#mynameiskan

[thecloudstan]

I want to draw a short comic about a birthday party for Rufus this year but we have no information about his date of birth :(((((

So if it's OK, I would like to read a short story about our dear president's birthday with the Turks, Darkstar and Cloud too ofc 🥰

And if you don't mind, may I draw a short comic based on that story?

I don't mind at all!! Because Advent Children era is when my brain works most flexibly with them, this little moment slots into the NTYC timeline rather nicely. So it could be anytime between chapter 6ish and chapter 15ish. Due to this, I couldn't work in Darkstar, though. But please feel free to add the lil beastie into whatever art you decide to do (if you indeed decide to do it). She can be lying protectively at Rufus' feet in spirit for the story but for real in the comic (you could even just take this scenario and make it OG/Remake timeline if you want, 100% up to you and I will be happy with anything)! 😂 Because formatting is being hateful, I'm putting the blurb below a Read More.

Enjoy!

Cloud slips his cell into his pocket after trudging up the steps at Healen and shooting a quick, curt text to Reno to let him know he's waiting outside. The invitation had been out of the blue and uncharacteristically vague. The boss wants you here, he'd said. Tseng??? Cloud fired back. No, not MY boss, THE boss. Don't play dumb today, pretty boy, just make the appointment, yeah? Cloud still isn't sure why he agreed, but as Reno opens the door and chaperones him to Rufus' very familiar quarters—babbling incessantly all the while—his nerves start to subside. He can hear voices beyond the door before Reno even cracks it open. Upon entering, the room is aglow with warm light and voices full of tempered excitement. All the Turks are here and accounted for; Elena and Tseng nurse drinks while chatting back and forth off to the left of the little center table, Rude arranges small, festive bags and packages atop the counter beside the mini fridge.

And there, sat at the table alone with a smile on his face and some tiny confection before him, is Rufus Shinra. He fixes Cloud in place with eyes partially squinted by the force of his grin, offering a little nod and wave of hello. "Anyway, go say hi to the birthday boy," Reno says, snapping Cloud out of his moment of wonderment at the scene in front of him. "Birthday?" Cloud grouses, looking at Reno with a little knit in his brow only after Rufus has broken their gaze to ask Rude for something. "You could've at least told me. I got nothin'." Cloud throws both arms out wide in a gesture that reveals just how empty handed he is. As usual, Reno shrugs off any accusations as he backs away from Cloud and toward his partner. "Don't worry, blondie, your presence is present enough, trust me!" With an undeserved snicker Reno turns to meet Rude at Rufus' side. Cloud watches them in the doorway for an awkward moment before summoning the wherewithal to move his feet. As he approaches the former President, the other two slink away to find themselves a drink. Upon closer inspection, Cloud can see that the confection is some kind of cake from an upscale bakery, all perfectly round and encased in what looks like a hard, white and brown candy coating. Probably white and dark chocolate, but he can't be certain.

"A nice surprise," that velvet voice pours out syrupy sweet, sweeter than any birthday cake could ever hope to be.

Cloud levels him with a heavy but almost apologetic gaze.

"Hm? Wish I knew ahead of time so I could've brought you something but I think some details got lost in the invitation..."

Rufus only smiles, stifles a laugh. It's hard to tell whether he knew Reno tracked him down, or if it was his idea to begin with. That's not surprising, though. "Would you like a taste?" he suddenly asks out of nowhere, gesturing to the cake on the table. Cloud ignores the baser meaning behind the question and leans over the table to get a good look at the cake, making a bit of a show of it. He's not a die hard lover of sweets, but it looks good enough. He does notice there isn't a single candle is in sight, though. Feigning contemplation, he folds his arms over his chest, rests his chin on a fist. "Before the birthday boy? Nah. Besides...your friends here seem to have forgotten the candles," he teases, only now realizing how much of their relationship has progressed without him even knowing Rufus' birthday. "How old are you turning, anyway?" Rufus again only reacts with the slightest curl to the corners of his lips before reaching a graceful hand forward. He lifts a heavy cake knife from beside the platter on which the fancy little dish sits. With deft and nimble fingers he cuts through, but pauses before completing the slice. "Wouldn't you like to know..."

