#obviously pebbles is talked about a lot

[flecks-of-stardust]

Sunset casting shadows over pebbles — A Rain World Short Story

suns’ turnnnnn to pick up the mess /s

almost at the end now! thanks for reading yall, seriously. also definitely start from the beginning if you’re new to this series.

Contains lore spoilers for Rain World; read at your own discretion.

Hey, old friend. It’s been a while since we last talked, hasn’t it?

You’ve got your local group in quite the mess. Wind has been… inconsolable, if responsive at all. Worries so much, as always. I’m sure you can guess.

Moon’s… in a bad state. I’m sure you know that too. Sig says they’ve sent her something, but I’m not sure how exactly they’re doing it. They said their transmission arrays are broken, but they were quite blasé about it. They refused to explain their methods.

They seemed rather out of it. In a bad way. You know I talked to you most, and only occasionally with Moon and Wind, so I don’t know them or Innocence very well, but. I think… Everyone’s in a bad state. It’s a lot to lose a neighbor, especially someone like Moon. 

… Innocence showed me the images. I know you didn’t intend for things to end up like this, but seeing the state of the Rot, I can’t help but wonder if you were prepared for this. 

Well. No one would be. That’s a silly thought. But the possibility of failure… Did it ever cross your mind?

No one knows what exactly happened to Moon, but Innocence said that the two of you shared groundwater, so she ran out of water and collapsed due to slag build up. What you were doing consumes a lot of it. I’m certain you ran calculations on that prior to going through with the plan.

Did you willingly continue, knowing that? 

I don’t think I’m angry. I think I’m just disappointed. You were always more frustrated about this than I was, but I never thought you would really go this far. Could go this far. I guess I underestimated you. I don’t know whether I should feel proud about that. I probably shouldn’t.

None of them want to talk about this. Innocence in particular was very irate about me reaching out to you. Said quite a few nasty things; I won’t relay what. Fundamentally, though? I don’t think you’re cruel. Or at least, you don’t set out to be cruel on purpose. You just get a bit too wrapped up in your own problems. 

All of us do that, at one point or another. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out to you sooner.

When was the last time we talked, anyway? It’s been so long. You got so quiet, and I didn’t think to reach out. What was the last conversation we had? I suppose I could search through our chat logs for that, but still.

I hope you see this. I don’t know if this will reach you, but I hope it does. If this is the last thing I’ll ever say to you, I hope this suffices as a proper farewell.

I miss you, Five Pebbles.

[tenten-shi]

"Moon is a good sister" is a common sentiment in the rain world community. To be honest, i have never seen a single post that talks about her in a critical way. That made me decide to share my observations and thoughts on why i think she is not a good big sister.

I'll start off saying that i like Moon with all her issues and quirks. If you are a fan of Moon, and consider any post that criticizes her "an attack" on your favorite character, please do not interact with this post. Discussions and additions are welcomed.

The main topic that needs to be addressed is her behavior in the situation with Pebbles (all the way from Spearmaster to Saint). Was Moon a good sister or was it just a facade?

The reason why she calls herself that way

It is stated in the Light Blue Industrial Complex broadcast that Moon chose the name Big Sister Moon because of her seniority status above Five Pebbles.

Evidently, Moon openly presents herself as his older sister both inside the local group, as well as outside of it.

Her attitude towards Five Pebbles

Moon doesn't know a whole lot about Pebbles, aside from his mental state that she learns about through the received neuronflies. The gifts from Pebbles' structure are not something she minds at all, on the contrary this behavior is encouraged.

In Rivulet's campaign, she reassures the slugcat to not make his situation worse by bringing her new neurons.

Still, she continues to accept them without any protest.

For the first time after their long separation Moon sees Pebbles only after the end of Rivulet's campaign. If the player visits him again after finishing the main story, they can see new projections showing the two playing some board game.

It is unknown whether they have talked to each other or not. But If i had to guess, their conversation must've ended shortly, turning into a silent game.

During Saint's campaign Moon doesn't express any interest in Pebbles nor does she try to see his state for herself. Her overseers do not spawn in Silent Construct and his collapsed chamber. The only way for her to discover that he's alive is by bringing his Music Pearl.

Her reaction indicates that she hasn't checked on him for a long time for unspecified reasons.

Was Moon a good big sister for him?

The situation between them can seem complex and confusing. It's hard to tell who's truly right or wrong.

I'll pose an analogy:

Imagine Pebbles getting a hold of a grenade. Moon is standing in close proximity. She doesn't make any attempts to see what he's got in his hands or what his plans are. He pulls the pin out, still holding the safety lever. He keeps slowly loosening his grip on it, putting Moon's life in danger, as well as his own. Moon tries to talk to Pebbles, disrupting his focus. When Pebbles almost lets go off of the lever and tries to throw the explosive away, Moon stops him. The grenade goes off, Pebbles gets heavily injured and Moon ends up in a coma.

Would a responsible older sister beat around the bush for so long in a situation that is threatening to not just her but also her younger brother? Obviously, no.

Moon is not a good sister, she's only trying to present herself as one. She's created a semblance of a great big sis, when in reality she's unsuccessful at that.

She wasn't

Did Moon have her chance to stop him before everything has gotten out of control? Yes. Suns brings up exactly that in one of the broadcasts, pointing out her seniority privilege.

Moon did not care about Pebbles' endeavors or interests. She's noticed the problem only when it had put at risk her own life.

Even after she has acknowledged the deadly danger, she kept on stalling. She wanted to talk to Pebbles and "shake him out of it".

As if what Pebbles is doing does not pose any danger at all. As if Pebbles is some disobedient, naughty puppy, whom, once scolded, is going to settle down. It feels like she looks down on him. She cannot imagine Pebbles doing something serious and important, therefore it must be easy to make him stop whatever it is that he's doing. If Moon legitimately was a good sister, she would've immediately stopped him and only then tried to talk.

Besides, Moon has demonstrated an odd demeanor towards Pebbles in the final Rivulet broadcast. At first her words sounded like something a genuinely good sister could say. But that shifts after Moon, almost jokingly, says how protective she is as his Big Sis. When in reality everything points at her carelessness.

Of course people could say that she's just excessively kind. But even if she was acting out of goodness of her heart, she's made a mistake. Instead of understanding and accepting Pebbles' personhood, she treated him only as her little brother and nothing more.

In conclusion, Moon's attempt to keep the face of a wonderful sister has led to a catastrophe, proving that she has failed as a Big Sister.

[igotanidea]

Raw: Jason Todd x reader

Warnings: SMUT MDNI!!! (seriously minors, read responsibly so we can all leave in peace here, there are enough wars and fights in the world), cursing.

massive thanks to @fcthots for letting me use the idea (Jason making love to you without protection for the first time, which I twisted a bit and which you can find here)

****************************************

Once he started he was like a machine.

There was nothing and no one that could possibly stop him from almost drilling into her.

At least that was what happening till one night …

“Baby….”

“Shit! Jason!” Y/N came out of the shower only to came across the red metal mask. Obviously her first reaction was a single scream as she grabbed her chest, trying to level the rapid spike in the heartbeat. She most definitely did not expect Jason to swing by her apartment in the middle of the night with an attempt to give her a heart attack. However she could not deny that his deep, hoarse voice send a shiver down her spine, not that she was going to let it show to him. Instead she held  her towel closer to her body, making sure it wouldn’t fall as she crossed her arms over chest and gave him a look of disapproval. “how many times did I tell you?” she scoffed “there are doors in this apartment.”

“doors are for wimps.” He muttered taking a step forward, finally taking off that stupid, unnecessary Red Hood helmet.

“Well thanks a lot!” she rolled her eyes “my experience shows that doors are basically for normal people.”

“Yeah…. Exactly baby….” He grabbed her by the waist pulling her closer to his body, brushing lips over her slightly damp cheek, hands caressing her arms up and down. “And we both know I’m an extraordinary person.”

“So much humility……” Y/N tried to keep her composure, but he always knew how to push her buttons and make her relent.

“Tell me princess…..” he muttered into her ear “why were you taking a shower this late at night?” his hand travelled up her arm moving towards the knotted front of the towel. “Did you get dirty, baby?”.

He knew exactly what he was doing putting on that sexy, seductive smirk, running his fingers over her chest, while the thin little piece of material did nothing to hide her already pebbled nipples and goosebumps forming all over her body. And Jason was always the one to enjoy teasing her, especially when he got so many clear signs of what she really wanted from him.

“Hmmmm….” He muttered, moving his touches and caresses down her body to her leg, reaching for the hem of the towel and sneaking under it only to start rubbing her inner thigh.

“Jace….” She closed her eyes, still desperately trying to keep her self-integrity that was slipping away by a second.

This was too much for her. The darkness of the apartment, the huskiness of his voice, the feel of his hands on her body. Yes, she wanted him. Yes, she might have done some things that required cleaning up, earlier that night. Yes, she was thinking about him while taking care of herself. She was really trained in self-service, but what can you expect from a girl, whose boyfriend is a vigilante, absent too many night and a woman forced to spend the nights alone in a cold, empty bed? To tell the whole truth, once she got what she wanted, Y/N thought it would be enough. After all you can’t go too many rounds running only on imaginations, right?

But then, the reason for all those dreams and fantasies were standing in front of her, in flesh and blood and her body got very excited at the sight while her brain was more than glad to pass the steering wheel to the flesh.

“Yes, sunshine?” he moved his ministrations a bit higher, smirking when she opened her legs a bit,  allowing him to almost reach her throbbing clit. “wanted to say something?”

God, he was a little piece of shit, not doing anything and yet doing so much at the same time, breaking her and making her fall so freaking easily.

“Jason……”

“Hmm?”

“I…. I…..”

Fuck!

“You’re not doing very good job with talking, princess, are you now?” Jason finger started moving over her most sensitive spot in circular motions, enjoying the pained expression on her face. “If you keep wasting my time, I might… just… leave….” He whispered, removing  his hand almost making her cry out in frustration. “Come on baby….. just say you need me… You know you do.”

“I do….” She gasped, grabbing both sides of his face and pressing her lips to his, letting go of all the inhibitions.

“Good girl…” he whispered against her mouth, untying the towel in one smooth motion, groaning like an animal when her naked, soft body clung to him like a second skin, that he so desperately wanted to get under.

But it was still not enough.

He had to have her. All of her. Mind, body, soul. Closer.

And he was going to claim her in a proper way, definitely not in the hallway. No.

Regardless of his stupidly teasing character she was still his princess, his queen, the love of his life and he was going to treat her exactly like that, ready to fulfil all her wishes and commands.

“Let me make you feel good baby….” He grabbed the back of her thighs, wrapping her legs around his waist, palms resting on her shoulder blades pulling her even closer, walking to the bedroom, miraculously avoiding tripping over his own feet, all because of her closeness and the pleasure at taste of her lips on his.

God, he was so starved for her and the evidence of it were visible on only in the form of the tent in his tactical pants, but also in the way he threw her on the bed, making her bounce and in the manner he tore off his own body armour and clothes, almost pouncing onto her.

Almost, because he knew that if he let go completely he would most definitely hurt her and he couldn’t bare even the thought of that.

Instead he crawled on top of her, kissing up her body, her calf, thigh, stomach, torso, breast (giving a lot of attention to those perfectly pebbled nipples he needed to taste the moment they showed under the towel), collarbone and neck, finally meeting her lips. 

He could eat her alive. She was so delicious, so soft, so warm, so fucking perfect and his blood boiled at the sweetness of her. Their tongues met in a crazy dance, wanting more, greedy and needy, exploring each other’s mouth.

It was like the overwhelming and encompassing fire inside them.

The world stopped existing and for what they care it could have exploded and they would be more than happy to die like this, in each other’s embrace.  Touching, scratching, gripping, licking, pushing and pulling, tugging at each other’s hair, losing breath, panting and gasping unable to satiate the need, the craving of one another’s body.

“More…..” he groaned, biting on her neck, eliciting the sweetest moan from his girl, barely holding back from ripping her throat open and swallowing her like a freaking animal. His body pressed into her leaving no space between, and yet still wanting more and more and fucking more. She felt him pulling her in even more, breaking all the laws of biology and physics, as his hands travelled down to her hips, spreading her open, causing her pulse racing in the pace of a space rocket.

“Yes….” She moaned, one hand gripping the headboard, the other tangling in his hair, her whole back arching to his lips that were currently kissing alongside the valley of her breast, travelling down the same path he started earlier, and which he was going to take so many more times that night.

“I know, baby…. I know….” His breath was scorching hot on her skin, leaving invisible marks. In that moment, as in every other time they were being so close, so intimate together, with nothing between their bodies and souls, they both knew that they could never ever leave the other. They were too hooked on one another, almost like on a drugs. Jason left a permanent scar on her soul in the shape of his. The scar that she couldn’t and wouldn’t want to lose. He was a part of her, a part of her own body. They were one. Always and forever.    

