#slash at enemies weak point

[lady-bog]

I absolutely love that Zelda doesn't have a sword in Echoes of Wisdom, since ot would ignore her personality just to make her a reskin of Link

[allfearstofallto]

Being Kenma's girlfriend isn't for the faint of heart. Kenma is sweet, caring, strangely physically affectionate, and most importantly generous, but even he has his flaws. A few things that grind your gears or even upsets you to the point of anger. Specifically, the lack of attention he gives you.

You know it's his job, his streaming and gaming, but even you find yourself longing for his attention. He always seems elsewhere, his mind wandering to what he's going to play next or who his next collab will be with. In the end, you always feel second in his life. Second to his games and consoles and career.

You're used to going to bed alone with him in the other room, only to feel him climbing in beside you at close to two in the morning. His arm will be draped around you and you'll be pulled into his chest, followed by the sound of his soft snoring.

“The character creation in the newest game I'm playing is incredible,” Kenma said in his typical monotone voice while you sat his breakfast down in front of him. He spoke slowly and quietly all the time, but you who'd been his girl for years already knew how to recognize his excitement.

“Is it?” You questioned. Kenma played a lot of games. A lot. More games than you'd seen or heard of. Some were games he was just curious about, some were review copies that he had to play, but he had a lot of experience under his belt. So when Kenma said anything was good in a game, it meant it was probably outstanding, considering how high his expectations were.

He stuffed some food into his mouth and began chewing, swallowing the food down a little too quick before talking again, “The face modeling is super realistic, but not uncanny at all. The devs really put a lot of work into it. Watch me play later tonight.”

You giggled at his enthusiasm, but agreed nonetheless. It always made you shy to watch your boyfriend stream. The amount of comments flowing in asking for his opinion and telling him how cool he was did something for your confidence. They admired him, but you truly knew him. You know his flaws and weaknesses, his favorite and least favorite foods. You knew how many times it took for him to beat that particular souls like game, the one that frustrated him enough to quit for weeks. So tuning into his stream that night was no issue.

You watched a few minutes of the game, a JRPG type hack and slash fighter. The game did look incredible with beautiful landscapes and oddly fun enemy designs. Kenma played perfectly, only stopping to pause for a second to show off his in-game character. You tried to look extra hard at her face, that being one of the things that Kenma enjoyed most about the game.

With a soft smile and a blush, you giggled shyly. His character looked just like you.

[saphronethaleph]

Negotiate Early, Negotiate Often

The unknown Sith lit his lightsaber, one end, then both, revealing it to be a saberstaff.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan activated their own lightsabers, then Obi-Wan frowned slightly.

“Just curious,” he said. “But what’s your name? I just realized I’m only thinking of you as ‘the Sith’.”

“My name is Maul,” the Zabrak replied. “Darth Maul. I am your end, Jedi.”

“Hmm, debatable,” Obi-Wan replied. “We don’t actually know yet and that’s the point of this lightsaber battle. As soon as we get around to starting it, anyway.”

He shrugged, twirling his blue saber blade around his hand. “But I’m curious, that’s all. Why now? After hiding for a thousand years, Maul… why now?”

“Now is the time to reveal ourselves to the Jedi,” Maul declared. “To take our revenge.”

“Right, there’s two Sith at any one time,” Obi-Wan agreed.

“...Padawan?” Qui-Gon asked.

“I’m negotiating,” Obi-Wan replied. “It’s sort of experimental. I’ll see how it works.”

He returned his attention to Maul. “But – well. There’s two Sith at any one time. There’s currently… what, ten thousand Jedi Knights, and about the same number of trainees and padawans? It’s a lot, is what I’m saying. And now we know you exist.”

Maul’s mouth had fallen open slightly, and he shut it with a scowl.

“You’re lying,” he said, shaking his head. “There can’t be ten thousand of you.”

“There very much can,” Obi-Wan answered. “Though I’m not a knight. I’m a Padawan. Qui-Gon is a Master, but he is also a knight.”

He reached into a pocket. “I’ve not got the names of all ten thousand, but my comlink has a few hundred comcodes programmed into it-”

Maul snarled, reaching out with his hand, and threw a piece of detritus at Obi-Wan with the Force. Obi-Wan immediately put his comlink back in his pocket, spun his saber, and sliced the object in half.

That seemed to get the battle going more generally.

“Is this how weak the Jedi are?” Maul asked, grinning, as they locked blades in front of one of the power cores.

“I’ll be honest,” Obi-Wan replied. “I’m not sure you thought through that whole bit about how we haven’t known you existed for a thousand years.”

Qui-Gon advanced, and Maul twisted to block both attacks at once. That turned into a slash aimed at removing Qui-Gon’s head, and Obi-Wan deflected the slash away with a swipe of his own blade.

“You see,” Obi-Wan went on, as the battle ebbed and flowed. “We haven’t had much in the way of enemies with lightsabers for a thousand years. Most of our work has been dealing with enemies who, at the most, have blasters – and generally speaking we aim to disable, not kill, unless killing is the only remaining option.”

“A sign of the weakness of the Jedi!” Maul laughed.

Obi-Wan blocked all three of Maul’s next attacks, flowing through the forms of Soresu with an easy grace. “Perhaps,” he said. “Or perhaps it’s a sign of strength. To kill someone when there’s an alternative is to take the easy way out – finding a solution that doesn’t require killing everyone who disagrees with you is harder, but more rewarding.”

Qui-Gon just sort of stood back, watching his Padawan and trying to look for an opening where he could help without promptly getting decapitated.

“Are you the Master or the Apprentice?” Obi-Wan asked. “Because if you’re the Master, then – I’ll be quite honest, I do question why you didn’t reveal yourself years ago, and why you’re acting largely as hired muscle.”

He shrugged, working it into his bladework as he deflected one attack after another. “And if you’re the Apprentice, then… again, why do you reveal yourself now? If you didn’t know there were that many Jedi, what’s your Master’s motive?”

“Stop! Using! Soresu!” Maul snarled, trying to force an attack through Obi-Wan’s defences.

“I’d rather not,” Obi-Wan told him. “We’re talking, aren’t we? I’d rather have the time for a discussion. But please, do think through what I’m saying. Why Naboo?”

“My Master handles politics,” Maul said, then scowled.

“Ah, so you’re the Apprentice,” Obi-Wan declared. “In that case, allow me to compliment you on your excellent skill with Juyo. If I weren’t using a purely defensive Soresu style I’d probably have been filleted by this point-”

Maul punched him in the face with the hilt of his saberstaff, and Qui-Gon stepped in with his green blade flashing to save Obi-Wan from a fatal blow.

“If you could stop annoying the Sith, Padawan?” he suggested.

“Negotiations are often fraught, Master,” Obi-Wan replied, picking himself up again and working in tandem with his Master. “You need to know about the other person before you can reach an acceptable compromise.”

“So, your Master handles politics?” Obi-Wan asked, through the glowing energy doors. “And he sent you here.”

“I don’t want to talk to you any more,” Maul said. “I’m going to kill you both.”

“And then what?” Obi-Wan replied. “Your Master tells you well done, and you go back into hiding, while the next time you face the Jedi Order we’ll have been preparing for it? What about this is worth it?”

“Revenge!” Maul snarled. “At last, we will get revenge on the Jedi!”

“Revenge for something a thousand years ago?” Obi-Wan asked. “...even Master Yoda isn’t that old.”

He shrugged. “What I’m trying to say is that – are you really getting what you want? Or are you following the orders of your Master?”

“I am trying to meditate, here,” Qui-Gon said, kneeling between two of the force fields.

“It’s still a legitimate question,” Obi-Wan replied. “If at least one of us three does have to die, then don’t we at least all want to know why? Maul’s Master sent him here for something, but we don’t know what. Does Maul know? Or is he just going where he’s sent, into deadly peril, where his Master hasn’t even told him how many Jedi there are?”

He lifted his gaze, to catch Maul’s eye. “Has he been told as little as possible, to make him a weapon instead of a person?”

Maul snarled, then the energy gates began to deactivate.

Maul and Qui-Gon immediately engaged in a duel, and as soon as the gates in front of Obi-Wan deactivated he sprinted forwards.

The last one activated just before he reached it, and he stabbed his lightsaber into the projection systems. The whole laser gate shorted out, and Obi-Wan followed through to join his Master in an attack on Maul – then reached out his hand, suddenly yanking on Maul’s saberstaff with the Force.

That threw the Sith off, and Obi-Wan destroyed the staff in a single blow.

“Sorry,” he said. “That was very Niman of me.”

Maul stared at the two glowing lightsabers pointed at him.

“...Jedi don’t kill prisoners, right?” he asked.

“If you’ve committed any crimes, then that might eventually happen,” Obi-Wan said. “But that would be up to a trial. I don’t actually think you’ve done any crimes except trying to run over Anakin with a swoop bike and one count of assault… so that probably wouldn’t happen, no.”

He glanced at Qui-Gon. “Does that sound right?”

“I’m not even going to interfere here, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon replied. “You’re clearly better at defensive negotiations than me.”

“Defensive negotiations?” Maul asked.

“Negotiations involving Soresu,” Qui-Gon explained.

“In that case…” Maul said, then paused. “I have a new person I want to get revenge on. He’s called Darth Sidious, and he did want a benefit from attacking this wretched place.”

He grinned. “He wanted to be elected Chancellor, using the sympathy for his own planet.”

Obi-Wan made an interested noise.

“Well,” he said. “That’s a very impressive revenge, achieved quickly. My compliments!”

[moonselune]

Heyyy, if you're cool with it, could you write how the ladies would actually if Tav took a pretty severe slash/blow for them in battle? Like they're distracted by something else and Tav rushes over, ignoring everything else, and takes the hit for them AND finishes off the enemy to protect the ladies? Bonus points if tav is all bloodied up afterwards and asks the ladies "are you ok? You're not too hurt, are you?" While they're just stood on the verge of passing out lol

ahaha I love this, I may have also slipped in a variation of 'ahahaha ur so pretty don't kys" into it

���── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Minthara:

The chaos of battle raged around you, the sounds of clashing steel and magical incantations filling the air. Minthara was in the thick of it, her sharp eyes focused on a particularly tough enemy. She didn't see the second attacker closing in from her blind spot, but you did.

Without a second thought, you surged forward, pushing through the pain and exhaustion that already weighed on you. Just as the enemy’s blade swung down, you put yourself between it and Minthara, taking the brutal slash across your chest. Pain flared through your body, but you gritted your teeth and finished off the attacker with a swift, decisive strike.

Minthara turned, her eyes widening as she saw you standing there, bloodied and panting. "Are you okay? You're not too hurt, are you?" you asked, your voice strained but full of concern.

Minthara's usual composed demeanor shattered. Her eyes, wide with shock and fear, darted over your injuries. "Foolish! Why did you do that?" she hissed, her voice trembling. She stepped closer, her hands hovering over your wounds as if she wanted to help but didn't know where to start.

You managed a weak smile, trying to reassure her. "Couldn't let anything happen to you," you said softly.

Her face softened, and she let out a shaky breath. "You… you risked your life for me," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and frustration. "Stay with me. Don't you dare close your eyes."

Despite the pain, you reached out and took her hand. "I'm not going anywhere," you promised.

