#lightless speaks

[the-lightless-flame]

everything about agnes living in hilltop road is. so funny to me

she got sent there bc arthur thought the web would be good at taking care of a child ig???? ok sure buddy.

during that time she did. things? ig? i think she just tried to burn people. especially raymond

then after a while she just got bored of raymond and killed him. she kept his hand tho. people came looking for him and she was like 'nono this is my house now he gave it to me dw about it'

and then she lived there for like another year or two. alone. in the web house.

then she burned it down and. went and did her cult messiah stuff ig

idk i just think that was very cool of her

[seifrin]

Having a horrible migraine due to poor decisions of sleeping only two hours the day before MAY stop me from drawing but what it cannot do is have my brain workshop a joke idea based on a dream I had into at least something I can write out later and thought of (ISAT with Mario Party-esque gameplay)

[bornetoblood]

bingo for the plukas mayhaps?? ineed ur takes on the sad boat man

My TMA hot take is that there should've been more Plukas and he should've been more evil. I also wish to swaddle him in a blanket and give him a hot chocolate. He's so facinating to me guy who has no interpersonal connections on purpose and is also made of fog.

[capttain-emo]

slow burn? i think you’ll find that those in the cult of the lightless flame are quite efficient

[remxedmoon]

What are your thoughts on ISAT's magic system?

AUTISM BLAST

okay long rambly post incoming. for the record like 90% of this is pure unfiltered headcanon. and almost all of this is about colors. sorry if this is hard to follow!!! i need to get this all out of my system.

oh also! a lot of this is based on a really good post by @/chronologically-challenged that shows off the differences between each character’s craft style! go check that out it’s really good

okay!! so!!! colors. this is just my own thing, but i personally like to color code the different types of craft!

don’t worry about those middle tones yet just put a pin in those

there’s still a little bit of color variety within craft types (for flavor), but generally, rock is blue, paper is yellow, and scissors is red. i’m not going to lie to you i only did this because the splatoon testfire had these colors. it’s also why my triplets designs are colored like that!

i think these colors also just fit the descriptions of these crafts? red feels like a more aggressive and active color, which matches how piercing craft is generally more focused on dealing damage, blue tends to be calmer, which matches protective craft being more supportive , that kinda thing. something something children’s hospital. yellow is a bit of a wildcard here lol, it just looks nice with the other two.

putting aside the colors for a mo! don’t worry those’ll come back soon. i’ve also been thinking a lot about how dual craft types work, though this is a little more speculative. i’m entirely basing this on how mira works. basically, one craft type seems to be more ‘dominant’ over the other. while mira is both paper and scissors, she’s still weak to rock, her basic attack is scissors, and her scissors skill (jolly round rondo) does much more damage than her paper skill (artsy silent burst). she behaves more like a scissors type, with an extra affinity for paper. which i think is interesting!!!

in terms of colors, i think this would manifest as mira’s craft being tinted orange, as a mix of both her craft type’s colors! this is partially what those uncategorized colors are for. while her scissors attacks are only slightly tinted, her paper attacks would be a lot closer to orange! and this would apply to other dual crafts as well. a rock/paper type would have more greenish attacks, a rock/scissors type would have more purply ones, etc etc.

i think this color mixing would also apply to single craft types trying to use a craft type that isn’t their own, though it’d prolly become less pronounced the more a person ‘gets used’ to using that craft type, so to speak. in a while rockodile would be pretty solidly purple, while rock bottom is more of an indigo color, and odile’s craft skills probably only slightly tinted as well.

ok!!! that was a lot about colors. i’m really fucking normal about colors. onto craft styles!! this is still kinda about colors tho sorry. also, again, go check out @/chronologically-challenged’s post if you haven’t already, it’ll prolly explain this better than i will

for a tl;dr on that post, each country has a different way of using craft. the forgotten island has lightless craft that tends to manifest as stars and zigzags, vaugarde has big, rounded bursts of grey craft (with smaller circles around it), and ka bue’s craft is more diamond shaped/triangular and tends to be on the lighter side.

this is also the part i’m a little less sure about. i haven’t drawn these out in my normal style!! so a lot of this is subject to change. sorry about that!

anyways. i wanted to preserve the island’s lightless craft while still making it colorful, so i decided to give it a sort of. halo effect? i guess? i wanted it to vaguely resemble the ring of light around a black hole or a solar eclipse, but that is a lot harder to do with the zigzag shape of the craft + my color limitations. and as i’ve recently learned, glow effects look really weird with my pixelly art. so this is all just flat colors 😓

shhh don’t mind the art here i’ve totally posted it before 🩶

vaugarde is pretty simple comparatively!! the craft is a sort of midshade ingame, so i just made the main color the normal craft colors. not much to say here!

and ka bue is in a similar boat! i did kinda draw it in my odile sprite redraw, but i didn’t really look at references so it’s kinda boring looking there. not much to say here either!!

and!! as we can see from the king’s special attack art, craft styles can kinda mix together. king’s style follows the general shape of vaugardian craft, but keeps the shade and stars from the forgotten island! i think it’d be fun to play with that a little more teehee. i imagine these are a lot more variable depending on how engrossed someone is in a culture, hence why odile’s craft doesn’t borrow from vaugarde’s style. unless she does? it’s not like we see other ka buans using craft in game. who knows.

also because i forgot, some extra bonus doodles of that craft color mixing i mentioned earlier! yipee!

and that’s it!!! there’s probably some other stuff that i am. currently forgetting. but this post is absurdly long enough!!! thank you so much for the ask i’m so sorry for autism blasting you about isat and color theory. am i still cool. here’s all of my craft doodles as compensation for reading this giant infodump. i’m so so sorry.

[biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer]

Heya! Hope you're drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep :3

I was wondering if you could do romantic headcannons for Geo as a Yandere? If not, then that's alright! Feel free to ignore this ask if you don't feel comfy writing it dw :D

Geo my love *smooches his cheek lovingly*

Besotted (Yandere! Geo x MC/Reader)

Guess who respawned after a month or so, anyway my hyperfixation ended and I'm trying to cook again

CAN I GET ENCOURAGEMENT TO CONTINUE PUHLEASE I'M A SKRUNKLED BOOGER HERE RAARARARARARRA

Also. Darling Anon. Geo is mine. I am prepared to fight.

- Signed by biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer

Besotted: strongly infatuated.

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

Geo knew all too well how illegal this was.

Not that he cared, you were significantly more invaluable, indelible, incredible. You were an idealists’ biggest dream, an optimists’ highest regard, an opportunists’ greatest catch.

Geo knew better than to relent his firm grip on you, he’d do anything if it meant he could have you to himself, all to himself. A love so fiery it razed the chill of his masks, his endless facades and cold numbing scars. You torched away the husk that rendered him empty and bitter, ravaging his fortress walls and citadel gates, barging through his offences and placing your flag upon his heart.

You were a saint to him. The most ethereal of them all, the purest, kindest, greatest.

You could ask him to call you God and he’d build you a thousand gilded shrines.

He silently lurked in the depths of the lightless corridor, the one that held the entrance to your home, your soon-to-be-former home, for he’d have you with him soon.

Geo felt a smile, a genuine one, crossed his rigid, diamond features, dimples rounding his sanguine lips as his pallid hands softly caressed the orchid — indigo and navy as his hair, you’d said how it reminded you of him — and sighed.

He’d not been the type to feel much, or allow himself to. Such things were a distraction, he’d assumed. For the most part he’d been correct, but all rules held exceptions.

But you lit a flame in him, one he didn’t realise he possessed. You’d nurtured something soft, cultivated something vulnerable within him. He’d resented you for it originally. 

However, for some quaint reason, you persisted, tossed more flames into the fray — risking your own feelings and heart — to try and be with him. 

It was your fault he’d become so forlornly infatuated with you, but he wasn’t about to let you slip from him, now was he?

His whole life had been in the shadows of his brother — his darling, golden brother — and he wasn’t about to let himself be ostracised, especially in terms of you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Geo in general is a “quiet” yandere, in short – he’s really good at hiding it, shielding his true feelings under an aloofness that was chilling, even for his standards. He wouldn’t avoid you, but he’d appear significantly more detached than standard_geo.exe. 

