#muse: sampo koski

[selfnss]

Does Sampo have any personal rules or code he follows when it comes to accepting jobs? Or are there no boundaries he won't cross if the price is right?

while he likes to market himself as being open to anything as long as the price is right, and as much as sampo does like to make out that he'll do anything if it comes to it... he's not as heartless as people might expect or the rumours in the underworld suggest he is. he's got boundaries. he won't do anything that would actively put someone's life in danger nor will he disadvantage children. he charges more from people in the overworld than in the underworld and he does do a lot of work for natasha and the clinic without charging or expecting much in the way of payment other than a meal and a place to stay the night.

really, more than anything, sampo is out to have fun - being the undercover emanator of the elation means that he doesn't really need the cash that he takes off of people when he could just go back to the tavern if worst comes to worst. he enjoys seeing how his reputation changes the way people treat him and watching people scramble to justify their dislike for his upbeat attitude is all the payment he needs sometimes.

[feroluce]

how do u imagine natasha + sampo’s relationship?

I. Feel a little bad for leaving this in my inbox as long as I did, especially since I said in this post I could write a whole essay on them. But then when I tried to actually answer this, I realized ah shit, I can't really articulate what I think of them at all OTL

(so have a bajillion words of meta analysis of them instead fklajklasjf)

Just! Sampo is very mysterious figure, and we know so little of his background and his motivations! So it's really difficult to get a solid read on some of his relationships with other characters. Regardless, I do think that Natasha is perhaps the one he's closest with, and that she is the one person who knows him the most intimately in all of Belobog.

And a lot of it IS hard to pin down because of Sampo's slippery nature, but also because it's like. If you look at just Natasha's dialogues about Sampo, it doesn't really look like much. It only becomes more meaningful when compared to how everyone else talks about him.

Most other characters just comment on what Sampo does, as in his observable actions that are easy to see on the surface or from a distance.

Natasha is one of the very, very few that actually speaks to Sampo's personality or philosophy. Like she not only is able to describe a certain behavior of his, but she's able to explain the why behind it.

At least part of this is probably that they spend so much time together- Hook even comments on it during her companion quest.

And tbh I don't really think it needs more proof or anything with such a flat out statement like that, but this is actually further supported by the fact that Seele is the only other character in Belobog to sorta-kinda comment on Sampo's personality; if Sampo were hanging around the clinic with Natasha all day, Seele would probably be the person he would see second-most there. Of the dialogues posted further up in this post, Hook obviously sees him all the time, but it's not always in the clinic, and besides she's still very young...she wouldn't have the same read on him an adult would. Luka avoids the clinic whenever he can because he's worried about taking up Natasha's valuable time. And the Landau siblings aren't even present in Boulder Town until after the Stellaron is quieted.

Seele, on the other hand, is extremely loyal and devoted to Natasha, and seems to worry about her a lot. She doesn't have the same reservations as Luka, and it would feel right to see her in the clinic frequently, taking orders and missions and trying to make sure Natasha doesn't run herself in the ground. So it would make sense for her to see a lot of Sampo if he's always in there, too, enough that she would have things to say about his personality, whether she likes that or not haha.

Of course we know from Sampo's lines that it's not that he's sick, he's just reporting back to Natasha. Sampo not only smuggles in supplies across the border like what most people know him for, he's also Natasha's source of intel.

Bringing back intel doesn't necessarily have to involve a lot of conversation though, especially because it would make more sense for Sampo to be turning in written reports. It decreases the chance of Natasha mishearing/misunderstanding something or having to rely on memory alone, neither of which are really things you probably want to be doing when bad intel can mean the difference between life and death in her circumstances. So I do really wonder what it is Sampo does in the clinic all day haha. Given that he's a big believer in the power of small talk bringing in big clients, it's entirely possible Sampo is just in there being chatty, happily making conversation and keeping Natasha company most of the time...which is kinda cute. He also really could just be talking shop, too, of course- Sampo does a lot of work for Natasha, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to assume she's his main client. There's probably a lot to discuss about supply quotas, incoming intel, scheduled drops, etc.