Minthara's grip tightened, her fierce determination returning. "Good. Now, let's get you patched up," she said, her voice regaining its strength. She supported you, her touch both gentle and firm, guiding you to safety.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Karlach:

The battlefield was a blur of chaos and bloodshed, and Karlach was in her element, blazing bright as she tore through enemy lines. But in her fervor, she didn't notice the enemy sneaking up behind her with a deadly intent.

You saw the danger and didn't hesitate. Ignoring the pain and exhaustion already gnawing at you, you sprinted towards her, throwing yourself between Karlach and the enemy. The blow hit you hard, a searing pain spreading through your body as you took the brunt of the attack. But you managed to turn the tables and finish off the enemy with a final, desperate strike.

Karlach spun around, her eyes widening in horror as she saw you crumple to the ground, blood pouring from your wounds.

"Are you okay? You're not too hurt, are you?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper as you struggled to stay conscious.

Karlach dropped to her knees beside you, her face a mask of anguish and fury. "Soldier what the hell were you thinking?" she cried, her voice choked with emotion. "You could have been killed!"

You tried to smile, though it came out as a grimace. "Couldn't let anything happen to you," you managed to say, your voice weak but sincere.

Tears welled up in Karlach's eyes, and she cupped your face in her hands, her touch surprisingly gentle despite her strength. "You idiot," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Don't you dare die on me."

Despite the pain, you reached up and squeezed her hand. "I'm tougher than I look, babe" you joked, though the effort made your vision swim.

Karlach let out a shaky laugh, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Yeah, you are," she said, her voice softening. "But you're not invincible. Now, let's get you some help." She lifted you with ease, her arms strong and secure around you as she carried you to safety. "Hang in there, love," she murmured, her voice filled with determination. "I've got you. You're going to be okay."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Lae'zel

The battlefield was a chaotic mess of clashing swords and roaring enemies. Lae'zel was fiercely engaged with a formidable foe, her movements a blur of lethal precision. However, she didn’t see the enemy creeping up behind her, poised to strike.

You though noticed the danger and rushed towards her, your instincts overriding any concern for your own safety. You threw yourself in front of Lae'zel, taking the full brunt of the enemy’s slash. Pain exploded through your body, but you gritted your teeth and pushed forward, using the momentum to drive your weapon into the enemy, finishing them off.

As the enemy fell, you staggered, blood pouring from the deep wound in your side. Lae'zel turned, her eyes wide with shock and fury as she realized what had happened. She caught you before you could collapse, her strong arms cradling you gently despite the ferocity of the battle around you.

"Are you ok? You're not too hurt, are you?" you asked, your voice strained with pain.

Lae'zel’s face was a mix of rage and something softer, something she rarely showed. Her hands, usually so strong and commanding, trembled slightly as she held you. "You foolish, brave creature," she growled, her voice thick with emotion. "Why did you do that?"

You managed a weak smile. "I couldn’t let anything happen to you."

Lae'zel's eyes blazed with a mix of pride and frustration. "You are a warrior, and yet you risk yourself for me. Do not do this again." Her voice softened. "Let us get you healed."

With a surprising tenderness, she lifted you up, her usual harsh demeanor replaced by a protective fierceness as she carried you to safety.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Shadowheart:

The battle raged on around you, with Shadowheart casting spells to protect your group and fend off attackers. In the midst of the chaos, an enemy slipped through, raising a weapon to strike her down. She was too focused on her spellcasting to notice the imminent danger.

Without thinking, you threw yourself between Shadowheart and the attacker, the enemy's weapon slicing deep into your flesh. You felt the blinding pain but pushed through, using your remaining strength to dispatch the attacker with a swift, decisive blow.

As the enemy fell, you turned to Shadowheart, blood pouring from your wound. "Are you ok? Please tell me you are not hurt." you asked, your voice weak but laced with concern.

Shadowheart's eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight of your injury. Her usually composed demeanor shattered, replaced by sheer panic and worry. "Oh, gods, what have you done?" she whispered, rushing to your side.

You could see the tears welling up in her eyes as she pressed her hands to your wound, her healing magic flowing into you with an urgency you’d never felt before. "Why did you do that? You should have let me handle it," she said, her voice breaking.

You reached up, cupping her cheek with a trembling hand. "I couldn’t let you get hurt. You're too pretty."

Shadowheart’s tears spilled over and a bitter laugh left her lips as she continued to pour her healing magic into you, refusing to let you go. "You idiot," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of anger and love. "Don’t you ever do that again."

As the pain began to recede under her healing touch, you gave her a faint smile. "I’ll try not to," you said softly, your eyes never leaving hers.

Shadowheart leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "I love you,"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Hope you all enjoyed this- let me know what you think - Seluney xoxo

[mm-lurking]

MAY I REQUEST FOR ANGST POOKS 😘😝 MYBE ABT BRINGING UP THEIR DEAD EX BY ACCIDENT DURING AN ARGUEMENT? THERES RARELY ANY ANGST IM GETTING MAD 👹

I saw your ask at 11 pm and something about the way you wrote your request made me giggle so hard idk why 🤣 Since you demand angst I shall give it to you. You’re my first ask btw so thank you very much! 

I’m not sure which character you wanted me to write for so I’m going to go for Blade and Aventurine. Though feel free to send me specific characters through the ask again!

Warnings: no fluff at all, pure angst, fem! reader and ex, reader has no chill running her mouth, Aventurine’s kinda feels ooc sorry about that WC: 1881

Blade

You were a hair’s breadth away from being gravely injured. If it weren’t for Blade’s interruption you would have been Antimatter Legion dinner tonight. In your eyes you weren’t in that much danger, you knew you could handle it on your own but in Blade’s eyes, it was just another flashback to how he lost her. It felt frustrating to watch him downplay your capabilities, it's not like you were some weak damsel in distress. There was a reason your relations with the Stellaron Hunters had lasted as far as it had; you were good at wielding your weapon and making good use of the enemy’s weaknesses. Sure there were moments when you were in trouble but you never really got to live the thrill of it because Blade would always step in to help you even when you didn’t ask for it. 

You loved him dearly and appreciated his assistance but just for this instance, you wanted to deal with things by yourself. Ultimately your agitation got the best of you and so now here you were with your arms crossed, glaring at Blade after the enemy was taken care of.

“Have you always been this foolish?”

You stare at him with wide eyes and an open mouth, questioning his audacity of insulting you like this.

“Excuse me?”

“You could have gotten hurt.”

He says matter-of-factly and you feel your jaws clench at the way he speaks to you.

“Blade I am fully capable of looking after myself! I need you to stop interrupting my fights!”

“If I didn’t that Antimatter Legion pawn would have sliced your head off your shoulders.”

“And how the hell do you know that was going to happen?! I could have fought it easily if it weren’t for you!”

He turns around and looks at you with cold eyes which make you flinch momentarily.

“You overestimate yourself.”

“I do not! I have worked relentlessly on my skills! I know what I can handle or what I can’t! You just never allow me to prove it!”

“You are a fool. I do not need to see you pushed to your limits to acknowledge your skills.”

“Then why the hell won’t you let me do what I want?!”

You both argue back and forth with neither of you backing down. Blade speaks calmly, just as he always has but with slight frustration whereas you on the other hand are full-on yelling and boiling over to the point of rage. He takes a deep breath and continues.

“I am just looking out for you-”

“I am not weak like Chun. Stop treating me like I am.”

You almost immediately regret it the moment those words leave your mouth. Your words are sharp and bitter, and pierce his heart like a blade slashing through flesh. His eyes are ablaze with fury and pain and the way his jaw clenches is enough to let you know you have overstepped your boundary.

Chun was his first love. She was a good woman with a kind heart, and despite how odd she looked amongst the Stellaron Hunters, they welcomed her as long as it made Blade happy. But in a world full of evil, being kind is a weakness and ultimately she met her end in the hands of an enemy during heated negotiations. For the one whose life was already cursed by immortality, he took her death hard and swore never to love again, for he couldn’t bear to witness yet another loved one depart for the nth time in his long life. His already broken heart took ages to heal and by the time you crossed paths with him, he was still grieving over her. You knew this very well because it was you who assured him that history wouldn’t repeat itself with you. It was you who helped him heal further and gave him the confidence to open his heart up once more to you. You knew what she meant to him because he had been honest with you about his past yet-

“Blade I-”

-here you were driving the very knife you had taken out of him so lovingly back into his heart in full force. He looks at you with so much despise and agony that your heart hurts knowing you are the cause for it. A blade being stabbed over and over into his body hurt, but those wounds always healed after a while. Yet the wound your words had caused was one that no medication could fix. Your throat tightens and you want to reach out to him and hold him but you stay glued to your feet.

“We don’t need to be around each other anymore.”

Despite the torment he feels, he looks straight into your eyes and monotonously speaks. There is not even a single moment spared for you to reply as he walks out of the room and slams the door shut, indicating he is done with you. The door closing was not just the end of the argument you both were having, it was also the end of what you were to each other. You stand there rooted to the ground as tears sting your eyes. Why did you have to be like this?

Aventurine

“Aventurine I swear to god I am not playing your petty games again.”

You angrily huff as you cross your arms and glare at Aventurine with disapproval. The audacity of this man was truly something, especially at a time like this. You both were stuck in an interesting situation, where Aventurine had made a gamble with an enemy territory and he wanted you to be part of it. More precisely, he wanted to turn you into his bargaining chip for a while. There was one tiny problem. He wasn’t asking for your approval, he had already made the deal.

“The table has already been set, friend. You just have to play your role real well.”

Your jaw hangs low when you realise what he has done. 

“Aventurine don’t tell me….”

“They have decided to ask for you in exchange of information. Do not worry, I will find a way to-“

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as a loud slap resonates across the room. You stare at him in disbelief with tears welling your eyes, unable to process what he has done. A shaky sigh leaves his mouth and he stares at you, bewildered by your behaviour.

“It hasn’t even been a full week since we finished another deal and you want me to jump head-on into another one?!”

“Was there a need to slap me like this? If you’re forgetting, friend, you agreed to help me out on these deals regardless of the risk. Or should I have the doctor examine your memory?”

“Aventurine I agreed to help you out, not be used however you please! You could have at least asked me first before making the deal!”

You rub your temples and rethink the entire situation through. Your relationship with Aventurine was compatible due to one simple fact: you both loved taking risks. The thrill of the gamble and the adrenaline of waiting for the results kept you both alive. It was the drug you both needed in this cruel unjust world.

But this, this was different. This wasn’t just any gamble and it wasn’t a small one either. Being traded off to the enemy territory for a few weeks was no easy task and you have no idea what the hell Aventurine was thinking. In your last deal, you barely made it out alive as the tables turned against your favour. It was a miracle your assets weren’t taken and that you weren’t killed in the process.

“…I promise you will be fine, friend.”

Tears sting your eyes and you try to take a deep breath. 

“How can you be so sure?”

“The gaiaithra triclops blesses me abundantly. We will not lose.”

“Is that what you said to Lilac as well before her demise?”

You hear how his breath hitches in his throat at the mention of Lilac. He coughs a little and then stares at you with a look you cannot decipher.

“Do not bring her up.”

His voice is a mere whisper and you know you’re crossing some lines already. Yet you don’t stop there. You jab your right index finger into his chest with every word you speak.

“I don’t know what’s worse, being a gambling chip on purpose or being a gambling chip unknowingly, like she was.”

