#one obscure tidbit a day

[ammocharis]

One bit of obscure Dragon Age lore a day until Dragon Age: The Veilguard is released

A Legion of the Dead unit once stumbled upon an empty Archdemon prison below the ruins of Heidrun Thaig. They found old darkspawn corpses with heads pressed against the stone, positioned like they were praying. Despite the prison long standing vacant, a member of the Legion noted that the darkspawn who were chasing them through the Deep Roads wouldn't enter the prison chamber. Staying inside the cavern caused numbness and "stirred the brains". In a report to Orzammar, the Legionnaire who escaped the prison chamber wrote that he'd rather fight a darkspawn horde, or even face an actual Archdemon, than go back to that place: "whatever chains keep those monsters bound, I want nothing to do with. Even among the darkspawn, there are things unnatural."

Source: Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 106

Previous bit

[moonlightcycle571]

The Cons of being Omni-lingual

I made a post about the pros of being omni lingual. Did you really think I would make fluff without making any angst? *insert evil laugh*

As established, Cap can speak any language and knows what’s your Native tongue. Cool right? Wrong.

There’s a reason he hates speaking Themesquiran. Wonder Woman was NOT the first Amazonian he ever met. No, the first time he met one of the warrior women, it was when he was doing a sort of quest as part of his Champion duties where he met an Amazonian away from home. Seeing that she wasn’t affected by All Speak (a type of magic that lets magical or magical adjacent speak in accordance to their environment), he decides to speak Themesquiran. It does not go well. Gets insulted, accused of many things, immediate battle that he doesn’t want to be in. It’s all around not a good thing for him.

So no Diana, he will not be speaking that language, he knows it’s a trap (the last Amazonian said it was OK, but then threw an axe at his head out of reflex)

A very similar experience happened with the Valkery.

Another thing is the suspicion. Sure most of the time, it evaporates after you get to meet him, but it still hurts. What; you think Waller will think ✨magic✨ is a good enough explanation, and not try to pry into his life? Or try to exploit this other facette of him?

It gets especially rough when people don’t take it well. His a big buff white guy, so sometimes speaking more obscure language, or even any non European language, is at best seen as a parlour trick, at worst seen as an insult (how dare he defile our sacred language with his ‘dark arts’).

Another thing to note is that Billy started young. In some iterations, he started at age 8 and joins the JL at 10. So when he hears people curse him under their breath, or even to his face, in another language… he knows. He knows most people don’t think is human, and sometimes doesn’t treat him like one (it doesn’t hurt, really). He knows exactly what people say about him (be it his Cap form or Billy form). And maybe calling them out will make them worse. He’s already been called a freak enough times by his uncle and various foster families, he doesn’t need more

Maybe sometimes he would get captivated by languages long gone, and have access to tidbits of their history, but not have anyone to talk to about it. How many of the languages were forgotten and changed over time, and how many were forcibly destroyed? Would he mourn a civilisation he never knew? Was it even human? The day he found out one of his favourite obscure languages was Kryptonian, his powers opened up a bit, to see what the civilisation was like, and how it ended. He mourns in private and never tells a soul. Cap is not Kryptonian or ever been to Krypton, he has no right to openly mourn. If Supergirl noticed something different in her and Caps hang outs, she says nothing

The worst is when he forgets a word. It happens to everyone, and maybe he was in a place that makes magic glitch. It doesn’t matter. As soon as he finished the mission, he rushes back to the rock to make sure he knows EVERY language. He not forgetting, no, he refuses to forget any language. Especially since for a lot of them, he’s the only one that still remembers them (he may not know the context or culture, but at least he can keep something alive).

[glutko]

Today, on Echoes of Wisdom's release day, I'd like to talk about THE most obscure place in the Zelda series.

It's Durod.

...What? You don't know Durod?

Hm. I don't blame you...

It was only mentioned in a character's name in an official Dutch guide of Zelda's Adventure that was only published in its entirety across the last three 1999 issues of the CD-i magazine CD-interactief, which itself was reduced to a section in a different magazine.

Okay, let's sort this information out.

Like many other CD-i games, Zelda's Adventure had a guide that named a bunch of characters and enemies, and - at the very least - was based off official material. Characters such as Alice and Kron the Peddler have unused voice lines where they say their names, and these names are used in the guide. (A similar thing happened with Kulvan, the blacksmith from TFoE).

Due to the late release of Zelda's Adventure (1996) in the CD-i's lifespan, there were almost no publications that published the guide... apart from the Dutch CD-interactief magazine. It posted small tidbits from the guide in its tips and tricks section until, by 1998, it was reduced to a section in the Oog & Oor magazine. There, it started posting full guides of CD-i games, including Zelda's Adventure.

This was one of the last guides they published before ending, and this is where Durod comes in. According to the guide, one of the White Steed Lodge patrons sitting around the table is named Debblin van Durod - in a Dutch name, "van" indicates a person's place of origin:

Another character has a partially translated Dutch name; Bitterbeck de Bergman.

So we have Debblin, a person from Durod. Cool! The guide might also say they're a deerhunter, but it's hard to tell as I don't know Dutch and had to machine translate it.

And that's, um... literally all we know about Debblin and/or Durod. No other NPC mentions Durod, not even in unused dialogue. The lone person at the table you can talk to (the brown-clad man who I'm assuming is Debblin) reuses the owner's dialogue line, even though there appears to be dialogue for him in the game files:

And, as far as we know, no other place in Tolemac is called Durod, not even in the guide or the known development assets.

This person and the land they hail from are complete mysteries, even within the absolutely anomalous series entry that is Zelda's Adventure.

Who in the world is Debblin from Durod?!

Maybe we'll find out some answers if more Zelda's Adventure pre-release stuff gets released. But until then...

[everythingisawayoflife]

MORE Random West Wing Headcanons bc I said so

i’ve gotten back into the show recently (esp bc i understand all the politics and crap) and i feel the need to talk about my favorite dysfunctional political administration

in the first post i made, i said ainsley and sam dated for two years before breaking up. well that breakup didn’t last very long. a month later, they started dating again. from that point, on they never left each others side. they live in georgetown with a rottweiler and four kids.

after being really involved in solving a finance crisis, josh was invited to throw the first pitch at the Mets game. when the camera zoomed in on him, he was visibly emotional.

donna was over at josh’s apartment so much during his recovery period, they’ve begun to have weekly movie nights. they continue this tradition even after marriage and kids.

josh and donna’s house has a wall in the hallway of their house when you first enter that is covered with their kids’ handprints - at first, it was just their oldest being naughty but they let it grow into the Moss-Lyman art exhibit. even sam and ainsley’s kids, and toby and andy’s kids have added their prints to the wall

there’s a weekend every summer where all of senior staff and their families come up to Manchester and stay on the Bartlet Farm at Abbey’s insistence - she wears the title of “Grandma Abbey” proudly

at the inaugural ball (aka s4 josh & donna), josh and donna spend so much time together that a lot of the people there going to congratulate josh on getting bartlet’s second term mistake josh and donna for husband and wife - as a joke, donna and josh let people believe it

^^they end up getting quite the talking to from abbey - because she’s mad they didn’t tell her first (and cj, who has to field press questions the next day and they almost caused a domestic incident)

as an april fools day prank, zoey and charlie covered bartlet’s walls in the oval office with sticky notes - sam helped and wrote a “your mama” joke in latin as payback for bartlet having fun with the staff

josh has a terrible habit of biting the skin around his nails until they bleed - he doesn’t realize how bad it is until he turns some papers into the president with large drops of blood on them - donna keeps spare bandaids at her desk

toby likes to have a little fun with donna and say things to deliberately get a reaction out of her - some are truths, some are lies. one truth is that he likes beans on toast. donna called him clinically insane.

leo really likes musicals. can he sing? hardly ever. but on days he finds he needs to relax, he puts on the original cast recording of oklahoma and everything turns out okay

donna unofficially adopts a sickly kitten that lived in the trash near her apartment - she names it Brownie and nurses it back to health

^^Josh is allergic to Brownie but doesn’t say a word to Donna until after they’ve been married and had kids when they reach the age where they start asking for pets

Donna is sort of a multiple-threat kind of girl - she was an excitable kid so she grew up knowing how to do all kinds of things - these things are tap dance for seven years, karate for two years, horseback riding has been the only constant in her life, she can knit and sew, and she even speaks a little french - josh LOVES it when Donna speaks french

josh is always cold, he’s never run warm. donna knit a blanket for him as a birthday present. he’s never said anything but it’s one his favorite things in the whole world

donna actually likes hearing some of the president’s obscure historical tidbits - she even goes so far as to learning some of her own to exchange with him

toby visits the veteran’s grave that he buried every year and even talks to him a little while he’s there

it took a solid 20 minutes after donna had their first kid to let someone else hold him besides josh. the third person to hold their kid was bartlet.

^^^donna has never seen josh more in love than when he held their kid for the first time. cj took a photo of josh gazing at the little baby swaddled in blue clothing with visible tears streaking down his face. it’s one of donna’s favorite photos.

Sam is really good at hockey. He takes his kids to hockey games whenever he can.

[linkito]

I am here to make puppy eyes at you and ask for Cub and Scar tidbits pretty please? <3

-🎀

YES HI RIBBON ANON!!!

Ohhh what to say about Cub and Scar... <3

Both of them are vex hybrids, of course, and I'm not sure how much I've talked about their Past™ before, but... the general idea is that they originally did live with other vex. But the Bad Kind. The kind that the hunters of the other world envisioned all vex hybrids to be.

