#like she would have ACTUALLY looked for her in earnest if she'd known there was something in it for her lol

[becasbelt]

I always find it incredibly ironic that act 2 (S2) starts with ambessa looking for 1) jinx and 2) someone who can crack hextech, because jinx has, quite literally, already done that. she figured out how to stabilize hextech based off second-hand lab notes and her own ratchety equipment. dare I say it was almost easy for her! jinx's biggest hurdle was facing her own demons about the whole thing, but after her little baptism she figured it out like it was a mildly amusing math problem. and ambessa had no fucking clue about any of it.

like ambessa was doing her part in helping caitlyn find jinx, I'm sure, but if she knew that jinx also had the ability to weaponize hextech? she would've had her forces tearing down the undercity to find her.

[alice--pallas]

While Alice didn't fear that the information would turn Abraxis away, she did feel a sort of relief that he was now aware of this important knowledge. It certainly wasn't the most important fact about her past but a vital one nonetheless. She smiled at them when they expressed their gratitude for her honesty. It was strange, learning how to trust someone in this way again, after so long. Initially, she'd really just been looking for a fling and some intel, a fact that she sometimes felt a little guilt over--but she couldn't have known that it was going to turn into something so much deeper and meaningful. And yet, even now, there was a small worry in the back of her head that wondered if Abra knew anything about what had happened a few nights ago in the graveyard. She wanted to believe that he couldn't have but right now, there really wasn't any way to be 100% sure. She supposed that, per usual, she'd just have to trust her gut. To be fair, her gut usually lead her in the right direction--usually. I have questions but I want you to know that nothing you could ever reveal about yourself would alter my perception of you. She smiled at these words, though she found them interesting as well. To her core, Alice had a strong moral compass and therefore, she hadn't had many moments that she was truly ashamed of. No, she didn't feel great about her prior addictions but she didn't beat herself about them, either. Being such a loyal person, she had never betrayed anyone that she cared about--that being said, though, she did wonder what would cross Abraxis' personal line of what they personally deemed to be reprehensible. Giving them a small smile and a nod, she said "You can ask your questions if you want."

In retrospect, perhaps she shouldn't have used a phrase that was commonly used in wedding vows. For better or worse. I un-ironically like that sound of that. Giving a small chuckle, she said "You know what I mean." Of course, she didn't want to push away the romantic notion of what Abra was hinting at (and maybe joking about?) but at the same time, they were far from any kind of commitment like that. Furthermore, Alice was almost positive that she wasn't interested in getting married again for a long time. If she were ever to do that, she had to be sure it was the one--and even then, did that really make a difference? She'd been so sure that Alec was the one and look how that one had turned out. She was more than content with taking things slow as they had been. For example, they hadn't even had the 'what are we' conversation, mostly because they both felt satisfied with simply enjoying each other's company.

Though she was admittedly a bit surprised at their confession to having acted entitled, she did appreciate their honesty to come clean about it at all. Besides, from the sound of it, they were purely referring to interactions that they'd had with the hospital staff--they hadn't mentioned her family, though she was certain that they'd crossed paths. All this to say that if they didn't want her knowing about it, they hadn't actually had to tell her--and that honesty meant everything, even with something so seemingly trivial. Then again, being kind to others wasn't really trivial at all, was it? "Thank you for telling me," she said, her blue eyes earnest. "I'm sure it's been stressful for...everyone. But I appreciate you being on your best behavior," she said with the slightest of chuckles. "Besides, I can't really blame you for flaring your temper--I'd probably have done the same." Abraxis hadn't seen it, and she bashfully hoped they'd never have to, but Alice knew a thing or two about having a temper herself. She'd certainly raised some hell when she'd been a bit younger and louder, that was for sure.

Mystery is part of the allure. Smirking, she said "It certainly is." Of course, it wasn't just Abraxis working through the layers to get to her core--she'd also been doing the same thing, trying to get to know them on a deeper level. "That's part of the fun, though, isn't it? Putting all the pieces of the puzzle together?" she smiled, tracing her fingers along their well-defined arms. She'd much rather have this conversation wrapped in their arms in their bed inside their dark, antiquated home--naked, perhaps. She supposed that this sterile hospital room with beeping monitors would have to do for now, though. "I'm hoping I don't have to be in here much longer..." she said, unable to push away her current predicament from her mind.

She couldn't lie--she'd half-expected Abraxis to insist that she no longer pursue this, voicing their worry for her safety and in fact, when they'd started to respond, that's where she thought they were going. It was the perfect ploy--to be resolute in asking her to please stop looking because someone could come after her again or even worse, her daughter. They use the guise of fearing for her safety, all the while, keeping her in the dark about whatever nefarious deeds were taking place. That's why when they said 'We need to prove it,' she couldn't help but look at them in amazement. "You...want to help me?" she asked, fighting a smile. Perhaps... What you need is help from someone on the inside. Alice's eyes lit up at the suggestion--that together, they could get to the bottom of this. It did, of course, cross her mind that this was also a good ploy--but then again, maybe she was just being paranoid. After all, she couldn't possibly forget her hallucinations in the graveyard. She was scared and that was understandable. But maybe, just maybe, she really could trust her lover.

“i can see that it has impacted you—and still impacts you now,” abraxis murmured, their words a deliberate cadence of reverence. there was an elegance in alice’s resilience, a quiet yet commanding strength that stirred something ineffable within them. it was breathtaking, an understated radiance that rendered her more than merely captivating; she was a pillar of survival, a poignant reminder of why she held their interest so effortlessly. while alice was right about the need for the right time and place to unveil her story fully, abraxis inclined their head in a gesture of deep appreciation, their gaze steadfast. “thank you for choosing to share this with me. i consider myself fortunate—honored, even.” their voice softened, a tender veil drawn over the delight that hummed beneath. they were enraptured, eager to map every intricate contour of her soul. still, questions lingered like specters at the edges of their mind, threatening to surface, yet they withheld them for now, choosing instead to offer gratitude in its stead. “i have questions,” they admitted, their voice a low murmur, “but i want you to know that nothing you could ever reveal about yourself would alter my perception of you. these things only draw me closer.” there was a  quiet intensity in their words. their pull toward her was undeniable, a gravitational force as illecebrous as it was inescapable. the phrase for better or worse tumbled through their mind, a notion that once clawed at their subconscious, shredding their sleep with fears of vulnerability and ruin. yet, when abraxis tried the words aloud, they found their lips curling upward in an unbidden chuckle of felicity. “for better or worse,” they echoed, the phrase a tender musing that left them bashfully self-aware. a slight cringe danced across their features, as though the intimacy of the sentiment had caught them unprepared. “I un-ironically like the sound of that,” they confessed, a quiet laugh trailing after, fragile yet sincere.

