#seel your soul

[lotusyiyen]

[araneitela]

While I have these noted in my OneNote, putting them on here may... make it that I write these down more thoroughly faster. But, meta-topics that I'm planning on elaborating on:

— Kafka's semblance of 'boredom' and its manifestation. This is seen across the board through either suggesting or engaging in both more trivial and more significant 'games'. But a great example is the "trial" during the on-going Jepella Rebellion. Throughout the entire sequence, we see the judges with flaring red eyes that glow brighter at numerous intervals, and when she's "let to plead her case" a bit more thoroughly towards the end of it, we're shown a red string breaking (timestamp: 2:08); you see the judges' eyes return to normal and they are in a state of severe mental disorientation and panic. The string breaking marked the intended end of Kafka's Spirit Whisper on them. The entire trial was nothing more than a mockery of the court: her game. As Sam notes at the end (timestamp: 2:32), "You should really stop playing with your food; Kafka." He meant it. Kafka plays games when many likely wouldn't due to a sense of risk. Aside from being immune to this due to the lack of fear that she claims the populace of Pteruges-V (or at least, New Babylon) to have, this playfulness is likely an added manifestation of this. We know that she doesn't fall victim to the same follies as others from this same planet, "I used to be a Devil Hunter (...) When people don’t feel fear, they are dominated by desire and pleasure – they become “devils”, so this may be a different form of 'pleasure' in the simple form of entertainment. The Jepella 'trial' is simply the most evident example.

— The two different manners of speech. We're overtly familiar with the incredibly seductive delivery of most of her dialogue, but there are instances where Kafka's delivery is quite different and it is incredibly intentional. The very first instance of this, is when she first speaks to the Trailblazer. It is not as consistent, and there is still usually a lingering element of playfulness to the end of most words' pronunciations (there are specific lines that are a lot more evident, such as "When you have a chance to make a choice, make one that you know you won't regret" at the end of the sequence). This could be blamed on the fact that this was an early recording and they were undecided; however, the decision of having two different 'vocal deliveries' has been set in stone with Kafka's story/companion quest. Thankfully, I found this to help make it very obvious.

— Not feeling fear does not equate lack of emotions and/or the concept of humanity. For me, 'fear' is merely one of many emotions that humanity possesses, it is tied in with many (all) others but it is not representative, on its own, of all emotions in their entirety. The reason I make note of this is Kafka's inherent tie to musicality, one of numerous great 'arts' that requires great emotion to properly understand and appreciate. Now, part of me wondered if she perhaps lacked this as well, and whether, because of that, this was one of her 'goals' within the Stellaron Hunters as well. But when looking at the individually noted goals for each of them, "they who chase after fear" (Kafka) is separate from "they who inquire meaning" (strongly hinted at being Sam), which renders the question null and void. Aside from that, she actively seems to harbor an element of care towards the Trailblazer, but most undeniably, she actively harbors a semblance of care and concern for Blade's state of being in her story quest. This also means, to me, that Kafka harbors the ability of affection.

— Her character banner was called 'Nessun Dorma', named after arguably the most famous tenor arias in all of opera (yes, you've likely heard it even if you're not into opera). As much as she is very much tied to classical music throughout the game, and showing an active investment in it, this is entirely different as it is a vocal performance, rather than instrumental as all other musical passages used for her have been. Nessun Dorma is an aria in the final act of a musical called Turandot. This is a fantasy tale that unfolds in China, where a beautiful but very cold princess (Turandot) poses three riddles to any suitor who dares court her, and commands the death of all who fail. When an unknown prince (he who sings 'Nessun Dorma) ultimately triumphs, the opera ends in a love story with a happy ending. Hoyoverse doesn't do things without reason, and so this intrigues me relentlessly. But moreover, the riddles and their answers really get the cogs in my head to spin wildly; as this reeks of Kafka in more ways than one:

"What is born each night and dies at dawn?" Hope.

"What flickers red and warm like a flame, yet is not fire?" Blood.

"What is like ice yet burns?" Turandot (the princess in question).

[aventurineswife]

Part 2 of hi3 Seele reader with her alter ego, Veliona, this time with Argenti, Boothill, Phainon and Anaxagoras

https://www.tumblr.com/aventurineswife/765024142596685824/gepard-sampo-aventurine-and-ratio-with-a-reader?source=share

Reader with an Alter Ego, Veliona

Summary: Living with an alter ego is a constant battle, especially when Veliona—the darker, more aggressive side—takes control. So, how would they react to when they learn about this alter ego of yours?

Tags: Boothill x Reader, Argenti x Reader, Anaxa x Reader, Phainon x Reader, Dual Personality, Alter Ego Dynamics, Flirting and Teasing, Jealousy, Protective Relationships, Mental Space Exploration, Combat and Training, Emotional Depth, Inner Struggles, Power Dynamics.

Warnings: Intense Jealousy, Violence (in combat), Invasive Behavior, Strong Language/Expletives, Mentions of Trauma and Emotional Vulnerability, Possessiveness, Mild Angst, Potential Power Imbalance.

A/N: NOOO NOT THIS ONE AGAIN!!! 😭🙏

Boothill is drawn to both you and your alter ego. He doesn’t fear Veliona’s aggression—in fact, he respects it. “Takes guts to be that vicious,” he’ll say with a sharp grin, eyes flashing with amusement. He flirts with both sides of you—teasing your softer self and challenging Veliona. He often leaves comments like, “Tell your shadow she glares prettier than most dames shoot,” just to rile her up.

He understands what it’s like to live with pain and transformation. He respects Veliona’s need to protect you, even sparring with her to test her instincts, calling it “training” while smirking through busted lips. Veliona's jealousy spikes when Boothill gets flirty with others (even unintentionally). Instead of backing down, he raises an eyebrow and drawls, “Gonna bite me, sugar? Or just glare me to death?”

When you’re mentally worn or overwhelmed, Boothill sits by silently, hat tipped forward. He’ll mumble, “Ain’t no shame in needing rest, even for demons in disguise.” Veliona grudgingly trusts him to watch over you when she retreats.

Boothill imagines Veliona’s “room” as a smoky saloon inside your mind. He jokes about knocking on the door with a six-shooter and whiskey, and sometimes even dreams about her challenging him to a card game in it.

Argenti sees your alter ego as a noble guardian gone astray. He addresses Veliona with formality and respect, even if she growls back. “I do not fear your thorns, dark bloom,” he says sincerely. At first, he’s conflicted—how can one soul hold such purity and darkness? But he views it as a divine trial, believing Beauty exists even in shadows if one learns to see it.

When Veliona lashes out in jealousy, Argenti never retaliates with anger. Instead, he bows slightly and gently responds, “Your protection is admirable. But know this—my heart does not waver.” During moments where you or Veliona struggle internally, Argenti plays music or recites poetic verses. His voice alone is often enough to soothe Veliona’s wrath, even if she pretends otherwise.

In battle, he learns to trust Veliona’s instincts. “Darkness and light… we are both blades in service of the same soul,” he’ll say while shielding you from danger. If allowed into Veliona’s mental space, Argenti treats it like visiting a sacred inner sanctum. He speaks in reverence, leaves metaphorical flowers behind, and sometimes simply stands silently to show respect for her strength.

The moment Anaxa realizes you have a second presence—Veliona—he isn’t horrified. He’s fascinated. Instead of fearing her violent nature, he asks invasive, analytical questions like, "Do you perceive soul division as natural evolution or trauma-induced aberration?" Veliona hates him at first. She sees him as reckless, arrogant, and far too invasive. He reminds her of Kevin—a man who uses people like tools. But over time, she realizes his madness masks sincerity. He never treats you like a test subject—only a bearer of truth. Eventually, she begrudgingly respects him.

He somehow figures out how to “enter” your mental space via a parapsychological experiment. He finds Veliona’s “room” and talks to her directly. She threatens to tear his soul apart. He just grins. "You must care deeply to wield such sharp fangs." From that day on, they argue constantly—but never fail to protect you.

Veliona despises how many students admire him. She once erupted in fury when a Chrysos Heir flirted with you during a lecture. She seized control and nearly started a duel. Anaxa was amused. “Ah, possessive behavior—how quaint.” In one rare moment, when Anaxa breaks down remembering his sister, it's Veliona—not you—who comforts him. She places a firm hand on his shoulder and mutters, “You're an idiot... but you're our idiot now.” He never forgets that.

The first time Veliona takes over, Phainon is understandably shocked. She appears in the middle of a battlefield, shattering enemy ranks in your place. But rather than fear her, he thanks her. "Thank you... for protecting them."

Phainon is gentle, graceful, and considerate—Veliona is none of those things. She resents his bright demeanor at first, believing it to be naive. But it’s exactly that purity that slowly softens her edges. She stops calling him “boy scout” and starts using his name with unspoken fondness.