My favorite option, though, is actually based on one of Sampo's options from the main quest, where he says:

Because like! The way he says this, the way he specifies that this is his opinion, but no one seems to care what he thinks? And how he calls them stubborn in particular? It really sounds like Sampo has been trying to get Wildfire to operate in a different direction. And if you look up the exact definition of "artless," you get this

which very much fits Sampo, and how he does things. He has guile and deception down to an art form. Sampo goes on to call Wildfire "do-gooders," but then cautions the trailblazer not to underestimate them because of that- indicating that Sampo sees that type of philosophy as something naive, or at least just ineffective. Something that you would underestimate a person for.

And the person Sampo associates with the most in Wildfire, the one he's always seen with, the one who would hold the most sway to change the modus operandi of the organization is...Natasha.

So I wonder if Sampo has been trying, possibly for years now, to get Natasha to see what he thinks of as reason, and start playing dirty to survive. I wonder if that's what he spends so much time in the clinic for, is because he does care, and he wants her and the rest of them to live, and he has been trying to convince her to go with his way of doing things, but Natasha has been refusing him, refusing to compromise her morals.

Because we know from some readables and from the general Vibe, both up on the surface and down below, that things were getting pretty dire. Rivet Town has fallen. The Silvermane Guards are being whittled down and broken. The Fragmentum was right on everyone's doorstep, and I'm sure that if the Astral Express hadn't arrived- and that if Sampo hadn't set the stage so perfectly, if he hadn't played his part just so- then all of Belobog would have eventually been snuffed out. Sampo had to have known it was happening. He must have known the end was upon them.

He doesn't even have a stake in Belobog- he's not from here. He could, assumingly, call it quits and leave when shit got tough by whatever means got him there in the first place.

And I'm sure Sampo wants to save all of Belobog, but I think he's particularly endeared by Natasha. He famously phrases his view of Elation as "true happiness always entails the manifestation of the dignity of mankind." And like. Who else embodies that so much as her?

Maybe it is a little vague and up to interpretation, but I feel like Natasha is FULL of that kind of dignity. She has been doing this since before the blockade. She willingly chose to stay in the Underground where she could do the most good. She has seen so, so much death and you can see how it weighs on her; she's become bitter, and wary, and weary. She has it out for the Guards (understandable), and she openly taunts Gepard and goes right for his throat when he shows up in Boulder Town, ten years too late, trying to help with the Fragmentum.

Natasha even seems to have given up any belief she may have once had. She's completely lost faith in Qlipoth.

All of this, and yet she still chooses to be kind. She still chooses to help people. There is something immensely admirable in all of that.

And I feel like you can see how much Sampo admires her in just how often he thinks of her, especially when someone needs help. Sampo smokebombs everyone and needs to get them somewhere safe in the Underground? He takes them to Natasha. Svarog is about to fucking kill everyone? Go get Natasha. He finds the trailblazer passed out in an alleyway? He carries them to Natasha. The trailblazer is seeing weird shit out in the Fragmentum? Recommend they go get a check up. Specifically from Natasha.

It's a little silly, but I think you can also see some of this when Sampo is being melodramatic about being caught red-handed in the museum event. He echoes a very important sentiment to Natasha and Wildfire;

And the mission where this ideology was displayed strongest was titled, "To Rot or To Burn."

(Hell, in the dream sequence of Penacony- regardless of whether that dream bubble came from Sampo or Sparkle, it had to be informed by Sampo's tales of Belobog. Sparkle has never been there herself. And the kind trashcan that immediately helps you and sets you on the right path, that tries to rally everyone together, the only one with a name so clearly and obviously taken from someone Sampo knew in Belobog? Is Shatana- an anagram of Natasha. Even from a meta perspective, they have the same VA. No other trashcan there gets that treatment. None.)

I think they have the same goals, and even hold some of the same views. Natasha's are much more obvious, but still. Sampo says this about Belobog's circumstances:

And he says this as though it should be obvious common sense. That when things are rough, you share and make sure everyone has enough. I think they both share this belief, it's just that they disagree on how to go about making things even. Natasha believes in rallying people for the cause and giving as much of herself as she can to make up for whatever people lack. Sampo believes that if some dipshit with more money than what they need falls for his bullshit and he gets to spread it around? Well hey, that sounds like a whole lot of their own fault.

Natasha is definitely aware of this, and she has no problem threatening Sampo whenever she thinks he's stepping out of line.