However, under the feigned nonchalance and ignorance, Geo is an observer. Eavesdropping, brief staring, sometimes asking queries…he’s a smart man. He knows how to make himself appear as a quiet, uncaring person – one with no regard for others.

He’d rather die than write anything down about you, a subtle paranoia in his mind someone’d know and speak of it. He couldn’t afford to have any opportunities be sabotaged and razed before he’d even utilised them.

Geo’s main dilemma — apart from his abundances in emotional dysfunction and discombobulation — would be his “fans”. People who’d crowd his locker, toss him roses stained with their false promises and half-arsed affirmations. He wasn’t one for praise, at least….he thought so. Praise from you felt nice, he’d noticed.

He’s very used to being wanted, lusted over, clung and clawed by a hundred perverted hands, that such genuity — such honesty — the likes that came from your silver-coated tongue felt alien.

Alien in the sense his heart was thrown unto a treadmill each time you spoke highly of him, and meant it.

He’s definitely the type to try and get your attention on him, his envy of your friends — hell, even your mutuals — was growing more by the day. It wasn’t fair to him how easily the others could just be. They had much more freedom than he ever did, except for mayhaps Jess. He knew Crowe’d severed ties with his mother. How lucky he was.

Geo’d only start to panic when he recognises how his feelings grow stronger, both in vigour and potency. It’s as if a separate entity, one built of insecurities and obsession, had started eating away at all the walls he’d built up over the years of his life, replacing his cognition with sudden onslaughts of devotion.

He’d be very reliant on you making the moves, however. He wants to maintain some dignity.

If you don’t pick up on his extremely confusing and erratic hints, he’ll resort to the ultimate level of weakness: gifts.

Will have to spawn behind you when nobody is watching and give you either something you’ve wanted for ages, or just heard about a thing you like. You’re a bit confused, to say the least. He does not care.

His aim becomes to get you to obsess over why he did that, and so, eventually, you talk to him again. He knows it's a cruel thing to do, but it's the means to an end. A good end.

Would stalk- gather information on you after he learns your residence location, will meticulously plan out everything you do. He doesn’t do anything with this knowledge, he simply likes observing you.

Becomes somewhat murderous when he notices someone keeps entering your home at night. He’d assumed it was a significant other at first, one he’d inevitably get rid of…but you’d mentioned several times you were single. Then he had a miraculous idea.

Within the next few days Solivan Brugmansia — his charming brothers’ best friend — had been blackmailed and blacklisted, leaving Hyugo astounded.

He knew his brother’d lash out somehow, not that he cared. He’d convinced himself he’d lost all love for him…he hoped he did, he didn’t want to worry about Sugimoto. 

Again, his love intensified when you gifted him an orchid, purple and blue, and him feeling a passionate softness blooming in response. Starts to warm up to you more afterwards.

Geo personally was very much entranced by you now, and doesn’t step out of line too much for a long time, until you — in his eyes — hint you like him. He remains calm – barely – but when the time comes that feelings are shared (and reciprocated), he becomes significantly more watchful over you. He’d want you to wear things he gives you, whether it be jewellery or clothes. Something he — and only he — would know meant you were his, like he was yours.

He won’t get openly jealous if someone harasses or catcalls you, but he’ll definitely do something about said people. He knows everything about this city, and even more so about you.

It better remain that way, he’s not above whisking you away to a lavishly decorated basement far beyond the horizon. He wants you to have freedom,  but he’d be much more content if he had eyes on you every. Single. Second.

For now, while you’re both in school, in this fucked-up city, he’s going to have to stick to ensuring you’re in his sight, for even the richest and strongest aren’t immune to a stray shot in the dead of night…

[minnaci]

tartaglia x gn!reader · nsfw · wc: 1.6k

You'd always heard that your first time should be special, and there's nothing more special than catching the lustful eye of the Eleventh Harbinger...

contents: soft!tartaglia, gentle sex, fingering (reader receiving), insertive sex (reader receiving), kissing, praise, a little teasing, dirty talk, semi-unrealistic first time but in the way that everything feels good and tartaglia is perfect

reader details: reader is a virgin / sexually inexperienced and is nervous about it. they have a non-specific "hole" between their legs and a non-specific "sweet spot" inside. they are described as enjoying penetrative sex.

a/n: this fic is a request from @syhly for @ficsforgaza! thank you for your donation to help a child with cerebral palsy evacuate!

Tartaglia moves with the grace of a predator. It’s the first thing you notice about him. No amount of charm or charisma could hide the danger that lurks behind his oddly flat, lightless eyes. No amount of schmoozing or seducing could make you ignore the prey’s instinct that raises that hair at the back of your neck every time you see him. 

Even when he’s brought you to his bedroom— an ostentatious, opulent place, draped with luxuries that only a Fatui Harbinger could afford to flaunt— and bared himself to you, looking for all the world like a man who might have been your neighbor— a normal man, a good man, you still cannot overlook your apprehension. 

“C’mon, baby. Let me show you a good time,” he’s saying. He pushes you gently onto the bed. No amount of expensive perfume can mask the slight coppery scent that rises from his bedding. Anxiety and desire war in your stomach. You are but a victim to the carnage. 

“Don’t you think this is all a bit… fast?” 

“Never fast enough. Not with how badly I want you,” Tartaglia says, all charm. “Don’t hide that expression from me, baby. I know you want me, too.”

And the thing is, he’s right. But could anyone blame you for being nervous? Here is this— this absolute force of a man, beautiful and terrible and irresistibly charming all at once. He’d swept you up easily enough, brought you into the eye of his storm. Bearing the full brunt of his attention is like holding up the sky— all-consuming, overwhelming weight. 

He crawls over you with the air of a man who is intimately familiar with having pretty things warming his bed. It should soothe you to be with someone who is so obviously experienced, but all it does is make you more nervous.

“Tartaglia.” There’s an anxious edge to the way your lips shape around his name.

“Yeah, baby?” He presses a hot, wet kiss to your neck in a way that lets you know that he is maximally occupied with the swath of skin under his lips and minimally paying attention to the words you’re saying. 

“Will it hurt?” You don’t want it to hurt. Your throat closes, and you push at his chest. His lips detach from your skin with a lewd pop. “Tartaglia. Can you be gentle with me?”

He stares at you for a long moment, expression unreadable. When he speaks again, something about his voice is different. Gone is the saccharine lilt to his words. It feels… more real, somehow. “Fuck, I can’t do this,” he says, sitting back on his knees and rubbing a hand over his face. Your heart sinks. You’d expected as much. He could have anyone, and here you are, setting a boundary that so strongly deviated from his preferences—

“Call me Ajax, then.” Even he looks a bit surprised at his request. You get the feeling that, normally, this is where the night would’ve ended. He would have pulled you from the bed, all roguish charm and seductive swagger, citing some Harbinger emergency before kicking you summarily to the streets. Yet, for some reason… still you sit, trembling in his bed, vulnerable under his strangely soft gaze.

“Ajax?” 

“You don’t want Tartaglia,” he says. He dips down, brushes a gentle kiss to your lips. “So call me Ajax, and I’ll be gentle. You’ll only feel good tonight, I promise.” 

True to his word, he undresses you tenderly, like a real lover would. Every caress of his hands over your skin is followed by soft, chaste kisses. Your shirt slips open, your pants shimmy off. The chill of the air nips your skin in a delicious contrast to the slow heat that kindles under your skin. 

“Pretty,” Ajax murmurs, trailing a calloused hand down your chest and slipping his fingers between your legs. Driven by some soft, wanting instinct, your thighs fall apart, giving him full access to your aching sex. “So pretty. Look at you.”

“Ajax,” you say, feeling empty and achy and so, so needy. “Please, don’t tease.”

“Me? Tease? I’d never.” He shoots you a little smirk and swallows your little whine with a kiss. His fingers tease at your entrance once, twice, then press inside. “How does it feel?”

 It’s… strange, and you tell him so. It feels better than your own clumsy explorations, at the very least.

“Mmm, we can do better than ‘strange’. Where’s that sweet little spot inside of you?” He says. One finger turns to two, and he strokes against your wall until his fingertips rub over something— something good.