[colourless-hydrangeas]

I found an adorable Picrew!

Me and smol Kansuke. :3

[The Link]

There are not too many skin colour options, which is unfortunate. :(

Tagging: @just-somehuman @anradalikesfish @mynameiskan @sh0jun @oda-princess and anyone who wants to join!

[thecloudstan]

Get to Know Me!

Thank you for tagging me, @mynameiskan! Find kan's answers HERE!

Last Song: It's been on my writing playlist for many years. There are entire chapters of past fic written to just this song on repeat. It's a forever favorite.

Favorite Color: Cerulean.

Last Book: I think the last book I read was What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell. It's been a tragically long time, I mostly only read fic nowadays.

Last Movie: My husband bullied me into watching Sonic 2 with him a week or two ago and I don't think I've watched a single movie since, lmfao!!

Last TV Show: Twin Peaks!!! RIP David Lynch. About half way through season 2. It's so obvious how influential this show has been when it comes to other media I enjoy, it's crazy it's taken me this long to watch it. Better late than never, I suppose.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: All three have their place in my life (and my belly).

Last Online Search: I Googled 'alignment chart' earlier because my brain is that dead nowadays 😂 I just needed the visual of it to complete a different ask meme.

Latest Obsession: The Astarion obsession has cooled to like, a low burn now, it's manageable, lmfao. I'm not sure if I'm obsessed with anything at the moment.

Looking forward to: REBIRTH ON PC!!!!!

Tagging: @tragedysorbet @disfordaneh @scarletpath @4th-make-quail @jellyfish-droplets @shinzouing

[colourless-hydrangeas]

[The Link]

Tagging: @just-somehuman @leechingmer @anradalikesfish @mynameiskan @oda-princess and anyone who wants to join!

[colourless-hydrangeas]

@just-somehuman @shonenkun309 @glassandmetalwings @mynameiskan @staggerillust @leechingmer @makarovsdarlingboy @toxick-e

Reblog to headbonk your mutuals like a cat full of love

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-2

Tagging: @mynameiskan

POV: Hydrangeas

Before I knew it, I was following the young lady, through the woods, a busy thriving town, and through the gates of a castle. Thankfully, nobody was guarding the gates, nor had she noticed me... Or so I had thought.

Beneath a wisteria tree in the gardens of the large manor, she stopped and turned to look at me. She seemed curious, rather than surprised.

"You stink, of death... Why are you following me?"

That, indeed, was an odd statement. I decided to not pay much attention to the first half of what she said.

"I had business with the lord of the castle. I'm willing to work here till spring comes."

"Oh, then wait here. I will let you know if you can speak to Kinoshita-sama now."

I stood there, looking as the lady disappeared into the castle. Looking up at the wisteria blossoms, I was reminded of the castle I grew up in... But it had nothing to do with me now... I had left that life long ago, even before my death... I had so many memories of that place, though most of them were... unpleasant... I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and hurriedly covered my mouth and coughed. It was a dry cough, this time.

A young man, perhaps one of the servants, came up to me, introduced himself as the lord's page and led me through the maze of corridors inside the manor, until we reached a room, which was perhaps the main hall of the castle. Inside was an elderly man, sitting on the dais.

I've had this kind of talk plenty of times, so everything went well, and I was now one of the healers serving in the castle. Though, what was unexpected was the fact that the old lord, whose name was Kinoshita Harukichi, seemed to know much about medicine. There was no slacking for me, perhaps.

I decided to walk around the castle and learn more about the humans, for I seemed to have nothing to attend to at the moment. I absentmindedly slid open the shoji of a room, and found the woman from earlier with an older woman, perhaps her mother, arranging flowers in vases.

"Who might you be? The new doctor my daughter mentioned?" The older lady questioned.

It seemed that she was the lady of the house.

"Yes. My name is Hydrangeas and I have come here from the West." I lied.

"Then you could teach my daughter, Tsukiko, a thing or two. She likes learning about medicine and herbs." She smiled at me.

Though, the young lady did not speak much, she seemed rather uncomfortable with my presence...

"Of course, I would love to." I would not, in fact.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Fuyu, the lady of this castle. I hope that you shall enjoy working here."

After some insincere formalities, I was allowed to leave the room.

