#the sage of the red umbrella

[living-realusion]

my little honghong'er my babie im crying. the first meeting of hualian after 800 years and hua cheng opened a red umbrella to save xie lian from the blood rain similar to how xie lian gave him a red umbrella to save him from the rain. oh my babies

oh how I love you mxtx.

[valwrote]

stressed!alhaitham who is in a stinky mood ever since nahida gave him the job of acting grand sage. ft. fem!reader aka the bootiful bean reading this.

mentions of alhaitham's granny (rip)

I chose my next victim of choice to be alhaitham regarding my impulsive ideas since I can't write a full blow fic rn. I hope there are still people who like this guy.

right??

"Uh oh, it is going to rain." one of the vendors muttered.

"Certaintly is. We better pack up. What idiot would want to stay in the cold rain?" Another muttered as everyone started to hurry and pack up.

Soon the pitter patter drowned out the rest of the noises.

The sky was cloudy with a hue of blueish gray bringing a solemn atmosphere with it. The gloomyness engulfed the city of Sumeru. Alhaitham sat alone on a bench, hunched up. Guess he was the idiot to sit in the rain.

He could hear people whispering, muttering to themselves at the sight of him as they walked by, holding their umbrellas. Some running towards shelter. Alhaitham paid no mind to them, he was busy with his problems.

He never imagined that he would go from having a simple job of the Scribe of the Akademiya who could relax and reject applications left and right to becoming the Acting Grand Sage.

On paper the title does seem like an important position but nobody told the reality of the job and the tsunami of paperwork that came with it. Being hunched up in an office chair and burying your face in a mountain of petty queries and complaints was enough to drive a person crazy.

"Acting Grand Sage...what a joke." He bitterly chuckled as the rain dampened his clothes more and more. All he wanted was to save his 9 to 5 job and the people of his country. He didn't expect to be appointed as the administrator of an entire nation.

He recalled Nahida trying to persuade him into agreeing to the post.

"No pressure or anything!" Nahida told the taller male. "I don't wish to force you. I just thought that you are so smart, capable and reliab-"

"Okay."

"Huh?" Nahida stared at him blankly. She thought that it would take a lot more buttering to get Alhaitham to agree. She didn't think it would be this easy.

"If it is what the Archon wants, I'll do it." He bowed out of respect. Nahida marveled at his gesture before smiling.

"Thank you."

Yet this job made him almost, almost, pity Azar.

Well in the heat of the moment, he said yes. Alhaitham was a rational thinker, yet this was probably the one rational decision he was regretting at the moment, amidst the cold rain. Some trivial matter always came breaking down his door.

Should he just run away? No, he couldn't bear to run away from his home. Perhaps a vacation? No, nobody was competent in his eyes to take his place. Moreover if he leaves, who will collect Kaveh's due rent? Even worse if Kaveh burns down his house in his absence! Maybe a change of pace would be nice. A small window of escape from his life of humbug.

Such worries clouded his thoughts which he snapped out of after someone touched his shoulder. "I am sorry, I don't mean to pry but are you okay? Why are you sitting in this rain?" You asked him.

"No reason." He replied curtly.

"Oh okay." You didn't feel like pushing him forward to tell you more. Most people ignored him and walked past him but for some reason you chose to stay, much to his dismay. You stood their for a brief minute before turning around to walk away only to get cut off by a sound.

Grumble

That caught your attention as you turned around to see Alhaitham averted his gaze with the tips of his ears turning red from embarrassment. He wasn't a man with much words but his stomach certainly didn't stay quiet.

"Are you hungry?" "...yes."

Alhaitham wasn't the one to play pretend. He simply succumbed to his hunger. You walked back towards him and take a seat beside him. He didn't seem to object your actions and stared at you as your fingers unwrapped a packet containing pita pockets.

"Let's share! Nothing better than some pipin' hot food to lighten one's mood!" You smiled and offered him some. He could feel the warm gush of air from the steaming food hitting him the face.

They smelled nice. How long has it been since he sat down and ate a hot meal? When was the last time he cooked for himself. As a child, his grandma would always take care of him, listen to his problems and make sure he would eat his fill. His grandma's cooking was a distant memory for him. He couldn't help but feel a bit grateful.

Yet he still managed to burn his tongue. "Slow down! You don't want to singe your tongue now, do you?" You warned him as he hissed at the burning sensation. However that didn't stop him from continuing to eat. He was hungry, alright.

You both silently sat under the comfort of one umbrella. "So, bad day?" You started. "Yes." "Hm, everyone has one of those. It is okay."

He remained quiet, while chewing. He didn't talk much for someone who was a linguistic scholar. How ironical. For Alhaitham, this food tasted warm, it tasted like home. It was made with love, care and time, unlike those stale delicacies you get around cafeterias.

"Thank you. That was- nice." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"He really devoured 3/4th of it." You gaped at the box. "Have you not eaten at all?" You raised the question.

"Well, I see no reason to not share with you just a little bit..." he murmured to himself.

"No, with the amount of work- I haven't been focusing much on food." Alhaitham settled on that answer. Neither giving too much away nor upsetting the stranger infront of him.

"Well then how about I cook for you? I work at the Pushpa Cafe. You can drop by anytime for a meal." You suggested as he raised his brows.

"And make my wallet empty in less than a week? I'll pass." He sarcastically remarked. Definitely a tough nut to crack.

"No! I don't care about money. I care about feeding people. What makes a chef is passion to cook and serve others, not a capitalist mindset." You huffed in annoyance. He seemed skeptical at your statement earning a sigh from you.

"Taking help isn't bad. You gotta lean onto people sometimes! It's completely okay and normal, y'know?" You continued, trying to get him to believe you and how you were being genuine.

That sent him into deep thought. After a few minutes he spoke up, "very well. I'll take up your offer. Better than eating my roommates "food" which might poison me." He concluded as you chuckled at how nonchalant he was.

"Alright! I'll see you later or whenever you choose to drop by!" You chime and hand him the rest of the pita pockets. "Eat well. Oh! And have this" you held out the umbrella for him to take.

"But what about you?" He asked with slight worry.

"Oh my house is just down the road, if I run fast enough, I'll be fine!" You reassured him and ran away, covering yourself with your arms.

He watched you run away, the warmth of the pita pocket on his palms. Who knew a stranger with an umbrella could make the remaining part of his day just a bit better? Alhaitham couldn't help but smile a little.

People enter someone's life for one reason or the other. Alhaitham wanted to run away. No, he just wanted a vacation. Perhaps he just needed a change of pace.

This was his change of pace.

a/n : oh my god- this is probably worse than the first draft I wrote because I accidentally deleted it- ughh. But it is okay 😤

alhaitham just needs a break lmao

©definitelysel

[neopronouns]

flag id: two flags with 5 stripes. the left flag's stripes are medium dark silver, silver, light silver, light sky blue, and sky blue. the right flag's stripes are medium dark silver, silver, light silver, light red-pink, and red-pink. end id.

banner id: a 1600x200 teal banner with the words ‘please read my dni before interacting. those on my / dni may still use my terms, so do not recoin them.’ in large white text in the center. the text takes up two lines, split at the slash. end id.

ludoviboy | ludovigirl

ludoviboy: an ambiguous boy; someone who both considers themselves male and has some significant connection to ambiguity, either in their gender or expression; an ambiguous-aligned boy; an umbrella term for all identities that involve being both male and ambiguous

ludovigirl: an ambiguous girl; someone who both considers themselves female and has some significant connection to ambiguity, either in their gender or expression; an ambiguous-aligned girl; an umbrella term for all identities that involve being both female and ambiguous

[pt: ludoviboy: an ambiguous boy; someone who both considers themselves male and has some significant connection to ambiguity, either in their gender or expression; an ambiguous-aligned boy; an umbrella term for all identities that involve being both male and ambiguous

ludovigirl: an ambiguous girl; someone who both considers themselves female and has some significant connection to ambiguity, either in their gender or expression; an ambiguous-aligned girl; an umbrella term for all identities that involve being both female and ambiguous. end pt]

terms like rosboy and azurgirl but related to ambiguity for anon! i used grey/silver to represent ambiguity, since that's the color i most associate with ambiguity.

there aren't really any naturally grey flowers, so instead of naming these after flowers like other rosboy/azurgirl-style terms, i named them after artemisia ludiviciana, a type of sage with silver leaves!

tags: @radiomogai, @liom-archive, @macchiane, @genderstarbucks, @sugar-and-vice-mogai

tags cont: @prettypinknarc, @skrimbliest, @fem-mogai

dni link

[intotheseas]

I have a Stardew Valley fic in the works and wanted to post a little excerpt of the first chapter. CW: Drug use referenced, abuse, catcalling. Story takes place around 2006.