what do you mean? “i mean that,” they added after a breath, their thoughts slipping momentarily to the painful recollection of that first night. shame weighed heavily upon their shoulders, tugging like a child’s relentless grip on a parent’s ankle—innocent yet unrelenting. “i am, as we speak, in the process of rebuilding a rather dismal rapport with the front desk staff,” they admitted, their tone self-deprecating. “while i didn’t exactly cause a scene in my efforts to see you the first time, i may have ruffled a feather or two.” they bowed their head slightly, humility etched into every line of their expression. they hesitated, their voice dropping to a near-whisper, heavy with contrition. “i managed to rein in my temper, but i behaved… entitled. i’m ashamed of it.” their lips pressed into a thin line, the faintest flicker of self-disapproval shadowing their gaze. “i’ve apologized to the staff, but i owe you an apology as well, in case you find my behavior as embarrassing as i do. i promise—no, i swear—to be on my best behavior from here on out.” it was more than a vow to her; it was a covenant with their own integrity, one made in the silent chambers of their conscience.

a slow, deliberate grin unfurled across their lips as alice’s teasing words reached them. her question—playful, provocative—was a spark in the quiet. oh? have i been some great mystery to you up until now? the curve of their mouth was lopsided, unevenly charming, the kind of smile that hinted at mischief lurking just beneath the surface. their eyes glimmered with a wicked yet soft light. “mystery is part of the allure,” they replied, their voice a rich, rolling timbre that carried an intimate warmth. in her presence, despite the frigid air outside, they felt as though they stood in her apricity, basking in her glow as a raven might perch upon the bare boughs of a willow, warmed by a rare winter sun. “but understanding,” they continued, their tone deepening, “is the reward. and in that aspect, i’m a rich soul.”

something is happening. the story began to unravel between them like smoke spiraling into clouds, its shape elusive yet undeniable. abraxis, despite the shroud of secrecy they had wrapped so tightly around themselves, could no longer remain hidden in the mist. within alice’s steady gaze, they felt exposed, as though her insight pierced through the veil of their carefully maintained diversions. “i agree,” they conceded finally, their voice dipping into a heavy quiet. “you can’t put yourself—or rhea—in any further danger.” the nod they offered was a solemn gesture. “but if you think you’ve uncovered something amiss…” the thought lingered, unspoken fears curdling like ink in water, darkening the clarity of their mind. their gaze sharpened, a flicker of steel beneath the velvet of their tone. “we need to prove it.” the suggestion hung in the air, cautious yet resolute. despite the gnawing dread at the edges of their consciousness, they knew alice was right. against their better judgment, and even their instinct to shield her from harm, they whispered their agreement. “you have to see it through.” their teeth worried at their lower lip as they considered the repercussions, the ripples of this decision stretching far beyond them both. “perhaps… what you need is help from someone on the inside?"

[ocs-of-the-c]

I'm gonna give you... Favorite, Canvas, Roots, and Formal for Samelle And even though not in the tags Glance, Day, and Motion for Vexan! :) -WayfinderLegacy

Thanks so much for the ask! I love any excuse to yell about my OCs. Buckle up, this is gonna get LONG.

SAMELLE

Favorite: Growing up on Balmorra, even good clothing was hard to get. Fancy clothing? Forget it. So it's no surprise that Sam's favorite accessory is a weapon, specifically a claymore. Looks something like this.

Lilmeli gave it to her after they both killed their first Imperial officer together. They were roughly eight, and Sam had beaten the man to death after he attempted to shoot Lilmeli. The problem was, they were supposed to keep the man alive and bring him back to the Resistance for interrogation. So Sam's parents screamed at her and said that she should have let Lilmeli die if it meant the mission succeeded. Sam told them to fuck off. That was the first time her father beat her.

Sam was crying in her room when Lilmeli came in with the claymore. She'd nicked it from the Imperial officer's quarters (he liked to steal pieces of Balmorran culture). Sam hugged her sister and hid that claymore until the day of her parents' betrayal. You can bet that claymore was one of the few things she took off-planet. Now that she has a metal arm, she can actually use the thing like a regular sword, which is terrifying to witness.

Initially, she didn't use it often, because the trauma from Balmorra was still fresh in her mind. She wanted to leave it all behind. But after going to Balmorra out of necessity for the class story, and confronting her parents as an adult, she has begun using the weapon in earnest. It's strapped to her back right along with her big-ass gun.

Canvas: As one might expect from a woman that started fighting for the Balmorran Resistance at age five and has never stopped since, Samelle has a veritable tapestry of scars to her name. The most obvious is her metal left arm, her cybernetic left eye, and the vicious scars on the left side of her face, which the character creator will NOT let me make as vicious as I would like. For reference, think of Two-Face from The Dark Knight.

Yeah, it's ugly. She does have all her hair though! Those scars are the result of her backstory. Her parents, Straken and Haleen, several years after the renewed Imperial push, want to back the winning side and save their own skins. They betray the Resistance to the Sith and Imperials in exchange for Lilmeli being sent to Korriban. By now, Lilmeli has displayed very minor Force sensitivity. Samelle walks in on masked Sith being ‘introduced’ to Lilmeli and gets angry. She pulls out a thermal detonator Jace Malcom style and blows the two Sith up, resulting in the scars mentioned above. Lilmeli pulls in every favor she has to get Sam prosthetics, and the two leave the planet as Imperials murder everyone they’ve ever known. The Republic military, the Jedi, and the Resistance are all pissed at the Arcfres. Sam joins a mercenary company that doesn’t ask questions, and Lilmeli goes to Nar Shaddaa.

Did I mention Sam was twelve at the time this all happened? Yeah.

Aside from that, it's various stab wounds, blaster shots, angry Balmorran wildlife (zeldrates will go for ANY body on the ground and will start feeding even if their prey is still alive), a Mandalorian flamethrower scar across her chest from when they escaped Balmorra (first but not the last time Sam fought a Mando), and Lichtenberg figures on her back and arms from prolonged Sith Lord electrocution as mentioned above. And the gut wound from Jemsyn is probably gonna scar, too.

No piercings, though. You get one of those yanked or burnt in a scrap and you're out of the fight. Sam's seen it happen.

She does, however, have a small tattoo. She got it after her mercenary company, the Sunhawks, were wiped out during the Sacking, leaving her as the only survivor. (Yeah, she saw aspects of the Sunhawks in the first Havoc Squad and finally felt like she had a family again. The betrayal was brutal). It's on her right shoulder blade, and it's a stylized persimmon silhouette of a hawk in front of a small golden sun. The whole thing is about the size of the palm of someone's hand. She knows you're not supposed to have any identifying markings as a soldier, but one, her face is kind of a dead giveaway, and two, anyone who knows the meaning of that tattoo isn't alive to tell anyone about it.

Roots: Samelle wouldn't know a fashion trend if it hit her over the head with a baseball bat. Her clothing style is practical, durable, and functional. However, I do have some specific roots and inspiration for her look. Balmorra's environment has always reminded me of the Scottish Highlands, so there's a lot of Scottish influence in Sam's fashion. Tartan, kilts, sgian-dubh (decorative knife), sporran (like a fanny pack for pocketless kilts), etc. I also snagged some Lord of the Rings influence. Think Aragorn and Boromir meet Scottish Highlands meet Commander Shepard and you'll have Sam's general fashion vibe.