I sighed, and heard the giggling of some of the servants passing by in the corridor. From their conversation, I gathered that someone was getting married soon.

It was not long before it began to get darker. It was autumn and the nights were getting longer... Winter was not too far off. After dinner, I went outside, to the garden, for a short walk.

Looking at the many trees, I was reminded of my homeland... Lush green woods, and fields full of flowers, the never-ending drizzle, and the fragrance of wet soil...

My thoughts were interrupted by the voice of a woman. It was Tsukiko, the same woman from earlier, who I had found collecting herbs on the hill.

"May I ask something?" She looked at me as if she suspected me of something terrible.

"I do not mind, go ahead."

"Why do you smell of death?"

"What would that mean? Does 'death' even have a smell?"

"It does, though not everyone can smell it. It is a metallic, slightly bitter stench."

I did not know what to say.

"Yes, I am." But her face looked devoid of emotion, which was odd.

After a moment of silence, I told her, "I heard someone is getting married."

"Is that so? Congratulations."

I was more excited about good food than anything else, if I were to be honest.

"What about you? Are you married?"

"Maybe, but that does not matter, does it?"

I felt a sharp ache in my chest again, and coughed, covering my mouth quickly. I felt something thick and wet on my palm, and noticed that it had been stained a dark green. I looked at Tsukiko.

She seemed afraid.

"Forget it", I said, looking at her, "Do not mention it to anyone."

"Are you not human?"

"Maybe, who knows?"

"Forgive me, it is late. I need to go." She bowed to me and went inside the castle, leaving me as I stared at the silver moon, thinking of my past...

Let me know if you want to be tagged in the next post.

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-4

Tagging: @mynameiskan @just-somehuman

POV: Hydrangeas

Two days passed by in the blink of an eye... I did not have too many patients to tend to, and Shinano was a strangely peaceful place, unlike the seas. Though, the castle was too crowded.

How could a single family have so many relatives, I wondered... This new world was much unlike The Lands Of Endless Rain, as was the culture.

However, I had to do more than just prescribe medicines, tend to wounds and injuries, and remove arrows. Apparently, they had assumed that I was a great doctor skilled in Western medicine, who could teach much to one of the daughters of the elderly lord.

It was hectic, answering stupid questions humans always ask. Though, it was fun too, discussing poisons and poisonous herbs with her.

The night before Tsukiko's wedding, I was sitting outside, on a log in the garden, polishing my surgical knife, the one that I had been keeping for 'self-defence'. I was humming an old song about the dragons of the hills of my homeland, the endless drizzle and the lush green woods, when I was interrupted by muffled noises of sobbing.

I looked towards the direction of the noise, and saw a woman in a flowery kimono, weeping, on the branch of a tree.

At first, I thought it was a hallucination, but I climbed up the tree to get a better look.

The weeping woman looked at me. It was Tsukiko. I was puzzled.

Why was she so weak, like most humans?

"What troubles you, Tsukiko?" I asked her, giving her a half-hearted, forced smile.

"Nothing. It is none of your concern." She stopped sobbing, but it seemed that she was afraid of falling off the tree. It was interesting to watch.

"You're getting married tomorrow. You should be happy."

"I don't know what to think of it, honestly... Or even if it will go well for me."

"Why? I am certain that you have considerable knowledge of poison."

"That would be foolish."

It seemed that she was too morally upright. Unlike me...

"Why not use knowledge to improve your life? Besides, I don't know what benefit they shall get from this marriage."

"I don't know either. But I'm not poisoning anyone. It would be wrong."

"Why? What's wrong with applying your knowledge to real life?" My question was ignored, left unanswered.

"What are you doing with that surgical knife?" She seemed to be interested in the knife I was fiddling with.

"Oh, this? This is my 'self-defence knife'. Easy to carry and hide. Isn't she cute?" I said with a slight smile.

"You are a doctor, and yet, you are an odd one..."

"What does being a doctor have to do with any of this?"

It seemed that she did not like me, for she seemed to avoid answering my question.

After a few seconds of silence, Tsukiko looked at me and asked, "Are you not human? Please do not mind me asking this question again."

"Maybe? But does that matter?"

"It doesn't, but I'm curious."

"I'm a plant."

