#they're just little creatures that reside in my home!!!

[itsswritten]

Cauldron-born | Part 2

Pairing: Azriel x fem reader

Word count: 4.1K

Summary: When an unexplainable energy pulls the Inner Circle to barge into the Day court, they're all shocked at what they find. But it's Azriel who can't help wonder if his dreams have finally been answered.

Part 1

A cackle pierced through you as Cressida  looked upon you with a devilish glint.

“You believe you are a witch?” Her tone caught you off guard. Her patronisation questioning everything you had ever held to be true. Surely you were? It was the only thing that made some sense. Your brows furrowed  tightly as you regarded the woman who had offered you shelter and refuge over the past few years.

Her laughing died down, her beautiful skin perfect by the ruins and spells she’d used for centuries, not displaying a single crease visible upon her flesh.

“Oh child what an easy life this would have been if we were more akin.”

~

You sat upright with a jolt, the murmuring of a dream— a memory whispering at the corners of your mind. Your heart swelling with the familiarity of someone you missed, despite her disposition, her cruel tone, that mean glint in her eye— you missed her. But as you felt the plush sheets beneath your body you knew you were no longer in the witches cottage at the corners of The Middle.

You had left that plagued land a while ago now.

A soft rap roused you from your thinking. The usual wake up call must have been the noise to stir you from your slumber in the first place, a familiar rumble of a tone behind the oak doors. 

“Come in,” you replied softly. Your feet swinging off the side of the bed, as you walked towards the large curtain that hung from the high ceilings to the dark obsidian floor beneath your feet.

It should have been cool to the touch under your toes, but the house had a magical way of ensuring your comfort— always.

You heard the bedroom door swing open, your back to the welcomed guest as your fingers dropped from the luxe curtain fabric you had just pulled, inviting the warmth of the morning sun into your rooms.

“Blessed be my morning star, did you sleep well?” A deep sing-song tone bellowed into the room, a playfulness dancing on his words.

You cringed under the greeting, choosing not to turn to show your disdain at his choice of greeting and nickname. The sun was only just rising, sending splintered beams of light across your bedroom floor and walls.

“Helion, must you greet me in such a way?” He could practically hear the way you rolled your eyes and cringed at his words. You hadn’t turned to him yet, your gaze settling on the tops of the city below that the curtains had just revealed.

The view from your bedroom had changed more frequently in recent years. No longer the welcomed view of your childhood— the farm fields you grew up in, the misty fog that covered the northern part of the continent that you had always found comfort in.

No longer the harsh winding forest, dark trees that looked more like creatures that lurked outside the witches cottage— Cressida’s home— if you could even call it a home. Her den, rooted in The Middle.

No longer the glistening golden rooftops of Day, the sparkling white walls that danced the sunlight off the buildings in a way that made the whole court shimmer.

Instead, the panes of glass showed three mountainous peaks, dusted with snow in the distance and a city below— Velaris, the city of starlight.

Or the city of slumber. You were not well acquainted with the routines of the Night court residents. Them usually rousing from sleep well later into the day. However it did make your mornings quieter.

The auras of people settled in sleep, their noise, their colours dimming as you watched the kaleidoscope of energy dance lazily along to rooftops. It would be beautiful, if it wasn’t so loud.

You winced slightly at the sight, the lights and colours nudging on your mind. Poking and prodding a little harder than they had yesterday. It had been several days since Helion’s spell. A string of wryds to help contain your ability— dim it down, to subdue it, make it more bearable— but the spell was wearing thin.

Ever since that night—that fateful night where you almost left this world— your ability had been at a loss. Something that had always been as easy as breathing, as easy as a crisp night breeze filling your lungs, was now overwhelming and terrifying. If it wasn’t for Helion and his spell cleaving you're not even sure you’d still be here, in fact you’re certain it would have consumed you. 

As beautiful as the auras of the world were, if you couldn’t control it— it would be the death of you. 

“How are you feeling?” You had finally turned to Helion now, his question lingering in the air. 

How were you feeling? 

You could see, feel, taste Helion’s energy in front of you. A golden glow, so fitting for the High Lord of Day. It beamed within him like an orb of sunlight. You couldn’t touch it though, not like you used to, not like when you were a child and you used the naively play with creatures auras like a toy. Not like how Cressida had taught you to toy with people’s auras which was far from play.

That sense of control had broken, leaving jagged scars across your body to match.

Your hands, almost subconsciously went to touch the rugged scar that ran from your shoulder down to your torso. It tingled under your thoughts, but you pulled your hand back. Not allowing another moment to be wasted on what had happened and the marks it had left on you. 

That was why you needed Helion and his spells. He had a way of dimming it with his own power, making it easier for you to navigate your day-to-day without being utterly consumed by the noise and colours of everyone else.

“I feel okay actually,” you had responded, your eyes moving up to the lines on your friends face. He smiled softly at you.

“This is the longest you’ve been without us having to spell cleave, but today—“

“Today could be a noisy day,” you finished his sentence, understanding what he was implying.

Tody, you were to begin training with the Valkyries.

“Those priestesses are already a bundle of emotions when they pass you, I think resealing the spell would be wise. Amren agrees.” 

Well then, it wasn’t really up for debate. 

You cocked a brow at Helion before moving towards the table in your room. That was now adorned with breakfast, courtesy of the house of course. Helion folded his arms across his broad chest. He still wore the colours of Day, white and pristine, glittered in gold jewellery along his wrists, earrings bejewelled with sunlight themselves. Grand and beautiful, just like him. However he looked so out of place against the dark background of the Night interior. As ornate as the House of Wind was, Helion didn’t fit. 

No, he belonged among his own court, but the High Lord of day had left his court to accompany you. That in itself was such a large display of loyalty. You swallowed your guilt as you sat at the table, spreading butter across the warm toast and taking a bite. 

“But of course the decision is always yours to make y/n,” Helion spoke, his tone as warm as the butter melting upon your breakfast.

They only wanted what was best for you, you knew that. Reminded yourself in moments like these. But you couldn’t help the feelings that slipped up to the surface. Since you’d come to the Fae courts and discovered who you were—what you were. Every piece of guidance came with a weight you felt like you couldn’t refuse. 

You were the Mother’s daughter— Blessed be— you had status, respect, power— to do as you please, but that came with a responsibility that felt too heavy to bear. Every decision you made had to be considered, because it didn’t only affect you but the entire world and the peoples and creatures within it.