He grips the hand you have on his chest tightly. You can’t help but wince a little at how he’s looking at you with red eyes filled with regret and anger. He tries to speak but you cut him off.

“Was losing her not enough to learn your lesson? Or do you turn everyone you love into pawns of your game?”

“You’re crossing the line now.”

He warns and you shake your head.

“You treat everyone like an asset, even the ones who truly love you without any hidden agenda. No wonder you couldn’t save Lilac-“

“Enough!”

Before you can process what is going on Aventurine pulls out a gun from his inner coat pocket and shoots a random vase on the table behind you. The bang of the gun and the loud shattering of the ceramic into pieces makes you jump and shake a little. He then shifts his gaze on you and lets your hand go before issuing his warning.

“…you need to leave. Leave before I accidentally hurt you.”

“I-“

“I said leave!”

He points the gun at you. His hand is shaking in a manner you have never seen before and you can tell he doesn’t want to do this but you’re giving him no choice. You stare at him for a moment and nod your head before scurrying away.

Once you’re out of his sight he plops onto the nearest sofa and drops his gun. It lands with a loud thud as he puts his head into his hands and shakes visibly. Flashbacks of that dreaded day start to play over and over in his head and he clenches his teeth as a tear rolls down his eye.

Lilac was a woman he met during one of his travels as an IPC stoneheart. They got along pretty well and eventually fell in love. A few years ago, Aventurine asked her for help during a deal he made and she agreed only for the other party to target her as leverage against Aventurine. He still remembers the pain in her eyes as she looked at him, confused and hurt from how she became the target. He remembers holding her in his arms apologising over and over for his lack of foresight, unable to figure out where he went wrong.

It was the first and last deal he ever lost. And now you, his new partner after several hard years of grief, were bringing up old wounds that never healed. Gaps of his heart that nothing would ever fill. Another tear rolls down his eye as he grits his teeth further. Had he known you would bring her up like this, he would have never told you about her. It’s always the closest ones that hurt you the most. ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ©mm-lurking 2024 do not copy, steal or reuse my work.

[blingblong55]

Perception- 141 x M!Reader

Based on a request

M!Reader, angst, mentions of blood,

The Gulag was the government agency in charge of the Soviet network of forced labour camps 

You are a well known member of Task Force 141. Although on field you are known for being the violent and viscous way you fight enemy soldiers, many on base don't really mind calling you names. In a way, you have become the freak of base. Ghost himself fears you at times, mainly because he has see you kill men with your bare hands and act as if it was nothing. He has seen the blood of the enemy dripping from your body and how you act as if it was normal. The team has so much respect for you though, they understand you are there for the mission, that you'd kill if it means to reach the goal.

Nothing really stands in your way when it comes to combat. But before you had become the man you are known as today, you were normal. A man of honour, never wanting to hurt anybody, no matter the circumstances.

----

What changed you, was 12 years ago, you were 2 years into your service when in a mission you were captured. Although the Soviet Union had fallen, Russia still held prisoners in infamous Gulag. You and a few of the other men who were also captured were tortured. Day and night was a living hell. The conditions were always horrible, men dying ever other hour due top weather and physical strength.

One night, you and three other men tried to escape, but because of a guard dog, you all failed. You fought back though, kicking, scratching and punching the guards. When one of the men saw you fight, he knew where they'd send you to next.

"глупый гребаный человек, думает, что может убежать от нас." a soldier spoke, some laughed as the other beat you senseless. They had broken your old self to the point that you just didn't care how you survived. For three hours straight every soldier that wanted to, would go and kick you, punch or even throw rocks at you.

Sometimes at night when you feel your most vulnerable, you feel for the cigar burns they left around your body. At times, you look in the mirror when you are shirtless, the deep scars that were scattered all over your body. Each touch took you back to the three years you were held in.

The winters were unbearable, at times, some of the men that would sustain injuries would die or have body parts be amputated. Others also died from hyperthermia, and somehow you survived the easy deaths.

On the night they sent you to a new part of the camp, they made sure to tattoo a symbol on your chest. A large skull a sword that pierced the top of it. All the prisoners were in cages, it ranged from the smallest of men to the biggest of all. You were well in your early 20's, so your shape was not so bad, even after all the days you spent without eating.

Once they clothed you properly, they threw you and a few other men into the fighting area/stage. Rich people watched from the stands as you all looked at them, you were all new. No one knew what the hell you were thrown in for.

Until you spotted the tools for fighting. And eerie sound came from speakers, the crowd clapped and cheered as soon as the prisoners started to fight each other. You, with some luck held a small dagger, a man much smaller than you sprinted to you, a sword on his hand.

If this was the way of getting out might as well fucking fight, you thought. You quickly dodged the man and soon stood behind him, you slashed his throat and took the sword from him. For hours on end, the smallest and even biggest of men fell to their demise. Blood was soaking the floor beneath you. Only 10 men survived from 50. You being lucky number 3.

And for many nights the routine was the same. Get beaten to sleep, trapped into a cage and wake up early, eat little to nothing and by sundown fight for your life.

In your time of fighting, you learned a few tricks, go for both weak and big. You did things you aren't proud to ever admit. You killed more men than any of the task force ever dared to do.

One night as you slept another prisoner escaped his cage, you woke up to being held by a knife at your throat.

"ты убил моего гребаного брата" the man spoke. (Translation: you killed my fucking brother)

"этот слабый ублюдок на это наткнулся" you answered coldly. (Translation: this weak bastard stumbled upon it)

"Я убью тебя" (Translation: I'll kill you)

"Нет, если я убью тебя первым" and thats when you grabbed the knife from him, stabbing him in the eye and then his throat. Before the guards came, you threw the night far from your cage and pretended to sleep. (Translation: Not if I kill you first)

----

You still have nightmares about it, but they aren't ever too bad. This mission that you were on though was a hard one. You and the rest of your team were captured. Price took the situation under control, trying to make negotiations with the enemy. In your years since being freed from the gulag, you hadn't spoke Russian or even heard it until tonight.

"Говорю тебе, сегодня вечером мы договоримся об этом, а завтра они проснутся мертвыми." the soldier said from the other room. (Translation: I'm telling you, we'll settle this tonight, and tomorrow they'll wake up dead.)

Your blood ran cold. Your breathing started to get out of control, you looked around the room, none of the other men knew what they had said. Gaz was the one who noticed your shift in behaviour, "Mate, whats wrong?" he whispered which caused all the other to look at you.

"I won't die, not by fucking Russians." your hands slowly shaking, you tried to steady your breathing, and thats when you realised you were back in a cage. You knew you were trapped, but it was as if you were young again, fighting every night for a spot to live.

"What does that mean?" Soap asked.

"Nothin'" you answered. You have to escape, you can't live like that anymore. You looked around the room and saw a poster, the same kind that was at every fight. You started to feel dizzy, and thats when Ghost noticed it, you were having a panic attack.

"Price, we have to get him out, now."

One look at Price understood why, Ghost shifted closer to you, he positioned himself in a way that would help him rub your back.

"s'alright mate, I won't let that shit happen twice." Ghost knew about what happened to you years ago, he accidentally found the files Laswell and you worked hard to bury. But not once did he push to know more, at times when you felt comfortable, you would open up, and he'd listen to the stories of those days.

But you couldn't listen, you didn't really understand the words that came out of his mouth when he tried to reassure you. Your hands digging at your skin, trying to feel your skin brought some good.

"Gaz, you untie me, and I'll untie you." Price ordered, soon the two men were up. They untied Soap, who untied Ghost. And he knew you best, so he opted to untie you once the Russians were taken down.

And once your eyes met Price, Ghost and Gaz untied you, Soap holding close as they all comforted you. Your breathing was starting to go back to normal. But still, the memories and the horror that place brought you were no fun.

The constant nights where you wished to just end your life, that maybe I'd be best if you die by your own hands and not by someone else's, especially not in front of the all the wealthy people who would watch the fight as if it was a sport.

The memories will forever stick to you and the regret you carry is who makes you the soldier you are today.

-----

A/N: I wanted this to be longer, but my ideas ran out, sorry

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

Tags: @xweirdo101x

[obscured-everything]

​​OBSCURA trailer analysis & theories

The OBSCURA trailer is very pretty (watch it if you haven’t already <3) and is also full of interesting symbolism and snippets of Latin. In this post I’m going to be manually translating and providing notes on the Latin, as well as discussing what the numbers mean and giving my own plot speculations. SPOILERS for OBSCURA’s Chapter 1 with every love interest. 

I’m going to be working with the theory that the numbers correspond to the Major Arcana in a Rider–Waite–Smith tarot deck. I’ll be pulling tarot card information from A.E. Waite’s 1910 book ‘The Pictorial Key to the Tarot’, where he discusses the symbolism of the images in the cards and provides divinatory meanings. 

Shoutout to @/starlitmanta and @/mostlygayrage for posting their own analyses before me! I got inspired by both of them to both write down my thoughts and then actually finish the post after leaving it for months lol. @/mostlygayrage has some interesting stuff on the imagery and also delved into the Latin! Although he took it as one sentence which I won’t be doing – I’m going to take the double forward slashes as an indication of a break. 

Disclaimer that I haven’t formally studied Latin in years so if there are any errors feel free to point it out in the notes! 

Cirrus

18. Presbyter // Ecclesiae lunaris XVII: The Moon. Priest // Lunar churches 

18. Obsequium // ducit ad caelum Obedience // he leads to heaven TL notes N/A Tarot meaning To quote Waite, “The moon is increasing on what is called the side of mercy… the path between the towers is the issue into the unknown. The dog and wolf are the fears of the natural mind in the presence of that place of exit, when there is only reflected light to guide it…the message is: Peace, be still; and it may be that there shall come a calm upon the animal nature...” 

Upright: Hidden enemies, danger, darkness, terror, deception, occult forces, error. Reversed: Instability, inconstancy, silence, lesser degrees of deception and error. Speculation I think we can all agree that Cirrus is not trustworthy, hence danger, deception, occult forces etc. Nevertheless, Vesper (if you’ve got a good ending, at least) puts great degrees of trust in him. ‘A calm upon the animal nature’ calls to mind his odd ability to influence Vesper’s choices and force them into saying ‘yes’, but I also thought it might reference something about Vesper putting aside their instinctive reservations about Cirrus’ suspicious character to follow him into an unknown future. 

Leading to heaven is, to me, a bit double-edged; it could mean death or paradise. Very fitting, I think. 

Keir

20. Keir // Cavillatur fur XX: Judgement. Keir // Mocking thief 

20. Fatum // vestrum vel extraneus [Destiny / (calamitous) death] // yours or a stranger TL notes I’m inclined to believe that Keir’s name being his plain name rather than an epithet is probably just part of his blunt kind of character, and ‘mocking thief’ is probably related to his personality too. Also, there is another piece of Latin on that first screen – ‘cultellus’, which means ‘dagger’ and points downwards towards where his dagger is held. Also, ‘fatum’ is a very interesting word in that it carries an intriguing potential double meaning. Tarot meaning Upright: Change of position, renewal, outcome. Reversed: Weakness, pusillanimity, simplicity; also deliberation, decision, sentence. Speculation Waite’s initial discussion of Judgement is very Biblical which I doubt has much to do with OBSCURA’s use of it. I do think the divinatory meanings are very interesting – I think that at a good/best end of Keir’s route, he’ll be able to come out on top and secure a good and/or stable future for himself and/or Mouse Hole. 

