing more, nothing less about this girl. It was only too bad for her that I couldn’t care less about the television industry. Unfortunately, her status as a celebrity made it too easy to know her caste.

“Next up we have Adele Castro of Waverly,” a picture of a mousy looking girl with large green eyes appeared on the screen.

“At sixteen, Adele is our youngest selected girl, but don’t let that lead you astray because she’s already been quite successful…” Prouvaire continued to explain how she had spent her life volunteering in less developed countries.

Adele Castro: volunteer, 2 or 3.

“Now gentlemen, show some love for Miss Éponine Jondrette from Allens,” the face of a tan girl with a wild head of brown hair came over the screen. Despite the large state of her hair, her eyes appeared tired and her cheeks were hollow.

“Miss Éponine might give our fearless leader a run for his money! In her free time, Éponine enjoys reading about Political Science and learning about other cultures. She can speak English, Chinese, and French fluently,” I couldn’t help but think about how her appearance contradicted her description.

Éponine Jondrette: hungry wildcard, 5 or 3. By the time Prouvaire had finished I had made note of Lucy Frost: artistic, 5 and Harley Housten: average, 4 or 3. Everyone applauded as Jean bowed to take his seat. Joly walked forward and pulled a stack of index cards out of his suit jacket.

“Moving West we’ll start out in the province of Kent. Miss Cosette Fauchelevent recently returned to Illeá after spending about 5 years living in an Abbey in France. Cosette is an avid gardener and has a passion for animals,” Joly rushed as the room admired a pale girl with golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Cosette Fauchelevent: lark, 2 or 3. At some point throughout the presentations all of the girls started to blur together. A few girls stood out, for example, Liberty Cook: paralyzed, 4. I couldn’t believe how delighted I was when Bossuet finally got to Angles.

“At the age of 20 our oldest contestant is Musichetta Simon. Miss Musichetta has recently begun a career in the prominent modeling agency in Angles. However, prior, she traveled throughout highly impoverished areas of Illeá to provide clean drinking water,” Bossuet said, failing to remove his eyes from her picture. The bright color of her red hair caused his bald head to reflect a pinkish color.

“Excellent job Bossuet,” Prouvaire said, clapping a hand on Bossuet’s back. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Grantaire was passing out refreshments before we settled down to watch the Report.

“I hope that everyone else is as excited for the next few months as I am,” Courfeyrac called out.

“Now remember my friends,” Combeferre stood, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “We are to remain out of sight out of mind. Unless Enjolras asks for our presence specifically, we are not to interact with the women of the selected. Everyone here is subject to the law,” he called out, staring directly at Courf.

“Thank you for all of your hard work my friends,” I said, standing next to Ferre. “I hope that you all feel more comfortable with the process of creating and executing presentations. Even though this may have sounded like a fun and frivolous exercise, it is important to find a way to improve yourself in any situation,” I could hear groans among the group. “However, I am very appreciative for the effort that you put in, and if any of you have any suggestions during this process, please feel free to know. I shall see all of you tomorrow evening for our regularly scheduled meeting.”

“Won’t you be staying to watch the Report, Enjolras?” Joly asked.

“I’m afraid I have a very important speech concerning several dignitaries of New Asia that I’ve been neglecting to revise,” I said, making my way towards the door. As Grantaire opened the door for me I could hear what seemed to be a stampede of high heeled shoes. I decided to wait until I could no longer hear them, so not to cause a scene since I wasn’t supposed to meet any of them until tomorrow morning. While looking across my shoulder at the crowd of girls I was taken aback when I felt something collide with me. In the second it took me to turn around, the person was already on the ground.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, looking around for her heels. “I should have been paying attention to wear I was going, but you see my shoe broke and I’ve been trying to keep up with the rest-”

I think she stopped breathing when she finally looked up at me.

“I am deeply sorry, Your Highness,” she went into a deep curtsey.

“The fault is entirely mine Lady... Éponine,” I paused, noting the silver name tag pinned to her green dress. “I should know to pay more attention to my surroundings.”

I extended my arm to help her up, which she accepted. I could see that the heels on one of her shoes had snapped in half, which must have been the cause for her falling behind.

“Would it be considered rude for a lady to run down the hall in her bare feet?” She asked in a brazen way.