When you’re asleep, Veliona speaks to him privately. She warns him not to hurt you—ever. He just nods and says, “I know they're safer with you than with the whole Chrysos Heirs.” That moment becomes the silent truce between them.

If you're ever harmed, Veliona doesn’t hesitate to rip apart the battlefield. Phainon respects her rage but sometimes must step in to hold her back. “Enough... they’ve paid the price.” His calm presence is the only thing that gets through to her.

She hates how kind he is to others—especially attractive ones. She once caused a near-disaster when she caught him helping a wounded female soldier off the battlefield. “She was dying,” he later sighs. “And I’m your ally, not your rival.” Her silence afterward is... long.

When Phainon disappears on his personal trial, it's Veliona who keeps you from crumbling. She growls, “He’d better return… or I’ll drag him out of whatever divine realm he’s trapped in.” When he does return, she's the first to greet him. “You owe us,” she mutters. “Especially me.”

[yandere-wishes]

𝕆𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕪 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝

Summary: You try to escape from two fearsome Sith Lords. Surprisingly they take it rather well.

Author's note: This is totally getting a part 2. Or maybe a series we'll see. 

Warnings: dark, absolutely no regard for the rule of two, sorta a vent fic (venting that these two are so fine and I can't get them out of my mind), slightly fluffy.

The empire's warships have a tendency to blur reality. The interiors of their large hulking exoskeletons house endless corridors and makeshift chambers. Vast, endless arrays of space. They've been optimized for housing droids, clones, and artillery. Not for escape, not for an endless search of a freedom that has long since eroded. 

Calling yourself anything but desperate would be a lie. Your feet run to the chorus of your broken heartbeat. The need for freedom, the need to escape spreads through your body like a poison. You know it'll end up killing you, either from exhaustion or by their sabars. But you have to try, you have to run. Even if you've left fragments of yourself in the warm bed the three of you sleep on. Even if you forgot your heart under Anakin's pillow and your soul still lingers in Maul's warm embrace. Maybe freedom is worth cutting off pieces of yourself, if only in the hope that someday they might grow back. 

There's something wrong with the corridors you're sure of it. You've never been one for directions, instead relying on the holo screens and navigation systems to lead the way. Mirror images as far as the eye can see. Identical, plain. Nothing substantial to store in your memory. There's something ironic about this situation, a punchline that doesn't quite land. You half haphazardly tug on the skirt of your nightgown, desperate for anything familiar. You're not sure why.

You remember how Anakin called you pretty this morning, still hazy, still clinging to the sensation of slumber. Perfect blue eyes too dazed to look at you. Really look at you. The chosen one gazes at your ghost, your ethos. the perfect doll he and Maul had morphed you into. Behind you

 Maul pulls you to his chest. Hand running up and down her side, trying to resurrect you into his dreams. It's only when Anakin's eyes close, seeling the shimmering blue orbs, that you crawl out of bed and into the unknown. 

You're lost, abandoned in absolute desolation. The marble tiles bleed frost into the soles of your feet. Somewhere in the distance, you feel a disturbance in the force. Too far away to matter, yet leaking with a potent rage that burns. It's hope you think, albeit pathetically, maybe it's better to capitulate this pointless crusade and wait for the Sith lords to find you. The crash comes just as you're about to stop. You bump into him, falling in the process. All armor and steel. The Stormtrooper's mask is off giving you a clear view of his scarred face. His eyes flash, some dreary emotion too obscure to read, he offers you a gloved hand, something human something casual. 

You stare frozen. 

When exactly did you stop comprehending human idiosyncrasies? 

When exactly did you start reading every interaction as a threat? 

He's a monster, you think, just like the ones you've been warned about. Lectured time and time again by both Anakine and Maul. Monsters pry on little girls, especially ones who wander off on their own. Monsters lurk behind unsuspecting walls, ready to pounce when their prey approaches. You wonder if, the definitive definition of "monster" could be passed on to the two Siths who call themselves your lovers. 

There's blood, too crimson to be real. Metallic aromas wafted through the air. You've only now noticed how close the disturbance in the force really is. Close enough to distinguish itself. To reveal that, in actuality, it's not a disturbance at all.

 It's two...

Something cold yanks at your forearm. Pulling you to your feet. for a split second, your nerves calm. The familiarity of the cybernetic arm grants you a heavy ease. Anakin pushes you over to where Maul is standing. Golden eyes burning holes through the stormtrooper's armor. 'He didn't do anything' you long to say. But the words wisely die on your tongue as Maul grips your shoulders. Anakine's saber is lit, stabbing through the soldier's armor as if it were flesh. As if killing him where as easy as killing a rogue thought. "You're quite a foolish soldier for daring to touch that which belongs to your commanders. Even more imbecilic for so much as looking at emperor Palpatine's disciple." 

Maul's grip on your shoulders tightens, eyes never once leaving the bloodshed. One of his hands instinctively roams to your belly, then slides down to your thigh. Rubbing it ever so gently as his claws pierce your soft skin. You close your eyes trying to make yourself smaller. You hate how his touch grounds you. How the familiarity plucks at your heartstrings. When he touches you like this you wish you would forever rot in his arms.

"'I'm sorry" You don't know why the words come so easily. As if they've been itching to spill from your tongue. Maybe it's easier to say 'I'm sorry' rather than 'You've broken my perception of love, of reality and now I can only find comfort in your darkness.' "Hush" Maul's anger spills with every syllable. His claws dig deeper, earning him a pained hiss from his doll. 

"You're not sorry, in fact, you rather enjoyed this didn't you? Running away making us chase you down, I never thought your species would enjoy being the prey so much, little one." Anakin walks over, saber seethed at his side. His every step promised pain, retribution. He's angry, furious. They both are, you wonder if maybe, just maybe, they'll end it all today. 

Maul's chambers have always been a testament to Dathomir, bathed in deep scarlets and endless ebony. You wonder if he's homesick for a place he's only visited in his worst ephialtes. After the incident in the corridors, they drag you back to the Zabrak's room. Neither bothering to say a word. Merely permitting their rage to engulf you, subduing you into submission. It's an unwelcome surprise when they begin to prep for the day. Throwing on their black cloaks, prior to choosing your outfit. An abnormal affinity settles across the room. Too unnerving to go unchecked. 

They dress you each morning, a ritual you think, some attestation of love that's never been quite right. Maul drapes you in velvet dresses. Each one harbors a sui generis softness that sits erroneously across your skin. Their opulent sensation only brings forth feelings of aversion and despair. Their softness an ode to your imprisonment. 

the dresses come in shades of crimson, detailed sometimes in black, sometimes in gold, and sometimes in a frigid blue that sends shivers running up your spine. 

Anakin fusses over your accessories, why they feel the need to dress you so extravagantly daily is beyond you -as you've come to realize many things are- On days when Anakin's hubris reaches its apex, he bathes you in gold. Astonishing glittering collars across your neck and Kuat bangles hanging from your wrists. When he's sober from his pride he chooses black diamonds. Simple and exotic. scintillate and opaque.

Allusions to the dark side.

A hidden reference that crawls inside you. 

Once, back when you'd been sure defiance was still an option. Back when callow hope still dared to flow through your veins. Back when you'd been a jejune, stubborn thing. You had refused to wear one of the dresses they'd bought. Adimant in your refusal until Maul had stuck out his hand. Summoning the Force to remind you just who held the supreme authority here. 

The Force had strangled you, clawing hungrily at your neck. You felt your bones caving in on themselves, watched with exacerbating hysteria as your feet abandoned the floor. He'd only released you when he was sure you were near death's adorned door. Permitting you to molder on the floor akin to a ragdoll. 

Anakin had chastised you after you'd conjured enough strength to sit up, gasping greedily for air. He'd broken two fingers that day. One still harbors a small scar.

A Promise ring. 

An augury.

There are days, few and far between. When they've deemed you've been behaving adequately for long enough. That they permit you the choice of which dress you'd fancy wearing for the day. It's a rare event, reserved as a special treat. You think it's their way of proposing variety, giving you the illusion of choice. Making you feel a little less smothered. 

Today is not one of those days. Today, you feel them pick you apart, only to reassemble you in their image. Drowning you in extravagance. A reminder, one whose deprecating nature weaves itself within your muscles. You, little girl, are nothing more than a doll. And dolls should know their place.

No sooner do you feel the final lace fasten across your back, that Anakin is tugging you outside the door. Metal arm clasped around your forearm. 

Maul follows behind molten gaze locked on your face. The hallways bend to their will as if the walls themselves quiver with their presence. You recognize this corridor, recognize the frigid forlorn. 