My current theory is that, since we have had mentions of Keir and Oleander in each others’ routes, that they have direct effects on each others’ fates. This fits with ‘yours or a stranger’ of course, but also the double-edged ‘destiny or (calamitous) death’ – I’ll speculate more in Oleander’s route, but I think he and potentially most of Mouse Hole will not fare well if Vesper picks Oleander. 

I’m interested in why his dagger was explicitly pointed out and labelled. I’m kind of shooting in the dark here but I think it’ll be significant in the future – either as a symbol of his history (specifically with Oleander, perhaps?) or as a plot device of some sort. 

Oleander

11. Nerii // Periculosum scurra XI: Justice. Of oleander // Dangerous clown 

11. Patiuntur // sicut habes They are suffering // just like you are TL notes More technically, ‘nerii’ is the genitive of ‘nerium’, which means oleander. This makes sense to me when I think about how he’s had a history of changing names – he’s moreso embodying the qualities of oleander (a pretty but dangerous plant) rather than taking it as a definitive name. 

‘Patiuntur’ is in the plural, and suffering might be a strong word depending on how you look at it – the original word is like enduring through something difficult or unpleasant. Tarot meaning Waite basically says that the card has ‘obvious meanings’ so I don’t think I need to look too closely into it. 

Upright: Equity, rightness, probity, executive; triumph of the deserving side in law. Reversed: Law in all its departments, legal complications, bigotry, bias, excessive severity Speculation The second half of the second piece of Latin, ‘sicut habes’, is in the second-person and I’m assuming that this is meant to address Vesper/MC. Maybe Oleander is also looking for something that he can’t find or afford, although the plural throws me off a bit if that’s the case. Maybe it’s referencing Oleander’s previous Vigils (since Vesper is currently holding that position, ‘just like’ they have) or something…? 

Now, here is my plot theory which may or may not be insane. We know that Oleander has committed murder, and was very blasé about it; presumably he’s done this sort of thing before. We know that in his route, Keir has been alluded to, Griff has shown up and Keir is presumably going to show up at some point. I think that Oleander’s involvement with Keir is going to end very poorly for Keir, even leading to the calamity insinuated in Judgement. Specifically, I think that Oleander and Keir are going to be caught up in a serious crime and Keir is going to take the fall, leading to a permanent end for him (death, probably) and the following collapse of Mouse Hole. Oleander will get off lightly or scot-free (Justice’s ‘triumph of the deserving side in law’, ‘deserving’ as opposed to Keir who is indisputably a criminal and receives ‘excessive severity’). 

This could be from Keir and his group failing the burglary since Vesper isn’t there to cover for the injured lookout, or it could be something else that brings in the dagger which was pointed out in Keir's portion of the trailer. I’m thinking murder, honestly. 

Francesco

10. Franciscum // innocentes nobiles X: Wheel of Fortune. Francisco // innocent nobles 

10. Tempus // decurrit Time // runs out TL notes Grammatically, ‘Franciscum’ is in the accusative (the case used to mark the ‘object’ on which a verb acts). This could be a stylistic thing or it could allude to how he’s being ‘acted upon’ by whatever power/influence his family have. 

‘Decurrit’ is literally ‘runs down’ which fits with the hourglass imagery, but I imagine that the spirit of the phrase is ‘runs out’ especially since his route already alludes to that. Tarot meaning To quote Waite, “the symbolic picture stands for the perpetual motion of a fluidic universe and for the flux of human life … the essential idea of stability amidst movement. Behind the general notion expressed in the symbol there lies the denial of chance and the fatality which is implied therein.” 

Upright: destiny, fortune, elevation, luck, felicity. Reversed: increase, abundance, superfluity. Speculation I think that at some point within Francesco’s route, his family is going to be further involved. I assume that these are the ‘innocent nobles’, which makes me think that whatever state or situation that they find Francesco in won’t be very innocent at all. Alternatively, it could be that his family is more innocent/harmless than they present themselves as – depending on circumstance, this could be a big win for Vesper or a big loss because they don’t have the family backing that they thought they did. 

The Wheel of Fortune carries connotations of luck and change in fortune. I assume that Vesper provides Francesco with some degree of ‘stability amidst movement’ and that any ‘denial of chance’ involves Francesco leaving the marketplace and returning to the very clearly mapped out future that his family has for him, thus leading to a bad end. ——————————

Thanks for reading to the end!

[imaginedanvrs]

i've been thinking about lovers to enemies with natasha so... enjoy??

warnings: smoking, extreme mental health issues, violence, murder, reader is not okay, implied major character death

“You’re smoking again.” Her voice always had a way of piercing through the background, unable to ever be overshadowed by the endless hustle of the city. You barely spare her a glance as you take another drag, but you know that she’s reluctant to take her observing eyes off of you and onto the collection of bodies across the alley. You’re too far past the point of predictability for her to be sure she won’t join them. 

  She’s more skilled than you, but you always had an edge that was left unchecked and has now become something she never believed it could. She underestimated you and you can’t blame her. Your old self would have been horrified to witness the ceremonious snap of your sanity. 

  “Backups on the way,” she informs as she approaches. She keeps her distance, but she wants to see you. The orange glow of your cigarette does nothing to illuminate your features. It’s difficult when the city casts enough shadows to protect you, however it can’t prevent the life that infests it from interfering. 

  A taxi speeds past the alleyway too suddenly to shine a light on most. Natasha only sees it because you were momentarily looking her way, though it's enough. Enough for her to catch your grey eye, drained of its colour and life since that night you were slashed across the face. You had told her once that it allowed you to see the world more distinctly than ever. That was the first time you turned the blade on your lover, adamant that you were saving her. 

  “Let me help you,” she offers, cursing herself for being too struck on your face that she hadn’t used the second of light to identify your weapon of the night. 

  “You don’t know how,” you tell her. Your voice has changed over the years. Maybe it’s the smoke you inflate your lungs with. Or maybe you really are a different person. “Only I know how to help,” you correct her, crushing the cigarette beneath your boot and taking the slim knife from your belt. 

  “You’re not well, y/n.” This angers you, greatly. 

  You lunge at her, blade gleaming with the blood of those that now serve as obstacles that lie in the way of doing what you have to. It’s for her own good. “I want to save you,” you tell her as she blocks your repeated strikes but never offers her own. You’ve improved since you used to train together. The ruthlessness you possess makes her anxious that she won’t be able to handle you before the agents arrive. They’ll handle you in the way she can’t bear to. Unfortunately, you don’t make it easy for her. 

 You dance in a sinister ballet for some time before you take the final leap of the grande show and slam Natasha to the floor. You beam as she struggles beneath you because you’re just so happy to finally be able to do this for her. You can give her the ultimate display of love - setting her soul free. 

  “Don’t do this,” she pleads with you but your mind has been set for years. 

  “I love you.” You're pressing the blade into her neck, only restricted by all of the strength Natasha is using to suppress your own. “I’ll see you wherever we end up next. It will be so much nicer,” she recognises this voice. It’s the one that used to come over you when you would hold each other during those unforgiving winters. It’s a voice that promises protection, but the person it embodies doesn’t understand that concept anymore. 

  You never get to deliver your final act of service to the love of your life. You're interrupted by a blazing heat erupting in your chest and a kind of weakness you haven’t felt in a long time. Instead of throwing you off of her, she coaxes you onto your back and offers words of comfort to your confused features. 

  You don’t know what’s happening, but you think there’s a chance you’re about to experience what you wanted to provide the redhead your heart had always yearned for. Perhaps it made sense that it would cease for her too.

[whumpees]

My dearest (2023) whump list

Synopsis: Yu Gil Chae is a pretty, bubbly, and a bit spoiled young lady who's called the 99 tailed fox of Neunggun-ri. She is also a bit of an outcast because other young ladies are jealous of her. They seem to think she's too straightforward and her behavior is inappropriate for a young lady, while young noblemen think highly of her. Gil Chae knows how to get men to fall for her but fails to capture the heart of the person she likes. Lee Jang Hyun is a mysterious man who suddenly appears in the Neunggun-ri social scene. Nobody really knows anything about him. Young nobles don't like him, but the elderly are wrapped around his finger. He's been dating around a lot, but he becomes curious about a certain 99 tailed fox, and one day, the said fox quite literally crash lands into his arms. Once war is brewing, the pair finds themselves separated before they could even start to make sense of their feelings.

Whumpee: Lee Jang Hyun played by Namkoong Min

Episodes: 21 (divided into two parts: 10 for the first, 11 for the second)

Very whumpy show damn

_______________________________

Contains spoilers

Ep1: flash forward: the show starts out with the male lead on the shore covered in blood and panting holding his sword and an army of people waiting to charge at him :: slashed in the arm, somebody wraps his wound

Ep5: everyone paying attention to their injuried love interest and rushing to help him but the male lead is standing there watching them with blood dripping from his arm but no one is paying attention to him (my baby boy 😭) :: Later female lead is arguing and screaming at him and he just leaves her but then she notices the blood on his hand and commands he sits down and wraps his wound and says it's severe and not gonna heal easily so he needs to rest for a month :: Blood through his bandage :: Someone throws something at his face & the cut drips blood on the ground

Ep6: contracts a disease but is unaware, later while waking he puts his hand on his head and sways (dizzy or a headache), coughs up blood, fighting with the enemies, slashed in the side, "from this point, nobody is getting past me" (HE'S FIGHTING WHILE SICK to protect fl), fought dozens of soldiers and when there's just one remaining he's finally getting weak and has blurry vision and gets slashed in the back

Ep7: his enemy pushed him and he falls down in pain, laying on the ground, somebody kills the enemy for him, the fl is near him but she doesn't see him!!! Fuck. he cries then passes out on the ground alone in the forest, wakes up on the ground, panting and trying to get up and is weak, walking unsteadily, waving to his friends that he's there then passes out and falls down, unconscious in bed and being tended to, woke up

Ep8: having a conversation with fl and he was reaaaally hurt by her words he started tearing up and was about to cry :: In a prison cell

Ep10: crying and hurt (he acts hurt so well)

Ep11: rememberd fl and cried (seriously i love it when this actor cries he depicts so much emotion in his face and this scene was adorable)

Ep12: sword pointed at his neck leaving a cut :: Tearing up while telling a personal story to someone

Ep13: crying in shock and absolutely heartbroken (I'm a sucker for this man's tears)

Ep14: hit on the head and knocked down, tries to move but ends up passing out, woke up startled, gets up immediately and kinda unsteady :: Tearing up :: Crying again :: On his knees begging to be punished instead of fl and saying he's ready to do anything or even be a servant for the rest of his life to let her go (bear in mind this is not like him 😳 so it means it shook his core to see fl humiliated like that) :: Shot in the back by an arrow to protect fl, passes out on top of her, unconscious in bed, tended to by his friend and fl, wakes up

Ep15: wakes up and caresses female lead's face then passes out again and his hand drops, wakes up, lifts his head and smiles and it causes him pain :: Pretends to still be passed out so fl doesn't leave :: Fl takes care of him while he's still pretending to be unconscious and she sees his scars :: Pretends to limp & collapse & be in pain :: His friend tells him to not pretend to be in pain but this time he actually is in pain