That meant, even if you wanted to try and push another day without the spell. See how far you could go as the spell thinned, you couldn’t risk it. As it wasn’t only you who it would endanger, but every living thing.

When Helion had found you— a shattered version of yourself— he’d spent the time piecing you back together. Perhaps out of duty to begin with, but somewhere along that journey a genuine friendship grew. However that would never negate from who you were, and what you were born to do— what your life’s duty was to be, and what he, what Amren, whatever everyone else on this island needed to do ensure you accomplished it.

“Let’s reseal the spell,” you muttered before taking another chomp of your toast, a softer look on your eyes this time. “…after breakfast.”

Helion smiled warmly, joining you at the table as he had done now every morning since he saved you.

~

The simmering of the fresh spell lingered on your skin, Helion’s magic coursing an invisible shield around you. The spell acting as a filter to the aura you were always so sensitive to.

The early days of his spells were always the nicest, at least they were nowadays. After building your tolerance back up with Helion, the first week of his spell usually lasted with minimal discomfort. He always had to be near though, his rooms were only down the hall to yours.

Sometimes your tolerance was less, or someone or some creature’s aura louder than usual that you needed him to reseal. It was why for the past year he’d essentially been attached to you at the hip, like a doting father or brother. And then there was Amren— doting wasn’t the word you would use. But she was always there too now. Out of duty of course, the way she’d collapsed down to her knees in your first encounter revealed how strongly her loyalty would lie to you.

Or lie to what you stood for.

Amren, the ancient one knew what your existence meant. Felt it in her bones, remembered the murmurings of stories and prophecies she listened to back in her own adolescent years. She knew what was coming, and knew how important it was that the Mother’s daughter had her ability under control.

So here you were, stood before Helion and Amren like a girl on her first day of school. Helion tightened one of the straps on the leathers you had been told to wear. He couldn’t attend the training class, only approved males were sanctioned so he would stay the floor below. In a waiting room. A handful of books already tucked under his arm.

“Stop fussing over the girl,” Amren snapped, her expression as hard as it always was. Despite her being utterly devoted to you and your protection, that dedication did not come with a slither of a smile.

You may have found her scary, if she didn’t remind you so much of someone you missed.

Helion gave you a knowing look before playfully winking at you. His large hands coming to squeeze your shoulders.

“How do you feel?” He asked, ignoring Amren at his side.

“The world is quiet once more,” you replied in a slightly chipper tone that garnered a smile from Helion.

He tapped the top of your head, “If we need to reseal, or something triggers it you leave right away, okay?”

You nodded in response along with a hum in agreement. This training was supposed to do the opposite of just that, however there were concerns. After the inner circle had barged their way into the Day Court a month ago, after Helion revealed who you were— a lot had changed.

Your belongings— which wasn’t very many— were packed up, along with you and Helion as you were practically shipped to the Night Court. You realised when you arrived how this had always been Helion’s intention. Why he’d taken the time to tell you the names of the Night Courts inner circle all those months ago. It was because they held significance in your journey.

The Night Court was safer, Velaris having an ancient spell that had protected it for so long. Amren was to teach you, she had knowledge that even Helion’s libraries didn’t share. There was Rhys too, with his mind and magic who was a crucial part to play in you regaining control of your power.

And now there were the Valkyries, who you were to train with.

~

You leaned against the railing of the rooftop, your eyes dancing upon the still sleeping city. It was quieter now, thanks to Helion. No noise and colours probing into your mind.

It was peaceful, and yet so lonely. When you had full control of your ability, back when it felt like an extension of you. You could slip in and out of it with ease, danced with it, sung with it. Now, it felt like a headache that could only be dulled with Helion’s magic.

“It is the mind-stilling which is a priority in your training. I believe it could be key to you regaining control over your abilities. You will train with the Valkyrie’s everyday until you master it.” Amren spoke. You didn’t turn to look at her, your eyes still gazing onto the cityscape below. Your mind wandering to what the people below were up to, what they may have been dreaming of. Thinking back to a time when your life was much simpler, when the most daunting part of your week was whether one of the village boys would fancy you.

You stopped yourself there. Stopped yourself from indulging and reminiscing in the past. The continent was so far away now, as was that version of you.

“What if it doesn’t work?” You turned to Amren, concern evident in your tone. The sun kissing your face as your brows furrowed.

She was sat in the shade, back against the cool stone wall of the house, “It has to.”

A silence settled between you both. Amren was right, this had to work because Mother be damned if it didn’t.

~

Nesta cringed as she watched the priestesses fuss. She had told them to be on their best behaviour, but in the presence of a living deity the females couldn’t help themselves.

They blushed and whispered, giggled and muttered words of prayer, some even curtseying as soon as they stepped onto the rooftop. Rollings of ‘Blessed be’ harmonised from their tongues and even Gwyn’s eyes widened in the presence of you. The female looked ready to burst with excitement.

There was something about your presence that was otherworldly, not just in your beauty but in the way you moved among the earth spoke of grace. Nesta couldn’t believe her eyes when she had found out you’d grown up on the continent on a farm and then The Middle— with a witch! And yet there was a regality that existed within you that couldn’t be taught, it had just always been, you had been born with it, cauldron-born to be exact.

You stood in front of them all, your own embarrassment from the fuss evident in your averting gaze. Gently— with delicate grace— you bowed your head towards the priestesses, responding appropriately with a whispering “Blessed be,” which only seemed to elicit more noise from the females. Enough noise that it took you a beat to notice the gust of wind that blew across your face as a shadow blocked out the sun for a moment. With a thud two large Illyrian males landed in the middle of the rooftop balcony.

Helion’s spell had been working fine till now, not a whisper or a simmering of aura— till you saw him.

Felt him, scented him.

In a flurry of steps you found your back pressed against the railing on the rooftop. The very presence of someone causing your feet to stumble back, hands clutching the railing tightly in a blur of a moment. He was here. The very male you often found yourself dreaming of when your mind wasn’t caught in the past.

Azriel.

Amren had launched from her place, she had been watching you so closely that even just a tremor of difference she would notice. But it wasn’t just Amren who had stepped towards you, the Shadowsinger himself had taken several large strides since landing as if he’d also always been watching.

“Do I need to get Helion?” Amren asked with an urgency in her tone.

Your breaths were shallow, your gaze falling to your feet as you tried to focus. You had been caught off guard, in the silence of spell you hadn’t expected any noise at all. You hadn’t been affected by the lively group of priestesses, Nesta’s silver aura hadn’t been licking at your mind or even the thousands of people in the city below hadn’t affected you.