Cub remembers it, but Scar really doesn't, because one day, Cub took the both of them and ran. This is why Scar doesn't know much about how to handle his vex instincts/magic at the beginning of our story, because it's something he was never really familiar with.

The thing about Cub, too, is, maybe he could have fit in there. It's not like the vex there were Evil, just... brutal. Focused on expanding their magic to its very limits. Strict and aggressive.

It's Scar who did not belong. Scar who had big dreams, a creative mind, and the brightest laugh.

Cub couldn't bear to watch the vex squander that. So one day he grabbed Scar and they fled.

Because of this, they're each other's only family, even if not directly related.

And speaking of family, did you know there are other sorts of vex bites besides the mating ones? The idea is definitely borrowed from omegaverse lore (shhhh), namely the diagram from this post here. It's only a loose similarity though, so don't take all of that info as canon to hhau! But another notable mark is that of a parental/familial bond—

Cub marked Scar when they were young. Scar doesn't even remember it. It's on the back of his neck, almost completely obscured by his hairline. You're never going to see it unless you know what to look for.

And with this little ritual comes a magic-laced bond—nothing too significant really, but it means Cub can always feel a sort of tug toward Scar's presence. It's subtle, almost unnoticeable, just an instinctual sort of thing... but imagine how Cub felt waking up from the destruction of Season 8 to having that feeling suddenly gone.

It's how the rescue team tracks down Scar as well. Scar alone.

And isn't it sad how all of those things Cub tried to protect Scar from happened anyways in that other world? Scar comes back with a white streak in his hair and Cub knows exactly what that means. Scar comes back on edge, claws out, ready to pounce and bare his teeth and it absolutely breaks Cub's heart.

But Scar and Grian also come back together, and that mating mark doesn't escape Cub's knowing eyes.

He's definitely one of the few Hermits to understand that the bond Grian and Scar have together is not something to be concerned about in the slightest. It's natural, really, just maybe not for what the Hermits have come to understand vexes to be like. Because Cub and Scar (up until now) have not been your typical vexes!

It's a little difficult, as a vex himself, to really change the minds of anyone else alone, but what he does do is make sure Scar knows he's there for him. He's still family and Scar is still Scar, despite everything that happened to him.

I actually wrote a mini-fic of sorts about hhau Cub and Scar back in April, but the premise is... very silly. I'm not sure if I'll share the whole thing LOL

buuuuuut you can have this <3 ~

[simandy]

Hi! I would love to know more about your OC's, your lore, and your worldbuilding! As someone who has a lot of fantasy people living in her head as well, I love hearing about other people's creations! I am gonna ask a question (cause I know otherwise this will turn into a full on three books saga lmao)... hmm I'd say pick three OCs and share your favorite tidbit of lore about them!

Also have a good day (I am assuming it is still daytime in Brazil rn, I am bad at time zones) ! <3

You have opened the chamber, good luck <3

Jin ✨ He's the eldest of the main group and the reason Mandy can't sleep at night. His powers are so freaking intense he's able to obscure all the stars in the night sky for 1km. So, if you're out at night and see no stars, watch out.

---

My angel! <3 He's canonically Twice Exceptional (Autistic + Gifted) and is on his way to a Aerospace Engineering degree. He's going through some stuff now (died, got brought back as an immortal with light blue hair and no memories, if light touches his skin he dies again and it has been 30 years) but it's all fine. I'm sure he got it.

---

BEHATED. I- Ok, I don't hate him, he's more of a victim than anything, but come on. If you're possessed by an evil spirit that uses your body to harm your loved ones and your girlfriend's ex says he had crafted a pill that can keep the spirit away, wouldn't you take it?? Lucian, I know the spirit makes you stronger in battles, but that ain't the way!!!!!!

---

Thank you for asking about the people living in the apartment complex of my mind <3 I love to talk about these tiny facts, even if they make little to no sense at all without context and stuff. When i get to publish the books, i will tell you guys. Hope to get an english version as well!

[bananaactivity]

Kickin It AU + Evie sketch

So if you’ve been following me on tumblr you know I have an in depth Descendents AU and a MBAV AU that I love… And I just rewatched a fav show of mine and instantly had a new AU crafted from thin air AGAIN! Third time this year bro…

A Kickin it AU…. Yeah I went crazy with this one. I literally dug up the most obscure one off characters to make this new AU. I’m so sad that this fandom is basically dead but tumblr is the place to do bullshit for fun so I will be doing that.

The guy above is Kai Brewer and if my AU inspires you to rewatch Kickin it I’m just going to warn you that Kai is only in two episodes of four seasons. In fact the main villains of my AU are made up of one off guest stars. Just like the fandoms of olden days…

Here are some sketches I WILL be reworking of Jack Brewer and Milton Krupnick respectively:

My AU is aged up to 18 because I relate to that age group. Kickin it is a show about a friend group doin karate and that’s it. If you know about the fandom you’re probably thinking “what about the will they won’t they between Jack and Kim?? 🥺” Honestly that plot line is the same as the will they won’t they for Sam and Freddie. That is to say it’s clear that nobody except the fandom cares about that. The writers add tidbits during some episodes and backtrack to keep the fandom watching and then they break up kinda.

Honestly I just see them as freinds and I almost think of Jake as aromatic but I literally head cannon everybody that way probably because I’m projecting so I dunno fam.

As for the AU I find that the Black Dragons were underutilized as direct parreles to the Wasabi Warriors. So I seek to rectify that. The only reoccurring black dragons throughout the first three seasons are Ty the Sensei and Rudy’s past best friend and Frank. A pedophile. Yeah that bitch is 19 and he’s obsessed with 14 yr old Kim. For no reason… he didn’t have to be 19. So obviously I fixed that bullshit.

The BDs are in universe considered the more prestigious Dojo as well as the most evil. They fight dirty in every competition shown in the show which parrales the Wasabi code which is all about honesty and fairness. ( even tho half the plots are about the WWs doing the opposite of that sometimes with no consequences lmao)

Kai is Jacks cousin and the only guy who was able to beat him. That’s significant as Jack is literally the most op guy in the whole show. Bro can take out 10 grown men by himself at the age of 15 in five minutes at most. So in my AU those two are parreles to each other. Cousins who trained together and who fell out long ago over different views on what martial arts is for. Both student leaders of their Dojos while also being mirrors of their senseis relationship. Their Sensies Rudy (Jack) and Ty (Kai) which also trained together but fell out because of a fart. (Fr bro and I will not be changing that cse it’s hilarious)

The rest of the Evil team are banded together after Jack beats their asses in the cannon of the show and they all mysteriously get envites to join the Black Dragon Dojo. Brody Carlson ( played by Billy Unger) gets a major change to the og. He got redeemed cause he was a guest star from Lab Rats but in my AU he stays bad because now he’s reoccurring. Jack hands his ass to him and he’s mad. He’s a parallel to Jerry as the third best in the dojo. Carson Hunter ( played by Boo Boo Stewart ) was originally a parallel to Jack as the liar reveal plot line. He was also a special guest star like Unger. Here he’s Kim’s parrallel as second best of his Dojo and due to the fact that he was Kim’s Jack before Jack who turned out to be a cheater. The reason I made him 2nd instead of first is because Kai is way more evil then him and had a bigger impact on Jacks life. Hes the reason Jack stoped doing Martial Arts for two years. And after that he tried to kill his cousin twice just so he couldnt get a trophy. Once with gang activity actually. All Carson does is like take Jacks place in one competition and use a tiny sand bag in his hand wraps that Jack exploded instantly with a single punch. Frank Bickle is a parallel to Milton Krupnick more like a smart guy verses dumbass type thing. Frank was portrayed often in the og show so I don’t have to explain him. He’s a dumb ass bully brute who Jack manhandles every chance he gets. Arther Turner (played by Sterling Beaurmon) is a parallel to Eddy. Arther was a rich, rude, and petty guy and I think that Eddy is a pretty down to earth and sweet person. Both of them are shit at karate though and it would be brutally unfair to pit them against all the other more capable characters. Arther definitely throws money at his problems lowkey.

At first all the villain characters don’t get along together so they can’t beat the WW who have the power of friendship and Jack on their side but as they slowly become freinds they get more dangerous. Like most of these characters were black belts or on par with Jack and their position as one offs led to them being shafted for how they could challenge the Wasabi crew. Here I can write fun dynamics for them and give Jack a massive run for his money which I believe he really needed. Like bro was INVINCIBLE there are no stakes, if someone goes against Jack it doesn’t matter. If you’re young, old, or what Jack will handle your ass quickly and will not break a sweat. Like don’t cross him or your ass is DONE.

Imagining an equally powerful group with a close bond who directly oppose and parallel them is really intriguing. It’s also more down to earth then my Descendants AU. I don’t have to deal with a massive magical world with magical powers. It’s a small town called Seabrooke with some rival Dojos engaging in classic teen rivalry shenanigans. There is no massive goal here except proving who’s better by the end of senior year’s competition season.

Imma do more of this AU cause I love it and I can’t let it go.

Also here’s Evie in da dress.

DAMNNNNN 👅

Ask questions about any AUs if you’d like. I love questions 😝!