Formal: Samelle doesn't love dressing up. She feels practically naked without her armor or at least one weapon on her person. Which is why regardless of her formal attire she ALWAYS makes sure to have a sgian-dubh with her formal outfit.

As for the outfit itself, Sam pretty much always wears a kilt for the bottom half. Regardless of her complicated relationship with her parents, Balmorra will always be her home, and she's proud of it. For the top of the outfit, it's something like this.

Think that, but minus the bottom half because a kilt goes there, and missing the left sleeve because of her metal arm. That's her general formal outfit.

She honestly doesn't see the point of having different looks for different occasions. Sure, it might be a little different depending on the event, like black for a funeral, but there will always be a kilt and a somewhat military-inspired top.

VEXAN

Glance: At first glance, it's Vexan's entire appearance that stands out. She is a Dathomirian Zabrak in the very heart of the Empire, with a Dark Council seat, and she doesn't wear a hood or mask. She doesn't see the need to hide. She's here, she earned her place here, and she can and will kill to keep it. Hiding would defeat the purpose. Oddly enough, she doesn't seem bothered by the glares, or the hissed insults. Upon closer inspection, there's an air of smugness about her. Like she relishes the rancor she's so skilled at generating. You get the feeling that everyone around her, save a select few, are chess pieces in a great game she's playing. You just have to hope you're not a piece she's decided to sacrifice.

Probably not what you were looking for, but Vexan has ensured that any physical scars or deformities or anything that marks her beyond being an alien is not readily visible to the public. Especially the raised scars from a whip on her back. Especially her badly burned neck from a shock collar.

Day: Vexan remembers years of ragged robes and threadbare socks. Years of begging for undergarments and being laughed at. Years of wearing literal rags while her masters lounged about in the finest Alderaanian silks. Well, no more. Now she is a member of the Dark Council, Darth Nox herself, and she will wear nothing less than what suits her status. On a normal day, she will wear luxurious robes or Sith fashion in shades of red, black, purple, dark blue, and gray. Not all at once, of course. That would be a fashion crime. An example of what she might wear in the day to day can be seen below.

One day it might be purple robes with dark blue inlay and a blue choker. Another day it might be gray robes trimmed with red, complete with a pale red scarf. Noticing a theme yet? Her default clothing must be fashionable, it must be expensive, and it must be able to cover her neck in some fashion. No one can see where the slave collar once lay. No one. She will give no one that advantage.

To that end, she wears a lot of jewelry, particularly necklaces. She has a special fondness for rubies and silver together. Blood and steel, but without all that.....messiness. Her sister may prefer a lightsaber, but Vexan is far more likely to electrocute you on the spot rather than pull out her saber. It's much more efficient.

Motion: Vexan was slightly clumsy when she was younger. That was quite literally beaten out of her during her years as a slave, and now she is flexible, coordinated, and nimble. She also moves almost silently, her feet barely making noise on the ground. Sneaking food to her fellow slaves ensured her default motion is something like a big cat's. Slow, graceful, but able to change speeds in an instant. She has, on several occasions, startled other new Sith with how silently she moves. They've asked her how she does it, but she'll never tell. A lady never reveals her secrets, after all.

This got really long, hope you like it! Some insight into my traumatized child soldier and my equally traumatized slave turned Sith!

[hasgudagudadoneanythingwrong]

Taking god Mori idea and running with it. So this God!Mori au has Mori being a bloodthirsty violent god who is befriended by Gudako a college student home for summer break. Mori is her only friend and he's not a well known God he's violent and scary so she's his only whorshiper. She spends her days off drinking tea at his rundown shrine and talking. She helped him once so now he's ride or die for her. Thoughts?

god what a mood tbh, i'd befriend a bloodthirsty violent god if it could get me through college hands down

I'm thinkin' maybe something must've pissed Gudako off enough to wanna look to this god for help as like, a tossin' a coin in a wishing well for the hell of it type deal, and then he actually fuckin' steps in 'cause it's the first earnest request he's gotten in forever??

And so like yeah Gudako is like "wait holy fuck that actually worked" and so she starts visiting a bunch and like, cleaning up his shrine and all that cause fuck dude, may as well pay him back somehow (assuming it really was him, you never know but still gonna do it juust in case).

And so now you got this bloodthirsty god's shrine all cleaned up and taken care of, and hell, he mainly just stepped in cause he was itchin' for a fight, but now he's actually got someone lookin' after his shit, so he says fuck it, if she's not gonna run off again but actually stick around and thank him for it and look after his shrine, then he's gonna keep repayin' her back by lookin' after her, too.

After more stuff keeps "coincidentally" happening in Gudako's favor, yeah she's gonna take that as a pretty clear sign of "oh shit yeah okay this is legitimately, oh fuck I actually have a real god looking after me right now" and thus start like, actually taking her job seriously looking after the shrine and leaving offerings n stuff. She's just a college student so it's nothing too fancy, but gods tend to like food and other related stuffs, so why not share some tea together?

There miiight be a bit of a problem though when Gudako starts complaining about homework and other school problems and Nagayoshi's first response is violence, but I'm sure with Gudako's insistence that she does want to take her schoolwork seriously, even when it gets difficult, she'd be able to talk him down from causing too many problems there.

And while I'm not sure if Gudako would actually be able to hear him back at first or anything, I'm sure after a while of talking to him about what's on her mind, he'd find some way to communicate back too. And that's when she finds out that he really likes writing poetry, and so they'll come up with poems to share with each other whenever they can.

It's a very comforting relationship to have, and certainly one that helps take the edge off all the coursework she has to deal with. And, hey, even if she struggles to connect with her fellow classmates, she now has at least one person who's not leaving her side anytime soon.

[mrpenguinpants]

I have,, a new Genshin oc 👀 hope u don't mind me sending in so many asks dsdjgjshd but I had to tell someone about her

Her name is Lilith (Lily) and she's a cryo catalyst user from Mondstadt and a senior member of the investigation team. She was childhood friends with Kaeya and Diluc but the Crepus incident pulled them apart. I don't have too many details of her backstory pinned down yet but I've already figured out all her skills and talents and her voicelines lmao so I guess I'll share those instead:

About Kaeya - Friendship: Captain Kaeya… he's an enigma alright. It took me years just to get under that mask of his, and even now I'm still not sure if what I'm seeing is the real him. That said, once you get to know him, he's a loyal and reliable friend. The best anyone can ask for.

About Kaeya - Eyepatch: Kaeya's eyepatch? Why are you asking me?…you think because I'm the closest to him that I would know what's under there? Haha, don't be ridiculous, I hardly know him well enough to pry into his secrets.

About Diluc: I knew him when I was still a knight in training. He was… different back then… happier. Now, after all that's happened… well, best if you go talk to him yourself if you want to know more.

About Albedo: He's brilliant! I admire him a lot—not just for his alchemical genius, but for his dedicated work ethic. Unlike a certain other captain whose name I won't mention, Captain Albedo would never drink on the job.