But him. He had triggered something, somehow.

Azriel looked upon you with a concern that felt heavy. Hesitant as he stood only a step behind Amren.

Had he startled you? When him and Cassian had landed? Azriel couldn’t deny he had rushed to this training session, after spending the month on a mission. Rhys had sent word that you were to begin training, and the swell in Azriel’s chest was enough to have Cassian trying to keep up to the Spymaster on their entire flight home.

Azriel’s eyes wandered over you, his shadows whispering their own concerns. They had noticed your nerves, just as he had noticed them during his first encounter with you. It was his job to notice the little things, his duty as spymaster to notice the things others couldn’t, but even he couldn’t explain why he felt so attuned to you.

The morning breeze gently blew across your face, pulling the pieces of hair that were loose from your braid. You had calmed yourself, calmed yourself enough to raise your head to the audience on the rooftop. He could see you now, fully, for the first time in a month, and Azriel forgot how to breathe.

Divine.

He thought it was his shadows that whispered it, but maybe it was his own thoughts too. You were the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid his eyes on— angelic and saintly.

Divine was the only word for it.

Divine, divine, divine. His shadows sang.

“No, I am fine,” you finally replied to Amren. She looked at you sceptically, a look in her face that told you if you were lying then there would be hell to pay. You repeated yourself though, stepping away from the railing you had pressed yourself against.

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, not yet. Not after what he had just triggered, that tightness in your chest was new and overwhelming to say the least. It was different though, to the way auras usually felt that left you with confusion and questions to why the Shadowsinger felt, smelt, tasted so different to everyone else.

You were grateful for the male beside him who decided to speak. “Sorry we probably startled you, just dropping from the sky like that— we tend to do that sometimes.” It was Cassian who had spoken, a warmness in his tone that reminded you of Helion. There was a twinkle in his eye of light-heartedness that seemed to dissipate the unease that had settled among the group.

You offered him a soft smile that only seemed to spur him on. His tone bellowing as he outstretched his arms in introduction, “I’m Cassian, and this is—“

“Azriel,” you finished his sentence for him. Not being able to stop yourself from saying his name out loud. Not being able to stop yourself from finally looking at him.

“Right, Azriel. You’ve already met,” Cassian replied, a look in his eye as he glanced between his brother and you.

It wasn’t fair. Wasn’t fair how much lovelier he was than in your dreams— which you didn’t think could be possible. The handsome lines of his tanned face, the dark hair that fell in loose curls and those large wings that were tucked behind his back. Your eyes dragged across him, finally landing on his own gaze. How it brought you back to that first moment you met him—how he had trapped you in his gaze back in the courtyard of Day.

“And I’m Gwyn,” the words had practically burst from the red-headed female. Her deciding now was clearly the right time to introduce herself, not that you minded. In fact if she hadn’t you may have just stared at the Shadowsinger all day, “…and I think I can speak on behalf of us all, but it is truly an honour that you wish to train with us.”

There were some murmurings from the priestesses then, as if in agreement and even Cassian tipped his head in bow towards you.

There it was again, that weight you held. Crushing and terrifying, they put you an a pedestal, showered you with adoration you weren’t too sure you deserved. With subtle strain you forced a gentle smile onto your lips.

“The honour is all mine Gwyn,” and you meant it. The people on this balcony had earned that praise more than you ever had.

“She just said my name,” Gwyn whispered in disbelief to her friends, her cheeks going rosy at the recognition. Nesta simply rolled their eyes, Emery teasingly nudged Gwyn with her elbow.

But it was a sentiment Azriel was still stuck on too. You had said his name, knew his name— knew him. His name on your lips was like a song, a melody you serenaded him with. His shadows had felt it too, your recognition of their master causing a stir that had them wanting to reach out—which they would have if Azriel didn’t have them on such a tight leash. Azriel only tore his gaze from you when Amren spoke up.

“Enough about honour and names,” Amren snapped, her eyes not landing on you but the the two males who had just arrived. They understand her stare, her tone, the waft of her had as she strode back to her spot in the shade.

“Right let’s start ladies, find a space and we’ll begin with stretches,” Cassian commanded, his tone authoritative that had the females moving into motion. Even Azriel snapped himself from his thoughts, collecting himself as he stalked towards one side of the balcony.

You followed suit, following the motion of the other females and finding yourself in amongst the group to begin. You noticed though how Nesta had come to your left, Emery flanking your right, and Gwyn directly behind you. As if creating their own shield. Perhaps a statement to the swooning priestesses— regardless, you were appreciative.

Stretching began, and you copied Cassian’s movements in front of you. In sync with the other females around you. Moving your muscles in a way you hadn’t for a while, stretching the aches you didn’t know were there. Cassian stood in front of the group, bellowing whenever the stretch would change.

The movement was welcome though. You’d always had an active life. Growing up on a farm, tending to the crops and harvests had been your way. You weren’t new to the ache of a hard days work. Then you’d spent your time in The Middle, with Cressida who had an unrelenting method of training you.

“I’ve heard you’re not a novice?” Nesta asked you as the group was split in two. One side had been pulled to practice mind-stilling, the other, your group, had been given wooden staffs to practice more physical exercises.

You took the staff in your hand, curling your fingers around the rod. Nesta wasn’t referencing your past though. She was asking about your time in Day, you hummed in response with a nod. “I trained with Helion’s sentries for a few months,” it helped…for a while. Your progress had soon dropped off though, plateaued, which was why you were here. To see if the Valkyrie way of training would help in any way.

Nesta nodded in response, before tapping your staff twice with hers. “Show me then,” she moved into a defensive stance and your brow quirked.

It was a challenge, she had been the only one who had dared, the only person to treat you with some semblance or normalcy— and it made you smile.

a/n: well here is part 2, I’m sorry this has quite literally taken months to get this instalment live, so I really appreciate any of you who might still be around to read this! I do think this has the potential to be a slightly bigger series than I first anticipated, but I guess that’s my fault for giving our mc the coolest back story ever 😅 anyway enjoy my loves 🤍 - Lottie xx

[ahqkas]

I have like a supernatural request and I’m obsessed with mermaids…LIKE 😕 but I would like to request something where mattheo is by a lake. He heard a lot about how there’s a Hogwarts mermaid by this lake. But she only comes out at night. Reader’s scales are so beautiful and it makes him memorized and he starts to sneak out a lot to see her.