Sage is fucking soaked. Her t-shirt clings to her slight frame and her teeth chatter. A chilly February rain hammers Zuzu City. And as if Joja needed to give her any more “fuck yous”, someone stole her umbrella during her shift. The downpour drenched her as soon as she left the dingy mid-rise building.

So here she is, sodden, freezing, and miserable. Her back aches from hunching over a computer all day. But Yoba’s not done fucking with Sage yet. A car speeds by, honking. Tosses a wave of filthy water over her jeans, soaking into her sneakers. Super cool, she thinks. The air stinks of exhaust fumes, piss, and wet dog. Skyscrapers tower around her, like predators closing in. 

“Hey baby! You wanna have a good time? That shirt would look better on the ground!” Two men call to her from a dark alley. They’re much older, balding, with guts that hang out of their stained shirts. Hard hats and safety vests over top. Construction workers, but they’re not doing a lot of working. Keep walking, she tells herself. Look like you’re on a mission. Ignore them. The men jeer after her as she walks past, head held high. “Ehh, you’re not worth it, anyway! Be that way, bitch!” Sage runs across a crosswalk, dodging cars. The voices fade. 

It’s payday, which should cheer her up. But her already skimpy paycheck doesn’t stretch far. Rent’s due, and so are bills. After that, she’s left with around $100 for food for the next couple of weeks. She’s got a small savings squirreled away, one her parents don't know about, but that's reserved for emergencies.

Sage’s shoes squelch against concrete as she steps into her apartment building. From one shoddy mid-rise to another. Chips cover the brick exterior. The inside’s no better. Old, stained wallpaper, probably from the 60s at the latest, peels in the corners of the mailroom. Stinks of dirty shoes and smoke. The dark red carpet’s threadbare under her feet. She climbs the creaking stairs to her apartment, two floors up. 

The door’s stuck again. Something the landlord promised to fix. Years ago. She slams her hip against it, forces it open. Sage toes off her sodden shoes. Her stomach’s screaming at her, but there’s nothing in the fridge but a container of baking soda and some expired soy sauce. The cupboards are even emptier. She sighs. Does that a lot, especially lately. The lights are dim in the living room. She glances in, scowls at the scene waiting for her. Like rag dolls, Sage’s parents drape over the ratty couch. Passed out, like usual.

Shattered bottles litter the scuffed wooden floor. A dark bruise blooms around her mother's eye, but she’s too out of it to respond when Sage asks if she’s okay. She already knows what happened. It’s the same old story. Her parents took too much of their drug of the day. Her father always gets violent when he’s drunk or high. She’s been at the receiving end enough times to know by now. 

Used needles lay with the bits of glass, carelessly discarded. Plates of half-eaten food litter the old coffee table. Flies buzz around them. The stench washes over her like a wave. Sage holds her wet shirt over her nose. Her stomach roils. Nothing new at home. This is how it’s been since Sage turned 14 and her parents decided work was less important than drugs. She’s supported them since then.

It was disgustingly easy to find a corporation to hire an obvious 14-year-old lying about her age. And that’s how the past eleven years have passed. Sage considers herself lucky - she at least graduated from high school. Not everyone who lives in this part of Zuzu has that privilege. It got easier after that, after she didn’t have to balance both work and studies. So here she is again. Same shit, different day.

She tiptoes into her room, eases the door shut. She’ll mail the rent check while she goes back out to find food. Sage digs around in the drawers of her desk, looking for some spare bills and change. An envelope catches her eye. Old birthday card? She grabs it. Maybe there’s money inside. A letter falls out. The handwriting is flowery, meticulous in its tidiness. 

Sage, 

There may come a time when the world is too much for you. If that happens, use this. 

I know your life isn’t easy. If you’re ready to start over, I’ve left my farm in Pelican Town to you. Use it as you see fit. 

I love you,

Grandpa Charlie

Sage stares at the letter, hazy memories coming into focus. Her grandpa died about three years ago. She didn’t even go to his funeral, couldn’t get time off of work. Couldn’t afford to lose her job. They were never close, but she remembers visiting him on his farm a few times as a kid. Before the drugs completely took over her parents’ lives. She frowns. How could she have forgotten this? Inside the envelope is a deed, signed with her name.

Minutes pass as Sage stares at the paper. You know what? Fuck this. She grabs her bag, tucks the papers into it. Scrounges up a few dollars in cash. She tiptoes back into the living room. Her father snores softly. Sage pries open the front door and takes the steps down two at a time. 

Outside, the rain’s let up a little. It’s a light mist now, little droplets hovering in the air. Still stinks of piss and fumes. Sage jogs a few blocks down the sidewalk and hails a left, ducking into the library. She walks to a computer and types in the address from the deed into Google. Pelican Town is a few hours away by bus. There’s even a website. It’s quaint. Looks like someone made it in the mid nineties and hasn’t updated it since. There’s a phone number for a “Mayor Lewis” at the bottom of the webpage. Sage punches it into her phone and leaves the library, presses the call button. It rings for almost a minute. She’s about to hang up when a gruff voice answers. 

“This is Lewis. Who am I speaking to?” 

She almost drops the phone. Her hands tremble. Adrenaline’s coursing through her. “Uh, hi. My name is Sage. Sage Sandoval. I found your number on your website. Um, I have a deed to a farm outside your town? It belonged to Charles Sandoval. He left it to me in his will.” 

Lewis grunts. “Ah! Old Charlie. Was awful sad when he passed. Well, if you have the deed, the land’s yours. Are you looking to sell it?” 

“No! Er, no. I want to live there. Is the house still standing?” Sage drums her fingers on the back of her phone. She can remember bits and pieces of the farmhouse. It’s simple, one room with a large bay window and a kitchen and bathroom. But it’s away from here.

Lewis clears his throat. “It is, though not in the best condition. The land’s pretty overgrown, too. Are you sure you want to live there?” 

“Yes. When’s the soonest I can arrive?” She shifts from one foot to the other, glancing around the litter-filled streets.

There’s a pause. “Tomorrow, I suppose. I can send our resident carpenter over the day after to make sure the wiring is still sound.” 

Sage lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Great, thanks. I’ll arrive tomorrow by bus. I’ll call you when I’m close.” She snaps her phone shut. This is happening. She’s getting the fuck out of Zuzu City.

On her way back, she grabs an energy drink and bag of chips from a vending machine. Her fingers twitch against the can as she downs her paltry meal. She’s never done something like this before. Run away. It feels kind of silly to think of it like that. She’s twenty-five, after all. If not for her miserable excuses for parents, she would have had a place of her own years ago.

Sage almost feels like a kid again, about to walk into trouble as she steps back into the dingy apartment. Her parents haven’t moved a bit since she left. They’re out cold, probably will be for the rest of the night. Good. She begins to pack.

just wanted to post a quick WIP! It'll be farmerxSebastian focused, but also a story of moving on, healing from trauma, and learning to love and connect with people. Each chapter will also be titled after an indie song from the era - music will have a central theme through the story, sometimes overtly, sometimes more behind the scenes. :)

[screams-of-the-damned84]

AAAAAAA THAT CHAPTER COVER LOOKS SO GOOD I AM BITING THINGS green eyed jekyll (looking deranged) and red eyed Hyde?? i am TERRIFIED. however i can’t?? figure out what the bats and purple shiny things connect to?? i thought maybe they were hints towards Jasper bc they’re creatures but looking in jaspers room in chapt. 7 there doesn’t seem to be anything of the sort. all of the creatures he has are magical but they also have those beady little red eyes like the bats have so idk.

maybe he goes to the sewers..? (can bats live in sewers???) but there was also no bats when he went there in chapt. 9. i am grasping at straws shcghdvdgd maybe that’s just how sage draws bats lol

AND WHAT ARE THESE PURPLE SHINY THINGS. HELLO.

they could just be there for aesthetic but sage usually includes little details in the cover that foreshadow to things that come up in the chapter so they might be hints to... something?? looked at all the lodgers and the exhibition panels and there was nothing i could find that had purple shimmers and eyes. i looked at the bazaar panels too and nothing. i have no clue.

i don’t really have much to say about the Hyde part of the cover besides the fact that he a) almost certainly stole that umbrella from someone and b) the last time we saw Hyde with an umbrella he set the whole society ablaze. hm. (also i love his expression hehe)

AND THE ENTIRE COVER LOOKING LIKE A JOKER CARD AND THE CHAPTER TITLE???? this is almost certainly the part where everything falls apart for jekyll and the joker card might indicate that his transformations have started to go completely out of control. terrifying. also iirc frankenstein + creature are supposed to be leaving the next day (when Henry wakes up) which might come into play and that hyde is still very much a WANTED CRIMINAL. also also it’s very likely that Henry’s going to wake up as Hyde the next day with a sleeping lanyon right next to him. like in the novel. that is going to be quite the predicament.