[tj-dragonblade]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. spread the self-love ❤

Thank you! This is such a hard question! I love most everything I've written, picking favorites is hard, I swear it would be easier to name the ones I'm least thrilled with lol. And just because most of these are Sandman doesn't mean I don't care about my older fandoms either, just that almost always what I'm happiest with writing is going to be the most recent years. Maybe one day I'll go through fandom by fandom to pick a top three from each, or something. But for now! In no particular order, and after much thought, here we go.

When the Chips Are Down from the tail end of my Saiyuki days, published 14 years ago this month. It's comical crack-treated-seriously based on an obscure canon-adjacent factoid and that sort of thing has never been my forte, but I succeeded admirably here if I may say so. It was a joy to write, Jiipu is my favorite and forever under-utilized in fic so centering this around him, around a ridiculous tidbit of info about his counterpart in the original Journey to the West and telling it in his pov was absolutely delightful. I had so much fun writing this one and I'm still so proud of the character voice work I managed in here.

The Thessaly breakup fic from fluffbruary 2023, which I like for having a semblance of plot and because I see lots of talk about what Hob would think of Thessaly but I don't know if I've run into any other actual fics dealing with it. Not that this is the Hob-gives-Thessaly-a-piece-of-his-mind fic that I think we all need, but I'm still very pleased with it. And I just really like the scene of Dream crying on Hob.

Of Cutoff Shorts and Classic Cars. I'm just. So happy with how quickly this one happened, how much it kept growing in the writing and how it turned out in the end. I also laugh at myself for nitpicking over the right British terms for back yard and driveway and such but then I completely spaced using bonnet instead of hood. 😂 Also fun fact this was my first time ever writing oral with a vulva and I'm very pleased with how well it's been received.

The Keeper and the Traveler currently sits pretty high because I've always loved and wanted to write that fairy-tale narrative style and this got pretty close. I don't know if it will still be in my top five by the end of the year but for now, it is.

And lastly will cheat a smidge and say Cruise Ship Boys, because I love both pieces of the 'series' and can't decide which I like better. The porn piece again happened quickly and wrote easily and I'm delighted with how it turned out. The sequel was meant to be one cute-ish little scene to revisit them but snowballed into a whole depressing backstory for Dream and an illuminating look into his everyday life and again, it wrote easily which seems to be a theme with these faves, lol. But yeah. I would love to come back to this AU one day.

[broidobe]

𝔡𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔞𝔪𝔦 𝔶𝔞𝔣𝔣𝔞 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔲𝔡𝔢 (𝔭𝔱. 𝔱𝔴𝔬)

requested!

⁎⁺˳✧༚hanoi rocks masterlist

sami loves planning unique, spontaneous outings

whether it's exploring a hidden trail, going to a flea market, or trying an obscure café, every date feels like a mini adventure with him.

we're not lost; we're just on an impromptu treasure hunt!

he has a knack for finding the perfect records or making custom tapes that feel like a love letter.

sometimes, he even writes short melodies inspired by you, playing them casually like it's no big deal.

this one? yeah, it's got a bit of you in it.

he’s not into big, flashy gestures but always seems to find subtle ways to show how much he cares, like tucking a note in your jacket pocket or sketching little hearts on the corner of your notebook.

sami loves nighttime strolls, when the world is quiet and it feels like it's just the two of you. 

the moonlight and streetlamps create the perfect atmosphere for deep conversations or playful banter.

and also…some makeout sessions

he absolutely loves the little things that make you you, like how you get excited about your hobbies or the way you mispronounce certain words.

you just said that in the cutest way possible. do it again.

if something in your apartment breaks, sami will insist on fixing it himself—even if he doesn’t really know how.

his attempts are endearing, and sometimes always hilariously ineffective.

who needs a professional when you’ve got me? ...okay, maybe call the plumber.

weekends with sami are pure bliss—lounging in bed, drinking coffee, and sharing quiet moments together before the day begins.

movie marathon enthusiasthe’s got a soft spot for cheesy action flicks and old classics, and he insists on narrating the most ridiculous parts to make you laugh.

sweetly competitive

SO SWEETLY COMPETITIVE

board games, trivia, or karaoke—you name it, sami turns it into a playful competition.

he’s a gracious winner but an even funnier loser, making exaggerated groans of defeat.

next time, i’m definitely winning. mark my words!

he has this subtle, effortlessly cool scent that’s a mix of leather, cologne, and something warm and familiar. it’s impossible not to lean in whenever you’re close.

he just smells so fucking good

it’s like an ascension to heaven

animals love sami, and he’s just as crazy about them.

whether it’s your pet or a random stray, he’ll crouch down to pet them and make funny little noises.

if you don’t have a pet, he’ll suggest getting one together.

look at this guy—he knows we’re his people.

when he’s away on tour, he sends postcards from every city, each one with a funny little anecdote or a sweet message to remind you he’s thinking of you.

wish you were here—but don’t worry, i’ll bring the city back to you.

sami has a knack for finding the best dive bars, food trucks, and hole-in-the-wall venues wherever you go.

it’s like he has an internal radar for cool, underrated places.

he loves dropping random tidbits of trivia, sometimes completely unprompted, just to make you laugh or impress you.

did you know octopuses have three hearts? pretty wild, huh

sami would love the idea of you two wearing something subtle that matches, like bracelets or rings. it’s his little way of feeling connected to you, even when you’re apart.

see? now we’re officially unstoppable.

[pralinesims]

📩 Simblr question of the day: Choose as many sims/ocs as you'd like for this question, What's something INCREDIBLY obscure and/or out-of-pocket about your sim/oc? Something that nobody (fellow sims and/or your followers and mutuals) knows 👀 (This could be things about their social skills, physicality and/or birth defects, or it could be something they vaguely remember, a dream they had that actually predicted the future, etc etc... whatever you come up with)

( p.s I'm [the SQOTD anon] planning on starting a separate SQOTD blog for these asks/questions, and I'm open for input on this :) ) ( p.p.s freely share this SQOTD around, anon or not, and use the # SQOTD ~ 💛 )

TYSM for sending <333 Alrighty, here have one little tidbit out of all that I've collected over years of having constant brainrot lol

When he was younger he used to be a model, though even if he wasn't really well known, he was able to land a few commercial shoots here and there. His family got him into the industry through some good connections, later on he quitted because he was frustrated that his career wasn't taking off.

[lunarvampz]

In Bloom (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

TW: MENTIONS OF SELF-HARM, TRAUMATIC MEMORIES, IMPLICATIONS OF PREVIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT.

everyone kisses everyone and thats just normal, dutch is creepy, bill is a mankisser. arthur craves connection, he also craves new underwear. semen. reader jokes about trauma, arthur is bad at woman-ing.

word count for this chapter :7568

STARS : ✩★✩ - Indicate a swap in pov, from reader to arthur, arthur to reader etc. ENJOY!

Chapter 7 Juniper

“Well, hey there, Sunshine!”, A snarky Abigail swished over and sat beside you at the table. You held your cup of hot tea close to you, the steam heating the bottom of your face and you half-smiled. “Good morning.”

Every morning for the past week you’ve been here, Abigail had made a point to sit with you. She briefly mentioned the warm-up period for new people and how it felt for her, along with other tidbits about each person. “I reckon you and Mary-Beth will get along nicely, I saw your little collection of books, you both have a keen interest in… romance.”

She does not give up. You both exchanged knowing looks, hers a little more naughty. Yes, every day for the past seven days, Arthur had stopped by your station at least once, offering his help to you. It was a little awkward as he seemed indifferent to your presence in the camp, which was unusual. Abigail said he was keeping a front up when you asked her about it and that having you surrounded by everyone he’s family with might have freaked him out, but she didn’t know what was bothering him.

“Well, I’m off to feed the horses, you better get your behind moving too before Miss Grimshaw starts riding up it.” she laughed, already walking off cheerily.

Your job had been the laundry for the near future, Miss Grimshaw said it would be helping out whilst getting some time away to sit and process, but she emphasised getting the clothes clean and stain-free first.

Laundry was done once a week, so it was your first time. While it was everyone's responsibility to leave their dirty clothes in the designated basket, some people were either forgetful or lazy, so it was the laundry lady’s duty to search tents for washing.

You looked around the women’s area first, unsurprisingly, there was nothing but a blouse that must’ve been forgotten about. Next was the men's area, unsurprisingly, there was much to be picked up.

Searching through the tents, you found multiple dirty pairs of trousers, and you were honestly scared of what was on some of them. You got around, picking up stray sheets and shirts, and then there was one. One tent. Your breath hitched as you pulled back the panel, cautiously scanning for any items in need of a wash. Nothing. A clean one, he is.

Something caught your eye, sticking out from under his cot. Underwear… You shuddered, slowly bending over to pick them up. Oh my. A wet stain stared you in the face, you couldn't lie to yourself because you knew exactly what it was. A strangled cough escaped from your throat as you flushed pink, hastily laying the garment on the pile of items. 

My dearest Lord, please help this man control his thoughts, so he may avoid situations like this, amen. Praying wasn’t a common occurrence for you anymore, but a little something for encouragement never hurt anyone.

——————————

You sat by the river and filled the metal basin, sprinkling washing soda into the water. After loading the clothes into the basket, you laid down in the sun and thought to yourself about many things, including the obscure position you were in.

Mere weeks ago you were being ordered around and mistreated by your own blood, and now, you were surrounded by the most welcoming bunch of people you’d come across in your life, which wasn’t hard to beat.

They understood what it was like to be unwanted and needing to fight for their own, they were stronger and closer than a regular family, they were ride or die.