“Ah!” A sudden frisson of pleasure jolts up your spine. Ajax’s grin widens.

“There we go, baby.”

“What is—?”

“That’s your sweet spot,” he says, stroking it a bit more firmly as if trying to turn your every coherent thought to mush. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”

Your breath catches as he begins to stretch you open, occasionally giving your sweet spot a delicious little rub, as if to remind you of the pleasure to come. You’re not sure how long you stay like that— pliant, soft, at the mercy of Ajax’s talented fingers, but by the time he’s wiggled a third finger inside of you, every thrust of his fingers is accompanied by a lewd, wet squelch that makes your face feel hot. 

“Opening up so sweet,” he says, pulling his fingers out and licking at the traces of your arousal. “I think you’re ready, if you want me to fuck you. Otherwise, I can make you cum just like this.” 

“Please,” you beg, “please, I want more.”

“Are you sure?” His concern is sweet, but…

“If you don’t stick your dick inside of me right now, I’ll go out and find someone else who will.” You don’t know where your sudden bravado comes from, but it makes a slow grin creep over Ajax’s face. A hint of Tartaglia’s sly, seductive charm comes peeking in through the flash of sharp canines. 

“Oh, poor baby,” he says. “Got you all worked up, didn’t I?” 

“Mhm,” you nod. Your hole pulses, as if in complaint. “You said you’d make me feel good.” 

“And I will,” he dips down to press a sweet kiss to your lips. He makes himself at home in the cradle of your hips and lines up the head of his leaking cock against your entrance. It strikes you then, just how beautiful he is— chiseled like the heroes of ancient Teyvatian legend, handsome like the gods themselves. His cock is equally pretty, as far as cocks can be pretty. The tip drools against your hole, fluids mixing with your own wetness. “Relax, baby.”

Cock feels so much better than fingers. That’s the first thought that hits you. Then, he thrusts just a bit deeper, and every other coherent thought escapes you in a rush of wetness from between your thighs. 

“Fuck!” Your head falls back against the pillow, and your eyes roll back into your head as he carves out a space inside of you. Your hole flutters and clenches around him uncontrollably as your body attempts to make sense of the thick, heavy heat that fills you so deep. “A— Ajax!” 

“Mmm, I know, baby. Feels good, doesn’t it?” he chuckles, sounding a bit out of breath. “Your hole loves it. I can tell. It’s hugging me so sweet.” 

He angles his hips, and the tip of his cock nudges that— that ‘sweet spot’ inside of you. Pleasure burns a hole through you, diffusing through your tummy and up into your chest. “Ajax— Ajax, ‘s good, I think I’m— something’s coming—!”

“Gonna cum for me? Yeah? Let me see it, baby. Let yourself feel good.” His lips press against yours, swallowing up your shivery little whines, and his broad cockhead kisses your sweet spot more firmly, and you’re gone. Something in your core snaps as your pleasure crests, and you nearly sob as he fucks you deeply through your orgasm. 

Distantly, you feel a wet sort of heat spreading over your soft inner walls. He came inside of you, and… it’s… nice, you think. So nice. That thick, creamy dribble of his cum seeping into your deepest, most intimate places… You float in the afterglow, a dumb, blissed-out smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

Finally, Ajax collapses against you. He’s heavy, skin glistening with a thin sheen of sweat, but something about the press of skin to bare, flushed skin grounds you back in your body— a welcome reassurance after that transcendent pleasure.

“This isn’t really my bedroom,” Ajax says into the space between your neck and shoulder. His breath curls over the hollow of your throat. It’s so unexpected, so tender, so— so unlike a feared Harbinger— that you shake yourself out of your pleasant post-coital daze to stare at him. Under the dim lights, he looks impossibly soft, all gentle curves and scattered freckles— nothing like the battle-crazed, bloodthirsty monster that the local legends make him out to be. “I actually kinda hate this place.” 

“Why do you stay, then?” You card a hand through his hair, liking the way the strands feel between your fingers.

“If I told you I had to, would you believe me?”

“I’d believe Ajax,” you say, curling into him. You feel his smile against your collarbone.

“You’d be the only one who does.”

And maybe, one day, you could be the only one who matters.

networks: @houseofsolisoccasum @interstellar-inn

[hopelessromantic5]

Merlin had been working for Arthur Pendragon for a year when something unusually strange happened.

This wasn’t “life-or-death-vengeful-magical-creature” strange. That happens every day.

No this oddity didn’t even involve Arthur.

The pompous prick had just left in storm of rage because Merlin was once again gone for days at a time and couldn’t give him a good enough answer as to where. Arthur knew Merlin was lying to him, and it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light, and Merlin’s life would be over.

He was still in Arthur’s chambers, in complete darkness. Body folded into a corner, with his arms wrapped around his knees that were being cradled by his chest.

He was sobbing.

Because life was so fucking unfair and he’s allowed to have a pity-party every once in a while. Merlin would say he’s entitled.

His sobs broke off into silence when a single candle lit itself, barely illuminating the room.

Merlin’s head popped up, wide eyed.

There was no one else. Just him.

And that had not been his magic.

Merlin was on his feet and ready for whatever was being hurled their way, this time.

They appeared, out of thin air.

Or she did.

A woman. With blonde hair cascading over over her thin shoulders. A deep green gown, that was beautiful but not embellished or bejeweled. And her eyes were like lakes, blue and too deep to see to the bottom.

Merlin’s breath was snatched from his throat as they stared at each other.

“Do not be afraid. I am not here to harm you.” She said, her voice was soft and melodic, the way Merlin imagined goddesses would speak.

“Who are you?” He whispered, before correcting. “What are you?”

“You can sense that I am not human?”

Merlin nodded, then narrowed his eyes, trying to put it together, but not quite having all the pieces.

“Every living thing gives off a vibration of sorts���a frequency… you give off nothing. As if you’re-“

“A ghost.” She smiled small but it held a secret joke that Merlin didn’t understand.

“You’re a ghost?” He questioned, further confused. “How are you here? It’s not anywhere near Samhain.”

Then the blonde woman’s eyes turned sad. And she turned to the window looking out at the lightless sky.

“There are some special cases.” She murmured. Then snapped her eyes back to him.

“But that is not why I’m here.”

Merlin’s eyebrows went up in expectation.

The woman’s expression turned to something that Merlin had only ever seen from his mother and Gaius. A sort of pity that’s shrouded in love.

She advanced on him and then settled her hands on his shoulders. Upon closer inspection, he could see the way she wasn’t completely opaque, but he felt her hands as if they were solid, flesh and bone.

“I know who you are, Emrys.”

Merlin practically hissed at the name and began to back away towards the door of the chambers.

“What are you planning to do about it? Tell the king?” Merlin was panicked now. If Uther knew then there would be no chance of saving himself. Or of saving Arthur.

“Calm yourself, dear. That is the last place I would be headed even if I did plan to tell someone.”

Merlin stopped, whispering, consciously aware of the guards that will patrol this corridor at some point soon.

“So why are you here?”

“Because, Merlin, I want to thank you. I want you to know that all that you’ve suffered, all that you’ve sacrificed, has not been in vain.”

What? How could she possibly know…

“I have been here some time, Merlin. Unseen but always watching.” She smiled again. “This was the deal I made. I gladly gave my life if they agreed to let me watch him grow.”

Time froze.

And suddenly everything clicked into place for Merlin.

He audibly gasped.

“You…” he started shaking his head as if it were a hallucination brought by bad wine or mysterious herbs. “You’re her.”

He stared back into those eyes.

Those eyes he’d come to know on a different human. Eyes he’d come to love.

“Yes. I am. And I have been here with him, watching him struggle and learn. Make mistakes.”

She clutched him again by the shoulders.

“Merlin, I want to thank you for taking care of my son.”

He was shaking his head and stuttering incoherently, almost silently, trying to find words to express everything he feels every day.

“You-I-your son is…a great man. And he’s going to be a good King. A kind, just, King.”

She smirked again at him, probably knowing more than he did about everything.

And then her smile turned soft as she replied.

“The Once and Future King.”

