#muse: jix

[thenexusofsouls]

What does Jix believe in? What are his morals and values? What is leafling culture like? Do they have their own customs, habits and dances? What is Jix's favorite flower?

{i am the caretaker of souls} Yay, an ask about my sweet little baby Jix! =D Thank you! Below the cut! <3

What does Jix believe in?

Jix has a very abstract view of Earth, and of gods and goddesses. He also has nebulous ideas of the concepts of heaven and hell. But most of his belief system is rooted in nature and decidedly pagan ideas/customs/figures. So you might hear him refer to the "Green Father" or the "Earth Mother," or if someone or something dies, you might hear him say they've "gone to big forest in sky." He doesn't worship any specific gods but he does respect nature as kindof a sentient force. Because of this, he'll interpret natural things as the personality of Earth. Thunderstorms mean the Earth is upset or angry. Rain means she's sad. If he sees butterflies or brightly colored beetles, he thinks the Earth is feeling hopeful. So he interprets things he sees every day as a personality attributed to the Earth, and also relating to him, for example him doing something and then it starts thunderstorming. He might see that as a sign that he made the Earth mad. So planet Earth for him, and forests, and the environment in general, are like a Gaia spirit or "Mother Nature," as some call it.

What are his morals and values?

Jix is a very moral little dude. He believes in kindness, in being pleasant and polite, in helping others, and in doing one's part to spread positivity, especially those who are in need. If you are around him long enough, he will likely offer you some tidbit of "leafling positivity," or sing you a song, or tell you something nice about yourself to cheer you up.

I could have covered this in the previous question, but I left it for here because it deals with Jix's values and the importance he places on kindness to others. He will tell anyone who'll listen that he has one major rule that he lives by, and that he thinks most problems in the world "could be solved by simple rule of: don't be jerk." He really thinks that if everyone would just not be a jerk, just not be mean or cold for no reason, and just be kind... most bad things in the world would disappear. Now obviously, that's a very simplified and naive view of the world, but nevertheless, it is a wonderful value to have. Just be kind. Be kind. That's it. Short and simple. And Jix believes so much in it and actively tries to live every day by it.

So much so that he will give people what-for if they aren't kind. He doesn't like mean people and will tell them to their face. He'll come to the defense of someone who is being bullied or made fun of. He'll argue back if someone is pushing meanness on him or others. Don't mistake his creed of kindness for weakness or passiveness. He will sass the crap out of you if he thinks you're mean!

As for other values he has... Friendship is very important to Jix. If you're around him for any length of time, he will try to become your friend. Actively. Blatantly, heh. It's important to him because he thinks there needs to be more positivity and support in the world. So he'll try to connect with everyone he meets in some positive way.

This part of Jix's personality actually was inspired by someone I met over 20 years ago in undergraduate college. I was so bad socially, painfully shy, I have social anxiety, the whole deal, so I was between classes on campus, just sitting on a bench and trying to look like I wasn't as out of my element as I was, and this girl comes and sits right next to me and just strikes up a conversation out of nowhere. I remember she had really long hair and glasses but I unfortunately don't remember her name. Anyway, this girl said to me, "I try to take away something unique from every person I meet. So I'm not going to leave until you give me something to take away." As in, an idea, not like... a physical object. Now... admittedly, that sounds stalkerish, haha. But at the time, I didn't take it that way and it didn't come across that way. She came across as kindof a free spirit, heh, having those hippie vibes. I don't remember at all what I said to her to fulfill her requirement, but the concept of what she said stayed with me for all this time. And around the time I was creating Jix, it just sort of snuck into his personality that every person he meets, he makes a point to try to befriend and have some moment of positivity with.

What is leafling culture like? Do they have their own customs, habits and dances?

Leafling culture is very family- and community-oriented, especially early on in life, very simple, and very much into celebrating the seasons of the forest and all natural things. Unfortunately, they've learned to fear/hate humans, and there are other predatory creatures in their forests that they fear, but for the most part, they're just happy, singing, dancing, foraging, storytelling, and quaint den making little folks.

They do have habits and customs and all sorts of things! They have celebrations at the beginning of each season to say goodbye to the old one and welcome in the new. These celebrations always involving lots of food, singing, and dancing, as well as crafting. They make jewelry for themselves, little ornaments and things to hang in their dens or on bushes and things near their homes, and they even make garlands out of leaves, flowers, twigs, dried fruits, and other things they find in the forest. They make their own little lanterns by trapping lightning bugs in woven-twig containers (don't worry, they release them after a while), and they sometimes build larger statues made of twigs to mark important occasions.

They cook and bake, with puddings, pastes, and sauces usually made from fruits and nuts being some of their favorite things to make. They love to tell stories and make up songs, and their histories are entirely oral, passed down from parents to saplings in each generation. For weapons, they make mud balls out of soil and their own root secretions... and they're super accurate with them when they throw them. Don't head into a leafling-inhabited forest without making sure you're wanted there first, or you'll be pummeled by a barrage of mud balls!

Each leafling is very different, personality-wise. Just like people, they have their own likes, dislikes, fears, things that make them happy, quirks, habits, routines, and decor choices for their dens. They are as intelligent as humans, and so their personalities are just as complex and varied. Leafling dens are either made in hollows of trees or between rocks, or made out of mud using their root secretions. Inside, they may collect things that appeal to them, they may hang treasures they found or crafts they've made on the walls, they'll keep a patch of very soft soil for planting themselves to sleep overnight, and they'll otherwise decorate and maintain it as a personal living space, and a way to hide from potential predators.

Jix is one of 17 saplings his parents had. He was closest to his sister Ki-mi, before they parted ways. In leafling culture, once they are considered adults at around 7-10 years depending on the species, they're expected to branch out, no pun intended, and make lives for themselves elsewhere. This is a very exciting but also sad and scary time for the leafling, because although it's seen as a rite of passage and is seen as a very positive thing, the leafling is still leaving behind their family to start a new life alone for a while. At least, until they make new friends and have families of their own. Jix and Ki-mi left together at first, not quite ready to fully be alone. After about a year, they finally said their goodbyes. He has nothing but fond memories of Ki-mi, and hopes to one day run into her somewhere.

What is Jix's favorite flower?

The strawberry blossom... because Jix's favorite fruit is the strawberry. He loves sweet things, and berries are his favorite. He calls them "tasty littles," so strawberries to him are "strawlittles." Of his favorite fruit of berries, strawberries are his absolute favorites. So whenever he sees strawberry blossoms, he gets all excited that there might be strawberries nearby.

Thanks for sending these, they were fun to answer! =D

[lovinkiri]

Undercover Wild Cat, The Perfect Date

Description: Sasha and Eijirou go on their first date. There's a lot to anticipate, and plenty of cute moments between them, including their first kiss!

Art Credit: @.jabberwockyface

OC Credit: @jix-the-dragon

Sasha was excited to start her day. Not only did she not have class, but today was a crucial milestone in her new, budding relationship with Eijirou. A day they would never forget, a truly special day.

It was their first date. Not only was it their first date together, but it was their first date in general. And Sasha was determined to complete another first today.

She and Eijirou had discussed their first kiss once before. It was awkward and a little embarrassing, but Sasha brought it up because it seemed like Eijirou did not intend to do it. Of course, she wasn’t trying to rush him. She just wanted to communicate and make sure there wasn’t a problem. 

Sasha could still remember the bashful smile on his face and the red hue on his cheeks, which eventually found the tips of his ears. He said that he’d wanted their first kiss to be truly special, and with everything their classmates had recently been through with the league, he told her that it wouldn’t be very manly to give her such an important memory during a time she’d want to forget eventually.

His words had melted her heart, and she quickly agreed with him. With that, she figured their first date would be the best day to have their first kiss. The two of them had already had a few close calls before quickly snapping out of it, remembering their agreement to wait. Now that wait could finally be over.

She finally settled on a sundress, the weather was perfect for it. Looking into her full-body mirror, she began to move her hips, grinning at how the skirt of the dress swished around her legs. It wasn’t often she wore a dress, but she loved it when she did. 

Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she went into the closet, pulling out a red and white checkered blanket. She and Eijirou had decided to have a picnic, she was in charge of grabbing the blanket while he grabbed the food they prepared together the night before. 

She couldn’t help but giggle as she remembered the small food fight they had. They were playfully going back and forth about something silly. Sasha was winning the argument, so Kirishima had lightly thrown a piece of cheese on her. He hadn’t expected it to connect, let alone stick to her cheek, but his laughter was heard throughout the dorm. At least until he had a slice of cheese chucked over his lips, then Sasha was the one laughing. This continued until Iida came down and scolded them for wasting food. 