Ep16: unwrapping his bandages :: Wants to cry :: Teary eyes :: Teary eyes again

Ep17: teary eyes

Ep18: crying :: Hit over the head and collapses unconscious and his friend catches him but he also gets hit and they both fall to the ground :: Walking blindfolded and swaying (hasn't recovered from the blow to his head), in a prison cell hands tied and blood on his face :: Interrogated and kinda dazed while answering and looks weak, beaten :: Blood A LOT of blood dripping from his face, more beating, collapses, passes out :: On the ground bloody and helpless trying to reach out to the ring the fl gave him :: Put on a cart while blindfolded and unconscious and drops the ring (gosh i love when their hands are extended out when their unconscious it showed in multiple scenes in this ep), carried out of the cart and put among a pile of the dead, fl finds him and lifts the blindfold and ooff he's SOAKED in blood it looks so good, shakes him to wake up but he doesn't, half opens his eyes and reaches out to grab her clothes but doesn't have the strength to

Ep19: she helps him to walk by supporting him by his arm but is basically dragging him cuz he's unconscious, 2 ppl holding him by the arms, put to bed in fl's house, half awake briefly and back to unconscious, doc checks his pulse and gestures that he's in hopeless situation, coughs while unconscious, trying to get him out of the house cuz soldiers are looking for him and again grabbed by the arm to walk and is unconscious, ryang eum takes him on a horse and runs away, unconscious in bed, nursed, having a traumatic flashback and fighting in his sleep, woke up and doesn't remember anyone (for fuck's sake this is so unnecessary), pulse checked while asleep :: Awake and ok, fl feeds him, head pain :: Again having flashbacks in his sleep :: More flashbacks and head pain, fl feeds him (he's baffled bc of the attention he's getting from her cuz he still doesn't remember 😂) :: Fl tends his injuries, has a lot of big bruises (also he's now very shy when she touches him he screamed at her to stop 😂) :: Starts getting his memories back and flashbacks from when he was beaten and his head hurts, rememberd fl

Ep20: crying out of happiness (it's a beautiful scene) :: Knife pointed at his neck

Ep21: emotional confrontation with his dad and cries :: Cries again :: Finally back to the very first scene in ep 1 where dozens of people are trying to kill him, crying, getting up with difficulty, unsteady, blood dripping from him, collapses on one leg, status unknown but someone he's probably dead cuz he was bleeding a lot :: Flashback: It's night time and he's still walking on the beach while injured, staggering, passes out and falls on the ground, found by an old man, lost his memories again (is the author actually insane?), crying :: Crying reaally hard at the end

_______________________________

Extra: not whump but the relationship between Jang Hyun and Ryang Eum is adorable 😭 In ep 9 jang hyun says that he doesn't belong on anyone's side, then ryang eum says to him while he's sleeping: "you don't belong to anyone, but i belong to you" and moves jang hyun's arm to sleep on it 😭😭😭 and in ep 11 ryang eum watches a slave being punished and looks at jang hyun with a horrified and pleading expression and without having to say a word jang hyun immediately stops them from punishing the slave just cuz his friend was hurt by it even tho he normally wouldn't give a shit 😭😭😭 that scene was so freaking adorable 😭 he always cares if the people he loves care. And in episode 15 he was crying his eyes out bc jang hyun got injured and was fighting with fl to nurse him 😂😂😂

(Ok i had my suspicions especially after ep 14 where the old man told ryang eum that jang hyun only considers him as a younger brother and "not to be greedy" but after ep 15 I'm now pretty positive it's not platonic anymore dude has feelings 😂 his jealousy was annoying it got in the way صورم انا اول مرة اشوف راجل بصورم 😒)

[abysswalkersknight]

Another late night drabble! I kept seeing all these wonderful fics and headcannons of Lilia interacting with his younger self so I thought to contribute something. Eventually I hope to be able to 'get the point across' in my fics or try to make more sense of them but right now I hope you like this piece.

.............

It was a horrible sight. Terrifying. Sickening! Never had Vanrouge ever imagined he would see himself cosying up to the humans of this dreadful school, let alone the offspring of their enemy, even going as far as to raise it. At least with Mallenoa’s son he could understand, he’d been entrusted with the egg’s care and all. But he could never wrap his head after the fact that his older self willingly chose to let the human live and care for it as well as embracing that cuteness that is utterly childish and unworthy of someone like Lilia. It was maddening even to see Malleus doting on the boy or that Baul’s child decided to marry a human of all things, the world has become madness itself. He couldn’t understand, looking at that face… All he could see was the killer of their princess what had changed in all those years for his older self to see something past that, to let that cold heart of his to melt into sludge for a mere human, a mere child! It was terrifying to see someone with his face and calibre act so carefree and loving with this child, to see that even someone like him could live a life of such tranquillity despite all that was lost. Of course he’s felt fear before, when your on the battlefield fear is bound to pierce even the most hardened of souls, and it was this same fear he felt as he watches his future self, this insatiable beast, whose very name strikes fear into the hearts of both man and fae, grow ever so daft, so soft. It was like watching a wolf become some house mutt, a blade with no edge, is this what I’ll become?!

An old thing of a fool doused in hot pink, weak and growing weaker by the minute, staring lovingly at the enemy’s spawn with the prince. He can only laugh, Vanrouge had thought this was a showcase of his downfall, a punishment for allowing his friends and family to die. 

Until that night.

As he had been stewing in similar thoughts, his future self’s human (he refused to say son) must have sensed his melancholy because he sat up from where he rested his head next Lilia’s shoulder watching him play a game on his phone, Malleus and Sebek were elsewhere, and suddenly he was in front of Vanrouge reaching out with a concerned expression, he didn’t know what was happening, he didn’t realise that Silver only meant to check on his well being, all he saw was the knight of dawn reaching out with hands stained with blood. Everything was blank until a cry of pain echoed in his ears, red filled his vision and a volley of black and pink suddenly descended upon him before the phone had touched the ground. 

‘Don’t you dare touch him!’ Lilia shrieked, gripping the general around the throat before dragging him away from the boy clutching the side of his bleeding face. Admittedly he’d been on edge ever since his boys insisted on housing the general in a secluded area of Diasomnia, he knew what he was like in his youth and he’d rather not have his son around such hostility only to be proven correct when Silver fell back and blood dripped between his gloved fingers. All that pent up anxiety burst into unrivalled rage which he regrettably unleashed upon the source of all his fears, slashing and striking without pause barely giving his younger self any room to retaliate. As they both scrapped Silver did his best to try to separate the two but with the flaring pain next to his eye he was merely shoved out of the way, eventually they stopped when it took both Malleus and Sebek to wretch them apart, Lilia with only a few scratches here and there while Vanrouge was thoroughly beaten, cuts and bruises everywhere and he had a slight limp when he shook off Malleus. No words were spoken until Lilia snarled at him ‘I don’t care if you're me or anything else, mark my words if you lay another finger on my son I’ll make sure they’ll never find your body.’ With that his features softened and he turned around to tend to Silver.

The boy hissed as Lilia gently pried his fingers away ‘alright let's get a good look at that’ he murmurs taking a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully cleaned around the wounded area with some water that was conveniently around ‘oh dear, well at least it’s not as bad as it looks’ he says. Two decently deep scratches marred Silver’s cheek, Lilia worried over the one closest to his eye, had Vanrouge moved just slightly it was sure to had struck the eye itself ‘hold still now’ diving into the his drying reservoirs of magic he drew a tender finger across the scratches and under his thumb the skin knitted itself back together until it was as if nothing had struck it at all ‘there good as new!’

As lilia cleaned the rest of the boy’s bloodied cheek, Vanrouge tended to his own injuries. Lilia had not been kind in his onslaught, each blow harder than the last, fierce rage burning in his gaze, yet he watches as Lilia oh so tenderly fusses over his child over such tiny scratches, he can’t help but take back his words. His older self may be stupid and soft, but he was not weak, in fact Vanrouge recalled a time when Malenoa told him about a parent’s abominable strength when it came to protecting their child, I suppose you may be right, princess.

Yet how could it be that I turn out just like that.

[breannasfluff]

Infection? Nah

Whump Rating: 2.5/5

TW: Infection, injury, not an ambiguous ending

It is just a little cut. Nothing to worry about and certainly nothing to bother Hyrule about. It wasn’t even bleeding! Sky frowns at the small cut, washes it off with water, and goes on with his life. At first, it seems to be healing fine. It doesn’t bleed and, except for accidentally rubbing against it, the cut slips from his mind.

The Chain has bigger things to worry about anyway; mainly the never-ending stream of monsters. By the time they switch eras, everyone is exhausted.

Sky’s arm itches. He rubs at it absently, pausing when the skin feels over-warm. Did he get a burn without realizing it? Well, there was a lot of fire being thrown around in the last fight. He twists his arm to find the burn, only to frown. It is the cut from before, only now it is slightly raised and heated to the touch.

He glances at Hyrule, but the healer is pushed to his limits. Dark bags under his eyes and the tremble of his hands point to an overuse of healing magic. They’ve burned through all the potions and fairies. Wild is out of ingredients needed to make more potions.

Well, he’ll keep an eye on it. If it gets worse, he’ll speak up. No need to worry the group if it gets better.

It does not get better. The heated, raised skin persists and then the skin breaks open, oozing pus. Infection, then, or dirt in the wound. Sky washes it with water, binds it in a clean cloth, and goes to Time.

“Hey, old man. How are you holding up?”

Time is as ragged as Hyrule, trying to keep everyone safe and on track to find another town in the endless wastes they landed in. It takes a long moment for him to look up and even longer for his eyes to focus on Sky. “What do you need?”

Sky rocks back on his heels, debating speaking. The last thing Time needs is someone else to worry about. Still, it's better to say something now before it gets worse. “I got a cut a bit ago and I think it’s gotten infected.”

Some of the life comes back to the old man’s eyes and he leans forward, gesturing. Obligingly, Sky unwraps the bandage and shows the cut.

“What are you doing about it so far?”

“Cleaning it, wrapping it in clean bandages.”

“Right. Make sure you air it out from time to time and keep rotating bandages. We can make a compress to help the inflammation but…” his single eye roves across the group. “We don’t have anything else at the moment.”

“Sure, don’t worry about me.” Sky gives a weak grin and claps Time on the shoulder. He’ll keep an eye on it.

The monsters ambush them in the middle of the night. Four, on watch, shouts a warning in barely enough time for them to wake and grab weapons. It’s a fight in the dark, lit by the odd flare of Legend’s fire rod and the dim glow of the Master Sword.

Sky slashes and kicks, putting all his technique to use to take down the enemies as quickly as possible. They don’t have the energy for a prolonged fight. They don’t have the energy for a fight period, but there’s nothing they can do but make the best of it.

By the time the battle is over, anyone who previously escaped injury can no longer say so. Time turns to Hyrule, face falling. “I know you’re overdrawn but…is there anything you can do?”

Hyrule’s magic is returning far too slowly for the rate he’s using it, but he’s keeping half the group alive at this rate. The healer looks around the group, assesses the further injuries he’ll need to address, and bursts into tears.

Legend bullies his way into the middle of the group, snarling at Time to leave the healer be. Never mind that his arm is either broken or fractured by a spear shaft.

Sky’s arm throbs, but he doesn’t speak up. Infection may be dangerous, but this one is progressing slowly. Some of the others don’t have as long. Pushing the injury from his mind, the chosen hero does what he can to help wash and bind smaller wounds. They’ll just have to make due.