“I believe that would be classified as a capital offense.” I smiled thinking of how the royal planner and etiquette instructor Claudia would throw a fit if she witnessed such an event.

“Well then maybe you can keep this a secret between just the two of us?” She suggested looking back and forth between me and the rest of the girls.

“Only if you promise to only wear shoes you can properly walk in.”

She gave a mischievous smirk before running towards the crowd of her competitors. There were several times that she had to stop and pick up her dress to avoid slipping, but she eventually caught up to the group as they entered the Women’s Room. I made a mental note to add the word cheeky next to her name in my notebook.

[diverse-hearts-ocs-a]

@shrimps-variety-garden​ said: 

❛ you stole everything from me! ❜~ Chu/Kyran

ANGST SENTENCE STARTERS

“What did I steal from you?”  He was growing a little tired of these outbursts. He had been attempting to be ‘nice’, to be gentle on this fool who believed he could ever be seen as an equal in Kyran’s eyes. It wasn’t a matter of not caring - it was simply a twisted kind of care that held no real love behind it. “I made you into who you now are. Without me, you would have been just another name lost in the pages of history”. Where was the lie? He was involved in the experiments to have merged the God and it’s vessel. Chuuya should be thanking him for giving him access to such power but instead he seemed to find something new to poke and prod at. Why couldn’t he just shut up and just do as he was asked? Then they wouldn’t need to stand here and waste their energy like this.  “I suppose I took a few blood samples a couple of days ago - or is this about something else? Have I taken more? Something that I’m not aware of? Or maybe this is a cry for attention?”

[shima-draws]

FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO FINISH THIS!! I’ve been working on it for over a week now lol

Anyway, meet Kaz and Ginni!! They’re the OCs I’ve been teasing lately and have been really excited about ^p^

They’re both from the Next Generation—so ~25 years after Shima’s main adventure ends. Ginni is the child of the famous Guildmasters Willow and Charon (previously Wendy and Charlie but I changed their names lol), and Kaz is the captain of the Novune Forces, a sort of re-imagined Dark Army (which I might rename to Maligo Army to make better-sounding lmao). Basically after the Dark Army’s fall, a new one rose in its place to take after its original purpose, and Kaz is part of this!

More details about them under the cut!!

Ginni Teire Age: 17 Hair color: Pink Eye color: Blue Element: Combat

Ginni takes after her mother in that she’s very stubborn, cheerful, sociable and also a combat user! She like to spar with her mother and father sometimes to test her skills ^^ She’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in and take action when nobody else will, making her a truly inspiring person capable of moving others c: Ginni’s nonbinary and uses she/her pronouns! She’s fine with either.

Ginni was actually ordered to be captured by the Novune Forces by Kaz, though he actually had no idea who she was, he was just following orders. After being under Kaz’s supervision for about a month and a half Ginni started to pick up signs that despite being a captain Kaz was not treated very well by his superiors, and would often come back from meetings or battles totally bruised and beaten. While all of the people under Kaz’s jurisdiction highly respected him and were honestly a bit terrified of him, Kaz was labeled as someone who could never be good enough or do good enough, and Ginni was tired of seeing him get hurt without him realizing the people who raised him were just exploiting and abusing him. Slowly during the month they spent together Kaz warmed up to Ginni, and started sharing things with her he never shared with anyone else!

Eventually Kaz started to realize that keeping Ginni captive wasn’t right, and that she was becoming weaker due to not seeing the sun or exercising or eating well during her stay with him, so he decides to set her free. And of course, Ginni convinces Kaz to abandon the Forces and come with her :’) Inspired by the idea that he can actually be free and see the world without any repercussions, Kaz decides to take the risk, so he and Ginni escape together and eventually return back to Ginni’s guild!

Some of Ginni’s weaknesses is how easy she gets riled up by things, and she sometimes doesn’t think things through, so she stumbles into trouble pretty often lol. She’s a type that gets offended quickly and takes action immediately. If she doesn’t get her way she tries to make it so, even if it means disobeying orders or hurting other people without meaning to. She’s very determined in that aspect ^^

She loves being outside and seeing the sun, and walking around town and interacting with her friends! She’s actually really close to Vedia and Kyran, and she become very close friends with Kaz too! She treasures him very much uwu

Kaz (Kazuto) Age: 18 Hair color: Orange Eye color: Gray (with rings of blue) Element: Lightning, Metal, Dragon (?)