“Maybe we should grab some cheese on our way back,” She mused aloud, hugging the blankets in her arms. It was soft against her skin, comfortable enough to sleep in. Maybe after the picnic, she could wash it. Then she and Eijirou could cuddle and watch a movie with it. 

Making her way downstairs, she immediately heard a loud gasp from Mina upon entering the common area. The pink-haired girl jumped up and ran towards her, taking in Sasha’s outfit. “Wow! Someone looks good!” She exclaimed with a grin.

Sasha laughed and smiled back, tilting her head. “What? Do I usually look bad?” She asked playfully, raising an eyebrow to emphasize her question. Of course, she knew that wasn’t what Mina meant, but it was fun teasing her classmates. 

Pouting, Mina hugged one of her arms, leaning against her shoulder. “You know exactly what I mean, Quinnie. You never wear dresses. The closest I’ve gotten to seeing you in a dress is our uniform skirt.” She grumbles, her cheek pressed against Sasha’s shoulder. 

With a smile, Sasha lifted a hand to pet Mina on the top of her head. “Maybe we could go dress shopping soon with the rest of the girls. A girls' day out sounds nice.” She said thoughtfully, looking at her. 

Mina’s head shot off of her shoulder and she looked at Sasha, holding out a pinkie. “You gotta promise, Quinnie.” She sang, grinning broadly when Sasha hooked their pinkies and agreed. They exchanged a few more words before Eijirou entered the common area, wearing a white button-up shirt and some black pants. He held a picnic basket in his hands.

When the two lovebirds saw each other, their eyes might as well have turned into hearts. It was nice to see they both had thought of dressing up for the other. Bakugou groaned from his place on the couch, rolling his eyes. “There they go.” He grunted, watching as they approached each other.

“Hey, Sash.”

“Hi, Eij.” 

Their exchange might have looked awkward on the outside, but the two simply couldn’t find the words. Even though they’d just seen each other, the time leading up to this felt like forever. They were excited, this was their first date after all. 

“You look beautiful,” Eijirou smiled, admiring how the dress looked on her. “I mean you always look beautiful, but you know.” He quickly added before she could tease him like she teased Mina. Though he wasn’t here when it happened to her, he knew Sasha well enough.

She laughed, knowing exactly why he felt the need to add that second part. “Thanks, Eiji. You look amazing.” She complimented, looking him up and down purposefully, watching him flush. She would always find a way to tease him. 

Reaching up, she gently pinched his cheek, careful not to hurt him with her claws. “You’re so cute when you blush.” She said, watching him pout the same way Mina had. Though she had to say, he was a lot cuter, though maybe she was biased.

“C’mon, Sash, let’s go.” He placed a hand on her back, gently leading her towards the front door. It seemed he wanted to run away, not wanting their classmates to see his face turn as red as his hair.

Mina tilted her head curiously. “Where are you guys off to dressed all nice?” She asked curiously, jumping over the couch and landing next to Bakugou, who looked up from his phone. 

“Yeah, hanging out without us?” Denki spoke up, coming out of the kitchen with a bowl in hand. He looked between Sasha and Eijirou, taking in their clothes before grinning in admiration.

Eijirou, already almost out of the door, looked back at them with Sasha still holding his cheek. “I’m taking my girlfriend on a date. And it wouldn’t be a date if you guys all came along, right?” He spoke as if it was obvious, and maybe it should’ve been. But the class had no idea they decided to make their relationship official.

Letting go of his cheek, she waved at her classmates as they walked out of the door. “Bye, guys! Sorry, Denks, Maybe next time!” She called out as she shut the door. As soon as it closed, she heard everyone in the room erupt into shock.

“Get back here, Idiots! When did we start keeping secrets, hah?!” That was undeniably Bakugou’s voice, the loudest as always. She hadn’t expected him to be so shocked, but hearing it was amusing.

Then there was a whistle. “Finally!” That was all Denki exclaimed, and Eijirou laughed at that. Out of everyone, Denki had supported them from the start. They couldn’t imagine how happy he must have been to hear they were finally an official couple. 

“What?! You owe me details, you two! Details!” Mina shouted after them. Sasha knew what that meant. After the day, she was going to have a girl talk in Mina’s room with the rest of the girls. Either before or after a talk with Bakugou and Denki.

Those three were the loudest, the rest of their classmates who were in the common area were surprised but not as surprised as the three. 

“I love our classmates.” She told Eijirou as made their way out of UA, looking up at him. “It’s never a dull day. I’d have thought the blanket and basket would have given us away.”

Eijirou looked back at her. “Yeah, but we always did romantic stuff, even when we weren’t officially together.” He pointed out to her, swinging the basket just a little, not enough to ruin the food. 

“Romantic stuff like what?” She asked though she knew exactly the kind of stuff he was talking about, he could see it in the way her eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief.

Deciding that it was his turn to tease, he took her hand in his, interlocking their fingers. He wished he could have taken a picture of Sasha’s face at that moment, how her ears perked up and her eyes widened, let alone the red hue on her cheek that only darkened as Eijirou smirked.

“Romantic stuff like this.” He leaned down, kissing her cheek. He smiled against her soft cheek, feeling how hot her face had gotten. “Now who’s the cute one?” He asked teasingly, pulling away with a wink.

“Okay, fine, you got me this time.” She huffed, her cheeks puffing as she looked ahead, too shy to make eye contact when she knew how flustered she probably looked. He only laughed and gently swung their hands, rather than the basket. Anyone who looked at the two as they walked by couldn’t help but smile. Young love in its finest form.

Eijirou and Sasha had decided to go to a very specific location for their picnic. It was a park, and the people who knew about it knew it for its beautiful flowers and scenery. It took quite a bit of research to find this park it wasn’t exactly well-known. It was in a small, suburban area a little ways out. A train ride and a small walk away.

When they reached the train, all of the seats were taken. Thankfully, not many people were standing. They managed to get inside right before the doors closed, laughing at how quickly they’d started to run just to make it.

The train began moving and Sasha reached up, her fingers just barely wrapping around the handle hanging from the bar above them. She looked up at Eijirou, grinning. “Nice job, Eiji.” She said proudly, as he’d been able to keep up with her speed. She hadn’t given it her all, but she was going fast. The plan was to hold the door for Eijirou.

He panted softly, holding onto the bar above him. Still, he smiled at her through his deep breaths. “Yeah? Getting used to your speed,” He let out an airy chuckle. He’d been right though, Eijirou was getting better at keeping up with her. 

“You didn’t have to run so fast, you know. I was going to hold the door open for you.” She told him, watching as he quickly regained his breath. 

He shook his head and glanced out the window as if trying to hide how his next words would fluster him. “I always want to run by your side, no matter what. I may not be as fast as a leopard, but I’ll settle for the closest I can get to it.” He said softly, giving a small shrug.

Sasha blushed at his sweet words, nudging him gently with her free hand. “You’re so manly, Ei.” That was all she needed to say to make him perk up. 

“He’s just too cute. Almost like a puppy..” She thought to herself, imagining him with soft, floppy puppy ears. She nearly cooed at the thought, watching him with an adoring gaze. Her stare caught his attention, his cheeks blooming with red. 

“W-What happened?” He asked, tilting his head and only making him look cuter to Sasha. She had no idea how he didn’t realize just how adorable he could be.

Reaching up, she gently pinched his cheek again, giving a teasingly smile. “Don’t make that face anymore. You’ll end up making my heart explode, okay?” She said cheekily. When she was an agent, she never imagined she’d be flirting with her boyfriend on a train, on her way to a picnic. But there they were.

Eijirou gave a flustered pout and pulled her hand from his cheek, holding it in his own. His thumb brushed against her knuckles gently. “You’re teasing again, Sash.” He huffed softly. When he noticed the mischievous sparkle in her eyes, he decided to retaliate, bringing his palm to her lips. He placed a loving kiss there, watching her go wide-eyed.

“You’re my favorite person, you know that? No one else gives me butterflies like this.” She told him, wanting him to know how special she was to him. He was the only person to ever make her feel this way. For a moment, she thought about a particularly annoying agent she used to work with, one who flirted with her constantly. ‘Hex’, that was what he was called. But she quickly dismissed the thought, not wanting her memory of him to ruin this date. Not like she’d have to see him again anyway.

He smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and delight. "Really? Just me?" It was obvious no one had said that about him before. 

She chuckled softly, her heart feeling lighter seeing how happy her words had made her. "Oh, yeah. It's the little things you do too, like the way you make ordinary moments extraordinary. No one else has this magical ability to turn the mundane into something extraordinary. No one but you, Ei.”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her assertion. "Magical ability, huh? Little things? I don’t do much. Not as much as I wish I could. Because you’re special to me too, Sasha." He admitted bashfully. 