About Jean: Ah, Acting Grandmaster Jean… though, she's been doing this for so long I feel like she should just take the title of Grandmaster. She seems to be good at everything except taking care of herself. Maybe I should bring her some lunch again today…

About Rosaria: Would it be sacrilege to say I agree with her views on the church? In fact, I have never been a fan of the Church of Favonius. If Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, should not its citizens have the freedom to choose how they worship their Archon?

About Lisa: Is she still calling me her "little helper"? Ugh, when will I be rid of that nickname…

About Venti: Ah, that bard who has recently become Kaeya's drinking buddy? I… admit I may have a distorted judgment of him, as I have yet to see the lad completely sober.

About the Vision: Ah, this is my proudest achievement… though, I'm not sure if I can call it that. I was just in the right place at the right time. Anyone else would've done the same.

Favorite food: Nothing warms the heart and soul like a nice bowl of soup! What, you think just because I wield cryo that I can never get cold?

Least favorite food: I will never understand this city's love for alcohol. Not only is the taste repulsive, it clouds the mind and impairs judgement. …How can Kaeya drink so much of the stuff?

Lilith's Hobbies: Did you know that there's a grand piano in the Knights' headquarters that no one uses? Such a shame that this beautiful instrument goes unappreciated. Say… when you next have time, would you like to come in for a private concert?

Lilith's Troubles: There's just not enough time to do all the things I want to do. If only Captain Albedo's alchemy could add more hours to the day… hmm…

More about Lilith - I: My research? Oh, you misunderstand. I'm merely a member of the investigation team, not an alchemist. However, I have helped Captain Albedo with various experiments, so I've picked up a few things.

Kaeya's About Lilith: Lilith? Heh, I've known her for quite some time now. Yes, we're friends. Are we close? Hmm… let's just say that she understands me in a way that most people in Mondstadt cannot.

Fun facts/backstory?:

Kaeya calls her his little lily (only in private or when he's trying to tease her)

She and Kaeya drifted apart after Crepus' death, but once Diluc returned to Mondstadt Kaeya began approaching her once again. They rekindled their friendship but Lilith knows Kaeya's keeping secrets from her. She just hopes he can one day trust her enough to reveal the truth.

Kaeya hasn't told her about Khaenri'ah or his past, but just the fact that she was one of the few people who were actually friends with him before the Crepus incident puts her in his circle of trust

She's shorter than Kaeya and he will not stop teasing her for it

They're not dating (yet)

Lilith got her Vision when the library of Mondstadt caught fire (this is canon but it happened like way back in the day so I'm bending the timeline a little lol) and she rushed in to save the books. This was before she became a knight and was just working as a helper around the library (hence her voiceline about Lisa). She was able to save several rare manuscripts thanks to her newfound power keeping the flames at bay. Afterward she was awarded a medal by the Grandmaster but she always considered the Vision her true reward. This event is also what pushed her to become a knight in earnest so she can use her powers to protect Mondstadt

I just realized that both of my Genshin OCs' visions match the characters I paired them with lmao

As a playable character she'd likely be a main/sub DPS whose focus is critting the hell out of your enemies. She'd synergize well w cryo resonance. You'd want her on a freeze team bc her charged attack summons an icicle and counts as a heavy attack so it can deal shattered damage

Haha whoops this became really long dskfjdjd but uhh hope you enjoyed reading about Lilith!! I'm still trying to figure out what she looks like so there may be art on the way soon 👀

Blinking at this 20 page essay in front of me haha but please don't worry about sending me too many asks. If you're okay with my shit reply times then spam my inbox with anything.

Is there a cyro catalyst in genshin yet? I don't think so (maybe signora but she's not playable yet) but it's such a good fucking concept and I want it. It would look so pretty or elegant or we could be throwing snowballs goddammit. But can I say how much I love voice lines??? As much of a lore junkie that I am, there's something about voice lines that send me. If you have any more voice lines. please feed me.

Side note: "…How can Kaeya drink so much of the stuff?"

I'm pretty sure it's borderline confirmed since Venti drinks to forget his ptsd...I'm hard eyeballing Kaeya for the same reasons.

Can I say how fucking hot it is when characters don't pry into each other's business? Just having that mutual trust that you can take care of whatever you're dealing with, and if you can't, you can come to me for help without feeling ashamed. I'm not self-reflecting at all, what do you mean? But I'm enjoying this dynamic a lot. Feels very healthy and I support that. But hey, double cryo has a pretty good element synergy bonus haha. Speaking of criting, my Eula has a 15% crit chance....

But if you do create art or more lore, please share with me! Unless you already have and I haven't seen the ask yet haha.

[conallblackbar]

the thunder of water was growing louder, the falls not yet visible, but making their presence known, but it was not yet enough to drown out the sound of her voice. he shook his head to flick some of the water from his face, but it made little difference. "should be thanking you then, i suppose," there was a chuckle in his voice. "for working so tirelessly for my benefit."

people who don't care what you've done.

the words struck a chord deep within him, sending a slight shudder down his spine, though that may have been the cold. there was something about the way she said it, soft and earnest, that made it hard to respond. for a long time, the people conall encountered had been split into two : the people who thought him guilty, and the people who didn't. he had never stopped to consider a third category, those who simply did not care.

he wanted to believe it, wanted to cling to those words as tightly as she held her shawl. often, he thought of the faces that turned away when he passed, the whispers that would follow when his back was turned, the open wound of a brother's scorn. but now, he was thinking of the faces who held his gaze, who stood unwaveringly beside him. "there is," he admitted. "and they're the ones who matter, eh?"

he turned back to look at her then, intending to say something to deflect the heaviness he wasn't sure she'd meant to place there, but something about the expression on her face made the words die in his throat. rain slid down her face, but it was her expression that caught him. he could not name it, but his gaze lingered on it. she'd always carried the weight of life with an ease he had envied, meeting the world with a quip and a grin even when it pressed down hard on her, with a resolve beyond her years. he'd always admired that about her, but when he looked at her now, he was reminded that she were just a girl still, vulnerability etched into her expression, as though there was something in the rain she did not want him to notice.

he said nothing, but stepped closer, throwing his arm around her and bidding her to lean on his side for the last stretch of the walk. "come on. we've been dawdling," he tried to keep his voice cheerful, tried not to draw attention to the tether that existed between them, one neither ever fully acknowledged, but both relied upon.

"depends on the ship," and how easily they slipped back into nonsense, to talk of things that did not matter, and yet somehow, when they were together, they did. "sometimes it's the bottle, sometimes it's the name, and sometimes the gods just decide to test you. we try not to leave anything to chance." he glanced towards her, the mock-seriousness of his expression betrayed by the look in his eyes that made it clear that for his folk, it was all too real. "never met a siren, though did sail with a bloke who swore he was married to one," one side of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin. "used to sit on the deck at night with his eyes on the horizon, listening out for her song. went overboard one day because he thought he heard it and never resurfaced." he didn't know if he'd actually heard a siren-song, or if it were a trick of the wind.