The afternoon sun slipped through the tree branches, providing a slight warmth, probably one of the last hints of autumn before everything plunged into cold. You rolled onto your side, embracing the soft, grassy bank and everything that clouded your mind had dissipated in a brief moment of clarity, and for a short while, time slowed, and you felt truly at peace.

——————————

The laundry hit the table with a loud thud, causing a few turned heads, but they quickly resumed their tasks. It was a bit weird, considering you used to be able to yell and slam things, all whilst being ignored. Not even a glance in your direction was given, regardless of your cries.

Never mind all of that, you had a job to do.

Within a few minutes, the wet washing was pinned to clotheslines, earning you Miss Grimshaw's nod of approval. 

“Looks good, thank you for helping out.” A kind voice came from behind you, causing you to pivot on your heels swiftly. “Mary-Beth, Hi. It’s the least I can do. Thank you.” You smiled nervously, this was the second interaction you’d had with her since being here. 

Behind her, Karen and Tilly unloaded their belongings from the wagon. They had been out for half the week on a ‘score’. You weren’t sure what it was for, but you had no authority to ask questions. She held a book in her hand, you tilted your head to get a closer look. Pride and Prejudice.

“You have good taste.” You gestured to the book. She paused and looked at her hand for a moment before it clicked.

“Oh my gosh, thank you! Jane Austen is a literary genius, I’ve probably read this book more than ten times.” She smiled cheerfully, caught up in her whimsical world.

“I agree! I love her writing, I have my own copy of that somewhere in my belongings, along with the pile of other romances, I’ll lend you some if you ever wanted something else to read, maybe you could find a fresh book.” You smiled back, earning a nod and a thanks.

Karen beckoned her before she could open her mouth again, which is when she waved and turned around, scurrying back over to help the others.

It was almost too good to be true, this place. Open air, somewhat friendly people, the absence of disdain, and no one to confine you or tear you down. You looked around, watching nature surround you and sighed. The sun had risen fully, so all you had to do now was wait for the clothes to dry and maybe unpack a little too.

——————————

Mirror in hand, you inspected the freshly-healed scars that were scattered over your face, they were barely noticeable but felt like a permanent, ugly tainting of your body. Tears began to form as you rolled down the side of your skirt, facing the harsh lines that clustered on your hip, your own doing, over many years.

You remembered how terrified you were, balled up, naked, forcibly stripped of your clothes and examined like a specimen. The harsh hands of your mother grabbed and prodded at your limbs, looking for any other cuts or scars. She had muttered words like ‘stupid’ and ‘unwell’ as her eyes frantically scanned your skin.

She had found the blood on your clothes earlier, had come into your room, raging like a tornado and made you tell her everything, it went on for…

The tears had begun falling onto your blouse by the time you snapped out of it, you wish you could forget it, all of it, everything. The cutting, the abuse, the anger, the fear, that one life-changing day all those years ago. His face. You shuddered, fixing your shirt and putting down the mirror, slumping onto your bed. Bitterness filled your soul as you picked at the flowers on your nightstand, a sprig of juniper, and you wondered… Why you?

Sniffling quietly, you looked around your small space, happy with the work you had done, everything was unpacked and neatly organised. What caught you by surprise was Miss Grimshaw popping her head inside the entrance to tell you the laundry was dry. She saw your face, red and puffy, and frowned. “I know it's a tough transition.”

“A bit, but I’ll be okay.” You weakly smiled, wiping the remaining wetness from your face. A warm smile was given in return and with that, she pulled over the flaps and left you be. Laundry.

You pushed yourself up and ran your hands over your face, deeply exhaling. Drawing back the cloth, you made your way back over to the clotheslines, picking off the warm, crisp garments and folding them into piles. Each person had their initials on the hemline of each item, making things a lot easier on yourself.

After putting the piles back into the basket, you worked your way around camp delivering them to their designated places. First, the women, then the men, and finally…

Standing in front of his tent, you felt the jitters creeping up on you. His clothes were the last ones in the basket, his laundry only consisted of a few items, two shirts, some socks and some drawers. A tingle ran down your spine, recalling what you had found earlier.

The flaps of his tent pushed open, and Arthur came through them, almost charging into you, and he blurted your name with startlement. 

“I have your uh… laundry here.” A nervous smile spread across your face as you offered up the basket in his direction. “Are you alright?”

“Fine, fine. Just…” He coughed, breathing heavily “Lost something a lil’ personal, I’m sure it’ll turn up. Thanks.” Looking down at the pile in front of him, he stopped for a moment. You were confused until you followed his line of sight, straight to the drawers. Those drawers.

Both of you looked each other in the eye. He knew. He knew that you knew. A pale pink flushed his cheeks before he quickly snatched the clothes up. “Uh, I appreciate it, thank you.”

“It’s my job.” You laughed dryly, wanting this to be over. “I’ll see you around, Mr Mor- Arthur. I’ll see you around, Arthur.”

“Of course. I better get back to it then.” He grunted quietly, before turning back into his tent.

✩★✩

Every damn day since that morning you had kept having dreams about her. Every morning you woke up with soaked drawers all because of her, it made you want, but it also made you slightly annoyed having to wash a pair every day.

The dreams didn’t stop, one night it was about her at the inn, then the saloon, in her bedroom, in the cornfields. All the places you had been together, devilish thoughts displayed themselves in your head every night. You didn’t know how to feel. It was unusual for you to feel like this, maybe you just missed what you had with Mary too much. Oh, Mary.

As you scoured your whole tent for today's pair of underwear, you became increasingly anxious that someone had found them. Shit. Laundry day. You began to heave and groan in annoyance, pushing through the panels of your tent only to find her, basket in arms.

✩★✩

You glanced at your pocket watch. 6:26 pm. Shoving it back into your pocket, you made your way to the stew pot as you had become quite hungry after a day of labour. The wind, now chilling, whistled through the camps surrounding trees and through the fabric of the tents, fanning the flames of the fire under the stew, and blowing your hair from your face. You reached for the pile of bowls, grabbing one off the top and serving yourself a portion.

It was difficult to find a place to eat, unwilling to sit amongst the men and scared to interrupt the women, after careful consideration, you found yourself sitting on the ground near a lonesome fire on a small hill near the edge of camp. You hummed to yourself, scooping bits of stew into your mouth whilst intently staring into the raging flames, wondering what tomorrow would bring.

You leaned against a crate, placing the empty bowl beside you and staring out over the camp. Everyone got along, regardless of the amount of shit they gave each other, you found it heartwarming and it was something you deeply yearned for in a familial way. One day.

The sound of hooves hitting the ground grew close, pulling to a halt at the hitching post. Two pairs of spurs came up behind you, and a voice followed, calling your name. You turned, a pleasant expression on your face as you greeted Dutch and Arthur.

“Miss, I am terribly sorry for not having a formal conversation with you earlier, it’s been a very busy week.” Dutch spoke regretfully, voice smooth and charismatic, now standing in front of you, Arthur by his side. “It’s a pleasure to have you join our family.” He smiled, a suggestive undertone in his charming voice, extending his hand for you to shake.

Pushing yourself up from the ground, you put your hand in his, but instead of shaking it, he brought his mouth to the back of it, leaving a kiss. Arthur raised an eyebrow, coughing slightly. He looked at you, almost lost for words and patted Dutch’s shoulder to let go, and Dutch looked at you, a sly smirk plastered on his face.

“Um, thank you, Mr Van der Linde.”, This oddly intimate moment made your voice small, definitely out of the ordinary for you, but maybe this was the way they did things here.

“Please, Just Dutch.” He stated. “Well, I need to go talk logistics over with Hosea, but you should come to mingle with the people in a few, and we’ll have a proper celebration for your arrival.” And with that, he turned around and walked off.

“Ignore him, he has a thing for pretty young women, despite being in his forties.” Arthur half chuckled, but before you could say anything, he spoke again. “Anyway, I’ll, uh, take your bowl for you, jus’ come down when you’re ready.” A slight smile pulled at his lips and he crouched down and swept the bowl up before following in Dutch’s trail.

You got a whiff of whiskey when he bent down, which would explain his at-ease manner, although he was definitely far from drunk. It had been a long time since seeing him inebriated, you almost forgot what he was like.

⬞“You alrigh’ there, little lady?” Arthur couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at your struggle to remain composed.

Shaking your head, you choked on your own saliva. Luckily, it only lasted a few more seconds before you could finally clear your throat and lean back into the chair, red-faced and a little embarrassed at yourself. You noticed the gruff men at the bar giving you a look that said, ‘Get over yourself,’ you slid down into the chair more, turning your attention to the glass on the table.

“Well, that was quite the show.”⬞

Your mind played back the memory in your head and a small chuckle escaped your chest, you couldn’t believe how you ended up in an inn with someone you barely knew. He took care of you. 

The heat of the fire radiated on your clothing and exposed skin, flames casting orange tones against the surrounding area, you looked over at the other fire in the middle of the camp, pleased faces, enveloped in the same amber hues, laughing, joking, teasing.

A tugging in your chest pulled you forward, walking the same path the two men had taken into the heart of camp. Dutch was finishing up his conversation when he slinked over to you, taking you under his arm and proudly announcing to everyone your full name, where you came from and why you have decided to ride with them.

“Now I expect everyone to be welcoming to this fine young woman, make sure she feels at home.” With that, he gave you a squeeze and led you to the fire, where Arthur was relaxing.