Merlin nodded, feeling a little giddy himself at the idea. Arthur sitting atop the throne of Albion and ruling his people in an age of peace, until he turns old and grey. Trusting the next generation to take the reins.

Merlin chuckled a little.

“The gods couldn’t have picked anyone better suited.”

“He will need you, Merlin. Especially in what’s to come. But this is nothing you are not already aware of.” She had a very soft smile, genuine, not one harsh line on her whole face. “I’ve also appeared to you now to say, I think you should be truthful with him.” Merlin’s instincts almost caused him to recoil from her again, but he stilled his body, as she continued. “I see him when you are not here, when he is alone, when he’s with his father. The way that he communicates his feelings are hurtful and he has no clue how to work through them. I am sorry that Uther raised him that way.” Merlin watched transparent tears slide down her pale face. “But you help him. He’s getting better with himself, with others. You are the light in his life, he wants to do better because of you, the way you see him.”

Merlin was crying too. He couldn’t help it.

He didn’t think anyone ever knew what really went on inside this blasted castle, but someone was here, watching him fail and try and try again and succeed sometimes, and keep Arthur and Camelot safe and happy. Someone has been rooting for him the entire time, he was never really alone.

“Hold on. Would he be able to see you?” Merlin whispered cautiously. “Do you want him to?”

“I’m afraid that it’s a little more complicated for people without magic. I was able to appear before you now, because your guard was down while you were crying. Your mental and emotional barriers were lowered and I was allowed to reveal myself. For Arthur and I to talk, I would need a lot of magic and a lot of trust.” She reminded him so much of Arthur in the way she hid her melancholy behind a dazzling smile.

“But that is not the reason I think you should tell him. He might be frustrated at first, but he will be far less angry than he was moments ago. He trusts you and he knows there is something you are not telling him. I think you would both benefit from a little honesty, him just as much as you.” She smirked at the last comment.

Merlin cannot believe that he just got talked into revealing his magic by the Queen of Camelot.

This day is so strange.

Wait-

“What does that mean? What is it that Arthur is keeping from me?” He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and thought. He knew almost everything about the man. He could probably paint him blindfolded at this point, with every buckle and button in perfect place. He knew his sense of humor, his daily schedule by heart, he knew everything Arthur thought about everyone, and Arthur knew the same of him…almost.

Except for that one-okay, maybe two things.

Maybe Arthur had an exception also.

“You will have to be vulnerable in order to find the answer to your question.” It almost sounds like a riddle of Kilgarah’s but the Queen’s made a lot more sense to him than the Great Dragon’s usually did.

“When he returns, avoid cornering him in the room. He does not do well with-“ the lady cut herself off for the first time, somehow even ghosts were conflicted in their thoughts. Her face hardened, “Uther used tactics like this to intimidate Arthur when he was a boy being scolded. For absolutely nothing at all. For doing things that boys should be doing!” Her voice reached its loudest volume and she stumbled farther away from him, wide-eyed.

“I am so sorry, Merlin. I have not spoken to anyone in so long. I didn’t not mean to get angry.” Tears welled in her blue, blue eyes.

Merlin could not stand it.

“There is nothing to apologize for. You have every right to be angry. I am angry. Sometimes with destiny, or dragons, or evil unknown forces lurking in the dark. But always at Uther. For treating Arthur that way, like an animal raised for slaughter. And for never realizing how much it scarred him. And for never changing, or apologizing. Never once. He is not even human anymore.”

They stood there, locked into each other, sharing in their grief, in their pain for this boy that they love more than life.

And then they heard footsteps, both parties equally startled for different reasons.

“Good luck, Merlin.” Igraine was smiling softly again, as if it had never left, maybe that is what Arthur does for her. What he does for them both. Bring the color and joy back into the world like a breath of clean air. “You will do well.” She nodded, before starting to disappear, back into the invisible ether of the castle.

Then the door swung open to reveal Arthur, looking almost apologetic, but also scanning the room before landing his eyes back on Merlin.

“Who are you talking to?”

“No one. Myself.” Another lie. Shit.

This isn’t going well and he’s three words into it.

The prince opened his mouth as if to retort but Merlin stopped him confidently proclaiming,

“Arthur, I need to tell you something.” It was as though Merlin could feel a weight physically lifting off his shoulders as soon as the words left his mouth. “Quite a few things actually. I have not been honest with you. But I don’t want to keep secrets anymore.”

Arthur stood momentarily speechless, surprised at Merlin’s change of heart.

TBC…

[epicfroggz]

Age of Shadow

(This is a fan-made Messmer questline and ending, not based on cut content or anything of the sort. Source is: I made it up. Thanks to @purpupa for helping with some of the items, inspiring me, and listening to my crazed ramblings at the midnight hours. Very long post ahead, enjoy!)

After his fight, particularly after the Hornsent has left his arena, you will be able to locate Messmer at the entrance to the keep’s infirmary, near the West Rampart site of grace. He will be standing in thought before these three chairs:

Messmer has donned a cloak made of Shadow and patched himself up using black gauze (see drawing above). When prompted, he says:

“Hello, Tarnished. There art three chairs here, but none fit me. That seemeth an oversight, does it not?”

Messmer does not turn to face you when he speaks. When prompted again, he says:

“… Thou hast not walked away yet. Doth thee needeth something?”

>Ask how he is alive

pleasantly “Serpents art exceedingly difficult to kill. Believe me, I have tried. Is that all?”

>Ask why he is not attacking

“I had underestimated thee, Tarnished. Thee hast strength befitting a lord. I shouldst not have doubted my mother.” pause “The serpent didst not expect a lightless creature like itself to be elevated to such a standing. It appears things hath changed in mine absence. I have much to learn.”

>leaving dialogue

“Tarnished, I have a request, if thou’rt up for it. I hath misplaced some notes of mine, a recipe for a particular physick. If thee bringeth it to me, thee shalt be rewarded. Farewell, for now.”

The key item Messmer’s Notes can be found in the Specimen Storehouse, near the Storehouse, Loft site of grace. It requires climbing up the catwalks and dropping down to an area with bookshelves.

Messmer’s Notes - Barely legible cursive scrawl written by Messmer the Impaler. Details a recipe for a medicine once derived from one of his mother’s blessings. It appears to be based off a childhood memory, with a few added ingredients “for taste”.

When you return to the infirmary, Messmer will be kneeling in the “O, Mother” gesture before a shrine to Marika that he has set up, the three chairs neatly pushed out of the way. When prompted, he retracts his hands, and says:

“Hello again, Tarnished. Didst thee findeth the recipe?”

You may then give him Messmer’s Notes. Alternatively, you may choose to give him a Blessing of Marika if there is one in your inventory.

>Offer Messmer’s notes

“Oh! I thank thee. Here, thy compensation.” gives you a Rune of an Unsung Hero

>Offer Blessing of Marika

“Oh, this is… Where didst thee get this? Nay, ‘tis not my place to ask. My sincerest gratitude, Tarnished.” gives you a Marika’s Rune

You may now ask Messmer more questions:

>Ask about the jarfolk

“Ah. What remains of my mother’s people. I hath tried desperately, for aeons it seemeth, to ease their suffering, yet… At what point is keeping a patient alive no longer in the interest of their wellbeing? At what point does it becometh insanity?“ shakily “I still feeleth as though I hast failed them…”

The second question only unlocks after you have defeated both Rellana and Gaius. If you have not, when you leave and travel back to the West Rampart site of grace, you will be greeted by the sound of Messmer weeping. Walking within ten feet of him or breaking objects in the room will cause him to stop. When prompted, he says:

trying to sound intimidating but holding back tears “Begone, Tarnished.” shakily “Messmer does not wish to speak to thee at this moment…”

Leaving and traveling back to the West Rampart site of grace will let you choose the second question:

>About your friends…

“I knoweth, Tarnished. They were in thy way, were they not? Rellana, and Gaius… I shall grant them a hero’s burial. May they returneth to the Erdtree yet, even if that is a vain hope in this land.” quietly “My friends, forgive me… For I have availed you nothing…”

>leaving dialogue

“Tarnished, thee can travel to the Lands Between, can thee not? I have another request for thee.”

