#stars and wings//follower sword and stargazer

[follower-sword]

-> Shuffling came from somewhere in the woods around Follower's little setup, a splash of blue amongst the greenery. That blue color was... Oddly familiar. - @stargazers-paradise

The follower's feathered ears perk up. Seeing a familier blue in the corner of his eye. Stargazer? Or was it... was it a different rocket this time?

He seethes his sword and prepares himself as he steps closer to where he sees the blue. Seems like his taloned feet make him silent in this terrian... no wonder he doesn't wear shoes...

[follower-sword]

Follower trips out of the bushes and falls forward, but he catches himself. He tries to shake the berries off, but he can't reach some of them. He gives up and starts to look around, letting out playful coos.

"maaa vieeee~ where did you go?~"

He flaps his wings one time and looks around in the bushes, getting more berries in his hair and feathers.

A sudden hug comes from behind. It was Follower, resting his head on his shoulder.

"..Hello"

@follower-sword

-> The prince, who had been occupied by reading something from some fancy looking tome, was a touch startled at first by the sudden hug, but relaxed and looked over at Follower, love lacing his words. "Hello, my angel... Feeling affectionate tonight?"

[lunar-writes-things]

26) Ending: A Finished Symphony sounds best with people who love you

"I'm sure nothing will go wrong Y/n," Impulse stepped closer and gave Y/n a hug "We're in this together and We'll all be safe." 

Y/n stayed quiet for a moment before nodding. 

"Okay," They said softly, feeling familiar arms wrap around them "I'm just..." 

"Worried?" Grian asked 

"yeah," Y/n murmured  

"We will be fine," Scar said "I made sure the rocket is the safest place possible for us. I made sure of it." 

"We love you Y/n," Pearl said and pressed a gentle kiss to their lips "and if you need us, we'll be right by your side." 

there was a moment of quiet before Y/n spoke up and asked "Can you all stay with me tonight?" 

"Of course Angel," Mumbo answered "Let's go get some sleep." 

The next day, Y/n was packing necessities like food and a blanket for the ride on the rocket. They carefully placed their pickaxe, axe, sword, and shovel in the chest along with their armor that had fallen to the boatem hole multiple times. On the wall behind the chest, Y/n wrote a message into the book in quill on the lecturn beside them 

Dear star, 

Take care of my things, please.

I'm sure you will, but truth be told, I'm terrified of leaving each season. Leaving memories, hard-earned items, and sometimes even friends. Change is hard. 

But this season, I might be leaving behind something even more special. 

Boatem

A village I helped created and even found love in. I don't want to lose the memories I've made here, especially not those that kept me going when things were hard. 

This village is nothing but that, a village, but to me, it will always be the place where I finally allowed myself to heal, to love, and even to find my happiness again. 

Change is difficult, yes, but change is good.

If fate aligns perfectly, the stars will shine for us once again and We will stargaze upon the memories like they are the brightest stars in the galaxy. 

Til we meet again, Your angel, 

Y/n'sharmony

Y/n wiped away their tears as they closed the book and grabbed the space suit. 

They had to leave... tonight. 

Y/n sighed as they moved to their balcony, watching the boatem members scramble to get everything they needed ready. from this angle, they looked tiny. 

Y/n didn't want to leave, but for the sake of their life and her friends? She would do anything. 

She put on the suit as the sky began to bleed navy and as twinkling stars appeared with the ginormous moon peeking over the horizon. 

As Y/n reached the door, they stopped and took a deep breath. They walked out and stopped at the edge of their cloud before turning around and looking at the full glory of their building and the village.

"Til we meet again My Boatem, My symphony," Y/n whispered before taking a step back and falling off the edge before opening their wings, the wind catching and slowing their fall until they reached the ground and were able to join the other in front of the rocket. 

"Well," Grian said with a forced smile "This is it guys, How are we feeling?" 

"Scared," Impulse said and there were murmurs of agreement 

"I don't really wanna leave my home." Pearl said, tears brimming in her eyes behind the helmet "It was the first place I truly felt like me." 

"We all feel that way Pearl," Mumbo said and wrapped an arm around her 

"I don't wanna leave the memories we made here." Y/n admitted a sad smile on their face "I mean, I realized I had fallen in love with all of you in this very area. Why would I want to leave something so beautiful?"

"You wouldn't," Scar spoke up "truth be told, I don't think any of us would want to leave because of that reason. I know I don't." 

"None of us do," Grian said "but we have no choice and we can't prolong any longer. Into the rocket, we go." 

The rest of boatem followed Grian's lead and stumbled their way into the rocket. Some looking over their shoulders to give a silent goodbye and others never looking back so as to not cry. 

Y/n was the last and behind them all and Y/n had looked over their shoulder and questioned their decision...

Do they really want to leave?

Yes, they had to

not just for themselves but for their friends, their partners. 

they looked forward and walked into the rocket with the others and grabbed the rope supplied to tie them later in space. They were given there were six drop-down points. 

five around the outer ring and a huge one in the middle. 

"well, Y/n how do we drop?" Scar asked, "Inner or outer?"

 

"Inner," Y/n replied immediately "I want to be near all of you guys." 

They all smiled and stepped on the dropdown point before tying a rope around their waist and grabbing their lover's hands. 

“Y/n, before we drop,” Mumbo Spoke up “Will you tell us who you're choosing?” 

“I want all of you,” Y/n stated softly and grabbed Pearl and Impulse's hand, the two that were to their left and right "and not even years in a void will ever change that." 

"Well," Impulse smiled and looked at everyone "It seems like we have a lot to talk about while we're in the void."

With those words, the boatem members soon were doused in darkness with smiles on their faces and no fear to be seen 

 And with this, our Season 8 was done. 

crushed into oblivion by the beautiful moon Y/n once admired and is now terrified of-

well- the moon in the sky was the one they were terrified of

but the one currently curled in Y/n's arms had Y/n swooning with her messy morning hair and dried drool on their chin. Y/n smiled as they pressed a gentle kiss to Pearl in their current starter base. 

there were three months in the void until all five of the Boatem members fell into a bright clear sky and hard stone that killed all of them on impact. Other members began to pop up again too. soon within a few minutes, the entire cast was in the new season of Hermitcraft. 

Season 9

and this season, Y/n was starting off the season with something they never had before. 

Their partners. 

During the three-month wait, they had discussed how it would work between them and some other confessions had come out as well. Apparently, Both Mumbo and Scar had a crush on Grian that they thought was just bromance. Impulse was slowly sneaking around Pearl with subtle glances and longing looks. Pearl had her eyes on both Scar and mumbo and of course Y/n's attraction to all of them and their attraction to Y/n. 

Now that was an interesting talk but that would be saved for later

Right now, Y/n's door opened, and through groggy and closed-looking eyes, they saw Scar, Impulse, Grian, and Mumbo sneak into the home and look at their girlfriend and partner, pulling out their comms to take pictures with huge grins and quiet coos. 

"Come here," Y/n whispered and raised an arm, the boys grinned and set down their comms, and got into bed with their partners pressing soft kisses to both of their lips "You guys were gone before I woke up, what's going on?" 

"We'll tell you two when both of you are up at the same time," Impulse murmured "For now, however, I would love to cuddle and sleep?" 

"Of course Impy," Y/n murmured "Let's sleep." 

getting on that ship was the best decision Y/n had ever made. 

Even if they had to leave behind the physical memories, they always had the mental memories and those can last a life time if Y/n always had their Boatem, their symphony, around them. 

After all, A finished symphony sound best with people who love you

Masterlist

[my-writings-and-musings]

Congrats on clearing your inbox! Can I ask for poly Rodimus, Drift, and their human s/o stargazing, please?

Thanks! Also Driftrod is the embodiment of those "bro..." memes and I APPROVE

"That one looks like an Equinoid!"

"A what?"

Rodimus had to go silent in thought for a moment, recalling the word you were more familiar with as Drift chuckled over the whole exchange. When he'd finally found the proper word, he turned his helm to face you.

"You know- horses?" he said plainly, looking a little uncertain he'd pronounced it properly. Smiling at his searching expression for approval, you rolled over on your blanket to be closer to his helm, aiming to line up your fields of vision and snuggle closer to the warm bot. You felt his always heated exterior flush a little at your contact in the chill night air.

"Show me, I still don't see it." you encouraged, looking up at the cloudless night sky overhead. There were so many stars in crowded stretches you weren't sure it was possible to see much of anything, but Rodimus loved stargazing so much you and Drift were more than happy to oblige. How convenient it was this nearby planet had a breathable atmosphere and a spot with ideal weather.

Rodimus directed your gaze with a pointed digit, trying to match up your line of sight with his. The captain obviously wanted you to really see what he was seeing. "Okay; there's the body, the four legs, and see those bright stars there? Totally the optics."

"I see a predacon personally." Drift commented playfully, scooting over on the blankets so you were carefully but comfortably sandwiched between their helms. Rodimus pouted at the comment, but was entirely flirty in his reply, looking over you as he gave what he probably thought was the most obvious rebuttal in the world.

"How? There's no wings!"

"If you flip it over, it kind of looks like a spaceship." you interjected, tilting your head to turn the lopsided horse into an equally lumpy cruiser. Both bots followed your lead with thoughtful hums, and you had to fight not to snort at their mutual expressions of effort. These nerdy bots truly didn't know how endearing they could be when unleashed together.

"Really?" Rodimus said a little doubtfully, optics narrowing as he tried to see what you meant. It wasn't until he turned his helm in the other direction that he lit up in agreement. "Oh yeah, I see it!"

Drift put his hands behind his helm and lounged, smirking in the not so subtle way he often did when he was about to start some fun with the two of you. "Looks like a bunch of swords to me."

Rodimus sighed in mock exasperation, throwing his helm back on the plush nest of blankets he'd arranged for the three of you. Giggling without control, you relaxed between them and let the fun begin, waiting for the inevitable reply.

"You think everything looks like a bunch of swords." Rodimus said, sticking out his glossa at the ninjabot who only chuckled smugly.

"Do not." Drift teased back, turning onto his side to face both you and Rodimus at the same time. His optics were alight with glee as he did so, making it clear that beneath the playful attitude he adored every moment he was spending with the two of you. Considering how impossible moments like this might have once seemed, you understood where such feelings might have been coming from. The Captain of the Lost Light mimicked Drift's posture, leaving you in the direct line of sight for them both as the brilliantly mature rebuttal was made.

"You totally do."

Snorting again, you playfully pushed against both of them and made yourself heard.

"You both look like nerds to me."

You barely heard the replies of mock offense before both bots took advantage of the position to pepper you with light kisses, stopping only to share some with each other or give you a chance to stop laughing before returning to finding shapes in the heavens.

[nitewrighter]

26 with Gency? 🙈

26. Stargazing

---

The thrum of processors kept Lijiang Tower’s control center from feeling too empty. Lynx Seventeen had been able to remotely scrub the Null Sector cyber-attack from Lijiang’s servers, and their own strike team had driven out the Null Sector operatives infiltrating the facility. Winston and Mei were off busy gathering additional intel from Lijiang’s other scientists, trying to determine Null Sector’s next move, more or less leaving Genji and Mercy to their own devices. Genji made a point of speaking with what Omnic workers were there to try and determine the point of the leak, but from what they could gather, the primary leak had been remotely hacked. Mercy was at this point mindlessly scrolling through Lijiang’s medical emergency plans and finding them all perfectly viable when she felt a finger tap on her shoulder. She jumped with a gasp and whirled around to see Genji.

“Do you have to sneak up?” she said breathlessly.

“...Ninja,” said Genji, with a shrug and she just scoffed and smiled before standing up from the monitor she was scrolling through. “You find anything?” he asked, craning his neck slightly to look at the monitor.

“Nothing mission relevant,” said Mercy with a shrug, “And you?”

“Nothing mission relevant,” said Genji, “But I did find something. Come on.” Mercy tilted her head at him with some curiosity, but he was already walking off. “Come on!” he said again, and she rolled her eyes with a slight chuckle before following after him out of the office, through the room of thrumming servers, and out to the main control center. It had numerous monitors displaying the statuses of Lijiang’s space station and additional satellites, as well as a column-like central processor in the middle of the circular room.

“What’s out here?” said Mercy.

“Look at this,” said Genji, brushing his hand up against a monitor.

“I don’t think we should touch--” Mercy started but suddenly the lights dimmed and the entire room filled with holograms of stars and constellations, “...anything...”

“Not pressing any buttons,” said Genji, stepping around her and showing her his hands, “This also looks like something they do for the tour groups...Not terribly practical to display a satellite’s projection like this all the time.” He pointed up at one of the hologram satellites drifting around the room.

Mercy smiled a little. “It’s beautiful, Genji,” she said, folding her arms, “...it’s kind of a shame we don’t get to visit places like this like... regular people.”

Genji sidled next to her and nudged his shoulder against hers, “I don’t think it’s so bad, having the place to ourselves.”

She snorted and pushed her shoulder against his, playfully as his sights trailed upward.