He was sat on one of the chairs, legs spread, leant back with his hands resting on his thighs, one holding a bottle of alcohol. His hat covered his eyes, leaving the lower half of his face visible, and you could see his mouth contorting into a playful smirk as Javier said something you couldn’t make out.

Karen had scooted out of the way to make space for you on the log, patting the seat. You sat down and thanked her, adjusting your skirt.

“Miss Hotel, what a beautiful woman you are.” Karen chuckled loudly, taking a swig from the bottle in her hand, she offered you a drink but you declined, wary of how you were last time, and not wanting to be greedy.

“Is that seriously what I’m known as? Oh god.” Shame and embarrassment filled your chest. “No, no, don’t get your panties in a twist, girl. Abigail just fills me in about everything.” She reassured you with an inviting laugh, swinging her arm around you. “We need to get you out of your shell a little, then you’ll fit right in.” A devious grin plastered her flushed face.

“Something is telling me that Arthur’s lap is a nice place for your ass, I mean come on, look at him!” She teased, gesturing to him. You both watched as he adjusted himself a bit, tugging slightly at the fabric on his crotch and laughed softly at another joke from Javier about lawmen that you didn’t quite catch.

He took a long drink from the bottle in his hand, craning his neck to drink down the honey-coloured liquid. His hand returned to his leg, and you watched the exposed part of his chest rise and fall with a heavy sigh, it was gorgeous. 

Karen snickered beside you, gently pushing your back and forcing you up before scooching over so you couldn't sit back down. You desperately searched for a different seat only to find them all filled, looking back at a smug Karen, she mouthed, ‘Go’, at you and once again gestured to him.

Here goes nothing.

You had no idea what you were going to say and by the time you had walked up to him, you just said the first thing that came to mind.

“Hey, um, is this seat taken?” Your voice was a little unsure, almost sounding like a squeak, your finger pointed to his lap. So smooth. This earned a few whistles, and a couple of laughs, a buzzed Arthur looked up at you, cheeks flushed, which you didn’t know if it was from the alcohol or your question.

He looked at you in astonishment for a few moments before cracking a smile. “Uh, no it’s not.” A yearning look in his eyes searched your face, wondering if this was a joke or not.

You stood there awkwardly for a second, debating on whether you were actually committing to this. Hell, might as well. Stepping forward, you watched Arthur’s eyes change from questioning to surprise, then from surprise to appetition.

He shuffled to sit up a little more, patting his thigh before guiding you down by your waist. “Well hell-o, Darlin’.” A low chuckle rumbled in his chest, slightly amused in his tone, grip firm and strong on your hip. Stiffly sat you were, careful not to move around, it was a little unpleasant but you had committed, so now you had to lay in the grave you dug yourself. “You don’t mind if I take a drink, do you?” Gesturing to his whiskey bottle, you calculated how much you’d need to drink to get tipsy, a good, long sip should have been enough.

Arthur handed you the bottle, a little warily at that, but you guzzled down a mouthful of the liquid quickly, swallowing and immediately coughing, to which he rubbed your back slowly and soon enough, it subsided.

“Thank you.” A grin adorned your face, beaming with laughter, you would never get used to the burn. Arthur’s chest heaved with a heavy breath, leaning into you whilst simultaneously pulling you closer, he was blood-hot and wild, something you felt a need for. Maybe older men weren’t all bad. 

——————————

About an hour had passed and now you were certainly tipsy, borderline buzzed, but learning from your past mistakes, you hadn’t overdone it. Arthur was now edging into drunk territory, still perfectly articulate, but louder.

As everyone got increasingly intoxicated the atmosphere changed. Louder, funnier. The jokes got more abrasive and dirty, some of which you saw were hurled towards John about his ‘poor luck’, others towards Bill about ‘what way he swings’, and more that you didn’t really pay attention to.

Some of them had asked you some questions about your upbringing, which you answered truthfully, mentioning your strict parents and their neglect and favouritism without getting too specific or dark. Arthur’s thumb rubbed circles on your hip while you talked about it, and his face grew sorrowful.

You hadn’t noticed what he was doing until you felt soft caresses on your upper arm, which caused your head to snap back around to look at him, he looked up at you with doe-like eyes, filled with grief. “Oh, I’m so sorry…” His words were so quiet, that only you could hear them. “You’ve been through… So much.” Tender fingertips placed more gentle grazes on your shoulder before he rested his forehead against it.

It was shocking, to say the least, that this big tough man had a soft spot for unfortunate women, maybe that’s why he had been so helpful to Abigail. Big tough outlaw. You giggled, shrugging it off as it seemed he was content where he was.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in honour of our newest member, I propose a game! A game of getting to know people. Never have I ever seems fitting.” Dutch’s voice bellowed from a few meters in front of you as he approached the circle. “And would you look at that, she’s already found herself a nice seat, cozied up with the lovely Mr Morgan.” This earned a few whistles, a grumble from Arthur and a cheer from Karen. You laughed it off to not stir the pot and let him continue.

“Maybe a little spin the bottle later.” He taunted, ushering everyone to sit in a circle. “Now, does everyone have something to drink? Good. I’ll start.” He thought for a second.

“Never have I ever… Stolen something.” Everyone laughed and there wasn’t a single person who didn't drink, including yourself.

Tilly piped up next. “Never have I ever, read an entire book in one day.” Obviously looking at Mary-Beth as she sheepishly took a sip. Hosea took a sip and so did you.

It only took a few more questions before it started to turn dirty, as all games like this do. You had dodged drinking for the last few questions but when Javier spoke, you knew you were going to be the centre of attention.

“Never have I ever… lost my virginity.” He asked boldly, a scheming laugh following. Your back stiffened a little as you gently reached for Arthur’s bottle, quietly taking a sip and not making a big deal of it. This earned surprised looks from many people, including Arthur, who smirked and raised a suggestive eyebrow.

“Well, I didn’t know that.” He announced in a stunned tone, something shifting in his mood that you couldn’t put your finger on.

Eyes were on you as you looked around, an anxious pit forming in your gut and a clammy sensation covering your hands. Shocked were some, confused were others. Javier continued after, “Man, she was unforgettable, squealed like a pig when I ploughed her fields.” A cheering John patted him on the shoulder before announcing his own story, “At least she was into it, my first time was with a girl who tried so hard to get into my pants then when I decided to fuck her, she just… laid there and gave me an occasional moan.”

A bitter-faced Abigail huffed, covering Jack's ears as Tilly offered to take him away from the conversation. She rolled her eyes, listening to the men giggle amongst themselves, and cleared her throat.

“My first time was something special, Billy Mavis, whew, was he a man. Stole some wine from his parents and took me down to a lakeside, from there, it’s mostly a blur, but believe me when I say, I saw stars.”

Silence fell over the camp as she finished, the men had stopped laughing to themselves and, instead, scratched their necks as John grumbled in his seat. It amused you to see how quickly he had stopped laughing, although, you couldn’t grasp why he would be so annoyed by her comment.

Karen chuckled to herself before turning to you, you only registered what she was about to say as the smirk left her opening mouth.

“And what about you? I’m sure you’ve got quite the story, with a face like that, I reckon men would give up a lot to try their hand at you.” Her words reopened that pit in your stomach, a sense of dread looming over you as you watched everyone turn their attention to you again.

“Damn Arthur, you really know how to pick em’. Hey, Hermosa, if he can’t give it to you the way you need, you know where my tent is.” The chuckling flooded amongst the men again as Javier ‘offered his services’ and whistled. “Never fucking say that again. I mean it.”, Arthur hissed, pulling you against his chest which was puffed and solid. Something changed in an instant, whipping Arthur into alertness. His fingers dug themselves into your hip, it didn’t hurt, and you didn’t wince as it got tighter, but it didn’t stop.

“Chill, brother. We’re all friends here, right?” The smooth-talking demeanour dropped slightly and you could tell Javier was a little on edge. By this point, everyone had stopped again and the only noise that you could focus on was the crackling embers of the fire. Silence. Silence.

A simple cough drew everyone back to you, and you mustered up some confidence and lied.

“Well, Karen, you aren’t uh- wrong on that. But my first time… um…” Silence.

“Uh… It was with a boy I met a few months after my 15th birthday. It was pretty awkward, not a lot of chit-chat after he came in approximately 9 seconds and called me his ‘dirty pig’, I think he may have wanted to actually have sex with a pig, I’m not one hundred perce-”

“No way that’s what happened, oh, you sweet girl.” Karen heaved, you weren’t sure if it was an exaggeration but it cut the tension and that’s what you were grateful for. “He sounds like one of them weird farm boys, y’know, maybe a little slow and definitely is too touchy with the sheep.” She cackled.

“Ahah… Yeah, he was.” Whether anyone believed you is a burning question that was left unanswered, but things soon resumed in a more light-hearted manner. Well, light-hearted was a stretch, but everyone was laughing again, and soon, all was well.

——————————

You watched as the glass bottle spun, whirring around on the crate, anticipating where it would land, eventually, it came to a slow stop. Bill.

“You’ve gotta be joking.” John exclaimed, throwing his hands up in disbelief. Snickers were plenty as Bill rose from his chair, using his finger to beckon him over. “You ain’t a man till’ you’ve been with one.”

Everyone whistled and giggled to each other as they watched John get up and walk over to him. “Are you challenging me? Think I ain’t a man? Think about this!” In an instant, John grabbed Bill by the back of the neck and smashed his lips against his. It was brief but impactful, as Bill pulled away with a crimson flush.