A cutscene plays wherein Messmer carefully pulls a snake from his eye socket. During it, he says: “After shedding the seal, I recalled abilities lost to me. Some wonderful, some terrible, some… Gah! Hah… For thee, Tarnished. On thy travels, I bid thee well.”

Thus he will grant you this key item:

Juvenile Serpent - One of the base serpent’s progeny, pulled from the eye of Messmer the Impaler. Writhes around often. Stares longingly at the world, or perhaps stares hungrily at you. Who can tell? “Do take care of it, wilt thee?”

After reluctantly accepting the serpent, when you travel back to any grace in the Lands Between that Melina can spawn at, there will be a new option to Speak to Melina. She will say:

“What in the world is that creature you travel with? It seems to like me… You are exceedingly warm, little snake.” pause “It appears hungry. I can feed it some runes, if you would like?”

>Accept (-100 runes)

“Snakes are said to be traitors to the Erdtree, but we too are walking the path of heresy. Let’s get you fed, little one… There. Do tell, where did you find it?” pause “A long lost demigod pulled it out of his eye? Have you been afflicted with madness? No, you are entirely sincere. Huh. Well, it seems harmless enough.”

The serpent must be fed one more time to continue the quest. Speak to Melina at any grace and she will say:

“Hello. The little one hungers once again. Would you like to offer some runes?”

>Accept (-100 runes)

“I am surprised at its good nature, though I have witnessed it spit a red flame when angered. It is impossible not to question what sort of demigod it came from…”

An interaction occurs wherein Messmer materializes in a shadowy haze—not unlike the spirit fog through which Melina appears to you. He introduces himself: “Ah, so it was thee feeding the wee serpent? I knew it smelled like kin… I am Messmer, and thee?”

dumbfounded “Melina?”

“I see. Melina. Sister of mine, I knoweth of the kindling that smolders within thee.” he summons a small flame in his hand to show her “There is no need to burn thy self again. The Tarnished and I shall see it through.”

After this, the description of the Juvenile Serpent item updates:

Juvenile Serpent - One of the base serpent’s progeny, pulled from the eye of Messmer the Impaler. Prefers the company of the kindling maiden, as her touch feels like home. It will not bite the hand that feeds it. Serves as an anchor between the Lands Between and the veiled Land of Shadow.

(Optional) Taking the serpent in this state to the Church of Vows site of grace allows you to choose the new option, Speak to Messmer, which will summon him in shadowy spirit:

“Thou hast met Miriel? We became acquainted when Rellana once brought me here… ‘Tis a burning memory now, but the pastor is a wise beast indeed.” he looks to the sky “‘Heresy is not native to the world. All things can be conjoined’. We have forgotten that. We have forgotten ourselves, what we held most dear. To repair shattered Gold, I must layeth bare the ugliest truths of this world, those which I have been the bearer of for so long—I must mend it with Shadow. For there is no light that exists without the dark.”

Taking the serpent to the Forge of the Giants site of grace allows you to choose Speak to Messmer:

“Thou hast done well to come this far, Tarnished. Long have the prophets uttered of this moment. ‘Tis not lightly I choose to fulfill it, but… I wouldst prefer to give my men the option to return home, if nothing else. Art thou prepared to commit a cardinal sin, with me?”

>Accept

A cutscene plays, in which the Erdtree and Scadutree are burned at once in Messmer’s flame. Messmer speaks:

“Tarnished, hold my kindling aloft. From here, I shall do my part… O, Erdtree, and Scadutree both, ye shall burn together. For the sake of the new Lord, and a new world, mended.”

You continue your journey to Farum Azula and then back to Leyndell, Capital of Ash. Sir Gideon Ofnir will have access to the incantation “Messmer’s Orb” in his fight (why wasn’t this a thing already???). At the Queen’s Bedchamber site of grace, you must choose to Speak to Messmer one last time:

“Ah… Thou art close. Within the Erdtree, I intend to confront my mother. If it be true she has become infirm, and lost all sense of self… Then I shalt taketh her place. The Two Fingers rejected me long ago, but I am yet capable. If it cometh to this, will thee be my Lord?”

>Accept

“I thank thee. We have come a long way, Tarnished.” small laugh “When it cometh to thee, I find I have no regrets. Take this, and when the bell tolls, summon me forth. To stand before my mother once again.”

Thus you will be granted this key item:

Mending Rune of the Abyssal Prince - Mending rune gestated by Messmer the Impaler. Used to restore the fractured Elden Ring when brandished by the Elden Lord. Formed of a swirling mass of serpents, and the base serpent biting its own tail. It will embed a Shadow lost back into the Golden Order, restoring balance. The “base” in the base serpent’s name refers both to its nature and the place it once belonged, at the roots of the Erdtree where light does not reach.

After defeating Radagon and Elden Beast, you will have the option to summon Messmer from a shadowy summon sign on the ground, giving this final cutscene:

“‘Those who walk alongside flame shall one day meet the road of Destined Death’… Yet, it seemeth my road hast led me back to thee.”

“Mother… Thee may rest now. I shall put thee, and this world, back together again…”

Messmer gently gives Marika’s head to you, and you place it upon her body, the Elden Ring becoming mended with the abyssal rune. The scene lingers on her as the shadows in the background deepen, and as a squelching sound grows in volume, soon thunderous. From the darkness suddenly emerges the abyssal serpent to swallow her whole, its red eyes burning against the dark:

The scene cuts to black.

Messmer narrates the final scene, showcasing the now physical Erdtree grafted unto its Scadu counterpart: “The fallen leaves tell a story… Of a Tarnished who became Elden Lord... And the serpent that became a god. A god that ushered in a gentle dark, so that this shattered world may heal.

So that the light of Gold can shine ever more brilliantly, against an Age of Shadow."

[heytherecentaurs]

“I snap my wand to access that magic, move to cover her with my shadow, look into her eyes and get her gaze. The lightlessness in my eyes is a silent custodian walking the halls of her mind, turning the lights off one by one in a fraction of a second…”

— Brennan Lee Mulligan

This possesses such a literary quality. It's wild he improvised this. I've included some writing analysis below:

What makes this great from a writing standpoint is that the first sentence gives you the physical description of the actions building up to the killing. It's clear and unadorned, so you can visualize the series of events without hurdles. It uses action words: snap, access, move, cover, look. That drives the reader forward. Then in the second sentence he uses imagery and metaphor to attach emotion to the act of killing. You can clearly visualize it. The build up to murder is mundane but the act itself holds significance requiring a shift in tone.

His phrasing here is important because the words possess more emotional colour—lightlessness (not darkness), silent custodian (not custodian), and in a fraction of a second (not instantly or instantaneously). Each feels intentional: lightlessness speaks to a light that's typically there and possesses a different quality than darkness; a silent custodian attaches an adjective so we know it's not just a custodian but a silent one and whatever emotion that summons for you; and in a fraction of a second draws things out, the rhythm contributing to the idea of lights going out one by one, and even a fraction of a second adds a temporal quality opposed to it being instantly, which a fraction of a second to us is essentially instant but the phrase literally takes longer to read/hear. The clauses are longer, more fluid, more evocative of the action he'd describing.

If you were writing this, you would probably choose a different verb than get in the phrase "get her gaze" because get is fairly neutral; perhaps, capture or seize — not because they're fancier but because they indicate an unwillingness on Boudicca's behalf. There's a connotation behind those words that makes it clear he's not giving her a choice.

Brennan continues after the ellipsis (in the quote above), "...like someone putting a house to bed, to close up shop for the night, and putting it all to bed, done." If I were editing this, I'd recommend cutting this whole part. That second sentence is already perfect. Don't extend your metaphor any further or introduce any variation on it because it muddles the idea. It's concise. It's clear. It's powerful. That lesson is just as important for us to take from this. Know when to stop. When you've hit your mark don't keep trying. Of course, this is more applicable to writing, and Brennan was speaking. It's easier to over-speak in these occasions because people are giving you the space and it's improv so you don't have the advantage of editing.