“I love you….” another moan escaped her mouth when he moved the tip of his tongue over her clit, his eyes sparkling with desire as he send her the mischievous, lustful gaze, before sucking on that aching spot. He was not only starved but also thirsty, ready to do everything to drink all her juices. And he methodically moved towards that goal, knowing what to do to turn her on.

She was so lost in pleasure, her body acting on its own, back arching, legs spreading, head falling back as she moaned and cried his name, pulling at his hair so ready to come, to explode, to finish.

“yes, yes, yes…. Yes, more!”

And he listened, melting in her moans, her sounds, her body, her taste. He knew he was good, he was very well aware she needed him and mindful of the amount of neglect on his part, of all those nights she spend lonely. And now he was making up for it.

But.

He was still a mix of a pleasure giver and a rascal, keeping her on the edge, surprising with every move and thought, never letting her be sure of what was going to happen.

It was both frustrating and exciting, making their intimacy a whole new, never boring experience every time.  

And now, if she was going to come, he wanted her on his cock, even if protected. Tongue was simply not enough and she owed him this much for making her so wet and pretty with those flushed cheeks and desire-filled eyes. He did it for her and now was going to claim his prize.

“Babe…. Y/N…. I want to take you….” He muttered, not stopping lapping her folds with that skilful tongue, his words getting lost inside her body. “fully take you…..”

“Yes… yes… oh, yes….just don’t stop….” Y/N was so selfish and needy, focused only on reaching her climax, barely listening, that if he were to ask her to jump out the window she would probably say yes again. This was only word on her mind at the moment as long as he kept on devouring her.

“Y/N…..” he muttered again. Lust was lust, but he needed her informed consent. Every time. Even though they were a couple. Jason was a very complex man after all. “Y/N….” he groaned. “Can I have you my way?”

“fuck yes! Yes!” she cried out.

And once he heard that word coming out of her mouth, he was all ready for action. He pulled back, reaching for the nightstand, knowing she kept that little packet of condoms there, just in case (and making a mental note to himself to stock up, cause they were running short on supplies). He hovered over her body, looking straight into her eyes while tearing the packaging with his teeth, admiring her shuddering body, shining eyes, messed up hair, all of her, having to remind himself that this goddess was his.

His, his, his.

His to claim, to love, to take over and over and over again.

God! He wanted her so fucking bad his hands were shaking while taking off the protection from the wrapper.

“No….. wait…” she whispered grabbing his wrist, her eyes boring into him, causing him to freeze and drop the condom in confusion. 

“wait? What do you mean wait? You …. You don’t want….?” Jason stuttered, his manhood almost flattening at the sudden rejection, which was quite embarrassing for him. “Y/N…..?” he looked at her with hurt in the eyes.

“No…. I mean…. I do… I want you….” She bit on her bottom lip in that erotic manner sending his mind into overdrive.

“Then what do you mean?” he gasped, getting all hot again, but was still dumbfounded. “Princess?”

She took the condom from his hands and send it flying through the room and shaking her head.

And then it hit him.

His eyes grew even wider, mouth falling open at the thought of what she was going to let him do to her. What she wanted. What she needed. And most importantly, how, she needed it.

“Babe…..” he gasped, unable to move, completely stuck in that moment, which was sure as hell the best ever in his life.  “are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?”

“Are you trying to make me change my mind, babe?” she whispered in his ear only to pull back and give him a pout.

He was going to take her raw.

Oh god…. He was going to take her raw.

Oh, all the things he was going to do to her, all the ways he was going to make her feel him, all of him, unfiltered, finally making her fully his, after all  the time of waiting.

“Fuck, Y/N!” he groaned, grabbing her waist, pressing her further into the mattress, spreading her legs open and pushing in, in one motion, doing it all in three seconds, no more, finally being inside her. And she was so wet, so warm, so soft, so perfect, so … home.

He was home.

And Jason was drifting in space, with the emotions overwhelming him completely. So good, oh, so good, he wanted to melt into her, have no boundaries, just be one with his Y/N, his babygirl.

It was the only thing on his mind right now.

Y/N. Y/N. Y/N.

“Jason…..” her desperate moaning brought him back to reality.

“Y/N…..” he gasped in response, eyes closing at the pleasure of feeling her body in a way he never got before. He was already in heaven.

“Jason … Please… move…” she whimpered, squirming desperately trying to urge him to take some action and not just freeze like a stone sculpture.

Oh, shit…..

“I can’t…” he whimpered hopelessly. How was he going to explain it to her?

“What do you meant you can’t?!” she cried out, raking her nails down his back, moving her hips against his to get any friction and turn him on “what’s going on?!”

She couldn’t comprehend what made him stop suddenly. He was inside her, big, hard like a rock, stretching her so deliciously and she wanted more. But now he was telling her fucking no?!

“Todd!!” she yelled, slowly losing her patience, her body begging for attention.

“I can’t…..” he almost sobbed, embarrassed and defeated. She was so perfect, her skin against him was amazing, the feeling of her velvety inside was bliss.

“I swear if you don’t hurry to fuck me…..” Y/N’s voice was turning a bit threating now even though she herself couldn’t come up with the idea what she was threating him with.

“'If I move I’m gonna cum….." Jason gasped, and it took her by huge surprise. He was always the resistant one. Gentlemanly, if you may. He could go three, four, five rounds making sure she was satisfied first, before letting himself go. So what the hell was happening now?!

"You haven't even been inside me for a full minute!" she protested, moving her body in a poor attempt to get what she wanted.

"Shut up!” he almost winced when she did that.  “You feel so fucking good. I just can't help it. Gimme a minute, babe……." He bit on his bottom lip, trying to get himself together and finding enough strength to start pulling in and out. The best he could do was half an inch before another low groan escaped his throat. “I can’t……” his hands were on both sides of her head, their faces close enough so she could feel his ragged, heavy breath and it was getting weirder and more uncomfortable with any other second.

"Jason," she whined, "please, please, please….!." poor girl felt like crying at his point and those high-pitched whines finally made him move.

He was doing it.

He was making love to her without any stupid rubber standing in his way.

She was his, making those sweet, sweet sounds for him, crying out his name,  digging nails into his back.

There were no words to describe that feeling.

And Jason was becoming more and more lightheaded with every thrust, with every move when his cock met that perfectly moist and warm cunt.

Y/N, Y/N, Y/N.

He was a bit ashamed to admit, but after a while he stopped thinking about her and focused only on his own pleasure, on his high, on his release.

MORE.

As he picked the pace, she moaned loud as never before, grabbing his body tighter, pulling him closer, losing her breath and matching his movements.  Her eyes were closed, her mouth opened with that perfectly perfect expression of being thoroughly fucked.

“Yes… yes.. yes…!”

Oh yes, indeed.

He captured her mouth in his, pulling at her bottom lip, almost drawing blood. His hands found her thighs spreading her open even more, pounding into her like a wild animal, knowing no bounds, no limits, no rational thinking. Sweat was running down his face and back, his hair plastered to his forehead, but he was going to have her.

“Jace…..!!” she cried out again when he bit on her collarbone, licking the marked skin.

“Yeah, baby…..Yeah….”

“shit!”

“I got you….”

“So close!” she dug both her heels into his back, the intensity of the lovemaking almost making her lose consciousness. “Oh… Jace…JACE!!”

And then there was only bliss.

***

Not for her though.

***

Obviously he couldn’t contain himself and living up to the previously spoken words, cummed first.

Hard. Long. Filling her to the brim which was an Event (capital E) in itself, but still – leaving her unsatisfied and wanting.

Such a failure on his part.

However, Y/N did not seem to care.

After he painted her with the ropes of his cum, moaning in sheer pleasure at the feeling, she just kept holding him and rubbing his back, showing him all the love she had for him. The expression of happiness and fulfilment was a prize in itself, and despite not cumming she couldn’t feel better at that moment. She knew he wanted to stay like this, therefore there was no rushing him to pull out on her part. She was going to let him have his moment.

Her poor boy, in need of love and closeness and intimacy.

“Y/N … baby … princess …”

“I love you …” she kissed his temple.

“I’m so sorry …” Jason blushed, pulling away from her and laying on his back facing the ceiling. “Y/N, my love, I’m sorry, but I told you …” he shifted position to lay on the side, meeting her eyes, shining despite the darkness of the room. She looked … satisfied.

“Shut up …” she chuckled, cupping his cheek and kissing his nose.  “that was fucking perfect…” Y/N chuckled.

“Perfect?” he frowned for a second, but quickly returned to his usual cocky self. “Yeah, it was fucking perfect. I mean, what else were you expecting with me, babygirl?” he grinned.

‘You’re such an idiot” she pushed him on his back, snuggling into his body, leaning head on his chest.

“I have to clean you up …” he objected, but those soft hands around him, the way her body aligned with his and the calm, steady beating of her heart next to him made him relent. “I think I can do it in a second …” he hummed nuzzling nose in her ruffled hair.

“Mhm…. Totally.” Y/N kissed his chest in response.

“Hey Y/N?” he called her name gently, caressing her side “did you feel good?”

“Yeah… yeah I did.”

“I still got to practise though, right?” he smirked, his touch becoming a little more intense and a bit more telling.

“You know what they say practise makes perfect.” She teased.

Poor Y/N was not going to be able to walk the next day.  

@nmw-am

[lavenderfluorite14]

A Taste of Plums | Astarion x Female!Tav

Chapter 11: Fun

Summary: Astarion is surprised, in more ways than one, by the morning after. Rating/Warnings: PG, casual murder, poisoning, degradation/humiliation. Full tag list on AO3. Read on AO3. Chapter 10❤️‍🔥

Astarion wakes from his trance surprisingly refreshed. He stretches his nude body languidly, enjoying the brief flash of soreness in his muscles. Beside him, Tav still rests peacefully. He openly admires her, his eyes lingering on the bite marks he gave her last night. The mottled petals of the bruises lay so beautifully against her skin. 

The morning sunlight streams through the canopy in golden ribbons as Astarion quietly rises, moving to bask in a nearby sunbeam. His mind goes blank as he lets the pleasure of it all wash over him. He hasn’t felt this good in a long time.

His plan is working. He’s safe and full. The morning sun feels so warm on his skin.

“Good morning,” Tav interrupts his musings, her voice gravelly with sleep.

“Good morning,” he replies. He’s loath to turn around, wanting to keep sunning himself, so he shifts slightly so he can watch her out of the corner of his eye. “You’re up early! I thought you’d be exhausted after last night.”

“Oh, I am,” Tav yawns. She arches her back in a deep stretch, her nipples pebbling in the morning chill. Light purple hickeys dot her breasts, each one a small reminder of their night together. They will take days to fade. “I quite enjoyed myself,” she admits, smiling at him. Astarion preens. Of course she did. All according to plan. Behind him, he can hear Tav get to her feet. “Did you have fun?” she asks, suddenly tentative. 

“Of course, my darling,” Astarion answers, surprised by the question. “You’re a veritable feast.” “Good, I’m glad,” Tav says, relieved. “Towards the end, I was worried that something may have been wrong?” Astarion stiffens imperceptibly. “But I wasn’t sure and I didn’t want to ruin the moment.” Astarion isn’t quite sure how to explain this. 

“I was holding back a little, it’s true,” he reveals. “I didn’t want to lose control. Delicious as you were, I didn’t want to go too far.”

It’s the truth, it’s just not the whole truth. For the sake of the plan it was imperative that he perform correctly, and that meant remaining in control. But even though their tryst may have been tailored to Tav’s pleasure and tastes, he still enjoyed himself. Even holding back, he experienced more pleasure last night than he has in decades. But there is no need to talk about all that.

“Oh,” Tav says, obviously chewing on his words. It occurs to Astarion that he has never had to navigate a “morning after” before. Not like this. Is it always so awkward? So vulnerable?

“Now let’s go, we have a long day ahead of us,” he prompts. He turns towards the oak tree, where he had left his clothes, but stops when he sees the pensive expression on Tav’s face.    “May I ask about your back first?” Tav asks. 

Of course she had noticed it. Most of the time Astarion tries to forget it is even there. He considers brushing her off, burying his shame even deeper down. But a bigger, louder part inside of him howls for comfort.

“It’s a poem,” he explains, crossing over to the oak tree to gather up his shirt. He had left it carefully folded at the base of the trunk. “A gift from Cazador.” He pulls his shirt over his body, fussing with its fit. “He considered himself quite the artist and used his slaves as a canvas. He composed that one over the course of a night.” Tav just listens, letting him speak. “He made a lot of revisions as he went,” Astarion finishes, his voice soft and deep. He can’t quite keep the pain from those last few words.

“That’s awful,” Tav says quietly.

“Yes, well. ‘Awful’ does aptly describe Cazador,” he replies.

“Are you sure it’s a poem?” Tav asks.

“Of course I’m sure,” Astarion insists, not sure at all now. “That’s what Cazador said, as he was carving it into my back.” Cazador, who of course was a completely trustworthy source of information. 

“It just doesn’t look like any poem I’ve ever seen before,” Tav presses. “Well, I didn’t say he was a good poet!” Astarion cries. “What do you mean, ‘it doesn’t look like any poem you’ve ever seen before?’”