With that, he reached for the bottle, oddly quiet, it spun and landed on a certain loud-mouthed ginger, who, strangely, cheered. “Come here ya’ big bear! Gimme a smooch!” By the sounds of it he was certainly out of it, way past the point of drunk, you knew he’d regret it in the morning.

All the men hoped to land on one of the women, but the numbers were not in their favour. Men would have to kiss men, and you prayed that if anyone got you, it was a woman.

Bill seemed nervous the second time around, less confident and timid. Sean, however, was jumpy, and before you knew it, the feisty Irishman had dipped Bill, passionately slobbering his tongue all over his mouth. 

“Enough! Jesus, Sean.” Javier cackled, grimacing at the sight. Sean pulled off of him before turning around to everyone and bowing, almost stumbling as he stood up straight again.

“A’right, my turn!” Sean declared with excitement as he strutted over to the bottle, rubbing his hands together like a lucky mosquito before giving it a spin. Everyone excitedly tried to peer over to the bottle as it made its rounds, anxiously anticipating its next victim.

As it slowed, you watched people bunch together to avoid being ‘it’, and soon it came to an underwhelming stop. Karen. You looked up to find her face dumbfounded and pink, stammering out nothing but incoherent sounds.

“Hell yes! Come here and get some of this Irish sugar!” Sean hollered, making grabbing motions in her direction whilst puckering his chapped lips.

“Can it.” A sudden change washed over her as she stood up, she puffed her chest out and went straight for him, swigging her bottle of whiskey without swallowing and using her spare hand to reach for the collar of his shirt, yanking his body into hers.

Sweet liquid poured from their mouths as she kissed him, and it dripped down her chest into her cleavage. Suddenly she had disconnected from him and shoved his face in it. “Lick it up, Spitfire.”

Everyone watched as Sean rubbed his face in her tits, tonguing her skin for any remnants of liquor. The girls cheered her on as she held the back of his head, swinging her bottle in the air and laughing.

Soon enough she let him go, letting him up for air. You watched as he pulled away, drunk on more than just alcohol and giggly as ever.

Sean sat back down with a thud and a mildly shocked expression on his face, getting a pat on the back from John, and inconspicuously placed his bottle over his crotch, which only you seemed to notice.

Definitely something going on there.

“They should just give in already and have sex, everyone knows they have a thing for each other.” Arthur whispered into your ear, sending a tingle down your spine, his breath was hot against your skin and you hummed in agreement, trying to ignore his hand slipping off your hip and down to your thigh.

By the time you had turned your focus back to Karen, she had already spun it, and it had already slowed down. Dutch, Sean, John… Javier… Arthur… You. Fuck.

Karen slowly came over to you slowly swinging her hips with a devilish grin plastered on her face. This was certainly not your first time with a woman, but in this environment, it felt like the pressure was on, everyone was watching her intently, some shocked, some intrigued, and probably some horny. She stood over you and Arthur, still smiling. “You don’t mind, do you, Arthur?” She asked merrily.

You expected a similar reaction to what happened with Javier, instead, he chuckled and gestured to go ahead. Karen buzzed cheerfully, lifting her hand to your cheek and leaning down over you, and you craned your neck in response. She was far more gentle with you, her soft lips locking with yours, you smelled her perfume on her body and the booze on her breath.

It felt like she was purposely dragging it out, slowly elevating her moves, her tongue finding yours in a way no man could have. You were scared of pulling away and seeing everyone's faces, you could already hear the increased loudness of whistles and cheers, but all good things must come to an end. She pulled away slowly, saliva still attached to your lower lip.

“Oh my…” Arthur vocalised, watching the flush on your cheeks spread. You swear you heard him groan as he tilted his head back to stretch his neck. Karen winked at you, giving you a small and quick thumbs up when he wasn’t looking before returning to her seat across the fire.

The eyes of all of the camp members burned into you as you stood up from Arthur's lap and swiftly approached the bottle, following suit of those before you and giving it a spin. You tried to ignore how they looked at you, Javier eyed you down like he was digesting your body, how a python does to its prey.

If it landed on him, you were fucked.

Round and round it spun, clicking over from one person to the next until it came to a halt. You followed the line from the top of the bottle to… Dutch.

“I think we’ve all had enough for tonight.” Arthur sparked up, switch flipped in his brain. You let out a grateful sigh, thinking you wouldn’t have to go through with it.

“Now, now, rules are rules, spin the bottle, kiss the person.” Dutch chuckled heartily, cocky in his tone. Arthur didn’t say anything after that, just took another drink from his bottle and crossed his arms. Dutch smirked, tilting his head up to make eye contact with you. “Don’t be shy, I don’t bite… Usually.”

His hand patted his thigh and you awkwardly walked over, now standing in front of him. “Not sitting? Alright.” He sighed, pushing himself up from his seat and adjusting his vest. His figure loomed over you, charismatic energy pouring over you thick and sweet and he reached for your waist, pulling your body flat against his.

He arched his body over yours as he leaned in, side-glancing Arthur with a leer before pressing his lips to yours, it was painfully tender, in a way that could make a woman melt, you couldn’t resist the intoxication of his tongue and he slipped his other hand up your neck and into your hair, gripping at the base and bending your head back further so he could shove his face into your neck, moustache grazing your ticklish skin.

It wasn’t long before he tried to push it too far, trying to slip his hand down your back, and immediately the mood shifted, you suddenly tensed up, unable to move. He kept going, nibbling at your skin and almost copping a feel, you felt stuck in your mind, you didn’t want this to go on.

“That’s… uh…” You choked out, bordering a whimper, “Enough.” It strained you to get those words out, but you did, and he stopped. A weight lifted from your chest, now sober and alert. You looked around, Abigail looked at you with concern and Karen looked at Dutch in disgust.

You cleared your throat, readjusting your dress and sighed ever so slightly. “Excuse me, I’m a little tired, good night everyone.” You spat out quickly, before rushing off back to your tent.

✩★✩

“What was that? Are you serious?” You exclaimed, standing up from your seat, the alcohol had hit your system like a truck but you could still tell that whatever just happened wasn’t right. It was like he was purposefully trying t get a rise out of you.

“Just some harmless fun, Arthur. She’s just your friend after all.” Dutch laughed.

Bastard.

“You’ve probably just scared her half to death. What the hell is wrong wit’ you?!” You huffed, getting increasingly irritated.

“If it did, I will apologise tomorrow morning, she said she was tired, wouldn’t want to disturb her now.” He held the same smugness as always, it irked you sometimes but that's just the way it had been forever.

“Whatever.” Now was not the time to be arguing, everyone was drunk and if you had it your way Dutch would be going to bed with two black eyes. You looked around at everyone, said good night and left the main fire, you didn’t want to deal with that asshole anymore tonight.

As soon as you left you heard it all resume, and you pushed it out of your mind and went to go lay down and forget.

——————————

But you couldn’t. Usually, alcohol knocks you out but everything replayed in your mind and you couldn’t stop thinking about her. Hours had passed and you had gone through every memory from start to finish, twice.

Dutch took advantage of her, you didn’t care that the stupid bottle landed on him, or that she kissed him. Maybe slightly. But he took it too far, and you had noticed her rigidness as she walked away earlier, it was like watching a dying person stop breathing. Cold. Unsettling. You wanted to go after her, apologise, make sure she was okay.

You didn’t. Fucking idiot.

All your actions crashed and clashed in your head like waves falling in on themselves, you thought of her, you thought of Mary, everything you had done wrong there and everything you could do right here. 

The guilt ate at your soul every single day of how things ended with Mary, you missed her for a long time and you still yearned for that type of connection again. You grumbled, not wanting to make the same mistake again and pushed yourself upright and out of bed.

Step after step, you found yourself making your way to her tent, palms sweaty and heart racing. Just do it, Arthur.

The fire had fizzled out into crackling embers, providing little light as you trudged across camp in the cold of night. The alcohol had worn off mostly by now so you quickened your pace to get out of chilling air and back into some kind of warmth.

Odd sounds came from her tent as you approached it like she was in pain or something. Swiftly, you pulled the tent flap aside to find her thrashing in her cot, mumbling incoherent words and kicking at her blanket.

✩★✩

Hands. Grabbing. Pulling. Ripping at your skin. Tearing, bleeding you dry. You scream, still. Unable to move, just speak. Still.

Stop doesn’t do anything, nothing does anything, they continue to rip your flesh from your body. His face. His face distorting uncannily, he got closer.

Closer. 

Blank.

You awoke with a gasp and immediate burning in your nostrils as you began to sob. It took you a few seconds of holding your eyes shut, trying to force the memories from your head to realise the shuffling outside of your tent. 

Suddenly the tears came to an abrupt end as they continued, you heard someone muttering to themselves. Unable to make out who it was, you sniffled before speaking. “Hello…?” Your voice was weak, you thought maybe they didn’t hear.

A familiar face slowly pulled back the drapery, poking his head into your tent.

“Arthur…” A sigh escaped your lips and you chucked to yourself a little, relieved.

He stared at you as you sat up, and carefully entered your room, “I just came to check if yer’ okay.” He mumbled, standing awkwardly in the middle of your tent, taking in your decor and items that splayed across your nightstand. “If you don’t mind, of course.”

“I’m okay Arthur, I promise. Have you slept?” You sniffled again, wiping your eyes as you checked the time—2:14 am.