There's something wrong with Emperor Palpatine's throne room. It's surreal, makeshift. His real throne lays somewhere cold, somewhere even his apprentices don't dare wander off to. The ironclad throne has never felt right. Never felt like it held any real power. Just terror, just dread, just hatred. But here it is in all its glory. Left to two apprentices who'd rather treat it as a toy than a sacred place.

 Anakin dramatically throws himself onto the throne. One leg thrown over the armrest as he leans against the other. His other leg planted firmly on the ground. He keeps you steady on his thigh. Torturing you with his distant, disappointed look. Maul stands in front of you. His eyes liquid gold melting into you. You see the galaxy in them. Hear it whispearing secrets meant to be forgotten. It's Anakin's voice that rattles you from your disjointed thoughts. 

"You caused us so much worry angel" he's being nice. You don't trust that. There's something sinister plaguing his words.  

"You know Ani, she may cease escaping if you'd cease to spoil her." Maul leans down, gripping your chin and squeezing. " The brat forgets her place, merely cause you'd rather coddle her than discipline her." 

Anakin glares, a shift in his eyes, blue bleeding into gold. "Hmm, Maul, you're starting to sound an awful lot like Kenobi right now."

"Why's that? Did the old fool tend to also point out your shortcomings?" 

You wonder who this Kenobi is, as you watch the Siths' exchange crude childish vitriols. Maybe he'd make a better lover than the two men you have the misfortune of being adhered to. 

They never could truly see just how similar they were.

Two sides of the same coin. 

One born of copper, the other, black rose petals.

Subconsciously you reach out. Grasping Anakin's robotic hand, fiddling with the panel, peeling it away to gain access to the wires and circuits. You have a bad habit of ripping things open. Anakin learned this the first time he kissed you and you tried to gnaw at his chest with your nails. Not in malice, but rather to satisfy a ravenous curiosity. A raging need to open him and see just how he ticked. You'd wished to perform an autopsy on his soul. Rip him open and devour all his secrets. Back then you'd wondered if you could kiss sunrises into Anakin's eternal night. Strip him of bleak blackened skies and introduce him to stars and a moon that shines. He'd only vaguely permitted it. Opting to pluck the stars lying within you. Swiping them for steel and lava and other mundane things that fueled his incessant rage. 

Anakin's head dips, lips pressing on your jugular vein. "You're ethereal" Anakin mubbles against your skin, like the dying prayer of a collapsing star. He's so pretty when he kisses your neck. Biting away pieces of you. Stealing your light for himself. 

"Princess" Maul seethes venom pelting from his words. You realize you'd been ignoring him. Something he's not too fond of. "What in the stars was going through your pretty little head?" 

 he looks like he'd love nothing more than to wring your pretty little neck right now. "I just..." your words feel heavy. Tiny bullets polluting your tongue. It feels so cruel to say when you know just how much they love you. "I just wanted some freedom. Just a bit of space." 

"Dumb little angel" Anakin chastes. You lower your head in embarrassment watching Maul kneel in front of you. He cups your cheeks, placing a soft kiss on your head. "You can never escape us beloved".

 "I love you," says Anakin. All you hear is, I'll haunt you, I'll break your ribs one by one so that I may possess your heart. Maybe they mean the same thing. 

"And I'm pretty sure if Maul could feel normal emotions like everyone else, then he'd love you too." You can't help but let out a giggle as Anakin throws his head back laughing. A rare melodious sound, that causes your heart to skip a beat. Maul merely rolls his eyes before pecking you on the lips.

You trace your fingers across Maul's chest, feeling the pummelling of two hearts. A double heartbeat. Two melodies entwined, You wonder who he harbors in those hearts. One for love and one for family. You nip at his bottom lip. Ushering the blood into your mouth. He tastes of Ichor and smoke. Of sadness and rage. From behind you feel Akanin bite into the hollow of your flesh. Leaving traces of himself upon your skin. 

"Our pretty little problem" Anakin mumbles. 

You're a problem, a vexation draped in velvet, an unsolvable equation. Trapped between a love that seethes through your body like a toxin. Engulfing you until your mind relents. Maybe it's easier this way. Easier to say 'I love you' without the double entendre. 

You do love them.

A rather arduous conclusion to reach.

Maul and Anakin.

Palpatine's apprentices. 

Your lovers

Yeah, that sounds about right...

💜💜: @athanasia-day @hotpinkboots @jenn-patterson-69 @nickiiiixoxo-blog @the-chains-are-the-easy-part

[theslumberinggod]

The Wanderer's Tagalong Part 1: Couldn't

A series of connected drabbles revolving around The Wanderer grappling with his feelings for an unexpected companion who can't even speak the same language as him.

Pairing: The Wanderer (Scaramouche) X Reader

•~°~•

Rain crashed down on the roof of the abandoned barn. It slipped through the cracks and rotting gaps, down onto old floors, seeling through stones and deteriorating wood into the earth. 

A cold chill crept in with the icy rain, a long with the occasional gusts of wind slipping through the thin walls of the measly shelter barely keeping The Wanderer and his companion dry. 

He tilted his hat, cracking a violet eye open to glance at you. You had pulled your cloak around you, bringing up your knees. Your brows were furrowed, an intense gaze in your eye as you used your body to shield the paper you so intently scribbling on. 

You liked to draw. A lot. It was the one thing The Wanderer knew for sure about you other than your name. You did not speak the common tongue, nor did you seem particularly familiar with anything or anyone here. He could only guess where you came from---a Descender or Outlander. 

You didn't seem to possess any unique or special talents of any arcane kind, unlike Lumine. You were as far as the Wanderer could tell, a squishy human with enormous amounts of audacity, stupidity, grit, and smiled way too much. 

“Wanderer,” Your voice broke the loud yet quiet atmosphere. It had a soft, thickly accented quality to it. The word---name, Wanderer rolled awkwardly yet fondly off your tongue. With a light huff, he snapped his gaze towards you. 

“What?” He asked. 

You smiled, scooting closer much to Wanderer’s chagrin. His body stiffened, tapping his fingers along his arms. You lifted the sketchbook you had been so vigilantly protecting from the rain. Smudged charcoal and thick lines had been expertly dragged across the paper. 

The art was unusual, formed in a way Wanderer had never seen before. It was both incredibly life like yet unrealistic, charming in a way. 

He then narrowed his eyes, “Did you draw me?”

“Wanderer!” You happily repeated, proudly. You had drawn him, leaning against the wall, arms folded with his hat pulled down over his eyes. It both looked like him and not like him at all. What made him really pause was the small, barely noticeable smile you had so painstakingly etched into his features. 

Wanderer huffed out, unsure whether to be flattered or disturbed, either way the attention triggered that deep rooted crack in his soul. He turned his eyes away and shut them, leaning his hat down in dismissal. You didn't seem particularly satisfied with his grumpy, smile falling from your face. 

He watched from the corner of your eye as you twisted your lips, trying to hide a frown behind a think face as you clutched your charcoal stick and stared down at the paper. 

A feeling he wasn't entirely accustomed with---the ugly, twisting feeling of compunction wriggled round in his chest. It was sharp, fleeting, but potent enough to make Wanderer regret dismissing you. 

He wrestled with himself silently, still. He did not know you, therefore he should not care. There was no room in him to care, it was too dangerous. 

Why should he care for a stranger he found lost, bewildered, terrified, hurt and alone on the road?

That was how he found you. Deep into the night on his long travel back to Sumeru. It was unusually warm that night. The stars were out and glinting, false and beautiful all the same. 

You came crashing down a hill to his left, stumbling and tripping over your own bare feet. Your face was smeared in blood, oddly simple clothing ripped at the hems, covered in scratches with a long gash in your arm. You held a rusted knife too big for your fragile hands, eyes wide in utter horror, terror.

Why did you rush to him, when abyssal monsters pour over the hill? Maybe it was just because Wanderer looked human. He could never, ever forget the look on your face when he used his Anemo on the monsters, flicking the parasites away like the dust they were. It wasn't fear, it was awe. 

You repeated some phrase over and over, maybe a thanks he was guessing. He really did assume you'd go back from whatever camp or town you were from, but you followed him wearily, cautiously. 

The Wanderer couldn't help it. You were so clearly lost, tossed aside by fate or abandoned. You were far too clingy to just be lost. 

He could not care. Yet he didnt just leave you there. He could not care, but it seemed trying to scrub some of the dirt off his hands meant to act like he did. 

He opened his eyes again, glancing at you. You were hunched over your book again, scrawling something. Less intensity, and enthusiasm. Dammit. 

With annoyance he reached out, sharply poking you in the shoulder. You jumped, jerking your head up, asking something in your foreign tongue. 

“I want to see it again,” The Wanderer pointed at your book. Brief confusion flashed over your face and you held it up, showing the half-finished sketch on the page. He could make out a start of a person. You didn't hand him the book, looking at him with curiosity. 