(or maybe he wakes up as green eyed Jekyll?? i highly doubt it but that would certainly be interesting to see. i have no clue how Hyde would even react)

[ch4singchase]

The Ballad of Moths | LUKE CASTELLAN

Summary: Eurydice grapples with the recent death of her mother and the haunting memories of Viola's tragic passing. Viola's mother, Nicole, reveals a hidden world of mythical creatures and urges Eurydice to seek refuge at Camp Half-Blood.

Word count: 2.3K

Warnings: Violence, tragedy, emotional distress, parental loss and the death of a child.

chapter one, chapter two | series masterlist

chapter 01: The Day I Talked To A Moth

The memory of Viola's passing remains etched in the corridors of my mind, an indelible mark that time has failed to erase.

My mother, a sage of life's transience, had often forewarned me about death's omnipresence, its silent footsteps trailing each of us, patiently awaiting the opportune moment to guide us into its realm. Yet, she spared me the knowledge that age was no shield against its grasp.

In my youthful naivety, I believed Viola and I, being so young, were exempt from such somber realities. However, reality had a way of shattering illusions, and ours came crashing down during our brief sojourn in Northern California.

My mother and I were perpetual wanderers, rarely settling in one city for long. Our nomadic lifestyle changed momentarily when we found a charming neighborhood that beckoned us to linger a little while longer. Perhaps my mother yearned for companionship beyond my six-year-old self, and I, too, longed for friendships with children of similar age and energy.

In that Californian neighborhood, we discovered a temporary haven, filled with laughter and camaraderie. Viola, a kindred spirit, stood out among my newfound friends. Her mother and mine formed an easy bond, sharing the same wanderlust that defined our nomadic existence. Viola, having lost her father like me, seemed like a twist of destiny, signaling an end to our perpetual wandering.

For a fleeting moment, it felt like we had found our home.

Until we hadn't.

A seemingly innocuous day at the park, filled with laughter and games, took a nightmarish turn. Engrossed in a competitive game of tag, Viola and I reveled in the illusion of safety, oblivious to the impending tragedy. In the blink of an eye, a surreal scorpion's tail pierced Viola's chest, shattering our sense of security.

The ensuing chaos blurred the lines between reality and nightmare. I remember screams and tears, the tight embrace of my mother as she swiftly led us away from the park, leaving California behind. Our return to the road, to the nomadic rhythm of our lives, marked the end of our brief illusion of home.

Viola's mother became a distant enigma, her name slipping away like an elusive echo—Nancy? Nora? Pansy? Patricia? Time had rendered it a mere whisper from the distant past. Yet, fate had a peculiar way of weaving connections, and I encountered her once more, at my mother’s funeral.

It all was still too recent. I could still feel her blood soaking my clothes and how my hands had become red in seconds.

The wounds were still fresh. I could still feel her blood staining my clothes, my hands turning crimson in seconds. Unceasing tears bore witness to the haunting memory, the giant one-eyed man.

Yet, this time, a revelation emerged—it wasn't a man but a Cyclops.

I didn’t know how or why, there was no room for explanations. It simply was.

There were not many people at the funeral.

My mother never talked to me about her parents, so when I tried to reach for them, I didn't have a clue where to start. She also didn’t have any friends, only people she met briefly, some of them were there more for respect than anything else. Since my mom was always the kind of woman that did favors without asking anything in return.

Besides me, there wasn't anyone else that knew her who knew her besides the kind and selfless woman that she was.

No one except Viola’s mother.

I sought refuge beneath my umbrella, a futile attempt to hide the evidence of my tears and the redness of my eyes, which had been incessantly shedding tears since the moment I felt my mom's absence.

“I’m sorry about your mother, dear,” a voice sounded behind me, nearly catching me by surprise.

But I recognized that voice anywhere. When I raised my head and looked into her eyes, I wasn’t startled. Viola’s mom had always been a quiet and astute woman.

I wasn't surprised that she was there; I could wager she had been trying to reach out to me and my mother since Viola's death.

“Thank you,” I uttered, the phrase having become a constant refrain throughout the morning. Everyone present was expressing their condolences.

“I know it sounds redundant when everyone says it to you, but I truly am,” she continued. “Your mom was a fighter. I have no doubt that she didn’t give up for a moment. She always said she would do anything to keep you alive.”

There was a bitterness in her voice, as she bit something back. Every day, I remember the day Viola died. And every day, I remember how her mother could move when her eyes stopped on the motionless body of her daughter, her eyes no longer full of life.

“We couldn’t have done anything to help Viola,” I bit my lips, playing with the nails of my fingers, “That thing- Everything was too fast.”

“Chimera,” she said, her voice low as her eyes darkened in a void. I gave her a puzzled look, “The thing. It was a Chimera.”

“No,” I shook my head, “Chimeras are from fairy tales, they are made up. They don’t exist.”

“Just like Cyclopes?”

I swallowed, feeling something heavy in my chest just from thinking about yesterday. The rain, the car in full speed, the accident, the man… That eye. That one single and creepy eye.

What had he said? That we had been running for a long time? He also had called me by a name, something that I would often be called from time to time again.

Half-blood.

“Your mother never told you for the same reason I never told Viola,” Viola’s mother continued, coming closer to me until her umbrella bumped into mine, “It only makes it easier for them. If we had ever told you, it would mean we would have to accept the idea of keeping you away from us.”

None of her words made sense to me. I tried to pay attention, but each time I felt myself drifting away.

“Them? Who are they? I don’t know what you are talking about.” My grip on my umbrella became stronger.

Viola’s mother wore a strange expression, a kind of fear. Every second, she glanced around before meeting my eyes, as if ensuring that no one was eavesdropping on our conversation.

But there was no one else there, only us. Everyone else had already left after an hour.

“The monsters,” she whispered, gripping at her own umbrella, “They always find you, just like they always found Viola. I could take care of you but I can’t, not since what happened to Viola, I can’t keep you safe”

I frowned, take care of me? I would end up going to a foster house or something like that; the policeman I met that morning was just waiting for me outside. Had Viola’s mother thought of adopting me?

I almost felt outraged at the idea that the only person I had known that was close to my family had given up on me.

But… Keep me safe? Those were her words, what did she mean?

“Safe from the monsters? What are you talking about? There are no monsters, that one eyed guy probably suffered from an accident or I don’t know and that said Chimera for sure could be a giant scorpion.”

I tried to find justifications, answers for everything I had been seeing since I was born. Monsters and creatures no one else seemed to acknowledge. Things that followed me everywhere, no matter where I and my mother went, even in my dreams.

But nothing made sense.

Since my mother left, none of her justifications for what had been happening to our lives made sense anymore.

Those creatures looked too real to simply be my imagination.

I was already fourteen; I didn’t feel that creative anymore.

“You understand now, don’t you?” Viola’s mother sighed, “No matter where you go, they will hunt you down; there’s only one place where you will be safe.”

“Where? I can’t simply go somewhere now; tonight I will go to the foster system,” I glanced at the policeman in the distance, with his umbrella waiting for me.

“The Camp Half-Blood, it’s the safest place for kids like you,” Viola’s mother said, biting the tip of her fingers out of nervousness, “I can help you to get out of this town but after you’re on your own, you are better if you go alone or find others like you in the way.”

Camp Half-Blood… That, for sure, wasn’t a joke; there wasn’t any way that Viola’s mother knew what the Cyclops said to me.

I tried to focus on her face and her words, feeling the reality shift around us. Everything felt real. Too real.

I tried to focus on her face and her words, feeling the reality shift around us. Everything felt real. Too real.

I glanced at the policeman again; I didn’t want to go to a stranger’s family. I wanted to go… Anywhere, a place where I could feel home again, just like I felt when I lived side by side with my mom, Viola, and Viola’s mother.

And if that camp had people like me… People like Viola, I would take a risk. I didn’t have any hope anymore, or direction.

“Okay,” I said, for the more impossible it can sound, “Okay, what’s your idea?”

The idea involved nothing astute or well-planned for a woman like Viola’s mother; she simply grabbed me and ran away to her car, not caring about my fallen umbrella and the rain crashing into my head. She also didn’t give a damn about the policeman screaming at her and chasing us until we got into her car and she hit the car accelerator.

She kept everything that she had said. Viola’s mother drove us to the exit of the city and stopped at a random convenience store near a bus station.

She fished for her wallet in her pockets, getting twenty bucks out of it before handing it to me.