She keeps him on a very short leash, which like. Yeah no that's valid fjkdlsajfdklj

Even so, the way she talks about him, like... Maybe it's just me, and my rose-colored glasses, but she doesn't seem to dislike him nearly as much as she could? She kind of just. Says these things as statements about him, without any real vitriol behind them. This is just kind of how he is. She even seems to have a sense of humor about it.

And again! She has so much more to say about him than almost any other character.

I'd like to think part of her...affection? of sorts? for him is simple camaraderie. Circumstances are dire. Past, present, and future are all bleak. Things like that deepen bonds with your foxhole buddies. Sampo is dependent on Natasha for work and pay and a place to get away from the Guards. Natasha is dependent on Sampo for food and medicine and life-saving supplies. They both heavily rely on each other in this harsh environment, and they have a really nice back-and-forth that I appreciate with how they help each other out by owing favors as payment.

And the other part, I'd like to think actually IS because she knows him very well- maybe not things like his past, but she knows some of his personality and beliefs, and finds them agreeable enough. She even has the audacity to call him a poor liar at one point- Sampo! Of all people! Known by someone well enough to be caught out as a poor liar! He's either intentionally leading her on and letting her think she's caught him, or Natasha just really is that good. Neither would surprise me tbh

I think Natasha is also just uniquely prepared to understand Sampo, and is able to see his better sides without letting her judgement be clouded by his slimy manner. She's able to appreciate that his actions ARE extremely helpful, regardless of how he does them.

Even as she acknowledges that he isn't always trustworthy, she does still choose to rely on him and give him chances. She was pleasantly surprised by him here, but she still chose to trust him with this in the first place. She never treats him harshly, and she never seems to bear any kind of grudge with him.

But my favorite example of Natasha being able to understand Sampo? My favorite is this. This one little throwaway line, that didn't even involve him, wasn't even about him. I feel like Natasha is capable of knowing and understanding Sampo on a deeper level than most people can, solely because of this.

She gets it.

(As a fun bonus: In the current trashcan event, there's a simple mechanic where you get one trial character for the initial battle. Then, for the harder stage, you get that same trial character, plus a couple of extras. This is true for every Proof- except for Sampo's. In his harder stage, you use Asta, Black Swan, and Luocha. But in his initial stage, in an event all about friendship and relationships...)

[pinkrose05]

Warning: mild spoilers for version 2.2 content

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.

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I'm not saying there is a pattern, but....

....there is a pattern.

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

||Honkai: Star Rail muse list||

Blade (Honkai: star rail)

Asta (Honkai: star rail)

Dr. Veritas Ratio (Honkai: star rail)

Yukong (Honkai: star rail)

Sampo Koski (Honkai: star rail)

Sunday (Honkai: star rail)

Caelus (Honkai: Star rail)

Dan Heng (Honkai: star rail)

[estellemusings]

Hiii can I ask for Sampo with a s/o who's an artist and there like painting together or doing something art related with each other

Ty for taking the time to read this :D

HSR-Scenarios

Sampo x Reader

✨ : first time writing sampo so its a bit ooc

Thank you for requesting (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

Masterlists

Sunlight casts its glow on you, holding a paint brush as you add a finishing touch to his portrait. You look up and your gaze landed on his focus look and it amuses you.

Sampo doesn't do this kind of thing rather he doesn't have time. But he could never refuse simple requests from you. So even though he doesn't know how to paint he still tried. Though he couldn't even recognize if it was that you.

"Done?" You ask from across the room

He suddenly felt nervous, he didn't want you to see this painting. Before he could even answer you're already behind him

"Cute" you mumbled

"Don't look" he stood up blocking your view.

You tried to get a glimpse of his painting again but he kept obstructing your view.

"You know I'll love it regardless of how it looks, since you work hard on it" You cupped his face while looking deeply on green eyes.

A sigh left his lips moving so you could see the painting clearly.

As you said regardless how it looks you'll love it but you hate to admit it looks nothing like you.

You look back meeting his as you mumble a thanks

"Thank you for doing your best" 

Sampo reaches out, cupping your face. He leaned down and kissed your lips. He pulled away and pressed his forehead against yours

He's really lucky to have you.