“Well for starters, why did he write it in Infernal?” Tav asks. 

“Infernal?“ Surprise jolts through him, settling in the pit of his stomach where it quickly curdles into fear. He has no idea what this means, but it can’t be anything good. Nothing with Cazador is. 

But it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change what happened. 

“I-Who knows. The bastard was insane,” he says dismissively. “Now let’s go, before I regret my restraint last night,” he purrs, trying to pivot this conversation back into comfortable territory. 

Tav looks at him thoughtfully before silently dressing and gathering up her things. His flirtation falls flat, ringing falsely even to his own ears. Its hollow echo follows them all the way back to camp, where they both quietly slip into their separate tents.

~

They smell the goblin camp before they see it. A miasma of filth blankets the base of the western mountains in a bouquet of smoke, sweat, death, and dung. And, of course, that one singular, arresting note: blood. Old and new, stale and fresh, rotten and delicious. It stinks to high heaven. 

There’s a group of goblin warriors guarding a narrow entrance that passes for a gate. Tav pulls them all aside before they engage.

“Listen, you three,” she levels a serious glare at Astarion, Shadowheart, and Lae’Zel. “I know the past few days have been….” She pauses, trying to choose her words carefully.

“Thoroughly frustrating?” Shadowheart remarks. 

“The time of your life?,” Astarion offers, suggestively.

“Bad,” Lae’Zel declares. 

“Bad,” Tav agrees. “And I know this group has had its challenges. But I don’t know what we’re going to find in there, and I don’t know what we are going have to do to make it out alive. Hopefully with Halsin, but we need to anticipate the worst. We can only make it through this together.  I need the most vicious and ruthless fighters of our group to have each other’s backs today. So, can you put aside your differences to make this work?” 

“Of course, darling. I’m a consummate professional,” Astarion vows. 

“Affirmative,” Lae’Zel confirms.

“So long as nothing is said to me, I’ll be fine,” Shadowheart says, turning up her nose. Tav sighs. 

“I’ll take it. Let’s go.”Tav is all business now, already forging ahead with the business of the day. Which is perfect, because Astarion has absolutely no desire to address the morning’s awkwardness. He’s trying to enjoy his victory, but something still feels off to him. Last night was a success, but there’s a nagging voice inside of him that says it was not enough. That he will need to do more to truly secure his place.

Lae’Zel, Shadowheart, and Astarion all watch as Tav bluffs her way past the goblin guard at the entrance. Just as they are about to pass, the guard stops her and points to a gelatinous turd at his feet. He gestures to it with his hand and pantomimes applying it to his face. Tav takes his suggestion, bending down to scoop up the excrement. 

“Oh no,” Astarion whispers to their cohort.

“She wouldn’t,” Shadowheart whispers back, incredulous.

“She had better not,” Lae’Zel growls. Tav looks back at them over her shoulder. Their disgust for this is palpable, magnified in triplicate. Her eyes find Astarion’s.

And she winks. 

Tav flings the poop directly in the goblin’s face, immediately souring any hope of peaceful entry. Astarion laughs a high, whooping laugh as he rushes to high ground. He easily snipes the goblins who try to call for help while Lae’Zel, Shadowheart, and Tav clear the remaining guard with relish and ease. So much for goblin security.

“Did you really think that I would do that?” Tav asks them as she leads the way inside. “Did you really think I would smear shit on my face?”

“I’m never quite sure what you are going to do next,” Astarion teases. Tav glares at him, playing at being insulted. Well, maybe she is a little insulted. “I just meant that you are full of surprises, darling.” 

Tav hums a low, sarcastic note. “Good surprises, I hope?” she replies. There’s a hopeful glimmer in her eye that makes his stomach flutter.

“Naturally. Only the very best,” he promises, his tone low and provocative. Tav disguises her smile with a playful eye roll.

“If you debase yourself like that for a puny goblin I truly will leave,” Lae’Zel warns. Astarion and Shadowheart hesitate at her words, but Tav giggles as if it is a joke and not a serious threat.

“Noted, Lae’Zel. I will not smear poop on my face.”

Once through the gate, no one questions their presence. The goblin camp is utter chaos, and probably more surprisingly, filled with more than goblins. As they cross a crumbling bridge, they spot a familiar face on a makeshift dias across the way. 

“Is that? Volo!?” Tav gasps. Volothamp Geddarm, noted writer, adventurer, and overall smarmy fuck, fumbles his way through a monologue of nonsense as a crowd of goblins jeers and pelts him with trash.

“With fragulous crown and sceptre abrade, Dror Ragzlin short work of the innkeeper made!”

“Bravo!!!” Tav cries, clapping loudly to drown out any booing. The goblins scowl, side-eyeing Tav with annoyance. 

“Come on darling, that’s not the kind of show they want,” Astarion whispers. “They want to mock him.”

“Z’ose friends o’ yours?” A female goblin asks, her voice laden with suspicion.

“Of course not! No funny business here!” A flustered Volo laughs nervously. He shoots a quick glare at Tav.

“What are you doing? I’m busy here!” He says, shooing them away. He begins his screed again.

“Dror Ragzlin….Dror Ragzlin….” Volo tries his best, but he eventually trails off pathetically. A goblin chucks a cup at him, splashing Volo with the dregs of stale ale. 

“If you aren’t gonna perform, you’re goin’ back in tha cage!” The goblin yells. Volo withers before her.

“Of course, ma’am,” he grovels. She shoves him harshly off the stage, much to the delight of the crowd.

“We have to help him!” Tav whispers to their group. Astarion, Shadowheart, and Lae’Zel all share a look.

“We are not here for the annoying wizard. We are here for the druid, as you said,” Lae’Zel reminds her firmly.

“It’s true, I did say that. But, we will almost certainly have to fight to free him! Won’t that be fun?” Tav says. Lae’Zel considers this.

“I do not fight for ‘fun.’ I fight to win. I fight for the honor and glory of Vlaakith,” she announces.

“Tav, this is Volo you are talking about,” Shadowheart complains.

“The Volo. Maybe if we save him he will put us in his next book!”

“That’s precisely what I am afraid of,” Astarion says. 

“But then we’ll be famous!” Tav smiles sweetly up at him.

“Make us rich and famous and then you have a deal,” Astarion counters.

“Lady of Sorrows, will you two stop flirting with each other? I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but this hellhole is a temple to Selûne,” Shadowheart spits out the name with vitriol. “Even if it’s appropriately defiled, l don’t want to be in a temple of the Moon Witch for longer than I have to be,” Shadowheart whines. Tav looks away shyly, chastened. But when the cleric turns away, Tav looks at him and pulls a face behind Shadowheart’s back. Astarion stifles a smirk.  

Something between them is changing, which is perhaps why it feels off to him. They have always shared banter, but it seems as though she’s actively trying to make him laugh now. And if he makes a joke, he can depend on Tav to laugh, even in a wry sort of way. It’s flirtatious, but it’s fun.

Fun. Perhaps he should chase that feeling. After the revelation that there may be more to his scars than he knows, a little fun with his lover at the expense of some goblins sounds like just what he needs. Lover. The word sounds so serious. And yet it isn’t. Not really. It could mean a lot of things. 

As they walk, Astarion takes in more of their surroundings. They seem to be in a courtyard, which has been hastily transformed into a feast hall. Meat of some kind roasts on an open spit while goblins fill their tankards from a nearby cauldron of liquor. Merchants haggle with customers while other goblins eat, sing, fight, and make merry in a haze of hedonism.

One voice emerges above the din of the camp, bragging about recent conquests. “Weaker than pixies, humans!” A goblin squawks. A gaggle of his comrades laugh at his harsh words. Even surrounded by admirers, the squat, scarred goblin still catches their group staring. “Wot are you lot doin’ ‘ere? ‘More pests?” he eyes them up and down. “You prolly think you rule the world,” he sneers.

“That’s not true. We don’t think we’re better than anyone,” Tav pipes up. Astarion catches Shadowheart’s eye, then Lae’Zel’s. He doesn’t need the tadpole to know they all firmly disagree with Tav’s assessment.

“Everyone says that, then they spit in our faces,” the goblin snarls. “But no more. Things’re changin’. We got the Absolute on our side.” He gives them an evil look, sizing Tav up. “Ya better learn yer place.” The hairs on the back of Astarion’s neck stand on end as the goblin advances towards them, a look of pure hatred and disdain on his face.

Cazador has given him that look many times, right before he made Astarion do something particularly ghastly.

“Go on. Kiss my foot,” He points to the ground, wiggling his toes. “Or I’ll wipe that nasty look right off yer pretty face.” 

“End him or leave him. But do not grovel to this slug,” Lae’Zel says firmly. 

“Just kiss the damn foot. Worse things have been shoved in your face lately.” Shadowheart is speaking to Tav, but she is looking pointedly at Astarion. Predictably, it seems the others noticed their rendezvous. He gives Shadowheart a quick, saucy wink. She scoffs but fails to completely conceal her smirk of amusement. 

Astarion can see that the goblin is growing impatient. “Well, go on. Give him a nibble,” Astarion urges. It’s horrid work, but it’s one kiss and then she’ll be done. It will be easy and then they can be on their way. Tav looks at him with surprise. He raises an eyebrow.

“I’m waiting, princess” the goblin jeers. Tav rounds on him with a withering glare.“How about you kiss my foot, before I knock that smug look off your face,” Tav says. At the first hint of pushback, the goblin quickly changes his tune. “Look mate, piss off! Yer not welcome ‘ere,” the cretin says, puffing up his chest.” Tav plants her foot in front of him. “Kiss my foot. Now,” she orders, in a tone that demands obedience. Fear flickers across the goblin’s face as the crowd falls completely silent. Tav points down to her foot and a little thrill passes through Astarion as he watches the goblin sink to his knees. He places a surprisingly delicate kiss across the worn leather of Tav’s boot. “There, I done it,” he says, rising back to his feet. 

Tav gives him a final once over as she turns away. 

“Good,” Lae’Zel says approvingly. The crowd parts for them as they leave.

“Arrogant swine,” the goblin mutters after her, but Tav pays him no mind.

“Aren’t you the domineering tyrant,” Shadowheart teases. 

“Only when I’m pushed,” Tav laughs. “I’m not wearing poop and I’m not kissing goblin feet,” she promises. 

Astarion will do what he has to do to survive and he doesn’t begrudge others who do the same, but there’s just something about a person who refuses to be pushed around. Who wields power unapologetically. Astarion snakes his hand around her waist, pulling her close. “You continue to delight and surprise me, darling,” he whispers in her ear. Tav shudders against him and he gives her hip a quick squeeze, releasing her as he playfully retreats out of reach. Shadowheart coughs loudly. 

“Lady of Sorrow guide us,” she prays pointedly. Her prayer is interrupted by a hoot of terror as a small, bedraggled clump of feathers darts past them and into a crowd of goblins, which parts for it as it scampers away. “What are they doing to that poor creature?” Shadowheart cries.

Astarion leans against a stone wall as Tav barges over, inserting herself into whatever that business is. He watches as she crouches down to speak softly to the frightened owlbear cub. Something has definitely shifted between them. 

Funny. Clever. Cunning. Ambitious. Fierce. “It’s no use,” Tav says, returning. “I gave the cub my scent, but it can’t escape so long as the goblins have it trapped.” 

“Well, then it sounds like we have some killing to do,” Astarion says. Lae’Zel grunts approvingly.

“I certainly wouldn’t mind killing some goblins to help that sweet cub,” Shadowheart agrees.

“Same here. But let’s try to find Halsin first. Once we’ve freed him, we can grab the owlbear on the way out.”

“We can still have some fun in the meantime though,” Astartion suggests. “What did you have in mind?” Tav asks. He opens his pack and flashes a bottle of Wyvern toxin at them. “We can cull some of the horde as we go. Watch this,” he grins toothily before swaggering away towards the vat of suspicious booze he had noticed earlier. He thumbs the cap of poison, concealing the flask in his sleeve. He loiters for a bit, watching as goblins meander past. He grabs a nearby discarded cup off of a table, covertly pouring the poison inside. He walks over to the punch bowl, pantomiming filling his cup as he slips the poison into the dubious punch. He takes a few fake sips from his glass as he walks back to the group. 

“Battle is more honorable. But I suppose this is efficient,” Lae’Zel remarks. “That’s absolutely terrible” Tav admonishes. Astarion frowns in surprise, but Tav quickly drops the act. “I love it,” she says, smiling. “Now, let’s go, before they catch wise,” Astarion snickers, smiling back. The group beelines for the heavy doors to the temple, putting as much space between themselves and their crime as possible. “What will your evil little mind think of next?” Shadowheart says as they disappear deeper into danger.

~

Chapter 12: Penance

[flickering-nightfall]

I’m pretty sure that you made a post explaining why the arm is not the umbilical but I can’t find it, so, if you did make one, can you give a link to it? Sorry if you didn’t make one, I don’t have very good memory.

I'm not entirely sure which post that is but it sounds like something I'd ramble about? I have this post talking about making a 3D umbilical and this post talking about making a 3D arm with allusions to that buuut...