I looked at her with my mouth shut; I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t uttered a word the whole ride.

Perhaps, I was in shock at the time. Deep down, I had hoped she would change her mind and decide to help me find the place or decide to take me with her.

Which wasn’t the case.

I had lied when I said I didn’t have any hope anymore. I think there’s no such thing as a person without hope.

We can’t live without it, even when we know it’s a false hope.

“Now you're on your own,” she took a deep breath, opening the doors of her car, but not daring to look into my eyes.

As if she did so, she would change her mind and decide not to let me go away. The daughter of a mom that had gone through the same things as her, someone that could have been her best friend and now was gone.

The little girl beside her was her daughter, someone that once played with her own daughter.

And now, was a teenager.

How things could have been if anything in that day at that park went differently?

“Thank you, Mrs…” I couldn’t recall her name; I always used to call her Viola’s mother when I was younger.

“Nicole.” Nicole smiled, pressing her lips in a thin line as she glanced at me, “You can call me Nicole, dear.”

“Thank you, Nicole” I smiled back, holding back my tears and taking the twenty bucks before getting out of the car.

Before Nicole drove away from me, she rolled down the window’s car.

“Good luck, Eury” and there she went, into a journey far too different I would take.

How long had it been since someone had called me Eury? I really couldn’t remember.

I looked around, trying to trace a plan. Buy resources and a ticket for the bus, but where should I go?

Viola’s mother didn’t tell me or didn’t know where the camp was, and little I knew where it could be. I walked to the front of the convenience store, staring at the map of the USA that covered the wall on the outside. It could be anywhere.

I was at Massachusetts, Springfield. Once I found the state on the map, I looked up and sighed, where I could go from there? I tried to run my fingers through the dotted lines and the names of the most distant states to the closest ones, thinking about routes and paths that I would have taken before with my mother. Trying to remember the buses and prices, even though I still didn't know exactly where I was going.

Until a moth landed next to my finger, resting from its arduous flight just above Riverhead on Long Island, Baiting Hollow. Its wings were dark with brown details, with no trace of the rain outside.

I looked at the road behind me confused, I was in a more convenient area because of the convenience store, but still the rain outside was heavy. How was that moth so... Intact?

Again, I turned to the moth, observing it cautiously.

"Long Island" A deep voice resonated in my mind, as low as a whisper, almost making me question whether it really was my conscience or the voice of someone I had met before.

But I would definitely remember a voice as serene as that.

Looking at the letters beneath the moth, I swallowed hard. Baiting Hollow, Long Island, right? Would this be the place?

I looked around me, seeing if all this was the sign of a monster, whatever it was. Even though I didn't remember any monster that carried moths, not at that moment.

“I’m trusting you, buddy” I said to the moth, which I know, crazy. It was a moth after all, but at this point, what in my life didn’t sound crazy?

Next thing, I’m buying some snacks, bottles of water and a ticket to New Haven, Connecticut. From there, I would have to figure out what to do next.

At least, now I knew where I should go.

[lulu2992]

My beaded creations

And now, the rest of my collection.

Part 2: Alphabet beads

A simple “The Legend of Zelda” bracelet on the left, and on the right, a design inspired by the Sages’ Medallions from Ocarina of Time, but in French: Lumière (Light), Ombre (Shadow), Esprit (Spirit), Eau (Water), Feu (Fire), and Forêt (Forest). Fire is dark pink instead of red but it works.

A very long necklace (can also be worn as a very thick bracelet) made of all the Zelda games’ titles. Each section is independent so more can be easily added when new games are released. Also, if it breaks, I don’t have to remake the whole thing...

Bracelets and rings for a few fictional characters:

Bracelets: Midona (Midna’s French name, from Twilight Princess) — Ghirahim (Skyward Sword) — Babydoll (Sucker Punch) — Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3) — Lakshmana Min (Far Cry 4).

Rings: Babydoll — Ghirahim — Vaas.

A few quotes from Sucker Punch:

You see, your fight for survival starts right now. You don’t want to be judged? You won’t be. You don’t think you’re strong enough? You are. You’re afraid, don’t be. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight. (Vera Gorski)

You are safe, it’s all safe. — Now relax, and just let go. (Vera Gorski)

Let the pain go. — Let the hurt go. — Let the guilt go. (Vera Gorski)

Everyone has an angel. (Sweet Pea) — Defend yourself. (The Wiseman)

Bracelets inspired by Far Cry 3:

Vaas’ famous quote: The world is on a diagonal. — I am the balancing point.

Left: Quote from Citra: Rage against the darkness.

Right: Please define “insanity”.

Quote from one of the trailers, “The Savages: Vaas & Buck”: We’re not the savages. — We are the shepherds. (Buck Hughes)

Two quotes (in French) from two songs in Beauty and the Beast I think are cool:

Left: In the French version of “Beauty and the Beast”, “Histoire Éternelle” (it means “Eternal Story”), Madame Samovar (Mrs. Potts) sings C’est vrai, c’est étrange/De voir comme on change/Sans même y penser (“It’s true, it is strange to see how we change without even thinking about it”). The original English lyrics are Bittersweet and strange/Finding you can change/Learning you were wrong. I think about this quote (the French one) often…

Right: In “Belle”, the villagers sing La tête ailleurs et ce petit air audacieux/D'un chat sauvage sous une ombrelle (“In her own head and with this little daring look of a wild cat under an umbrella”) to describe Belle, and I love this description. In English, it was simply Look, there she goes, that girl is strange, no question/Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?

Two other French quotes, this time from video games:

Left: In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, when Gaepora sees Fi (Fay in French), he quotes a few ancient words: Le guide de l'enfant, hors de l'épée s'élance. Juvéniles sont ses traits, mais grande est sa sapience (“The child’s guide, out of the sword leaps. Juveniles are her features, but great is her sapience”). I really like that we had rhyming alexandrines in French. The English localization said, “The youth will be guided by one born of the blade--one who is also youthful in likeness yet wise with knowledge immeasurable.”

Right: Quote from Child of Light. When he appears and notices Aurora crying, Igniculus says: Quelqu’un pourrait-il m’expliquer/Comment, sans pluie, l’eau peut tomber ? The original English line (Will someone please explain/How water falls with no rain?) means the same thing, but I just liked how it sounded in French. Also, to be honest, the alphabet beads I bought are for French people and we barely use the letter W, so I didn’t have enough W beads :’)

More video game quotes, this time in English. One is from BioShock 2 and the other is from Far Cry 5:

Left: Evil is just a word; under the skin, it’s simple pain. (Eleanor Lamb)

Right: Cherish this feeling. Let it carry you. (John Seed)

Three more English quotes I like:

Left: The Alice In Wonderland quote that appears at the beginning of Far Cry 3: In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

Center: Quote from the FFVII Remake announcement trailer (E3 2015): The reunion at hand may bring joy; it may bring fear. But let us embrace whatever it brings, for they are coming back.

Right: Lyrics from the song “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella: No matter how your heart is grieving/If you keep on believing/The dream that you wish will come true.

Finally, here are two quotes from Lady Gaga songs:

Left: Don’t be a drag, just be a queen/Don’t be a drag, just be a queen/Don’t be a drag, just be a queen (“Born This Way” - Born This Way)

Right: It’s not a statement as much as just a move of passion (“Aura” - ARTPOP)

Thank you for looking at my beads :)

[bath-creek-lake]

Chain Breakers Sandwich

Varina: Bread: Texas Toast

Sparrow: Meat: Fried chicken and bacon

Lionel: Condiments: oil and vinegar, butter, roasted red pepper hummus

Stick: Veggies: lettuce, tomatoes, onion, banana peppers, cucumbers, shredded carrots

Fiasco: Cheese: swiss sliced

Johnny: Heat: baked and a little crispy

Lake: Garnish: little paper umbrella and a dusting of edible glitter

@varina-has-a-gun @sparrow-eats-kats @lionel-the-librarian @whats-paper @fiasco-of-freyglen @the-ballad-of-johnny-goldfiddle

Now, I have said, that I will make and eat this sandwich. Unfortunately I hate veggies with a passion, but very lucky for us Fiasco waited until after Stick died to put in his order, so I will not be including the veggies. To honor Stick I will put onion, bc we are crying in the club tonight (club sandwich) anyway. I will also not put hummus on my sandwich, bc I think Lionel got too excited about the sauce and I don't want my sandwich to be that wet.

Mark you calendars, because October 5, 2024 I will make and eat the Chain Breakers Sandwich. If I fail, only the sage is allowed to shame me, none of you hoes (ardowin hoes that is...) ok I'll stop.