© telle's musing

5-21-23

[gemkun]

@dupliciti commented : i think sampo should flirt with him

      ⸻       narrowed   ,   his   expression   for   once   is   present   with   the   absence   of   plaster   ,   observable   to   the   mercenary.   if   it   weren’t   for   the   precursor   to   this   affair   ,   he   would   have   viewed   it   as   unorthodox   happenings   from   a   shady   operative   ,   however   ,   with   the   knowledge   there   is   purpose   to   this   ,   he   exhales.   ❝   i   see   even   you   seized   this   opening.   ❞   it   is   a   wonder   ,   how   their   dual   and   opposing   personalities   appear   to   constantly   come   across   each   other   ,   but   veritas   does   not   shy   away   from   outlined   conditions.   thus   ,   he   acknowledges   sampo   koski’s   serpent   tongue   ,   twisting   the   cochlea   in   his   ear.   ❝   alas   ,   your   flattery   will   still   not   earn   my   place   as   one   of   your   clientele.   though   i   will   say   ,   i   appreciate   the   omission   of   your   usual   illeism.   ❞

[the-solar-panel]

@astralcook: "..." Oh indeed. She didn't expect him to hear any of that. "...sorry."

"No, no!" Sampo throws up his hands in an exaggerated shrug while throwing on a bright fake grin. "You're absolutely right! It's worse than just bad! It's downright terrible! You really should rethink your priorities, ma'am!"

He's still grinning, and he's even laughing a bit...but his eyes can't lie. He's clearly hurt; he's just refusing to admit it.

[aluckiicoin]

tags? tags!

[selfnss]

this is new.

in all of the tricks he's been subject to at the hands of the aeon that (somewhat unfortunately for the both of them, really) saved his life, sampo koski has never seen one so... well, convincing. he stares through the window of the dilapidated shop front he calls a home, stares through the glass and straight at a perfect mirror image of himself. head cants to the side, disbelieving smile curling onto his face as jade hues shine with something even he couldn't pin down if he tried.

slowly, as if approaching a cornered animal, the conman lifts a hand and shakes it in a small wave, vision never once wavering from the figure on the other side of the glass. this has to be a trick, right? emanator of aha or not, it's never stopped the fool from pulling distasteful tricks on its servant, after all. "helloooooo, you must be a paid performer or something, right?" // @dupliciti

[aluckiicoin-a]

also i got rid of the post i used as tag dump...

so, uh, tag dump.

[pinkrose05]

Thinking again about the fact that it was Sampo who gave Seele her scythe.

[thedetectiveofinaba]

I cannot believe that Hoyoverse has the most accurate Finland/snowy area representation called A dude with a Finnish-sounding name in a planet what is full of ice and snow. You also meet the said dude when he is under a pile of snow.

I'm also sure his name is a nod towards Kalevala & picked on purpose. Finally some representation /s

[cruel-hiraeth]

walk with me, talk with me… i think that if he owed you money and exhausted his schemes, he would—without any qualms—show hole. but he would also be quivering and blushing and embarrassed by it (while also getting off almost immediately, then begging for more).

sampo is simultaneously the biggest slut and the biggest virgin in hsr

[justblades]

⌕ DULCET MUSINGS

⟢ CHARACTERS : dan heng, gepard landau & sampo koski x gender neutral! reader WC : 1.4k

⟢ IN WHICH they celebrate your day in their own special way <3 tooth rotting fluff

dan heng — beams a sweet smile as he fixes the little gift's wrapping that nestles in his gentle soft palms. he closes his eyes for a little while, envisioning your reaction once he finally gives the item he carefully prepared for you. although silent most of the time, dan heng is the type to pay attention to your preferences, your dislikes, almost everything that you babble about to him.

with his eidetic memory and meticulous nature, his present, without a doubt will cater to your liking. but apparently, two hands cover his eyes, making the male flinch from the sudden presence behind him. "oh, what could this be?" you query, scooting closer to the male, scrutinizing the gift box before him.

"wait, remove your hands first." dan heng protests as he attempts his best to gain his vision back. a chortle slips from your lips and eventually gave in, letting the male breathe free again without the restraints of your hands plastered on his face. he arises from his seat and hands you the gift, teal eyes glimmering with excitement although not that evident from his expression.

sometimes, a small smile from his lips and his long lashes fluttering are all you need to know his heart is brimming with happiness and excitement. dan heng is usually perceived as a cold yet nerdy type, it's actually a privilege you get to see him like this.

gepard — whisks the mixture carefully, having a full on chef look from the apron tightly wrapped around his snatched waist and a hand towel draped on the front pocket. aquamarine irises glancing from one dessert to another he intricately made for you, euphoria pools inside him - feeling satisfied with everything he did so far.