Wanderer huffed. The language barrier did get annoying, and really troublesome at times. Sometimes it was a blessing, he could avoid small talk---but trying to communicate with you, especially in complicated situations was a nightmare.

He made a grabbing motion, feeling childish doing so. Realization dawned on your features and you handed him the book and pencil. He didn't correct you in assuming he wanted the pencil and just carefully thumbed the sides of the pages to the one you drew of him. 

“This is so stupid,” He huffed out, “But it's good. I don't smile though.”

You didn't understand him. Both good and bad, he was spared of trying to grapple with complimenting someone but unable to properly apologize for hurting your feelings. Yet, patiently, you waited and watched, bandaged hands folded in your lap. 

He spun his pencil. “So stupid.”

He quickly scrawled a heart at the corner of the page, making deliberate eye contact with you. He could not bring himself to smile nor did he want to, he only wanted to rid of the sour feeling you no doubt felt at his dismissal of something you put so much effort into. 

You were smiling again when you saw the heart. You said something, a phrase he heard a lot. Some version of ‘Thank You’ he thinks. 

The Wanderer graced your clingy self with all he expected or would give you, and folded his arms and looked away, closing his eyes shut to embrace the idle mediation while waiting for the storm to pass. 

You kept scrawling in your little book, happily. 

Soon enough it became too dark to see, and you with a frown tucked your pencil and book away in your little satchel, leaning back on the wall. Your breathing steadied as you fell asleep, curled up and wrapped tight in your cloak. 

The Wanderer did not sleep, he did not need to. At some point he opened his eyes again to see you fast asleep. 

He did not know why you continued to follow him around, and trust him so freely. He realized he gave you no reason to distrust him. 

The Wanderer could've left you behind some towns ago, but he didn't. He couldn't just leave you. 

You'd shown your thanks in the form of art, so tastefully and even lovingly drawn. Language barrier or not, so far you hadn't given him a reason to distrust you either. You didn't leave yet. 

The storm raged on, rain pouring down with the occasional stroke of lightning. He looked up, catching glimpses of the fractals of light in the black sky. 

No, no, he couldn't just leave you. 

You didn't deserve it, and what was the point of perpetuating such needless cruelty? 

Perhaps, he did care.

Just a little. 

[krawlernyannyan]

HSR VERSION 3.2 LIVESTREAM INFO ROUNDUP

It's time for our two-year anniversary! Maybe we'll even be alive for it!

STORY

The Trailblazer will embark on the Trial of Time, for lack of an Heir to take it in their place.

Castorice and the Trailblazer head to the city-state of Styxia in pursuit of the Death Titan, Thanatos.

The Chrysos Heirs have to fend off the Council of Elders in Okhema and keep the Flame-Chase Journey alive as a public assembly threatens to force its end.

Anaxa's allegiances in particular will come into question, as will his intentions with Cerces' Coreflame. He evidently has fifteen days ("Entry Hours") left to live before his condition overwhelms him.

NEW CHARACTERS

Castorice is a Quantum/Remembrance character focused on HP manipulation. Each time an ally loses HP she gains Ultimate charge, and at max charge she can summon her memosprite, Pollux, and create a special "Territory". While Pollux is on the field, it can deal damage by depleting its own HP and recovers health when allies take damage.

Additionally, Castorice can also help allies avoid death by temporarily reviving a fallen ally (who has to be healed or shielded properly). In some fashion, she's also able to do this even if she isn't in the team.

Anaxagoras is a Wind/Erudition character focused on Weakness Types. Each attack he makes will inflict enemies with a random Weakness, with enemies entering a special state that increases his damage dealt to them once they acquire five Weaknesses total. His Ultimate can inflict seven Weaknesses on all enemies at once while placing them into another special state.

BANNERS

Castorice will be leading the first half of the patch, partnering up with a triple-header of Fugue, Jiaoqiu, and Acheron. Four-stars appearing here will be Pela, Gallagher, and Lynx. For Light Cones, her signature (Make Farewells More Beautiful) will be paired with Good Night and Sleep Well, Post-Op Conversation, and Boundless Choreo.

Anaxa will be taking up the back end, partnering up with Dr. Ratio. Four-stars here will be Dan Heng, Serval, and Moze. His signature Light Cone (Life Should Be Cast to Flames) will be paired with Trend of the Universal Market, After the Charmony Fall, and The Moles Welcome You.

In addition to these new banners, changes appear to be on the way for the standard banner and its five-stars:

When obtaining a 5-star character with maxed-out Eidolons, you will receive 1 "Silver Companion Spirit". Every 2 of these can be converted into 1 "Golden Companion Spirit", which can be exchanged for a 5-star character at the exchange shop. This process appears to exist in some form for Light Cones as well.

Seele, Blade, and Fu Xuan will be available as non rate-up character options (waiting for clarification on whether this is an actual modification to the pool of standard 5-stars or not).

MAPS

Styxia is a city-state by the sea lying in ruins after "dragon-related catastrophes". Navigating this dead city requires creating a region of light around yourself, altering the space around you into an island of safety among the Sea of Souls. This light also allows you to interact with ghostly NPCs in the area.

New sections of Okhema have opened up as part of the citizens' assembly being held in the story.

NEW BOSS

Pollux, Netherwing Husk, Ferry of Souls is the new boss for this patch, fought in Styxia. The battle centers on HP manipulation and Atrophy damage (which ignores Shields and DEF entirely). Allies losing HP gradually gives the boss charge, and after reaching 100% will enter an enhanced state (simultaneously reducing everyone's HP to 1). However, attacking Pollux in this enhanced state will restore HP to allies and when it exits this state it takes massive damage.

EVENTS

Seal Slammers is a minigame event split up into several rounds of ramming your seals into your opponents in an endurance match (with new seals available for purchase and buffs provided along the way). Completing this event wins you a new pet, Bubbles.

This event is also multiplayer! And this feature will be available after v3.2 ends.

Morning Starlight is a combat-focused event in the vein of Stellar Flare and Stellar Shimmer. Different stages with unique mechanics tailored to different characters (available as trial picks) are open.

Star Rail WORLD is an anniversary event in the form of a business simulation game. Old friends and companions can be hired to host exhibition booths with the goal of raking in as much profit as possible. Different assistants have different specialties, and some have unique bonuses when you pair them as a set. As a reward for progress in the event, the new Erudition 4-star Light Cone The Great Cosmic Enterprise can be won.

Other events include:

The Festive Gifts log-in bonus provides 20 Limited Banner tickets!

To the Ones that Blaze allows players to choose one companion of a set to gift them Stellar Jade and Fuel. (Rewards are the same regardless of the companion.)

Realm of the Strange 300% (extra Relics) and Planar Fissure 300% (extra Planar Ornaments) are the extra drop events for this patch.

The Annual Trailblaze Report, providing a data breakdown of players' activity over the last year, will go live on April 26.

A free 5-star selector for either Luocha or Ruan Mei will be available until the end of v3.4! This appears to grant one of the aforemention "Golden Companion Spirits", which can be either exchanged for those two or one of the other characters in the shop.

OTHER NEWS

An automatic salvaging function for 4-star Relics will be added, along with a filtering system for 5-stars to discard intelligently.

The design of birthday cakes Trailblazers receive in the mail will be updated.

Star Rail Live 2025 is coming in May! A worldwide livestream will be held on May 3rd.

A special animated short is coming on April 26.

Character buffs are coming in v3.4! First on the list are Silver Wolf, Blade, Kafka, and Jingliu. Specific details will be coming later.

Another 5-star character will be available for free in 2025, though details are coming later.

The story will be incorporating more animations into the story itself, as opposed to out-of-story additional context.

A new Myriad Celestia is coming between v3.3 and 3.4 to catch up with the rest of the cosmos as the true purpose of what's happening on Amphoreus is made clear.

"The Finality Mission - Memories are the Prelude to Dreams" is a special story mission that will be launching in Version 3.8, to act as a complement to the Penacony storyline, covering aspects the main story didn't and tying up loose ends. A certain "Cremator" will be playing a major role in telling this story.

[finisnihil]

Analysis with Penacony spoilers ahead, read at your own behest

I love Acheron so so much and one of the main reasons is how human she tries to be. She‘s trying so hard to stay human, to be human.

She’s killed people the blood debt is a burden she carries. She only sees the world in black, white, and red, but she gets lost easily and guides strangers home and she thanks you for trusting her even though you don’t have to and she protects a little boy from the mafia and she mourns your friend with you even though she didn’t know her because she knows you’re hurting and she helps you calm down after you watched your friend die horribly and she stays with you and looks after you and tells you to stay level headed and she apologies for being held back from protecting those you love because she isn’t human anymore and then she does one of the most human thing of all and blesses the soul and mourns her with you, guides her home like she did with you. Acheron is gentle like a psychopomp, like Death. She cries blood but it’s still crying.