"monsters, though," he continued, dropping his voice as though it were a secret only for her, one not even the rain and wind were allowed to be privy too. "seen my share. once came upon a pod of leviathans. they smacked the ship with their tails like they were playing hurling with it. cracked the hull badly, thought we were going under." in the end, they'd made it back to land, just barely. the ship had been decommissioned, the parts used for other vessels. no sailor would have stepped foot on her again.

the shields weren't much, but they were his. he simply nodded. it went without saying that she could join him there, whenever she saw fit to. "you don't need to ask, bri," he pointed out. "just... come. i'd be glad to have you there." he did not mention that it was a lonely place for him, even as he sought to make it his own.

the falls came into view, as eternal and unchanging as they always were, and though it was not a new sight, he let out a low whistle, for it was no less impressive. he withdrew his arm from her shoulder, stepping closer to the water to watch it tumble and churn, unrelenting. "weird how things that have always been can still surprise you, isn't it?" when he looked back at her, his grin was wide. "something worth remembering, at least."

♣️

the bridge’s planks groaned under brianna’s steps, her boots slick with rain as she finally joined conall on firmer ground. the rushing river below swallowed most sounds, but not his. his voice, rich and familiar, cut through the patter of rain like it had carved itself into her life years ago and never left. she wiped her sodden hair from her face, laughing lightly at his retort, hearing the mud squelch beneath her boots. "brianna the bully, is it?" she grinned, nudging his arm.

"you should be so lucky, connie. keepin’ you humble is a full-time job." her teasing was light but carried that underlying warmth that came from years of shared moments like this. moments that seemed to settle into her bones and find a home there. each time he turned back to look at her, she maintained his gaze; looking up from her boots, as though to silently reassure that they were still going.

she fell quiet, letting his words hang in the air between them as she looked toward the river. she felt the weight in what he’d said about the sea—the way it didn’t care what a man had done, how it just existed. the notion was freeing in a way she could hardly articulate. brianna wasn’t one for heavy reflection, but with conall, she found herself lingering in those spaces more often than not. the sound of the running stream seemed to ease away in her mind, and for a moment she almost pictured a young marjorie baratheon walking along these same paths with her husband.

"there are people who don't care what you've done either." she spoke, a particularly strong gust of wind causing her to clutch at her warm woolen shawl, that was no doubt drenched through.

how many a time did many report how she appeared just like her mother; down to her very freckles. she almost pictured the sound of their laughter, the sounding of her calling the names of her two children. and for a moment she were glad the rain settled into a heavy downpour, for there was no way for connie blackbar being able to turn around and notice a single, silent tear running down her cheeks. because she knew when they finished, they would need to turn back. and she would pass through the gates of stone hedge again, and face it all.

to laugh and help care for the ruling lady of stone hedge, who looked her daughter in the face and asked for her name.

"how do curses even work on a ship, then?" she asked, breaking the quiet, her voice curious and edged with doubt. of attempting to ensure it did not break "i’ve never launched a ship before. seems strange to think the whole thing could go wrong because of a bottle, but... well, you sailors are a superstitious lot, aren’t they? tell me, you ever seen a siren? a sea monster?" the rain picked up, slicking their hair and clothes, but brianna hardly noticed. the weight of something unsaid sat heavy on her tongue, but she swallowed it. she wanted to ask about ross, the brother who had turned his back on conall and left him untethered.

she couldn't imagine never returning back to her home. not believing yourself welcome there. it were unclover, no, it were ungodly to do such a thing to your kin: as though they were nothing more than targaryens. so rather than ask of bandallon and reminding him of his detachment from her place, she'd ask other things. like of the shield isles.

the words pressed against her lips, but she didn’t give them space. not now. not when everything between them felt like it hung in perfect balance. she wouldn’t disrupt it. not for anything. "the shields, aye?" she finally said, her voice soft. "i'd be honored to see yer lands, connie blackbar. if you'll have me there." she paused, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, her final words more of a joke - they never behaved in such a way with one another. he never needed to send word forward when he were visiting stone hedge. "i'm excited to see how yer've made it yer own." the sounds of the rushing falls came closer, and she exhaled a breath of cold air, visible before her, cheeks red with the cold.

"there she is." they came into view of it, and she watched as the grey surface of the smaller falls danced under the drops of the heavens. "ain't ever seen it in the rain, don't think."

[dapper-ships-herself]

I've mentioned before that I have a fairy tail oc, and I wanted to introduce him!

I will preface this with the why of his creation, it's the result of me getting kind of meta with my Erza ship, cause it's very doubtful that the creator of fairy tail would go in to the series intending to make a wlw ship canon, and all the main characters kind of have their boy/girl match ups, so I started thinking what would my s/i's intended love interest be like, before mine and Erza's romantic tension became too much to deny.

Lumen Judge

He has two versions, one for each version of my s/i, the first is admittedly currently a bit more thought out than the second.

(His tattoo is actually white ink.)

His first backstory ties him in to the library backstory of my s/i. In that backstory, she is from far back in the past and was trapped in an out of time library for ages because her whole village thought she was a demon. After casting her out though, the village leader, her grandfather, was overthrown by the patriarch of another high level family within the village, on the basis that the former chief's whole bloodline could now no longer be trusted after producing such a creature. This family that became the leaders of the village, was the Judge family. This patriarch was power hungry, and in addition to getting power over the village, he wanted the freedom to use the magical items locked away by the chief. But, the villagers were all still very much afraid of magic, so he needed an excuse.

He told everyone that he knew that the evil they had locked away within the library would not stay defeated, and that she would one day return to wreck havoc on the world, so he assembled a small team who would oh so humbly take the necessary sacrifice and allow themselves to come into contact with magic by wielding these magic items and they would dedicate their lives to the defeat of evil. Over the generations, even as the village eventually faded, the group remained, always lead by a member of the Judge family, it's members only allowed to be people who use holder type magic even after times changed and people weren't afraid of magic anymore. They think of themselves as a secret group who remains in the shadows for the sake of the light. Their core mission has never been forgotten, they must await the arrival of a great evil demoness who will one day awaken to destroy the whole world... The details were exaggerated a bit like a long game of telephone. By the time it gets to Lumen, the story is told as one day their village was attacked by Gillian and her horde of demons who lay waste to the land, and it was after his daughter Rimis was slain by her that Rimis's father, the first leader of their organization, bravely fought her and managed to weaken her enough to lock her away within the library, and he founded the group to prevent anyone from having to feel his loss ever again.

While the organization was, unknown to it's current members, founded on greed, they genuinely believe in their cause of riding the world of evil, and none buy into it more than Lumen himself.

He's an earnest young man who cares about his comrades deeply. He loves to laugh and be friendly. He has the demeanor of a true gentle man, and he's a bit of a romantic.

The device that locked her in the library has a glow from within the gemstone inlaid on it whenever it's able to be used again, and so it was known the minute she freed herself. Their group had been trying to track her ever since. Lumen's father is the leader at this time.