-🦋anon

PRECIOUS LIKE THOSE PEARLS ; mattheo riddle

HARRY POTTER MASTERLIST!

© ahqkas — all rights reserved. even when credited, these works are prohibited to be reposted, translated or modified

THE BLACK LAKE WAS CALM AND STILL UNDER THE PALE LIGHT OF THE CRESCENT MOON. Mattheo Riddle stood at the water's edge, his eyes scanning the dark surface, hoping for a glimpse of the creature he'd heard whispers about. The air was cool, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. He'd been coming here every night for the past week, driven by curiosity and a strange, unexplainable pull. Something must be in this lake.

Tonight, however, felt different. The usual silence of the lake seemed charged with an interesting energy. As he stood there, he noticed a faint shimmer beneath the water, a glimmer that was neither a reflection of the moon nor a trick of the light. His heart quickened as he took a step closer.

Suddenly, the water's surface broke, and a figure emerged. You were breathtaking, with scales that glimmered like precious jewels in the moonlight. They ranged from deep emerald green to a soft, iridescent blue, shifting and sparkling with her every movement. Your eyes, perhaps shining even more than the scales, locked onto his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"You're the mermaid," Mattheo exclaimed softly, more to himself than to you. His breath hitched in the back of his throat.

You tilted your head slightly, a small smile playing on your lips. "And you must be the boy who has been watching me."

Your voice was melodic, carrying a soothing quality that matched your ethereal appearance. Mattheo felt his breath hitch for the second time in a minute, captivated by the sight before him. He nodded slowly, unable to tear his gaze away from you.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The shock of your appearance resided in his system.

"Call me [Name]," you replied, eyes twinkling with curiosity as you swam closer, examining his human features. "And you are?"

The boy appeared almost like from another realm. He was beautiful. His features, so distinctly human, seemed strange to you. The round curve of his ear, the redness of his cheeks. Only the look in his eyes matched yours. Wild curiosity for the other world.

"Mattheo," he answered, taking another cautious step closer. "I've heard stories about you. They say you only come out at night."

A chuckle escaped past your lips, a sound that reminded Mattheo of the tinkling of small bells. "The night is my comfort, where I feel most at home. It's safer, too. Humans can be . . . unpredictable."

"I suppose we can be. But I'm not here to harm you. I just wanted to see if the stories were true."

"And now that you've seen me?" you asked him the question, your gaze never really leaving his.

"I'm more mesmerized than I ever thought I would be," he admitted. "Your scales . . . they're beautiful." You are beautiful.

"Thank you," your smile widened upon hearing his words. "It's rare for someone to see me like this. Most are too afraid or simply don't believe."

"Well, I'm not most people," Mattheo said with a hint of pride. "I've always been drawn to the mysterious, the things others overlook or dismiss." And it was the truth. Mattheo had always been curious, his caretakers used to say.

Your eyes softened, and you swam a little closer to the shore, towards him. "Why do you come here, Mattheo? What is it that you seek?"

He thought for a moment, considering your question. "I don't know," he finally said. "Maybe I'm looking for something beyond the ordinary. Something that makes me feel alive."

"You find that in me?" you asked, a touch of vulnerability in your voice. No one has ever treated you with such kindness. No one from the human world, that’s it.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "There's something about you, [Name]. Something magical." And it wasn’t the Hogwarts.

For a moment, the two of you simply looked at each other, the silence between you filled with an unspoken understanding. Then, you broke the spell.

"Would you like to come closer?" asking, you extended a palm toward him.

Mattheo hesitated for only a second before he knelt by the water's edge, reaching out to take your hand. Your touch was cool and soft, sending a shiver up his spine. You gently pulled him closer, and he found himself sitting on the damp ground, his feet almost touching the water, knees soaking the dampness in.

"Tell me about your world," you proposed, eyes wide with interest. "What's it like above the surface?"

Mattheo smiled, realizing he had so much to share. "It's . . . chaotic and beautiful all at once. There are mountains and forests, bustling cities and quiet villages. People can be wonderful, but also terribly complicated. It's a world full of contradictions."

"That sounds fascinating," your voice was full of wonder. "I wish I could see it for myself."

"Maybe one day," Mattheo said, his tone hopeful. "But for now, I'll tell you everything you want to know."

You spent hours like that, talking and sharing stories. Mattheo told you all about Hogwarts, the magical creatures, and the adventures he'd had. You, in turn, shared tales of the lake, its hidden depths, and the creatures that dwelled within. With every word, the two of you grew closer, the bond between you strengthening.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, you let out a sigh. "I have to go. The sun is rising."

"Will I see you again?" Mattheo asked, not wanting your time together to end. He has never felt more connected with someone.

"Yes," you promised. "Come back tomorrow night. I'll be here."

With one last, lingering look, your figure slipped beneath the water, disappearing from sight. Mattheo stood up, his heart full of a strange mix of emotions. He knew he would return, drawn back to the lake by the pull of the mysterious mermaid who had captured his heart. As he walked back to the castle, he couldn't stop thinking about you, the night you had shared, and the promise of more to come.

[dogtoling]

I know that Inkling societies mirror human ones because of plot reasons going back to Alterna, but I've really enjoyed seeing your 'convergent evolution' takes on the biology, so why not apply that same logic to something like, say, architecture? At a glance, sure, Inkopolis and the Splatlands look recognizable to us, but would for instance an inkling or octoling's home have a layout differently built for their unique needs and behavior?

Thank you! also yes this is a good point! I've been avoiding doing anything too outlandish with the architecture or much of any of the worldbuilding to be honest because we know very little about Splatoon architecture and... well, stuff like this, to begin with. And it's harder to try and change major things about the world itself than it is to work with alternative biology for a creature in my opinion; all we really know when it comes to architecture and city- and building design in Splatoon that it is very similar to those of humans, and a lot of the elements are based on modern day Japan. I doubt the developers are doing that much to differentiate the architecture from human buildings and stuff because granted it would be a ridiculous amount of thoughts and work to sculpt a society and buildings that accommodate like 500 different species MINIMUM.... there's some little things here and there, like the Giant Doorways in the Deepsea Metro, but then there's other things like the freaking escalator in Inkopolis Plaza that's literally the width of maybe 1 Inkling and no other species even fits in that. Hell, it's not even the width of TWO PEOPLE which is at least expected of escalators to my knowledge--- anyway....

my point being I don't like to make sweeping differences to human architecture when it comes to Splatoon, because whether I like it or not a LOT of their stuff is just human architecture a little bit to the left. But that doesn't mean you can't make any changes to it, and it also doesn't mean there aren't any changes, those changes just might not be as visible.