“North star,” he pointed, “You can find it--”

“From the corner of the big dipper,” said Mercy, pointing to a different star.

“Oh ho, a doctor and an astronomer?” said Genji a bit playfully.

“Well my relief work took me to a lot of remote places, and GPS can’t track everywhere,” said Mercy with a wry smirk. 

“I had to learn star navigation from a group of bedouins and solar-powered omnics!” said Genji, he pointed, “There. Sirius.”

She pointed, “Betelgeuse.”

“Is this a competition?” said Genji.

“I’m not competing. Are you competing?” said Mercy, arching an eyebrow, before pointing “Bellatrix.”

“Alkaid,” said Genji.

“Pollux.”

“Castor.”

“Pleiades.”

“That’s like. 7 of them, that’s cheating,” said Genji.

“I just said I’m not competing!” said Mercy.

“She said, competitively,” said Genji folding his arms.

“Oh for--” Mercy stepped behind Genji, wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed off of the floor, spreading her valkyrie wings and taking him up among the hologram stars.

“Woah!” Genji’s leg’s flailed underneath him as the floor disappeared but he trusted her and the warmth of her embrace and turned his gaze upward before she came to a hovering stop right in front of the Pleiades.

 “There. Maia, Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Taygete, Electra, and Merope,” said Mercy, pointing to each star as she spoke, still holding him tight in her grip.

“Who’s not competitive now?” said Genji.

“Don’t make me drop you,” said Mercy, with a snicker.

“You picked me up!” said Genji, “I guess I’m just your problem now.”

“Oh for goodness’--” Mercy rolled her eyes as Genji craned his torso so he could bring an arm behind her shoulders and support himself a bit more as they floated among the hologram stars, “You like getting under my skin, don’t you?”

“You can get so lost in the mission, otherwise,” said Genji, “Lost in ‘Mercy.’“

Mercy blinked a few times and then glanced off.

“Mercy would never threaten to drop me,” Genji said teasingly. “She’s too busy looking like a World War One pinup on the posters.” 

Mercy snorted hard before her gaze trailed back out to the hologram stars. “We both worry about you, though,” she said softly, “What you said about navigating the stars... you were wandering out in the Sahara?”

“...for a little less than a month,” said Genji.

“Why?”

“It was before I met Zenyatta,” said Genji, looking out at the stars with her, “I was trying to figure out who I was.”

“There are less... dangerous pilgrimages you can take--Kumano Kodo, the Camino Santiago, the Philosopher’s walk--...”

“I didn’t really think of it as a pilgrimage...” said Genji.

“...did you think you would find the answer that far away from people?” Mercy said quietly, “Did you even think about how you would get back?”

“...how much less seriously would you take me if I told you I got separated from a tour group?” said Genji.

Mercy looked at him blankly for a few seconds. “...what?”

“I wandered over the wrong dune, lost in my thoughts, next thing I know, the tour truck is gone,” said Genji.

“You--you missed a tour bus through sheer force of brooding!?” said Mercy, incredulously.

“But what matters is, I learned how to navigate by the stars,” said Genji with a sage nod.

Mercy sputtered. “You--How did--I can’t believe you--Are you messing with me? I’ll get it if you’re messing with me.”

“I’m not messing with you,” said Genji.

“You’re ridiculous,” said Mercy.

“Only person you know who brings a sword to a gunfight,” said Genji with a shrug. Mercy huffed and then kissed him on the side of his faceplate, prompting his visor to brighten. “Oh--heh...”

“Doctor Ziegler?” Mei’s voice piped up from below, prompting Mercy to nearly drop Genji with surprise, prompting them to both scramble to grip each other in mid-air as Mercy descended.

“Yes! Mei! Something you needed?” said Mercy, her and Genji’s feet both touching on the ground.

“...Winston and I are ready to get back to the Orca,” Mei glanced at Genji, “Unless you’re... busy?”

“Busy?” 

“What?”

“Who’s busy?”

“Just looking around--”

“We’re not--”

“I’m not---”

Mercy and Genji’s voices were overlapping each other as Mei gave a slight eye roll and turned around to head back to the Orca. 

“RIght! Orca!” Mercy blurted out as she and Genji followed after her.

[thiswasinevitableid]

this isn't off any prompt list but hero/villian indruck where they have a meetcute and both desperately try to keep the other from finding out their alter ego as their relationship gets more and more serious while simultaneously trying to keep their rival away from their seemingly innocent love interest for fear of endangering them

Here you go!

“You win this round, Knight,” The Moth hovers, mechanical wings flapping and smile spreading across his face. The blood trickling down his nose doesn’t faze him in the slightest, “But I’m sure we’ll see each other quite soon.”

He flies off before Duck can grab him, leaving the hero standing, arms crossed (and cross in general), his quiet evening at home ruined by The Moth’s need cause trouble at the Governors Ball.

He’d just gotten to a good part in his book too.

------------------------

“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry!”

Duck looks up as he’s wiping coffee from his lap to find a tall, gangly, angular stranger hurriedly tossing down his bag  to help clean up the spill.

“I’m sorry, I get lost in my thoughts sometimes and oh, darn it all.” In his eagerness to help, the taller man splashes coffee onto this white tank top, giving him a belly splotch that matches the one on Ducks green t-shirt. 

“It’s uh, no big deal, ain’t like I was in my Sunday best and, uh, that ain’t a library book.”

“Oh no your book.” The other man lifts the stained paperback, looks at it sadly, “At least let me buy you a replacement.” He’s holding the book to his chest now, clearly hopeful that Duck will let him make amends.

Between the red-brown eyes, the tousled, silver-dyed hair, and the earnest, odd smile, he has an air of disheveled charm that, at his age, Duck ought to be past finding adorable. 

Instead, he smiles back, “Sure thing. Bookstore  two blocks down oughta have copies, and a little cafe to boot. You let me buy you a replacement drink, I’ll let you buy me a new book. Deal?”

The other man nods, hands flapping, “Yes, that sounds wonderful.”

Duck grins, suddenly excited, before noticing he’s a bit sticky.

“Meet me there in an hour so we can both change?”

“It’s a date.”

--------------------------------------

It’s a date? Agh, of all the ways he could have phrased it, why did his blasted, traitorous mouth choose that one?

He stands awkwardly in one corner of the cafe, hands stuffed into the pockets of his pink and yellow cardigan. Was this too flamboyant? He doesn’t even know if the other man is gay. He supposes he could look into the futures to determine the answer to that, but doing so feels rude. 

This is why he turned to supervillainy in the first place; he’s terrible with people. 

He wishes he’d worn his glasses. They’re technically a tool of his trade, but they make him feel safe. 

“Uh, howdy.” 

He glances up, finds the man from before looking at him. Now that he’s not racked with panic trying to clean up a spill, he has a chance to take in just how much his type the man is. Short, but bear like (”a teddy bear” his mind supplies, unhelpfully), with green eyes and charming, unhurried vibe to him. His drawl does remind him of a certain hero who’s always in his way, but he won’t hold that against him. 

“Buy you a coffee?”

“Yes, please. Ah, um, I guess I should introduce myself; I’m Indrid.”

“Duck” he holds out his hand and Indrid takes it, enjoys the warmth and strength in his grip, “Nice to meet you.”

--------------------------------------

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” Duck tightens Beacon around The Moth, who tears at the blade with his retractable claws. Duck learned about those the hard way, when the villain extended them during one of their first meetings. The slash broke the skin, something rare for Duck on account of his durability. 

“And you have got to come up with some more creative lines, hero.” The Moth snarls, “you have used that one twice before now. Which is also how many times you have forgotten about this.”  The villain throws himself sideways and down with enough force to yank Duck to his knees and loosen his grip. As his sword clatters to the ground, red powder fills his eyes.

“Gah, jesus, not that shit again.” His eyes sting, and as he pats the ground for Beacon he hears the scrape of metal moving away from him. Beacons hilt disappears into the mist, dragged slowly back by The Moth’s foot. 

Duck looks up at him through watering eyes, trying not to breath in the dust. 

“Well, you got me at your mercy. You gonna start gloatin about your evil plans or some shit?”

A light, sharp laugh, “Why would I waste my time in such a way? Oh no, I shall be making off with my prize. And making sure you don’t follow me.”

He raises his foot, and Ducks vision whites out on one side as he crumples. 

He should be more worried about the villain getting away with the schematics for the ApCorps latest government security features. 

Mostly, he’s worried he’ll have a black eye tomorrow. 

------------------------

“Hel-oh goodness, Duck, your eye.” Indrid opens the door a half second before Duck knocks, then quickly cups his cheeks to take a closer look.

“Looks worse than it is, sugar, don’t worry. And, uh, surprise.” He produces a small bouquet of Irises from he behind his back. Indrid beams, taking them with squeak of delight. 

“They’re lovely, but what’s the occasion?” He’s smiling almost like he knows, almost like he just wants to hear him say it. 

“Know, uh, know I said I wanted to take things slow, but I realized we been datin a month I ain’t given you anythin.”

“You bought me coffee that first time. And we have each bought dinner for the other multiple times.” Indrid takes his hand, drawing him inside.  

“I know but, well, kinda wanted to do somethin a little more special.”

“Any time with you is special.” 

Duck snorts, “Cornball.”

Indrid kisses, “I learned from the best.”

-------------------------------------

“What can I say, I learned from the best.” Indrid grins at The Knight, who is currently hanging upside down in an elegantly simple snare. 

“I got the idea from that unpleasant sword of yours. Keep your enemy tied up nice and tight to keep them out of your OW, ow, alright I should have seen that coming.” His glasses are now cracked from the Knight headbutting him.

“I’m impressed you could manage that upside down.”

“Drop these fuckin chains off me and I’ll show you somethin real impressive.”

Indrid tilts his head, “Tempting, but I have a pressing engagement tomorrow morning. Not to mention I need to get this,” he pats the painting he just lifted from the house of a man with a gold toilet, “somewhere safe. Until we meet again.” He offers a mocking salute, and takes flight.

--------------------------------------------

“Again?” Indrid offers, pressed against warm, sweat-tinged expanse of Duck’s chest, his heart beating in time with the rapid rise and fall of Ducks breathing.

“Nope. Not that the body and mind ain’t willin, but the mind and body also got work tomorrow. Damn that felt good.” He usually tops, but with Indrid he’s found it more variable; some nights, like tonight, the other man fucks him into the bed, or over the nearest table, or however far they get before Duck can’t stand waiting anymore. Other nights, Indrid gets on all fours so Duck can fuck him with the strap, drops to his knees before they make it past the entryway, tugging at Duck’s belt buckle with little whimpers. 

“Mmmm, it was magnificent my love.” Indrid goes stone still in his arms as that last syllable flutters in the air.

Duck brushes strands of pale hair from his forehead, “I love you too, ‘Drid.”

His boyfriend flops down in relief, “oh thank goodness that’s the way it went.”

“As if I could feel any other way about you.”

Indrid mutters something that might be “cornball” into his chest, yawns and nestles closer with whisper of “love my teddy bear.”

“Love you too, sugar.”

Shit.

He’s in love with Indrid. 

Bad things happen to superhero love interests. Very bad things. He can’t bear losing him, but no one beside the other members of the Pine Gaurd know his secret identity. He’s not ready to tell him yet. Soon, but not yet. 

Indrid rolls sleepily onto his side and Duck goes with him, turning into the little spoon in his embrace. God, what if an enemy decides to kidnap him, hurt him, just to get to Duck?

Then again, no villain has singled him out, save for one. 

Which he’ll need to deal with that one as soon as he can. 

-------------------------

“Give up while you still can, Moth!” 

“Not a chance.” Indrid hisses back, clutching the gash on his arm from the sword. What has gotten into the Knight today? Usually he only fights Indrid the amount needed to stop whatever crime he’s busy committing. 

Today he’s trying to destroy him. 

He’s been training, that much is clear, he has new moves that Indrid finds difficult to anticipate in a fight, and a fire in his eyes that heightens Indrid’s guard. 

As he flits out of reach of yet another strike, his goal of thievery long forgotten in favor of not getting chopped in half, he tries to determine the source of the change. What would make him fight harder?

Duck. He’d burn this city to the ground, tear every hero in it to pieces, if Duck were in danger. 

He reaches the edge of the building, but before stepping off to safety he turns.

“You win tonight, Knight. But do give that new lover of yours my regards.”

--------------------------------------------

“Hey, Indrid?”

“Yes?” His boyfriend looks up from his sketches. 

“I was wonderin if, uh, if you’d like to go to a  fancier place than normal? Barclay got me an in at La Lune, thought we could go on Friday. There’s, uh, there’s somethin I wanna talk about.”

“Is is a marriage proposal or breaking up with me?”

“What? No!”

Indrid chuckles, “I am teasing. Mostly.” He bounces his eyebrows and Duck rolls his eyes in response. 

“Thought afterwards, might be nice to go out to the park and stargaze, tell you what I need to in private.”

“That sounds lovely, my love.”

------------------------------

The stars are aligning in Indrid’s favor this week. 