@sageoffablesardowin

[kenwio]

The ghost of Irminsull

Scaramouche/Wanderer x reader

Warning: spoilers 3.3, angst, mistakes

(I'm sorry it's too chaotic... sorry)

You were just a ghost of the irminsul. You don't remember your past, the times before you became a spirit. Your family, friends, the things you loved - all thouse things are long forgotten.

Now you don't now clearly remember the face of your savior Rukhadevata. You don't remember the words she said to you, but somehow you remember that because if them you started your wonderings.

You hardly remember the tragedy...

Hardly remember the birth of Kusanali.

You only remember that due to Irminsull's illness. I has it's toll on you - you completely lost your physical shell.

You almost forgot how you tried to save Kusanali from sages, but it was no use

Humans can't see you, and Arcons can't help.

You hardly remember how Kusanali told you to go and see the world, to become her eyes.

You hardly remember your wonders among all of Teyvat.

But you remember pain, that you felt then you was away from irminsul. Pain from being alone.

What is the point of your existence?

Why are you even here?

Why didn't you simply disappear?

No one sees you. No one care

- Hey, what's wrong? - you were sitting on nazuchi beach. The pain you felt today was unbarebel.

- Is something wrong?

It took you some time to hear the voice. You turned your head to where the voice came from. Your eyes found the boy, who was standing right in front of you. He was the most beautiful sight you have ever seen. Dark hair framed his white face, his indigo-blue eyes were mesmerizing. His beauty was beyond human reach... His aura was .... Devine?

He shilded you from rain with his umbrella from pouring rain. He was so surprised to find someone out here in such weather.

-Are you okay?- he spoke again.

- you... can you see me? - your voice was quiet and shaky.

- huh? - his brows furrowed in confusion - yes, I can ! Why are you asking me? - he was as surprised as you - anyway, it's not safe to be here, it's raining hard. Do you have somewhereto go? - you were staring at him in shock. How could he see you? - Anyway, i can't leave you here, come with me, I'll take you to a place where you will be safe, warm and ... uh,- he stuttered, looking like he was deep in thought, -  How Niwa and Katsuragi said?- he asked himself - and you can eat something where.

You were stunned. He could see you... how could ti be possible? And why is he so kind to you ?

- Kabukimono? Kabukimono? Where are you? - In the distance you could see a man wearing a green bandana with white squares on his brown hair strand of which was as red as mapele leaves in autumn- Kabukimono? What are you doing?

- Niwa !  Look, I found them here sitting in rain all alone! - the man looked at the place, which Kabukimono tried to protect with his umbrella and saw nothing.

- Uh.. Are you alright, Kabukimono?- he asked a puppet. His confusion was visible.

- Yes I am! - Kabukimono protested - But they don't seem to be okay !

- I'm sorry,  Kabukimono- Niwa interrupted. -  But I don't see anyone.

To say the least, It was shocking for Kabukimono. Soon enough, he learned that he was the only one who could see you. But you wasn't his hallucinations. You were real. Only one who knew about you was Niwa. He believed Kabukimono, and he didn't tell anyone about you to save Kabukimono from strange looks.

You became Kabukimono's friend, it wasn't easy for him, and it wasn't easy for you too. But you tried your best. You didn't know how to communicate properly, but this made a bouth of you.... he was a puppet after all... he was learning how to communicate as well... but you always were by his side. You saw how he experienced a lot of things for the first time. You shared his happiness and his sadness.

He made you feel wgave you a warm feeling in the chest. His smile was so dear to you. He was your starlight. He became a reason of your existence. You were happy with him, and you wished him happiness

One night, you learned about his origins. It's was a stormy night. He was crying in his sleep. You couldn't really shake him awake, your touch was really light, barely noticeable. It feels like a breeze. And you couldn't really move other objects. You guessed only Kabukimono could really make physical touch with you. You tried to wipe away his tears, but it didn't do much. You tried to call his name, and after a while, it worked. He was crying, and you tried to comfort him. And it was the time when he told you everything. How he was abandoned, how he laied in Shakai pavilion alone, how Katsuragi found him, how Niwa and others became his family, how he wished he had a human heart.

- You are a spirit, right... do you wish to be a human?- he asked you

- Yes, I do wish for it.

His story answered on all of your questions. He was related to archon, and that's why he sees you. But he is different from archons, he tries to help you

Then tatarasuna accident happened

His second betrayal

You couldn't help

Only thing you could do, is stay by his side.

- So, you will stay with me? Then together we will crash Raiden goukaden.

He became Kunikuzushi. And you stayed by his side.... you didn't agree with his plan. But there was nothing you could do

He was the only one who could see you

He was your only friend

He was your starlight, your reson to exist.

And you were his only friend. Only one who was with him. He was really thankful for you. And you were really dear to him. You were his only comfort, his only happiness.

When he met a little boy, he found his family. Kunikuzushi was sad that boy couldn't see you, but he felt peace...

But the boy wasn't strong enough. His sickness was stronger than him

Third betrayal hit him hard... all that left was ashes.

He lost everything. But you were by his side.

You were by his side when he joined fatui. To tell the truth, you never left his side, you never wanted to. You loved him. You were his only comfort through the pain of experiments and torture.

In everyone's eyes, he was cruel, fearful, merciless Scaramouche.  But once doors were closed, he became soft, only for you

You never betray him.

But, now you never smiled.

- Once I became an archon, I'll give you a physical form- he said this after he stole the electro gnosis. Your spirit from was getting weaker and weaker. - I'll make you happy, and never leave you. And you will never leave me, right?

- I want to be by your side- you answer. "But I don't agree with you", you though. You didn't want him to become like this, cruel, merciless, lost.

You knew that you couldn't save him. And it was really painful for you.

But you're just a ghost, what you can do.

He was different from archons before, but now he was drowning in his desires and believes just like them.

Even though you always was by his side he started to ignore you.

Haypastia became his most concern. You are just a spirit, and she is his devoted follower.

He almost became an archon.

All that's left, to eliminate traveler

But you appeared during the fight. He stopped instantly.

- That are you doing here ? Can't you wait a little longer? I almost....

You came closer

-  That do you want?  Why are you doing this?  Why don't you say anything?

Travel and Kusanali could see you... it was your plan. You knew you couldn't stop Scaramouche, but you knew that traveler is strong enough.

- Please stop... you already hurt enough

And he fell.

Then he awoken, you were by his side. But he was too mad... too stuck in his feelings.

Once he was in Irminsull he was on one step closer to the truth. You were by his side. And traveler was right here too  but it wasn't enough to stop him.

He want to change his past. To save Niwa, to save a boy. To see you happy one more time.

But he erased himself from Teyvat..

And now Wanderer will open one bitter truth...

Then he erased himself from irminsul, he erased you as well.

Now the only one he loved. The ghost of irminsul never existed in Teyvat

[iridium-quality-salad]

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

[ID: Banner of the game Yonder. It shows an illustrated scene of a farm. In the foreground, a brown-haired player character and a small red fox are napping next to a big fluffy brown animal with huge horns. In the background are two wooden animal pens with red roofs and a pair of the same horned animal, on adult and a young one. The sky is blue and the grass green and dotted with flowers. The game logo is mostly golden, with the O being an illustration of big blue round sails. End ID]

I want to put this whole review under the fact that I bought this game on sale for less than 5 Euro. There will be a lot of bitching, and many things I would not accept with the non-sale price, but it was cheaper than a pizza and kept me busy for over 25 hours (though I admit, I am not the fastest, so I think <20h is realistic).

In Yonder, you are trying to find out about your past when your ship sinks and you end up stranded on an island threatened by the murk - some kind of dark fog blocking areas. Only you can see and befriend the small creatures called sprites which you need to clear the murk, progress the story, and finally discover the (very surprising! :o not) truth about your past.

On your way to do so, you have to gather resources, barter for goods, tame animals, catch fish, and discover secrets.

[ID: Screenshot of the game. The player character is overlooking a vast landscape with a huge mountain in the far background, surrounded by a pink forest. Trees closer to the player are green instead, and the landscape sports many cliffs and an ocean on the right side of the picutre. The sky is mostly blue, with a few pinkish-white clouds. Some kind of whale-shaped animal is floating in the distance between the clouds. End ID]

The positives:

Save whenever, good autosaves, multiple save slots.

Customize character with hair and eye colors, but also body shapes! Yay.

Lots of clothes to discover as well.

Cute animals to tame <3

If you have 2 of the same animal on a farm, there will be a third, baby version, it's so adorable.

Very relaxed, stress free gameplay. No combat, no death, drowning ports you back up on land.

The quest log is very detailed and works as a marker on the map, too.

Tons of things to discover, and very clear progression indicators.