Some random things I've thought about: Modern housing in Inkadia has VERY strong windows. Glass in general is very strong in urban environments, especially buildings near Turf War areas for obvious reasons... you don't want people Super Jumping through your window nor your window blasted to smithereens by a Trizooka shot that missed.

In apartment buildings, if there are mail slots on the doors, there's a container on the other side. Prevents people from slinking into your house through the mail slot. Apparently this is a common thing to have in Japan? We just have mail slots or postboxes out in the yard or lobby.

Also to prevent people from slinking into your house: residential buildings have dense grates, nets or spikes in their ventilation shafts. In some older buildings and non-residentials, these might be missing. But without things like this, any Inkling (typically) can just fit straight through a pipe as long as their beak fits in it, so you would end up having guests you maybe don't want.

Quickly about apartments; they're actually a very popular form of living not just for cost-cutting and because there's a fuck ton of residents in Inkadia, but because inkfish are mostly very social and do better surrounded with lots of people living in close quarters. The two most popular types of apartments are single-person ones that are basically just a single-room hole, and bigger apartments that have several small rooms and a community area that are meant for a whole school of squid (usually a friend group) to live in. People who live in the single-person apartments typically just go home to sleep and maybe cook or something... unless you're an introverted squid, or not a squid at all, and just settle for very little when it comes to space.

Inklings ALWAYS have some type of direct heating in their houses, from space heaters to a kotatsu to heated blankets to sun lamps. This is because Inklings are mostly cold-blooded and become very sluggish if their body temperature falls too much (for example from lack of physical activity or from cold room temperature), so there's a focus on keeping one's living quarters comfortably warm. Most lamps marketed for inkfish are actually heat lamps to the point where finding a lamp that Doesn't Make The Room Hot if it's on for too long is kind of hard.

Inklings are pretty vulnerable to dry air due to their thin skin and dependence on humidity to keep them thoroughly hydrated. As a result, you'll find air humidifiers in like, every house. In some AC units, a humidifier function is included. From a human perspective, the average Inkling apartment feels warm and humid - but to them it feels just normal. Due to the relatively high humidity, it's pretty common for electrical outlets to have covers for when they're not in use.

It's common for Octarian homes to have "sleeping holes" or "dens" carved into the wall. These haven't really become trendy in Inkopolis yet, but they probably will. It's also quite common for inkfish homes to have stacked furniture and interior made in layers - because they can fit in very tight spaces in swim form, maze-like interiors are still fully usable to most inkfish. Though it's rarer to find people who actually want to deal with the clutter.

Most Inkopolis bathrooms have a combined shower-bath. Inkfish showers come with a shower head that only really lets mist through on the default setting. (You're expected to test this BEFORE you take your first shower and replace it if necessary because you don't want to get into the tub and then find out it's a normal cross-species shower head on fucking Jet Mode.) Bathtubs are mainly used for re-absorbing moisture and soaking in ink rather than cleaning (because inkfish don't do very well with actual baths).

Most flooring is specifically made to be ink-resistant and non-absorptive. The combined humidity of the air and the ink that inkfish naturally get everywhere would ruin wooden floors IMMEDIATELY.

Toilets usually have a flap or gate blocking the drain that flips open when it's flushed. There are too many historical cases of people falling into toilets and just fucking dying or going missing forever because it's difficult to get out. (Mostly kids, but also people who fell asleep or too far into thought and just slinked into there. The world is full of danger when you can fit into any gap.) also lots of people accidentally laying eggs there which for obvious reasons is REALLY BAD if there's nothing to catch those.

All modern apartment buildings are required to have elevators. I'm pretty sure this is also just a real-life requirement nowadays. A lot of older buildings in Inkopolis don't have any, though... and while Super Jumping on street level is usually prohibited, most apartments have roof access, so a lot of people still jump between work/hobbies and their house. It is A LOT faster than dealing with traffic or walking (but it's also mostly illegal).

uh probably more things. My brain is empty now but hopefully that's some kind of inspiring ty for asking!

[yanderes-galore]

Wooo, may I ask for a short of The Lamb (cult of the lamb) with the prompts 16 and 17 from an-ambivalent list? And the Darling is a wolf, I think reverse predator-prey sounds interesting.

POV: You're a predator but your prey cult leader just sees you as a cute puppy.

Prompts Here

Yandere! The Lamb Prompts 16 + 17

"I will protect you from everything."

"You can always count on me, my love."

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Violence, Murder, Babying, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Cults, Indoctrination, Blood, Dubious relationship.

One would think a wolf, a predator, would be able to handle themselves. Normally, one would agree with such a statement. Compared to your typical hound, you have more survival instincts.

Unfortunately, even survival instincts don't do much in the lands of the old faith.

Naturally, like most creatures, you had tried your best to follow the teachings of your bishop in the land of Darkwood. The wooded area was somewhere you considered home. As long as you did your prayers and offered gifts, you did not incur the wrath of Leshy.

For a wolf, you were much more of a lapdog to the Bishop.

Such beliefs changed once you got word that your Bishop was slain. Slain? You could barely believe the news you got when you spoke to another follower.

A Bishop of The Old Faith, your Bishop Leshy, defeated? You dread what that meant for you and the rest of Darkwood. Despite this, you stayed in your little village with the rest of your fellow followers.

Until the beasts started pouring in.

Without a Bishop to oversee the area, creatures began to pour in from the darkness. Flying creatures, crawling creatures, even rival cultists. The death of your Bishop made you witness the death of many friends and even family...

The death of your Bishop could very well mean the death of you.

You expected to die in your old home. Even as a wolf you were no match for the unholy beasts that resided within Darkwood. Covered in blood and wounds... you cowered in the ruins of your broken home... ears pinned to your head as you prepared yourself to be a sacrifice...

Then you met The Lamb.

The Lamb was the very same vessel that killed your Bishop. You thought you would be left to die like all the rest. But, no, the animal you would normally consider prey came back to help you.

Even though The Lamb smelt of prey, you knew better. They were not only surprisingly stronger but wore the crown of a Bishop. You smelled a strong force within them

One that made you bow your head when they approached.