It takes so long to find her because there's no sort of tracking function, they only know the general area of where she popped back into the world, but she'd managed to wander a good distance from there before finding fairy tail.

This arc becomes about preventing them from relocking Gillian in the library, where she'd have to reread the vast collection in order to be free again, which would likely take another thousand years or so.

It's over the course of this arc that lumen and Gillian clash, her more reluctantly than him. He becomes more and more confused though, she seems like a regular, kind girl, not some great evil, but his father keeps telling him that she's trying to trick him the same as she's clearly tricked these "friends" of hers in to fighting by her side. Eventually, he does learn the truth, and the group is defeated. Actually, the arc's climax involves Gillian is actually locked away briefly, but she's freed with the help of her friends, and lumen who realizes in this moment that he can't allow this to happen, and it's the culmination of his growing confliction.

Lumen is shaken by finding out about the less than noble reasons behind the group's founding and feels very guilty for trying to further harm someone who has been deeply wronged, so he decides he needs to reevaluate himself and leaves the group, and he joins fairy tail. From there, he's super loyal to Gillian and sees her as an angel to combat his misguided view of her as a demon, and he's pretty flirty but only with her.

As I said, that backstory is much more dramatic than the second one.

(He ties his hair up in this reality ha)

In this backstory, paired with the Dreyar version of my s/i, his group is not an ancient organization, rather they're powerful mercenaries, with him as a one of it's generals, basically. These mercenaries have control over a mountain region as their base of operations. Each of their leaders controls an entrance to this region.

Team Natsu is on a job that requires them to go in to these mountains, but they need to gain permission from one of the leaders. They end up meeting Lumen and trying to convince him to help them, but he refuses and isn't budging. Until Gillian walks in, a little behind her companions after wrapping something up. He does a full turn around on his stance of not helping because he gets an immediate crush. (Self indulgent, you say? That's this whole blog, baby.)

I have less of an idea on the events that follow, but he becomes quite attached and after a few days of them returning home, he shows up at fairy tail's door looking to join to be closer to Gillian.

As for his magic, I'm still figuring out the details a little bit, and maybe this is already similar to someone else's magic in the show, maybe I might get a better idea for a different magic ability, so it could be changed but this is what it is right now.

Those circles attached to the ribbon on his waist are actually coins, and when they are flipped they summon a magical creature that's engraved on it's surface. The magical creature is assigned to a coin after it has been defeated by whoever holds the set. The more powerful the creature, the fewer times it can be summoned before the engraving fades and the creature would have to be defeated again to be able to be used again. The whole set us connected, so a type of creature can only be assigned to one coin at a time; so like, two coins couldn't both hold a dragon at the same time, or whatever.

In the library backstory, he has a very special coin, the one on his shoulder. This one had been altered to recreate the spirit of Rimis as an avenging angel and the instruction was to only use it when faced with Gillian. Rimis was Gillian's best friend, so the first time Lumen summons her shakes her really badly and actually causes her to get severely injured because she was too distracted to defend herself.

Anyway, please love my punk gentleman.

Picrew

[caestusarchivum]

The room only illuminated by the small flicker of the television screen, two shapes had nestled into a blanket on the pullout couch, pressed into the surrounding pillows and numerous other blankets that they hadn't yet found themselves entangled in. The smaller one had been pressed against her husband for the longest time now, running her fingers through ebony locks and keeping contact as much as she could. She loved him.

Of course, she never understood why. They had met on a lit street in New York. She had picked out the vampire on sight, violet locked with blood red, and even questioned him at points. Hikari remembered him lying about his name, choosing Siegfried as an alias. Looking back, she could laugh about how dumb it was to have an alias that started with the same letter as your actual name. Of course, she wouldn't blame Straizo as she later found out the reason why, but to have that union ending so briefly, only to be asked a few weeks later about a week long marriage proposal was beyond her.

She didn't say no. Hikari did agree, and, was under the assumption that it would last a week. He wanted to learn about romantic intimacy? Sure, she could help him out. It was just advanced dating, taken up to eleven, right? Seven days, and they'd probably never see each other again, or at least become friends throughout the ordeal.

But soon, it became apparent that... she was actually falling for him in earnest. How a man could be so kind and merciless at the same time was baffling-- especially a vampire born of the Mask. Something which she previously thought entirely impossible, able to have humanity despite casting it aside. No, he was gentle with her. She wondered if he ever saw himself like this, laying down in a pullout mattress and watching a movie, a large dog on their laps, and holding each other in the dark.

A jumpscare on screen with an accompanying chord. Hikari pulled closer, clenching his hand tighter, and quietly shouting an expletive at the shock to an accompanying chuckle. Fuck, that was embarassing.

Regardless, she put her face to his chest and ran her fingers along his arm, returning an embrace. Her eyes were lazy, tired, and some quiet mumbles under her breath, "I love you," and, "Hold me closer," all the while taking him in, and enjoying the moments they had. They weren't infinite. She knew that he was going to outlive her eventually, and it was the one thing that caused her any remote discomfort.

Sometimes it made her think about becoming a vampire again.

A selfish thought, sure, but she didn't want to leave him alone after she passed. Even with the Hamon he taught her extending her life by about twenty odd years, there was no doubt she'd die first. The thought of leaving him behind in favor of a natural death, while it being what she wished while undergoing Soft Cell's trials, was chilling. It made her embrace loosen, and her body get a bit colder.

Immediately sensing his concern, she restablished herself and kept running her fingers through his hair, cupping his face with her free hand and kissing him. As deeply as she could muster. It'll be fine. That bridge will be crossed eventually, but not now. For now, in the darkness they would sit as the credits rolled, not even noticing that the movie had long since ended. Too wrapped up in their affection to really notice and, throughout the credits, simply making their presence known to each other. Culminating in Hikari slowly falling asleep on Straizo's chest.

She dreamed well that night.

[teratotherapist]

Setting Sail, Going Home?

A young woman stands on the edge of oblivion. It was some twenty-three years ago she was first given life, so there's no need for the name based shenanigans; her name is ROSE LALONDE. She stands on jagged rim of a slab of meteoric stone, in front of a full scale replica of her childhood home reconstructed from online blueprints. She's about where her mailbox would be, she thinks.

Her lavender eyes scan the darkness of the furthest ring, seeking something. Someone. A glimmer of gilded hope in the deepest night. All that she finds is faraway glimpses of Eldritch outer gods and the light pollution of the strangers' session she's been delving. They were cool enough planets, she thinks, but... well, they weren't exactly made for her, were they? It's times like these she actually pines for the Land of Light and Rain, the whimsical planet she once found distasteful. Pandering, even condescending she thought. But really, maybe it was what she needed all along.

Times like these, she pines for LoLaR, and for its last known keeper; a certain dog-eared young woman, a lifelong friend, confidante, crush. Memories of late night movie streams with the whole friend-group, of even later-night aftermaths with just Jade, in all her frustratingly mysterious yet charming, quirky, brilliant glory. Memories of faltering façades after miserably botched school dances and bullying aggressions, of fretful reassurances from across the globe, of staring at that lovely face in the tiny chat window and wishing it was there before her instead. As irritating as her evasive flightiness could be, she adored the strange island girl, her oldest and deepest friend, her strongest crush.