[the-lightless-flame]

i saw a poll about agnes ships before so. i am going to talk about agnes ships now (spoiler: i dont really like any of them sorry)

first her and jack. eugene says he thinks it was an expression of her doubt, and im inclined to agree. at that point, agnes was seriously doubting her place in the lightless flame (see: her suicide not long after meeting him), so i feel like she probably wanted an escape and when he asked her out it was the perfect opportunity. also she was pretty distant in all of her dates with him, so it kinda looks like she just wanted an excuse to get away from the lightless flame for an afternoon rather than actually wanting to get to know him.

ok jude. i kinda go back and forth over whether i think they were ever a thing or not but like if they were or not. theres no way they were healthy right?? for one jude sees agnes as an actual goddess and that isnt really the basis for a functioning relationship. plus, imo being treated like that (instead of as an actual person) is why agnes felt so uncomfortable with the lightless flame, so being with the person who's arguably the most devoted probably wouldnt be great for her.

gertrude i like aesthetically. i think its fun. i think if they met earlier and on better terms theyd probably go on a date and have tea and maybe kiss. i dont really ship them tho. id maybe read a fic about them, and i understand their appeal as foils for each other, but i dont really think gertrude would be good for agnes. idk, i think the main thing for me is that gertrude is too far into things at basically every point in her life, whereas what i want for agnes is to get away from that

imo the best ship for agnes is just some random woman. ive already talked about this a little in the web!agnes post but i think she deserves a normal life with a normal person (not jack tho. sorry). and that normal person should be a woman bc agnes deserves to be gay.

i really like the idea of her getting away from all the avatars and whatever stuff theyre dealing with. she should get to live in peace, and imo any ship with someone in podcast wouldnt let her have that.

anyway that is my. opinion on agnes ships. obviously not trying to come for anyones ship here, yall are cool and ur ships are very cool.

u can tell me if u think i mischaracterised ur favourite ship or if i missed one. im prepared to admit if im wrong just know that im probably not

[basilpaste]

i had a whole big idea for this, but im afraid im not terribly good at comics! or drawing fast!!! but its isas birthday!!! happy birthday!!

(the gifts are under the cut! written out!)

"Thank you! But, oh Change, you really didn't have to get little ol' me anything, ehe!"

"Nonsense, Isabeau." Odile huffs fondly. "You're part of our little team, after all. Did you think we'd forget?"

Maybe a little? You don't even entirely remember telling them about your birthday! From the look on Mira's face, though, you must have told her. It seems like she orchestrated the whole thing.

She claps her hands together cheerfully, "So! Who wants to go first!"

Bonnie waves their hands wildly, hopping up and down. "Oh!! Oh me! I want to give Za my gift!!!"

Heh! It doesn't seem like anyone's willing to fight them on it. After a moment of silence, they cheer, rushing off to heft up a small gift bag. They hurtle back towards you and present the bag dramatically.

You gingerly take the bag from them and pull it open. Inside is a-

"WAUGH?" You yelp, dropping it!

The bag falls on its side, sending the contents tumbling out. A spider?! A spider!

A... spider-shaped pin cushion.

Oh.

Bonnie lets out a long hard laugh, pointing at you, "Hahah!!! You thought it was a real spider!! Spiders don't get that big, dummy!"

"You'd be surprised," Sif speaks up, batting their lashes oh-so innocently.

You shiver. Bonnie also shivers.

"Thank you Bonbon for the pin cushion." You say, grabbing it off the ground.

... Stabbing a spider-shaped thing might feel kinda nice, actually. It was obviously a prank gift, but you'll still get plenty of use out of it!

Bonnie grins at you brightly.

Odile steps up next, bowing her head to you. She passes you a neatly wrapped box. You carefully remove the paper (its pretty!) and unfold the box.

Oh! A book!

Colour Me Curious: A History Of Colour Theory.

"Back in Dormont's House," she glances back at Sif when she says the word Dormont, you pretend you don't see, "you mentioned having an interest in colour theory. A librarian a few towns back recommended this to me. I figured you might enjoy it."

You nod rapidly. Oh!! You're surprised you haven't looked into it yet! You're not sure how you forgot! Especially considering the weird shade - colour - you all have seen! With your eyes!

"Thank you, m'dame!!" You say, trying to be mindful of your volume.

She smiles, "Of course. I'd like to hear what you take from it."

"Of course!!"

"Okay! Okay, um... me next!" Mira pulls two boxes from her dress pocket (?????) and holds them anxiously, "I shouldn't have gotten two! I don't want to overshadow anyone else! But! I think you'd like these both! So! So. I got them both! Happy birthday, Isabeau!!"

You scoop them from her arms, "I don't think anyone is worried about you overshadowing them, Mira!"

The rest of your friends hum in agreement.

"Okay."

A beat.

"Start with the smaller one!"

The smaller one turns out to be a light novel of some sort. Oh! She's talked about this one before!! How she thought you'd like it because it's super cute! You thank her and place it softly on top of Odile's gift before turning your attention to the larger box.

This is...

"Oh?" You squeak, feeling a little choked up.

"Oh?" Mira echoes, "Oh no! Do you- do you not like it?"

You grab the gift from its box, running your hand along the grain. Oh no! You might cry! Oh Change!

"Mira!! Mira this is so expensive? This is so much?" You feel unworthy to even hold it.

This is like... three meters of silk?? It's dyed such a rich lightless shade? That's unbelievably expensive!! It's beautiful and so well made that you're not sure what to do with yourself. Oh crab.

"It wasn't so bad, really!!" She yelps, worry clouding her expression.

You very softly (very, very carefully) tuck the silk back into its gift box. Then you throw yourself at Mira, sweeping her up into a tight hug. She cries out, clinging to you. And then bursts into a fit of giggles.

"Thank you thank you thank you???"

"Waaa!!" She laughs, "I'm glad you like it!!!"

"I know I know lightless isn't really your shade but you HAVE to let me make you a bow with this, Mira!!"

"Ah!! If you want to!!"

"I Do!!"

"Okay!"

You pull away from the hug, glancing back at the silk. You feel your chest swell with joy!! Oh Change!! This is so much stuff! And you're still not done!

Sif looks... a little bit nervous. They shift the box they're holding in their hands and shuffle up to you. After a moment of hesitation, he holds it out.

"... Happy birthday, Isa."

You take the box with care. It's small, but heavier than you're expecting. There's a bow on top that Bonbon snatches after you take it off. All of these gifts have been a surprise! But you're really not sure what Sif got you!

You open the box.

A piece of lightless fabric sits under the lid. It's embroidered! Not perfect or flawless, but done with care. Darkless spots are scattered on its surface and in big capital letters, it reads "You're A Star!"

Oh!! You get this joke, now! It used to only make sense to Sif but you know now!! Your chest feels light. You laugh.

"There's more." They say quietly.

You nod, gingerly removing the embroidery and setting it to the side. It reveals... a wood carving!! You pull the carving from the box, turning it over in your hands. This is you!!! It's a carving of you!!

How did you not notice him working on it??

"Sif!!" You gasp, "Sif it's perfect!!!"

"O-Oh?"

"This is beautiful!!! You made this? And the patch??"

He looks away, hiding his face in his cloak, "Um... yeah."

"I love them!" You grin so wide it hurts your face, "I love you! All of you!! This is all so... ah!! I need to start thinking about gifts for your birthdays, now!!"

"How about we finish celebrating yours first?" M'dame hums.

You feel light as a feather. You love your friends - your family - more than you can say.

[livesworthlivingau]

Behind the Vale Chapter 18

ISAT/Two Hats Spoilers as always! CW: Homoerotic fight scene What? Who said that?

"Hmmmm…" [You ponder deeply, looking over the collection of daggers on display at the town's blacksmith.]

"What's up? None speaking to you?" [Nille chimes in, noticing the look on your face. Does having a mouth again really make us that easy to read?]

"No, they aren't… I'm not sure a dagger feels right anymore."

"Oh? Well what else would you get? I can't exactly see your scrawny butt using a big hammer." [She teased with a smirk. You rolled your eyes some.]

"Riiight, and who destroyed that sadness standing over you when we first met~?"

"I had that under control! I was just making it think it had me!" [You both laugh, even she couldn't pretend that was true.]

"But to answer your question, I'm not quite sure, something agile still but…"

"How about a rapier?"

"NO! No no no! The Housemaiden uses one of those."