Her gaze softened as she began to recount moments that had left a lasting impression on her. "Like the time we went on that trip and ended up cuddling on the bus. Or when you surprised me with my favorite dessert last week just because, and your thoughtfulness made my day."

His expression softened, touched by her words. He hadn’t realized the significance of his actions. "Those were super small things though, Sash. Not nearly as much as you deserve. Especially for what you went through, you deserve it all.”

She shook her head, looking at him as if he hung the stars himself. "Super small to you, maybe, but they meant the world to me. It's not about grand gestures; it's about the sincerity and thoughtfulness behind them. You make me feel seen, appreciated, and loved in a way not many people do."

He reached for her hand, a silent acknowledgment of the connection they shared. "Well, like I said, you're my favorite person too. You bring so much joy and warmth into my life. I never knew someone could be so.. Manly?" He said it questioningly before shaking his head. “No, not just manly. I mean… You’re just.. Everything? Does that make sense?” He scratched the back of his head, wishing he was better with his words.

Little did he know, he couldn’t have said it better. Her heart went fluttering at his sweet sentiment. She nodded, noticing how his hand still held her, warm and secure. “It does. It makes perfect sense.” She assured him. 

The rhythmic hum of the train created a soothing backdrop as Sasha and Eijirou spoke, eventually able to sit down as an old couple stood. Eijirou let a small thought pass, that maybe he and Sasha would be together when they were that old. He figured he was probably getting ahead of himself, not knowing Sasha had the same thought.

When they do get off the train, they make their way to the park. It’s a short walk, and it feels even shorter to Sasha when she’s in such in company. The park, adorned with vibrant blossoms and tall, swaying trees, welcomed them with a gentle breeze that carried the sweet scent of flowers. Sasha couldn't help but admire the sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating a pattern on the stone path under their feet. She held her arm out, watching the pattern reflect against her skin, over the cheetah print of her arm. Smiling, Eijirou held out his arm to do the same, their fingers brushing together.

As they approached a quiet enough spot beneath the shade of an old tree, Sasha couldn't help but appreciate the simple joy of sitting beside Eijirou against the soft blanket. “I was thinking we could use this to cuddle later. Feels soft against my skin.” She mentioned her thoughts from earlier, smoothing out the blanket as he opened the basket. 

Pulling out some sandwiches they poorly cut into different shapes, he smiled at the thought. “Sounds pretty good to me. The more time I get to spend with you, the better. Especially when all of the studying I’ve been doing with Bakugou. Wish he’d let you join.” He sighed, remembering how Bakugou had told Eijirou they had to study privately. Or at least, without Sasha. Otherwise, he’d stare at her the entire time. He knew that Bakugou was right, but he couldn’t help it. How could he not look at her? 

She laughed softly, pulling the plastic wrap from the plate of sandwiches while Eijirou pulled out a bottle of juice and two portable plastic cups. “You’ll have to stop staring at me then.”

“Easier said than done, babe.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the new nickname. He’d never called her that before. She didn’t hate it. It spread a warm feeling through her chest. Noticing the way she hesitated before speaking, he looked at her nervously.

“Was that okay?” He asked, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. He’d been wanting to call her that for a while, only now finding the courage to try. Eijirou wasn’t sure what reaction to expect, so he had to be sure she wasn't upset.

But she quickly shook her head. “More than okay, Eijirou,” Sasha reassured him, her eyes sparkling with a mix of surprise and affection. The nickname lingered in the air, a newfound fondness for the nickname. He grinned at her, glad that she liked it. 

As they continued unpacking the food, Sasha found herself replaying the moment in her mind. 'Babe'—it was such a simple word, yet its impact was amazing. It felt like a key unlocking a door to a new layer of intimacy between them. 

“Hey,” She spoke up, gaining his attention as he unpacked the last of it. “Does that mean I finally get to call you ‘Darling’?” She gave a playful grin, watching his face flash as he nearly dropped the brownies they asked Sato to make, which he happily did as he was craving brownies anyway.

He smiled, looking almost shy. He’d started it, but to hear her calling him ‘Darling’, he understood why she’d gotten quiet. The initial reaction had left him speechless too. He instead poured a cup of juice, downing it as Sasha waited expectantly for a response. 

He nodded, wiping his mouth quickly, hiding his cheeks behind his hand while he did. “Of course you can, babe. I’d like it if you did it more often, honestly.” He said softly, wanting to be honest about how much the name had affected him.

“Okay, Darling,” She purred affectionately, leaning her head against his shoulder. Eijirou wrapped an arm around her, laying his head against her. As far as picnic dates went, they were off to a great start.

Leaning into Eijirou's side, Sasha found comfort in the warmth of his presence. Her head nestled against his shoulder, creating intimacy within the bustling park. The gentle rustle of leaves and distant chatter was static in their ears, their focus on their private moment, one that seemed to suspend time like an enchantment of shared affection.

Lifting a brownie, Sasha offered to feed it to Eijirou, and he didn’t bite immediately, deciding to mess with her first this time. Instead, he gave her a confused look.

"Eat it, Eiji," she urged a lightness in her tone that echoed the carefree nature of their date. Eijirou's grin widened, and he leaned forward, playfully pretending to nibble at the air.

Finally, with a theatrical sigh, Sasha tried again, bringing the brownie closer to Eijirou's lips. He took a playful bite, and the rich, chocolatey goodness hit his tastebuds quickly. The taste was a burst of sweetness, Sato truly was a master in the kitchen.

As Eijirou savored the brownie, Sasha couldn't help but admire the way his eyes lit up with delight. The sight made her take a bite as well. It was a small, intimate exchange, yet it spoke volumes about the comfort and joy they found in each other's presence. The park seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a world where every shared bite became a celebration of their connection.

The couple continued to cuddle against the blanket, feeding each other. It was a sweet sight to anyone who passed by them. An older man gazed at them as if he were remembering something. They waved and he waved back with a smile before walking along. 

Sasha traced circles on Eijirou's hand, her voice melodic in his ear. "You know, these moments feel nice. After everything we went through, I think we really needed this, right?” She looked up at him.

Eijirou grinned, his eyes reflecting the affection he felt. "Yeah, it's like we've found our own little moment away from the world,” He furrowed his eyebrows at his own words. “Moment..?” He repeated, wondering if that was the best word.

She nodded, assuring him once more. “Our own little moment.” Sasha's fingers played with the edges of his white shirt as she continued, "I never imagined a simple picnic could turn into something so special though. Somehow, you make eating on a blanket the best experience ever.”

Eijirou chuckled, his gaze fixed on the stars. "Remember what you said earlier? Sometimes, it's the simplest things that mean the most." He pointed out her words from their earlier conversation and she nodded. 

Sasha continued to rest her head on Eijirou's shoulder, sighing contentedly. "I like what you said about this being our own little moment. I'm grateful for moments like these. It's like time stands still, and it's just us." She expanded on his statement and he nuzzled the top of her head.

Eijirou nodded, his fingers gently intertwining with hers. "It's the kind of peace that makes everything else fade away. Never liked that kind of peace before, but I like it now. Easier to focus on you.” He told her, watching her practically hide her face against his.

With a soft smile, Sasha gazed into Eijirou's eyes. "You make ordinary moments extraordinary, you know that?" She pointed out, wanting to voice these thoughts once more, wanting him to truly understand how his presence affected her life.

Eijirou blushed, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, it's easy when I'm with someone as extraordinary as you." He decided to flirt, watching her turn the same shade of red.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink, Sasha and Eijirou stayed on the picnic blanket. The soft glow of twilight swept over them. The distant chirping of crickets serenaded the couple, and the rustle of leaves in the gentle evening breeze provided a soothing soundtrack to their shared chatter.

As the last traces of daylight faded, they exchanged soft whispers, their words carrying the weight of shared dreams and untold promises. Promises of how they would always stay together, how they’d always protected each other. Eijirou began thinking about a promise ring. He knew it was a big commitment to him, and he definitely thought it was worth Sasha. With how sweet she was looking at him, he could have married her right then and there. 

With a final gaze at the fading sunlight, Sasha and Eijirou rose from the blanket, hand in hand. The park, now bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, made her eyes move across their scene happily. Even cleaning up their food was fun with Eijirou.

As they strolled away from the picnic spot, the evening whispered its blessings, carrying the echoes of shared laughter, stolen kisses, and the quiet joy of being intertwined in the tapestry of love. The picnic blanket, picked up from the dew-kissed grass, silently held the memories of a day well spent, promising a future adorned with countless more moments like these.

They stopped at the entrance of the park, looking out at it one more time, taking in the scenery. They hadn’t even paid much attention to it, even though that was the point of coming here. Instead, they lost themselves in each other. Still, it was a nice experience, a perfect date.

Almost perfect.

Sasha turned to Eijirou, her eyes reflecting her vulnerability. "This night feels... different, doesn't it?" She said, brushing her hair back with a smile.