If that post doesn't exist then I'll make one right now!

Here, I made a diagram of terminology I use for the puppet/arm/umbilical structure. These terms aren't necessarily canon - they're just what I use.

As for umbilicals being different from mechanical arms, it's an interpretation, I think. But there's reasons why I call them different things.

So first here's this Moon dialogue.

(I think that's vanilla dialogue? The wiki confuses me sometimes. Link here if you want to see it yourself.)

We can assume from that dialogue that the wires + cord are the "umbilical." Moon's are obviously cut, but Pebbles' are not. And Moon's puppet is still attached to her mechanical arm.

(Lots more under the cut)

Umbilicals in real life resemble the wire/cord structure far more than the mechanical arm portion does. So that's another reason I refer to the wire/cord as the umbilical.

Lemme slap some stuff from my iterator headcanons doc here.

I like interpreting the puppet as a place to focus an iterator's consciousness. It acts as a sensory hub and a means to interact more finely with their surroundings. Neurons, in turn, are active memory comparable to RAM. Moon refers to Pebbles' imprints on his neurons as "a ghost left from his processing routines." They're not meant for long-term memory storage, but upper processes such as, well... thinking... cannot be done without them. So removing neurons affects an iterator’s ability to encode, recall, and process information. (Courtesy of my friend Folly, I also think they're mostly made out of fat. Kind of gross to eat.) Although Moon's umbilical is severed, she is still able to see through and control the movements of her puppet. So either she has some sort of other connection to the rest of her can, or her consciousness comes from the puppet rather than the can. The mechanical arm’s functions would be mostly structure-to-puppet function (control movements of arm and puppet, transmit the sensory information of the puppet) while the wire/cord handles more consciousness-in-puppet-to-structure function (facilitates awareness and control over superstructure and all that encompasses). So both the cord and the arm are part of the iterator-to-puppet connection, but the cord is more important. I feel like with the wire OR the arm's internals intact, the iterator can maintain perception of the puppet. When you give Moon an overseer eye, she says, “I am not much more than what you are looking at - a little creature in a box.” This can be literal, or it can imply that her perception is just limited to what she can see through her puppet in her damaged state.

In Rivulet’s campaign, the rarefaction cell could be partial compensation for a missing umbilical. Moon can move on her arm, call up image projections, reconnect to her overseers, and broadcast locally to Pebbles after getting the rarefaction cell. She refers to it as finally having her freedom back. But we don't know how many of her systems she does or does not have access to anymore.

If you eat one of Pebbles' neurons in front of him as Rivulet he says "I would appreciate if you would not eat those. My umbilical will keep me conscious, but every neuron lost is a piece of me lost as well..." We know that Pebbles keeps his wires/cord/arm connected in Saint's campaign, though, and he remains conscious despite having no visible neurons. Does the umbilical compensate for the lack of neurons as well? Maybe there are some still alive in the structure that we can’t see, and the umbilical allows him to stay connected to them.

...honestly, I think downpour makes questions about umbilicals harder to answer than if you only base off of vanilla lore. But I like working with downpour stuff, so oh well.

One last thing - the wiki page for Moon also says this under her trivia: "Looks to the Moon is still connected to the wall by her umbilical, but the damaged hardware lacks power to let her move around." Other references to umbilicals written throughout the wiki imply the arm is the umbilical as well. But! I don't know where the writers of that got that information. I don't think there's anything in the game that confirms that the umbilical and the arm are the same. If there's anything in the game that supports that, let me know~

So to summarize: I think evidence suggests the wires + cord are the umbilical because Moon refers to hers being cut. The mechanical arm could also be a part of the umbilical, or it be considered a different part that provides function in a different way. I usually refer to them separately, but that's just me, and I mostly do it for the sake of clarity. It's not confirmed canon.

There are a lot of things about Rain World lore you can run in circles around for hours, but not find any definitive conclusions for. It's part of the fun even if it drives me nuts sometimes. Come be confused with me :)

[bkgml]

i long for katsuki angst so imagine ✨this✨

reader in the middle of battle, a 3 on 1 and reader is pretty obviously losing but holding out because she's not a loser. all of a sudden, she falls to the ground and realizes she can't get back up. no matter how hard she's trying, she's unable to get up and it freaks her out so bad that all she can do it scream at the top of her lungs as the villains around her start closing in. then there's this big, blinding explosion that scares the hell out of her and more so, the villains that are now all cooked to crisps on the ground. all she sees before slipping completely from consciousness is that familiar mass of blonde hair and she knows she's safe, and when she wakes up, he's beside her crying his arms out, so damn happy she's alive.

LMAO GOODBY I NEED SLEEP

hihi! this took me so long to get to this was literally at the bottom of my asks i’m sorry! it’s because i feel like i’m bad at writing angst but i’m trying to get out of my comfort zone cause i don’t want to leave you hanging ofc!

“…katsuki.” you speak softly before coughing up blood.

you’re trying to observe your surroundings, making a list of things you know for sure so you don’t go unconscious.

1. your bones are shattered.

there’s not a lot of bones on you that aren’t broken.

2. you’re alone.

katsuki’s nowhere to be seen. you find yourself wondering if he’s in the same position as you, but you know he’s not, he’s stronger than you are. thankfully being alone means the villains have left you alone on the ground. it’s pitiful really, they don’t even think you’re worth killing or taking for ransom.

3. you’re completely exhausted.

stay awake. stay awake. stay awake. stay awake. 

“katsuki.” you sob.

you hear the shuffling of feet.

you see some pebbles shifting beside you, but you can’t lift your head to see the figure moving towards you.

“katsuki?” you whine pitifully, tears finally streaming down your cheeks in fat globs.

“he’s not coming for you.” a booming voice comes from above you.

you shift your eyes from the pebbles and look at the creature blocking the sun with wide eyes.

“katsuki. katsuki. katsuki.” you whisper. it’s like a chant, it’s keeping you grounded.

you hear a laugh coming from your left, eyes shifting to see the man who was kicking the pebbles.

“katsuki. katsuki. katsuki. katsuki.” you repeat, eyes bulging out of your head in fear.

“god shut the fuck up!” says another man from your right.

“katsuki!” you sob. you plead.

until the man from above you slaps you, right onto your broken eye socket.

you shriek in agony.

“no! please! KATSUKI HELP!” you scream, fingernails clawing into the dirt below you as the three men kick your already broken body.

————————————————————————

“here’s one of the fuckers” bakugou grumbles, shoving the criminal into the arms of a police man.

“where’s yn? i wanna make a bet with her on how many villains we’ll catch.” he grins to the police captain.

the captain goes white with fear and katsukis brows furrow in response.

“she’s not with you…?” he says, sounding strained.

“the fuck are you talking about?” katsuki frowns, knuckles going white with how tight his fists are.

the captain stays silent and katsukis eyes widen before he activates his quirk to look for you.

when he finds you, he blacks out from anger.

he sees you passed out on the ground, tear streaks down your face, your bones are snapped.

and the fuckers are laughing.

————————————————————————

when your eyes open you’re greeted with the bright florescent light of the hospital.

you lift your head in search of a nurse, or your parents, or katsuki.

you can feel all your broken bones grinding against each other as you raise your head.

allowing your head to fall back on the pillow with a whimper, you realize you can’t hear yourself over the sobs of the person beside you.

and neither can he.

he’s sitting in an uncomfortable chair with his face in his hands.

sobbing uncontrollably.

“why’re you crying, ki?” you whisper, voice hoarse from screaming.

his head shoots up, face covered in tears, bottom lip quivering.

he stands on wobbly knees, walking to stand over your bed.

‘you look so small like this.’ he thinks.

he takes a shaky breath, reaching his hand to brush along the skin of your cheek.

when he makes contact with the skin you wince slightly and he reels his hand back.

“m sorry.” he blurts out, voice cracking.

your fingers twitch and you frown pitifully, tears flowing past your lash line.

“come back.” you whine.

he shakes his head slightly, frowning.

“don’t wanna hurt you.” he whispers.

“please.” you sob.

“kiss me?” you plead.

you watch him hesitate and you sigh.

“please..?”

“okay.” katsuki sniffs, before leaning in close.

your noses brush together softly before you lift up slightly to meet his lips with yours.

he tries to pull away but you keep your lips locked with his, pouring all your emotions into him.

when you do pull away he let’s out a shaky breath and gives you one more peck to your lips.

“what happened when i was out?” you smile sadly.

“bastarts we’re kicking the shit out of you. like it was fuckin funny.” he spits, trying to hold back his sobs.

“hey… i’m here now. i’m always going to be here.” you soothe.

he steps back abruptly, starting to pace slightly.

“i should’ve fuckin protected you. i should’ve been there.” he says through shaky gasps of air.

“katsuki.” you call.

“i should’ve had us working as a team.” he cries.

“kats-“

“i let those fucks out of my sight.”

“katsuki!” you exclaim.

“it’s all my fucking fault!” he yells, hands pulling at his hair.

“bakugou.” you say firmly.

that causes him to straighten up and listen.

“come here.” you frown to conceal the desperation behind your eyes.

he steps back again, shaking his head.

“i cant move to grab you and i want you katsuki. you have to listen to me when i’m injured.” you say, frown still present on your face.

he stops and thinks for a moment before stepping towards you hesitantly.

“hold my hand?” you pout at him.

his eyes widen in fear.

“if you just go slow and be gentle and you won’t hurt me.”

he allows his hand to thread through yours, feeling your warm skin against his is reassuring to him.

“i should’ve protected you.” he whispers.

“it wasn’t your job as a hero to protect me.” you soothe.

he sighs, wishing he could go back in time.

he looks around your hospital room.

the boring paintings covering the walls.

the tiny tv.

the flowers from visitors piled up on your side table.

“it should’ve been me then.” he says, looking back at you.

now it’s your turn to sigh.

“i wouldn’t have been able to handle you being in here. i’m not as strong as you.” you smile softly.

he chokes on a scoff.

as if going through what you did was harder for him.

having to find you.

having to carry your broken body to the ambulance.

having to be pulled out of the ambulance because he was too hysterical.

rushing into the hospital in his hero outfit before being told by his mother he needed to change.

sobbing in the shower because he thought you wouldn’t wake up.

having to get a ride from kirishima because he couldn’t think straight enough to drive.

“i love you so much.” he chokes out.

“don’t do this to me again.” he says while leaning towards your face to give you a bunch of wet pecks to your lips.

“i won’t, suki. promise.” you say, tears streaming down your face as you kiss him back.

[deathnguts]

Coraline Bartylus au where Barty moves to the pink palace with his dad after his mom dies and regulus is like the Wibey of the au. I change the plot of the movie a lot in this ti make regulus more involved and I think it’s neat, albeit just a concept and therefore not super fleshed out. Still fun though

So Barty’s obviously utterly not excited to be here because it sucks and it’s causing him and his dad to fight even more than usual, he fucking hates this house and me makes it known. So he’s sent away to go ‘explore or something.’ He goes with a slam of the door and a scoff while inspecting the gray and barren landscape in the wet woods around the house, where he meets the landlord’s son (regulus) and his weird cat (Kreacher) who are both very unimpressed with him. They give him a once over and regulus tells him that his house is haunted and kids go missing there. He seems so sure and he’s so ominous that Barty almost believes him but then he comes to his senses and he’s like ‘yeah right pretty boy.’ This gets regulus frustrated and he promises to prove it, so the next day he finds and gives barty a doll that looks exactly like barty along with pictures and newspaper clippings about the last few missing kids (Evan, Pandora, Sirius) And barty starts to believe it so he explores the house to see where a kid could go missing and doesn’t find anything except a blocked off door that only reaches his knee. But when he goes to bed after fighting with his dad at dinner he has a ‘weird dream’ where he went through the bricked off door to a worm hole to a world where his dad has buttons for eyes and he’s actually nice to him. He talks with this Other Father about his mother and he finds that it’s actually nice to talk about something so hard as grief with a version of his father that will listen.

He wakes up the next day wishing he was there again because his dad is yelling at him to go meet his neighbors. So he trudges up the stairs and meets Slughorn (Bobinskey) who invites him in for tea and talks about potions and magical ailments like they’re real and sends barty to deliver a ‘pepper up potion’ whatever that is, to the basement after chuckling about how barty and the last boy, ‘regulus I believe his name was’ have similar scowls. Barty tries to ask more about him but Slughorn shoos him off all ominous like. Barty then goes to basement and meets Madams Pomfrey and McGonagall (Spink and Forcible) and their many many cats and they old lady complain about how the home owner’s son’s cat Kreacher is truly dreadful and bothers their babies and barty then tries to drill them for info but they instead talk about regulus’ brother who they apparently knew better and leave barty with a whole lot of questions. That night the Other Father goes with him to meeting the neighbors, instead of making Barty do it for him like in the real world, and it’s a crazy sort of magic show that Slughorn puts on with wands and bubbling potions that leaves him smelling the acidic scent even after waking up.