Yesterday, when the Knight tried to corner him on his way out of his lair, he took the gamble of getting close, earning him the reward of landing a deep slash on The Knight’s cheek. One he won’t be able to heal by tonight. Whether he’s in his hero get-up or his civilian clothes, Indrid will be able to spot him. 

And tonight, he has it on good authority that the Knight will be appearing in this block of the city.  The same block on which sits La Lune. Indrid can go to dinner with his boyfriend right after removing the biggest threat to said boyfriend. 

He’s perched on the roof of the restaurant, steering clear of the large skylight. His glasses scan the streets, the windows all around him. 

But this is taking longer than anticipated. He hasn’t looked too far into the futures for the night, since his growing romantic side wants whatever Duck tells him to be a true surprise. 

He pulls out his phone, swipes to his conversation with Duck. Beneath the photo of a Scarlet Tanager Duck sent him from his work at the ranger station he types, running behind, will be there shortly after 7.

He receives back, NP, see you soon sugar with a kissy face. 

The minutes tick by, the spring sun setting inch by inch behind the downtown skyline. At 7:05, he peeks through the skylight, spots Duck. He can’t see his face all the way in the mood lighting of the restaurant, but he knows his gait, his profile. 

At 7:30 there is still no sign of his nemesis. He’s been scanning and staring and searching, looking at his phone only once after it buzzes many times. He has four missed calls and five texts

Duck: ETA? Damn, this place is even fancier than I thought. 

Duck: Everything okay? If you’re close, I can order us some appetizers so you don’t got to wait to eat. 

Duck: Can’t wait to see you.

Duck: Are you still coming? Are you okay? 

Duck: Sugar?

That last one comes as he’s reading the others. He peers down through the skylight, sees Duck stare at his phone for a ten count, gnawing his lip. Then he looks up at the sky, eyes shut, as if weighing a decision. 

Indrid’s heart plummets. 

There’s a gash on Duck’s cheek. 

A gash he put there. 

Every coincidence, every strange incident he’d pushed to side, lost in the happiness of their courtship, floods his mind. 

Suddenly, he knows what Duck was going to tell him. 

With shaking fingers, he types,

So sorry, my battery died at the worst of all times, I borrowed a charger from a good samaritan. I’m nearly there. 

It takes him two and a half minutes to descend the building and change into his evening wear that he stashed nearby. 

At three minutes, he’s walking through the doors, Duck jumping up and hugging him before he even makes the table.

“Sorry for, uh, textin so much, I guess I got a bit nervous. Y’know how shit can get here; can be walkin home and suddenly a supervillain is wreckin shit and you’re collateral.”

“I understand.” He takes his seat, Duck relaxing into the chair opposite him, “in fact, my love, I understand a great deal.”

Indrid reaches into his pocket, producing a pair of red glasses. He slips them on, knowing the other diners will think nothing of it. 

“I look familiar, don’t I?”

Duck stares so long, moving so little, that Indrid fears he sent him into some kind of shock. 

“Get out. Now.” Duck’s tone is level, his eyes glinting with threat. 

“Duck, please, I, I want to explain-”

“Out. I ain’t gonna tangle with you tonight, but I don’t wanna see you ever again.”

Wordlessly, Indrid removes the glasses, and walks into the night.

---------------------------------------------

Indrid is out of ideas. 

For the first week after his confession, he searched the futures religiously for any sign that Duck would come after him, would reveal his apartment to the other heroes. 

It never came. 

He hasn’t stolen anything in two months. 

He sent a single apology letter to Duck, doing his best to explain the situation. Watched the futures narrow down to a single one; Duck reading it, then tearing it up. 

He even sent anonymous notes to the Pine Guard, altering them to several oncoming disasters or the kind of supervillainy that has a body count. 

Wounded pride, a loss of purpose, a wave of self-loathing, and a dozen other complexly unpleasant emotions could form the center of his world. 

But it all comes down to one simple feeling: he misses Duck. Misses his smile, his sense of humor, his strange laugh, the safety he felt by his side, and endless list of things stripped from his life by his own actions. 

Which is why it has come to this.

He sets up the camera, and starts recording.

------------------------------------------------

“Hey, Duck, I think you should see this.”

Duck plods into the main control room, where Ned is fiddling with the video feed while Aubrey waves him to sit by her.

“I swear to fuck if it’s that police chief tryin to recruit us again-”

“Nah, Aubrey and I finally got through to him.” Mama tosses out from the corner where she’s busily whittling a wooden duck. 

The screen flickers blue, and then Duck feels the opposing pulls of revulsion and longing as Indrid’s face appears. His glasses are off, but he’s otherwise in his full villain get-up.

“Hello Duck, and, ah, I assume the rest of the Pine Guard. It is fine with me if you all listen in, but this message is ultimately for him.”

Barclay reaches over Ned to hit pause, “Duck?”

“Y’all can stay.”

The video resumes. 

“I have two messages. The first is an apology; not necessarily for the things I have stolen, but for any genuine harm I caused other people, yourselves included. And I apologize once again, and as many more times as you require, Duck, for not telling you the truth sooner. In my defense, there is no easy way to admit to the man you love that you are a supervillain. All the same, I ought to have been brave enough to try, for your sake.” 

Indrid sits up and Duck leans forward. 

“My second message is that I am retiring from supervillainy. I could say something about a change of view on the world in general, but the truth is that villainy is less interesting without an equal to rival and banter with me. And, well, I am sure I can find other ways to fill my days. Especially if the man I care for is by my side. I should be clear that my retirement is not contingent on you reaching out to me again, Duck. Merely that it is something you may wish to know. Ah, I suppose that is all. This is the Moth, signing off for the last time. I’m sorry again, Duck. I love you.”

“Think it’s a bluff?” Aubrey asks as the screen goes dark.

“No, as one who has mastered the art of insincerity, I do not believe so.” Ned responds, switching on the lights.

Duck, for his part, says nothing.

---------------------------------------------------

Indrid rolls off the bed at the knock, rubbing his eyes as he trudges to the door, too tired to look at the futures. 

“How can I…” 

The sight of Duck Newton on his doorstep elicits so many emotions that he short circuits. 

“Hey.”

“Hello.”

“So, retiring huh?”

“Yes.” He fights the urge to chew his nails. 

“Guess that means you’re free to talk right now?”

“Indeed.” He steps back, allowing Duck to step in and shut the door.

“Great, Because we got a lot to talk about. But, uh, first.”

He cups Indrids cheeks, kissing him so lovingly that the former villain melts against him, gripping the front of his ranger jacket the way a falling man grasps at a cliff. 

“I missed you so much.” He whispers, and before he has time to hate the crack in his voice, Duck is kissing him again, guiding him slowly and surely to the couch, murmuring in between kisses.

“Missed you too, so much, goddamn, couldn’t stop thinkin about you, love you so much ‘Drid, wanna make things right, we’re gonna make ‘em right, I promise.”

Indrid glances at the futures, sees that in all of them they do, in fact, end up having a long, serious conversation, one that ends in even softer kisses and Duck curled around him in his bed. 

But there’s still a few more minutes for him to savor being here, safe and secure, in the arms of his hero. 

[piamio]

Snake Tattoo

*oh wow I´m making fanfics now*

Summary: Raphael falls.

  He couldn´t help but smile. He had finished along Gabriel the last of the stars in the sky Gabriel had gotten bored of watching them and just went back to Heaven. Raphael gazed at his creations lovingly. It was him who created the nebulous on the far rift or that red giant in a faraway galaxy.

It was all so beautiful.

Unfinished maybe. But when he also decided to go back to Heaven he was received with the news that God had made something by themselves again. Raphael was curious by nature, so he went to investigate what all this fuss about “humans” was about.

He found Adam. The first man wondering around the Garden of Eden, admiring and praising everything on it. Rafael felt a tad of loneliness in his heart however.

“Why do you feel that way if you have all this?” He asked innocently to the human surprised to see the red haired angel. Adam reflected as he kept walking. 

“Maybe because there’s no one just like me. There’s animals and plants, but no others like me” he said gazing at the sky.

“You wouldn’t feel that way if you had someone?” Raphael asked again. Feeling a surge of uncertainty. Was that not enough?

“It’s all so beautiful. So exciting and enchanting. But I want someone besides god to gaze at these marvels and cherish them”

Raphael focused on the wanting. He was an angel, his wants or needs were dictated by god. He didn’t have any of his own. But why Adam had wants if he was also a creation of god? And to have someone besides god? What did that mean?

With questions on his mind, the angel flew to Heaven in a rush. Almost bumping into another angel who he avoided in the last second.

Without saying sorry he talked to god about his conversation with Adam. God heard him patiently.

“I understand” they said. “I will give him someone of his own” and as they finished they took a rib from Adam and thus Eve was born. They were together from then on and so, god kept watching them.

Rafael went to Gabriel then.

“We haven’t finished creating on that side of the universe” Raphael told him without receiving a response. Gabriel was playing a game with other angels.

“If god doesn’t tell us to, we don´t need to do so, do we?” He asked to a general ovation as they continued their game. Raphael wasn’t so sure.

“But I want to create more. I want to see more” he said. Opening several eyes wide.

“You want?” They repeated.

“Adam can want but not us? Why’s that? Is it not allowed?” He asked not receiving answers.

Soon enough Raphael started to notice angels that also thought that way.

“We should be able to do as much as they do. We can do as we want” he would hear from them. But when he asked them about what they should do, nobody responded. They were too scared to ask god.

In the meantime, Raphael spent even more time gazing at the stars. Just once finding another angel looking at them and smiling.

“They’re beautiful indeed” he heard him say. Raphael didn’t know his name, but he was busy trying to solve other kinds of questions. Like why had Lucifer asked him to make a snake eat mice just for fun and why he had not felt shame? Was it because he hadn’t created that? But god?

As he got lost in thoughts, days and days passed where Lucifer and others acted in a new unknown code to Raphael. Their own.

Raphael hanged around them starved of answers to the questions that every day formed by observing Adam and Eve. Soon, he understood the code wasn’t for him either. As he was asked to burn the back of a raccoon. He refused doing so, but they did anyways. Vanishing him for a while.

Then what code could he follow? Who could he be around that understood him?

Yet, more questions.

He didn’t know of it until Lucifer explained that the feeling he had was jealousy. In his hunger, it was a surprise to one day hear Lucifer had arranged a conversation with them and god.

“They need to answer those questions, Raphael, are you with me to know the truth?” He asked extending his hand towards him.

“Truth? About what? I only want answers”

“And you will get them. And that’s the truth” he told him. Raphael looked around and with a bit of doubt he gave in.

The moment had arrived and just outside the doors, Gabriel stood and glared at him before disappearing. Raphael had yet another question on his mind. Counting all of them now was useless.

“Come in” God told the angels. Obediently, they did.

And so they started talking. Or more, asking. Every angel there. 10 million angels asking their questions at the same time. They didn’t care to leave room for the others to speak. But god heard them all, and slowly got enraged. But before giving in, he let Raphael, who had been so close to them, ask one last question.

Raphael was certainly doubting now.

But he wanted answers above all else. So he asked. About them and about Adam and Eve. About why they were so different and why it did look like in a moment, everything else was background noise for God. If it wasnt important...

“What’s our purpose then?” Lucifer then asked taking Raphael’s turn. “What is our purpose here other than serve for a plan that can’t be explained to us? How are we gonna do that?”

“When we don’t know why we were created” Rafael finished the thought making Lucifer give him a smile.

God had listened and they were furious. Of all the questions, that had been the most audacious. It was Lucifer who fell first.

His wings went black and suddenly turned up in flames as he fell. Heavily and fast, as if he was made of lead. One by one every angel got black wings that made them fall becoming a giant fire ball.

When it was Raphael’s turn, he was alone. He grabbed the walls, no matter how painfully hot they were to his hands.

“You dare resist your punishment, demon?” God asked taking him into their hand. Raphael wasn’t relieved as his wings were heavy. What was a demon? Him? “Then you shall be punished accordingly” grabbing one feather of his now black wings, God scribbled a snake on Raphael’s face. His blood as the ink.

In his screams God told him:

“You that dared grab the walls in an attempt to escape your sin, will now be given the shape of the one I command you. Of no legs nor arms. Crawling was your salvation and now it will be your punishment. Raphael, Lucifer and my other creations have fell and lost their names. Every one of them knows their new name” God finished scribbling and before letting him fall, he finished “and you shall remember your crime with it, Crawley” God said as he left go of Crawley, who from an angelic form, quickly, grotesquely became a snake and then back to an angel. He felt his wings burn in the sulfur for a long time. Over and over again, burning and restoring.

Painfully, he stood up in a place so dark and glum he didn’t think it was real. But it was. And it was hell.

They decided to get revenge when they understood they wouldn´t be forgiven. Until Armageddon. They would wait until they were strong enough and in the meantime they would shatter all creation.

But Raphael was confused.

All he did was ask questions. Why had he been burnt? Why had he been vanished? What’s wrong in trying to understand?

Apparently bad enough to become evil. A demon.