Eijirou met her gaze, his heart beating against his chest. He what was coming. It was time. "It's like the universe is giving us a moment we've been waiting for." He returned her smile, nodding in agreement with her statement.

A soft breeze played with Sasha's hair as she leaned in, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "Maybe it's time we stop waiting," she whispered, her voice delicate and sweet.

Eijirou's heart raced, mirroring the anticipation in the air. "Yeah, maybe it is." He murmured softly.

Their proximity intensified, and the magnetic pull between them was undeniable. Sasha's fingers traced a shy path up Eijirou's arm, and in that moment, time seemed to slow for the both of them.

Eijirou cupped Sasha's cheek, his touch gentle yet filled with a longing that spoke volumes. "Sasha..."

She met his gaze, and without uttering another word, the universe granted them permission, finally giving them their special moment. Their lips met in a tender dance, a culmination of unspoken emotions and the magic of the night.

Then everything else fell away as they lost themselves in the sweetness of their first kiss. Sasha's heart fluttered, and Eijirou felt an electric warmth coursing through his veins. The kiss was everything they hoped it would be and more. They weren’t sure what to expect, but any expectations they might have had wouldn’t compare.

They conveyed everything through a gentle, simple kiss. Eijirou could feel Sasha’s appreciation for how he always believed in her, and never let any doubts sway him away from her. And Sasha could feel his understanding for her, he wanted to make her happy after such a difficult life.

Breaking the kiss, Sasha looked into Eijirou's eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. "That was... perfect." She spoke breathlessly, giggling nervously. She couldn’t help but wonder if she was any good at kissing.

Eijirou grinned, his eyes reflecting the newfound connection. "More than perfect." He said quietly, making her relax in response.

Hand in hand, they made their way back home. The train was emptier this time around, so they were able to grab seats as soon as they got on. They talked softly about how the date went, what they would tell their classmates when they got home, and were roped into conversations about today. 

On the way back, they made sure to pick up some cheese like Sasha had wanted. She hoped Iida wasn’t still upset about it. She doubted it, he could be very forgiving. Still, she thought it’d be best to replace wasted food in the dorm.

Just as they thought, they were immediately bombarded with questions. Looking at their friends, they gave them relaxed smiles.

“One second guys, at least let me walk my girl to her room,” Eijirou said, gently her hand in his. It felt good to say, calling Sasha his girl. As for Sasha, it felt good to hear. Everyone took a step back, letting the two walk to Sasha’s room. 

“Aren’t you manly? Walking your girl to her room,” Sasha giggled as they approached her door. Stopping outside her room, she looked up at him affectionately. “Guess that makes you my man, doesn’t it?”

Eijirou chuckled at Sasha's playful comment, a warm glow spreading across his face. "Well, I can't let my girl walk alone, can I?" he teased, a twinkle in his eyes.

As they stood by her door, a comfortable silence settled between them. Eijirou couldn't help but admire the way Sasha's eyes sparkled with a warmth that mirrored his own feelings.

She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss. He returned the kiss, holding her cheek against his palm. A goodnight kiss was the perfect way to end this perfect day. It wasn’t until they heard a chorus of gasps that they pulled away. Looking behind them, they say their classmates duck behind a corner. They couldn’t help but share a laugh at their silliness.

“Looks like they’ve been waiting for us all day. Let’s get through these talks, yeah?” She said, rubbing her arm bashfully. Eijirou agreed with a few stutters, making Sasha grin at him.

“Right, yeah. Well… Goodnight, babe.” Eijirou said, hugging her close to him. It was as if he couldn’t get enough affection. 

Sasha hugged back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She didn’t mind, she felt the same way. Was this the honeymoon phase she heard people talking about? 

“Goodnight, Darling.” She spoke softly, and he nearly melted in her embrace. 

Then, like moments ago, they heard their classmates again. This time, they awed at the couple, finding their new nicknames adorable. The two pulled away and exchanged amused looks before Sasha made her way into her room. 

Not even five minutes later, someone was knocking rapidly at her door. She walked over and opened it, finding that it was Mina who knocked, unsurprisingly. The other girls were right behind her. 

“Girl, you dropped such a huge bomb on us earlier. We’ve got questions!” Hagakure spoke up first, jumping up in excitement, the others agreeing with her.

She grinned at them, grateful to have friends she could talk with like this after a date. She moved aside, giving them room to enter. “I've got a lot to share ladies.” 

Meanwhile, Eijirou wasn’t even able to answer most of the questions he was asked, stuck in a lovestruck daze. “She kissed me..” He trailed off.

Bakugou let out a frustrated groan. “Yeah, we saw. You gonna talk about your shitty date or not?” 

“Again..” Eijirou finished, smiling happily. “She kissed me again.”

Denki jumped up in shock, hand on Eijirou’s shoulders. “Again?! Man, we need all the details, all of them!” He insisted.

As Bakugou tried to argue that they didn’t need every detail, Eijirou looked out the window, talking under his breath as Sero tried to get him to spill this time. “My girl. Her man. Her Darling…” He blushed softly. 

[titanlights-moved]

muses to add: 

Kaz Brekker ; Grishaverse canon ; freddy carter fc

Dinah Ahearn ; Grishaverse OC ; Saoirse Ronan fc

Alice King ; Alice in Wonderland inspired OC ; Alfie Enoch fc

Ratree Jix ; Dreamcatcher discography inspired OC ; Nhung Hong fc

Johana Mora ; fandomless OC ; Yvette Monreal fc 

things to do:

make a carrd (someone please help me)

[freewillacquired]

👔 Which muse of one of your blogs is the most intelligent?

Hmm....... I guess it depends on how you define intelligence. I’ll just pick a few that I can think of, heh.

Based purely on IQ alone, I would say Channe ( @fxcelessqueen ) has the highest innate intelligence, but as a character somewhat reclusive personality, she lack personal experience in most situations. If you give her a test to take, she’d ace it, but put her into real life situations and she won’t know what to do half the time, heh.

Thinking about street smarts, that would have to be Luther ( @armed-and-alxne ). He worked for the Russian mafia since the age of twelve and for almost thirty years, so he’s the most capable of navigating dangerous and sensitive social and common sense situations.

As far as thinking fast on one’s feet and problem solving skills, I’d go with Carlos ( @youmissedone ). Becoming a militant in his youth, then a mercenary, continuing as a special ops soldier, and then navigating a zombie apocalypse, Carlos is the best of all my muses at handling tactics, formulating quick and efficient solutions to problems, and delegating responsibility to others based on skill.

And as far as exceptional intelligence outside of what would normally be expected, Jix ( @xleafyheartx ) is considerably more intelligent than the average leafling. All leaflings can talk, but few can learn multiple languages. Jix knows three. He can be taught how to read, whereas not all leaflings can grasp that skill, and he also has an exceptional memory for a tiny tree fae.

Yeah... so much for picking just one muse, heh. XD

[jasonfry]

Author’s Notes: The Secret Academy, Pt. 2

WARNING: These notes will completely spoil Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy. Haven’t read it? Stop and go here.

(Go here for notes for Edge of the Galaxy, here for Rebel in the Ranks and here for Imperial Justice. And here’s Pt. 1 of The Secret Academy. )

All right! It’s our last go-round for Servants of the Empire author’s notes. Thanks to everybody who’s followed along this far – I’ve had a blast writing these notes and hope they’ve been useful, whether you’re a budding author or an interested reader.

Part 2: Merei

At the end of Imperial Justice, Merei Spanjaf escaped her service to the crime boss Yahenna Laxo and her mother Jessa’s investigation of her intrusion into the Imperial data network. Yet Merei then immediately used her forged credentials to resume her snooping, discovering that Zare Leonis was sent to Arkanis at the Inquisitor’s orders.

I did that in Imperial Justice so the reader would go into The Secret Academy worrying about Zare and suspecting that Merei wouldn’t be able to leave well enough alone – in Godfather-style, she thinks she’s out but they pull her back in.

What pulls her back in is her determination to save Holshef, an elderly poet endangered by Laxo’s demise. She’s worried about Holshef himself, but also frustrated by her inability to help Zare and guilt-ridden about Laxo’s death. Holshef becomes her way of turning that frustration and guilt into something positive.

Originally Holshef’s rescue had more moving parts: Merei enlisted his daughter to help and played a game of cat and mouse with the bounty hunter trying to apprehend him. But I realized I didn’t have room to weave another strand into the plot. In fact, I was worried I didn’t have enough room to do everything necessary to wrap up book and series properly. So Holshef’s daughter got pared down to a quick reference and the bounty hunter was reduced to a briefly glimpsed antagonist. 

