#siblings tattoo

[l1-b1]

I love drawing the smith sibling’s hair

[serpentface]

A witch of the Naig-Troibadnnas (Yellowtail river valley) people, resting and enjoying a smoke of the mild stimulant brolge leaf on a hot summer day.

Witches are a small part of the everyday cultural framework among the Hill Tribes. They are individuals considered born possessed by a virgranul, a type of disembodied wild spirit that seeks to inhabit human flesh, either entering the body at the moment of conception, or entering the body at the moment of death. The latter is a dire circumstance that requires significant intercession to fix (the dead body may wander off without rites, leaving the person's soul trapped and liable to warp into the dangerous fuldaigh spirit), while the former circumstance is what causes a person to be born a witch.

In the case of those afflicted in the womb, possession by virgranul is lifelong, and is both a curse and blessing- it divides and isolates them from the human world and causes other wild spirits (both benevolent and malicious) to be perpetually drawn to them, but also allows for them to be attuned to the subtleties of spirits, and able to work magic and divination that the everyday person is incapable of.

Witches are usually recognized from a young age due to marked behavioral differences or atypical development, though are sometimes simply identified as such without obvious behavioral indications, by other witches having read signs of their coming. Their occurrence is not frequent, usually once in a generation for any given tribe. An identified witch child will be taken from their family (the timing varies by tradition, though is usually upon puberty) and into mentorship by an established witch, who will impart their accumulated knowledge and skill and teach the child how to best harness their condition.

One can be a witch regardless of their gender, with the only commonality being that they must remain unmarried, and are expected to never have children (deemed too dangerous, unavoidably placing a child in the path of potentially harmful wild spirits). With no spouses or children to support them in holding a household and herds, witches are instead supported by their communities as means of payment for their services. They typically live in semi-isolation in the boundaries between the village and wilderness (a reflection of their own division between the world of people and of wild spirits, and a protective measure for their communities), and will periodically be brought needed supplies. They do not commonly enter villages unless summoned, or for the sake of certain holidays and festivals, and live most of their lives in seclusion aside from any given mentee (who will in turn care for their mentor in old age).

The societal function of witches is as intermediaries between people and their ancestors, people and wild spirits, and as especially skilled performers of practical magic (most commonly weaving protective spells into worn items, such as clothing or the nose rings of cattle). Forms of practical magic and intercession with ancestors and spirits are performed by all members of society, but a witch has intimate, detailed knowledge of such things and tremendous natural skill that makes them an invaluable asset.

Witches personally discern the identities of the spirits living in any given area and will attempt to familiarize themselves with them, learning in depth about their ways, giving warnings of where the particularly dangerous (or mischievous) ones are, and giving recommendations on which will be receptive to offerings in return for boons. When a village needs to commune with a particularly powerful or dangerous spirit (such as a wildfolk witch), they will commonly send their own witch as an intermediary.

They are ascribed have the ability to directly summon ancestors (who otherwise come and go of their own volition, and rarely ever deign to come at the call of one who is not their descendant). This is of great use when a person finds themselves punished by their ancestors with no certainty as to why, or cases where an orphaned child's ancestry must be identified to gain them proper spiritual support.

They are also regarded as having innate qualities of divination, particularly in reading birdsign (itself generally acknowledged as communication from ancestors, and occasionally gods). The average person has basic knowledge in reading omens of birds and a learned repertoire of key signs, but a witch can divine the messages of birdsign in immense and specific detail, through a vast knowledge system of the meanings of the species, sex, flight direction, gaze, prey, number, and songs of birds. It is common for people to approach a witch for a reading of the skies before undertaking a significant venture or life change, in order to receive detailed and specific advice.

Witches are always literate (and will be taught to read and write by their mentor if they cannot already) and will record their repositories of knowledge in tomes. These are items of absolute secrecy and taboo for a non-witch to touch (the consequences can be severe, you really don't want a witch ancestor-spirit upset with you). Witches can often become competitive about the knowledge stored in these tomes and are known to organize heists amongst themselves in order to gain access to each other's secrets. Most people avoid getting themselves entangled into the complicated rivalries of witches, as these competitions can get ugly and result in many a petty curse if one gains a witch's ire.

---

The only visual cue distinguishing this man as a witch is the tattoos on his forearms, otherwise usually regarded as inappropriate to mark in the contemporary Hill Tribes cultural sphere (the face, upper arms, and sternum is reserved for important clan/tribe/ancestry identification, hands and forearms are reserved for witches, and the rest of the body is appropriate for decoration). These unique forearm tattoos indicate his ancestral connection with a lineage of witches, not blood ancestry but rather the generations of mentors that have produced him. The lines extending down to his fingers are the newest, indicating that he has fully mentored another witch and gained a place in this ancestral line.

The rest of the tattoos here are tribe and blood ancestry identifiers (on the face and upper arms respectively, worn by all members of society), and purely decorative imagery (visible here is a deer, horse, eagle, and a dragon). He also has a snake on his forearm, applied decades ago in an act of youthful rebellion, which has since gotten in the way of critical open skin space.