However much time passed after they fell, Crawley stargazed again. Finding out that it had been finished by Gabriel. He wasn’t bound to God now, he could go where he wanted. Or more accurately, where Satan allowed him.

Unsuspecting, he had solved nothing. He was told his motive now was to be evil and plague the Earth with discord. But that wasn’t what he wanted. And now he couldn’t be forgiven. The snake tattoo was a proof of that.

One day, Satan sent him up to tempt Eve into eating the Apple of knowledge. Dressed as a snake he did as he was commanded to. And Eve tempted Adam into the First Offence. Getting them expelled from the garden.

He saw them pleading but looked away as they were punished. As he knew, oh he knew, they couldn’t be forgiven. He then stayed up a bit more and went to Eden’s East gate. Only to find the same angel who had talked aloud about the beauty on his stars. The same Angel who had a flaming sword to defend the garden from beings like him. Demons. But he got close anyways.

“Well, that went down like a lead balloon” he expressed looking at them go on the desert.

“What?” The angel asked him unsure of his ears. Crawley didn’t sense a bit of fear. Maybe discomfort, but no fear.

“I said, that went down like a lead balloon” he repeated for the angel. The angel smiled and put his eyes back on them.  “Y-Yes it did, rather”

“Bit of an overreaction if you ask me” the angel looked back at him “I don´t see what´s so bad about knowing the difference between good and evil anyways”

“Well, it must be bad...” the angel looked at him for a moment. Expecting. “Crawley” he told him.  “Crawley. Otherwise you wouldn’t have tempted them to” the angel responded his doubt. It was the first time. 

“Oh, they just said “get up and make some trouble” Crawley said with a tedious voice. 

“Obviously, you´re a demon. Is what you do” The angel said as in trying to finish the conversation.

“Not very subtle of the Almighty if you ask me” Crawley kept on “Fruit tree in the middle of a garden with a “don’t touch” sign” Crawley started to ramble “why didn’t they put it on a high mountain? Or on the moon?” He asked. “Makes you wonder what´s god really planning” 

The angel put his eyebrows together. And tried to explain to Crawley, calmly, that it wasn´t their place to understand. Crawley looked at the floor as he heard him. Nobody would give him answers about that, would they?

“It´s ineffable” Crawley heard getting back his attention. 

“The great plan´s “ineffable”?” he repeated not quite liking where it was going. 

“Exactly. It´s beyond understanding and impossible to put into words” He explained to him. Crawley was getting answers, but they weren´t exactly helpful. He finally noticed something.

“Didn´t you have a flaming sword?” he asked noticing the angel´s cornered like face. “It was flaming like anythin´ what happened to it?” The angel looked away trying to hide his embarrassment. 

“Lost it already, haven´t you” Crawley tried. The angel took a moment to respond.

“Gave it away” he whispered. Making Crawley open his eyes wide. 

“You what?” he asked astonished. An angel who disobeyed god. They had more in common than he thought at the beginning of the conversation. 

“I gave it away! There´s vicious animals!” he started explaining on his reasons “and I said “here you go, flaming sword, don´t thank me...and don´t let the sun go down on you here” The angel had had mercy on them. “I hope I didn´t do the wrong thing” he said fidgeting with a ring on his hand. 

“Oh you´re an angel, I don´t think you can do the wrong thing” Crawley encouraged him. He would be a demon if it wasn´t the case, he thought to himself. 

“It´d been troubling me” The angel thanked him for his words.

“I´ve been worried too” suddenly he felt comfortable enough around this angel to talk “What if I did the right thing with all eat the apple business?” he let the words on the air “A demon can get into a lot of trouble for doing the right thing” as he said that, Adam killed a lion that had tried to attacked them. And saw the angel´s worried face “It would be funny if we both got it wrong, aye? If I did the good thing and you the bad one” he smiled awkwardly at him. For a moment doubting he would get the joke.

He laughed a bit “No! It wouldn´t be funny at all!” he went like trying to hide he had agreed with him for a moment. 

Crawley had sensed something different on this angel. He was an angel that disobeyed god and tried to answer his questions. An angel who hadn´t tried to fight him the moment he saw him. He had peaked his interest. 

Suddenly he felt water on his face. It was “rain”. The first to fall. He could have covered himself with his own wings, but the angel had unconsciously lift up his wing to cover him. Despite getting wet himself. Crawley scooted and took cover from it below his wing. 

An angel who showed kindness to everything, even a demon, was in Crawley´s mind, someone worth been around. 

[arc852]

Fairy Hunt and Capture

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, @hiddendreamer67!!!!!!

 Can I just say that you are the best co-writer and friend I could ever ask for. Seriously, I love writing and bouncing off ideas with you. You are the best and you deserve the best birthday!

 Now, onto the story!

Summary: Roman drags his brother, Virgil, to go try and catch themselves some fairies. Logan and Patton are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Warnings: Treating people like pets, injury, panic, fear, crying, self-deprecation, blaming oneself, kidnapping and trapping.

 Roman and Virgil, a pair of brothers who lived only a few miles out from the kingdom, did not have a lot of money. Not to say that they were poor, as both brothers worked hard to get what little they had.

 Roman made money primarily by doing small quests for people. Their father had trained him in the ways of the sword before he had passed and Roman put those skills to good use. Whether it was a delivery request or a hunting one, Roman would take it. He was well known within the town by now, which was nice for business.

 Virgil, on the other hand, used the skills his mother taught him before her own passing. Mending fabric and sewing was what he was good at. He would work on clothes for the week and then every Sunday, at the public market, he would set up and sell them. During that time, people would also pay to have him mend some of their clothes, which Virgil was happy to accept.

 So yes, the brothers had enough to live but not much else set aside.

 That’s why it surprised Virgil when, late one night, Roman burst into his room. “Virgil! Get up!” Roman exclaimed and Virgil groaned, shifting in bed and pulling the covers up more. He felt Roman come closer and try to tug at his blankets. “Come on, gloomy nightmare, I have something exciting to show you!”

 Virgil peeked his head out, glaring up at his older brother. He was annoyed at being woken up so late but he was also intrigued. Especially because he knew Roman had just returned from a quest and sometimes people gave him items along with the money. So, groaning, he sat up in bed as Roman took a seat at the edge.

 “Alright, what is it?” Virgil asked, his voice still a bit hoarse from sleep. Roman grinned at him.

 “Okay, so, you know how we’ve always wanted fairies as kids?” Roman asked first off, causing Virgil to raise an eyebrow.

 Fairies were a popular pet among the rich, as they were quite expensive. Too expensive, if you asked Virgil but he supposed it made sense for all the hassle people went to actually capture the darn things.

 “Yeah...” Virgil answered. Yes, he had gotten caught up in the fairy fad right alongside Roman. But the want for a fairy had dwindled over the years. Roman, however, seemed to want one just as much as when he was a kid. “Why are you bringing this up? You know we can’t afford one.”

 Roman’s smiled stayed on his face. “Maybe not the actual fairy...but look what I just bought for the two of us!” Roman opened his hand to reveal two small...collars. Virgil’s eyes widened as he took them in. They were fairy collars, made of iron with runes on every side that were used to diminish a fairies magic. It was how people were able to make fairies into pets, without the fear of being injured by some sort of fae magic.

 Roman encouraged Virgil to take one, so he did, twirling it around between his fingers. “Roman, how-I don’t understand.” It wasn’t like these collars were exactly cheap either. Just cheaper than a fairy. Besides, what did Roman expect to do with them?

 “Well, I’ve been putting some money aside for a few months now.” Roman revealed. “Just a little of course, I mean, you didn’t even notice.” It was true, Virgil hadn’t noticed. They could still afford everything they needed so he supposed he couldn’t be mad at Roman for that.

 “Okay, but what are we supposed to do with them? We don’t have fairies to put these on.” Virgil asked, holding up the collar as he spoke. Roman just grinned.

 “Not yet.” Roman stood up and went over to Virgil’s closest. Pulling out some clothes and throwing them at Virgil. “Get dressed, we’re going fairy hunting.”

***

 “Roman, I’m still not sure about this. Fairies are dangerous.” Virgil said for what had to be the eighth time by now. He had been forced out of the house by Roman as Roman went on and on about what kinds of fairies they could catch. “People have died trying to catch these fairies.” Which was why most people left it to the professionals, who had the skill and technology to handle them.

 Roman and Virgil had neither of these things.

 “Please, Virgil, how hard can it be? All we have to do is get this collar on them and they’re ours. They won’t be able to do a thing.” Roman said, sounding confident. Roman was making it sound so easy but Virgil knew they were in for a fight.

 Maybe they wouldn’t be able to find any. He had never seen any fae in this forest after all.

 Virgil walked a few more steps before almost running into Roman as Roman stopped in front of him. “Here!” A hand on his shoulder pushed him down alongside Roman, hidden behind several bushes. “A perfect hiding spot. Some fairies are bound to come through here.”

 Virgil looked out beyond the bushes, noticing there was a small clearing ahead. He didn’t know why Roman thought this was a good spot but any argument he gave would probably fall on deaf ears. He sighed. It was going to be a long night.

***

 Logan loved flying at night. It was dark and quiet, most creatures were asleep, and he got a perfect view of the night sky. Well, kind of. Not from just anywhere in the forest because of the trees. But there was a special spot he loved to fly to, that had an opening that allowed him to actually see all the stars in the sky.

 And that was where he was currently headed now.

 “Logan! Slow down!” Alongside his best friend Patton, of course. He came to a stop in mid-air. Allowing for Patton to catch up.

 “Apologies, Patton. I may have let my excitement get the better of me.” He said a bit sheepish. Patton just chuckled.

 “It’s okay Lo. It’s been a few months since we’ve been able to come out here, so it makes sense.” Patton said with a smile. Logan couldn’t help but smile as well but then, before he could react, Patton took off again. Logan blinked in surprise before shaking his head and taking off as well, easily catching up to Patton.

 “There it is, Lo!” Patton shouted. Logan didn’t exactly need Patton’s obvious observation but he was too excited himself to comment on it.

 “Indeed.” Both fairies landed on a rock that happened to be in the middle of the clearing. Logan took a deep breath before looking up and his eyes widened in awe at the sight of the night sky above him.

 “Beautiful as always, isn’t it, Lo?” Patton said with a content smile on his face. Logan hummed and nodded and started to settle in for a long night of stargazing.

 But before his back could hit the ground, something burst out of the nearby bushes and came rushing towards them.

 Logan sprang up and flapped his wings skyward but felt himself being knocked away. He a nearby tree trunk with a groan. “Virgil! You’re not supposed to hit them!” A voice said, followed by another one.

 “S-Sorry.”

 Logan gained his bearings, pulling himself away from the tree and back into the air as he finally caught sight of their attackers. His eyes widened. Humans. They needed to get out of there, now. Logan looked around for Patton, before spotting him trying to maneuver away from one of the humans.

 “Patton!” Logan called out to him but that had been the wrong thing to do. As Patton turned towards the sound of his voice, the human’s hand came upon him and snatched him up. “No!” Logan screamed, rushing to Patton’s aid.

 Patton struggled in the grip and readied a spell that would grow his skin too hot for the human before he felt something snap around his neck. He gasped in pain as a stinging sensation went through his entire body. And then, he fell limp. “I got it!” The human exclaimed happily and Logan felt a growl leave him at the sight of Patton limp in the human’s hands.

 He readied his own spell, intended to bring down lightning on these humans when the other human tried to make a grab for him. Logan just barely flew out of the way, going back to charge his spell. “Virgil, move!”

 As Logan released his spell, the human was able to dodge it. The lightning instead hit the ground where he once stood. Logan took several deep breaths as the spell had taken a lot out of him and he didn’t notice as he started to descend lower. That is until the human swiped at him again. Logan twirled around and dodged it...only for another hand to come up and finally catch its target.

 The hand wrapped around his midsection and before Logan could do anything more, there was a loud click at his neck and a stinging pain shooting through him. Just like Patton, he too, fell limp.

 “N-No...Logan…” Patton mumbled as he looked over. The pain had stopped throughout his whole body, except for his neck. The stinging and aching pain there didn’t seem too keen to stop anytime soon.

 He felt his body being shifted and the fist opened to allow him to sit on the human’s open palm. Slowly, he looked up into the excited eyes of the human. “Hello there.” The human spoke and Patton ducked his head again.

***

 “Holy crap.” Virgil breathed out, looking down at the fairy he actually caught. “That...was a terrible idea.” He turned to look at his brother, who seemed too focused on his catch to have heard Virgil. He was proven wrong though when he spoke.

 “Oh come on Virgil, we did it!” He held up his fairy to drive home his point but Virgil continued to glare at him.

 “Yeah, after I almost got blasted by lightning!” Virgil exclaimed, noticing how the fairy in his hands flinched back. His attention was brought back to said fairy and his eyebrows furrowed. This fairy seemed so different compared to how he had been before, when the fair was trying to blast him. He didn’t at all like the fear he saw behind those eyes.