“...No, I- I couldn’t stop thinkin’. But seriously, you seem upset. Are you sure yer’ okay?” He pressed, wanting some kind of answer. You were unsure how far he’d push, but you debated sharing the truth with him tonight. Only if he asked.

“Kind of, everything is just a lot at the moment, earlier didn’t help.” Your confession breathed life into the air, and Arthur pulled up your little stool to sit by your bedside. He reached for your hand which you gently took, and rubbed circles with his thumb on your skin. “I’m sorry for what happened, Dutch gets too carried away with trying to show off that he makes people uncomfortable.” He spoke quickly like he was rushing to get it out.

“It’s okay, it was just a game, I won’t participate next time.” You shrugged, accepting that some parts of this life you desperately wanted to fit into just didn’t fit right with you. And that was okay.

“It’s not. I brought you here for a reason. Let me make it up to you.” A pained look adorned his face, azure-stained iris’s longing for acceptance, a chance. “Please.”

You nodded, watching his face light up as you agreed. The soft light of your lantern brushed his face with golden strokes, capturing his beauty like an elemental artist. His lips curved into a smile as you two held each other in a never-ending gaze.

A question germinated in his eyes before he opened his mouth.

“What made you so upset?”

You swallowed, hard, looking away to the flame dancing in the lantern.

“Don’t worry.” It stung, knowing what was to come. He said your name with the same pain and disappointment that you became so familiar with whilst talking to yourself.

“Please, maybe it’ll help, is it me? I’m sorry for being so distant it’s nothin’ to do with you I swe-” He rambled, hand gripping yours tighter as he brought it to his forehead.

“It’s not that, please, Arthur. I’m okay. Earlier, Javier and Dutch just dug up some memories unintentionally, I just need to give it time and I’ll be fine.” His face dropped as you spoke, putting together the pieces in his mind.

“I- I don’t understand, I can make em’ apologise if you want. Anything.” He sighed, clutching at ideas to offer.

“I’ve had issues with men going too far before, it’s nothing new.” A brief chuckle escaped your lips as you looked down, making light of your trauma to avoid crying about it. It wasn’t a new technique but it always helped. Arthur removed your hand from his forehead, using his other hand to clasp around it, you barely noticed, until he softly whispered your name.

You looked up to see a soul-broken man before you, eyes wide, whites glistening. He put it together.

“I’m-” He paused, unable to speak for a moment. “I’m so, so sorry.” Instinctively he let go of your hand and backed up slightly. “Please tell me if I’m making you uncomfortable.” You laughed a little, shaking your head, grabbing for his hand again. Talking about it always made you uncomfortable, not because you had an issue sharing, but because it seemed silly to you, it happened so long ago.

“I’m okay, Arthur. Just, I don’t want to talk about it.” He nodded in response, standing up from the stool.

“I’ll leave you be, if you need me, you know where my tent is, get some rest.” He stood over your bed for a brief second before turning around and approaching the opening of your tent. You didn’t want him to leave, If he did, the warmth that cozied in your room would leave with it.

“Arthur.” There was a delicacy in the way you said his name, you saw the way he looked at you when you said it like that. He turned his shoulder to look back at you. 

“Yeah? Anything else I can do for you, Miss?” His tone was saddened but hopeful, you didn’t think he wanted to leave either.

“Stay.”

“Okay.”

His agreeance was quick, and he moved slowly to the floor next to your bed, giving you a tender-hearted smile.

“What are you doing? Get up here, I’m not making you sleep on the ground again.”

“Oh.” He seemed cautious as he took his boots off and sat down on the bed by the end of your legs, you shuffled over to make space for him, which he slotted into after a few moments.

Stiff as a board, he laid behind you, keeping whatever space between you open, scared to touch you. You shuffled back into him, turning your head to give him a wide smile, grabbing his arm to cuddle onto. 

He eased up, making himself comfortable behind you, the warmth of his chest radiating over your back, the autumn cold not being a match for his heating abilities. His head laid above yours, chin gently resting upon the crown and his legs bent into yours, like you were two pieces of a puzzle. Connected, at last.

“Good night.” It was merely a whisper, but he heard you.

✩★✩

Her chest rose and fell as you embraced her, silently. She had fallen asleep mere minutes after you started cuddling and you hoped her sleep would be a little more peaceful now.

Your mind was still running at a million miles, it didn’t take a genius to know what she meant and it made you sick to your stomach, that someone could do that, let alone to her. You’d find the man and shoot him dead if you could. But you couldn’t.

What mattered was right in front of you, in your arms sleeping soundly.

She looked so beautiful, you felt like a guard of precious art, the way you held her like this. It was more than friendship, way more. You closed your eyes, squeezing her slightly, before drifting off to sleep yourself.

[ammocharis]

One bit of obscure Dragon Age lore a day until Dragon Age: The Veilguard is released

Andraste had a half-sister named Halliserre whose mother was an alchemy advisor to Elderath, Andraste's father. One night, young Halliserre followed strange lights into the forest, and Andraste went after her. Halliserre died in mysterious circumstances, suffering wounds no ordinary weapon could make. Then fires broke out in the woods, leaving Andraste sick in the lungs for many years. Andraste couldn't remember exactly what had happened, and later came to believe that her sister's death was due to heresy of the alchemist - according to Andraste, Hallisere's mother whispered of the Old Gods.

Source: Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, pp. 10-12

Previous bit

[marrows-field-guide]

Welcome~

I'd like to start off by thanking you for taking the time to take a wander through my life's work.

That said, allow me to formally invite you to the experience that is my clusterfuck of a comprehensive Pokemon Field Guide~

My name is Marrow A. Honeysuckle, and I am a Field Researcher who specializes in any and all variations from standard Pokemon phenotypes. I am in the process of creating an illustrated guide of the multitudes of different variants one may encounter across the World of Pokemon.

My main focuses are on the more obscure alternate appearances Pokemon may exhibit. Right now I've been really interested in the phenomena of Ability Forms, where a Pokemon's appearance is effected by their natural ability, as well as documenting the various unique differences in Pokemon such as those classed as subspecies.

This blog will serve as my digital archive for whatever observations, illustrations and experiences I may gather, create and encounter on my journey.

I will also share any other interesting tidbits I find online or otherwise~

{{I'll add a list of tags as I figure them out}}

[Mail/Mystery Gifts] ON

...

Anywayyyy

now that all the "Professional™" shit is out the way

allow me to introduce myself~

Heyo~

Name's Marrow, sometimes they call me Field Researcher Honeysuckle. Who's "they"? fuck if I know lol

I use any and all pronouns: with Masculine, Neos/Neutral, and then Feminine being in order of preference from most to least frequent

I'm 27 and grew up in Kalos, I got my starter around the same time I started working under Prof Sycamore in my mid-teens

The last several years of my life have been spent in Galar, interspersed with trips back to Kalos for shit like conferences and whatnot.

I'm currently in transit to Paldea I have arrived in Paldea after I received some forwarded correspondence the Prof Sycamore accepted for me from a Professor by the name of Sada. he apparently got it[and accepted it on my behalf] like 6 months ago and hadn't gotten around to sending it to me till last week BUT WHATEVER I GUESS

Luckily I was able to stop by my partner's place[aka, home sweet home] since I pass through Kalos on the way. Which meant I could see them for a sweet little rendezvous and drop off some of the Pokemon I gathered during my time in Galar.

My party consists of:

Bean | Espurr ♀ | Ability Variant | My Starter

Skai | Vivillon ♂ | Unique Subspecies Shiny

Hem | Mimikyu ⚥ | Shiny

Still need to evaluate these to know if they are battle capable or not:

Pepper | Sprigatito[?] ♀ | Unidentified Variant | Sight Impaired, unsure to what extent

Plums | Yamper ♀ | Espeon Hybrid | Need to check some things around why she exhibits as half-evolved

I also carry with me an orphaned forever-Snom whom I've named Girasol. He doesn't fight and prefers to ride on my head so I don't count him in my party

I've been told there is a 'mon waiting for me when I arrive in Paldea. They said her variation and appearance has made it difficult for them to adopt her out as it "gives the new trainers 'bad vibes' despite her rarity". They have refused to give me more info. So that's great. I have collected the 'mon. She is an adorable, mostly blind, super fluffy Sprigatito with an un-identified variant subtype.

Just a bit more about me:

I'm a mostly nocturnal bitch, the sun bothers my eyes[and the insane insomnia doesn't help my case lol] and I'm a nomadic researcher by nature.

If you stumble across me in the field during mid-day I'm more than likely to be piled up sleeping with my Pokemon, usually without even a shelter to cover me. I don't mind being in towns/cities but I'm always [just passing through] usually I'm just stocking up on supplies or delivering something for whatever reason

Oh! And I like sweets. But the more "light" ones, not the "heavy" rich ones. Think sweet lemon over chocolate mousse

{{THE FOLLOWING IS ALL "OOC"}}

We follow/like from @r-e-dax-t-e-d as it is our main blog

We are the [REDACTED] System. Outside of this post all OOC will be prefaced as such or written in {{xxxxx}} brackets. THIS BLOG WILL LIKELY CONTAIN TRIGGERING/ADULT TOPICS AT SOME POINTS

We have not pinned down what it will contain exactly but a warnings list will be added in the future. We will likely touch upon horror typical themes at times. We are an adult and prefer to interact with other adults, so while we won't make [No Minors] a hard limit we will be limiting our interaction with underage blogs

We are a DID system, so while we are "roleplaying" in the sense of telling a story as if it were actually happening, Marrow does actually exist within our system and the general arcs are based off of her life within their source. Please act respectfully and keep this in mind

We will not typically discuss pokeph**ia, and on the off chance we do it will be in a mythological context We are taken IRL and Marrow is IC as well. So no serious flirting please[exceptions being obvious jokes/for the bit and only if a we have established a prior level of comfort/connection{i.e. NOT FOR RANDOS}]

We will be adding more to this as we figure shit out

[workersolidarity]

Anti-Communism is something bred into Americans from the time we are children. We are taught how anything related to Stalin is automatically bad and anything involving the Soviet Union is inherently secretive and authoritarian.