I had to economize elsewhere too, sometimes to a fault – I agree with reviewers who found the last two sections of The Secret Academy a little rushed. This book taught me that while wrapping up a series is easier than constructing a middle chapter, the little grace notes needed for a satisfying ending require more words than you think. Live and learn. 

One dynamic I liked in Merei’s story was how Jessa turns cool and resourceful once Merei reveals the truth about the Empire. Rather than waste time mourning misplaced loyalties, Jessa swings into action and becomes an effective partner for her daughter. Which makes sense -- apple and tree and all that. But I wish I’d seen the dramatic possibilities earlier and played up the conflict between Jessa and Merei in Rebel in the Ranks and Imperial Justice. That would have made the payoff from Jessa’s turn more satisfying. 

An unexpected complication was how to get Holshef, the Spanjafs and the Leonises from Lothal to Garel. My original idea was that Merei would call in a favor from the Spectres via Old Jho, with Ezra insisting that his compatriots pay their debt to Zare by joining the raid on Arkanis. But at that point in the Rebels timeline the Spectres were laying low and avoiding Lothal. I could use them for the raid, but not the rescue.

Plan B was using Lando Calrissian, but I hated the idea – Lando had played no role in the series and I felt a cameo would distract readers and slam the story to a halt. At that point I needed readers to be biting their nails, not going, “Hey neat it’s Lando!”

Plan C was using Old Jho himself, and I disliked that idea too. But I warmed to it out of necessity since there was no Plan D. At least I liked the character – his trolling the Imperials in “Idiot’s Array” was pretty funny – and I’d already decided to pair him with Holshef as another elegiac voice for Lothal. Expanding Jho’s role from go-between to rescuer wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t the end of the world, either. So I added some light comedy about whether or not his ship would fly, dropped a few The Force Awakens Easter eggs and moved on. 

Some notes on Part 2:

“Wox ho uffdon comda,” mutters a speeder truck after Merei cuts it off in traffic. That’s Bocce, derived from the Galactic Phrase Book and Travel Guide. An approximate translation would be “You go shut down now.”

Merei and Holshef talk about jogan blossoms, with the old poet musing that scent can unlock memory. This is, of course, exactly how Zare will cut through Beck’s brainwashing around 60 pages later. I’d woven the theme of scent and memory through all four books, but needed to double down on it now that I was so close to the story’s climax.

The events of Chapter 14 tie in with the Rebels episode “Call to Action.” I liked that Tarkin’s toppling the tower creates problems for the Empire that insurgents can exploit – I thought that was a realistic consequence, and one it would be natural for Jessa and Gandr to comment on.

Operation Guiding Light, the directive that Holshef ran afoul of, is another fascist strategy designed to mesh with Imperial Justice. Its directive that nostalgia should be suppressed as “a product of dissatisfaction and anger” is an homage to a line I love in Don DeLillo’s White Noise.

On a less highbrow note, Old Jho’s sorrowful note that the forests of his youth have been “turned into mines and machines” is right out of Lord of the Rings. Which makes sense, as Ithorians are basically the Legends version of Ents.

Merei’s long speech to her parents recounting everything she’s done behind their backs was meant as a bit of domestic comedy, with Jessa and Gandr staring at their daughter in disbelief as this treasonous chronicle rolls on and on. There’s a similar scene with Tycho and his family in Jupiter Pirates: The Rise of Earth, which was written at much the same time. In both books, a few readers missed the joke and complained about getting a big chunk of exposition about things they already knew. Oh well.

Something went awry with the bit about the locator in Chapter 17, or else I’ve forgotten what I was trying to do. Jessa tells Merei to leave it with Gandr, but then tells Gandr she’ll send him their location. Huh?

Some readers have asked what happened to Jix. Beats me – I assume he went to prison. An experiment I tried in Servants of the Empire was letting things be a bit messy. Merei forgets to tell Zare about Project Unity, we don’t find out what happened to Oleg or Jix, and Chiron makes a promise to Penn that he winds up unable to keep. I think a certain amount of messiness is realistic – certainly more so than having every single plot thread tied off neatly by the end of a series.

Merei stunning Leo – and Tepha’s reaction to it -- was a scene I had in mind from the very beginning of the series. It’s Merei’s Indy in the Casbah moment. Auntie Nags was supposed to then lecture Merei that it’s bad manners for guests to shoot people, but I unthinkingly used that joke in The Weapon of a Jedi and so had to drop it here. I wish I’d done the reverse – C-3PO has plenty of good lines already. 

Part 3: The Tower

This section brings everything together and so moves quickly, reuniting Zare and Merei and then Zare and Dhara, sacrificing Beck, then getting everybody off Arkanis for a pair of emotional reunions.

I worked hard on Zare’s speech, reading it out loud to myself until I thought it was right. I like it both as an emotional recitation of the journey he’s been on and a call to arms -- an indictment of the Empire that could only be made by someone who’d once believed in it.

Three books’ worth of work on scent and memory pays off with Beck’s turn, but I also brought grav-ball back as a reference point. I overdid the grav-ball references -- Zare and Beck talking about a center-striker sneak would have been enough -- but think it works. That last image of Beck’s hand with the jogan blossom clutched in it is a little cheesy, but I figured I’d earned it.

Another scene I polished obsessively was Zare’s long-awaited reunion with Dhara. I mulled including brief interludes in the series from Dhara’s point of view, but decided it was more dramatic to reveal nothing about her fate until we see her here. As for why Dhara was kidnapped, there are clues in what she tells Zare in her cell and aboard the Ghost. That’s all I’ll say for now.

Chiron’s death was another part of the endgame that I had in mind from the very beginning, complete with Dhara’s burning eyes and Zare swearing Merei to secrecy about her Force tantrum. I liked that there’s no real villain in Chiron’s demise – he follows his misguided sense of duty to the very end, Dhara acts out of self-preservation, and you can’t really blame either of them. A nice bit of tragedy, if I do say so myself. The logistics were a pain, though – I had to isolate Zare, Merei and Dhara, figure out how the auxiliary elevator came into play and then get everybody to the roof.

The scenes aboard the Ghost were reworked at the very end of the process. My editor Jen Heddle asked for a quiet scene between Zare and Dhara, which was a great call, giving them a moment that Zare had worked so hard for. As for Zare and Merei’s vow to make use of the data she’d stolen and keep fighting, it was another late addition. Once again, that’s all I’ll say for now.

Thanks so much to everyone who’s begged, cajoled or campaigned for further adventures of Zare and Merei. There are no plans that I know of, but I’d love to bring them back for another story. I want to know what became of their campaign against the Empire, where their relationship went, and if Dhara recovered from her ordeal at the Inquisitor’s hands. (And yes, I have ideas about all of those things.) But if that never happens, it’s fun to think of Zare and Merei continuing to fight the good fight, as they learned to do so capably over four books. 

Quick notes on Part 3:

The other cadets stripping Zare’s uniform and breaking his saber was borrowed from descriptions of Han Solo’s expulsion from the Imperial Academy in Han Solo at Stars’ End and the Dark Empire Sourcebook. To keep the reader from being distracted by a new uniform, I made sure the cadets wore their dress blacks in an earlier scene.

Beck mentioning that he stopped taking his medication was a quick add to reinforce the idea of the jogan perfume cutting through his brainwashing. I think little buttressing details like that are effective provided they neither stop the narrative nor give the game away.

I liked that Zare doesn’t really have a plan once he and Beck break out. Zare’s a smart kid who’s cool under fire, but he’s in a facility he knows nothing about so he’s just improvising wildly. Hey, when you’ve got a date with a firing squad any plan is better than nothing.

Where’s the rest of the Ghost crew? I left Kanan out because he would have sensed Dhara’s dark-side tantrum and started asking questions. Story Group’s Pablo Hidalgo also taught me a good trick from TV: leave out a member of an ensemble cast in case you need to explain what happened in some later project. That way you can handle the needed exposition through conversation. 

I enjoyed writing Dhara’s reunion with Tepha and Leo – after so much tension and anxiety, it was satisfying to craft a scene that was just pure love and joy. But if Servants of the Empire is ever collected into a single volume, I’m campaigning to edit out that last line. After everything the Leonises had been through, Dhara telling the rest of her family not to let go said it all.

If you enjoyed these notes and are going to Orlando for Star Wars Celebration 2017, I’m leading a Star Wars University session about writing and storytelling on Friday April 14 at 6:30 pm. Come on out! 

Thanks for coming along on the journey with me, and here’s to new adventures ahead.

[starssystems]

(for character development) If anyone has any interesting sleep headcanons, maybe do that for some of your muses?