 “But you’re fine, aren’t you? And now we finally have our own fairies!” Roman turned back to his, prodding it in the side. The fairy flinched back but with nowhere to go, it was stuck letting Roman touch it.

 “Uh...should you really be letting it sit in your open hand like that?” Virgil asked, wondering why the thing had yet to fly away. After all the trouble they had just gone through to get them, it would suck if they just ended up flying away.

 “No need to worry, stormy night, the collar also takes away their ability to fly. See?” He turned his fairy around and Virgil could now see how the wings drooped to the ground. As if too heavy for the fairy to even curl them against its back.

 “Oh.” He looked down at his own fairy, opening his hand to see that it was experiencing the same thing. He watched as the fairy glared up at him.

 “R-Release us.” It-no, he?-spoke. Virgil blinked in awe at that, despite having heard the fairy talk before. Before Virgil could speak, however, Roman beat him to it.

 “Sorry, little guy, no can do. You belong to us now.” Roman grinned smugly before motioning to Virgil. “Come on, we better head home. It’s getting pretty late.”

 “Yeah, no duh.” Virgil rolled his eyes and followed Roman as they began to navigate out of the forest and back to their home. As they walked, all of Roman’s attention was on his fairy.

 “Now, about names…” Roman started, trailing off in thought. “I think I heard the name Patton? Is that right?” Roman asked and hesitantly, the fairy-Patton-nodded. “Oh good! I was hoping that was your name, it’s such a cute one. Perfect for a cute fairy like you.” Roman gently prodded Patton in the side, causing Patton to flinch back.

 Virgil looked away from the interaction and down towards his own fairy. “Uh...and what’s your name?” He asked a bit awkwardly. It was weird, asking someone that was supposed to be his pet what his name was.

 The fairy shifted slightly, glancing over at Patton before sighing. “...Logan.” He muttered, Virgil just barely hearing it. But he did, so he nodded.

 “Logan...that’s a cool name.” He wasn’t sure what else to say so he decided to stay silent for now.

***

 Patton was not having a fun time. The human-who he didn’t even know the name of yet-kept poking him on every side as they walked through the forest. Getting further and further away from their home. A finger came at him, poking him in the chest and Patton yelped and tried to scoot away. But up on the hand, he was trapped and any movement he tried to make to get away, only seemed to make the human’s fingers poke him more.

 He squeezed his eyes tight as the human ruffled his hair. “Aww, your hair is so soft.” The human spoke above him, tone filled with glee. Patton was not surprised that the petting had yet to stop after a statement like that.

 Oh, how Patton wished he could use his magic to make it stop. But he was constantly reminded by the aching pain around his neck that that was no longer an option.

 Logan felt his blood boil as he watched this human mess around with Patton. As if he was just a toy to play with. “Stop it! He clearly doesn’t like that!” Logan yelled, keeping his glare up even as the human turned to look at him.

 The human looked surprised for a moment before his surprise shifted into a laugh. “Well, would you look at that. Looks like your fairy has some spunk, Virgil! Oh, you two are going to get along great.” Roman laughed again and Logan was highly doubtful about that last statement. He also felt helpless as he watched Roman turn around and go right back to prodding Patton. As if he wasn’t even heard at all.

 Of course, why would they listen to him? To these humans, they were nothing more than pets. It didn’t seem to matter if they could talk, or feel, or were clearly intelligent. They were the human’s playthings now and as long as these collars were on them, they couldn’t do anything about it.

***

 “Finally,” Virgil muttered several long minutes later as they exited the forest and could see their home. Roman jogged ahead of him, wasting no time in throwing the door open.

 “Welcome to your new home little fairies!” Roman exclaimed, excitingly lifting Patton up higher to show off the house. He then turned to Virgil as he walked in. “I’m heading up to my room, make sure you settle Logan in, okay?” He waited until Virgil nodded before hopping up the stairs and into his room.

 “Ah! I just, I can’t believe I finally have you.” Roman said as he sat down at his desk, looking down at Patton with a large grin. He was too excited to see the way Patton trembled. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted one of you little guys.” He prodded Patton in the chest as he said this. Patton was just so cute. He was very happy he ended up with this one rather than the one Virgil caught.

 Roman leaned back in his chair and lifted the fairy up high, smiling up at him and just taking him all in. He shifted his grip slightly so that he was pinching the fairy’s shirt and nothing else, dangling him over his head.

 Patton yelped and tried desperately to grab at the human’s fingers. He had never been scared of heights before but being dangled far above the human like this, with the knowledge he couldn’t fly, well...it brought forward a whole new type of fear in him.

 Roman’s smile soon turned into a thoughtful frown as he noticed Patton’s limp wings dangling along with him. “Oh! Right, we should probably take care of those wings of yours, huh?” Roman brought Patton back down and set him on the desk as he stood up and went to the opposite end of the room.

 Patton did not like the sound of that. Take care of his wings? What did that mean? Was...Was the human going to…

 Pure fear shot through Patton as the human stood up with a pair of scissors in his hands. “No! No, please no! N-Not my wings, please.” Patton started to beg and cry. He couldn’t lose his wings, even if they were useless right now. They were what made him, him.

 Roman’s eyes widened as Patton started to cry and he came closer, setting the scissors off to the side as he scooped Patton up. “No, hey, it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you.” He tried to comfort. He looked back down at the scissors though and supposed he could see why Patton started to freak out. “I’m not going to cut off your wings, okay? I promise.”

 Patton sniffed, trembling in the hold but also finding it...kind of nice? He shook those thoughts away but looked up at the human. “You...aren’t?”

 “Of course not! Why would I want to take away these beautiful wings of yours.” Roman lifted them up gently with his finger and Patton flinched at that. But also found himself blushing at Roman’s words.

 “O-Oh…” Patton mumbled, looking down. He let out a small sigh of relief, glad that he had been wrong.

 “But we still can’t have them dragging on the ground like this, so…” Roman set Patton back down and pulled out some baby blue ribbon, taking the scissors and cutting it down. “Alright, turn around little buddy.”

 Patton bit his lip but hesitantly did as told. It wasn’t like he could do much against the human. Not like this. He felt the human grab his wings gently and Patton sucked in a breath. He then saw as the blue ribbon came around to his front and back around to bind his wings.

 “There we go!” Roman exclaimed. He looked proud at what he had made. Patton tried his best to look behind him, only to see a bow at his back, almost resembling his wings. Except his actual wings were being held against his back by the bow.

 As Patton admired the bow, Roman let out a loud yawn. “Man, it has been quite the day.” First a quest and then getting his fairy. Man, Roman was exhausted. He smiled down at Patton. “Come on, time for bed.”

 Patton squeaked as he was scooped up once more and taken over to the bed. On the nightstand, Patton could see there was a small wooden box with cloth padding the inside. Patton wasn’t really surprised when he found himself being lowered into it. “Sorry about the box.” The human spoke, sounding sheepish. “But hopefully I’ll be able to buy you a proper cage soon.” Patton deflated at that, not looking forward to feeling even more imprisoned.

 Roman settled down for sleep, blowing out the candle and laying down. “Goodnight Patton.”

 Patton sighed, going to lie down as well. “Goodnight…” He trailed off, realizing he still didn’t know this human’s name. The human seemed to realize this because he spoke up.

 “Oh! I’m sorry, my name is Roman.” Roman said and Patton could practically see the grin on his face. He nodded despite Roman unable to see him.

 “Goodnight, Roman.” Patton closed his eyes but he knew it was going to be a long time before he actually fell asleep.

***

 Logan watched Virgil warily as he was set down on the human’s desk. Virgil didn’t move for a moment, just standing there awkwardly before deciding to grab something to bind Logan’s wings with.

 He went over to look through his drawer and as soon as his eyes left Logan, Logan took his chance. He ran towards the edge of the desk, not even stopping to hesitate at the fall below. He gripped the edge of the wood and quickly started to climb down.

 “Okay, so this should-hey!” Logan hadn’t even reached the halfway point before Virgil had turned around and saw him. Logan shut his eyes tight as Virgil came over and grabbed him, setting him back on top of the desk. Virgil stared at him for a moment and Logan was worried that he would be punished.

 But then Virgil just sighed and turned back to mess with the string he had gotten. “Look, I know you probably don’t want to be here right now but...where would you even go? You can’t even fly anymore.” Logan frowned at the human’s words. Yeah, and whose fault is that? He thought as he rubbed against the collar around his neck. The aching pain was still there and Logan was starting to think it would never go away.

 “Um, can you turn around?” The human asked and Logan glared at him, still wary.

 “Why?” Logan glanced between the human and the string, not knowing what the human had planned for him.

 “Oh, well...I was gonna use this to stop your wings from dragging on the ground.” Virgil revealed, holding up the string for good measure. Logan frowned. He didn’t like the idea of his wings being bound.

 “You know what would also stop them from dragging? Taking this collar off of me.” Logan said with a glare, tugging at said collar. Virgil frowned.

 “...You’ll blast me with lightning. Again.” Virgil said and he did not want to actually get hit this time.

 “Well, you definitely deserve it,” Logan muttered but knew better than to be loud enough for Virgil to actually hear him.

 “Look, I’m not going to hurt you, okay? I just need you to turn around.” As he said this, Virgil started to reach his hand towards Logan. Logan reacted by backing up quickly, however, he managed to step on and slip on his own wings causing him to fall. He hit the ground with a groan.

 Virgil’s eyes widened. “Whoa! Dude, are you okay?” Virgil wanted to reach out to check but refrained.

 Logan sat up with a slight wince. “I’m...fine.” Okay, so he may not like it but maybe binding his wings up would be best. So with a sigh, he turned around. Virgil blinked in surprise but took the action as an invitation to start wrapping the string around Logan.

 “There we go, you should be good now,” Virgil said and Logan stood up to see Virgil’s work. It wasn’t half bad and it didn’t dig into his wings or back, so he was at least grateful for that. Not that he was going to show any appreciation to this human.

 “So, are you...ready for bed? It’s late and Roman already woke me up to, uh, come get you guys, so I’m pretty tired.” As he finished speaking, he started to yawn.

 Logan didn’t say anything and instead simply crossed his arms. Yes, he would love to go to bed. His bed. Back at home. Not whatever this human was going to put him in to keep him put. But Logan didn’t voice any of this, in fear of some sort of punishment.

 “I’m...gonna take your silence as a yes,” Virgil said after a moment and went to scoop Logan up. He looked around, wondering what he could put Logan in.

 He settled for the drawer of his bedside table. He wouldn’t close it but it should be deep enough that Logan couldn’t get out. He stuffed it with some leftover cloth and then set Logan down into it. He then got into his own bed, lying down.

 “G’night, Logan.” He said, before letting sleep take him once again.

 Logan sighed after giving his prison a good once over, knowing there was no way to get out. He settled down into the makeshift bed, shifting slightly. He wondered how Patton was doing, knowing he was with a much more handsy giant.

 He felt at fault for all this. After all, it was his idea to go to the clearing to see the stars. It was his shout that got Patton distracted and captured. It was his spell that missed.

 Logan shut his eyes tight, fighting away the tears. It was his fault that both Patton and himself were now pets and at the complete mercy of these two humans.

 Logan didn’t get any sleep that night.

[annofravnica]

Bold What Applies to your Character

Tagged by @peopleoftheshadows​

[ COLORS ] red. crimson. vermilion. tomato. burgundy. brown. tan. beige. ochre. sienna. orange. peach. tangerine. marigold. amber. yellow. citrine. mustard. butter. daffodil. green. lime. mint. emerald. olive. blue. royal blue. teal. navy. sky. purple. lilac. mauve. plum. amethyst. pink. coral. magenta. rose. blush. black. jet. ebony. licorice. bistre. white. ivory. snow. vanilla. champagne. grey. dove grey. charcoal grey. slate. ash. pastels. jewel tones.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. fog. wood.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. fur. feathers. scales. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. cheekbones. feline. pointed ears. chubby. curvy. short. tall. muscular. slender. trained. piercings. tattoos. strong. weak. struggling. athletic. lithe. curls.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. scythe. bow and arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. words. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. phasers. pistols. machine guns. slingshots. katana. maces. staff. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. peace. rifles. cannons. mind.

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. copper. bronze. iron. rust. steel. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. quartz. metals. glass. shell. bone. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. satin. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. ichor. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. vinyl. carbon nanotubes. circuits. vibranium. adamantium.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. stream. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rainforest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. woods. hills. highlands. islands.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. tigers. wolves. panthers. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. vultures. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. songbirds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. deer. dogs. rabbits. mantises. crows. ravens. mice. jackals. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. foxes. phoenixes. peacocks. coyote. bears. seals.

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. soda. spices. herbs. apple. citrus. raspberry. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. gingerbread. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. stew. venison. rice. ambrosia. bread.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. fencing. riding. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. technology. swimming. theater. libraries. magazines. piano. violin. cello. guitar. lute.mandolin. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. trumpet. flute. drums. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. eating. climbing. running. hiking. stargazing. fortune-telling.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armor. cape. dress. suit. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. barefoot. heels. leggings. trousers. khakis. jeans. skirt. shorts. earrings. necklace. collar. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. neck tie. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. bracers. belt. layers. bandana. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. sweaters. watches. glasses. sunglasses. visors. eye contacts. makeup. implant. artificial parts. robes. t-shirts. henleys. athletic shirt. joggers. tennis shoes. cargo pants. shawl.