every dessert is different from the other in spite of each one belonging in the same category, he made sure that your taste buds won't cloy from eating too much sweets of the similar variety. the blonde male suddenly takes a trip down the memory lane, moments of when he tried to perfect each sweet dish flash in his mind.

with enough perseverance, he finally perfected the arts of it— thus, he calls you from your room, masculine yet gentle, affirming voice chiming into your ears from the other side of the wall. "coming!" you respond with such enthusiasm and once you got to meet up with your partner face to face, your eyes avert to the desserts prepared on the glossy tabletop.

pudding, ice cream, muffins, everything. the extra toppings were even in your favorite flavor, you also noticed how majority of the courses were also in your favorite color. a miniature doodle adorns the pudding's gleaming surface, supposedly a chibi version of you and gepard together bound by a small heart.

the doodle looked different yet adorable in its own way, baby pink hues flushing his pale cheeks. "it's not much but . ." you immediately cut him off by pressing a quick chaste kiss on his lips, "this is everything to me already. it's a lot, it's not 'not much'!" gepard's heartbeat picks up, embarrassed from how he looks disoriented in front of you. "i'm lucky to have you."

sampo — is usually deemed unreliable and a ridiculous person, leading you to doubting yourself how did you fall for someone like him. sometimes it's unbearable to hear people dissing him and even the male knows it well. however, he sports that usual smug look on his face and shrugs it off by saying "it's not a big deal."

you knew him very well so it was natural for you to not heed any mind to those comments. your perception of your boyfriend is always a 50/50 and never exceeding past that number. 50 of happy for having him, 50 of wanting to strangle him because he always does questionable things that irk you.

no matter the outcome, sampo never fails to grant him a saccharine smile from your lips. he has his ways to make you happy - but he might be crossing the line just now. today is your birthday but the male is nowhere to be seen, he was gone since yesterday and you couldn't help but heave a sloth sigh in the end.

traversing the boulder town with no particular plans in mind, you find yourself seeking companionship from whoever could improve your solitude in the streets. your eyes land on the moles and they do so too; hook trekks towards you followed with her other two playmates, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "huh? isn't it your day? where's your blue haired lover?"

kids can really rub salt on the wound sometimes and your nervously chuckle, "it's okay, he's probably busy." when suddenly, a confetti pops from above, glittering shiny paper shreds fall down in a horizontal blur from your sight. you quicly whip your head, your eyes greeted by the lush green ones- and the iconic cocky smile.

he bows lightly with a gloved hand on his chest, sampo gestures for you to look at your left and three unknown men make their entrance. one man was holding a bouquet of roses, one was holding a box of chocolates, and the remaining guy hands you an envelope, seemingly a handwritten letter for your lover. "i hope i'm not late." he says, holding your right hand and seals a lingering kiss on the back of your palm.

my masterlist !

[gemkun]

@dupliciti said : ❛  we can’t not laugh.  ❜ for ratio ↬ (     *     BLACK MIRROR PROMPTS   !

      ⸻       a   ludicrous   sentiment   ,   perhaps.   but   veritas   has   come   across   far   worse.

  behind   his   chiselled   bust   ,   his   features   are   a   mystery   for   the   merchant   to   ruminate   on.   his   voice   inflects   ,   providing   some   pieces   to   work   off   of   ,   which   an   entrepreneur   should   hardly   find   difficulty   in   assorting   to   produce   a   complete   image.   ❝   the   level   of   amusement   that   begs   for   laughter   is   subjective   across   all   individuals.   your   tolerance   appears   to   be   below   average.   ❞

  he   ponders   for   a   moment   ,   coaxing   memories   to   stir   ,   to   navigate   the   reservoirs   tucked   in   the   recesses   of   his   mind.   when   was   the   last   time   he   laughed   ?   the   scholar   has   never   quite   been   elated   ,   per   se   ,   though   he   has   participated   in   the   occasional   scoff   and   chuckle.

  but   rare   is   it   for   his   chest   to   thunder   in   raptured   mirth.

  ❝   is   it   possible   the   situation   was   so   incomprehensible   that   you   could   see   no   other   choice   than   to   laugh   ?   ❞

[the-solar-panel]

"Werewolf? I don't know, where'd you see him last?"