Onto the allusion, the name Acheron comes from the river Acheron, one of the five rivers of the Underworld in Greek mythology. The Acheron is the River of Woe/Pain/Lost Souls. The River Cocytus (River of Wailing/Lamentation) and River Phlegethon (River of Magma) both flow into the River Acheron and the River Styx (River of Oaths/Border to the Underworld/Makes one invulnerable if they bathe in it) stems from the Acheron. The final river is the River Lethe which causes forgetfulness when bathed in or drunk from and usually used by the souls of the dead to be reborn. These allusions fit Acheron well, as she cries blood which is fitting for one named after the River of Woe. Her difficulty to hold onto memories is also reminiscent of the Lethe, especially now that we know she’s an Emanator. She was technically “reborn” as when she became one.

Building off this, she fulfills the role of a psychopomp. In folklore and mythology psychopomp are entities that guide souls of the dead, such a Thanatos in Greek mythology who is the personification of peaceful death (Who Seele has allusions to but that’s another analysis). Aventurine associates Acheron with the Finality a few times and we see her act like a psychopomp when she does things like “take us home” when we first meet her and she mentions guiding again when she sends Firefly off. She gets lost in the waking world but never seems to in the Dreamscape.

Building even more off this allusion, in Greek mythology the twin brother of Thanatos is Hypnos, the personification of sleep. Sleep and death are often tied together even outside of Greek mythology, like the Epic of Gilgamesh where Gilgamesh is literally told he can’t think about conquering death when he can’t even conquer sleep.

This all leads me to a theory about why Acheron said she had no choice in whether to draw her blade. She wanted to but she had no choice in the matter. We’ve seen her draw her blade twice so far in the story and it was to wake the Trailblazer and to fight Sam. If Acheron is an agent of the Finality maybe her blade can’t be drawn because it can only be used against those dying or dead or not living? We know Firefly was dying and we know she has a weird connection with Sam. The weird “Death” monster also seemed to target Firefly. I think Acheron couldn’t draw her sword against the “Death” because she is also an agent of Death and cannot attack one of her own, but she can use it against Firefly because Firefly is dying and it would be seen as a final severing of the soul from life or as “harvesting” the soul. Of course I could be completely and utterly wrong I’m literally just making an analysis based on allusions and motifs but still I think it’s interesting. Plus Aventurine calls Acheron and Sam enemies and Sam uses fire, an element typically seen as representing life.

Pulling a little bit away, Acheron sees the world in black, white, and red. The red is fleeting according to her and it reappears when a choice is made. If Acheron is a psychopomp this makes sense, she would mostly see the world as the living and the dead and the red could be a tie to the idea of the red string of fate, as we know destiny is a major theme of HSR’s story. When we make choices that change the direction of fate, we interact with the red strings of fate. This could be another reason she’s at odds with the Stellaron Hunters, they adhere strongly to the idea of destiny but to death destiny would have a different meaning. Her sword has an eye and is adorned with red which is where the majority of the color in her design is centered, going back to my theory around her sword it could represent how it cuts strings of fate and the eye matches the one on the “Death” nightmare.

We also know she apparently hijacked the Ever-Flame Mansion party to come here, maybe because she sensed there would be a lot of death here and came to collect the souls?

Finally, I would like to reiterate I do not play HI3 this is just something I’ve noticed, so correct me if I’m wrong:

She seems to be a Raiden Mei Expy and I know nothing of that character but I did notice when she says “Do you remember me?” there’s the answer of no and yes, and she akins us to a dear friend she had. We, the protagonist, fulfill the same role in this game Kiana (I think that’s the HI3 protag) does in HI3 and I’m vaguely aware Raiden Mei and Kiana have some sort of relationship in HI3. This asking if we remember her could be two things to me: Either she’s asking if we remember her as we have faced death before or she’s asking if we the player remember her from HI3, which she may have an awareness of if she is a personification of death and that may link her to knowledge of the Imaginary Tree as trees seem to be associated with death in HSR when you remember Yaoshi is associated with trees as well and the fruit of their tree on the Xianzhou gives immortality, where if Luocha is an Emanator he would have that tree motif too and we know he has tree motifs because he’s an Expy of Otto who did interact with what I think was the Imaginary Tree and that carried over when Luocha was given the element of Imaginary (Of course I had to talk about Luocha who do you think I am)

Anyways there’s so so much more but this post is already really really long and probably incomprehensible so if I think of any more I’ll make like a part II post anyways thanks for reading this far if you did and feel free to add discussion, mwah!

[moonsglare]

my home, for all seasons || serval x reader

Love, she had found, was a lot like warmth, after all. And she’s got enough to fill a universe with it, right here with you.

content warnings: none !

wc: 939

It’s snowing again.

It was hardly a surprising sight in Belobog, even as the Eternal Freeze had begun to recede. The lands outside the city’s walls still remained cloaked in a pristine layer of white, decorated with frozen statues of monsters and men alike. And it would be many, many years before the heaters in the streets and homes of Belobog could retire from their duty.

Serval was used to the cold. To the nipping chill that settled in the tips of her fingers, rendering them far too clumsy to strum her guitar properly. It was, if anything, a persistent annoyance. Hence why she had only blearily stared at you when you shook her awake, a sun-bright grin on your face at an hour far too early for her to truly appreciate.

“Serval,” you whispered excitedly, your voice light like first snow. “Serval, it’s snowing.”

Groggily, Serval turned her head to the side, squinted, and sure enough—snowflakes drifted lazily outside the window, turning the morning light a diluted greyish-yellow. Distantly, she could hear the clamour of the waking city bleed through the walls of your shared apartment. “G’morning to you too,” she drawled, moving to roll onto you and bury her face in the warm junction between your shoulder and your neck. Her breath tickled the sensitive skin there and you squirmed, giggling, your hands finding her face to draw her back.

“Let’s go out,” you say, and Serval’s expression morphed into a pout.

“But ‘s cold,” she whined in response.

“We can cuddle after,” you offered, trying to sweeten the deal. Serval’s eyes glittered, brows rising suggestively as her hands found your waist to absently rub small circles into the soft flesh. “Plus, it’s been a while since I’ve even seen snow.”

Serval blinked. Oh.

The last time you would have been able to let yourself enjoy such a mundane activity would have been years ago, before… well. Before the Supreme Guardian had decided the Underworld was a necessary sacrifice in her battle against the Fragmentum, damning you and so many innocent others to a subterranean existence. Your time in the Underworld had not been kind, but everyone Serval had met from the underground city had only lovely things to say about you.

Sometimes, the only thing that kept some of us sane was her music, Seele had admitted once as they sat in Bronya’s office after a long day of meetings and discussions with bone-headed Overworld nobles. Her playing was an excuse for people to sing and dance and forget everything for a while.

There is comfort in music, Serval had agreed, and in her mind’s eye she could almost picture you: the line of your back and the bend of your arm as you held your violin, your eyes shut as you felt the music in your bones, drawing each note straight from your soul and giving it tender voice. Your heart, Serval had come to learn, reflected in your playing, and it made her wonder what your song would have sounded like down in the Underworld. Eventually, she thought that it would have sounded a lot like hope.

“In that case,” she murmured, as her lips flicked upwards in a grin to match yours, “I know the perfect place.”

The ‘perfect place’ in question was actually outside the city, which Serval knew might be a bit of a controversial choice—actually, no, it very much was—but then again, Serval lived and died by rock n’ roll, and there’s nothing more rock n’ roll in spirit than being a little controversial. Plus, it wasn’t too far from the city’s gates, and if anything, Serval could fight. All those years in the hell that was military school weren’t for nothing.

Especially now, as she looked at you under the pale sunlight, your breaths warm puffs of air in the morning chill. Your face was tilted towards the sky, snowflakes catching in your hair like constellations. And oh, that smile on your face—so dazzlingly bright that Serval swore she could go fucking snowblind. It’s the moments like these, just you, her and the crescendo of emotion between the both of you that makes her feel that maybe, just maybe, all that shitty heartbreak and pain was worth it. That all the grief and sadness had finally slid into place in the symphony of her life, discordant notes smoothing into a lovely harmony that led right to you.

Qlipoth above, she wanted to kiss you.

“It’s beautiful,” you say, your eyes still affixed to the pale heavens.

“Yeah,” Serval answered, but she’s not looking at the sky. “Sure is.”

As if sensing her stare on you, you turn to face her, your expression curious. “Is there something on my face?”

“Yeah, actually,” Serval replied after a moment, and stepped closer to you, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. A gloved hand rose up to cup your cheek, her thumb brushing across the seam of your lips. She leaned in close, close enough that you could feel her breath spill across your cheeks, and right before she pulled you in for a gentle kiss, she whispered, “it’s me.”