[ MISC ] balloons. bubbles. cityscape. landscape. seascape. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. fatigue. energetic. manipulation. faith. optimism. pessimism. realism. loneliness. family. friends. chronic pain. assistants. somnambulism. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. devotion. smoking. drugs. drinking. kindness. love. hugs. time. questions.

tagging @theaterofmisfits @take-on-meme @jastun-frailthorn And any other followers who want to partake~

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #30: The Sunless Sea

Prompt: darkness | Master Post | On Ao3

WARNING: Spoilers for Shadowbringers MSQ. This fill is also a spiritual sequel to Stargazing, from FFXIV Write 2018 (prompt sixteen), and to Tonk!, from this year’s challenge (first free write).

Four Lightwardens were dead, their crackling glass Light contained in Synnove. Tomorrow, they’d march on Kholusia for the last of the Lightwardens of Norvrandt. But tonight, the Warriors of Darkness—and one Warrior of Light—fled out into the mountains of surrounding Lakeland. The Warriors of Darkness found a large, flat plateau, far to the northwest of the Crystarium, so far in fact that the Crystal Tower was a sliver of blue on the horizon. As they landed their chocobos on the plateau, Ardbert walked into existence, whistling cheerfully as he looked around.

“Desolate, isolated, little to no chance of untimely interruptions,” he said. “Very nice, ladies.”

Synnove slapped him on the shoulder and handed him Ivar, collecting Chantilly’s reins and walking after the others. Ardbert cuddled the ruby carbuncle closer, scratching under his chin, as he followed the Highlander; Ivar purred loudly in delight, one of his hindlegs kicking out. Ardbert chuckled at him.

They settled the chocobos down for the night first, the four of them creating a wind break for their riders. Each chocobo was unsaddled, feathers groomed into place, then fed and watered. Then as the chocobos laid on the ground in makeshift nests, legs and feet beneath themselves, blankets tucked around them to stave off chills—and Chantilly’s beloved flyer’s shaffron buckled under her beak to keep the mountain winds from blowing it away—the giant birds all settled down to sleep with content little kwehs. Meanwhile, their people and one ghost chattered.

“—oh, come on, a king behemoth? Synnove, I know you’re not precisely sane—”

“He was a sweetheart and just wanted a cuddle!”

“And you wonder why we drink, Ardbert.”

The discussion continued throughout the setup for dinner. Rereha and Alakhai set up the kindling they had packed, place a ring of stones around the makeshift firepit. Ardbert held Ivar forward, the carbuncle obliging belching out a lick of flame that ignited the logs and sticks, then gestured with Ivar still dangling from his hand as he argued axes versus swords and Synnove set up the pot for dinner.

“Now a good two-hander I could understand, that’s got a nice heft to it—Synnove, you’ll need the turmeric and cumin for that recipe—”

“Got it!”

“—and once you get your momentum going swinging around something that big, you’ve left yourself open for a reprisal. No, sir, I like keeping my feet firmly planted exactly where I like them.”

“Oh, come on, Heron—”

Ivar went back to sleep even as Ardbert kept gesticulating with him.

Dinner went as expected: as Synnove minded the stew, Ardbert peering over his shoulder and muttering about proper spice ratios—“Ardbert, I swear, you are worse than my aunt.” “And if you’re going to make a proper Nabaath stew you need to add more turmeric, do it right now.” “Alakhai, smack him for me, please.” WHACK! “Ow!” “Thank you. My pot, my stew, now back off, dead boy.”—and Heron and Rereha got into a heated discussion about the last game of Founders of Tanac they had played while Alakhai sharpened her knives and shook her head at all of them.

More banter over dinner—“Branden named himself Dark Heart, just how extra were you lot trying to be?” “You say it yourself all the time, Rere: go big or go home.” “There’s big and then there’s melodramatic.”—and yet more through cleanup. Then after banking the fire, the Warriors of Darkness crawled into their bedrolls, while Ardbert sat on one of the makeshift benches they’d set up using the larger rocks, Ivar curled up in his lap while his siblings burrowed in with their mama. They all stared heavenward, at the jet-black sky spangled with rivers of stars; it was a new moon, so only the stars lit the world.

“And now, Ardbert,” said Rereha with a great amount of satisfaction, “it’s time for that most time-honored tradition: Make Your Own Constellation.”

“Let me guess, that one’s a pair of breasts?”

“A man after my own heart!”

Ardbert stuck his tongue out at her, the spectral glow of his soul making it easy to see. Rereha cackled at him.

“How about this,” said Heron, the ever-exasperated peacekeeper and group mother, “we’ll point out the shapes we see—no genitalia, Rere—”

“You ruin all my fun, Heron!”

“—and you tell us about the constellations that were recognized back before the Flood and you can remember, Ardbert.”

He scratched his chin. “Sounds fair. Nyelbert could have named them all, and told you all the stories besides, but I’ll do my best.”

“Alakhai, you start,” said Heron.

The Xaela hummed thoughtfully, then pointed to a string of three stars next to a half loop of four more. “That looks like a bow to me,” she said.

Ardbert tilted his head thoughtfully, leaning back on one hand as he followed where her finger indicated. “Well, not bad, Alakhai,” he said. “Already nailed it. That’s actually one of the old ones, Chorra-Mai’s Bow. Legendary mystel huntress; Renda-Rae knew all the stories about her. If you follow the string a little further along,” he gestured with his finger, dragging it ‘up,’ “that big blue beauty? That’s Ronka’s Tear; same as your Navigator’s Jewel, that’s the one star you can always use to find your way home.”

“Synnove.”

Synnove took a bit longer than Alakhai, studying the sky intently. Finally, she pointed out a cluster roughly east of Chorra-Mai’s Bow. “Amaro,” she said. “There are the points for the head, the chest, the wings, and the tail.”

“Huh,” said Ardbert, blinking in surprise. “I can see it. Oddly enough, I don’t think any of the star charts had an amaro constellation. That’s a shame. But you’re not far off from a Norvrandt one, though: excluding the ‘head’ star, that’s the Manticore.”

“…That is not a manticore,” said Synnove.

“Maybe not an Eorzean manticore,” he said wryly. “But the ones of Nabaath legend? Head of a hume, body of a lion, tail of a scorpion.”

A very long moment of silence, broken by Rereha: “Respectfully: what the fuck.”

“Don’t look at me!”

They continued like that for another bell, maybe two, laughter and shouting echoing off the surrounding mountains, until the Warriors of Darkness finally began to drift off to sleep. When Ardbert was the only one left he awake, he carefully leaned back on his stone perch, dragging the sleeping Ivar up to his stomach, and crossed his arms behind his head. He felt a smile slowly stretch his lips as he gazed up at the glittering beauty of the sunless sea, basking in the welcoming embrace of a moonlight night.

He’d forgotten what hope had felt like over the past century of mad, lonely wandering. Now, here he was, as sane as any ghost could hope to be, with four more brilliant, ridiculous siblings of his heart, and the chance to finally see his mistakes righted once and for all. Even should they encounter setbacks, he knew Dancing Heron and Synnove and Rereha and Alakhai would find their way to victory.

Hope…hope felt rather wonderful.

[follower-sword]

An Apology Gone Wrong

TW: Sucidal thoughts. Child abandonment. Implied death. Depression.

He just wanted everything back to normal again. Thankfully that little messager dragon was still asleep in Star's pocket. He didn't even know if Ego got the letter or let alone wanted to come.

He sat in the meadow for a long while, messing with the flowers there...maybe he could bring some back to Star...he was interrupted by footsteps. He swiftly turns around and gets up, seeing Ego there in full armor.

"...I didn't expect-"

"For me to actually come? Yeah I figured."

They stood there for a while, pure silence. The wind blew softly as the birds chirped. Follower broke the silence.

"Look I-...I'm sorry...I just wante-"

"Dont make excuses. I don't forgive you."

The dove's feathers fluffed up in surprise. He was confused...usually Ego would take it as a joke...

"I-"

"That's it? I'm sorry? That's why you brought me out here? For a half ass apology?"

The otter crossed his arms. A huge frown formed on his face as his tail lashed around.

"I know Star is the reason your apologizing. You don't even mean it! Your doing this cause the only person who fucking cares about you told you too! You really like being told what to do huh?! Maybe thats why Star loves you! Because your a good boy right? You listen to anything he says!"

Follower looks down, he didn't know what to say due to his thoughts scattering.

"You know Sword, I tried making friends with you for so long! Only for me to get hate back! I tried so hard so maybe! Just maybe just could have a friend other than Egg! That I felt like I was worth something!"

"Heck! I wouldn't be surprised if you treated Star like shit when you first met him! You definitely did with me! I'm surprised Star even stayed with you this long! What is he going to do when he figures out the REAL reason you were abandoned by Venomshank?"

The dove froze...no no no..

"Yeah! I'm surprised people believed that little sob tale! Your not innocent Sword...you never were...Icedagger was your fault. No wonder your father left you for DEAD!"

Follower whipped out his sword and aimed it at Ego's neck.

"Don't you dare.."

"Hah..see? Everytime. Everytime someone disagrees or someone tries to reveal who you are you try to result to killing. What happeneds when Star finds out you killed me too? That's what you do best Sword, just like Icedagger."

"THAT WASN'T MY FAULT!"

"Where is the proof? Where is the proof bird? Cause all I see is a murderer."

Follower was panting like he just ran a mile, his heart pounded as his mind ran thousands of thoughts, scenarios and flashbacks. Windforce must have told him...there's no other way he could know...but...he couldn't, he never could bring himself to kill anyone who did nothing wrong...

The dove lowered his blade as he turned off his emotions, staring at the ground with no expression. Something he learned while with Illumina.

"That's what I thought. Enjoy your time with Star while you have it. He won't stay for long."

Ego turns away and starts walking back to Playground but he stops for a second.

"By the way, if I see you again...I'm not afraid to tell Star who you really are...I hope your happy to get a taste of your own medicine.."

With that the Captian left. As soon as Ego was gone it was like a switch flipped, causing all of the dove's emotions to flood in like a dam breaking and he collapsed. Sobbing in the flower covered meadow.....

Just let him dissappear....

[stargazers-paradise]

A Lonely Palace, A Lonely Prince

Stargazer stepped into the walls of his palace, the whispering of stars surrounding his every senses as he returned back home. He glanced around, sighing softly as twinkling lights formed little shapes just outside of his vision. The stars were watching, they were worried about him, they could tell he wasn't alright. But he simply ignored them, stepping forward with the soft clicking of his heeled shoes against the polished floor. His heart ached, mind spun like a ballerina that couldn't stop themselves, as if being directed to spin over and over and over again. His thoughts tried desperately to reach for something, anything, to cling onto and stabilize himself. But he couldn't get that image out of his head. The way Follower looked at him, the pain and desperation in the angel's eyes. The way the angel held him, cried to him, confessed to him that he didn't want Stargazer to get hurt just for him. Stargazer's body twitched at the fresh, painful memories. He wanted so badly to run back, to do something, to save that poor angel who had his wings pinned down by a twisted deity. And Stargazer couldn't stand it, the prince's fury was evident as he rushed forward, startling some of the nearby stars that floated after him in worry. The prince charged down into his sleeping chambers, tears forming in the corners of his eyes as he tossed his stupid mask to the floor, flopping onto his bed and hugging a pillow close to his body, face pushed as deep as it could go into the fluffy warmth. His breathing hitched, burning hot tears dripping down his cheeks and staining his pillow. He sniffled loudly, trying his hardest to collect himself as he sat up. He reached down and pulled something out of a pocket that seemed invisible on his pants, resting in the prince's hand was... A beautiful purple and white feather. It was one of Follower's feathers. Stargazer had managed to nick one of the angel's fallen feathers before leaving upon the angel's request. He moved the feather between his fingers, sighing softly. Oh, how his heart ached, ached to be useful, ached to save that poor, poor angel. But for now, Stargazer would just have to sit and wait. Wait in hopes of some benevolent god taking pity on the two of them, taking pity on poor Follower. Stargazer dropped onto his back and held the feather up to the small lights that dangled from his ceiling, his eyes going soft at the mere sight of it. "Do not worry, Follower... I feel like the cosmos will bless you soon enough. At least, I pray it will."

Follower Sword referenced from @follower-sword ! [Go check them out!]

[lunar-writes-things]

29) Ending: Impulse

"I'm sure nothing will go wrong Y/n," Impulse stepped closer and gave Y/n a hug "We're in this together and We'll all be safe." 

Y/n stayed quiet for a moment before nodding. 

"Okay," They said softly, feeling familiar arms wrap around them "I'm just..." 