✡ ANONYMOUS ✡

❲ CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT // ALWAYS ACCEPTING !! ❳

some of your muses aka all four of my ocs? good plan. these are going to be short little blurbs but still you ask i answer my friend

rena sleeps with no problem. like… literally, as soon as her head hits the pillow, she’s Out. everyone asks her if she has trouble sleeping at night because of the people she’s killed and she’s just like ‘absolutely not’. The only exception to this rule is post-sex, she’ll stay awake for a bit of cuddling before falling asleep.

kip has the same sleeping habits that i do (we stay awake until our body absolutely cannot take it anymore, and then pass the fuck out). you can probably find him wandering the halls of the resistance base well into the night. he also volunteers to take the late shift of staying awake to watch camps/the base because he knows he’s not going to sleep

vyre runs in a similar manner to hux (though he’d never admit it). he does not sleep. will not sleep. runs solely off of caf. gets grumpy after a couple of days without sleep. then passes the fuck out only when pretty much ordered to sleep by kylo or one of the knights.

jix loves sleep, but rarely gets it. performances run late into the night, rehearsals even later. opening and closing nights, there are celebrations that run well past dawn. so he’ll relish every single second of sleep that he can get, and dreads the sound of an alarm in the morning.

[lovinkiri]

Undercover Wild Cat, Chapter Four

Warning: Blood mention, Puke Mention, Etc.

Description: What was supposed to be a trip to the USJ turns into a full scale villain attack in an attempt to kill All Might. And sadly, it's because of Sasha. She may be the cause, but she'll do what she can to fight for her classmates.

Art Credit: @jabberwockyface

OC Credit: @jix-the-dragon

<<< ♡ >>>

Sasha sighed, leaning against a desk in an empty classroom. She couldn’t help but glare at the door leading to the hallway, where a commotion was taking place. Everyone was in a panic, fearing an intruder made their way into the school. She tried to find Eijirou in all of the mayhem, but she couldn’t find him. Eventually, it became too much; too many scents, too many voices shouting.

Of course, she wasn’t surprised by the intrusion. Shigaraki had told her the previous night about his plan to let in the press, presumably to send a message and set in panic. She couldn’t help but think something else was going on. Something he wasn’t telling her for whatever reason. But she was in no position to demand anything from Shigaraki, not at the moment at least. Still fairly new to the league, it’s not like he would tell her.

She perked up when she heard everyone quiet down and Iida explaining the situation. “At least one person bothered to look out the window. Wonder how he managed to get everyone’s attention though.” She mused to herself, jumping onto a desk. She decided to chill until the halls cleared a bit more. That’s when her phone rang.

Sasha owned two phones, her normal phone and her burner phone she replaced weekly. And considering that it was her normal phone ringing, it could only be three people. Hoping it was just Naomasa, she checked the caller ID before smiling and picking up.

“Hey, Uncle Nao!” She greeted, growing confused at the sigh of relief he let out.

“You sound chipper.” He said, glad to hear she was okay. The police department had been called to escort trespassers off of UA’s campus, and while he knew it was just press, he couldn’t be too sure. Especially when it came to Sasha.

“Yeah. I was worried they were calling me. Or him.” She looked at her claws, swinging her legs a bit. By they or him, she meant the commission or Hawks. Not that she didn’t get long with Hawks, they got along as well as they needed to. He and the commission just had a tendency to complicate things sometimes.

He chuckled to himself. “I’m just checking in. I know they’re just reporters, but I worry.”

She smiled softly. “Awe. No need to worry, everything is fine. You don’t have to come up here.”

The two exchanged a few more words before he hung up to allow her to go back to class. She walked out of the classroom into the mostly empty hallway and made her way back to class. When she entered, Eijirou jumped up.

“Sasha, you’re alive!” He grinned at her and she laughed at the exclamation.

“Yup! I had to split off for a little, it was all kinda much.” She shrugged sheepishly, taking her seat. “So what are we talking about?”

He leaned forward, pointing to Iida. “Our new class rep!”

Smiling, she looked at him. “Ah, congrats Iida! I wasn’t there, but I heard the way you took charge! I think you’re deserving of this role. Ah, no offense Izuku.”

Izuku waved her comment off, agreeing with her. Iida couldn’t help but smile proudly at the comment.

“Thank you, Quinn. Don’t worry, I won’t let any of you down!”

It didn’t take long after that for Aizawa to settle everyone back down, though it didn’t last long. He began to explain how today’s training would be rescue training and would include three instructors. This immediately excited the class.

Eijirou leaned in to speak to Sasha once more. “Real hero stuff! This is what separates the men from the boys. I’m shaking with excitement!” He said.

She nodded and sent him a teasing smile. “This is your chance to show me just how manly you are too.”

“Oh, you’re on Sasha!”

She laughed and checked her phone, having got a text. It was only then that she realized what phone had gone off.

“Ah, Mr. Aizawa! I have to use the restroom!”

~~~~~~

Sasha smiled as she plopped down next to Eijirou on the bus. “Cool if I sit here?”

“Of course, like you gotta ask.” He scooched a bit to allow her more space. “You excited for today’s training?”

“Yeah! I wonder where we’ll be going though..” She nodded. Of course, she was well-versed in rescue training. Being a spy meant a rescue could be a bit more touchy than most. This is because spies dealt with more shady, dangerous people. Usually organizations. And against multiple people, a rescue was never easy.

But again, she was just as excited as the last class.

As they talked, he couldn’t help but notice her pausing to yawn every once in a while. He chuckled softly as she removed her hand from her mouth for the third time. “Are you okay, Sasha? You seem tired. Were you up training again?”

She nodded, recalling how it was actually the league who had her awake for a good portion of the night. “Yeah. Sleep is getting kinda hard to come by.” At least part of what she said was true. It was getting harder to sleep.

“Why don’t you take a nap? I’ll wake you up when we get there.” He offered with a kind smile.

She thought about it before nodding. She figured getting some sleep would only do her good. At least she’d be a bit more well-rested for after-school training.

Leaning her head back against the window of the bus, she smiled softly at him. “Thanks, Eijirou.” With that, her eyes closed and it didn’t take long for sleep to catch up with her.

It was only then that Eijirou took the time to take in her details. Details beyond her spotted skin and her hero suit.

First, it was her ears that caught his attention. They were kinda fluffy, so much so that he had to resist the urge to touch them. He noticed them twitch once in a while when a classmate got loud. He hoped they wouldn’t wake her up considering how tired she was.

There there were her fingers. He had no clue why they had caught his eye, but he figured he just liked looking at them. They were slender, delicate. He remembered how she tapped her sharpened claws against her desk on her thigh when she was bored. How sheepishly she’d grin when Aizawa grew tired of the noise. The memory caused him to smile in endearment, holding back a chuckle.

That’s when he felt something tapping his knee. Looking down, he watched as her tail swished from her knee back to his. She wasn’t hurting anyone, so of course, he didn’t mind.

Watching her tail, he didn’t notice the slip of her head. So he was fairly surprised when her head found its way on his shoulder. He quickly looked back over, ensuring that she hadn’t woken up before sighing.

“You know, you’re pretty adorable Sasha..” He thought. He had no clue why that had crossed his mind but he didn’t let the thought embarrass him. Instead, he chose to relax. He liked feeling this close to her. He was comfortable.

So why not just enjoy it?

~~~~~~

Sasha whined as Eijirou called her name. “Mm.. Tired..”

“I know, sorry Sasha. But if you don’t get up, Aizawa might come back here and-”

The thought of Aizawa having to walk to their seats in the bus just to wake her sent enough adrenaline through her to make her jump from her seat. ”Well, good thing I’m up and there’s no need for that!”

Eijirou laughed and stood up, pointing to the front of the bus. “Yeah? Let’s get goin’ then!”

The two exited the bus, earning a look from Aizawa who was unraveling his scarf. Sasha could only imagine what he was going to do with it if they hadn’t come out when they did.

The class was greeted by a pro hero Sasha recognized as Thirteen. She hadn’t met her before but she’d seen tons of her work before. She chuckled, watching Uraraka and Izuku get more excited than anyone else.

Thirteen beckoned everyone inside, introducing the impressive building to everyone. “I call it the Unforeseen Simulation Joint! But you can call it the USJ!”

“And you made this place for students? That’s amazing!” Sasha grinned, looking around at each disaster zone. The shipwreck had caught her eye in particular.

Smiling, the hero nodded at her. “Of course. Anything to help the up and coming heroes of tomorrow!” She said before turning to Aizawa who approached her.

Eijirou looked at her. “This is gonna be awesome!” He cheered, looking at her. Sasha quickly nodded in agreement.

“Yeah! And look at this place! I’ve never been trained for a landslide! Or a shipwreck!” Her tail began to switch wildly in excitement.

Laughing, Eijirou tilted his head. “And you’ve been trained for anything else?” He asked jokingly.

She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself in her tracks. “Crap, got a little too excited..” She thought.