Serval greedily swallowed the groan you let out at her admittedly terrible pick-up line, but you didn’t push her away, so she was taking this as an absolute win. In fact, you pulled her closer, your arms winding around her neck until your bodies were pressed flush together, and the cold nipping at her skin was all but forgotten.

Love, she had found, was a lot like warmth, after all. And she’s got enough to fill a universe with it, right here with you.

[drowninginblox]

Zurücksetzen des Systems

Previous

Wenn ich meine Augen schließe, kommen sie mir in den Sinn. Ob es ihre leuchtenden Augen an den dunkelsten Tagen sind oder das Licht ihres Lachens, das meine Seele besser erleuchtet als das Licht des Himmels.

Herr, vergib mir für meine Unachtsamkeit. Welch ein Segen ist es doch, die Vision eines deiner Engel zu erhalten. Trotz der Versuchung, die mich auf den einfachsten Wegen der Kommunikation außer Rand und Band bringt. Sie haben keine Ahnung von dem Elend, das in meiner Seele wohnt.

Die Erde bebt unter ihren Schritten, ganz zu schweigen von ihrem Wesen. Dieses Lachen klingt bis zum Himmel, selbst wenn es in den abgelegensten Räumen geflüstert wird.

Herr, hilf mir.

Jeden Tag kehre ich zu dir zurück und flehe dich um Vergebung an, die ich nicht verdiene. Ich weiß, dass diese flüchtigen Gedanken nur meine Schuld sind, aber ich bitte dich, Herr, höre auf, denn ich bin nur ein Mensch.

Mögen die Schauer, die mir den Rücken hinunterlaufen, mit dem Gedanken an ihre Hand, die auf meinen Rücken gleitet, verschwinden. Lass die Gespenster des Wimmerns und Winselns in meinem Hinterkopf in die Tiefen deiner Vergebung bluten. Lass die Hymnen deiner Liebe genug sein, auch wenn ich sie nicht verdiene, geschweige denn ihre.

Als Eva von der Frucht aß, fand sie Adam ekelhaft in der Position, über die er verfügte, oder schön in dem Wissen, dass der Herr ihn dazu gemacht hatte? Oder war es, weil er der Einzige war? Wahrlich, er war der Einzige, der den Fluch, den sie teilten, verstand, auch wenn er deinen Plan nicht begreifen konnte.

Herr, was hast du mit mir gemacht?

English Translation!

When I close my eyes, they come to mind. Whether it be their vibrant eyes on the darkest of days or the light of their laughter illuminating my soul better than heaven's light.

Lord, forgive me for my indecency. The blessing you have given in receiving the vision of one of your angels, indeed. Despite the temptation that leaves me beside myself, in the most straightforward ways of communication. They have no idea of the destitution that resides in my soul.

The earth shakes in their stride, let alone their being. That laughter rings to the high heavens even when whispered in the more secluded of spaces.

Lord, help me.

Every day, I crawl back to you, begging for forgiveness I don't deserve. I know these passing thoughts are no one's fault but mine, but, I beg of you lord, cease for I am just a man.

May the shivers down my spine fade with the thought of her hand gliding down to the small of my back. Let the ghosts of whimpers and whines in the back of my mind bleed into the depths of your forgiveness. Let the hymns of your love be enough, even though I am not deserving of it; let alone hers.

When Eve ate the fruit, did she find Adam disgusted in the position he had over or handsome in the knowledge that the lord made him so? Or is it because he was the only one? Truly, the only one who understood the curse they shared, even though he could not grasp your design.

Lord, what have you done to me?

[endlich-allein]

DAY 30 • A SONG FROM A SIDE PROJECT

Of course I'm going to go for Till's solo project, I love what he's doing and there's so much good in it, although sometimes it could do with a bit more polish. I hesitated with the LINDEMANN project with songs I love like Steh Auf, Blut and Knebel. The F&M album is a banger from start to finish !

But today I'm going to talk about a song that has become like an anthem for me. I listen to it over and over again, I've got it on my Instagram profile, and I try to include it as much as I can in the playlists of the people I know. This song has imprisoned my heart. And it's all about the heart.

This song is 'Du Hast Kein Herz' from the album Zunge (2023)

With lyrics inspired by the poems Kein Herz and Wo ist dein Herz, published in In stillen Nächten, Du hast kein Herz is a powerful song that oscillates between accusation, despair and hope, while playing with images of violence and emotional loss.

The tone is dark, accusatory and melancholy. It oscillates between anger and sadness, reflecting a toxic relationship marked by suffering and misunderstanding.

From the very first line, the violence is highlighted ("Du quälst Tiere und auch mich" - "You torment animals and so do I"). The person described seems to take pleasure in the suffering of others. Secondly, the song suggests that hatred has drained the individual of all humanity ("Die Seele hat vom vielen Hassen / Deinen Körper längst verlassen" - "Your soul left your body a long time ago from hating"). The question arises throughout the text : is it a heartless birth or a loss due to the wounds of life ("Bist du ohne Herz geboren / Oder hast du es verloren?" - "Were you born without a heart or did you lose it?"). Are we born evil or do we become evil ? It is also about mental and emotional violence, with the image of the brain as a battlefield illustrating a permanent state of inner struggle and suffering ("Dein Hirn ein Schlachtfeld Tag und Nacht" - "Your brain is a battlefield day and night"). And finally, where I recognise Till's touch and personality is in the last verse: there's an emotional turnaround. The singer declares that he has a heart and is prepared to offer it to the person who doesn't, even if it means sacrificing his own ("Jeder hat ein Herz / Auch ich hab ein Herz / Doch du hast keins / So schenk ich dir meins" - "Everyone has a heart / I too have a heart / But you don't / So I give you mine").

Musically, it's very effective, the drums, like a beating heart, announcing the rhythm to follow. The arrangements are powerful, contrasting with Till's calm, almost disillusioned, even pleading voice.

I loooooove this song !

[gamerbot-22]

Honkai Star Rail Ficlet Series Collection Post

Just a collection post of all the stories written for my daily-ish challenge of writing a little narrative around HSR characters. Character names are put on a wheel and spun, and then a prompt is generated from a drabble prompt generator to serve as a jumping off point. Originally the idea was to write a story in 200 words or less, but by Sushang I made the executive decision to write until the single scene felt "done."

The Ao3 Series version of this collection post can be found here! A link to the custom dividers I use from Day 3 on can be found here!

Day 1 - Silver Wolf and Ice Cream, Intense Focus and the Consequences Thereof

Day 2 - Sushang and Painting, Subject on an Empty Stomach

Day 3 - March 7th and Socks, Astral Express Regional Floor Skating Try-Outs

Day 4 - Asta and Dinner, Working Up an Appetite

Day 5 - Tingyun and Singing, The Girl from the Luofu Went Walking

Day 6 - Acheron and a Scarf, Calm Before Lightning Strikes

Day 7 - Himeko and Breakfast, The Most Important Meal of the Day!

Day 8 - Mr. Welt Yang and Candy, Just a Spoonful of Sugar...

Day 9 - Clara and Piercing, Rite of Passage

Day 10 - Jing Yuan and Grass, Just a Bit of Fun in the Meantime

Day 11 - Kafka and Pajamas, Slipping Into Something More Comfortable

Day 12 - Blade and Nightmares, Wakey-Wakey

Day 13 - Gallagher and Chores, Closing Time

Day 14 - Luocha and Singing, Let the Spirit Move You

Week 1 and 2 Postmortem

Day 15 - Arlan and Ghosts, Lifting Spirits

Day 16 - Yunli and a Camera, Fiery Warrior vs. The Light of a Thousand Suns!

Day 17 - Argenti and a Houseplant, A Rose Gazing Starward

Day 18 - Bailu and Pizza, A Slice of Freedom

Day 19 - Sampo and a Cat, Bad Luck

Day 20 - Sunday and a Couch, How Temporary is Temporary?

Day 21 - Xueyi and Knitting, Bored Near to Rust

Week 3 Postmortem

Day 22 - Pela and Bicycling, Back to the Drawing Board

Day 23 - Guinaifen and a Dog, Sit! Stay! Subscribe!

Day 24 - Ruan Mei and a Sweater, Labor of...

Day 25 - Dan Heng and Hot Chocolate, I Don't Wanna Talk About Anything

Day 26 - Hanya and a Bracelet, The One Thing You Can't Replace

Day 27 - Yanqing and a Poem, Right on the Tip of my Tongue...