"I will protect you from everything." The Lamb had uttered, gazing upon you like some sort of divine messenger. Their words are caring, rough hands holding your face feeling foreign on your fur. For prey... you could feel how hard they worked.

"Will you join me?" The Lamb, your savior, asks you. You don't even care at this moment that they're treating you like a wounded dog with no fear for your nature.

You trusted them at this moment...

You'd be foolish to not accept a new leader to pray to, you weren't going to be left to die.

Once your previous Bishop fell, you had no choice but to pledge yourself to a new one. It appears many other Darkwood followers had the same idea when they encountered The Lamb. The Lamb was a new power, one you found yourself playing loyal hound for.

The Lamb themselves had tended to your wound when you first arrived. Ever since you've been at their side. So much for being an independent wolf.

Even when you felt ready to scout or attend to duties away from The Lamb, your leader adamantly refused. The Lamb acted as though you'd die if you went back out there to gather resources. Other followers can be given such a job... not you.

Never you.

You were treated more like a pet dog than a wolf. You may be slightly bigger than The Lamb, yet they still acted like you were weak. In a way, you were, but it was humiliating to be treated in such a way by a sheep.

They smell of prey, yet treat you as though you must be protected...

Your mind wanders back to how you felt back at Darkwood. How hopeless and weak you felt. Then you think back to The Lamb, your Lamb... and how they treat you.

They coddle you. They pet you, feed you, and watch you while you pray. They give you gifts with caring smiles and small bleats. Such attention, such smells, such sounds... It makes you want to submit to their power.

"You can always count on me, my love." The Lamb would always cook towards you. The nickname always made your heart thump and your tail wag. You were unaware that they were always after your submission.

Since The Lamb saw you lost in the woods, looking like a kicked puppy, they knew they needed you. Such thoughts are what resulted in you being indoctrinated, brainwashed, and coddled. A fearsome wolf brought to their knees... just to be made a loyal hound for the mighty Lamb.

Why should you be independent? Why should you hunt on your own? Why not let The Lamb, your leader, your partner do it for you?

Why not lose your pride and become what they want you to be?

A domesticated dog who listens to their every command and order... loyal to only them for all of eternity in their servitude... or in short...

All theirs.

[mybeautifulwifegojo]

fuck it, vampire au where Satoru was the brightest star of Japan's monster-hunting society and then he got turned by some rando and in a fit of rage killed him and nearly 200 civilians. For this unspeakable act Gojo Satoru was bound and gagged and sealed in a cave behind a waterfall that used to be a holy site.

400 years later, Sasaki and Iguchi have a semi-popular YouTube series about scary places in Japan, and Yuji is their Resident Skeptic who really does want to support his friends, but like. ain't no way there's ACTUALLY a demon sealed in that old cave that's been cordoned off since the 80s. no fucking way. but the three of them go in, Yuji taking point as usual, and find that the cave is.... way deeper than reported.

weird.

there's whispering in the dark, and strange scuttling noises, but nothing they can see. and nothing comes at them. there aren't even any spiders or bats in here--like animals won't come here.

...even weirder.

and then. just as Yuji is about to suggest turning back. the flashlight beam lands on a body that's been strung up, bound, sealed, and ritually drained of blood.

the body's eyes are open, and he's furious.

so anyway after Sasaki and Iguchi stop screaming, Yuji unties the guy because clearly something illegal happened here and holy shit the guy is so cold but he's still moving and breathing and talking??? it's a weird, old fashioned dialect but Yuji understands enough to convince the man to come with them to the hospital. the man seems weirdly fixated on Yuji, asking his name and who his parents are and if he's a "sorcerer", but really he has so many wounds and they're all dry and crusty and smell like rot and Yuji just really wants to make sure he's not dying.

as soon as they exit the cave, there's like five sorcerers already there ready to fight Satoru. he's weakened, now, surely they can kill him.

except Yuji is hurt trying to stop the violence, and Satoru gets a whiff of his blood, and knows.

"Heir of Sukuna, please forgive me for this."

Three drops of Yuji's blood is all Satoru needs to subdue the enemy.

Fast-forward three years, 18yo Yuji moves to Tokyo and gets a job in the kitchen of a incredibly fancy bathhouse (mostly for sorcerers and hunters but also a genuine business), because he brought kikufuku and hotpot he made at home for the interviewer and staff to try. Nobara, charged with showing him the ropes, asks how long he's been cooking; he tells her most of his teen years, but the kikufuku is because his wife has a sweet tooth and begs him to make it a lot.

"Wife?? Aren't you only eighteen??"

"Oh--yeah, we're not actually married yet. He just likes being called my wife, and I like being his husband. It makes it easier to wait for the law to change. Plus it's fun to introduce him as my wife because homophobes don't know what to do about a tall, buff dude enjoying being a housewife."

Nobara meets Yuji's wife that night. He is very tall and buff, and also clearly adores Yuji in a way that makes the fact that he's the legendary vampire Gojo Satoru slightly less horrifying. Like, it's very hard to imagine the man currently whining about not having a 'proper' garden anymore here in the city as covered in blood and viscera. Especially since he keeps swinging his and Yuji's clasped hands like a restless child and dropping absent kisses on Yuji's head, and Yuji is obviously so pleased by all these little displays of affection. It is sickening how cute these two are.

.......Nobara decides not to report Satoru's presence to the council yet. She has a very hard time believing this puppy-dog of a man is dangerous to humans.

(she's right. Satoru is utterly uninterested in hurting people, now that he's calmed down and learned that he only needs a few ounces of Yuji's blood once a month to stay alive. It does piss him off that monsters and other creatures of the night keep trying to seduce Yuji into following Sukuna's footsteps and becoming the prophesied Demon King who will destroy all of humanity. Who will make Satoru kikufuku if Yuji goes bad??? AND WHY DO ALL THESE OTHER VAMPIRES KEEP TRYING TO DRINK HIS HUSBAND'S BLOOD??????)

((Yuji just thinks it's funny that they keep trying, because Satoru is clearly the reason dead vampires keep turning up with "homewrecker" carved into their foreheads. when will they get the message that Yuji's a one-wife man?))

[otterloreart]

Stardew Valley fanart!

I'm not sure if there's a headcanon shared by the Stardew Valley community about the secret statues or if there's any additional canon information but I made my own headcanons up about them! More under cut.