"What?" Tsukiko seemed to be in disbelief.

"Well, I was a plant... Then I died, and woke up here..."

"That is strange."

"Indeed, I have yet to meet any of my kind in this world..."

"Why are you a 'traveling doctor', then?"

"I wish to find a way back to where I am from."

It felt odd, having been honest for once in a long time...

"What is your homeland like?"

"Perhaps my words shall not be enough, yet it is a beautiful place... Much more beautiful than you can imagine. The skies are cloudy most of the time and it drizzles endlessly... Sometimes it rains heavily, and hails, but I do not have much to mention about those... And there are forests... Plenty of them."

"It is cold? You said it drizzles all the time..."

"Not so cold. Though, the higher hills may be a little windy and chilly."

"Do you have family?"

"I did, but they are no more."

"I am so sorry for asking." Tsukiko looked at me apologetically.

"No, I don't mind..."

She stayed silent, so I spoke... "Doesn't it feel terrible when someone you've known your whole life, destroys it completely?"

She looked at me silently, panic and worry in her eyes.

I had nothing else to say, so I let out a dry, maniacal laugh.

Perhaps, I had terrified the young lady. Without exchanging any words, I helped her climb down the branch and watched, as she walked away, towards the castle...

I was beginning to feel a strange... empathy... for the Lady Tsukiko...

She reminded me of when I was younger, and had to do things no one my age would have ever thought of doing, under the Queen's orders...

I let out a sigh, looking down at the knife in my hand, and tucked it into my obi.

Note: This was initially supposed to be about Motonari and Hydrangeas. I somehow ended up writing about Hydrangeas and Tsukiko starting their friendship. Guess my hand slipped. :v

[colourless-hydrangeas]

I found an adorbs Picrew!

Baby Hydrangeas. :3

[The Link]

No pressure tags: @just-somehuman @mynameiskan @toxick-e @shonenkun309 @oda-princess and anyone who wants to join! ^^

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-1

Tagging: @mynameiskan

POV: Hydrangeas

It was a bright day, and I was on my journey, to find a way back to my world. I had stupidly fallen for a human, but I had made up my mind about leaving everything behind and find a way back to where I truly belonged...

I found none of my people in this world, though, I had seen only a part of it... Looking at a nearby tree, I place my hand on it's rough bark, thinking of my people, who I had once left behind.

And here I was, in a vast new world, even after my death... Perhaps, this was the result of my sins? Sometimes, I hear their screams ring in my ears, a maddening, awful hum, of my late siblings...

Snapping out of my thoughts, I look at the hills far away, spotting golden rice plantations on the gentle slopes. Perhaps, I was approaching yet another power-hungry fool's domain. But it did not matter to me, as long as I could make enough money to travel further.

It was the harvest season, and I could feel the chill of the coming winter. I was perhaps somewhere near the border of Echigo, though the boundaries of the map made no sense...

Walking some more, I happened to encounter a woman, picking herbs. I looked at her, and she at me. Perhaps, she was surprised to see a foreigner walking all alone in the woods. She had long black hair and brown eyes. Looking at her way of dressing and features, I presumed her to be a young noblewoman.

"What, pray tell, are you doing here?" I asked, looking at a certain herb in her basket.

"Picking herbs to make medicine," said the lady, bowing slightly at me.

"Oh? A noble princess making medicine?"

"Why, can I not, for some reason?" She looked slightly indignant.

"Of course you can. It is just that I have never met any such nobles before. What is this place called, anyway?"

"Shinano. Are you perhaps one of the Christian monks?"

How strange, I do not think that I ever looked like one.

"Is that so? I'm just a travelling doctor."

"Oh, good to hear, I need to go." The young lady turned and went on her way...

And that was how I got roped into all of this...

Thank you for reading! I hoped you enjoyed this. Just a lazy fic I wrote because I was feeling sad. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please do let me know. 💚

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Make a worm on a string. :3

No pressure tags: @just-somehuman @mynameiskan @toxick-e @sh0jun @oda-princess and anyone who wants to join!