Day 28 - Sparkle and a Surprise, Pop! Goes the Masked Fool!~♫

Week 4 Postmortem

Day 29 - Serval and a Clock, Personal Best

Day 30 - Hook and Gardening, One Man's Trash is Another Mole's Treasure

Day 31 - Yukong and Lunch, Lunch Break

Day 32 - Stelle and a Hat, Hat Trick!

Day 33 - Aventurine and Letters, Unclaimed Item(s) #514v3 - Personal Letters from IPC Stoneheart, Aventurine. Unsent.

Day 34 - Huohuo and Tea, Who're You Callin' a Tea Pet?!

Day 35 - Herta and a Uniform, Made to Order

Week 5 Postmortem

Day 36 - Jade and Takeout, Taste of Luxury

Day 37 - Dr. Ratio and Strawberries, Something Sweet for Someone... Sweet?

Day 38 - Fu Xuan and Sleepwalking, Slacking Off

Day 39 - Firefly and a Blanket, Cocooned

Day 40 - Caelus and Sick, Burning Up and Cooling Down

Day 41 - Jiaoqiu and Apple Picking, A New Normal

Day 42 - Robin and Headphones, Demo Version

Week 6 Postmortem

March 3-4th Break. Will return on the 5th!

Day 43 - Rappa and Hair, Dazzling Ninja and Silvergun Shura in: Crash Bang Boom! Flashy New Hairstyle!

Day 44 - Gepard and Ice Skating, Teaching a Good Dog New Tricks

Day 45 - Qingque and Snacks, False Start

Day 46- Feixiao and an Accident, The Importance of Proper Form

Day 47 - Luka and Rest, Laid Up

Week 7 Postmortem

Day 48 - Lynx and Soup, Olm Soup for the Soul

Day 49 - Moze and a Tree, Looking Out For You

Day 50 - Jingliu and a Gift, To the Stars Above

Day 51 - Black Swan and Mind-Reading, Read Between the Lines

Break Again! Will be back on either March 18th or 19th!

Week 8 Postmortem

Day 52 - Natasha and Sleeping, A Taste of Your Own Medicine

Day 53 - Lingsha and Rabbits, A Girl and Her Rabbit

Day 54 - Topaz & Numby and a Voicemail, Healthy Anxiety

Day 55 - Seele and Roller Skating, Making Up

Day 56 - Misha and Chores, Hey, Diddle, Diddle

Day 57 - Bronya and Cake, Treat Yourself

Day 58 - Boothill and Dancing, Blinding Lights

Week 9 Postmortem

To be continued! ⋆｡°✩

Dividers in this post were made by @/saradika-graphics ☆

© All rights reserved by miHoYo

[thatswhywelovegermany]

Sorge für deinen Leib, doch nicht so, als wenn er deine Seele wäre.

Take care of your body, but not as if it were your soul.

Matthias Claudius (1740 – 1815), German poet and journalist

[a-gilded-imprisonment]

*Sighs loudly when I open the express door and it’s Welt instead of Aventurine.*

“Alright. Fine. Aventurine, you better be ready in 80.”

*Fishes 80 more tickets out of my pocket and stares at the [still a lot but not enough] tickets left.*

“…I guess I’ll have to throw my body and sell my soul to Herta again.”

(BYEEE I CANT COPE WHY HAS EVERYONE WHO HAS LOST THE 50/50 PULLED WELT BYEEEE THATS THE WRONG IMAGINARY FIVE STAR WITH A TRAUMATIC BACKSTORY)

Mmm, I can't promise~ But I will do my best, friend...

There's no need to seel your soul to Miss Herta, but a few runs through her Simulated Universe wouldn't hurt~

(Ooc: That's so real why. I lost my 50/50 to Yanqing actually! But I don't have an ice 5-star so yay I suppose? Wasted my pulls though... Ended up pulling Aven, and pulling the lightcone after I lost a 50/50 to Gepard's lightcone... I purposely had enough pulls saved to get an eidolon skgdkagkag but they're gone now.

I'll be grinding until the end of his banner to pull at least one, hopefully. Aven is my kin of all time, I need him to be at as high strength as I can ~ Mod Minie)

[soisaidfine]

Pearl necklace. Nicole Kidman (Isabel Archer), Jane Campion, Henry James (The Portrait of a Lady). Music: Wojciech Kilar

Christine Schäfer, Soprano: The necklace, strung pearl upon pearl...

Composer: Johannes Brahms Lyricist: Georg Friedrich Daumer

"The necklace, strung pearl upon pearl about your neck, swings merrily on your beautiful breast! It is granted soul and sense, it is intoxicated with bliss, through divine pleasure.

Imagine then what we would feel, we, within whom hot human hearts beat, if we were permitted to nestle intimately against such a breast?"

. . .

Die Schnur, die Perl an Perle Um deinen Hals gereihte, Wie wiegt sie sich so fröhlich Auf deiner schönen Brust! Mit Seel’ und Sinn begabet, Mit Seligkeit berauschet Sie, diese Götterlust.

Was müssen wir erst fühlen, In welchen Herzen schlagen, So heisse Menschenherzen, Wofern es uns gestattet, Uns traulich anzuschmiegen An eine solche Brust!

. . .

"Le collier, enfilé perle à perle Autour de ton cou, Comme il se balance gaiement Sur ta belle poitrine ! D’âme et d’esprit doté, De félicité enivré, Par ce ravissement divin.

Que devons-nous ressentir, nous, En qui battent des cœurs, Des cœurs humains si ardents, Quand il nous est permis De nous blottir tendrement Contre une telle poitrine !"

Nicole Kidman, Jane Campion: The Portrait of a Lady

[metalgirlie111]

Song of the day!!

Eifersucht from the album sehnsucht! I LOVE this one, the lyrics are definitely very aggressive, it has the same lyrics of cannibalism reminiscent to mein teil but in a more vengeful context! It has a sound and feel almost slightly similar to Tier, especially with the guitar, it has a more chugging sort of rhythm, the song is of course, about jealousy (eifersucht) and about envying others and wanting to enact harm on them, its more about envy and venom than just desire as if wanting to strip them off their traits! One of my favourite lines are “Hab ich die reine seele? Töte sie in Flammen. Habe ich dein Weib? Dann töte mich und iss mich ganz auf.” Which translates to - do I have a pure soul? Kill it in flames, Do I have your wife? Then kill me and eat me whole. This is pretty central to the theme of the song, I find the mention of purity especially intriguing in relation to acts so violent as cannibalism for vengeance, eating a heart, etc. Eating seems to be used as a metaphor to absorb the traits such as in the lines - Am I braver? Kill me and eat my heart, or Am i smarter? Kill me and eat my brain, it is a desire to assimilate it into you. There is also a rumour that it was written after Till and his wife broke up and Richard supposedly had an affair with her, which would make sense as to why the wife is such a central part of the song, the jealousy of a man’s wife being taken by another being expressed in violence, which is also very rammstein itself, it almost reminds me of Heirate mich slightly or stein um stein in the intense way the marital bond’s value is expressed rather in tenderness. It is also said on the Live Aus Berlin quiz Eifersucht is based on the movie “The cook, The thief, his wife and her lover” by Peter Greenaway, which in the climax of the film the titular thief is forced to eat the corpse of his wife’s lover. I think Eifersucht is totally underrated! It’s rarely been played live. Thanks for reading!

Love,

Em

[harufallinwonderland]

My ships cause I feel cute

Moot ships (aka their yumeships and ocs) (if my moots see this and A Yumeship of theirs isn’t on this doesn’t mean I don’t ship it just means I have ALOT of ships to write down)

@/shinysparklesapphires

Baritone (suite Precure) x Sapphire (Barisapph)

(Twst fandorm oc ship) Yuuki x Vivienne (Yune)

——

@/Maou the tree

Lunar vow Theresa (HI3) x Maou (Terimaou)

Thelema x Maou x Songque (both from HI3) (Thelemaouque)

—-

@/Xen-blank

Anon (blush blush) x Xen (Xenon)

Cole (blush blush) x Xen (Xole)

Eli (blush blush) x Xen (Xeli)

Scale (blush blush) x Xen (Xale)

(Oc x canon) Kon (Dc) x Xen (Dc oc) (XenKon)

(Oc x canon) Bruce (Dc) x Victor (DC oc) (BruVic)

—

@/Kamenriderbake

George Karizaki (kamen rider revice) x Brooke (George Brooke)

Kuroto Dan (kamen rider ex-aid) x Hack (Kurohack)

Yanma Gast (Ohsama sentai King-ogher) x Moth (yanmoth)

Fuwa Isamu (kamen rider zero one) x Gullveig (FuwaGuili)

Suga Kenzo (kamen rider gavv) x Bug (Bugzou)

🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜 🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜 🤍💜🤍💜🤍

SPECIAL MENTION

Kiana Kaslana x Raiden Mei (KiaMei)

My favorite ship of all time!

🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜 🤍💜🤍💜🤍💜 🤍💜🤍💜🤍

MXM:

(Also note the ship names may not be the normal ship names if the ships have A more common name please tell and I’ll edit it)

(Also I’m A multishipper so expect A few characters appearing more than 1 time)

(Also All my 10/10 ships have heart emojis next to them and yes 10/10 and otps can be two seperate things don’t question my logic I don’t even know myself)

Lelouch vi Britannia x Suzaku Kurugi (Code geass) (Suzalulu) (used to be my favorite ship of all time) (otp) 💜🤎

Dang heng x Jing Yuan (Honkai star rail) (Jingheng) (otp)

Black star x death the kid (Soul eater) (DeathStar)

Sonic the hedgehog x silver the hedgehog (Sonsilver)

Leona Kingscholar x Idia Shroud (Twst) (Leoida)

Taro Momoi x Sonoi (Avataro Sentai donbrothers) (Mononi) 💙❤️

Gira Husty x Jeramie Brasieri (Ohsama sentai donbrothers) (Giramie)

Takeru Shiba x Genta Umemori (Samurai sentai Shinkenger) (TakeGen)

Kairi Yano x Keiichiro Asaka (Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger vs KeiSatsu Sentai Patranger) (Kaichiro)

Sento Kiriyu x Banjou Ryuga (kamen rider Build) (BEST MATCH)

Kazuma Kenzaki x Hajime Aikawa (kamen rider blade) (Kazume)

Taiga Hanaya x Hiiro Kagami (Kamen rider ex-aid) (Bravesnipe) (otp)

Henri Wakamiya x Masato Aisaki (Hugtto precure) (Hensato)

Akito Shinonome x Tsukasa Tenma (Project sekai) (Akikasa)

Wise x Lighter (Zenless zone zero) (LightWise)

Wally west x Dick Grayson (dc comics) (Birdflash)

Midori Takamine x Yuzuru Fushimi (Enstars) (YuzuMido) (otp)

Tim Drake x Konner Kent (dc comics) (TimKon)

Bruce Wayne x Clark Kent (dc comics) (Superbat)

Sora x Riku (Kingdom hearts) (Soku)

Kakashi Hatake x Might Guy (Naruto) (Kakagai) (otp)

Touya Kinomoto x Yukito Tsukishiro (Card captor Sakura) (Touyuki) (otp)

Kai x Cole (ninjago) (Lavashipping) (otp)

Nico di angelo x Will solace (percy jackson franchise) (Solangelo)

Ivan x Till (Alien stage) (Ivantill)

Hajime Hinata x Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu (Danganronpa 2) (HajiHiko)

Shuichi Saihara x Kaito momota (Danganronpa V3) (Kaiichi)

Mondo Owada x Kiyotake Ishimaru (Danganronpa) (ishiMondo)

Kuzhuchi Souda x Gundam Tanaka (danganronpa 2) (Soudam)

FXF:

Bronya Zaychik x Seele Vollerei (both Seeles as they are just the same person) (Honkai impact 3rd) (BronSeeles) (does this count as poly????? Because the two Seeles ARE the same person) 💙🩶❤️

Durandal/Bianka Ataegina x Rita Rossweisse (Honkai impact 3rd) (DuraRita) (otp) 💛🤍

Shiina x mimi (i wish to love you untill your dying day) (Shimi) (otp)

Mana Aida x Regina (doki doki precure) (MaGina) (otp)

Mana Aida x Rikka Hishikawa (doki doki precure) (Maikka) (otp)

Hibiki Hojo x Kanade Minamino (Suite precure) (HibiKana)

Nagisa Misumi x Honoka Yukishiro (Futari wa Precure) (Nagihono) (otp)🖤🤍

Tsubomi Hanasaki x Itsuki myoudouin (heartcatch precure) (Tsuki)

Mirai Asahina x Liko izayoi (mahou tsukai precure) (MiraiLiko)

Akira kenjou x Yukari Kotozume (Kira kira precure a la mode) (yukaki)

Hikaru Hoshino x Lala Hagoromo (Star twinkle precure) (HikaLala)

Sora Harewataru x Mashiro Nijigaoka (hirogaru sky precure) (SoraShiro) (otp)

Hana Nono x Homare Kagayaki (Hugtto precure) (HanaHoma) (otp)

Hana Natsuki x Sakura Igarashi (Kamen rider Revice) (HanaSaku)

Mari ohara x Dia Kurosawa (love live Sunshine)

Rin Hoshizora x hanayo Koizumi (love live school idol project) (RinPana)

Shizuku Osaka x Kasumi Nakasu (love live Nijasaki) (otp)

Ai Miyashita x Rina tennoji (love live Nijasaki) (AiRina)

Setsuna Yuki x Yu Takasaki (love live Nijasaki) (Setsuyuu)

Sumire Heanna x keke Tang (love live Superstar) (SumiKeke) (otp)

Shiki Wakana x Mei Yoneme (love live superstar) (shikimei)

Ichigo Hoshimiya x Mizuki Kanzaki (Aikatsu) (IchiZuki) (otp)

Ichigo Hoshimiya x Aoi Kiriya (IchiAoi) (Aikatsu)

Yuzu Nikaido x Lily Shirogane (Aikatsu stars) (YuzuLily) (otp)

Minori Hanasato x Haruka Kiratani (Project sekai) (Minoharu) (otp)🤎💙

Airi Momoi x Shizuku Hinomori (project sekai) (ShizuAi) (otp)🩵🩷

Kohane Azusawa x An Shirashi (Project sekai) (Anhane)

Mizuki Akiyama x Ena Shinonome (Project Sekai) (MiziEna) (otp)

Shiho Hinomori x Saki Tenma (project sekai) (ShihoSaki)

Ichika Hoshino x Honami Mochizuki (project sekai) (Ichinami)

Honami Mochizuki x Kanade Yoisaki (project sekai) (HoNade)

The Herta x Ruan Mei (Honkai star rail) (The Ruanta)

Kafka x (hsr) Himeko (honkai star rail) (Kafmeko)

Mizi x Sua (Alien stage) (MiziSua)

Aoi Asahina x Sakura Ogami (danganronpa) (AoiSaku)

Kaede Akamatsu x Maki Harukawa (danganronpa V3) (Kaemaki)

Madoka Kaname x Homura Akemi (Madoka Magica) (MadoHomu) (otp) 🩷🖤

Sayaka Miki x Kyoko Sakura (Madoka Magia) (Sakyo) (otp)

MxF:

Dick Grayson x Koriand’r (DC) (DickKory) (OTP) 💙❤️

Sonic the hedgehog x Amy Rose (Sonic the hedgehog) (SonAmy) (otp)

Amy rose x Metal sonic (sonic the hedgehog) (Metamy) (otp) 🩷💙

Fuwa Isamu x Yua Yaiba (Kamen rider zero one) (Fuyua) (Otp)

Tsukasa Tenma x Nene Kusanagi (Pjsk) (NeneKasa)

Bruce wayne x Selina Kyle (Dc) (Batcat)

Mao Isara x Anzu (enstars) (AnAo)

Tsubasa Inuzuka x Sononi (Avataro Sentai Donbrothers) (Tsunoni) (OTP)🖤🤍

Naruto Uzumaki x Hinata Hyuga (Naruto) (NaruHina)

Percy Jackson x Annabeth Chase (PJO) (Percabeth)

Nia x Jay (Ninjago) (Jaya) (otp)💙💙

Hyuna x Luka (Alien stage) (HyuLuka)

Siegfried Kaslana x Cecilia Schariac (SiegLia) (otp) (my parents) 🩵🤍

Makoto Naegi x Kyoko Kirigiri (Danganronpa) (Naegiri)

Makoto Naegi x Mukuro Ikusaba (Danganronpa) (Neakusaba)

Hinata Hajime x Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa) (Chinata)

Gundam Tanaka x Sonia Nevermind (Danganronpa) (Gunia)

Shuichi Saihara x Kaede Akumatsu (Danganronpa) (Saimatsu) (otp)

Kaito Momota x Maki Harukawa (Danganronpa) (KaiMaki) (otp)

Sakura Kinomoto x Syaoran Li (Cardcaptor Sakura) (SakuSyao) (otp)

Roxas x Xion (Kingdom hearts) (Roxion)

POLY: (I’m not putting all the names)

Go princess poly (Main four cures of Go Princess Precure)

Pirates poly (the GoKaigers from Kaizoku sentai GoKaiger)

ChikaRikaYou (love love sunshine)

“I love you and all you guys” (this is A meme from the game) (Xenoblade chronicles 2) (Rex x Pyra X Nia X Mythra) (otp) 💙❤️🩶💛

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(List subject to change depending if I get other ships and/or I remember ones I forgot)