"Worried?" Grian asked 

"yeah," Y/n murmured  

"We will be fine," Scar said "I made sure the rocket is the safest place possible for us. I made sure of it." 

"We love you Y/n," Pearl said and pressed a gentle kiss to their lips "and if you need us, we'll be right by your side." 

there was a moment of quiet before Y/n spoke up and asked "Can you all stay with me tonight?" 

"Of course Angel," Mumbo answered "Let's go get some sleep." 

The next day, Y/n was packing necessities like food and a blanket for the ride on the rocket. They carefully placed their pickaxe, axe, sword, and shovel in the chest along with their armor that had fallen to the boatem hole multiple times. On the wall behind the chest, Y/n wrote a message into the book in quill on the lecturn beside them 

Dear star, 

Take care of my things, please.

I'm sure you will, but truth be told, I'm terrified of leaving each season. Leaving memories, hard-earned items, and sometimes even friends. Change is hard. 

But this season, I might be leaving behind something even more special. 

Boatem

A village I helped created and even found love in. I don't want to lose the memories I've made here, especially not those that kept me going when things were hard. 

This village is nothing but that, a village, but to me, it will always be the place where I finally allowed myself to heal, to love, and even to find my happiness again. 

Change is difficult, yes, but change is good.

If fate aligns perfectly, the stars will shine for us once again and We will stargaze upon the memories like they are the brightest stars in the galaxy. 

Til we meet again, Your angel, 

Y/n'sharmony

Y/n wiped away their tears as they closed the book and grabbed the space suit. 

They had to leave... tonight. 

Y/n sighed as they moved to their balcony, watching the boatem members scramble to get everything they needed ready. from this angle, they looked tiny. 

Y/n didn't want to leave, but for the sake of their life and her friends? She would do anything. 

She put on the suit as the sky began to bleed navy and as twinkling stars appeared with the ginormous moon peeking over the horizon. 

As Y/n reached the door, they stopped and took a deep breath. They walked out and stopped at the edge of their cloud before turning around and looking at the full glory of their building and the village.

"Til we meet again My Boatem, My symphony," Y/n whispered before taking a step back and falling off the edge before opening their wings, the wind catching and slowing their fall until they reached the ground and were able to join the other in front of the rocket. 

"Well," Grian said with a forced smile "This is it guys, How are we feeling?" 

"Scared," Impulse said and there were murmurs of agreement 

"I don't really wanna leave my home." Pearl said, tears brimming in her eyes behind the helmet "It was the first place I truly felt like me." 

"We all feel that way Pearl," Mumbo said and wrapped an arm around her 

"I don't wanna leave the memories we made here." Y/n admitted a sad smile on their face "I mean, I realized I had fallen in love with all of you in this very area. Why would I want to leave something so beautiful?"

"You wouldn't," Scar spoke up "truth be told, I don't think any of us would want to leave because of that reason. I know I don't." 

"None of us do," Grian said "but we have no choice and we can't prolong any longer. Into the rocket, we go." 

The rest of boatem followed Grian's lead and stumbled their way into the rocket. Some looking over their shoulders to give a silent goodbye and others never looking back so as to not cry. 

Y/n was the last and behind them all and Y/n had looked over their shoulder and questioned their decision...

Do they really want to leave?

Yes, they had to

not just for themselves but for their friends, their partners. 

they looked forward and walked into the rocket with the others and grabbed the rope supplied to tie them later in space. They were given there were six drop-down points. 

five around the outer ring and a huge one in the middle. 

"well, Y/n how do we drop?" Scar asked, "Inner or outer?" 

"Outer," Y/n said, "Although I guess I'll have to share an exit with someone." 

"Who will it be?" Grian asked and everyone had hopeful eyes

As if this will determine who Y/n chose not just their way to survive a deadly event but their way of choosing who they want to be with

Y/n looked down, ashamed that they were choosing but knowing they felt secure in their choice, they had no regrets. 

"Impulse," Y/n said and when they looked up they saw no hate nor anger just soft smiles and eyes that watered from not being chosen "I'm sorry." 

"Don't be," Grian smiled and went to cup Y/n's face "No matter what we will always love you. Even if you chose none of us. We'll support you and Impulse for however long you two are together." 

"Thank You guys," Y/n teared up "Thank you for teaching me how to heal and love like no one before. I will always love you guys for that."

 

"Impulse!" Y/n laughed as they were dragged through the beginnings of his megabase before he paused and pulled them to his chest with a big grin and a deep breath "Wait- wait- I know what your-"

Too late for you he already started the small whistles before whispering out "I'll swim and sail on savage seas with ne'er a fear of drowning and gladly ride the waves of life, If you would marry me." He's been doing this for months and Y/n had no idea if he was joking or not. It had been five months since they were dropped into the boatem hole after all and they were only two months into the season "No scorching sun nor freezing cold, will stop me-"

"on my journey- sorry!" Gem's head popped in before realizing this was one of their moments

"If you will promise me your heart and love-" Impulse began to trail off which surprised Y/n

"And love me for eternity," they started softly, unsure but Impulse looked at them encouragingly, "My dearest one, my darling dear, your mighty words astound me, but I've no need for mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me." 

Y/n twisted in his hold and pressed his chest to their backs and wrapped his arms around them with a soft smile and gentle swaying as the song got to their 

"But I would bring you rings of gold! I'd even sing you poetry!" Impulsed grinned, big and bright as the gold that decorated his frame  

"oh, would you?" Y/n asked quietly as he kept singing

"And I would keep you from all harm if you would stay beside me!" He said grabbing your hand and spinning you out 

"I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry, I only want your hand to hold," Y/n said, smile matching his as they put a hand to their chest, the other one holding Impulse's hand 

"I only want you near me!" Impulse exclaimed with a huge grin 

"To love and kiss to sweetly hold, for the dancing and the dreaming!" Y/n cheered as Impulse spun them back into his arms and they started bouncing around the stone floors together with huge grins and barely contained joy "Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your laugh inside me! I'll swim and sail a savage seas with never a fear of drowning! I'd gladly ride the waves so white and you will marry me!" 

The two fell against each other with a glow over them and sat on the cold stone, however, when Y/n turned to look at Impulse, she saw not his face but a simple gold band. 

"I know it may be fast, But I could never imagine a life without you that isn't miserable." He whispered "Marry me Y/n? My Angel?" 

"How could I ever say no to you my Love?" Y/n asked softly and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips "Yes." 

Masterlist

[rendiggitydog]

The gang’s all here!

"Welcome every-hermit! To the annual Partner Problem event! This is our first year getting everyone to play, so welcome!" X smiled as the crowd of hermits below him cheered. "I'll explain the rules for the newbies."

"I will draw two names out of a helmet. Those two people will be fitted with curse of binding boots, which magically link the pair. These boots will force you to stay within 3 meters, or 10 feet, of each other. You will wear the boots for 24 hours, and then the spell will dissolve. Make sense?"

Heads bobbed in agreement.

"Then let's begin!" X picked up the helmet at his feet, shuffling the papers inside. "Zedaph..."

Zed jumped, excitedly looking around for who his partner might be.

"...and Welsknight!"

There were assorted congratulations as Wels and Zed found each other, grinning excitedly.

"Alright, quiet down! Next up: Tango and Iskall!"

Laugher and groans. The two pranksters high-fived, already whispering mischievously.

"Stress and Grian! False and Jevin! Scar and Python!" X rattled off the names, each greeted with excitement. "Me and Cub! Cleo and Mumbo! Impulse and Joe! Docm and biffa! Rendog and TFC! And that's everyone! Line up to get your boots, and thanks for coming out!" X glided down from his make-shift pedestal, throwing open a chest full of glowing leather boots.

The hermits filed through with their partners, pulling on their new boots and testing the limits. Slowly, the plateau emptied, everyone heading their ways for the day.

—

"Work with me here, love!" Stress laughed, trying to pull Grian away from the store window.

"Sorry! They made a new tnt, and this one is player-friendly!" Grian hopped up, beaming as he returned to Stress' side.

"We can check it out after I return Impulse's backup elytra he let me borrow. It's been a couple weeks and I need to return them!"

"What ho, and salutations!" Joe waved as he and Impulse appeared over the ridge.

"Hi Joe! Impulse! How are you doing?"

"Really well! We're taking turns picking the pass time, so it's been fine."

"We were just on our way to Impulse's home behind the sea foam." Joe gestured in the direction of Impulse's bay area.

"How delightful! Well, I just wanted to return your elytra I borrowed. Thanks again!" Stress handed over the wings, which Impulse accepted gratefully.

"I was wondering where I left those, thanks!"

"Okay, can we go look at the tnt now?" Grian shifted back and forth, glancing back at the tnt.

"Fine. As long as we can go ice mining later for my castle." Stress threw a humorous look at Joe and Impulse as Grian rushed back to the storefront. "Bye!"

"Those two must be having a ball." Joe remarked as he and Impulse calmly continued their stroll.

—

"So this is the vault, huh?" Ren gaped as TFC led him down.

"Sure is."

"Wow... It's so big..."

"Thanks, I've put a lot of time into it."

"Tin, how did you find the time to do all this?" Ren peeked through a door, taking everything in.

"I've just cracked down and worked hard, that's all." TFC pulled some stone out of a chest without slowing his walk, heading for the next room he needed to finish.

"Woah, that was slick! You didn't even stop walking, you just grabbed that stone, like Whoosh!" Ren exclaimed, swooping his hand through the air.

"Oh, you know it. This way."

The large vault narrowed to a corridor, which the two squeezed through, reaching a decent-sized room, half excavated. Tin set right to work, mining at the wall with one hand and picking up the stone with the other. The older man relaxed in his element, killing a zombie without hesitation when it crept up on him. Ren simply watched in awe at the grace. He was startled out of his trance, however, when TFC tugged on their binding boots.

"I gotta put some stuff away, come on."

Ren followed slowly. "That was crazy. Like, you were just mining, but it was like a dance! Does that make sense? We don't need to go to my base later, we can just stay here for all 24 hours! Can I help?"

Tin rubbed his temples as he tossed the last of the stone in a chest. "You can have the most important job of all."

Ren perked up. "The most important?!"

"Hold these." Tin shoved a bunch of shulker boxes into his arms.

TFC set back to work, tossing the stone into the boxes as he went. Ren didn't mind holding the stone- he was just glad to be part of the process.

"This is fantastic! Why don't we hang out more often? You're so cool Tin!" Ren babbled on in excitement over the menial labor.

"Hey Ren-" TFC quickly cut in. "If you don't talk, I'll do something cool."

Ren gasped loudly, and sealed his lips. Tin shook his head, silently laughing as he dual-wielded a second pickaxe, blowing Ren's mind.

—

Well hullo!" Cleo and Mumbo waved as they approached Scar and Python. The two were sitting in the grass outside Scar's terraforming shop, flower crowns and necklaces all around them.

"Heya! How are you two?" Scar greeted as Mumbo and Cleo sat next to them.

"Pretty good! Neither of us had a whole lot to do, so we're visiting everyone else. What are you doing?" Cleo picked at the grass.

"We've been making flower chains! Wanna learn how?" Python displayed the chain he was currently working on.

"Absolutely!"

The four hermits soaked up the sun as they weaved flower crowns, half-asleep from its warmth and sweet aroma. At some point, False and Jevin stumbled by, tears of laughter streaming down their faces.

"How's it going?" Scar giggled, already knowing the answer.

"Could be better-" False wheezed, wiping her tears. "May we-?"

Jevin and False tripped over each other and collapsed in a pile of giggles. The group talked and laughed for hours, while the sun slowly fell. The stars twinkled into sight, and they fell asleep stargazing.

—

"Alright," Tango breathed. Iskall nodded, and they slowly dipped their wings in sync. After practicing all day, they were finally coordinated enough to cause some mischief.

Two glowing dots walked the grounds outside the newest ConCorp studio- two hermits holding torches in the night.

"Cub and X?" Iskall whispered into the dark. Tango nodded, pulling out a stack of eggs.

"Ready... GO!"

Cackling loudly, Iskall and Tango pelted the ground with eggs, watching X and Cub dance away from them. One figure glanced up, spotting the pair in the air, and shook their fist dramatically.

"You're not even Poultry man!" X's voice called after them, but they were already flying away.

"Fan-frickin-tastic!" Iskall howled.

"They thought we were poultry man!" Tango slapped his leg. The wild excitement distracted him, and Tango wobbled before plummeting to the earth.

"Gah!!" Iskall spammed rockets, desperate to stay in the air. However, Tango's limp body dragged him down, and the two splashed into the water violently. The sounds of drowneds instantly lit a fire under them, and they paddled tiredly to the shore.

"Hehe, worth it." Iskall wiped his hair from his face, sand getting everywhere.

Tango panted as he collapsed on the sand. "Absolutely."

—

"Huzzah!" Zedaph triumphantly held up the blue parrot. He and Wels had been searching the jungle for hours, and this was the first bird they found. They were tired and bruised, but it was worth it.

"Did you hear that?" Wels whispered.