That day starts with regulus outside in the fog throwing pebbles at his window so him and barty wander around the ghost town to do their school shopping because regulus does it alone anyway and Barty’s dad said it would be ok for Barty to do it if he had ‘supervision’ from the more mature boy. While they’re hanging out, regulus reveals that he used to live in that house and he and his parents only moved out because his brother went missing there. He warns barty of a little door that his brother was obsessed with before disappearing. Barty is immediately sketched out and tells him that he has seen it and it’s bricked shut. He leaves out how it’s open in his dreams because he doesn’t want to looks stupid in front of his new friend. Regulus says he’s seen it too and that’s what he thought but his brother had insisted it wasn’t and had even tried to get him ti go with him through it, but he’d refused. That was the night his brother went through and never came back.

Barty is now super scared and when he dreams of his Other father he tries asking about the missing brother and he throughly distracts with a new friend for him. It’s the regulus. With button eyes and he’s smiling. Barty’s only known regulus for three days but he knows that this boy does not smile that softly and freely. In fact, he remembers his number one complaint about him being how serious and hard to read he is. His Other Father sends him away to play with his friend rather than answering any of his questions, so barty tries to drill the Other Regulus for answers but he’s so frustratingly carefree about everything. Barty slips away from him by saying they should play hide and seek, barty will hide first, and while ‘hiding’ he meets Kreacher and discovers that he can talk here and he’s warning him to get out and never come back because he’s being watched and he’s already seen one boy get eaten here. Barty’s freaked out but quickly distracted by the Other Regulus finding him ushering him ‘home’ where he confronts his Other Father. The Other Father tries to quiet him down and quell his worries by saying he merely kept Sirius in his family and he wants to keep Barty too. He’ll even let them play together with the Other Regulus that Sirius had liked so much, it will be fun. All Barty needs to do is sew buttons in his eyes.

Barty immediately says no and the Other Father tries to manipulate him by bringing up how his real father will never love him like he does but Barty is firm in his refusal so to try and show Barty that he’s not like his real father, he drops it before it becomes an argument. Barty wakes up at home and eveyrthing seems normal, his father’s home and Kreacher is scratching at his window- wait why is Kreacher here without regulus? He opens the window and Kreacher’s grumbling at him, trying to meow or talk like the other world but his mouth won’t open. Barty rushed downstairs with the panicked cat in his arms and finds his father arguing with a man that must be regulus’ father about his is missing son, and he’s sure it has something to do with this house. Barty immediately feels dread and horror build up in him and later ventures through the now open little door to look for the missing regulus with Kreacher refusing to follow.

The Other Father is waiting and seeming very pleased with himself. Barty is angry and demands to know what happened to the real regulus. the Other Father smiles and says that isn’t important because they’ll both be together again soon. When Barty asks what he means he gets thrown into a mirror where he meets two other ghosts and regulus’ angry ghost brother who demands to know if Barty left the door open. Barty is obviously very overwhelmed and freaked out by meeting ghosts and he has no idea what they mean until the person who pulls him out of time out is the real regulus, real mercury eyes instead of shiny buttons, who claims Barty’s been missing for a few days in the real world so he went looking for him through the door. Barty realizes just as the Other Regulus finds them and drags them over to see the Other Father that the world he ‘woke up’ in was still this one and he never left, he’d been played and now he’s just trapped them both here.

The Other Father is positively overjoyed to see the real regulus and gushes about how he almost didn’t think Barty as the bait would work with how his own brother didn’t, this young love is so sweet it will surely taste just as good when he devours them both. But it’s two against one and Barty and Regulus are both just as desperate, so they make a deal with the Other Father to gamble their way out.

I’m not exactly sure what the quest would be in this AU, because finding the ghost kids makes sense but I don’t think they care about the parents part. And having two players would surely change the game so maybe the Other Father makes Regulus one of the prizes ti find since he knows this world less and the Other Father would have less influence on him? That could be cool, Rosie twins as a dual headed marble and then Sirius and then the real regulus as the final showdown… yeah I’m not sure. But they would win obviously and make it out and lock the door and throw away the key.

Later Barty would dream one last time of the ghost children giving their thanks, Sirius giving him a goodbye and an apology ti pass on ti regulus, before they tell him that actually teh journey isn’t fully over yet. Barty wakes up ti regulus in his room, scaring the shit out of him, but regulus shuts him up with showing him he’s the one who has the key for the door. He took it with him when he moved out, he thought it was cool. But now he knows what it is and they band together ti get rid of it for the rest of the night.

I feel instead of the lemonade party thing that implies the relationship with the community and the parents is better now, the scene showing life is better now would be Regulus and Barty heading to the school - which Barty wasn’t excited at all about earlier - together. Like this life is less than ideal and even teh dream turned out to be a nightmare, but they had each other then and they have each other now.

[0hmanit]

ive seen you post a lot about rw development and stuff, so i was wondering - do you have a collection of concept art for regions? im currently working on a level inspired by a memory crypts concept art and i was thinking it could be cool to do the same for other concept art of regions

If you're talking about the official region concept art, there is a lot of them in the wiki/devlog. These two posted by Joar I believe, one showing the pit room in Outskrits and the other is an early sketch of the overall map.

"Shadow Urban" is the original name name for Shaded Citadel and it is placed near "Garbage Dump" which is Garbage Wastes. Superstructure is Five Pebbles Ofc, being a triangular shape instead of a giant box, and Sky Islands connected to it. If I have to guess "Ancient Urban" is probably was supposed to be what now we know as Memory Crypts/the exterior. And "Dense Urban" being subterranean.

This is an unused region art for the Communications Array, I like to think that it was originally a sub region within Sky Islands.

In the Downpour Unused/Concept art category you can find some beautiful art pieces. And some scrapped region thumbnails. The left image is for Slient Construct and the right image is obviously a concept art for Metropolis.

More room designs from the Devlog. I'll recommend you check it out sometime, it contains a lot of info about the level editor and early plans regarding various regions. I think it counts as concept art too? A lot of scrapped rooms inspired regions like Sky Islands, and uses different palettes that you can use.

If you also interested in different scrapped props there is a lot of them too that you can take inspiration from. I'll actually advice you to learn how to create and insert your own props into the level editor. Since you want to make levels, adding your own personal touches to your rooms is quite a neat addition.

[frozenjokes]

worst scarian ever. the redscape is cute though

Mumbo was acting.. strangely.

Now, Grian’s sense of perception was definitely warped, he was quite aware of that; he knew he had something to prove. After the mortifying ordeal of Mumbo finding out about the first murder attempt- which- how in the HELL did he not know?? Is violent stabbing and screaming a friendly mermaid gesture?? Whatever, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter.

Actually, yes it did matter, because mortifying was not nearly a strong enough word to even scratch the surface of how agonizing the following conversation was. Grian would truly rather peel off all his skin and dive into a pool of salt than give Mumbo the play by play (through Etho) of how exactly that had gone down, as if Mumbo wasn’t THERE, as if Mumbo hadn’t BIT HIM- If Mumbo didn’t think Grian was trying to kill him, then WHY-

It. Didn’t. Matter. But yes, Grian did feel as if he had a little something to make up for, so he’d spent an awful lot of time at the cove for the past couple days, today being number three. Scar had something come up at work, so it was really the perfect opportunity for Grian to be here alone with Mumbo. Well. And Etho, who had decided to hang around apparently, but really Etho had so little of a presence that Grian tended to forget he was there unless Mumbo asked for translation help, but those moments were few and far between given that Grian and Mumbo weren’t really talking.. Hell, Etho talked to Mumbo more than Grian did, but in fairness there was no language barrier and they kind of seemed to be getting along and Etho never tried to kill Mumbo so that probably helped make things less awkward.

Grian was fishing. He always fished, it wasn’t weird for him and Mumbo to not interact for hours at a time. It was normal. Normal. Felt bad though. Didn’t feel good at all! Especially when Mumbo was making some sort of shrine for Scar.

At first, Grian had thought it was some sort of act of spite. He’d come around the day after the disaster to see a small but certainly noticeable pile of colorful and/or oddly shaped pebbles on the beach; anyone would have been curious! But when Grian had gone to check it out, Mumbo had burst onto the shore (which was TERRIFYING by the way, Mumbo was massive and fucking fast, like getting rushed by an alligator), not hissing, but looking defensive regardless, fins and hair on end, you know. Enough to get Grian to shuffle back, that was for sure.

“Gift. Scar.” That’s what he’d said. Mumbo had said it quite a few times actually, as if Grian wouldn’t have understood, and you know, all of the everything combined, Grian was feeling a little bit insecure. He backed off, of course, Mumbo obviously didn’t want him to mess with it. He gave Mumbo some space, considered leaving altogether, though, since he was already kicking himself for not bringing some sort of peace offering, he decided to stay and fish and hopefully catch something good to (waste) give away instead of sell. And that was a good decision! Since fishing here pretty much sucked, Grian got to sit with his casted lines for a good while, relax a bit, come to realize Mumbo hadn’t deviated from his normal behavior (staring, menacingly), and take a deep breath, knowing this was probably fine.

Mumbo was more active without a broken tail, but he seemed to be enjoying Grian’s company, at least as much as usual. At Grian’s first catch, he had a question, pulling Etho out of a bush to have it answered and subsequently scaring the shit out of Grian- he hadn’t even realized Etho was there- it’s not like he said hello! But Mumbo had wanted to know what Grian did with the fish if he wasn’t going to eat them, which was a fair question, and Grian couldn’t help his amusement wondering how long Mumbo had been curious; curious enough to drag a very whiny Etho from his hidey hole, clearly.

Grian had told him, but Etho abandoned ship once Mumbo started asking questions about money and unemployment and capitalism, and they had swam off together, Grian left unable to give his gift.

Though, in between bothering Etho and staring unblinkingly at Grian, Mumbo was also going back and forth from the shore, depositing new rocks in his pile. He seemed to spend hours just sifting through pebbles near the water line, which he didn’t need to break eye contact with Grian to do by the way (scary), finding something satisfactory, then dropping it with the others. Grian had thought it might be a passive aggressive act- after all, Mumbo didn’t stop staring at him most of the time he was looking through rocks, but this idea was cemented for him when he stopped fishing to ask Etho, and without missing a beat,

“Yeah, he probably hates you.”

Grian had not felt very good about himself on the drive home that day.

But that didn’t exactly feel right. It felt right when Grian was hating himself on the drive home, and it felt right when Grian spent the next few hours self righteously angry despite it all. How was he supposed to know mermaids were sentient! Technically he was just doing his job! Fishing! And the medical bills from that bite injury had torn through his savings- insurance was a bitch right now- he really needed to find a job, and it’d have to be minimum wage if he couldn’t get his act together yesterday, but-

And it had felt right when Grian was laying in bed, wide awake in a spiral of doom, wondering where the fuck his life had taken him, what he was even doing, the time he was wasting, the people he was hurting. The type of soul sucking avalanche of self-loathing and despair, the kind that knocks you face flat, that waits until you’re on your hands and knees to slam back down, shattering against your head, your back, your knees, everything you need to have a hope of standing. The hopeless helplessness that makes you angry, that gets you into trouble, that has you saying things you don’t mean, throwing fists you can’t force yourself to want to stop.

(The kind of feeling that beats you down, spurs you on to make mistakes, gets you arrested, and if things couldn’t possibly get more miserable, your good friend has to pick you up, pay your bail, and bring you home. Stay the night when he doesn’t trust you to be alone, but you can’t tell him how it all went wrong, because you’re still upset about a boy, and that’s pathetic, isn’t it? It’s all you think about when you’re drunk, you worthless load of horseshit. You just have to talk to him, but you can’t, you can’t do it, because whatever you have now, it’s less terrifying than what could be, even if every snide word stings like hooks under your skin. “You have a lot going on,” Jimmy says, and maybe it’s true, but you’re still upset about a boy.)

But the next day, when Grian was feeling normal, Pissy Petty Mumbo definitely didn’t seem correct. For one, Mumbo was so confident? He wasn’t acting angry at all, and with everything that had happened between them, it was becoming increasingly clear that misunderstandings were going to happen and holding grudges was more than useless. Mumbo seemed content, if not a little awkward, but despite his protectiveness of the pebble pile, Grian just didn’t get the sense there was anything spiteful about it.

Etho, on the other hand, was a lot more.. edgy. Grian wasn’t really sure he’d ever seen Etho be relaxed, but this was different, his fins flattening at the mere mention of of the rocks, glancing left, generally acting quite twitchy- Grian wasn’t sure what was up with him, but he was pretty sure Etho wouldn’t be so affected if Mumbo was just being petty to a guy he didn’t even particularly like (which Grian also felt normal about).

On day two, there were fish on the pile. Mumbo had seemed really disappointed when Scar hadn’t shown up by Grian’s side (Grian had a lot to feel normal about lately), and even tried asked where he was, which, took a bit of back and forth for Grian to understand, but he hoped ‘Money,’ a new word Mumbo had learned yesterday, would be answer enough.