I really liked the lighting in this game. Beautiful sunrises <3

Two modes of fast travel - from farm to farm for a (small) cost, and from one sage stone to any of the others once their quest is cleared.

Big inventory, early unlocked stash.

Some beautiful, diverse biomes.

Keyboard controls can be rebound.

Plays perfectly on the steam deck.

[ID: Another screenshot. The player character is gliding over a purple forest while hanging onto a rainbow colored umbrella. Underneath the character is a settlement with purple buildings, what looks to be an observatory and a giant planet model. The landscape in the distance is covered in fog and tinted with warm sunlight. End ID]

The neutral:

Short, lackluster story. This is not a game I bought for the story.

Farming is very basic. There's 4 different crops, a couple different animals to tame, and you can plant trees, which only give you the same wood you can find all over the place. It's not a farming game, though, so whatever.

The foxes are adorable but don't give anything unique. Some produce items that are harder to get, which is nice.

The game is a bit inconsistent whether a quest will use up your items or not. All the clothes you have to find for the scarecrow you get to keep, while other items get used up.

Hell, you can BUY tools, even though you get every single on for free and they cannot break, get lost, or get dropped. Why tf? I played the whole game having 2 sickles, unable to get rid of one of them.

Crafting is an over complicated, horrible UI, convoluted mess. Why is this in neutral?

Because you can buy pretty much everything. You can break rocks for days and then spend several minutes crafting ever increasing intermediate steps to get a bunch of stone pillars and arches - or you return for a few days and just buy them.

There is no money, so you barter with goods matching prices, which is a bit annoying. I ended up paying everything with potatoes and grass.

With a bit of patience and luck, you can even buy every fish, and it counts for the fishing collection, which, thank you, fishing is annoying.

Very short ingame calendar; a year is 30 days, so each season only lasts 7-8 days.

[ID: A screenshot of the game's crafting menu. It shows available recipes for the profession Constructor, with things such as stone arches and pillars, farm buildings made from stone, various metal ingots, and a set of profession specific clothes. End ID]

The negatives:

(Aka things that made me want to throw my deck at the wall.)

Jumping sucks. If you're standing wrong against a rock, jumping will make you jump back instead of up, which might lead to you falling off things. Luckily, very little jumping is actually required.

You can't select a hairstyle when creating the char, you find them all over the place. Default hair is ugly af. If I hadn't found a cute one pretty soon, it would have been WAY less fun staring at an ugly blob of polygons for 20 hours.

Similarly, you get some basic hair colors and can unlock super fancy ones in the game. Now why is this negative? Because not all default colors exist as shampoo, and I was so happy to find a perfect hair color when making my char, which I would have never gotten back, so I couldn't use any shampoo :(

The. Sounds. This game has some of the most grating, repetitive, ear-bleeding sounds I have ever had the displeasure of encountering in a game. Usually, I would turn off sounds nothing much lost, but:

The. Cats. There is a quest to find 55 cats in this game, and the only way to find them is to have sounds on, because they mew very loudly when you get close - or, I guess, seeing a blob of tiny pixels hidden away between rocks and trees 55 times.

Speaking of the cats. Some of them only appear at certain times, like winter, spring and summer nights, or even summer sunrise. In my opinion, this makes finding them without the wiki tedious; perhaps possible, definitely not worth it.

The only good point about the cats is that there's more cats in the game than you need, so there is a chance you find enough of one breed on your own.

Day/night cycle from 6am-6pm and vice versa, with no way to skip time. Which means for half of the game time, it's annoyingly dark. Makes it extremely hard to see anything, hey, at least you get a lantern. Which bugged once leaving me with a pitch black screen. Its just not fun. It would have been fine if nights weren't 12 hours long.

I would have turned my screen brighter, but days are extremely bright in comparison - even after turning down bloom.

Thunderstorms, especially at night. They just flash the whole screen white in irregular intervals, it's horrible. Once or twice, I had to put the deck down and wait until they were over. Luckily, they were rare.

[ID: A screenshot of the game, showing the player character in front of one of the sage stones; a giant face made out of stone, mouth wide open, mouth and eyes glowing brightly. It's sitting on an uphill slope on a snowy mountain with a huge cliff face to the left. End ID]

There were a few minor bugs; the aforementioned missing lamp during one night, I somehow completed a quest twice and got two badges, and the UI for board quests if you talk to the quest giver NPC without the items present is so bad I consider it a bug. Nothing gamebreaking.

Why do I still recommend it? Well, it was fun. Mostly. It was a real "couldn't put it down" game for a week or two, just one more quest, one more creature. It was less fun to have the game running for 2 real life hours waiting for next winter because I was missing one single cat and had nothing else left to do.

It's also a game I will happily uninstall and never touch again now that I 100% it, which, honestly, is nice, I have enough games to return to. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a way to hide the interface for better screenshots (though you can try to catch the split second before opening inventory or compass.)

If you like low-stakes, cozy games, this one might be for you - but on sale. If you're sensitive to flashing lights, beware of the thunderstorms.

[br0-k3n-sch00lb01]

RAIN- A short Basil fanfic. (SAGE AU, DEAD ENDING)

If you wish to read, please read below the cut!! <3 thank you!

[…]

When did it get this bad…?

I don’t remember… why I…

[TICK-TOCK TICK-TOCK TICK-TOCK]

…

Where’s Sunny? Oh, glad you asked…

[…SNAP]

…But… I can’t tell you.

…It’s classified…

Sorry.

[TAP-TAP-CLICK]

…Why is the rain red…?

[DRIP-DROP]

[PLIP]

… I forgot my umbrella…

Sunny?

Can you hear me?

[…]

I hope you don’t hate me…

[whhrrrrrrr-SPLASH]

Oh…

People should watch where they’re going…

(PUNISH THEM.)

…?

(YOU KNOW THEY DESERVE IT.)

…No…

I won’t do that.

(WHY NOT? IT WOULD BE MERELY AN ACT OF JUSTICE.)

…No…

(RESISTANCE IS FUTILE, MY HOST…)

…Sage…

(KILL. THEM.)

No!

[CLATTER]

Stop… I don’t…

…

Okay, fine…

(THAT’S A GOOD BOY.)

Who next?

(AUBREY. THAT BITCH. KILL HER.)

…B-But… she’s… my friend…!

(I DO NOT CARE. ARE YOU SURE SHE’S REALLY YOUR FRIEND? ARE YOU SURE SHE ISN’T MANIPULATING YOU? I’M TRYING TO HELP YOU. DO IT. NOW.)

…Yes…

okay…

[…]

[STAB]

[AAAAAAAAAAAGH…! BASIL! STO-]

[STAB-STAB-STAB-STAB-STAB]

[DRIP. DRIP. DRIP]

[…]

[…]

| OPEN THE DOOR. YOU’RE UNDER ARREST FOR MANSLAUGHTER. |

…

(DON’T OPEN IT.)

…

(DON’T DO IT.)

…

| MR. FEY! |

(DON’T OPEN IT.)

…

[CREEEEEEEAAAAK]

[CLICK-CLICK-CLINK]

| You’re getting a life sentence for this, young man. That’s 7 people dead by your hands. |

…Y-Yes, sir…

(IDIOT! KILL YOURSELF!)

(Gladly. Why don’t you do it for me?)

(JUST DIE! I CAN’T KILL YOU!)

(Yes, you can. Go ahead. Kill me. I have no more reason to live.)

(…)

[STAB]

[SHINK]

[DRIP-DRIP-DROP-FSSSSHHHH]

[WHACK]

…

Haha…

…

…

[grey-gar]

─── ⋆⋅☆!!Royal Universe !!☆⋅⋆ ──

Somewhere in the lands of distant lands there is a Kingdom where many monkeys live in peace and harmony, everyone there is happy and rejoices at the new day, but it was not always so. A great artifact, the crown of the monkey king bestows the ruler with an ability suitable for his dynasty and the ruling family was granted the ability of the moon, they could control the shadows passing this ability from generation to generation, developing it in a brutal war for the throne where brother went against brother. This family ruled tyranny for hundreds of years, until one day, a sage who came down from the mountains seized power by revolution, executing the ruling family, not counting the crown prince who escaped, having managed to steal with him a piece of the crown without which it was impossible to fully obtain his legal rights, even if it did not particularly bother the sage, because he was recognized by the people who now he lived in peace and harmony. Mkei loved this legend, spreading noodles in the evening, he could listen to it from time to time from Tenga, until one day he was caught in a doorway by a strange man who turned out to be the prince and smelled a monkey in mkei, trimming a boy for a revolution and presenting that very crown as proof, only the child touched the artifact receiving his ruler's mark, now he has to go with the Macaque and reconcile him with the monkey king, because it turned out that he himself is not so bad. He is sure that they will make friends!