This bias is so deeply ingrained, that, having finally after years of Marxist and Geopolitical study, I've finally reached a point where those little anti-Communist tropes and sound bites inserted into our political conversations catch my attention automatically.

Now this took a really long time to reach. Anti-Communism is so deeply ingrained in our society, so embedded in our information space, and this completely by design, that we don't notice it in our everyday lives. We're not meant to. We're meant to internalize these stereotypes until it affects every aspect of our political thinking.

And I'll give you an example of how even the most obscure media consumption can result in our exposure to anti-Communist propaganda.

So I'm watching one of these obscure science channels on YouTube, being interested in the science behind nuclear criticality. So in the first video, which is about a famous incident in which a Russian scientist was exposed to a particle beam in an accelerator that resulted in serious injury but he survived. And at the end of the video, they start talking about how he really suffered under that awful Soviet Bureaucracy when he was denied his free government healthcare in 1997. 🙄

I seriously face palmed on that one.

But then I'm watching an entirely different science video on an entirely different nuclear accident. This one the only fatal Nuclear reactor accident in American history.

So I get to the end of this video, they've done a great job at really helping you understand the science behind what triggered the accident, and I'm really satisfied with the video, and then, right at the end they throw this little tidbit of information out as though it too were a statement of fact:

[Speaking factually about the fatal design flaw responsible for the US accident in 1961 that was also present in the design of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986]

"When we don't learn from history (deeply accusing stare at the Soviets) it tends to repeat itself"

Ugh!!!!!!!

🤯

Okay, so basically he has to throw in the insinuation that somehow the Communists are even more deeply responsible for Chernobyl than the Americans were for SL-1, the destroyed US nuclear reactor from 1961.

Now on its face, most people aren't going to think twice about such a statement. It is meant to evoke a response inside you of "ugh those Communists were just terrible to see our mistakes and repeat them anyway!" without ever giving any kind of critical nudge at the thought whatsoever. After all, we Americans all know how evil and awful Communists, and especially Russian Communists were.

And that's supposed to be the end of that. Two science videos, both ending with throw away lines of anti-Communist propaganda, both meant to leave me feeling superior as an American and especially an American Capitalist!

But the reality exposes the absurdity of American anti-Communist propaganda!

How would the Soviets have known about the US design flaw years earlier?

Am I just mistaken and it was common practice from the 1960's to the 1980's to share our nuclear trade secrets with our greatest adversary??? To share nuclear designs with the great evil empire the USSR at the height of the Cold War?

Please. How the fuck could the Soviets have known the details of the SL-1 design flaws?

But that's not even really the point, because in the end, it does not matter how ridiculous or absurd or counter factual US propaganda becomes because the public is just so deeply propagandized, so well trained, and so peppered with this kind of subliminal propaganda all day every day.

And it truly took years for me, not just to be able to recognize propaganda anyone can do that, but to really begin to understand the depth and nature of which we are being saturated in this constant stream of pro-Imperialist, pro-Capitalist, often conflicting narratives that are intended to make us accept without ever critically analyzing what "approved" sources tell us.

I cannot stress enough the importance and personal responsibility of every worker to educate yourself on the nature of advertising and propaganda and their relationship to Capitalism and Imperialism.

It is so important that we understand how Wall Street, the Big Banks, Big Investors and Big Corporate bosses, how they use the tools of the media and internet to control and maintain the information available to us and how they use that control to maintain the myths of Capitalism, Neoliberalism and an Imperialist Foreign Policy, as well as maintain the myths of "authoritarianism " and "human rights violations" maintained around US Adversaries like the Soviet Union and now Russia, Iran, Cuba, DPRK, Vietnam, China and on and on and on.

[cepheusgalaxy]

happy sts!

yap to me about the oc that’s currently on your mind right now! give me silly facts, interesting tidbits, anything!

and have a lovely day ✨

OH

happy sts!

the oc that's currently on my mind--to be honest my thoughts are divided between totsuka and dimitri from completely different wips (mostly because ive been in a drawing mood and i rlly want to settle on a design for both of them)

Totsuka is, well, sort of a princess? She's the youngest child of a nobleman (he has one wife and *checks notes* seven consorts) in a fantasy world (her country is inspired by feudal japan) and her story is basically a mess but let's set that aside. She is a magic user and in my setting every user has an inertia--there are four (?) elements, and an experient magician shouldn't have much difficulty switching from one to another. The magic you use is based off the element your internal cycle is in, and if you don't actively choose one, it usually settles for one on its own (aka your default element, which we call the inertia)--and Totsuka's default is fire.

Her personality is mostly based off the Shounen Protagonist archetype! She's not very clever and is quite stubborn and hotheaded and would do anything to protect her friends. She values her own interests and dreams very high--and she also has the charisma to get people on her side. I'm sort of co-writing this one with my brother and he's a huge fan of everything shounen (like that One Piece anime) so a lot of the inspiration comes from there.

We're working on an adventure plot fighting against perhaps an evil empire and throwing some fantasy races here and there--it's not a very fleshed out wip but it'll come together eventually (and I'm not very concerned about that since im focusing on Meine currently) so my biggest frustration rn is her design! She used to have light blue hair (she's probably got some fae ancestors and they have colorful hair so she also does) but now since I decided her inertia is fire, I wanted to communicate that on her appearence so her hair is now a gradient of red and yellow (lemme doodle it real quick)

[ID: Digital doodle of a faceless and thin girl with mid brown skin and long curly hair that starts red at the top and shifts to yellow towards the middle. /end ID.]

I have a notion of her face and hairstyle (subject to change) but her clothes??? I had a red puffy one a while ago but I don't think it suits her because it's way too warm and she travels the world so it'd get too hot and then I made a few other iterations but I also want her design to make lil references to the other protagonist (Olamina) but that's also tricky because *his* county is on subsaharian africa (or the equivalent in the setting) and their cultures are completely different so how would that even work

Yea I'm not very experienced at character design but I like my girl tot a lot

For the other character (from Meine! The wip im currently focusing in!), Dimitri, they were like recently conceptualized but her lore is suprisingly clear to my standards considering she's new. I was having trouble deciding his gender but then i decided to just well... leave it? I don't know their gender. They use all pronouns (she/it/they/he/neos...). She's also a child soldier/living weapon!

(There is one single image i want to base her appearence in but let's forget that one for now lol)

Dimitri starts the story off as a villain (yay!) because it was raised by the villain (a powerful and greedy CEO that wants to steal the powers of some of the main characters that get together in order to stop her) and it's all they've ever known. Later on, she's captured by the protagonists and after a few events (that part is obscure to me tho) he joins their side.

I also really, really like that accidentally I made a paralel between her and one of the mcs, Ceres. Ceres has the power of the Archive (she can copy and store people's powers for later use, with some limitations) and was also raised in an unconventional way. Back when she was around six, her mother gave her away to be the test subject of a project, and Dimitri was also abandoned and taken in by the villain. Dimitri's powers are also similar (the Copycat: he can copy/steal people's powers) and their backstories were just so close to being switched up. Ceres ended up in a pretty warm environment, because the leader of the project she's the subject of is a sweet guy that loves children, while Dimitri is, well, a child soldier. Dimitri's name is also based off the word Demeter, the greek goddess of agriculture. Now, Ceres is, would you guess, the roman name for the same goddess! I named them this way on accident but after I noticed it I'm just. Very happy with these coincidences. I thought of them while my mind was wondering in the direction of a role reversing AU.

I also love living weapons

[aalinaaaaaa]

happy BB!

What’s the most obscure information you have on your character? Will it ever be referenced within their story or does this tidbit just live in your head/on a side document?

hope you’re doing well 💖

Happy Blorbo day! Thanks as always for the ask :D

So this relates to Eshani and Cerigo both, back well before the start of Obsidian Sapphires. On one particular day not long after she first got made into a High Councillor, she decides to write Cerigo a cute note. She writes it, folds it up and sends it out the window.

Well, now. Cerigo is downstairs in the basement that day, woodworking, the basement door open to let some light and fresh air in. There's a loud bang!

He dashes upstairs, finding a load of glass everywhere and a large, folded piece of paper.

Her note broke the back door. In a blind stream of thought without thinking, she sent him the note, forgetting one thing out of 'she's not used to this [at that point]'.

The thing about the High Councillors is, among many things, they're all at least forty feet tall. And she forgot to account for that.

When Cerigo's note comes back to her, she doesn't even need to read it, just the paper itself is enough indication. She sends a more appropriate note, apologising, and by the next morning the back door is fixed.

She feels insanely guilty about this even to the current day, but Cerigo broke down laughing when he realised what happened. He was so shocked he could do nothing else. And now said note is framed and hanging in the basement. (He cut the excess into extra sheets of paper)

The note hasn't been referenced yet, but I might leave it as a throwaway detail or something, who knows. (Pun not intended, lololol)

@bardic-tales