??HMTGF?? headcanon:

HMTGF is obviously a robot made up by our resident child prodigy/engineer, Maru. Maru created HMTGF as a child and it was meant to be an imaginary friend who could assist on mechanical engineering projects. She used household materials.

In order to bring HMTGF to life, Maru attempted to use the souls of sea creatures. Don't worry, ultimately no sea creatures were harmed in the making of HMTGF, but suffice it to say: Penny read a book about exorcising the souls of creatures and animating objects using them. Demetrius had to explain to them that it wasn't appropriate to use animals in this manner (He tried to explain what ethics boards approval entails but Robin just made a blanket "no including live animals in your experiments" rule).

Anyways, you find HMTGF abandoned in the dumpter behind Joja. Perhaps the sea cucumber's soul is successfully transferred into HMTGF, but who knows. It doesn't seem to move.

??Pinkylemon??

Pinkylemon is a representation of a little brownie-like creature that lives in Gus's home. Like fantasy brownies and other elves, Pinky cleans up the Saloon in exchange for bowls of milk or other treats. One time Gus was out of milk so he gave it duck mayonnaise, which it loved even more.

The statue of Pinkylemon was made by Leah out of wood, after she found out about the creature. Stockings and shoes were sewn by Evelyn, after she found out that a brownie lived with Gus, so thats why it has little clothes on the statue. Elliot is the one who told Gus more about the brownies. All the villagers who know of Pinky are pleased that a creature has come to the center of town.

??Foroguemon??

In the cutscene where Vincent and Jas (and the farmer) are spooked by what they see in the sewers, many people assume that they're seeing Krobus. But what if... they're not seeing Krobus, they're seeing Foroguemon?

Foroguemon is a frog that mutated in the sewers. Vincent eventually begins trying to feed him and becomes less afraid of him. Vincent sculpted the Foroguemon statue to prove that he was real, but nobody believed him; if you offer the strange bun to Vincent he gives you the statue and feeds the strange bun to Foroguemon.

[yourpicasso25]

The secret, part 2

Hey, I'm back!

Sorry about last week, but I was very, very sick? Very bad attack of flemmingite aigue!

Translated in English, I was feeling lazy as f*ck, so I just watched Youtuvideos. I'm sure you know how it goes. Feeling better now, but still have little to show to show for it.

Speaking of lazyness...

I know I waxed lyrical about food and markets and all that jazz, but one can't really live on the local production.

One can only do so much with fish, after all.

So we have Supermarchés Lapompe. Not Walmart, but the small chain (2 markets) does brsk business with both locals and tourits in both basic nececities... and about a ton of of junk food, let's be honest here. And that's the dirty little secret we're don't really like to talk about.

The Lapompe family also deal in fuel, gas, and electricity proction and storage. Their home lot is shaping to be something else!

I didn't upload that one because it's a very basic one, sure y'all can do just as well.

Otherwise, I had a CAS moment. I know, weird.

I made that quite big appartent building nect to the market last time, and the inhabitant just came to life in my head. Happens sometimes.

So, meet the Boucicaud family:

Bernard Boucicaud.

He is the reason the famijy is here, since the building they're residing in belonged to his grandparents. Bernard was born here,tail ending the boomer generation, but he grew up in Paris, since his parent hightailed out of Vogoel to make careers and a life as far away from anything fishy as possible.

Bernard had very nice vacation in his grandmother house as a boy.

However, as his parent fled Vogoel, Bernard fled Paris to traval the world, because he was an artist.

In Delhi, he met

Lucie

Then Dolman, now Boucicaud. Same kind of story except she's from Marseille.

They both liked to travel, so they did, Bernard managing some free-lance photographing to earn a little money and Lucy learning Yoga and stuff.

Both probably smoking funny stuf.

But time flies, and a baby girl was bord... and there is one day when you long for a nice bed and some creature comfort, so they came back to France.

Infortunately, neither were talented enough as artist to "make it" in the capital. So Bernard remembered his Mémé house, which his parent didn't really use and were quite happy to get rid of. It provide a far more luxurious accomodation than what they could afford in Paris, and it's would be a far better place for their girl to grow up in.

And here is said girl, Namaste Boucicaud.

Let's make it clear, not a happy bunny.

First, why did those idiot boomer parents she's saddled with had to name her Namaste? She hates it! honestly, Grertrude would be nicer!

And OMG the parents! Couldn't they be, I don't know, a little bit NORMAL once in a while? (well, they're both Avant Garde, so the teen may have a point here)

At least her father had some job with the local paper, so Namaste could forget the cheesy seagull photos to sell to tourists... and the paintings.

And her mother, still dressing like she was young, in jeans and exotic tops!

Honestly, Namaste can't wait to get her Bacalaureat and flee to Paris to her grand parents who are normal people and call her Nathalie.

"Where you will go to the Beaux Arts, dear. Not of that nonsense about being an accoundtant like your grandfather, do you hear me? Open your chakras, honey..."

But MOOOOMM!!!

[peachesofteal]

cool cool cool cool cool I am feeling totally normally after seeing your response to my ask and totally am not chewing on the wheel wells of my car

would you go more into detail about our silly little fae?? and would you mind if I maybe had the time to write up a lil ficlet for Soap one day??? 😗

Don't eat your car, it's tough on your teeth. 🩵 I hear human hearts make better meals... But seriously, in response to your second question, I would not mind if you wrote a little ficlet for Fae!Soap, but please tag me in it so I can read it!

For the first question (Thank you for indulging me and my insane little worlds) :

Johnny, Kyle and Price are all in the mortal world because of Simon. Because Simon is the most powerful of the lot, even though Price is the oldest (only by a couple hundred years) they all yield to his demands, if he makes them. Which he doesn't, he simply asks and because they're all practically brothers, friends for nearly their whole lives, they're happy to oblige. Besides, the mortal world can filled with fun, if you know where to look. The reason why Price isn't in the pub that night with the other three is because he's found his own trouble to get into. (And it's not a Nereid. There are other creatures that lurk in the mortal world, too.)

Simon had been disappearing for decades before they finally caught on to what was happening. He kept it incredibly close to his chest, unwilling to share his secret, his desperation for his Nereid, until it all came to a head one day, in the thick of war, and he had to leave. It was Price that followed him, confronted him on the beach where he was standing, staring silently at the waves, hours after you had slipped back beneath the water to go home. (They don’t really talk about it now but Simon would get crazy depressed every year after your hunt, sulking in the shadows of his home with the doors locked.)