Zed rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Wels, it was probably an ocelot. We can sail home if you'd feel better about it?"

"Yes please!" Wels sighed in relief as they made their way to the shore. The rustle of leaves behind them made Wels jump again. "Let's go." He glanced over his shoulder as he pulled out a boat.

"SNEAK ATTACK!" Doc and Biffa lunged from the bushes, diamond swords drawn. Their armor and faces were coated with mud and leaves, their binding boots streaked with war paint. Somebody screeched (cough Zedaph) and everything happened all at once.

Suddenly, the attack was over as soon as it started. Biffa ran too far ahead of Doc, and the two tumbled into the sand at Zed's feet.

Doc looked up bashfully, his helmet falling from his head. "Fancy meeting you here.."

Zed blinked. "...Well now I don't think this is a coincidence, us meeting in the jungle like this, you crying Sneak Attack!! But okay!" Zed laughed, releasing his tension.

"I suppose our mission was a failure, then?" Biffa sighed with a grin.

"I suppose so- but you did scare Wels pretty well!" Zed patted Wels on the head, as he had fallen over in his freight.

"I told you so!!"

[kyluxtitleception]

Kylux Titleception 2019 Master List Pt.1

Randomly Generated (RNG):

Snake With Money

Fish and Criminals

Invited By My Husband

Tree of Rainbows

Wings in the Fog

Decieving Myself

Humas of the Lost Ones

Owls and Dogs

Baker of the Lost Ones

Wrong about the Demons

Doctor Without Hope

Determined Butcher

Pilots and Phantoms

Into the Maze

Begging in the River

Throne of Rainbows

Doctors and Agents

Cops and Robbers

Love Potion Fail

Whspers in the Forest

Patient Zero

Heart of Gold Gangster

Cleaning the Dungeon

Aliens with Honor

Tower of Desire

Gaurded by my Past

Robots and Armies

Witches of Glory

Sins in the Chapel

Soldier of Time

Faith and Fire

Bleeding Fortune

My Stalker and Me

Captured in the Meuseum

Aquarium Break Out

The Mermaid and the Skeleton

Accepting Hell

The Books Behind Me

Demons and Butchers

Shaman at the Convention

Catacomb Visitors

The Beast Behind You

Footprints among the Graves

Dead Drop at the Crypt

The Wolf Next Door

Crabs in an Elevator

Loyal to the End

Veteran of Space

Cyborg vs Monsters

Longing for Electricity

Extinction of Hope

Strife of the Stars

Assassins and Friends

Traitors of Darkness

Stranger of my Imagination

Determination of Insanity

Chasing Friendship

Confessions of the Stars

Colleague of Lust

Awakening in my Nightmares

Attracted to Affection

Husbands of Eternity

Restoration of Hell

Friends Without Limits

Fools in Your Garden

Shrouded by Visions

Defender of a Cat

Loyal to my Nightmares

Owls and Rebels

Road of the Past

Help of the Void

Brilliance of the Idiot

Knight and Cat

Bruises of the Job

Living in my Demise

Corrupted by the Light

Beasts in the Castle

Trapped in my Closet

Symbols of the Darkness

Kicking Eternity

Songs of Magic

Murder Without Desire

Painting a Storm

Tower with Sins

Vultures and Bakers

Ending my Husband

Never Trust the Bridge

Ruination with Wings

Union with Sins

Vision of the Battle

Result of Suffering

Anger of Desire

Sands of Secrets

Dragons and Kittens

Justice in the Skies

Wrong About the End

Prepare for my Enemies

Perfection of Deception

Temptaions in the Sea

Guarding my Enemies

Vampires with Pride

Fucking Hell this Dude's A Beast

Submitted (Titles submitted by Blog Followers):

And the worms ate into his brain!

Not Now, Boner

Zen and the Art of Finalizer Maintenance

That’s What Hux Said

Careful, Ren

Rathtars

Glazed or Sprinkled?

I only wear black

I don't know why I like you but I do

Your body is a weapon

Repressed

Female Presenting Nipples

They used to shout my name, now they whisper it

my name on your skin

summertime sadness

by the sea, by the sea

too cute to be cruel

the devil and the deep blue sea

burlesque

in ruins

the boy with the broken halo

Light It Up

Into the Wild

Ancient Shadows

In the Darkest Hour

Whatever happened to our love?

See the Sky Turn Bright

Stand Up and Fight

astromorphology

breath to breath

below and deeper down

the things we stole and the things we lost

Balls Deep

Tater Tots

A Beautiful Behind

Midsummer's Night Cream

Missionary Position: Impossible

Titty Titty Bang Bang

Sorest Rump

Weapons of Ass Destruction

The Curious Taste of Benjamin's Butthole

A Tale of Two Titties

All Hands on Dick

Booty and the Beast

Rear and Pleasant Danger

why do flowers always die?

If I stay the night will I fall in love?

You want to put what where?

The Submission of Ben Solo

Give It Up

Taken Apart

Whiskey Fever

My Evil Love

Keep Pounding

Far Beyond the Ice and Snow

A Light So Lonely

Nightmare Come True

Then I pissed in the closet....for fun

Grave robbers and Flower shops

Red as Blood and Black as Night

Northern Fall

Keep On Galloping

Before the Morning Sun

Off to the Hunt

Take the Day

End of an Empire

The Great Escape

Blood of Heroes

Evening Star

Stargazer

Everything Remains As It Never Was

Meet the Enemy

Eternity

Of Fire, Wind and Wisdom

In My Sword I trust

One Man Army

Celestial Bond

Slayer of Light

Lost in Despair

Reach Out and Touch the Sky

Set Sail and Conquer

Terror Rising

Skies Burning with Thunder

Little Bit Wasted

Don't Ever Wanna Grow Up

Crime Doesn't Pay

All The Small Things

Home Is Such A Lonely Place

Man Overboard

Everytime I Look For You

Don't Leave Me

Up All Night

The Season is Calling

Twelve Majestic Lies

Staring at the Sun

The End of the Line

Living in Chaos

So Long and Goodnight

So here is the first part of the Title Master List. These title are the ones we used a Random Name Generator for as well as ones that had been submitted to the blog by all of you. The 2nd part of the list will be The Chuck Tingle titles, which unfortunately I couldn't get onto this list with out hitting the word count limit lol. So enjoy these titles and the next list will follow shortly.

Keep in mind you can write for any of these titles and we are happy to feature them on the blog, but they wont be included on the Master List or the Ao3 collection unless they were done during the actual event.

[malesherbes]

Stargazer

The knight of Wales in the battle stood

Silent, gazing in the snow.

Deaf to cries and fury, in the woods,

The man whispers her name, low.

 Percival, the young lord with blond hair

Looking at the snow, bloody

Red drops, vivid image of past years,

Five drops of crimson rubies.

 *

 Solomon Shinzer walks through the dark mead

Wet from summer nights’ dew, His legs

Brushed by shining umbels lulling with daisies.

The great telescope heavy on his back,

And in his sky, countless stars.

 Solomon Shinzer comes each night in the mead

To check if all stars have names:

Pleiades and Hyades, the big bear and Orion,

If lonely comets follow the Milky Way,

If the sun rises like a lion.

 Once, he came with a child on the blue hill,

Past waterfalls and sleeping brooks,

Past the furze where amber heather blows

On the blue meadow by the mill

The child smiles. She is his daughter.

 Her hand in his hand, they walk, silent,

Centaureas blooming breath their sweet scent,

A nightingale echoes memories from sunset

The stream’s harpsichord sings its low anthem.

She haunts his spirit, he can’t forget.

 *

 Blood drops, still hot on the whitest snow

Like dark iris petals flow

In the knight memories. And he cries

Like alone under the sky.

 On the white face of snow, her lips open

Her eyes, dropped here like jewels, stolen

From the almighty hand of god. Her smile,

Scattered in battlefield, pieces of paradise.

 *

 Solomon Shinzer lays on the blue meadow

Amid roses from dewdrops wet

And whispers from the life of the earth;

His hands rest on his chest, his eyes lost in the sky

And the child left behind plays with dark fireflies.

 Solomon Shinzer follows the line of the north chariot

Betelgeuse, the shepherd’s star, Proxima Centauri…

And so many lights with no name.

He weeps as he thinks : so many are dead.

The girl in her white dress with lilies dances.

 His sight wanders, past nebulas, strange voids, shadows,

Parts of space unseen, solar winds, pulsars.

And in the darkest corner of the universe, faint lights glow,

In a remote constellation, far away in oblivion, seven red stars.

With the moon’s silver beams the little girl dances.

 Seven red stars drawing, in deep darkness, the face

This face of hers, dead long ago, smiling in the sky,

This sky of his, open like dim heavens. Tremors in his heart race

This heart falling, his hands, shaking, and tears in his eyes.

At the moon’s reflection in the pond, the girl glances.

 *

 Lost in contemplation, he forgets

The battle, his dying friends

His spirit fled far away, he lets

Chaos of swords inflict pain.

 Around Percival, many men are dead,

His soul, his love kisses the snow.

A spear pierce his ribs, an axe hits his head.

That still, weeping in silence bows.

 *

 The first star, bright, glowing like her fiery eyes,

A spark of life, a hurricane

Her laugh filling her dreams, her smile,

Blazing flames, a sun, her name.

 (The child tries to touch the moon on the lake.)

 The second star, wan, soft like her fingers,

Like her songs in the night, her skin light as snowflakes.

Faint like her whispers, like her dear love,

Her intangible shape, feathers if a dove.

 (The girl follows the moon’s slow moves on water.)

 The third star, red like her kisses’ ecstasy,

Like her passionate cheeks, like roses,

Blood running through their heart, hot touches

Caressing hands, wonderful waves, their faces.

 (Feet naked in the mud, the child walks with stars on the brook.)

 The fourth star glows blue, like her eyes, still and dead,

Their walks on the strand, the secret they fled,

Blue like the sky beaming above their holding hands

Like the wind in her hair, blue and deep like the mead.

 (Bird on the milky way, the girl follows the stream.)

 *

 The knight of Wales throws his eyes on the snow

On his armoured chest, a red flower blows,

And always, her face, a moon, an angel

Whispers “I love you”, lost in the battle.

 From the white knight wounds, a drop of blood falls

Just under her eye: a tear. Low, he growls

And in a last sigh, his short life he breathes.

His tears on her tear, her heart in his breast.

 *

 The fifth star glows long, a cross in deep space,

Hints of paradise, wrinkles on her face.

The sixth star glows hard like a burning stone,

Their words forgotten, her crying, alone.

 (The girl dances in stars, white by the waterfall.)

 The last star glows weak, almost invisible:

In brightness smothered, dying, she trembles.

Her life, plucked early, fades in sad riddles

And his heart, consumed, in ashes crumbles.

 The girl slips on a rock.

And down she falls.

Down she falls.

 *

 The knight Percival in the battle stood,

Dead, torn between spears of wood.

From the snow, a ghostly head rears,

Kisses him a last time, and in blood swoons.

 ***

 “Ghost in the stars, how long will you haunt me?

How long will I suffer, can’t I forget thee?

For your dark paradise, shall I live in hell,

In my life without you, what curses dwell?

O, spirit, did I not kiss you a last time?

Did I not close your eyes, weep for nights and days?

For what unknown crime do I have to pay?

Shall my life be burnt down by your dying breath?

Shall your sleep deprive me of all peaceful rests?

O, I cannot love you, star, uncanny face,

Don’t show me those tears, don’t show me this fate!

I will not let this wraith corrupt my galaxy.

 If I shall remember, let it be your smile,

Engraved in my heart, stedfast in the night.

If I hear your voice, let it be your laugh,

Echoed in the breeze, bird’s songs in green oaks.

 Let it be a spark, a whisper, a tale,

Sweet melancholy of our brightest days

A dance with the wind and the nightingale:

Your pain I forgot, but your bright eyes stay.”

 And to red stars, Solomon Shinzer closes his soul’s windows.

 He hears a cry, runs towards waterfalls,

Grabs the hand of the child, holds her in his arms

Caress her hair, cherish her breath,

Looks at her face and sees

The world’s two brightest stars.

 *

 Do not look away from the earth too long

Do never repeat the abyss’ strange song,

Open your windows to friendly planets

And do never gaze in too remote stars.

 You shall only glance at stars with a name

And constellations from our galaxy,

For you’ll never now infinity’s shames,

And how queer and dark universe can be.

 *

 A man and his daughter walk slowly in the wood,

Hand in hand, fetching umbels and violets,

The pass by a field where a high tree stands.

In the tree, a skeleton: a man on a horse,

With a broken helmet, two wings made of swords.

In a tender bow, the skull looks

At a patch of green grass where seven daisies blow.

In the grey cedar, the knight of Wales

Looks at this selfsame face from centuries ago,

Ghost made of white flowers, or stars with no name

Lost in the sky, far away beyond the brook.

 And in Sinnaï’s desert, a great stargazer stands,

Lonely monument, forgotten and empty,

Fragile skeleton, stones engraved with fame,

The man and his daughter pass by and do not see.