[sh0jun]

@pandamimi

@rou-luxe

@mynameiskan

@floydsteeth

Source: fedenka_kot

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-5

Tagging: @mynameiskan @just-somehuman

POV: Hydrangeas

It was the day of Tsukiko's wedding, but here I was, in my room, drinking from a sake cup. I had woken up, ground some herbs and made ointments and remedies, then retired to my room, for I was feeling unwell.

I felt this strange pang of envy, as I downed more cups of the bitter concoction of poisonous herbs. It felt nothing like the flavour of home, and yet, these would never affect me...

Back in my homeland, I had family, I had lovers... And yet, I had deliberately left them. This time, I had made up my mind to part ways with Motonari, and find my way back to where I belong. The poison was beginning to make me feel light-headed.

In the end, nothing lasts... There was no use in becoming close to anyone, for I would have to part ways with them at some point. I had once given up everything, and now, here I was, trying to get it all back.

I let out a laugh.

What would be the use of all this? Why can't I die for real? I had even defied death and come to this strange world, where I understood none, and none understood me.

I sighed.

Walking out of my room, I encountered a man, Lord Harukichi's younger son, looking for something. I looked at Masakichi. He was an exceptionally airheaded individual, who was impressively forgetful and yet, skilled in the use of the sword.

"Masakichi. What are you looking for?" I asked him, trying not to sneer.

"Do you know the way to the great hall? What part of the castle is this?" Masakichi looked lost and confused.

How does a grown man get lost in his own father's castle?

"I am sure the wedding has long since started. This is the eastern wing of the castle. Take this corridor and walk straight, you'll find your way."

"Oh, thank you, Lady Hydrangeas." The young man bowed to me and went on his way.

By the time I entered the great hall, the wedding was over, the sun was beginning to set. Tsukiko was sitting with a few other ladies and her sisters, all dolled up and pretty, dressed in a vibrant green kimono.

"You're late." She looked at me, her eyes not betraying any emotion.

"I came here for giving you something. Here." I stretched out my hand and placed a pressed flower on her palm. It was a single, faded hydrangea flower.

"What is this for?"

"A wedding gift."

"Oh, thank you. It is cute, but the colour seems to have faded..."

"Indeed it has. I had pressed it a long ago. It's called a 'hydrangea'."

"Like your name?"

"Yes, my mother named me after a flower." I lied... She had named me 'Hydrangeas', for I was to be the most lethal, most potent weapon for her...

"Oh. Were you and your mother close?"

"We were. Perhaps..." I lied again... I had become too used to lying about my past.

"Perhaps?"

"Yeah. It was complicated."

Tsukiko looked at me with a sorrowful look on her face and did not say anything. I bade her farewell and left the hall.

POV: Tsukiko

After the wedding and feasts, I was finally in my chamber, sitting at my desk, behind the large screen. I could hear my husband occasionally turning the pages of a book on the other side.

I took out a little box from the drawer, and took the little brown flower with four petals into my palm. It was an odd little flower, the likes of which I had never seen before.

A 'Hydrangea'.

I wondered what the colour the flower would originally have been... I could see a hint of pale purple, on closer inspection, in one of the dried petals...

I put it back inside its box and laid down upon the bedding laid on the floor.

"Yoshimitsu-sama, are you done reading?" I asked my husband, who was on the other side of the paper screen. I felt too shy to sleep with him yet.

"I am. You must be tired. It has been a long, weary day for both of us."

"Good night."

"Good night."

He blew out the lantern, and I closed my eyes, still thinking of the strange little flower, my most adorable wedding present...

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-6

Tagging: @mynameiskan @just-somehuman

POV: Hydrangeas

It was another long, boring day at the Kinoshita's manor. I was laying on the tatami of the room, reading a book. It was a book on medicinal herbs— one I had read countless times.

I heard the shoji of my chambers sliding open and looked up.

It was a woman I had never seen before. She was dressed like a man, wearing a grey kimono and a blue hakama. She stared at the centre of the room.

It took me a while to realise, that she had cloudy grey eyes. Perhaps a page of the lord, I thought.

"Tsukiko-hime requests your presence." The lady said with a quiet voice and bowed.

"She does? Who are you?"

"Tatsu."

"Might you be a page serving Harukichi-sama?"

"No, I am simply a guard for Tsukiko-hime."