His arm throbs and burns, now, and it’s getting hard to bend it. The infection is spreading, dull lines tracing along the blood veins under his skin. They switch eras and Hyrule mutters something about this being his land. The dead, twisted trees and poisoned water back up the claim.

There will be a town with healing supplies, but it’s going to be a journey to get there. The Chain does worse each day; Warriors in particular struggles with fevers and delirium. Their progress each day is agonizingly slow.

Sky looks at his arm, looks at the group, and keeps his mouth shut. He can go a little longer before causing problems.

A little longer turns out to be a day and a half. Sky wakes, sweating, with shooting pain in his arm. The whole thing is swollen now, oozing puss and heated. His shoulder aches as well, meaning the infection is spreading.

He drags himself over to Time, who’s watching over Warriors. “I hate to add anything else to your plate, but I think the infection in my arm is worse.”

Time meets his gaze and Sky reads the helplessness there.

“Right,” he nods and turns away. “I’ll let you know if it starts affecting things further.” They simply don’t have the supplies to deal with the infection. Time is in triage mode, and other members are worse.

Sky follows the others as they head to the closest town, although he stumbles more and more with each hour. Wild comes up on his side and silently loops an arm around his waist, which he nods a wheezing thanks for. There’s so much pollution in the air here that his lungs, already unhappy, are thrown into disarray.

By the time the town shimmers into view on the horizon, Sky’s fever has taken hold of his body for good. Wild’s arm is the only thing keeping him upright and moving at this point. His head spins and he finally stops, swaying.

Wild gives a questing noise.

Sky blinks back slowly. “Time,” he says slowly. “I think it’s affecting me now.”

Then he passes out.

~ They get to the town and get Sky some healing. Hyrule chews out Sky for not coming to him and then chews out Time for not sharing.

[friendship-ditch]

Whumptober Day 3 - "I warned you"

Tauriel x Fem!Reader ✼

Summary: Against the warnings of her King, Tauriel hunts a little too far into the forest.

Warnings/Notes: Lil' injury/poison mention

Word Count: 2403

  “What conflicts lie outside our woods are none of our concern. Kill the spiders within our borders, do not follow them further.”

  Those foul words ran through Tauriel's head like a siren, the king's voice sharp and stern. Thranduil was a fine ruler of Mirkwood, but his empathy for what lay beyond was a shrivel to nothing. If the rest of Middle Earth was aflame, he would drench solely Mirkwood in water. If a plague spread through the lands, he would gather only his citizens within the safety of their walls. If the world itself was ending, Mirkwood would end in joyous celebrations while the rest died afraid.

  All of this was against Tauriel’s moral compass. She could not fathom how someone could be so… careless about others. Yes, the spiders in Mirkwood were eliminated with ease, but what if they decided to leave and invade some other realm that was not as prepared? Thranduil would turn a blind eye. Tauriel would not.

  Within the cover of darkness, hood pulled over her head and auburn hair tucked beneath it, Tauriel left her chambers. She grabbed her armor. Then she grabbed her weapons. And without a second thought, left the safety of Mirkwood’s walls and entered the forest.

  The dawn patrol–which she would be leading as captain–was far from her mind as she took her usual path. The forest of Mirkwood was a maze to all from outside its borders, but she knew it just as well as the back of her hand. And the days where she did get lost, she climbed to the treetops and found her way beneath the moon or sun.

  “These spiders are our concern, no matter which land is beneath their feet.” Tauriel muttered to herself. With the agility of a feline, she ducked under and leapt over branches and roots, following the trail to the spider's nest they had destroyed only earlier. 

  When it finally came into view, Tauriel was still pleased to find it emptied. Though the thick fabric of webs had been slashed in the battle, a small trail led further into the woods; either to where some came from, or where some escaped.

  At one point in her life, Tauriel may have felt pity for these creatures. But after all the harm they’ve caused and what they’ve done to her forest, the pity lingered no longer. This was nature's way. The strong destroy the weak, to their end. If Thranduil couldn’t understand that, then that was his loss.

  “I will not waste my warriors on issues that do not concern them. Do not waste your life over something so foolish. This is my one warning.”

  He’d spoken these words to her earlier today, and it enraged her more than words could explain. If Tauriel didn’t know better, she would have assumed the king had said that solely to piss her off and send her on this stupid mission. She wasn’t so stupid to think that, but just enough to decide she could handle a nest of spiders on her own.

  Tauriel followed the path of webs through the woods until finally she left the borders of Mirkwood and entered some unfamiliar land. She preferred to go South rather than East, but here she was, wandering around and following pieces of string from her enemies. For all she knew, she could be walking into a trap, but she was too stubborn to give up now. She was almost certain someone's eyes had lingered on her as she left, and to return now would be to surrender.

  She didn’t have to walk far before stumbling upon the nest. It was more of just a very deep hole wedged between large rocks. It reached so far back she could not even see the end. Cobwebs clogged the entrance to a point Tauriel would have assumed it was vacant had it not been for the soft chittering noises she could make out.

  Carefully, she approached the nest. She moved as close as she could until she could very faintly make out the shine of a spider's eyes, then she moved back, aimed her bow, and shot.

  The arrow was a perfect kill. The spider let out a squeal and then was silent. Tauriel waited for the others to flank her, but after a few minutes and none of them arrived, she decided perhaps this nest was abandoned after all, aside from a single squatting creature.

  The elf abandoned the nest and was mid debate between returning home or seeking another victory, when a sound from the distance caught her sensitive ears. She stopped, hand moving to her dagger as she froze and waited.

  It sounded like a soft rumble, almost like thunder in distant lands. But the longer she stood there, the louder it grew until the noise was almost deafening. And then, she saw it.

  It was a group of spiders, maybe 3 or 4, but they were huge, almost bigger than the trees. Their sharp beaks glinted in the moonlight, legs skittering across the ground at rapid speed, many eyes aimed on her.

  Firing a warning shot, Tauriel’s arrow breezed past the lead arachnid's head. It showed no reaction to the attack. If anything, the herd grew faster.

  Tauriel tried once more, this time aiming for the head. 

  Her arrow was again a perfect shot, but the spider still showed no reaction. With an arrow lodged in its head, its beak clicked and it sped up even more until it was practically running at her.

  Tauriel did not want to flee. She didn’t want to be weak or pathetic or anything like Thranduil had said she would be, but as the spiders grew closer, she knew she would be unable to take them on.

  The woods turned to plains around her as she ran. Her feet barely touched the ground, only occasionally kicking up leaves or stumbling over roots as she fled as fast as she could. Elves had stamina that could last for days and Tauriel knew she could outrun them if she tried hard enough, but speed was not what the spiders cared about.

  The plains around her melted back into woods and behind her, the spiders began to slow. 

  Tauriel finally risked a glance over her shoulder at her racing opponents, but as she did, she didn’t see the edge of a ravine in front of her. Her foot stretched too far forward and she fell.

  The moss broke her fall as she tumbled into the ravine, but she badly bruised her ankle on some rocks to the point that standing was a horrific idea. Tauriel would’ve wrapped her ankle or waited for the initial pain but she could hear the spiders speeding up and knew she had to move.

  Gritting her teeth, Tauriel stood up with a loud groan of pain. She reached for her bow and notched an arrow, knowing she was unable to run. Those creatures knew what they were doing. They’d done this on purpose to wound her, trap her, and then kill her.

  “I warned you.” Thranduil's voice echoed in her head as she spun warily, though she ignored it.

She’d have to kill the spiders first.

  The first foul creature revealed itself, her arrow still sticking out of its head. Its eight legs moved hypnotizingly across the ground as it danced from side to side, taking her arrows like nothing and lashing out on her. Finally, one leg snagged her on the head and took her down, smashing her into the ground.

  She hit her head, she thought. She must have, because now the world around her was rather blurry, her head spinning. Moving her hand, Tauriel gingerly ran her fingers over her scalp, searching for sticky blood. As she turned her head, her eyes fell upon the stinger left in her shoulder. 

  A nauseating feeling began to form in her stomach and she tried to reach to pull the stinger out, but her hand missed by a mile. She tried once more, fingers moving on their own will until eventually giving out as her arm fell numb. The poison was moving rapidly through her bloodstream, making her feel woozy until she could no longer move.

  Then it was black.

  Then it was white again. Very white, and bright…  

  A low groan sounded from Tauriel’s dry mouth. Beneath her was no longer cold, hard ground, but something soft. She tried to open her eyes but was blinded by the light once more. Had she died? Was this Valinor? Why couldn’t she see?

  She made a weak attempt to sit up but was cut off by a gentle hand on her chest, pushing her back down onto the soft item beneath her. Then the light dimmed and Tauriel tried to see once more.

  Her vision was still heavily cloudy, but she could make out a window hidden behind long curtains. It had been sunlight blinding her. That still didn’t mean she was alive, there had to be sun in Valinor.

  Tauriel tried to speak but all that came out was a groan. Her throat was drier than it had ever been, any noise she attempted got caught in the cotton clogging her mouth. 

  The same gentle hand slipped beneath her head, lifting it up. She faintly felt something press against her bottom lip and opened her mouth without thinking. She was glad she did, as seconds later, soothing, cold water was poured down her throat. Tauriel drank greedily until the glass was emptied.

  With a little water in her system, Tauriel felt strong enough to move her hand. She rubbed her eyes, clearing the majority of the fog from her vision, and then looked up at whoever was at her side.

  She’d seen you but never spoke with you before. You were one of the many elves on her guard team, a newer one, but a talented one nonetheless. She could barely recall through her foggy mind a day when you had just joined the team and nearly got destroyed by a passing pack of orcs. Had she not been there to intervene, your body would now lay at the bottom of the river. But you were no longer in the wild. You were both safe…

  You gazed back at her, eyes full of both worry and sympathy as you took in her weakened state. Never before had you seen your stern and bold captain so… soft.

  “Y/n…?” Tauriel rasped, clearing her throat a few times until the lingering pain faded. So… this wasn’t Valinor. As she took the sight in she could clearly see it was your chambers as they were rather similar to hers.

  You smiled softly. Tauriel had been in a rather bad state through the night but the fact that she recognized you and knew your name certainly meant she was on the mend.

  “Yes, it’s me.” 

  “How…?”

  “I saw you leave.” You responded, tilting your head a little as you caught the relief in Tauriel’s eyes. It hadn’t been Thranduil that saw her leave after all. “When the sky bled and you hadn’t returned, I feared you were hurt… I suppose I was right.”

  The wounded elf nodded and tried to sit up once more, but instead of your hand stopping her, it was a searing pain in her shoulder. She let out a pained howl, immediately gripping the spot where the spider had stung her, before collapsing back onto the bed.

  “I warned you.”

  The king had been right. As awful as it was for Tauriel to admit… he had warned her that something like this would happen. And now she was only another burden on your shoulders. Her foolishness had nearly gotten her and you killed, she had to say something. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened but no words came out. Should she thank you or apologize?

  “I’m… I’m sorry.” Tauriel whispered, slowly sitting up this time. Her shoulder felt like there was a sword slicing through it but she ignored it until she was straight up, though slightly hunched. “I was not thinking… not at all. Thranduil was right, I shouldn’t have… Y/n, I’m so sorry.” 

  Her voice cracked as the memories returned in painful clumps; the feel of the ground smacking into her body, the fear that pumped her heart, the dizziness from the poison, her ankle…

  Tauriel moved the blankets aside, looking down at her ankle which was now wrapped. Then she looked at you, eyes desperate and lips tight.