Kaz, the incomplete experiment…haha! He was taken into the Novune Forces as a young child and has grown up there, so he doesn’t know anything of the outside world or how to act around others. He was simply raised to follow orders and do everything to perfection—maybe as a way to make up for the fact that the experiments done on him to enhance him for the Forces’ purposes never really worked out.

He started as a dual user of just lightning and metal, but the head of the Forces decided to try to make him into a tri user, so they had experiments performed to see if Kaz could awaken within himself a third elemental power :’0 Note that there’s only ONE other tri user in existence and that’s Astraeus, one of the Grandmasters! Unfortunately, the experiments failed and left Kaz with just remnants of a Dragon user’s power in the form of the marking under his eye and the streak in his hair. Eventually he is able to unlock the Dragon’s power because Ginni’s in danger, but his power is very unstable and defective since it’s not “pure” and was something he was injected with, not born with. So usually after using it he goes out of control and passes out immediately afterwards;; while it is extremely powerful it’s also very dangerous and damaging so he doesn’t use it unless he absolutely has to. When he’s in his “dragon mode” he gets little scales on his cheeks and his teeth become sharper (they’re already p sharp to begin with tho haha), and his eyes change color >:3c Kaz also uses two rapiers in battle that he charges with his elemental magic!! A dual user who uses dual weapons hehe~

Due to having parts of dragon elemental magic, his senses are enhanced, as most dragon elementals are as well! His nose is very keen and he can scent things other people normally can’t lol so it’s really helpful. He finds Ginni’s scent to be the most calming thing, because she smells like water lilies and the ocean back home :’)

Kaz didn’t originally have a name when he was part of the Novune Forces—everybody just referred to him as “Captain”. Obviously this made Ginni super upset since they’re all sorta treated like objects there, so she decided to give Kaz his name (Kazuto is his full name, but Ginni rarely ever calls him that, she prefers Kaz!)

Kaz is very very quiet most of the time, and his speech is very formal, so it’s rare to see him talking casually with anyone (besides Ginni, but even that takes a while). He doesn’t emote that often and prefers to keep his emotions bottled up, but Ginni slowly teaches him how to express himself better! He’s a pretty stern character, really no-nonsense, but he does loosen up after escaping. He doesn’t have a lot of anxiety over his superiors treatment of him because to him it’s normal, something that everyone in the Forces goes through, so he thinks if he makes mistakes he’s well deserving of punishment for them. He’s completely devoted to the Forces’ cause—until Ginni barrels in and ruins everything he ever worked for lmao

Kaz cares about Ginni a LOT. More than anybody else. He would put his life on the line for her in an instant, and doesn’t care about what happens to him as long as Ginni is safe. She’s pretty much his savior and the reason he’s able to actually live, so he feels like he owes her everything. He isn’t really comfortable around anyone else besides Ginni (and one of his subordinates, but their relationship is a bit rocky and strange). Kaz would rather die than do anything to upset Ginni or threaten their friendship;; Eventually he falls in love with her but it’s very confusing and frustrating because he doesn’t understand his feelings that well, having been taught to ignore his emotions for most of his life, so it’s a rough time lol. But once he realizes it he uses that knowledge to become stronger and protect Ginni with everything he’s got!! He’s really bad with romance tho lmao he gets flustered super easily whenever Ginni does something alluring and trips over himself trying to please her on occasion. He’s very dumb in the romance department but he tries :’D

Since Kaz grew up pretty much ignorant of everything else he can be really insensitive at times and offend others without realizing. He’s also fairly clueless about the world outside, so he finds fascination even in the smallest things! He’s also really really intelligent. Not when it comes to social interaction he fails fantastically at that, he’s really awkward around others lol but anything else goes! He’s very fond of reading and learning new things whenever he can, so being in the outside world is like a treat to him ^^

AND A BONUS I DOODLED:

SO YEAH THOSE ARE MY TWO NEW KIDS I LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH. I’m very weak for their height difference. Ginni’s the first non-binary character I’ve designed and also the first to get super pastel colors so designing her was REALLY fun!! And Kaz too, he’s my baby, I would die for him //shakes fists

FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ASKS ABOUT THEM, I’M DYING TO CHAT ABOUT THEM!!