A lot of time has passed, an amazing journey to the kingdom and a quarrel, a really big quarrel when the macaque, throwing him in the middle of an unfamiliar city, leaves, wandering through the streets in the hope of finding friends, MK runs out of strength and sits down in an alley under raindrops until an umbrella covers him and a red monkey calls him to himself. Who knew that kindness was given to a child only because he had a mark and a desire to find a Macaque. Here it is, an opportunity! MKei's goal is to reconcile the two warring parties and find out the whole truth about them, not even knowing that in the future he will become a prince who is destined to take the throne MKei's goal is to reconcile the two warring parties and find out the whole truth about them, not even knowing that in the future he will become a prince who is destined to take the throne

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

[mimble-sparklepudding]

5 Character Associations: Mimble Sparklepudding.

EMOTIONS/FEELINGS

Animated

Mischievous

Kind

Irreverent

Distracted

COLOURS

White

Dove Grey

Silver

Pearl

Red

SCENTS

Spun Sugar

White Soap

Vanilla

Fresh Flowers

Baked Goods.

OBJECTS

His Grandmother's Ring

His (Shape-Shifting) Teapot

His Crystal-topped Staff

His Umbrella

The Crystal of Azem

BODY LANGUAGE

Smiling Warmly

Cheerful Shrugging

Pretending to be asleep with his hat over his eyes.

Actually being asleep with his hat over his eyes.

Chuckling into one hand

AESTHETICS

An Uncreased White Suit

A Riot of Snowdrops

A White Paper Bag of Sweets

A Blinding White Light

A Table Piled High With Cakes, Pastries and Desserts

SONGS

Perpetuum Mobile - Penguin Café Orchestra

Hall of the Swing King - Korw

Marvellous - Lightning Seeds

Fly Me To The Moon - Julie London

Tagged by various people (sorry for delay). Tagging @pumpkinmagekupo @nyarumi-nyan @hinganskies @chill-bunn-sage @aoife-asturmaux @stalwart-spirit @neriyon @hythlodaeus-mynewoldfriend @loldragoon-ffxiv and anyone else who hasn't done it (if you have done it and I've tagged you anyway, send me a link, as I clearly missed it).

[caramel1mochi]

Weekend Together [Gekko x F! Reader] [3]

10 notes in only two days! Wow, beautiful! I'm so glad we all come to a collective agreement that Gekko is a hopeless romantic, down bad, and a major, major simp. Yes, the list goes on.

Anyway, here's some more to quench your thirst!!

❤ฺ·。

Gekko x F! Reader

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Genre: Fluff

Synopsis: Gekko gets over his anxiety and finally asks you out, watching delightfully as you finally let your guard down. Or so he thinks.

。+❤ฺ·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ· +❤·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ·

Though Gekko and his friends considered his situation ‘love at first sight’, the elders called it puppy love. Being older than they were, you all knew that he was mostly infatuated with your body and maybe a bit of your personality. And, to be fair, it made sense in your mind. He was young, you were attractive, and you didn’t really leave much to the imagination with the clothes that hugged your figure. 

Oh but, technically it covered you.

In a humble café he’d picked, you were both seated outside on account of the lovely weather. The healthy deep green foliage that surrounded you, and a few other people seated on tables just as you both were, their lively chatter adding to the pleasant atmosphere. Just inhaling the fresh air felt like cleansing your lungs from the metallic scent of the base, the one that suffocated you all day every day.

“You didn’t bring your creatures, Gekko?”

You pointed out the lack of annoying gurgling that usually followed him around, and the ‘sling bag’ that was missing. Not that it wasn’t hard to see, the contrast from the lustrous sun and the shadow of the umbrella mounted on the table hurt your eyes at first.

“No, no way. That would, that would be weird here… I might get in trouble if anyone sees them, anyway.”

“You conceal them?”

“Yeah? I mean, yeah– yeah, of course I do. Well, I try, but it’s awful to keep them hidden all the time, you know? I gotta let my buddies out sometimes.”

He chuckled, a blush forming on his cheeks. Noticing this, you leaned forward and rested both arms on the table. This didn’t really help his goal in keeping his eyes off of you. But Gekko quickly noticed the edges of your curly hair, a golden glow surrounding it thanks to the sun. With your red hair finally down, it looked like you lay your head on a bed of california poppies.

“Hey, you look p– um, better when you’re casual, you know? Like– like with your hair down and stuff.”

He wanted to bring up your outfit, but he just made a nice save. And he wasn't about to ruin it.

“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself, Gekko. And you picked a deadly place, too.”

“Well, I– I didn’t know what you’d like, so I kinda winged it, you feel me?”

He smiled, and picked up the spoon to stir his drink. Not like Reyna gave him a few dozen tips, no way.

“It couldn’t have been that difficult.”

“It was! I spent a while trying to–” he caught himself, “um, I mean, I just looked around for a bit and landed on this one. You just looked like a nature kinda girl, you know?”

You couldn’t help but giggle, covering your mouth with one hand as he set down his own spoon. You weren't a 'nature kinda girl'. Like most things, you tolerated it. But how could you tell him that when he made an effort?

“I’m not some monster, Gekko. You could’ve just asked.”

"Maybe I should've... um, hey, should we be using our codenames out here?"

"Oh, you want to know my name, now? Gekko, are you sure we're just hanging out?"

"I– of course, yeah, of course we are! I just– I just meant that it's, um–"

Unable to stifle it, you unintentionally interrupted him from his mindless rabbiting with your sudden laughter, covering your mouth with one hand.  And it wasn't the polite one he'd normally hear from you, this one had mischief all over it. And seeing such a juvenile emotion on you forced a smile on him.

"Take it easy. I was just joking. Now," you pushed a ringlet away from your face, "what was your name again? "

"Oh, I thought you had it. Aren't you and Sage, you know, in control of the agent stuff?"

That's one way to put it.

"There's twenty three agents. I can't memorise all of your names. But... doesn't yours start with an M?"

"Yeah! Yeah, it's Mateo. I'm surprised you remembered! So, um, what's yours?"

He said with a wider smile, eyes glimmering with excitement at you guessing his name. And that's not it, he seemed equally as thrilled to know yours. What kind of response was this? You thought.

"It's Y/N."

"Y/N? That's a... um, that's a pretty name. It's good to finally know something about you, you know?"

He quickly cleared his throat and relaxed his posture. Saying your name by itself felt so bold on his part. But calling it pretty? He might as well be poking a bear with a stick.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"W– well– um, I mean that, you know, you're kinda like Yoru... you're all mystifying and stuff."

"Mystifying? Mateo, honey."

You couldn't help but smile, resting your chin on your hand and forcing him to blush all the more.  Intentionally or not, this framed your face almost perfectly from his view. Gekko was cute. So cute. To a syrupy degree. It felt disgusting to interact with someone like him. Artless, sensitive, and unable to hide a single emotion even if his life depended on it.

"Your food."

The waiter thankfully interrupted the staredown and set a plate of cake in the centre of the wooden table. Then, a single pie fork right next to it, shimmering with a golden hue. A delectable lemon cheesecake, one that he'd ordered.

"Enjoy."

He walked off, allowing the heavy interaction to continue. And of course, Gekko tried to switch the subject.

"Um, you– you didn’t order anything?”

He looked down to notice only a simple cup of tea in front of you. But he turned his gaze away just as quickly so as to keep his eyes away from your figure. Damn you for wearing a tanktop, right?

"You know how to treat a lady, don't you, Mateo? I feel spoiled already."

"Um, r– really? I'm... glad."

You fixed your posture, grabbed the pie fork and sliced a small portion of the cake, before levelling it with your gaze. But Gekko spoke up once more.

"You know, you're way different than I thought you'd be..."

"And you're exactly what I anticipated. Now, say 'ah'."

“Say what–”

He winced once you brought the spoonful of the cake up to his lips, his cheeks burning a bright shade of red.

He could feel the stares of a few people around you. And the idea that you were related was already thrown out the window. People just had to look at your skin and easily tell that you weren’t in any way his elder sister or something.

[waffletheorist]

Just finished.

So people liked my Linksona, the Hero of Simulation. And after some prompting from my little brother, I have decided to write something on him. I have never posted my own writing online before, so any advice or guidance will be appreciated. This is his first meeting with the Chain, content below the cut.

TW: Brief mentions of sleep deprivation, hallucinations, insomnia, mild violence.