His clothing is otherwise typical wear for warm seasonal conditions- a man's wool shawl and woven belt, short trousers, decorative deer hide (distinct to the Naig-Troibadnnas), and sandals (these are imported Wardi style sandals, which have been modified with preferred elevated heels). The horn shaped torc on his forearm identifies him as an esteemed elder.

[arleniansdoodles]

Some loose sketches of Atreus and Calliope, doubling as pose studies! All of them are from my post-Ragnarok AU where Atreus rescues Calliope from the Underworld, and they go on a little adventure on their way back to Midgard XDD One of their stops is Rome, hence Atreus wearing some Greco-Roman garb!

The third sketch is when they finally reach Midgard; Calliope is wearing a fur cloak similar to Kratos’ from the beginning of the game! And it looks like they’re about to get into a fight with some nasty creatures loll

[kankuroplease]

One door shut and another one flew open!

ShiKonan may not have won but Yahikonan always will for me! So i drew them, Nagato, their siblings, and Nagato for my warmups this week 🍊🫐✨

[maggot-baggage]

Methinks its time to move back home actually

[here-comes-the-moose]

When I’m writing my Modern AU but then try to figure out and calculate how the life I gave the Batch is financially possible:

[nonoel-28]

So both Reiju and Ichiji have tattoos

It makes me wonder if Niji and Yonji have some as well and what they would look like... one of these days, I'll have to come up with my own tattoo designs for them.

[whump-tr0pes]

The Honor Bound Series: The Final Chapter

This is a series. Start here, continued from here.

This is a sequel to Honor Bound, Honor Bound 2, Honor Bound 3, Honor Bound 4, Honor Bound 5, and the prequel Vera.

AO3

Masterlist

Contents: the final arc, fluff, recovery, sibling tattoos, surprise party, slow dancing

~

Whoever was in charge of the music was mostly playing slow songs now. Isaac estimated that it was past midnight – far later than he was used to staying up these days, but he didn’t want to go home yet. His chest warmed as he and Gavin sat and watched the two dozen or so people still dancing; although at this point, they were mostly just leaning on each other and swaying in place. Gray and Kali had their arms around each other, her head resting almost on their upper stomach, they were so much taller than she was.

Isaac smiled at that. Their friendship had taken him a little off guard – but, he figured, maybe it shouldn’t have. Kali was kind, and gentle, and strong in that quiet way that Gray was. They were alike, in as many ways as they were different. And having her over to the house, watching how she loved Gray – it had helped them all trust that this place was safe.

Gavin raised his head off of Isaac’s shoulder as Sam wandered over to them and sat in the chair beside Isaac. Without a word, Isaac leaned over and kissed the top of Sam’s head. He sat back in his chair and glanced around.

“Where’s Zachariah?” he said, stretching his shoulder.

Sam pointed. “There, dancing with Aditi.”

Isaac rubbed his eyes. “Shit, sorry,” he murmured. “You’d think I would see him. Second tallest person in the room. I’m just…” He paused to yawn. “…sleepy. Sorry.”

Sam chuckled and stretched their legs out. “Why don’t you head home? It’s late.”

“I will,” Isaac said. “Not just yet, though. I want to stay a little longer.”

“This is nice,” Gavin said on Isaac’s other side. “Just… being with people.”

Isaac nodded. His gaze moved slowly across the room. He took in the people dancing, the fairy lights hanging from the worn walls of the community center, the mailboxes in the far corner, the darkness waiting just outside the windows. He wished the whole family was here; Vera and Tori had left hours ago, and Finn and Ellis had taken Iris home about an hour after that. Edrissa had slipped out at some point in the night.

Still, everyone he knew, everyone he loved – they were all here, in this town, within a twenty-minute walk from his house. He could see Vera and Tori tomorrow, if he wanted. And the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that. He could watch Iris while Finn and Ellis rested – watch her grow, and change, seemingly right before his eyes – and he did, every week. He could walk to Kali’s house and she would sit him down and make him tea and they would talk about the snows this winter, or the supply of flour coming into Laporte, or the way it was still sometimes hard to leave his gun in the car. He woke up every day next to Gavin, and saw Sam every day as well – and they were happy with the new extension built into the house that gave them their own room. As he looked around at the slow-dancing people around him, his throat tightened, and he swallowed the thick lump that tightened in his throat.

As if Sam could read his mind, they reached out and squeezed his hand gently. He squeezed back.

With their arm extended, he could see their tattoo: a sprig of Queen Anne’s Lace that wound around their left wrist. He had a matching one on his own wrist, over the shackle scars there.

“Edrissa says the flower means safety and sanctuary,” Sam had said when they suggested it.

“It’s perfect,” Isaac had said. It was one of the first tattoos he got.

Tears burned his eyes as he traced the pale, delicate design on their wrist with his finger. Everything was so calm, so warm. He smiled and swallowed again.

“This was nice,” he rasped. “I’m glad we were able to put this together.”

“Nice for you, maybe,” Sam said with a laugh. Their slinged hand tightened, then released again. “You didn’t have to try and keep this from Edrissa for a month.”