It proved not to be when Mumbo went to Etho, asking him why Grian sold Scar and what that meant, and Etho cackled loud enough to startle the birds above from their perches. After Grian pestered Etho for a translation, Mumbo swam off to who knows where, and Etho escaped from Grian in a similar fashion, though instead of going deep, he simply waited until Grian started fishing, emerging afterwards to steal fish off Mumbo’s pile.

“I don’t think those are for you,” Grian called, but Etho didn’t look back, only giving Grian a short flick of his tail.

“They’ll go to waste if they just sit in the sun all day. Mumbo won’t notice.” Given that Etho took and subsequently tore into every fish on the mound, Grian doubted that.

“The pile looks like it’s doubled overnight. Did Mumbo even sleep? What’s with this, anyway?”

Etho’s fins lowered, twitching as he cast Grian a cautious glance, “A petty gesture, probably.”

“He’s real committed, isn’t he? This feels like overkill.”

“This is perfectly normal behavior.”

“Didn’t you say if mermaids don’t care for each other they just don’t interact anymore? Mumbo isn’t avoiding me. Why would he make some sort of grand gesture just to get back at me?”

“Maybe you and Scar have infected him with whatever virus makes you all nasty and hormonal, don’t think too hard about it.”

“Hormonal?”

Etho was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “Doesn’t work like that.”

“Does it not? Why do mermaids do that then,” Grian gestured vaguely to the pile, as well as the fish Etho was devouring off of it, “Never seen that before. Feels excessive, doesn’t it? Mumbo already gave us his gift, didn’t he? What’s the deal? Do you know? Does it have something to do with what you said when-“

“I was very clear and it has nothing to do with that.” Etho spoke so fast that Grian could hardly process one word after the other, but he didn’t get the chance when Mumbo suddenly breached the surface, furiously whistling something sharper than Grian had ever heard it. Etho shot up, then immediately retreated (unsuccessfully).

Grian watched the two of them flail around in the water for a while, just to make sure there was no blood, then returned to his fishing, mildly amused.. and then a little disturbed. What exactly had Etho said to Mumbo while trying to communicate Scar’s message? It wasn’t meant to mean anything, that was just Scar being Scar, verbal affirmations and all that. Even if Etho had successfully delivered the message, did Mumbo understand? Though, given how weird Etho was acting, he probably didn’t say exactly what he had intended. Why didn’t he just clear the air? Was he embarrassed or something? That didn’t feel like a good enough excuse.

Someone should do something about this. Before it went too far, of course. Poor Mumbo was being completely misled! (Don’tthinkoftheimplicationsDon’tthinkoftheimplicationsDon’tthinkoftheimplications)

Though, given that Mumbo was protective of his gift pile and Etho had already ticked him off today, Grian wasn’t trying to get chased around as well. He would simply wait until tomorrow to tell Mumbo that Scar didn’t love him.

And so here he was, tomorrow! Standing right next to Mumbo’s pile (which had grown threefold since yesterday) with the mermaid’s rapt attention, though, maybe those flicking fins were more a sign of irritation.

“Grian, no.” Hm. Definitely irritation. But Mumbo clearly didn’t feel the need to come out of the water, so Grian felt secure for now.

“Mumbo, Scar doesn’t love you.”

Mumbo stared, blankly.

“Scar doesn’t love you.”

“Gift, Scar.”

“No, he doesn’t love you. Stop trying to court him.”

“Stop,” Mumbo repeated the word, mulling it over like it was something he recognized, “Stop Grian.”

“I’m not after your rock pile, Mumbo! Scar doesn’t love you! You can not mermaid date him because he’s not mermaid interested! He’s actually just flat out not interested, but we don’t have to get into that. Well. Actually, that might not even be true, but I’m not getting into it right now because I know Etho is hiding around here somewhere.” Grian paused. “Etho! Get out here and tell Mumbo that Scar doesn’t love him!”

No response. Not that Grian expected one. God, why was Etho so weird and stubborn!

“Grian,” Mumbo got his attention, but whistled something when Grian turned his head before continuing in English, “Annoying.”

Grian gaped. Surely Mumbo didn’t know what that meant. Well. Maybe. His extremely pleased looking body language said otherwise. “Who taught you that!?” Well Grian knew, didn’t he. “ETHO! If you don’t tell Mumbo right now that Scar doesn’t love him I swear-“

“I tried,” Etho said meekly and Grian hardly heard him, though given the other was so quiet, Grian still wasn’t sure where he was hiding, “No use, I’ll only make it worse.”

“What did you tell him!?”

“I told him Scar likes cool rocks..”

“Why did you tell him that!?”

“He asked!”

Mumbo couldn’t have looked more delighted if he tried, twirling in little circles where he stood in the water, probably assuming Grian and Etho were arguing about the newly learned word, though, Grian would be hard pressed to be mad when Mumbo was making trills like that. God, despite how terrifying Mumbo was 90% of the time, that particular noise was so damn cute, like it wasn’t coming from a ten foot long sea monster.

Grian huffed, definitive, “I’m calling Scar. Actually, no I’m not. You’re calling Scar. Etho, call Scar.”

Grian heard rustling in the brush, though still no sign of Etho. “I am not doing that. No way.”

“Yes you are!”

“I’m not.”

“You- where are you?”

“Do you want to get bit, Grian?”

“Do you want to pay my hospital bills?”

“I feel no remorse, and you can’t prove it was me.”

Grian groaned, making sure he was extra loud and extra obnoxious so Etho would know he was not happy, however, this didn’t seem to convince Etho to pick up his phone. “Fine then! I’ll do it,” he huffed shortly. Etho did not grace him with a response. This sucked. Etho sucked. Why did the only mermaid-human half hybrid on the planet have to be such- so- difficult! Grian didn’t want to call Scar! But he would. Someone had to clear this up! Eugh, service out here was so spotty.

Grian fiddled with his phone until he landed on Scar’s number, having to call a couple times to even get ahold of Scar; turns out when someone says they’re busy with a work issue, they’re actually busy-

“Hello there, G! What’s up?” Scar sounded a bit out of breath, but there was no urging to his tone, no rushing Grian into saying what he needed to say so Scar could get back to work. He was always like that, Scar was. Always making time for anyone that approached him, friend or otherwise. There were no hints of bitterness to his voice today either; maybe Scar was too winded to remember his dead set promise to be unbearable. Well, Grian knew he was busy, so he wasn’t going to waste time with formalities.

“Scar, Mumbo thinks you’re in love with him and’s trying to court you with a massive pile of colorful rocks and various other gifts. Etho must have mistranslated something the other day, or Mumbo got confused, I don’t know, but Etho refuses to clear this up! If you have a spare hour after work- I don’t know, you’re just better at talking to Mumbo than I am. You might be able to fix this.”

“Oh! How- Where did he get that from?” Scar laughed, not sounding nearly as distressed as Grian felt, “Wow! That’s crazy! That’s really cool! You think he’s interested?”

“I- Scar- I mean, yes, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to mess around with his feelings if you’re not.”

“I might be! You said he’s getting me a bunch of cool rocks? I love cool rocks! I bet there’s all sorts of crazy ones down deeper in the lake that we can’t reach, don’t you think so? Do you have a picture? Oh, actually, don’t send me a picture, I want to be surprised! I don’t know when I’ll make it over, but it might be late, so don’t wait for me!”

Grian gaped at his phone, unable to speak as Scar rambled on, only interrupting when he regained his tongue, “Wh- What do you mean you might be interested?”

“Uh, Grian,” Scar laughed like it was obvious, in that tone that Grian couldn’t stand, “That’s like, the coolest thing in the world. You’re telling me you wouldn’t be interested? One, Mumbo is awesome! I love Mumbo! Two, you wouldn’t want to kiss a mermaid? Seriously? I don’t think so!”

“Scar!” Scar seemed to think Grian’s grand exclamation was quite funny, and Grian’s head could only spin while Scar laughed. “Scar! We- Mumbo- How do we even know he has lips! Do they- I doubt they even do kissing, and with the mustache- his hair is sharp! There’s no way that would be at all pleasant!”

“Grian, Grian, you’re thinking too literally.”

“You said you wanted to kiss Mumbo!”

“I did not say that. However, I would if I was at least 80% sure he wouldn’t eat my face. With teeth, I mean. Fierce, isn’t he? Are you really telling me you’ve never fantasized about kissing a mermaid, come on, G. You’re a whole fisherman! Hmm.. I wonder how this would work? A relationship, I mean. I guess I could ask Etho. What do you think a mermaid date is like?”

“What- What does being a fisherman have anything to do with-“

“Oh,” Scar interrupted him, almost dreamy sounding, “The pulling on your line to mess with you, stealing your catch, getting you all worked up until you make the mistake of marching right into the water to give him a piece of your mind! He catches you off guard then, rears up, traps you right where you stand, talking to you all smug, he might even threaten to eat you, but you’re witty, you can talk yourself out of this, and also you’re both pretty into this-“

“Okay, enough of that, enough-“

“His hands are in your hair, yanking your head back and exposing your neck, and you’re scared, but at the same time, he’s looking at you and you’re looking back and suddenly being so helpless in his arms is feeling a lot more heated-“

“SCAR!”

Scar laughed, full and infuriatingly delightful, only stopping once he caught his breath, sighing deeply, “I love when you get like this, silly thing. Alright, I do have to skedaddle now, I’ll see you later?”

Grian’s mouth dried, physically unable to respond.

“Grian,” Scar hummed, voice dropping to something more serious, while simultaneously carrying no weight at all, “I’ll see you later?”

“I- Sure. Maybe,” was all he could manage. ‘Probably not’ was left unsaid.

“Great! Bye bye then!” Scar’s cheerful lilt returned, wasting no time before he hung up, leaving Grian in a silence that couldn’t be anything else but completely baffled. Fucking. Uagh. Scar. Unbelievable. Unbelievable! Grian was not seeing him later, at the beach or anywhere else. Insufferable!

***

Mumbo wasn’t sure what the humans were doing on the shore, but he didn’t like it. It was late, much later than they usually lingered, but Mumbo had been so excited that Scar had stopped by, wondering if Grian had asked him to carve out a little time for Mumbo in the later day. Etho had said something cryptic that made this seem like the case, but then again, with Etho you could never be sure.

It was great at the start! Scar had been delighted to see him and impossibly overjoyed by all the nice rocks Mumbo had gathered. Mumbo wasn’t exactly sure what qualified as a ‘cool rock’ to a human, so he’d brought together all sorts of shapes and colors and sizes, and studied Scar intensely as the human sifted through the collection, noticing how he favored the smaller ones, as well as the kinds that shimmered or were a particularly vibrant color. But all in all, Mumbo was extremely pleased when Scar was preoccupied until dusk, though he seemed mostly uninterested in the fish Mumbo had caught for him, which was a shame. Etho had said as much after stealing time and time again, but someone had to feed the human! The two of them hardly ate anything at all, especially Grian, he was so small.. Speaking of Etho actually, Mumbo had offered to hunt for them as well, but every time they outright refused, preferring to take from Scar’s offering instead, the bastard.

Mumbo had actually asked Etho for advice, needling for information on what human relationships were like, but they were supremely unhelpful, saying all sorts of contradictory things in regards to how Scar felt about Mumbo. And maybe that wasn’t their fault; the more Mumbo spoke with Etho, the more the two of them came across concepts Etho struggled to translate, but sometimes it was difficult to parse between Etho just being cryptic on purpose or a message being distorted by translation issues. Etho sure didn't clarify!

When the sun was setting and the two humans started to act oddly on the shore, Etho had abandoned ship altogether, retreating for the first time from his spot on land into deeper water. Mumbo had tried to ask them what the humans were doing; were they fighting-? This looked different than a normal human fight.. Etho had only mentioned something about a fight for dominance and the two humans being abnormal and privacy, those two have no concept of privacy, so really, Mumbo was left with more questions than answers. But Etho clearly hadn’t thought the humans needed to be stopped, Etho just didn’t want to be present, though Mumbo didn’t consider them to be the responsible type.. He figured he should at least supervise.

The humans kind of looked like they were tearing at each other’s faces..? That couldn’t be right, there was no blood, but they were quite focused on the task at hand, which in Mumbo’s opinion, looked anything but friendly. He supposed if this was some sort of contest between the two of them, it wasn’t meant to be friendly at all, but the idea conflicted with the way they were touching each other, light and gentle and- oh, no, nevermind, they were not being gentle anymore. If humans only had better defenses, Grian certainly wouldn’t be able to pull on Scar’s hair like that! Truly, humans were evolutionarily challenged.

“Mumbo’s watching,” Mumbo perked up when Grian said his name, though neither of them were paying him any mind regardless.

“Does that bother you?” Scar asked, and he looked pleased? Maybe? Was he winning? Grian certainly didn’t look happy.

“Yes. And I’m cold, so let’s take this elsewhere. Your car.”

“Why not your car?” Scar said, seemingly just to be contrary, and Grian snorted.

“If we’re doing anything, it will be in your car. That’s that.”

“God, you’re bossy.”

“And you’re needy.”