"… And?"

"… Just… I'd rather not… Have that constant reminder." [She rolls her eyes but drops it. It seemed the only thing preventing another talk was the fact you were in public.]

"Okay, uhhh... Oh! What about one of those?" [She asked, spotting a rack with several whips hanging off of them.]

"Oh… Oh yes, that actually sounds nice~." [You say as you walk over to it, glancing about at them all hanging, finding a lovely looking one with lightless and darkless diamond patterning across its whole length.]

"I think this will do perfectly~."

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

[The sound of 3 booming CRACKs sound out in a row as you try to snap your new whip across the practice targets setup. You manage to split the first in half, but your swings go wide on the follow ups, missing the other two.]

"Hey! Not bad! You're a natural at this!"

"Not bad?! I only hit one blinding target!"

"... Vale, have you ever used a whip before?"

"Not that I can recall, no."

"Uh huh, and you just expected to be great at it first thing?"

"I mean, I used paper craft pretty well first thing~."

"Well yeah, that was instincts. If you're a paper type now, that's gonna come a lot more naturally. Stress of combat and all, you don't think you just act."

"Hmmm... You make a good point... Maybe there's some more sadness nearby we could try and track down?"

"You wanna go hunting sadness' now?!"

"Well how else am I going to get better at this?" [Nille smacks her own face gently in a facepalm before sighing out.]

"Alright, alright, if you're set on this..." [She begins, placing a hand on your shoulder.]

"Now think fast!" [She shouts before using her other arm to scoop under your leg, suddenly lifting you over her head and tossing you over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

"WH-HEY?!" [You cry out, tumbling across the grass and sliding to a stop. You look up at Nille, her hammer now out, playful grin on her face.]

"If you're so set on a fight, I'll give you one pretty Vay~!"

"N-Nille?! Y-You can't just toss me like that!!"

"Actually I can, pretty easily in fact!" [She beams with a bright laugh, your face burns in a fluster as you grumble, readying your new whip, holding your other hand in a paper sign.]

"F-Fine! But you asked for it!"

"Don't hold back for me now Vale, I won't for you!" [She remarked with a wink, then suddenly rushing towards you.]

[You step back in surprise, not expecting her to actually approach with such intent. She raises her hammer, preparing to swing. You finally snap out of it and bring your hand forward, summoning a shield like before. Nille's hammer swings right through it, dampening the blow but still sending it slamming into your side, knocking you over and tumbling a bit again.]

"Ack! H-Hey!!"

"Oh come on, you're paper type now, you barely felt that!"

"Y-Yes but STILL!!" [You shout, more so protesting about getting tossed around than anything else. She pays no mind to your pleas as she begins to rush at you again. You wonder how she's so blinding fast with that massive hammer.]

"Gonna have to go on the offensive soon~!" [She taunts at you. Alright, we can figure this out, there's got to be some way we can slow her down somehow... Wait, didn't Odile have a craft like that? Yes! We've seen it countless times! You take a breath for a moment, trying to replicate the ritual she performed when using it, sending a lethargic wave towards Nille to help weigh her down some.]

"Oooh, got some other tricks up your sleeve?" [She calls in surprise, though it doesn't seem to affect her as much as Odile's ability did. It would have to do for now, taking a defensive stance and flourishing your new whip. She swings high as you duck below, swapping her momentum to slam down before you barely manage to jump back out of the way.]

"C'mon! Go on the offensive Valey!" [She encourages, you snap your whip forward, coiling it around the neck of her hammer. With a heavy tug and pulling paper gesture, you manage to yank it free from her grip, tossing it upwards and spinning off behind you as you watch it fly overhead.]

"Hah! What are you gonna do no-ACK!!" [You begin to tease, turning back to Nille who was suddenly moments away, tackling into you and sending you both sliding across the ground, skidding to a stop. You stare up at her in stunned silence. She chuckles some, seeing your face.]

"HAHA! Here's a tip, Vay. Never let your guard down." [She teased... then perked up some, noticing your face with her own darkening, quickly getting up off of you... Our face feels hot. Are we blushing?...]

"Heh, uhh... Sorry about that, got a little carried away there." [She mumbled some, holding out a hand to help you up, taking it and easily getting lifted off the ground.]

"But good hustle! Seems like you got a few new moves to work with!" [Her face is still dark, she's trying to change the subject, you recognize this tactic... Why is our face burning?! You try to shake the sensation away.]

"R-Right~! Guess we won't have to worry much next time a sadness comes around~!" [You remark, desperately trying to slip the mask back on. You both stand in awkward silence for a moment.]

"... W-We should probably get back to the Inn."

"O-Oh yes! I'll uhh... meet you there, I wanted to stop by the local tailor first~."

"Oooof course you do."

Get ready for some new official outfit designs next Vale chapter~

[bornetoblood]

TOP FIVE WOMEN (it is hard u were right. anyway ur turn now :) )

WOMEN

5. the Graverobber from Darkest Dungeon. I love her and her shady line of work.

4.Tomie from the Junji Ito series. God forbid women do anything.

3. Annabelle Cain from TMA. Love a spider woman soooo mcyh

2. Lady Maria Bloodborne and Malenia Elden Ring (they're here together cus I like them for very similar reasons).

1.KIM WEXLER BCS !!!!!!

[thefirstknife]

We're told that at the beginning of the Golden Age "human lifespans tripled" - my impression is that this continues to be a case and that the humans we know are often well over 100 years old. In my head at least, Eva is in her mid 200s. Am I wrong, or is this supported by canon?

I believe it is still the case, though finding evidence is really difficult, mostly because we simply don't have a timeline. I think it would make sense for this to still be in effect because nothing else from the Traveler's terraforming and gifts was removed post-Collapse.

However, the question is also how much of the extended lifespan was due to the paracausality of the Traveler and its gifts and how much was just advancement in technology. Or a combination of both? If the majority of the lifespan extension was just due to technology, then this would've been lost post-Collapse. But possibly some of it could have been regained in the recent years, affecting the lifespans again.

One of the most obvious questions is Eris and the status of Lightless Guardians and aging. She lost her Light in the Great Disaster which was quite a while ago, but how long ago exactly? Long enough for this to affect her? Long enough to be noticeable or not? It doesn't seem to be very noticeable, so either it wasn't too long ago, or Guardians don't age even after losing their Light, or the lifespan is still extended so Eris is just old and it's not a big deal.

Eva is also a curious case, as we know very little about her life. She's very clearly an older woman, but we have no idea about when she was born. There's not a single mention of anything from her youth that would help us place it somewhere in the timeline. Has she been around for a normal amount of time or extended? She made one comment to Osiris (at the time Savathun, but Eva didn't know that):

"Eva. It's been too long. You look as bright as ever." Osiris melted out of the shadows near her doorway. The ex-outfitter snorted. "That's faint praise coming from someone who's been fifty for several centuries."

More under:

This can be read in several ways. it might just be a phrase because Guardians are known to not age. She knows Osiris must be the same as he was when he was rezed and she knows that he's been around for a while, given that he's a well-known Guardian. Or maybe she's also been around for a while and has seen him before; while she aged normally over the centuries, he didn't.

But that also becomes a problem with his exile because that would mean she would have to have seen him for a while before his exile and then years would've passed during the exile and she's still around now, which would make her quite significantly old (and would also prove extended lifespans). But we have no real proof of this.

Speaking of Osiris and his exile, there is one other specific piece of evidence, but it also depends A LOT on how well we can estimate when certain events happened.

Sister Faora! She led the Cult of Osiris at the time of Osiris' exile (and for ?? years after). We know this because she got to meet Osiris merely weeks after his exile:

The weeks since his departure from the Last City have worn on him.

The last time she appeared in the setting (in-game wise) was around House of Wolves; after that, she was no longer mentioned. I honestly thought she died of old age and that this wasn't important enough to mention because she's a fairly niche character.

But she didn't die. She appeared in the City during Season of the Deep. And it's not a story of something from the past, it's her being in the City in the present time because she meets with Shayura who is mourning Reed-7's death (which occured at the start of Lightfall). This now gives us a unique insight because she's a normal Lightless human, and we have two specific points of reference: Osiris' exile and the Witness' attack on Earth in Lightfall. We would just have to figure out how long it's been between these two events, which is where the problems start and assumptions must be made.