  “It isn’t broken. You’ll heal quickly.” You assured her. “As will your shoulder… I would have you on one day of bed rest before returning to duties.”

  “But Thran–”

  “As far as the king is concerned, you were taken down heroically during today's patrol, and are on the mend as a hero.”

  “I… I am?”

  A small smile pricked at your lips as hope passed over Tauriel’s face. You’d never seen her with such a childish expression before… it was oddly sweet, if not captivating. She seemed to sense your thoughts as a bashful smile of her own spread on her face and she looked away.

  “Thank you… for saving my life, twice, I suppose.” Tauriel murmured quietly, rubbing her cheek with her thumb. “You didn’t have to…”

  “Nonsense. You’re our captain, you’re always keeping us safe. It is only out of courtesy that I return the payment.”

  Tauriel’s smile grew into a chuckle and she lowered herself back down onto the bed, still feeling slightly weak from the poison that had ravaged her body. Though as you stood to leave, her hand reached out and grabbed yours.

  “Stay for a while… would you?” She whispered tentatively. When you showed no signs of reluctance, her hand tugged yours until you were sat once more on the edge of the bed. “Thank you…”

  “Always.” You whispered, pulling the blankets up and tucking her in.

  For the last time, Tauriel’s smile grew wider, then faded with a content exhale as her eyes fluttered shut. Perhaps Thranduil had been right, yes… but he could never have predicted her falling into the surprisingly tender hands that caught her. Maybe it was an act of debt, a payment in exchange for her once saving your life… but she believed it possibly was something more. And that was a comforting enough thought to draw her into a much needed sleep.

[nickeverdeen]

Zuko and Sokka play co-op game with gn!reader

Original ask: can you do an imagine of Sokka, Suki, and Zuko playing a co-op video game with the (gender neutral) reader?

——————————

You found yourself sprawled across the couch, a controller in hand, ready for an evening of gaming with two of your closest friends. The living room was bathed in the warm glow of the TV, the smell of popcorn wafting from the kitchen where Sokka was busily making snacks. Zuko, as usual, was setting up the console with a quiet focus, his golden eyes glinting in the light.

“Are you sure you got this, Zuko?” Sokka called from the kitchen, his voice tinged with playful doubt. “Last time you tried to set it up, we ended up watching the screensaver for an hour.”

Zuko rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “That was one time, Sokka. And it wasn’t my fault the cables were messed up.”

You chuckled, watching them bicker like old friends. Despite their different backgrounds and initial animosities, Sokka and Zuko had grown close over time. Their dynamic was fascinating to watch, a blend of brotherly teasing and genuine respect.

Once the popcorn was ready and the console was up and running, Sokka plopped down next to you, handing you a bowl. “Alright, Y/N, let’s see if you can keep up with us tonight.”

You raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across your face. “Oh, you’re on, Sokka. Just don’t cry when I beat you.”

Zuko handed you a controller, his fingers brushing yours briefly. “We’ll see who comes out on top,” he said, a competitive edge in his voice. He took his place on the other side of the couch, his demeanor calm but his eyes sparkling with excitement.

You chose a co-op adventure game that required teamwork and strategy, something that would allow all three of you to play simultaneously. The game’s vibrant world loaded on the screen, drawing you into its fantasy realm. Your characters appeared, each with unique abilities that complemented one another.

“Alright, team,” Sokka said, his voice assuming a mock-serious tone, “let’s strategize. I’ll take point, Zuko will cover our flanks, and Y/N, you handle the rear.”

Zuko smirked, adjusting his character’s equipment. “Just try not to rush in without thinking, Sokka. We don’t need another repeat of the swamp incident.”

You laughed, recalling the time Sokka had charged into a trap-filled swamp without checking for hazards, resulting in a hilarious series of mishaps.

The game began, and immediately, the room was filled with a mix of concentration and laughter. Sokka’s character darted ahead, swinging his sword with reckless abandon, while Zuko’s more measured approach provided a steady counterbalance. You found your rhythm, supporting them with well-timed spells and covering their weak points.

“Behind you, Zuko!” you called out, noticing an enemy sneaking up on him. Zuko spun around, dispatching the foe with a quick slash.

“Thanks, Y/N,” he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. “Nice spellcasting, by the way.”

Sokka let out a triumphant yell as he cleared a wave of enemies. “Ha! Take that! We’re unstoppable!”

Hours passed in a blur of action and camaraderie. You fell into a natural rhythm with Sokka and Zuko, each of you anticipating the others’ moves and reacting in perfect sync. There were moments of intense focus, punctuated by bursts of laughter whenever someone made a silly mistake or pulled off an impressive move.

At one point, you found yourself cornered by a particularly tough boss. Your health was dwindling, and it looked like you might not make it.

“Hang on, Y/N,” Sokka shouted, his character rushing to your aid. Zuko followed close behind, unleashing a powerful attack that staggered the boss.

“Now’s your chance!” Zuko urged, and you seized the moment, delivering the final blow that brought the boss to its knees.

The three of you erupted in cheers, the victory screen flashing triumphantly. You high-fived Sokka and Zuko, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment and unity.

“Great teamwork, everyone,” you said, still riding the high of the win. “We make a pretty awesome team.”

Zuko nodded, a rare, genuine smile lighting up his face. “Yeah, we do. It’s nice to have a night like this.”

Sokka stretched, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Alright, who’s up for another round? I think we can handle an even tougher challenge.”

You and Zuko exchanged glances, grinning. “Bring it on,” you said in unison.

As the night wore on, you continued to play, losing track of time in the immersive world of the game. The living room echoed with the sounds of battle and the laughter of friends, creating a bubble of warmth and camaraderie that made you forget the outside world for a while.

Eventually, fatigue began to set in. Sokka yawned loudly, stretching his arms over his head. “Okay, okay, maybe one more game isn’t such a great idea,” he admitted, chuckling. “I can barely keep my eyes open.”

Zuko agreed, his eyes looking a bit heavy as well. “Yeah, it’s getting late. But this was fun. We should do it again sometime.”

You nodded, feeling a pleasant exhaustion from the evening’s activities. “Definitely. It’s not often we get to just hang out and relax like this.”

The three of you tidied up the living room, putting away the controllers and clearing the remnants of snacks. As you prepared to head to bed, you couldn’t help but feel grateful for the night. It wasn’t just about the game; it was about the bond you shared with Sokka and Zuko, the sense of teamwork and mutual respect that had grown between you.

Before parting ways, Sokka pulled you into a quick hug. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

Zuko gave you a nod, his expression softening. “Goodnight, Y/N. Thanks for playing with us. It was... nice.”

You smiled, feeling a warm glow inside. “Goodnight, Sokka, Zuko. Let’s do this again soon.”

As you lay in bed that night, the memories of the evening replayed in your mind. The laughter, the teamwork, the thrill of the game—it all made you feel deeply connected to your friends. And as you drifted off to sleep, you knew that this was just the beginning of many more adventures to come, both in the game and in your lives.

[worriedvision]

This'll probably end up super messy, sorry :")) but theres been this scenario in my mind where reader and character end up going against something or someone and said character is just ready to fight and battle while reader is telling them they shouldnt just charge in like character wants or intends to because what their up against isn't something so easily to defeat. but then character doesnt listen and reader can't just let them fight on their own so they follow but while character's mind is just so focused on who their fighting they don't notice reader; either dying in the background and when they find them their gone, or reader sacrificing themselves to save said character. ajosijfs i live for this type of angst, you could work with any character you see fit though! Anyways, i hope you have a good day ^_^

Doing this with Blade, or at least him before he dies (this isn't the same time he does die). Gender neutral reader, angst obviously.

--

He just ran into battle, for the millionth time.

You tried to tell him to hold back, that there was no way both of you could take on this mara-struck beast. He just went in with no thought, the battle in his mind, and he doesn't respond when you call for him to at least go on the defence instead of attacking.

So, you run in to help him, hopefully, win this fight. While it wasn't ideal for you two, two is always better than one.

During the fight, Blade didn't turn to look at you even once, his sword slashing away at the enemy as it targets you, the one looking for a possible weak point. You only realise it's targeting you after you feel a vine wrap around your leg, and you realise it's running out of life.

It was planning on taking your form, to get an advantage as it seemed to know you had a special place in Blades heart. When it grows and separates into differing directions, you recognise you're going to become Marastruck.

You could become Marastruck, unrecognisable unless spoken to, a being intending on harming anyone in it's line of sight. Alternatively, however you may turn your blade on yourself in such a way that it will kill you if you were to fall onto it.

So, you do this. Being Marastruck would barely be living, after all.

--

Blade only realises you're dead after seeing the Marastruck monster suddenly collapse. He turns around, a cocky smirk on his face as he looks forward to telling you he told you he was strong enough, only for his heart to sink at the sight.

You were almost unrecognisable, the only sign of this being you being your sword. Blade knew why you did what you did, but why couldn't you let him pay the price? Let him pay for his stupid actions, for running in with no plan to protect himself. His smirk is wiped off his face in an instant, looking at your corpse as he replays the memories he formed with you.

He processes that you would be alive if he had just waited for another few minutes, as he hears the footsteps of his fellow swordsmen.

[greetings-inferiors]

I want Roxas is smash just because I know that everyone else would think he's just as cool as I do. Like I love how Sora plays, I think he's so damn cool, but the general consensus is that he's campy and boring. Roxas? He'd by a rush down god. A top tier for sure. His combos would be nutty. He'd definitely feel a lot more like kh2 combat, which is a lot more flashy and cool.

Anyway I'm going to make a Roxas moveset because why not (this is Roxas duelwielding, based off of his kh2 fights and when he's playable in kh3)

Normals: Roxas is a lot more of a combo character than his somebody, so a lot of his normals cancel into each other.

His jab has 3 moves: jabs 1 and 2 are cancelable into up and forwards tilt, and are overhead swings like at the end of the kh2 Roxas fight cutscene against Sora. Jab 3 he dashes forward and swings both keyblades out in a scissor motion (a motion that pops up a lot in his kit). The slash itself has a hit box but the sweet spot is the afterimage flash of light he leaves where he was originally standing.

His down tilt is a fast scissor sweep with both keyblades that pops up. It isn't cancelable but it combos into his other tilts at various percents.

His forward tilt has 3 moves: ftilt 1&2 are cancelable into the smashes and up tilt, and are those cool spinny slashy things he does, while ftilt3 has him spin oathkeeper in front of him for a bit before slashing forwards with oblivion.

His up tilt has two hits: up tilt 1 is jump cancelable and has him swipe oathkeeper above him marth style, and up tilt 2 in cancelable into up smash and side and neutral special and has him spin oblivion above him Sora style.

His dash attack has him do that cool move where he dashes forwards, spins his keyblades around as he moves to the side, picks them back up on the other side and spins back around to recover. He goes a bit into the z axis in the middle of it which lets him dodge some things but not much. It isn't cancelable but at low percents it launches directly above him allowing him to follow up.

So with his smashes I will have to warn you - he can do them in the air. Not always, he only can in a specific condition, but it means he can quite easily pick up kills at the end of his combos. Here goes:

His forward smash has him do that one move where he floats in the air and shoots his keyblades back and forth in front of him.