“Maybe..” Scar trailed off, pressing his forehead to Grian’s in a tender looking gesture before standing up and sending the other human toppling into the sand, “I’ll be waiting, then! Have fun hauling all your shit to your car. Fishing good today?”

“No.” Grian huffed, brushing away sand.

“It never is,” Scar mused, looking content as he made toward his comparatively much smaller bag. Mumbo was pleased to see them stop fighting, and even more pleased that Scar accepted so many of the rocks Mumbo found, taking them with him as he walked into the brush. But Scar did turn around before he left, smiling at Mumbo before giving a simple wave of his hand. Mumbo returned the gesture, though it felt odd on his limbs. But regardless of any awkwardness, he saw joy in Scar’s expression, which lit something similar in Mumbo’s own heart. How easy it was to please Scar, wasn’t it. How good it felt regardless. Maybe Mumbo could say concretely that he liked Scar; perhaps relationships were meant to be shared with those who made your fins flutter. Hopefully Grian didn’t kill Scar in a show of dominance or whatever before Mumbo could explore this further.

[youremyheaven]

Any word of advice for Sun girlies how to protect herself from evil eye?

light bubble meditation!! always visualise a circle of light around yourself. one of the best ways to build your "aura" or cultivate magnetism is to have an energy shield around you at all times. it's not rocket science, just close your eyes and visualise light surrounding you and keeping you protected.

some of the next tips are a little out there but if you're so inclined do try them:

Basil/Tulsi is known for its cleansing properties and we use it a lot in India. I recommend putting a stem of basil in your pillow (my nightmares went away after I did this) or putting a stem of basil in your bra when you go out (or your pocket). It's a powerful remedy against evil eye.

Consecrate an object of your choice, preferably something small and dainty (a crystal, a sea shell, a pebble, a feather, you don't want to pick something that carries any karmic energy) by chanting to it, meditating with it and suffusing it with your energy. Then carry it with you everywhere, in your bag or purse or whatever. It's like a good luck charm that's custom made for u

Pray to your Ishta devata. Sally Kempton talks a lot about goddess worship and I suggest watching her videos or reading her book Awakening Shakti but this is life changing!!! Obviously its not wise to casually dabble in Hinduism and deity worship so please study them, read as much as you can and gather as much info as you can. You'll naturally feel drawn to one Goddess over others and praying to her will keep you protected. Bhakti (devotion) is the greatest armour. I have called upon the goddess during times of immense turmoil and she's always helped me navigate with grace BUT you should never make a deity feel "used". If you're praying, pray everyday, not just when something goes wrong. Think of it as a relationship you build with someone. You have to show up and communicate with them everyday, only then will they want to be your aid in times of need. Give thanks. Always.

Black thread. I guess this could again count as appropriating Hinduism but 😬 compared to deity worship, this is nothing. Here's an article explaining it. Basically, wearing a black thread on your left leg will keep nazar away.

Burn incense/sage bc it purifies the energy of the space

SALT also cleanses. take a bath after mixing a few spoons of salt in the water and watch the effect it has on u.

The thing about evil eye is that it affects people who are spiritually fragile. They do not have an energy shield protecting them so they're susceptible to every kind of influence (they're easily influenced) and suffer the consequences of negativity more than others. Some people thrive in life no matter how much shit is thrown at them. Nothing affects them much. Others crumble easily in the face of even the smallest hardship or bitterness. That's bc they're spiritually weak. You have to build a spiritual base that is so strong nothing can shake you. Evil eye can't hurt you if your relationship with the divine is 💪🏼strong af bc God is bigger than any evil. And perhaps many of you dabble in astrology for fun and don't believe in God but vedic astrology kind of requires a relationship with the divine. Literally the remedy for any kind of issue in your birth chart is to pray.

I feel like many people have a passive understanding of prayer but it's a very purposeful exercise of faith. Finding time in your day and devoting it to God is a way to engage in conversation with yourself. If you hate/are afraid of God, that is a reflection of you and what you've been raised to believe. Once you really get into it, you'll understand that God is love and honestly prayer time is the happiest time of the day for me. My heart feels so full. Whenever I don't pray, I feel so closed off bc my heart is longing for that supreme love. You make your life feel purposeful by acting with intention and making the ordinary sacred and ritualising experiences. If you live like nothing matters, that's what will be reflected back. Your world and what you make of your experiences is a reflection of you 🫶 so make a temple of your mind

Sorry for long ramble but yk that's how I am by now 😌🤪

[chaosfairy18]

Newsiestober Day 7 : Soulmates

Fall days could be anything from nice and warm when you’re wearing your cool looking coat to freezing in your cool looking coat because someone thought it was a good idea to make a Spring/Autumn coat without pockets – no matter how nice it looked. Luckily, when Race went out in his nice coat after being forcefully taken by his friends, it was the first option and he’d not die because he wanted to look nice for the Fall Fair they were dragging him to.

The only saving grace was that his friends weren’t going with their soulmates. Yet. Mush and David would come in a few hours, so until then he had Jack and Blink all for himself and didn’t have to feel like a fifth wheel just because he hadn’t found his soulmate yet. He was happy for them, obviously, but it was just annoying to see how centred Blink had gotten with Mush around, who would be the only one to be able to talk him out of punching someone. Or how Jack finally had someone who could match his wit and mouth, who wouldn’t let him get away with talking and talking and telling five different stories over the course of it.

They’d all just seen the colourful footprints on the ground in school one day, followed them, and met the universe-chosen love of their life.

And that was fine, his friends deserved to be happy and, well, at least Skittery and Pie Eater weren’t hitched yet, he wasn’t the only one, but the more it got – especially the more found their other half in school or clubs – the more he thought about finding his own soulmate. If he ever would.

But he wouldn’t start to see footprints that he could follow that were left behind by his fated match if he just sulked at home, so he’d agreed to go with Jack and Blink to the fair.

It was still sunny and warm when they arrived, people bustling around stalls and booths either selling food, trinkets, or offering some games. It wasn’t really Halloween-themed as it was still early October, but there were some stalls selling jack-o-lanterns or ghost plushies and the like. It was fun.

He and Blink laughed over some poor guy shooting all his loads he paid for to win a rose for his girlfriend in the completely wrong direction, he and Jack bought roasted almonds and only threw them at each other once and the all together went into a haunted house that was still a bit early in the season, but it had been fun and scary.

He didn’t even think about their other two friends – his friends’ soulmates – arriving later, he was too busy dragging Jack to the bumper cars and tag teaming him with Blink to always bump against him as fast as possible.

The first time he noticed something bright on the ground, he almost dismissed it, thinking it was just some flyer, or decoration that had fallen down, until he did a double take and saw that it was footprints.

He hit Blink in the arm until he stopped talking to Jack. “What?”

“Please tell me you don’t see that on the ground.”

“See what?” Blink looked and only kicked a pebble to the side, evidently not seeing the prints, so they couldn’t just be from someone stepping in actual paint.

Race took a deep breath, not sure if he was excited or terrified. “I see footsteps.”

“For real?” Jack grabbed his shoulders, grinning widely. “Then go get’cha boy… girl… well whoever they are.” He turned Racetrack around and shoved him forward, evidently immediately wanting him to search for a stranger.

“That’s not even the direction, Jack.”, he groaned, but he did follow the footsteps. It was to where they hadn’t been before, and even if he knew his friends would most likely follow because they were nosy and couldn’t keep to themselves, he had to know now. If he didn’t find them, who knows when he’d get a chance again?

It wasn’t really easy to tell, at first, how fresh the prints were. After following them for a while he did think they got a bit brighter than when they’d started, but it might just have been his imagination. There were a lot of people and some stood right where he was trying to go, but the footsteps always went on, further through the masses of people and snaking through the fair, sometimes building little circles where his soulmate had been at one place for longer and walked in one place basically, sometimes farther spaced out where they could walk faster.

And somewhere they had to end, with someone he was destined to be connected to one way or another. Still a scary thought, but he was getting more excited now that it was here.

His search led him back to the haunted house, seeing footsteps go in – he wouldn’t go in there again, even for that – and then also out, luckily. And they led to a person this time, not just to another corner and another walk.

The boy was his age, a bit taller – if not much – and leaning against a booth selling pendants and candles where a girl and a boy were looking at everything. The boy – his soulmate, probably – was also staring at the haunted house, and Race just stopped in his tracks, suddenly self-conscious. The other boy was cool in his leather jacket, hands in the pockets, piercings on his ear glinting in the late fall sun, blond hair falling in his face, and it just made Race aware of his own looks, his short stature, the way everyone always appeared horrified when he said he wanted to study physics and math.

Should he really go? What if his soulmate was an asshole the moment he opened his mouth, what if he wasn’t even interested-

Race intended to just go, turn around and flee when he saw Jack and Blink badly hiding a few booths behind him, knowing they’d never let him. Now or never.

Racetrack went up to the blond, up until the other noticed him. “Uh… hi. I don’t want this to be- well it’ll be weird anyways, but I followed your footsteps here.”

The other looked him up and down, then at the ground, also seeing the footsteps, most likely. “Huh.”

What did he mean ‘huh’??

When Race just looked confused, the boy started to talk again: “Saw your steps in the haunted house and meant to go after them, but my friends over there talked me into at least waiting until they got done with their candle shopping.” He grinned and held out his hand. “I’m Spot.”

“Race.”

Spot snorted. “At least it don’t sound like I have to explain the nickname thing.”

“Nah, my friend group got more than enough of those.” Race laughed awkwardly, but well… he liked Spot. Not romantically or anything, they’d just met, but he was nice to talk to. That was probably good. “So, what are-“

“Wait, Sarah?”, the way too loud voice of his now ex-friend Jack sounded before they could talk more, the cowboy-obsessed idiot coming to them just as the boy and girl from the candle booth got there too, Race recognizing her as David’s sister he’d seen once or twice.

She looked to Jack, then Spot – and with it Race – connecting dots in her head. Almost throwing her bags at the other boy with her, she twirled around Race to Spot, throwing an arm around his shoulder and messing up his hair. “I told you, you shouldn’t run off and just wait here, I knew it. And it’s even someone I know; oh you’re going to be insufferable.”

“Sarah, stop it-“

“You’re going to be so cute!”

“Wait you know him?”, interrupted Jack, getting next to Sarah. The whole thing with him and her had been complicated anyways, since he first dated her before noticing her brother was his soulmate – though they separated in a friendly manner – and they still riled each other up, soon forgetting about Race and Spot.

That left Spot to clean up his hair again, moving closer to Race. “So, can I give you my number? So we can keep in touch?” Spot waited for a nod until he got out his phone, holding it out to him with a new contact.

Race quickly typed in Race – gambling addict soulmate as well as his number and gave it back, earning a small laugh from Spot.

“Think you’re funny, huh? Just saying, you can’t get a lot of money from me.”

“Wasn’t looking for any.” Race was glad they were already bouncing jokes off each other, feeling comfortable with each other. Maybe that was normal with soulmates, he wouldn’t know. “Though I am kinda looking for a kiss.”

Spot scoffed and rolled his eyes, but he did lean down and kiss him on the cheek. “You won’t get anymore.”

“Already got more than I thought.”

They listened a while more to Jack and Sarah’s bickering until David and Mush found them – as well as the two soulmates of Sarah and the other boy they’d been with – before exploring the fair more as a big group, Spot and Race joking and teasing almost the entire evening.

And every time he looked back he could see colourful steps they’d left behind.

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

Hope this was cute, I just couldn't think of anything to draw so I spun a wheel to see what ship I should write and well I looked around a long time for a soulmate AU that wasn't too terribly cliche. Hope you had fun reading!