I felt that there was more to her than just that. She was blind, yet I had this odd feeling that see could see right through me, the web of lies I had spun...

I got up, following the strange woman through the hallway.

Thank you for reading! It's not like I have run out of ideas. Just been a little busy and stressed. This will become a series of micro-fics from now on, featuring my OCs and their tales. I will try to post a chapter every two days or so, just for fun. Writing helps me de-stress. :)

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Make a bread bowl. :3

Click here.

Tagging: @just-somehuman @leechingmer @oda-princess @mynameiskan

[sh0jun]

@mynameiskan

Spot the difference

[colourless-hydrangeas]

Of A Past Left Behind

Chapter-3

Tagging: @mynameiskan

POV: Tsukiko

I was sitting in my room, after a conversation with the strange foreigner, that night. I was safe in my father's castle, but knowing that my elder brother was in the house too, a fear had seized my heart...

Perhaps, I had seen too much... I had clearly seen, she had coughed up a sickly green fluid. Something about her felt unsettling, but I could not quite put my finger on it. I felt concerned, for the stench of death lingered about her...

But did I even have the time to overthink about the new healer? I would be married in three days.

Though the my husband-to-be seemed to be a good, respectable man, I could not help being anxious.

I heard Shizu, my pet fox, pawing on the paper sliding doors of my chambers. I let her in, but it seemed that she was planning to lecture me on behalf of Mother.

"You remember what you have to say to each of the guests, yes?" The small fox glared at me sternly. Shizu was cute, except when she was ordering me around, or instructing me. She was scarier in her humanoid form, but perhaps she knew that I dreaded it.

"Yes. I remember what I have to say to my grandparents and uncles and aunts."

"Have you memorised the names of the other lords visiting?"

"Yes."

"I hope you don't disappoint your parents on the big day."

"Don't worry, I will not."

Shizu walked into the corner of the room, curling up on a cushion, to sleep. She had changed greatly ever since I had been engaged... I did not like it.

I heard the doors opening again. It was Father. I bowed in a gesture of respect, to which he smiled and nodded.

"I was worried that you were too anxious again. Don't be." Father seemed to be concerned for my well-being, as always.

"I was. I do not want to mess everything up on my wedding day."

"Don't think about it, my child. Most of the guests would be our relatives, and lords of the neighbouring territories."

I nodded.

"Would you like to help me make medicine now? I am sorry, I was really busy earlier today."

"No, it is too late, Father. I would rather sleep."

"Good night then, Tsukiko."

He patted my head and left my bedchamber.

I lay down on the floor, tucking myself into the kaimaki, trying to sleep...

POV: Hydrangeas

I sat on the tatami-covered floor of the room I had been given, staring at a sheet of paper. I ground some ink and picked a brush, writing a letter to Motonari...

Dissatisfied with the way things have been so far, and disgusted at the idea of having fallen in love with a human, I crumpled the piece of paper in my fist, and tossed it away into a corner of the small room.

Yes, I had made up my mind to cut off all ties and forget him...

It was late, and yet, I could not sleep. I impulsively blew off the brazier, and it was all dark. I sat on the bedding on the floor, staring into the darkest corner of the room...

I could see the shadowy figure of a woman, who I had been seeing in dark spots since long before I had 'died'. It seemed that she was glaring at me, laughing a crazed, eerie laugh. I could feel the chill of the dungeons of my palace, the bloodied cells where I had conducted so many 'experiments' under her orders...

I froze, unable to tear my eyes off the dark figure of my mother, sneering at my stupidity. I felt her approaching me. I did not know how to react, nor could I scream out of terror...

She lunged at me, and before I knew it, I blacked out...

When I could finally open my eyes, the warm autumn sunlight was streaming in through the window. It seemed that I had been in yet another nightmare...

My eyes fell upon the crumpled up paper lying in the corner of the room, and my mind was flooded with the memory of the endless waves of the blue seas, the swaying deck of the ship, the fragrance of my 'beloved' making breakfast, and a tiny brown creature hopping around in the cabin... I shook my head, got up from the bedding, to begin my day in this new castle as a doctor...

Note: I was thinking of switching scenes in the next chapter and making Asa the protagonist. Will return to Hydrangeas after a few more chapters. I'm not sure what I will finally decide to do.