His up smash has him spin up and forward before coming down. If done in the air he'll stop after a while if he hasn't hit the floor.

His down smash has him brace for an attack, in which point he is invincible (a la Lucas up smash), then slashes out with a ring of light around him horizontally, hitting on both sides.

Aerials (aside from the smashes lol):

For his neutral air he spins once, hitting opponents with his keyblades. It is very quick and quite weak leading to easy combo ability.

His forward air has 3 hits: fair 1 and fair 2 are just slashes forward which pop him up if they hit Sora style, and fair 3 has him fully spin around and hit his opponent with both keyblades like they're a baseball bat.

His down air has him do a scissor slash downwards, which is a spike.

His up air has him slash overhead, it's closest in function to mario up air. Whichever keyblade he swings depends on which one he didn't swing last.

His back air has him swing oathkeeper around for a small slash, and then oblivion for a big slash.

Specials: here's the cool stuff.

His neutral special has him turn into a beam of light and dash forwards, automatically locking onto an enemy if one is close enough. He's vulnerable while doing it, but if he hits an opponent with it he gets some benefits. He gets his double jump back (can you tell I'm a clairen main) the first time he uses it in the air, his next aerial/normal becomes jump cancelable, and he can perform a smash attack, even in the air, which will shoot light pillars out at some point (in forward smash 5 light pillars close in on his opponent, in up smash 2 light pillars follow up and hit the opponent either once he hits the floor or the moves cancels, and in his down smash 5 light pillars shoot out in a spiral pattern). It's a very strong kill confirm tool, as a lot of his normals combo into neutral special, some even cancel into it, but if he damages his opponent past the threshold it connects he struggles to kill confirm. Also this means Kirby can do that. Actually while we're here: Kirby's copy ability has him have oathkeeper and oblivion behind him, just like when Sora steals them in the kh2 fight. If you want more than that, he gets Roxas' spiky hair, or a org hood for the alt where Roxas has his hood up.

Side special: he pauses, then dashes forward a large distance cutting everything down in his way and causing a large light blast at his destination. If you launch someone into the radius of where side special sweet spots it can be a devastating kill confirm.

Down special: Roxas uses reversal. He slides around, and ends up facing away. When near someone this puts him directly behind them, and has invincibility on start up (like frame 3 or so, basically an air dodge), so facing Roxas in the air is a guessing game: do you fair or bair him? Bear in mind that this puts him BEHIND the opponent, so the counterplay to reversal is to approach him with bairs, but that isn't always optimal. If you have a big enough Nair that might work lol.

Up special: funnily enough this is the one I had the most trouble with. I don't want it to be that good for recovery, since neutral, side, and down special are all good (from best to worst). My choice would be that helicopter slash Valor form gets, you know the one that's like one slash, a pause, and then lots of slashes, but in smash the one slash is the first input, but is basically just a shorthop, if you input up special twice in a row you get the full thing, which goes a fair bit further, but puts you in free fall.

Throws:

He has his keyblades float behind him as he grabs you.

His pummel has him punch you in the gut.

For his forward throw he throws you forward, then sends three pillars of light to follow up.

For his down through he basically does Sora's down throw.

For his back throw he throws you back with one hand, then in the blink of an eye dashes and scissor slashes.

For his up throw once again I'm blanking. Maybe he throws you up, spins, collecting energy, before shooting out light pillars in a spiral to hit you above him.

Final smash:

I don't think there's anything else it could be tbh. Pillars of light start spinning around him, as he rises into the air, then the stage background gets enveloped in twilight, as he spins then starts screaming as he shoots orbs of light at all of his opponents. Maybe once he finishes he teleports straight to his opponent (or the closest one) with one last scissor slash for the road.

Stage: Roxas' stage would be twilight town. But not just any twilight town. It would be the end of days, specifically the platform in the sky, which would fly around twilight town like hollow bastion, and if stage hazards are on every so often gundam Xion will come and be a boss fight a la metal face or yellow devil.

Cosmetics:

His first colour is how he looks in kh3, org cloak, hood down, oblivion and oathkeeper.

His second colour has him in his twilight town getup. Once again oblivion and oathkeeper.

The colours then alternate, idk you can have one where he has black hair for xion, one with red hair for axel, one with dark brown hair for Sora, one with blue hair for saix (the blue and dark brown also means terra ventus and aqua are represented lol). Maybe a white one for xemnas? Idk.

But the last cloaked alt (it would probably be seven) has him with his hood up. Because that's sick as hell and the alt that I'd play.

Oh also one of the alts uses two sticks. Because I said so.

For his victory animations:

First one: him, Axel and Xion are laughing on the clock tower eating ice cream. Axel hits his back while laughing, causing him to drop his winner ice cream stick. They all laugh it off, and the animation loops with them goofing off.

Second: the animation where he first uses oblivion and oathkeeper in kh2, just before axel says TWO?!. He brings them out, one by one, then poses.

Third: he blasts in, creating a cloud of dust, the either removes his hood (if an org cloak alt), or adjusts his neck, spins his keyblades around, and looks vaguely triumphant.

Now the juicy stuff:

IF SORA AND ROXAS ARE IN A MATCH:

Sora wins: he wakes up in his cocoon, walks out and yawns, before smiling. Maybe even Donald goofy and jiminy show up to congratulate him.

Roxas wins: looks like my summer vacation is... Over *looks at Sora in the cocoon*

Sora and Roxas are on the same team, and win:

Sora surfaces in destiny islands, sees Kairi, they smile at each other, then Sora becomes Roxas and Kairi becomes namine, just like in kh2's ending.

If the stage is hollow bastion, and dive to the heart occured:

Sora wins, Roxas loses: the "you're a good other" sequence plays, before Sora returns to the world that never was, and looks up at kingdom hearts.

Roxas wins, Sora loses: the scene where Roxas pounds his keyblades on Sora's keyblade, Sora loses his footing, Roxas hits the kingdom key aside, and Stabs it into the ground, looking at Sora angrily.

If the stage is twilight town:

Roxas wins, Xion was beaten (if stage hazards were turned on): Xion dies in Roxas' arms. Fuck you days gets spoilt MWAHAHAHAHA

Sora wins, Roxas loses: the scene where Sora gets on the Train and doesn't know why he's crying.

Also the song list would include songs outside of just kingdom hearts 1: the other promise, tension rising, vector to the heavens, the 13th struggle, lord of the castle, literally every xemnas theme, rage awakened, nachtflugle; just to name a few. Also one winged angel can play on kingdom hearts stages.

Anyway that's basically it Roxas is my favourite character and I want him in smash so badly.

[much-obliged-timothy]

Whumptober #7

Day 7 - Baldur's Gate 3 - Unconventional Weapon

*

Tav would admit that they probably should’ve been prepared.

In his defense, though, few people expect to be viciously attacked while enjoying dinner in a small bar.

They hadn’t let up on their attack for a second, pressing in against him to keep him from reaching for his lute or any of his other weapons. Hand-to-hand combat wasn’t exactly his specialty, especially when it was actually hand-to-rapier, considering that was his opponents’ weapons of choice. 

He ducked under yet another blow, cursing himself for not insisting on heading back to camp to rest. They’d been investigating all day, having already gotten into several tough fights. All of them were drained; a fight now was the worst possible timing.

He wasn’t even quite sure who was trying to kill them this time, if he was being honest. They’d made so many enemies between the lot of them that he wasn’t sure it even mattered at this point. 

“Tav!” Karlach said, charging her way through the room to get to him, slamming enemies out of her way as she saw a rapier come a little too close to his neck for comfort.

“Stop the tiefling!” someone shouted.

“You can fucking try!” Karlach shouted back, slamming her ax into a man who tried to get into her way.

But then four more enemies converged on her, all coming from different angles, forcing her to stop and try to keep herself covered. Jaheira, watching from where she was cornered, let out a frustrated noise, kicking a chair into one of her attackers, only for two more to take his place. They were badly outnumbered, exhausted, and in too small a space to try to break away and regroup. 

Tav’s mind was sharp enough despite the long day, but his body finally betrayed him. He saw a blade coming up at him, and attempted to dodge, only for a wave of dizziness to wash over him and cause him to stumble.

The pain was sudden and sharp, making him cry out. He looked down at the blade pierced into his side, gripping it with his hands before he could stop himself. The foolish mistake cost him as his attacker jerked the blade out, tearing his flesh on both his side and his hands.

He stumbled back, hitting the wall, barely able to keep himself up on unsteady feet. He slapped his bloody hands to his side, trying to stop the rush of blood, only for it to gush out between his fingers. He sucked in a shaky breath, looking up as they moved ever closer to him to finish him off. One stepped forward, pulling his arm back to deliver the killing strike.

Tav’s mind had only the briefest moment to realize one in their party was missing before Astarion finally materialized.

The one about to strike Tav let out an alarmed gurgle, his eyes building wide. The end of a spoon was impaled in his throat. 

He collapsed, clawing helplessly at his throat as he died. Astarion brandished his daggers and moved with quick, precise strikes, slashing throats as he went. When one knocked a dagger away from his hand, Astarion retaliated by grinning briefly before sinking his teeth into the startled man’s neck, drinking deeply before shoving the body into an advancing attacker.

His one man assault caught the attention of the other attackers in the room, distracting them for just a moment. But that moment was all Karlach and Jaheira needed to wrestle control of the fight back in their favor, both bursting into action. 

Karlach finally managed to plant herself firmly between the two of them and the rest of their ambushers. Astarion retreated back to Tav, kneeling beside him.

Tav had finally noticed the small group of dead on the other side of the bar, clearly ambushed themselves. One had a bite mark on his neck.

“Took your time,” Tav muttered. He didn’t know when he’d ended up sliding down the wall into a sitting position, but lo and behold, there he was. 

“Obviously fighting tired and weak did the rest of you no favors,” Astarion said, checking Tav’s wounds. He grabbed the nearest body, tore a strip of the woman’s shirt, and used it to bandage Tav’s bloody hands. “What were you thinking, grabbing that blade?”

“I wasn’t,” Tav said, and laughed weakly at how pathetic it sounded. “Good grief, I can’t wait for a bloody nap.”

“Bloody nap indeed, you fool,” Astarion grumbled, putting pressure back on the wound in Tav’s side.

“Astarion, did you really kill a man with a spoon?” Tav asked, head drooping. He was starting to feel too tired to keep it up any longer.

Astarion shifted so Tav’s head was on his shoulder. “Not my finest work, I’ll admit. But I needed both my daggers for the others, so I had to make due. Rather clever, you must admit.”

“Mmm,” Tav agreed. “Clever.”

“Keep your eyes open,” Astarion commanded. “I’m certainly not carrying you back to camp.”

“You would,” Tav muttered, fighting to keep his heavy eyelids from closing. “I know you would.”

“I have a reputation,” he said, but he didn’t disagree. “Eyes open. You’re not dying in a sketchy bar, Tav.”

If he had to die, he supposed doing so with Astarion there wasn’t the worst way to go. He closed his eyes, the pain fading to a dull ache that seemed farther and farther away with each passing moment.

“Tav? Tav!”

The voice was pleasant, familiar. Astarion. He seemed far away, too.

He quirked his lips up a little at the thought of Astarion, elegant Astarion, using a spoon as a deadly weapon. Astarion did continually surprise those around him, Tav supposed.

With the sound of Astarion’s muffled voice in his ears, Tav allowed himself to drift off at last.