Lightly jabbing his side with her elbow, she rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know what I mean!” She played it off, noticing how his inquiry on her choice of words didn’t seem very serious.

He nodded and smirked. “Okay, okay, I know!”

Thirteen gathered everyone’s attention once more to explain how deadly a quirk can be, emphasizing how important it was to remain focused and be careful. She further ahead and said that was a reason as to why we were learning how to use our quirks to save lives today.

“Being a hero sure is different than working underground..” Sasha’s thoughts were cut off when Aizawa decided it was time to start. But they didn’t get to start training.

At first, the lights flickered. Then, the water from the fountain began to stutter. That’s when a portal formed and she immediately recognized it.

“The quirk of Shigaraki’s right hand.. That means-” Her eyes went wide. By now, it had caught everyone’s attention. Aizawa ordered everyone to stay together and for Thirteen to protect the students.

“I thought today’s lesson was on protection,” Eijirou said, moving to take a step forward. Sasha quickly grabbed his hand, watching Shigaraki.

She was pissed, not having been told of their plan to attack the USJ. “I get that they don’t fully trust me yet, but..”

“Stay back! Those are real villains!” Aizawa shouted, Everyone except Sasha felt fear creep into them almost immediately, Eijirou gripping onto her hand.

“According to the press, All Might should be here. But the only heroes here are Eraserhead and Thirteen.” Kurogiri stated.

Shigaraki sighed in disappointment. “And I went through the trouble of bringing so many friends. Maybe he’ll come out if we kill a couple of kids.”

Aizawa and Sasha had the same idea. “So you scumbags used the press as a diversion and snuck on campus?” He spat.

“Villains..” How could so many of them get into a UA facility this secure though..?” Eijirou didn’t take his eyes off the villains. Momo nodded, turning to Thirteen for answers. “Yeah.. Thirteen, why aren’t the alarms going off?”

“I have no clue..”

Sasha felt guilt eat at her. Earlier, before taking off, she’d gotten a text from Shiagraki to disable the security on certain areas of the campus. She had to run off to inform the commission, who quickly got on it.

She didn’t think the plan was a large-scale attack. She thought it was something like more press, another warning.

She should have known better. This was a group led by All For One, they weren’t ones to mess around.

Aizawa went down to fight off the villains, and he seemed to be doing well.

Eijirou pulled at Sasha’s hand and that’s when she noticed the group following Thirteen out. She hesitantly followed, making eye contact with Shigaraki and noticing Izuku lingering behind to watch Aizawa.

“Izuku! Let’s go!” She called. He quickly turned and quickly followed. Before they could reach the door, Kurogiri intercepted them.

“I had heard that All Might would be here, but it seems not. Such a shame. This seemed like the perfect place for his death, yes?” He spoke calmly, almost too calmly.

Eijirou quickly shook Sasha off, he and Bakugou rushing at Kurogiri, though she knew it would do nothing to him.

“Eijirou! Bakugou!” She shouted out.

They sent a devastating attack, but as the smoke cleared, Kurogiri stood there completely unphased. “You should be careful children. Someone could get hurt.”

Sasha noticed the tip of Thirteen’s glove opening. “You two, get out of the way!”

Almost immediately, almost all of the class was surrounded by Kurogiri’s shadows. Everyone began to panic, unsure of what was happening. Then they were teleported away.

Sasha quickly landed on her feet, Bakugou doing the same. Eijirou landed next to them, stumbling but just barely catching himself.

“What the hell was that?!” Eijirou shouted. Bakugou scoffed, opening his fists. “Teleportation quirk..”

Sasha looked around. They seemed to be in a broken-down building. “Huh.. We must be in the collapse zone..”

She heard an explosion and turned to see Bakugou had blasted someone through a wall, leaving the walls shaking a bit. And suddenly, more villains were advancing on then.

The three got in defense positions and Sasha couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement at the thought of being in a real fight. “And we aren’t alone.”

A woman lunged at her, but Sasha’s reflexes were far too quick. She dodged the woman’s fists, weaving under her arm and hitting her palm against the woman’s stomach as hard as she could. The woman stumbled back and fell on her knees, throwing up. She heard Eijirou and Bakugou fighting behind her.

The three turned their backs to each other. Sasha slashed at whoever she could, not hesitating to draw blood. An enemy was an enemy after all.

They were fighting for who knows how long, as the enemies kept on coming. Sasha finished off the last enemy, slicing across his face before roundhouse kicking his jaw. She could hear the crack of his jaw but paid no heed.

Eijirou’s eyes lingered before looked down and began speaking. “I think that’s all of them. We should try finding our classmates. If we’re still in the USJ, they should be too. And not all of them have the offensive skills we do.” His hand softened. “We gotta make sure they’re safe, especially since Bakugou and I screwed things up earlier.”

“That’s.. Really chivalrous, Eijirou.” Sasha said, surprised by his bravery. “But yeah, that was really impulsive, you two! I was worried!”

Eijirou nodded. “I’m sorry, I know.. If Thirteen could have sucked up that villain, then we never would have gotten separated like that. We have to make it up to the others!” He turned to Sasha and Bakugou.

Bakugou scoffed. “You wanna go searching for everyone, whatever, have fun. I’m gonna go destroy that warp-y bastard.”

“Huh? But our physical attacks didn’t work on that guy! Don’t be an idiot!”

“Shut up! I’m gonna take him out because he’s their way in and out!”

Sasha’s ear twitched and she turned. She couldn’t see the enemy, but she heard his footsteps advancing. “Bakugou!” She reacted quickly, kicking the enemy at him. Bakugou caught him by the head, setting off an explosion. The invisibility wore off to reveal a chameleon-like man.

“Anyway.. If all of the villains are all bark like these guys were, our classmates can handle them.” Bakugou dropped him.

Sasha looked at him. “Awe. That’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard you say, Bakugou.”

Eijirou smiled. “And since when do you act all rational? Usually, you’re all like..” He trailed off.

“Die! Die! Die!” Sasha gruffly mocked, making Eijirou laugh.

“I’m always calm and rations, you losers!” Bakugou shouted angrily.

Eijirou pointed at him. “Yeah, like that!”

Sasha sighed. “Well.. I can’t let you go alone, Bakugou. You coming Eijirou?” She turned to the redhead, who excitedly agreed, She nodded and Bakugou scoffed.

This was only the beginning.

[thenexusofsouls]

Leafling Ponderings || open to mutuals

"Umm... hi-hi. Please excuse Jix, but... what happens to all the pummy-kins after Hally-ween? Was just wondering, because... I love pummy-kins and don't want them to feel unwanted. Is not fun to feel unwanted, 'specially when it is cold outside. Jix feels bad."

[thenexusofsouls]

Jix! How are you? :) Here! *places a basket of berries beside him, alongside a tiny ladder for him to climb up the basket*

"Wahhhhhhh! Tasty littles for Jix!" the tiny leafling exclaimed. "Ohh... have to climb. Okay... can do this. Not the bestest climber, but... not the worst either, I think. Jix will succeed, for the sake of tastiness!" he muttered as he carefully climbed the ladder up to the edge of the bowl. "Wahhh... So beautiful!" His little beady eyes opened wide. Gripping the side of the bowl with his roots, Jix grabbed a blueberry and took a big bite. "Mmmmmumumum..." he hummed as he chewed. "Soooo good. Thank-thank for caring about Jix!" He was quite happy, but utterly oblivious to the purple stained ring around his mouth from the blueberry juice.

[thenexusofsouls]

1. Is your muse afraid of death?

4. How easy is it to anger your muse?

[ for Jix & Aryx ]

Angsty Character Questions | Accepting

{i am the caretaker of souls} Ooh, these are good ones! Below the cut for length. =)

1. Is your muse afraid of death?

JIX

Yes, he is, to a decent degree, heh. I mean, not irrationally so, to the point of being afraid of doing things or thinking about it all the time, but if he finds himself in a predicament where he thinks he might die, yeah he gets a little wacky, heh. He's afraid of falling from heights and dying because he's extremely bad at climbing. He's also afraid of drowning because he's a terrible swimmer, haha. In winter, he's afraid of freezing to death. So there are some things that he knows he's particularly vulnerable to that he is afraid will get him killed someday.

He's also afraid of the process of death. Pain is not his cup of tea (and frankly, it's not anybody's, really, heh), so he's afraid dying will hurt. But also... he's not quite sure what happens after things die. There are so many different and conflicting ideas, religions, theories, etc. about what happens when we die, and Jix doesn't know which of them (if any at all) are correct. So fear of the unknown comes into play a lot when he thinks about death. I think if he had a solid idea of what happened after death, he might not be so afraid of it.