It was for this girl, plus her next closest friend and the ghost of her cat, that the Seer set forth from the meteor. She left behind a lot - an ectosibling who irked her but for whom she cared, and his awkward sort-of-boyfriend; a pair of mischievous trolls whose infectious cackling gave the crew vigor and groans in competing measure; a concerning and inscrutable but largely defanged clown; a breathtaking alien woman for whom she cared deeply - loved, even. She had thought she'd come with her when she took off into the void. But Rose's rash tone, her planless haste, her stubborn, pigheaded refusal to compromise or wait before setting out gave her pause. She left behind a lot - a crowd of confused friends, a tearful lover, disappearing swiftly into the void as she set off.

She thought it would be quick - a foray out into the ruins of a few lost sessions, a skim through the infinite expanse in search of the golden Prospit ship; they'd waited at their apparently intended location for some few years, after all, with no sign of the new session nor their friends. Had they miscalculated? Had a half-blind psionic's optic blast aimed incorrectly, or been slower than they needed to be? Maybe they just needed to widen their search radius, and who better to quest for a glimmer in the darkness than the Seer of Light? But they hadn't agreed, and just watched as she departed, promising to return soon with new powers, and with friends in tow.

It took longer than expected, and to little avail. For some two years by her reckoning, she'd sought other sessions, always scanning the darkness for that glimmer of gold. Her magical prowess grew, but so did her loneliness, her desperation. When did she stop having fun tearing things apart and collecting lore? When did the solitude of puzzlecrypts and the hubbub of unknown consorts start to emphasize only her loneliness?

She knows she needs to go back. She needs the presence of at least some of her friends, if not all of them, for the sake of her sanity. She knows in her gut that Jade and John are still out there somewhere, but damn if her Sight will give her a clear answer as to where. And worst of all, despite ever attempting to reflect fearlessness and stalwart stoicism, she's afraid. She's afraid that somehow Jade - in her ever-knowing mystery - will know she's turned around. Will think she's abandoning them. That the girl she's loved since she was very young will hate her. She's afraid that upon returning to the meteor, she'll be met with only hostility, no second chances given. An unwelcome burden to her allies.

She turns her Sight to the void once more, opening her third eye, so to speak. The path "homeward" is clear. A long one, one of many months' travel, but a straightforward one. The threads of choice fray upon arrival, but she can pluck through them in time. The path towards Jade, however, is a frayed mess at the start. A thousand glowing strands, bundled and knotted and impossible to trace. There's too many ways one could go about finding her friends, and she can't quite find their destination in a satisfactory manner. Homeward it is, then.

She heads for her rooftop and deploys one of her methods of traversal - a VERDISOLAR SAIL, an alchemized contraption meant to capture the omnipresent glow of the Green Sun, that vast entity that exists, existed, will exist, before the beginning and after the end of its own birth and death. Some said it was gone, but then there was its glow, its raging heat and fiery mass far away, its solar currents. She doesn't pretend to understand it, outside of "something something, infinite timelines calling for infinite destructions and creations."

She clamps the device to her rooftop, heavy electromagnets gripping the metal in the building's framework. The sail unfurls itself, shimmering hexagons and a glimmer of stars that aren't there reflected in its depth. It looks like a radio antenna with a mystical sail at its peak. She angles it just so, catching the solar winds that she internally calls the Pumpkin Tide, in honor of her Green-Sun gardener friend's ill fated gourds. It billows briefly for a moment, then there's the faintest tug of motion, slowly mounting. She guides the meteor slab around, banking onto a new course. One that, she hopes, will lead her to her goal.

As the fragment begins to move under her guidance, Rose brings up Pesterchum and starts a message to one gardenGnostic. The interpreter finds many of these and asks for some specificity as to secondary multiverse handles. Unfortunately, Jade's handle is unknown, if she had one; so all Rose can do is broadcast and hope it reaches the right one somehow. Still, her fingers shake with nerves as she taps in a message.

tentacleTherapist{teratoTherapist} began pestering gardenGnostic {??} at {??:??}

TT: Jade, if you're out there, it's Rose. I... hope you still remember me after all this time.

TT: I don't know what went awry in our voyage, what nebulous powers conspired to keep us from our fated destination

TT: But I've been looking for you.

TT: Near and far, I've been scouring the ruins of broken timelines in search of new powers to find you, always watching out for you.

TT: ...You were right, you know. I should have listened. If I'd conveyed myself differently, been less petulant

TT: Perhaps things would have unfolded differently, perhaps I would be aboard that ship with you and John, or perhaps we'd all be together in some tertiary Earth.

TT: But who's to say? My Sight looks forward, dwelling backward only brings sorrow.

TT: Though... I'm afraid I must divert from my seeker's path, for a time. The bastion of sanity and stability that I am, even I cannot withstand solitude in the Void forever.

TT: That's not to say I'm giving up the hunt.

TT: Your likely first dose of Lalonde earnestness and candor in many moons: I would go to the very ends of time to locate you. I just... need to recuperate, then the search can continue.

TT: It's my deepest hope that maybe this will be pointless and I'll return to the meteor, just to find you and John and everyone else, living it up all in one place. But if that's not the case, well.

TT: I will find you, Lalonde's honor.

TT: If you get this message, do be in touch, okay? My multiversal handle should be included.

TT: Send John, Davesprite, and Nannasprite my regards, and scratch Jaspers under his chin for me, if you could.

TT: And Jade? Do take care of yourself. Don't... Don't forget that you're missed, and you're so, so loved. To whatever degree you want to interpret that.

TT: I hope to see you soon, Jade. With love,

RL

The Seer sits down beside the sail and balls her fists up, rubbing them against her eyes to grind away the bittersweet tears. She's on her way "home", for better or worse, to arrive by year's end.

[spainkitty]

The Fiona is Secretly Alistair's Mother Scenes Part 1

Lanil's Pieces Masterlist

I knew his father a... long time ago. I would just like to know if... if he's happy. For his father's sake.

"King Alistair..." Lavellan began slowly, not quite sure where her thought was going.

Cullen looked up from the board, but she turned the next words over in her head carefully instead of continuing. She frowned, then moved her castle. Cullen smirked at her, eyebrow rising, and she scowled at him. She moved the castle back and tried the knight. Cullen nodded in approval.

"So the king, he's... you said once, he's not like other royals? Or nobles? I can't... remember." She huffed and leaned back in her chair. "I know Cailin was the previous king, I know he died in Ostagar, but I can't remember Maric having two sons."

"Officially he didn't," Cullen told her.

He surveyed the board and moved a pawn. Lavellan scowled. Minute little plays like that were fucking annoying. She couldn't figure out what he was going to do next with a play like that. She braced her elbows on her knees and glared, ignoring his chuckle.

"King Alistair's birth was a very closely guarded secret. No one knew for most of his life, not until the Landsmeet where the Warden declared him king, and her his future Queen."