My first assumption is that Faora must've already been old-ish when she was the leader of the Cult back during Osiris' exile. I think it's reasonable to assume this, given her position as a leader. I always thought she would've been at least 40 or older at the time of speaking to Osiris after his exile.

The first problem is the timeline of Osiris' exile. We know he was exiled around Twilight Gap which brings us to problem 2: when was that? This leads to assumption 2: Twilight Gap happened at least a century ago. There's some evidence to this, namely Osiris saying the following:

They were young, and nearly a century of navigation through the Infinite Forest had honed Osiris's ability to remain unseen.

But does this refer to the time passing in general or the time dilation in the Forest? So the problems continue. It's basically impossible to tell what's the time span between these events; both the Great Disaster (for the question of Eris' age) and Twilight Gap are notoriously hard to place, even in relation to each other. This has been an ongoing debate for years.

If Twilight Gap is not that long ago - maybe a few decades - then Faora's age could probably be within normal limits, though depending on her age at the time of Osiris' exile, she could be pushing 100 or more. So even if Twilight Gap was less than 50 years ago, Faora could still be too old for non-extended lifespans.

She would have to have been in her 20s and Twilight Gap would have to be at max 50 years ago for her to be within a reasonable current age if the lifespan is not extended. Both of these estimates feel too low to me, especially Faora's age as an established leader of the Cult with a lot of authority. As I said, I imagined her being at least 40-50 at the time of speaking to Osiris.

And Twilight Gap has to be at least several decades away. I find it hard to believe that the Gap happened like 20 years ago; it's always talked about like Guardian history and its relation to Osiris' exile is fairly significant as well, so I'd give it at least a century, which also matches with Osiris' statement. If Twilight Gap happened at least a century ago and Faora was at least 40 at that time, she would have to be 140 right now which I think would suggest extended lifespan. However, depending on how we do the estimates, she could easily also be around 60-70.

But the truth is, we don't know. Much like the timeline, I think this is also very deliberately vague. I think it's very possible that the lifespans are still extended, or perhaps that there is some middle ground. The original Golden Age lifespans are still out of reach but the technological advancements in the current age combined with everything the Traveler has done to the system in the Golden Age allow for humans to push past what we have today. So maybe they can't get to the projected Golden Age 300 years, but possibly being 150 or 200 isn't out of reach.

Unfortunately, we don't really know for sure. We could probably go into analysis of every normal mortal human character mentioned and try to figure things out, but there will be confusing and contradicting evidence all over the place, keeping this fairly vague. And there would also be the issue of individual outliers; either those that live longer or die younger for reasons unrelated to aging.

Personally, I think lifespans are at the very least at least somewhat extended.

[sadgirlbaby]

THE RUBBER MAN SUIT - tate langdon x fem!reader (smut)

(author’s recommendation: play this song while reading this)

CW: explicit sexual speaking, dirty talk, cussing (a bit), unprotected sex, p in v penetration, cumming

SUMMARY: (tate is a ghost whom was haunting your house. he was the only one beyond moira that wanted to show himself to you since you first arrived there. you and tate became friends since that time and often spent time together). you couldn't find tate anywhere so you checked in the basement but you surprisingly found him wearing a weird but sexy black rubber suit.

you were peacefully doing your homework but you knew that tate did not want you to go to school as he wanted you to stay with him. you were extremly trying to focus on studying but then you remembered you hadn't seen tate for a while.

"tate?" you asked while looking around.

you didn't receive anything as respose so you stood up off your chair and went looking for him.

after a couple of minutes of wandering around your house you suddenly thought about the basement.

you went down the stairs and got into that lightless place of your apartment.

"tate? are you here?" you said standing in front of the staircase as you didn't want to dive into darkness.

"tate? I don't like this... please show up" you said as you were shaking in fear. you liked darkness but that was way too dark to walk in or even see.

you suddenly heard a plastic noise coming from the darkness and a small light suddenly turned on. your heart skipped a beat as you saw someone very creepy standing in front of you. they immediately unzipped the mask and showed their face, you sighed at the sight of your friend.

his slim figure was emphasized by the tight material that he was wearing - it was a black rubber suit that suited him perfectly.

"omg you scared me, tate... don't do that ever again" you said while catching your breath.

"did I scare you? god, I thought you weren't afraid of anything" he said back.

"I am not. I just got worried since I couldn't find you anywhere".

"where did you think that I could have be gone? I can't get out of this house" he reminded you.

"you're right, but... what the hell are you wearing?" you said.

"just a black suit I found here. how do I look?" he turned on himself making you stare at his suit.

"good... really good..." you were lost in thought as you did really think he looked good in that suit. you could not express yourself since he was way too fine.

it was weird for you thinking that your friend tate was hot. his fluffly and messy blond hair, his reddish lips, his deep and dark eyes, his hips and his sluttly little waist freaked you out.

"what are you looking at?" he smirked noticing your inattention. you instanlty blushed thinking about him finding out about your fantasies.

"nothing" you replied.

"hmm..." he groaned and got closer to you. you didn't lift your stare as you didn't want to see him gazing at you in that way.

"nothing?" he repeated.

you finally raised your head and laid your eyes on him. your lips felt like they were pulsing in eager of kissing his.

tate gazed at yours too and he looked like he was mesmerized by them. he suddenly got closer and slowly pushed your waist against his. he kissed you. you closed your eyes and he did too. your lips were connected and your tongues were already happily dancing together.

you wrapped your arms around his neck and softly pushed his head towards you to kiss him easily.

"was this "the nothing" you were thinking about?" he slowly left your lips and looked at you seductively.

you lowered your stare and he smirked.

"kiss me again" you said.

he didn't even hesitated and immediately pressed his lips on yours again. you could feel his desire of wanting more just by touching his lips. he started to breathe heavily and his grip on your hips got stronger.

"I want you." he affirmed.

"hm?" you mumbled while kissing.

"I need you." he said and instantly grabbed your shirt and pulled it off exposing your breasts still covered by your bra.

"what are you doin-?" you tried to speak but he immediately kissed you again to keep you quiet.

then he looked at you with heart shaped eyes and pulled your jeans off too. your panties came off with your jeans.

"this tight suit is gonna be hard to take off…" he said and unzipped it. he tried to be as quickly as he could and once he took it off, you noticed that he wasn't wearing any type of underwear under that black rubber suit.

he couldn't wait any longer so he picked you up and smashed you against the first wall he saw.

"hmm" he groaned as he entered his cock into you. you jolted and automatically clinged to him.

"oh- oh my god..." you panted.

"you're so fucking tight..." he groaned and kept thrusting harder and harder.

his cock was a little bit bigger than you expected so it was hurting but it was like a satisfying pain, an excitating pain.

your walls wrapped around his erection and he sped up his thrusts.

this action made both of you gasp. his labored breath against your neck could make you cum instantly.

"fuck..." he said. his thrusts were wild and intense.

he softly kissed your neck giving you goosebumps and you just kept moaning. you were staring at the ceiling with your half open mouth and your legs shaking.

he was a total mess as well and he couldn't hold it anymore.

you digged your nails into his back giving him scratches and marks everywhere and he was actually enjoying that. this was a motivation for him to thrust faster and harsher.

"you feel so good..." he moaned.

tate was sweating and also whining a bit. he was praising you and your unique body.

his skin got hotter and he knew that he was about to cum. the sight of you crying out his name made him even hornier. he sped up his thrusts one more time he couldn't get enough of it.

he kissed your neck leaving wet kisses all down your soft skin. this filled you with stomach butterflies and had you moaning louder.

"tate- I-I'm c-cum-ming..." you whined.

"cum for me baby" he said.

you let yourself release and made tate cum instantly. he refilled your walls with his seed and orgasmed loudly.

he slowly slowed down and then he kissed your lips. you french kissed, then tate put you down and you both got dressed again.

"wait" he said as he grabbed your wrist.

"you're beautifully beautiful" he smiled and stared at your eyes.

you let out a soft laugh and kissed his cheek as you dragged him out of the basement.

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