ARYX

No, not at all. So... it's a bit different for humans and other mortals vs. angels in Aryx's world with regard to what happens to them. The souls of mortals go to the second layer of the Heavens or the second layer of the Abyss, depending upon the way they conducted themselves during life. The souls of angels, archangels, demons, archdemons, and holy or infernal seraphim, however, fall into the care of their respective gods/goddesses who created them or to whom they gave their allegiance if they were natural-born on Earth or they defected from their creator in some way. Unless the god/goddess is displeased in some way and chooses to punish the divine/infernal being, they are usually given the choice of being recreated as a new being or ceasing to exist.

So Aryx knows that, when he dies, his soul will return back to The Stag, a.k.a. The Father of Protection, which is the god who created him. He'll be given a choice to be recreated as a new holy being or, if he'd rather just end things, his soul could be recycled in a sense, reabsorbed by The Stag, and he would cease to exist. There's a comfort for Aryx in knowing that he will be returning to his creator, whom he deeply loves, and that he will be well taken care of and in good hands.

I think, rather than being afraid of death, Aryx is instead afraid of not doing enough with his life. He's less worried about what awaits him in death than he is of not maximizing his time and efforts to do the most good he can possibly do while he is still alive.

4. How easy is it to anger your muse?

JIX

Not... super easy? But there are certain things that will get Jix pretty riled very quickly. Excessive disrespect and being very rude to him, especially if you continue after he calls you out for it, will get him angry. Because... seriously, don't be a jerk, heh. He's always courteous and respectful to others and he expects others to behave in like kind. So when his manners are not reciprocated, he gets affronted.

Personal space is a major thing with Jix, and if it's not respected, he will get angry. He doesn't like to be touched or picked up unless he's given his express permission for that to occur. So if someone comes up to him and starts touching his leaves or roots, or they grab him and pick him up without warning, he will start yelling at them and get very pissed off, heh. He prefers when others ask permission first, although if you are friends with him and he knows/trusts you, he may say that you always have permission from that point onward, and then you don't have to ask every time.

Also, if he sees someone being mean to someone else, especially if it's someone he cares about, he will get snippy with them in defense of that person, heh. So if he's with a friend and someone starts name-calling, pushing them around, saying nasty things, etc., they will get a very irate Jix in their face, heh. He might be tiny, but his sense of justice is huge, haha.

ARYX

It's damn near impossible, heh. Seriously, Aryx is the most mellow, calm, serene person you will ever meet. He has infinite patience, a great deal of tolerance and understanding, and he isn't by nature a violent or emotionally volatile person. It takes a lot to push him to real anger that's something more than just a few stern words or some frustration with another.

Demons like to play head games with angels, and this is something that can get under Aryx's skin and potentially make him angry. They will use humans as shields, pawns, toys, hostages, etc. simply for the sake of emotionally rattling and destabilizing an angel. It's a tactic that's not only enjoyable for demons but also serves a purpose in that it can give them an edge in battle if the angel is upset or angry and maybe not acting with their normal amount of prudence or strategic care.

So yeah, there have been times when demons have "played around" with humans in very cruel ways that have made him deeply and viscerally angry. But even then, it's a rare occurrence, because Aryx knows that the demons want a rise out of him, so as long as they're not catching him in a vulnerable moment where he might forget to actively not give them the satisfaction, he usually does manage to maintain his composure.

[thenexusofsouls]

what would Nuada do after learning that Mantis wants to leave? he's gonna be so mad LOL he gave her the seed of the forest god and some time later she's like "buh bye"

though if Mr Wink and the bark children end up in Knowhere, then at least he wouldn't be lonely 🥲

{i am the caretaker of souls} Honestly, that's her decision and he respects that. Like... he wouldn't be giving her the forest god's seed if he didn't trust her to look after it, so if she thinks it'll be fine going along with her, then it will be. Also, once he gifts it to her, it's hers. Not only is it her responsibility now, but he doesn't have a say in what becomes of it because it's no longer his. And really, it was never his to begin with, it's a living creature. It belongs to itself. In short, he trusts her to do what is best with and for the seed, and if he didn't, he wouldn't be giving it to her in the first place.

Awww, yeah he'd do a lot better with his friends on Knowhere with him. But omg, Mantis has no idea how fast bark children breed, lol. I hope the residents of Knowhere like them, because they're about to be everywhere, haha. XD

Also, side note, I need Jix on Knowhere, lol. Can you imagine with how easily he makes friends, how much he loves to talk and sing, and how social he is? He'd never sleep, he'd just go around making everybody smile and spreading leafling positivity, heh. Also... Jix as a Guardian of the Galaxy. I know, I know, they've already got a tree person, but Jix is very different from Groot. Also much smaller. Well, maybe about the same height as wee baby Groot, but still. I dunno, just a side digression there for a bit, haha.

[thenexusofsouls]

Jix - do you celebrate any holidays?

"Yes-yes! Celly-brate all the holly-days, even if Jix doesn't quite understand what they mean. Is time to celly-brate, is all that matters. To be happy with friends and eat tasty things and enjoy life. Is point of holly-days, yes-yes? Look, I have festive blue bow on my branch! Is for Winter Solstice. Is this week. Winter colors are blue and white for snowy-flakes and icey-cles. Cold may not be fun, but... is part of nature, so... is still good. Have to be cold sometimes so that we enjoy the warm times even more, right? Jix thinks so."

[thenexusofsouls]

Hey Strychthia, what do you think of Jix?

"I love Jix!" Strychthia said, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "He's funny, kind, and talks a lot. Doesn't judge me. Nice to be around. He's a good friend. He likes my art!" And that was very important to her. Anyone who liked her artworks had a special place in her heart.

[thenexusofsouls]

*gives Jix a basket with an incredible strawberry pie, surrounded by numerous different types of ripe, edible berries* :)

"Waaaahhhhhhh!" the little leafling exclaimed, his beady eyes going wide with wonder. "Look at the beautiful strawlittles pie someone left for Jix! Soooo many tasty littles... Ohh, Jix has died and is in leafling heaven. Must be." He bounced excitedly on his roots. "Will have to eat for days to finished it all. Is a lot of muchness for such a tiny leafling stomach. better get started." He reached into the pie with his tiny hand and drew out a piece of strawberry, cramming it all into his little mouth. "Mmmmumumum..." he happily hummed as he chewed.

[thenexusofsouls]

💚 GREEN HEART - what things make your oc feel comforted? hugs, kisses, food? (for Jix) and 🙉 HEAR-NO-EVIL - what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone? (for Aryx)

💚 GREEN HEART - what things make your oc feel comforted? hugs, kisses, food? (for Jix)

Honestly, being with friends. Talking, sharing, laughing... He genuinely loved being surrounded by friends. I will say that a good juicy berry or other fruit does make him happy, but in terms of true comfort, it's being with people who value his company and who he can make smile in some way that truly brings him comfort. Even if he's just giving advice or comforting them if they're sad or anxious about something, that's what make shim happy. Spreading positivity and making friends feel loved and valued is always a comfort to Jix.

🙉 HEAR-NO-EVIL - what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone? (for Aryx)

I'm not sure what "worst" means, like... worst for the person talking, or worst thing that could pop out of their mouth? The worst thing he could hear from someone in terms of the person talking... would be to hear that their whole family was killed. He's experienced that over the centuries he's lived with the wars he's fought in, either that people would send their family members off to war and none of them would return, or soldiers would return from war only to find out that in their absence their families were murdered. Aryx... came to earth during very brutal and turbulent times, and a lot of that went on. And to him it's just so heartbreaking, like... it's bad enough to lose a loved one, but to lose many at once, and to be left as the last surviving member, that's even sadder to him. So that's one of the worst things he could hear from someone, it just breaks his heart.

In terms of like... the worst thing someone could simply say, I think would be for someone to admit to killing a child. That's the most reprehensive crime in Aryx's mind because children represent innocence and they have barely lived their lives, so for someone to admit to killing or even harming a child... that's definitely one of the worst things anyone could say to him.

[thenexusofsouls]

Are you excited for Halloween, Jix? 🎃

“Yes-yes! So happy for Samhain! I love to eat pummy-kin mush and seeds and decorate with nice-smelling leafies and herbies and things! Is such a nice time, except that Jix’s leaves change colors and fall off. Can get chilly. And Jix looks kindof naked. Looks like I have the indecents going on. But is okay, will come back in Spring. Also... humans have something called hot choccy-late that Jix really loves! Have you tried? It’s so tasty and give you aaaallll the happies! As long as it’s not too hot. Don’t want to burn Jix’s tongue. But all the choccy-lates and pummy-kin spices for Jix! Is almost best time of year, next to Spring, I think. And Samhain is so much fun with the ghosties and creepy things. Jix gets scared easily, though. Has to be funny-scary. But is soooo much fun!”