"Well, that's one way to take over the world. Good for her." She raised her fist in the air.

"It was Ferelden, not all of Thedas," he said, laughing. "I met them both, briefly." She glanced up at the strange shift in tone. He was looking over the garden, but it was obvious he wasn't seeing it. "They came to the Circle to conscript the mages against the Blight, and they... saved us. What was left of us." His voice lowered and he passed a hand over his eyes. "They saw me at my worst, but her. Cousland, at the time. I'll never forget her. It was like waking out of a dream, out of a nightmare. The others, they tried to get through. Leliana was there, Wynne, a healer and enchanter I'd known for more than a year, too, but her. The Warden. She got through. I believed in her, and I was furious that she wouldn't listen. She was the only one who could... who could do what I asked." He sighed, shoulders falling. "I'm so glad she was... so much wiser, stronger, so much kinder than anyone I'd ever met. If she loves a man like our King, he must be a good man. I have to remind myself of that sometimes whenever I meet him."

Lavellan huffed in amusement. "It sounds like you had a little crush."

"No." She drew up short at how vehement that was. Cullen's look was intense, earnest, and completely genuine. "She is my Queen, and a hero. She saved my life, and then she saved my soul."

Lavellan blinked. "Oh."

"I'm sorry. This was--"

He started to get to his feet, looking too pale and shaken. Lavellan reached without thinking, wrapped her hand around his wrist, and smiled as gently as she could. As if she was trying to soothe her high-strung Ferelden Forder. He stilled immediately, eyes on her hand, and then slowly up to her face.

"I'm about to kick your ass for real this time. You can't go yet."

He slipped back into his chair, smiling weakly. "I told you, I didn't let you win last time."

"And I told you, you're a shit liar."

The answering laugh was deep, unabashed, and her heart lightened to hear it. She'd done something right, and Cullen was smiling.

"But, um, Alistair. If it was a secret, it can't be now, obviously. So who's his mother? Where did he grow up?" she asked, getting back on the original topic. She moved a cleric recklessly.

Cullen frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know details. I wasn't in the headspace to notice much at the time. What I've picked up since is that he was raised in Redcliffe until he was sent to the Chantry to be a Templar, younger than I was when I went, actually. I don't know exactly when or why the Wardens conscripted him, but it wasn't long before Ostagar."

"You were... thirteen, right?" Lavellan asked.

"I was." He glanced up, surprised. "You remembered?"

"I don't talk just to hear myself," Lavellan retorted with an eye roll. "And it's easy to remember what you tell me. Maybe because you're easy to talk to. Or maybe I just like hearing you talk."

Flirting with Cullen, even as innocently and obviously as she did, was always worth it. Just to see how easily and quickly he turned red. She smirked as it crept up to his ears He cleared his throat and moved a piece on the board. Her reckless cleric was gone and he was two moves from a check.

"Fenedhis!" she cursed.

He laughed, leaning back in his chair and shoulders shaking. "So. The story goes his mother was a serving woman, and she died giving birth to him. King Maric sent him away in secret to his brother-in-law and closest advisor. Other than... well."

"Loghain, Hero of River Dane."

"Yes."

Lavellan scowled darkly, leg hopping in place, and finally moved a different castle. This time, Cullen didn't protest, both eyebrows rising in surprise.

Ha.

"You... sounded unsure," Lavellan said, interrupting Cullen's focus after a long minute. It looked as though he dragged himself back to the garden, staring at her a little too long, before the words sunk in.

"Did I? I suppose I am."

"Why? Surely kings and nobles taking advantage of pretty serving maids is a tale as old as time," Lavellan said, mouth curled in disgust. "Though, perhaps it was a love story."

"Either could be true, but King Maric... He wasn't that kind of king, or man," Cullen said, his expression mirroring hers. He saw her incredulous eyebrow and he quickly raised a hand. "I'm not saying that as a Ferelden boy who grew up on stories of our heroic King Maric, who kicked the Orlesians out and freed us all. No matter what, if a king, um," he broke off, ears red again, "tends to... take advantage of pretty serving maids," Lavellan couldn't help but laugh at his uncomfortable expression, "people find out. They may whisper about it, or joke about it, or shake their heads about it, but people know. But until King Alistair took the throne, the only thing people ever talked about was how much King Maric loved his late Queen. No other woman managed to get his attention for years afterwards."

"So if he did tip a maid a few times and got himself a bastard son,"

"Inquisitor!"

"it was probably a love thing. It would only make sense, it being such a secret." Other than her wide smirk, she completely ignored his outburst.

"It's your move, Inquisitor." Cullen sighed, then sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose, looking so very tired.

She wanted to poke a little more. See what it would take to tip him over the edge. What would it look like, if he was already so flustered? She looked down at the board and blinked.

"Oh shit. I didn't see what you did."

"I'm not helping this time. You deserve this."

She burst into laughter.

To Part II

[ask-these-fantrolls]

"Children need guidance. If they are the type to vandalize, they must be taught better."

How surprising... it truly was not often that you met such a level headed clown! She could feel her body visibly relax as he continued to speak. At least she didn't get the feeling that he was lying- or, at least that he would go back on his words. She did flinch, however, as he brought up her caste's veritable curfew. Genetrix intertwined her fingers together, holding her hands close to her chest.

He made a very good point, all things considered... luck really was on her side with this clown being the one she had the misfortune of bumping into, "I appreciate your concern... but I assure you I am more capable than I may look," more capable of what, though? She shouldn't bluff- running into a virile young juggalo alone would have certainly spelled disaster for her, "It may be dangerous in it's own stead, but I can't bear the thought of helpless youths. My duty is to the future of Alternia, yes... and it is my belief that our children are that future,"

She may have been incredibly nervous about meeting and speaking to this clown, but her words were no less filled with conviction. The Genetrix believed these words most out of anything she'd said this evening. And... as she listened to him speak, she could feel he was the same way. Someone who truly was this dedicated to their faith... it was refreshing.

"...Father?" She repeated his name back to him. Then, without much thought, an earnest giggle escaped her. The jadeblood covered her mouth with a gloved hand, holding her arm at the elbow, "What a delightful name! I am known as The Genetrix, Matron Heardt. It is... nice, to make your acquaintance," Now that she wasn't utterly terrified of the man, Genetrix finally gave him a good once-over. A tall wall of a troll with large, strong, arms and a delightfully round center. His face wasn't bad either, now that she actually got a good look at it! Or rather stared at it... Oh dear- that was rude, wasn't it. Goodness, where had her manners run off to!

The woman averted her gaze from him, turning her back to the other troll so as not to risk anything, "This place is lovely... aside from the tampering... The caverns don't have much by way of beauty like this. You tend to forget how stunning things can be when surrounded by the same trolls and rocky corridors each day and night..." She spoke the truth in this- it was so difficult to find anything beautiful so far below ground. The same faces, the same walls, the same worries... could you truly blame anyone for wanting to be free of that for a while, even with all good intentions for younglings aside?

The Night They Met