@newsiestober2024

[froggywritesstuff]

dating yasper lennov (h/c's)

ship/pairing: Yasper Lennov x g/n!reader 

fandom: The Afterparty

warnings: mainly fluff, possible implications of reader having depression, jealousy

word count: 630

A/N: spoiler free i'm pretty sure

sends the longest audio messages, whether it’s about his day, or he feels the need to tell you how much he loves you, or he wants to show you a song he wrote for you

speaking of, he writes lots of songs for and about you

if you compliment them he gets sooo flustered, he might as well be giggling and kicking his feet

plays guitar and bass and will be so happy if you ask him to teach you how to play

you can’t stop him from making fingering jokes when he’s teaching you

you’re sitting on his lap holding the bass and he can’t stop snickering at his own joke

on days when you're feeling like shit he'll do literally anything to make you feel better

he'll lie in bed with you and watch your favourite shows/movies and make/buy your comfort snacks

if you need space alone he'll give it to you but he'll still text you reminders to drink water and let you know to ask if you need anything

you genuinely make him feel so much better about not being successful (successful to his standards)

he may not fully believe you when you tell him that he doesn’t have to be famous to be successful, but he does feel better hearing it from you

will 100% take you out to do karaoke together

he'll spend the whole time singing love songs and aggressively making them out to you (changing pronouns in the song if they're different from what you use, fitting your name in the lyrics somehow, and just blatantly pointing at you from on stage)

you have a healthy relationship but his name is still an anagram for personal envy

he doesn’t get jealous because he doesn’t trust you, he gets jealous because he doesn’t trust anyone else not to be head over heels for you, which then makes him jealous because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for you

you’re the one special thing in his life and he doesn’t want to lose you

idk just reassure him that you’re not gonna leave him because he’s not rich and famous and his music career hasn’t taken off yet

YASPER PEBBLES (online, it’s when you share memes or videos to someone to show you're thinking of them, like how penguins bring pebbles back to their penguin loved ones’)

sends you videos that are like ‘send this to someone you wanna bake cookies with (you do the baking while i yap and eat the chocolate chips)’

sends you edits of your favourite ships and says ‘us’

sends photos or videos of two cats (or any two animals) and once again says ‘us’

LOVES physical touch, giving and receiving

peppers kisses on your face all the time

will sit on your lap no matter how many chairs there are

has no issue with pda, what he does depends on where you are, who you’re with, and obviously whether or not you're comfortable with it

when you're out in public, he'll probably just be holding your hand and will occasionally give you a kiss on the cheek

if you play with his hair he will melt.

though he's slightly impartial towards being the little spoon (he likes being held), his top priority is your comfort, so he'll do whatever you're comfy with

when you go on walks, you share earbuds and listen to music together

he makes a bunch of playlists for you and when you listen to them he'll spend the entire song explaining why he chose this song and why it makes him think of you until he realises he talked during the entire thing and he starts it from the start

if you make a playlist for him he might start crying

[alexandraisyes]

I really want to thank you.

I've learned a lot about psychology and mental health from your blog. And it's helped me change how I talk about disorders a lot (not calling people and characters sociopaths/psychopaths/narcassists when they're a bad person, not making jokes about schizophrenia, stopping saying "im delusional", etc.) And honestly its not even that hard to do once I understand the why of it. Why should I call villains sociopaths automatically? Because obviously that villainizes Aspd. And then it just- clicks in my brain and yeah, for some things (especially the delusional one because I hear people say it all the time) I have to remind myself and correct myself, but just changing my way of thinking helps what I say

It also isn't even kind of an inconvenience?? Like sure, for soem things I have to figure out what to say instead, but tbh that just makes me think deeper on what actually is going on. Not demonizing disorders actually is helping my own mental health, its nice

Plus, you've actually helped me discover my love for psychology. Learning how the brain works is really interesting! And I want to help people. Plus I'm learning in a way that doesn't cause my anxiety. I have issues with seeing things that I relate to and automatically worrying that I have that disorder or whatever, and it's defiently getting better, but also the way you explain things doesn't trigger that warning alarm in my brain. It's straight forward, and often you're talking about things I don't even kind of relate too, which both helps me learn about how other people's brains work and let's me learn without worrying about myself

anyway- uhh TLDR that was just a lengthy way to say that your explanations and things have educated me and I really enjoy reading them (sometimes I physically can't bring myself to because they're long, but most of the time I can!!!)

Thank youuu. You've helped me learn more about others and myself <3

I have been marinating this in my mind for the past day, trying to figure out how to express how lovely of a feeling this brings me. I'm not exactly the emotional sort, so the immediate shock and then elation has long since passed, but the contentedness remains.

I cannot properly express the gratitude I feel, towards you and the universe, from this message. This is the kind of impact I've wanted to have on the world since I was very young. I would sit in my room as a little girl and daydream that I would write a novel or sing a song that was so expressive about pain and clarity and yes, psychology, although I didn't know the word for it, that it would shift people's mentalities, and make them understand why compassion is important. And reach the people who needed to hear it, and help them deal with their own hurt, and their own trauma, and let my words be a sort of healing factor in people's lives.

Never once did I ever think I'd achieve that through a tumblr blog.

And I have such a small amount of reach, such a small amount of influence in the grand scheme of things, but pebbles can cause landsides.

It's such a profound feeling to know that you have accomplished what you set out to do in even just a handful of people. That you have made a real difference to the net positive, like you've always wanted to. Everyone wants to leave a lasting legacy, an impression on people, that's just human nature, and some people will reach and reach and reach for that legacy and never be satisfied.

And I'm about to start getting really philosophical, so I'll cut it off here with a thank you. Thank you for telling me this. Thank you for letting me know that I have made a difference. I don't exactly have a sense of self for this knowledge to fall back on (a rather unfortunate consequence of my disorder), but I will cherish it regardless. Despite the fact that I have always wanted to make a difference, it never crossed my mind that I may actually reach that goal one day.

I'm glad my writings have helped you.

[the-real-rain-world-confessions]

HAH, That Sunstone is problematic ask come straight for me I swear... But no...

No, I think it's problematic for much different reasons. First this is much to interpretation to be fair, but honestly... I think Suns is kind of... not great for any ship.

TrafficLights I'm coming for you to.

Suns has multiple problematic behaviours that make me just go "My enby fool, you need therapy and now! RSD alert." Also why I am leaning more and more to ADHD Suns...

But namely, the way Suns speaks in everything just itches at me the wrong way. With Pebbles there's this kind of "haha, if you were just a bit smarter" vibe to Suns dialogue and I do point to the Bug in the Maze conversation specifically with this...

"It's not said out loud but if you were better at reading between the lines there's nowhere you wouldn't see it."

And I don't really want to bring up Suns super bad apology pearl, but the best I can call these dialogues is patronizing... and then, oh, there's a reason I would argue until I'm blue that TrafficLights is a problematic ship as well and that reason is guilt tripping back hand. I would also argue that Suns is downplaying their role in the situation(until they swap to "all my fault" play), but that's very possibly just a me reading.

It's just NSH is a lot less tolerant of that stuff.

But seriously, Suns is kind of... dismissive, if not in so many words of Moon's situation, entirely focused on Pebbles, and there's this thread of just desperation... but the things that stand out the most to me...

"I learned from the best. At least I used it for something more... practical."

Suns wording here is like, backhanded compliment or like "Well I done it better" in regards to making Spearmaster(who mind, not practical at all... like Suns please) despite copying from NSH... it just strikes me.

And then... later when NSH gets mad and rightfully defensive/frustrated with Suns there's another bit of dialogue that just triggered me to remember a not so great friendship I had...

"I'm noticing you are becoming more defensive. This obviously wasn't the end result I was aiming for, you know. Please respond to my messages. I don't want to leave it like this. I need someone to talk to."

Nothing about NSH's emotions here, this also just feels... guilt trippy. Or maybe it's me again, but it just... rubs the wrong way. The way Suns dialogue is just immediately reading like "no, don't leave me alone, I can't be alone" vibes.

In any case, I think Suns is a bit of a toxic friend. Maybe not in the way some might, but I think Suns issue is simple, they're just so desperate to not be left alone, have RSD and make bad decisions in general. And also as soon as the situation went as south as it did Suns dialogue turned into it all been their fault... did anyone else notice that?

"I feel like I've doomed not one, but two iterators."

RSD, and trying to swing for sympathy...

Anycase, get Suns a therapist not a relationship. All Suns ships are trashcan ships.

.

[wrathofrats]

I NEED MORE ERA 3 GHOUL CONTENT 😭 PLEASE MORE IM BEGGING PLEASSSSSSEEEEE

Again yall are opening a box that I cannot contain. I’ve been rambling about old ghouls to @divine-misfortune for months.

Here’s some of the headcanons we’ve come up with. Please enjoy

Also I’m counting era 3 ghouls as pebble, ivy, cowbell, mist, zephyr, ifrit and delta! But delta will not be mentioned here for reasons (the reasons are I am having a lot of fun with him and will post about him later). And I know I talk a lot about Zeph and ifrit on here so I’ll put a bit less of them.

Cut for length bc ohhh im going to ramble

Pebble:

- very punk inspired for looks. I think he has a lot of piercings and that kind of mentality. He’s a rebel (also a shithead but like in the most positive way)

- his favorite hobby is fucking with alpha. He’s just so easy to anger. It’s all stupid pranks and comments, harmless but they argue a lot.

- he smokes weed in the vents with cowbell

- extremely soft for ivy. Also very possessive but it’s ok they’re in love your honor.

Ivy:

- shy, nerd type, he looks like a dork im sorry. He has anxiety just a bit for character

- pebble is his emotional support mean person

- he’s so sweet. Genuinely just here to be nice to others and vibe

- terrible pain tolerance. He’s a bit of a baby but I love him so much (pebble coddles him beyond belief)

- touchy, enjoys physical contact

Mist:

- short hair, rbf, she runs the place like the navy when she’s left in charge

- snarky, very well respected, very “leave me alone” type a fair amount of the time

- enjoys messing with the other ghouls w pebble. They’re besties I don’t make the rules

- very much dews mentor when he’s first summoned

- she’s my mean lesbian stereotype back off I’m in love with her

Cowbell

- oh he’s kinda fucking strange

- like he looks off putting. He came out wrong (I love him)

- enjoys being creepy. He likes scaring the other ghouls by looking fucking strange

- fire and air specialized multi ghoul

- he knows everything about everyone

Zephyr:

- disabled and chronically ill (he’s my emotional support Barbie and I’ll give them all the illnesses I want)

- he/they or they/them it depends on the day

- mean, cranky old man (with so much love)

- obviously they’re in love with ifrit and would do anything for him that’s his himbo everyone else back off

- he has a sick ass cane that og earth widdled them to help with the joint pain

Ifrit:

- he’s so beefy and stupid

- he’s so fucking sweet though. Like he is THE himbo

- carries Zeph around bc he would do anything for them

I’m leaving this here but phhhhhh pls ask me about the old ghouls and these guys PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT THEM ALL MORE IM DYING TO TALK ABOUT THEM

[the-martyrfication-of-the-matron]

*hold gun cutely* Your turn to share headcannons for us to stea- take inspiration from

I find this so funny because there was a period of time where I only posted HCs… and it’s so weird bc damn I don’t do that anymore huh

A lot of my HCs have obviously changed in the 2/3 years I’ve been posting for this fandom, so…

Ahem.

If you ever want any SPECIFIC HCs, do ask, like I’m genuinely happy to offer any info you want. Anyways

DIVINE WARRIORS, because mfers keep talking about them.

TW, for like, sacrifices, and attempted child-murder/sacrifice... and child-on-mother cannibalism... if it counts as cannibalism when the child is a god.

They’re all gods or god-adjacent. Everyone talks about how they are making them not all gods, but fuck that man I find this fun.

They all reach their godhood in different ways, though. and godhood is something that is... complicated. fluid, even.

i'm just gonna talk about Shad (Judgement, in LR) and Irene, tho, bc otherwise this post would be mega fucking long. and i'm pretty sure i have a Kul'Zak ask anyways.

Y'know how people say 'the world is your oyster'? Well, the world is shad's egg. literally. He's the Draconic God of Death, and his entity was created in the belly (centre) of the earth, in heat and warmth and magma. He clawed his way out of the world, and this lore is mentioned in the prologue of LR, but his emergence from the core of the earth caused the earth to bunch up, and created mountains and valleys, and ravines. similarly to dropping a pebble into water, his emergence caused literal ripples. which is why most mountains and such are kind of in a radial pattern outwards from the 'belly of the world', which is just a huge fuck-off ravine. That said, not all mountains, because it's been thousands/millions of years since his emergence, and things do change. He was created as a god, before anyone knew what gods were. He was not the first being to exist, Early humans were around to witness his birth, but he is by far one of the most ancient. Hence why his followers call him 'the Ancient'.

Irene was born a god, though she was birthed by human parents. It's a whole situation, really, very lengthy. More about her mother than it really is about Irene. But she was born during the emergence. Her head crowned as Shad's emerged from the earth, and when he had fully freed himself and laid upon the cool ground, Irene was put into her mother's arms. Her and Shad are perfectly the same age, born at the same exact moment, to balance each other out. It's unclear which one sparked the creation of the other, but it doesn't matter. Both were born bloody and screaming, made to match. Irene was, however, not born looking human. She was a creature from day one. And she was ugly asf too bc like, she's feathered in her creature form, and have you ever seen fresh baby birds? Them mfers ugly. So, reasonably, her parents' people went 'aa' and decided to sacrifice her to the juvenile god of death bc they have volcanoes now, they can do that. However, Irene's mother was fiercely over-protective of her, and instead hid her in the woods to keep her out of the grasps of those wishing to harm her. She meant to go back and get her, so that she could find somewhere safe for her, but Irene's mother kind of got caesar'd (happy ides of march for two days ago), for trying to keep the fucked up little thing she birthed. Her body was dumped into the forest, and Irene ended up finding it and going 'oh a snack'. so... that's fun. However, as is how blood magic works, when one of magic consumes the heart of another, they consume their entirety. It was how Irene claimed a human form, by eating a human heart, and whilst it wasn't particularly an instantaneous transformation, it also lead to her becoming a mother. If not for eating her own mother's heart, she never would've had the maternal traits that ending up characterising her for most of her existence.

half of the irene stuff wasn't even info on how she became a god lmao, just 'oh she was born that way... also she ate her mother lmao'