Link's bad sleeping habits were beginning to have consequences. It was 2:00 a.m, on a rainy Monday afternoon in January. He was in his room, with it's green painted walls, hastily made bed, mildly cluttered desk, and abundance of Zelda posters and consoles, including the N64 passed down to him by his father. He had been doing homework up late, running on God knows how many cups of pure caffeine, (again) when he glanced outside his window and through the rain, saw a Lizalfos. He glanced back to his work, and out the window again, coming to the immediate conclusion that he's hallucinating as a result of sleep deprivation. The lizalfos was still there, alongside a mesmerizing triangular gateway, purple in colour, which immediately piqued his curiosity, he had always had an interest in the fantastical after all, how could he not when named after a videogame hero?

Suddenly, the Lizalfos turned towards him. Beady red eyes glared at him through the darkness and rain, and Link shrank back, before putting on a brave face. It is only a hallucination after all, it can't hurt him, right? He turns back to his maths work, staring longingly at his N64 before snapping himself back to reality. The logical part of his brain tells him it's probably best not to pay any mind to the bizarre hallucinations outside his window, while the impulsive part screams at him to pack his bags, grab his sword (from where?), and become the fictional Hero his parents named him after. He shot his homework one last guilty look, the pen still held in his Triforce-tattooed left hand, before deciding that it wouldn't be any harm if he just took a quick stroll outside, and the fresh air would probably be good for him anyway! Even though it's still dark, raining and around 2 in the morning.

He grabs his phone from it's resting place on his desk, and empties out his school bag. He thinks back to the Lizalfos. It's scales were shining, black as night, and it looked like the kind from Ocarina of Time. If a Lizalfos was there, then surely Hyrule was through the portal? In that case, it might be best to pack his Hyrule Historia. Not that he's wasting any thoughts on his hallucinations though, that would be ridiculous. He shoves some more items into his bag, including a lighter, solar powered phone charger, deodorant and some clothes. He takes note of the rain outside, and also decides to bring an umbrella. After some searching, he discovers it by the door. He puts on his trainers (or sneakers for the Americans reading) and his coat, which is an appealing shade of sage green with many pockets on both the inside and outside, and after taking one last look at himself in the mirror, he steps through the door, locks it behind him, opens up his umbrella, and sets off around the side of his house to face the portal and the Lizalfos, forgoing all self preservation instincts because:

A: It's just a hallucination, so it's probably not even going to be there when he turns the corner!

B: It's a portal, and a Zelda enemy in *real life*, there's no way he's missing this, even if he dies, he's taking a photo, and heading through that portal, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

C: He had no regard for his own life in the first place, he's a Link, and although the thought of leaving his dog does sadden him, she'll be in good hands with his brother.

He makes his way outside, pale (probably Vitamin D deficient) skin standing out as a stark contrast to the darkness around him, the rain beating down mercilessly on his umbrella as the puddles grow continually deeper on the path around him, wet grass glistening in the moonlight. His home is in the countryside, it's only neighbours being the fields owned by the farmers, which stank of slurry, the abandoned property that some land developers were looking to purchase a few years ago, and finally the other home across the road with the old, friendly St. Bernard dog who had been there for as long as Link could remember. It was an isolated place, and tended to smell, but it was home. He opened the gate to the back garden, but just as he was about to look around the corner, he felt a presence behind him.

Link let out a rather unheroic high pitched scream the moment he felt the choking grip fasten around his neck. Now he was sure. This wasn't some hallucination, this was reality, and he was in danger. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as his fight, flight or freeze response kicked in. The lizard hissed ominously in his ear. He could feel the spiked metal plates of armour rubbing uncomfortably against him. Why, oh why, did he let his curiosity get the better of him? He should've just kept doing his homework. His desperate shouts were quickly muffled by the creature's scaly arms covering his mouth. In that moment, Link knew he had to make a decision, and quickly, as the pressure around his throat increased. He was sure to black out if he didn't act now.

Link bit down. Hard. The Lizalfos yelped in pain and surprise, pulling its arm away. Link fell to the ground painfully, his neck still in pain from the force of the creature's choke. He stumbled backwards, and the creature turned to him, enraged by his audacity. It unsheathed a cruel, jagged blade from its side, teeth bared and snarling as it stalked towards Link. 'It's not real, it's only a nightmare', he repeated to himself like a mantra in his head. The monster raised it's sword, dark metal glinting in the light of the stars, as Link accepted his demise at the hands of this glorified lizard. Not quite how he wanted to go out, explosions would've been more fun, but alas. There's no way out now.

But then...

Link fell.

He was surrounded by an endless swirling abyss, a feeling of weightlessness as his stomach dropped. He felt sick. He shut his eyes, trying to block out the emptiness around him that seems to force it's way into his mind. He screamed again, but he couldn't hear anything, and the oppressive nothingness closed in around him, stifling and disorienting him.

Link woke up. At first, a feeling of relief coursed through his system. It was only a nightmare after all. But as the fogginess cleared from his mind, he saw that he was in unfamiliar surroundings. He heard voices around him.

"20 Rupees says they're dead."

"Vet, no."

"I think they're alive."

"That was a rather nasty fall, somebody get them a health potion."

"On it!"

"From a portal, maybe they're a spy of the shadow!"

"Their ears are strange."

"Most people have ears like that where I'm from."

"Really?"

"M'hm."

"I've seen ears like that in Hytopia. It'd explain their fashion sense if they're from there as well."

The voices all blended together. Link couldn't make sense of it all through his headache. Everything hurt. He jolted up with a start after remembering what happened, headbutting some unfortunate person who happened to be too close, as they fell back with an "ouch!" and forced his eyes open to come face to face with... his childhood heroes. Immediately, he's a deer in headlights. They're **real?** They're in front of him?

"Aw, looks like he's alive after all." A pink haired teen calls, wearing a familiar hat.

"Who would you be?" An older hero asks.

Link would recognise those markings anywhere. They're from the Fierce Deity. Then that must be the Hero of Time. He got *old*.

"I'm... Link. Same as all of you." Link replies.

"Another one? Isn't nine enough?" The pink haired one calls again. Must be the Hero of Legend from a Link to the Past with that hair.

The Hero of Time's expression hardens. Another hero. Another person forced to fight through so much suffering by his cruel destiny.

"A hero?" Asked the Hero of Wilds. With that blue Champion's Tunic, he's easily identifiable. Although Link doesn't recognise that scarring, that wasn't there in-game.

"Yes? Maybe?" Link replies.

"What does that mean?" The Hero of Wilds asks.

"Well, I donate to charity, and I saved a squirrel the other day when walking my dog."

"What about the kingdom? Have you saved the kingdom?" The Hero of the Wilds asks impatiently.

"The kingdom? I mean I guess? On a technicality I have?" Link replies.

All the heroes look dumbfounded.

"How can you save it on a *technicality*? You either save it or you don't, no technicalities there." The Hero of Legend asks, an underlying tone of snark to his voice.

"Well, it wasn't really real?" Link replies, just as confused.

A collective 'ohhhhhh' is shared among the heroes. A few have had adventures in worlds that weren't truly real. That must be the case with this one too, or so they thought.

"We can't call you Link, do you have any other nicknames?" The Hero of Winds asks, easily recognisable in his blue Island Lobster Shirt.

Link pauses, trying to think of a cool name. Most of his online names are things he made up at age 12, and he doesn't want to be called by his TLoZ speedrunning aliases or any of his school nicknames while here. Hero of Videogames or Games just makes him sound less serious. What's a fancier word for that?

"I'm... The Hero of Simulation."

[freakattack]

Wario ware goes to the beach

since We are maybe about to get this real im going to mind barf about this while i still can

Mona brought her camera and is taking "nature pictures" but she is only taking pictures of seaweed, barnacles, and snails. She is digging with her hands to see if she can find a dead crab but suddently she hits

Orbulon, who has been buried in the sand by kat and ana. They found him asleep on the ground and spent like 20 minutes throwing handfuls of sand at him. By the time they got bored it was already too late

Kat and ana are now out at sea fighting the kraken

Dribble is out running in the water but spitz does not join him because he hates that shit. He retreats to drier land but who does he meet but ashley, hiding under an evil dark umbrella because she hates the sun. Red is there too but he really really really wants to go make sand mud. Eventually he joins dribble and they have fun in the sun while spitz and ashley form an unlikely bond over being similarly thoughtful and introverted individuals while possibly exchanging sage advice.

Elsewhere wario is being attacked by seagulls

Dr. Crygor has brought his family to engineer the worlds greatest sandcastle and mike is bitching the whole time because hes getting sand in his joints. Eventually they build a sand machination so large and monstrous that it comes to life and threatens to destroy the whole beach. Luckily jimmy T is here surfing with a drove of athletic women and a bear and they all come and make a big wave to destroy the sand robot. Dr crygor is sad that his creation is destroyed but everyone else is having a pretty good time. Dance party credits