“That’s true,” Isaac conceded. “No, I only had to figure out how to source the supplies four dozen cupcakes without the town’s worst snoop finding out about it.”

“I think that’s an easier job than keeping her busy and away from here for the past few days while we set up,” Sam said, pouting out their lower lip. “Resourcing is a skill, but deception is an art.”

Gavin snorted. “Christ,” he huffed. “No, the hardest job was convincing Ciara to be torn away from her seedlings for an entire afternoon and evening, and that was courtesy of yours truly.” Gavin inclined his head and flourished his hand as if he was giving a bow. “And without her, we wouldn’t have had music. So, you’re welcome.”

As if on cue, the song changed again. Isaac smiled. He didn’t know any of these songs; he didn’t know any songs, really, but he liked what he was hearing. “Hm. I think Gavin wins.”

“No fair,” Sam protested with a grin.

Isaac laughed. “I mean, Meredith is the one who baked the cupcakes, so I can’t even take credit for that one.”

Gavin snorted. “You should just be grateful I wasn’t the one baking them.”

“We would have survived,” Isaac said, nudging him playfully. “As long as we had Finn to take care of us after.”

The three of them laughed together. The warmth in Isaac’s chest swept through him, so sweet that it ached. Once their laughter died down, they were all quiet for a while, watching the others dance. Isaac swam in the music, in the softness, in the joy.

Sam stood. “Wanna dance?” they said, holding a hand out to Isaac.

“Sure,” he said. He kissed Gavin’s cheek and followed Sam out onto the dance floor. Once they reached the center of it, they embraced and swayed in place. Isaac rested his cheek on the top of Sam’s head. They laid their head on his chest. Their slinged arm was carefully tucked between them.

Isaac felt the steady rise and fall of their chest, the slow shuffle of their feet on the floor beside his. His lips pulled into a smile as he held them tight, then tighter. When they shifted their arm in its sling, he loosened his embrace and held them gently again. They squeezed him, he squeezed back.

“Love you,” he said simply, his breath ruffling their curls.

“Love you, too,” they murmured.

He listened to the words, felt them spread through him like warmth. He looked up and saw Gavin watching them with a gentle smile.

I love you, Gavin mouthed.

Isaac felt those words, too. He felt the slow, steady beat of the music vibrate through the floor into his shoes. He felt the warmth of the air around him, and the glow of the dim fairy lights hung on the walls that made everything look golden and sweet. He felt his sibling holding him tight, their head resting on his chest, safe, breathing slowly in time with him. And he knew, close-by, the rest of his family was safe and warm.

He buried his face in Sam’s hair and smiled, and smiled, and smiled.

THE END

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[ohno-the-sun]

This is like when you find out there’s a 4th Jonas brother

What are you talking about they’ve been here the whole time???

Blah self indulgent don’t mind me

[sunkissedhyaciinth]

🌞 the twins 🌙

i stumbled across a post somewhere about how artemis has epithets relating to dance and I RAN to make this

[frenchfry99]

Adding up Sunny to the spikey pile of my ocs ☀🪓

Another goober for @evillillad 's metal au >:3c

The typical rebel kid character that rejects any kind of authority and likes to do silly shenanigans and pranks (violence) for fun. Despite the mischief they can cause, Sunny is rather shy in person.

Their music preference is a blend of mostly punk rock,grunge, nu metal and hip hop genres and it's pretty inconsistent as they enjoy giving a listen to new things frequently

The type of guy that dresses like emo Adam Sandler on daily basis but gives the best fashion advice if you ask her. Enjoys art in any shape and form, loves to craft things himself (sewing preferably) and if you happen to become their friend you'll most likely regularly receive some funky handmade stuff from her :3

Speaking of friends I don't think they'd have much or any at all, like what life did you expect after running away from home Sunny smhhhh.

But Sunny has his cats and he's happy about it!! Lives by herself with at least a couple of them

Few doodles + not colored ver cuz it looks nicer to me

[borgialucrezia]

there's something absolutely brain-inducing about the whole "only a borgia, it seems, can truly love a borgia." quote which serves as the main theme of the three siblings' relationships and repressed feelings and it's a result of how dysfunctional and unhealthy their dynamics drove them to the extremes with each other; cesare and lucrezia becoming too incestuously codependent while juan becoming too much of a lonely yearner which provokes him to act incestuously aggressive toward his siblings...

[parroset]

Some more silly nonsense with these two, because I missed them. Aaravos does have a point, you know.

[arleniansdoodles]

More from my mafia!Sifu AU! Continuing with my painting of Sean's tattoo, here is Yang's! He has the Yellow Dragon since his element is earth; I also included the game's sacred mountains motif on his arms (a dragon does appear in that location, so it fits loll)

And MC makes an appearance too XD I love drawing her in hanfu! :D

[kankuroplease]

It is indeed funny that all of Chiha’s friends agree her brother is hot.

He’s not Michi’s type, but she still thinks Naruto is a cutie 🖤

[one-time-i-dreamt]

My siblings took me to go get my first tattoo with them, but I was so indecisive that I didn’t end up getting one and they made fun of me for it.