Speaking of war: Faerie is massive. It's more expansive than the mortal realm, existing in a pocket of magic that is difficult to travel to unless you know the way. It has different climates, topography, geography. I envision it as like... "modernized mythology", no cars because they all use magic to travel, they have magical weapons, etc. No giant cities like the ones in the mortal realm because they just don't care for them. They're not interested in one-upping one another like lunatic mortals, they're interested in bloodsport and power. All the residents are (mostly) Fae. Full of magic that differs from one to next, millennia old bloodlines all battling for power from one century to the next. When you live forever, and you can take life with the snap of your finger, full scale war quickly becomes the answer to most questions. Gaz is actually born of one of these bloodlines, royal blood and proper titles, pomp, circumstance and all, but he shuns it. Chooses the life of a solider with his friends over a throne and a crown. Simon is from a similar bloodline, but one with a dark history, centuries of cyclical abuse that he's determined not to repeat with his own children. Price is from a very large, very well known family in a Northern Region, and is like the founder of their group. He acts as the voice of reason for all of them when their heads grow too hot. Johnny is from an Isle that holds it's own secrets...

They look different in their realm. They glamour themselves in the mortal world, hiding their ears and eye color, dulling their features as to not stand out. At home, they drop it to be themselves, pointed ears and razor sharp face lines, power oozing from every pore, their connection with the magic changing their eye color to reflect how they’re feeling emotionally. And their noses… they can smell everything. Simon can smell you miles away, can pick up on a change in your sweat, can smell the scent of your hair even if you’re on the other side of the house.

They are Fae, so let's not pretend they're particularly sweet. Certainly, they can be, and would be... to whomever they fall in love with but they're also known to be brutal, effective killers, vicious and murderous creatures who care little for the blood they spill. They’re known as the 141 in both realms, and they possess limitless potential for cruelty. Simon is feared across Faerie, just his name enough to send infantry lines of lesser soldiers running. He’s only sweet for you, protective and possessive of his huntress to a fault.

[musurvivalistguide]

So in my attempt to better grasp how to write the Bionicle fantasy!AU I'd brainstormed before, I decided to fiddle around with a classic case of "the Toa Metru get Isekai'd into a fantasy AU and meet fantasy versions of themselves and need to find a way home". 😂

Still working on this fic, but decided to share this little snippet I had! Will probably explore more aspects of this AU when they're on Mata Nui itself as well, but otherwise I'm gonna have fun with it. Enjoy while I continue hammering away at things/remember how to write these characters again!

//////////////////////////

“What happened to my Metru?!”

These were not the words any of the Toa Metru wished to hear, yet it was hard not to share in the confusion and worry as they looked around Le-Metru…or what appeared to be Le-Metru. All around them they saw Le-Matoran chattering as they continued their tasks, a sight that would be considered normal…save for the blatantly obvious differences. Each Matoran wore cloth or leather material over their armor, goggles and other odd accessories decorating their masks and body. Most carried normal tools the Toa recognized, yet others held weapons like daggers, bows, and short blades. Perhaps the biggest difference that unnerved them, however, were the rahi.

The strange organic beasts mixed in with the normal biomechanical ones.

“Uh…any idea what that rahi is, Whenua?” Onewa asked, pointing out the Toa-sized two-legged bird tromping by. It possessed a wickedly razor sharp beak, its wing-arms tucked close to its body yet showing just enough to reveal what looked like barbs hidden beneath the feathers. Yet strangely enough, the terrifying looking rahi seemed unbothered by the fact it was being led by a Matoran with a rope lead, carrying saddlebags and packs worth of unusual wares towards what looked like a bustling marketplace.

“Honestly? Not a clue,” came the response, though it was hard to tell if he was excited or worried as he looked around at the other creatures around them. “It looks like an organic rock raptor, but…I’ve never seen anything like it—like any of these before!”

“Great. Just great!” Throwing up his arms, Onewa said, “First, we fight a giant plant in a giant forge, and now we’re in some weird version of Le-Metru with no clue how we got here from Ta-Metru? With rahi beasts even our resident librarian hasn’t seen before? What’s next? Flying razor whales?”

A low, melodic cry echoed above them as a shadow fell over the group, looking up to see a tri-horned organic whale floating leisurely by with a large cargo-carrying platform on its back.

“……you know, when I said that, I didn’t actually mean literally.”

“This must be some illusion or trick of the Morbuzakh,” Nokama uttered. “Did the Great Disks not work?”

“No, they did what they were supposed to do. The Morbuzakh was defeated,” Vakama said, pulling out his own disk as he examined it. The disk was whole, looking just as it had when he first found it. And yet…he felt something off about the disk. The tips of his fingers tingled with energy—different than it had been during their last battle. “…something’s not right. We’re not in Metru Nui anymore—at least, not the Metru Nui we know.”

“Oh really? What was your first clue?” Onewa asked. “The fluffy rock raptor bird or the giant flying razor whale?”

“Vakama’s right,” Nuju said, surprising the others as he frowned and tapped the side of his scope. “Outside the obvious, there’s something…different about this place. My scope goes haywire every time I use it, but what I can see is that everything is…glowing.”

“Glowing?” Matau repeated, looking around in confusion. “I don’t see any bright-glow.”

“That’s because you’re not seeing it through the scope,” came the retort as the device in question clicked and whirred. “When I look at the Matoran, they appear to be glowing from within. When I look at these…these…monsters…the light is so blinding that I can barely tell them apart from a lightstone! There is no mass, just…light. It’s almost as if they were made of-“

“Magic,” Whenua rumbled, his eyes wide in either shock or disbelief.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Magic doesn’t exi-“

“No, look!” the Toa of Earth said, pointing towards a group of Matoran near the chute. “Magic!”

Surrounding a large chunk of broken protodermis, a group of Le-Matoran—with palms glowing a mysterious blue-green light—chanted unfamiliar words in unison. To their utter shock and amazement, the broken pieces rose from the ground, rising higher and higher as the Le-Matoran raised their hands palm-out. Following the path, the Toa Metru spotted another group of Le-Matoran standing on what looked like glowing disks or puffy clouds, their palms also glowing as the protodermis floated in place. The glow flickered on their palms before the structure began to mend, melding together until there was no sign that the chute had ever been broken.

“…huh…”

[freya-fallen]

Yandere Sebastian Michaelis

CWs: stalking, demons, non-con kiss

word count: 1174

Part 2

It is the cats that draw him, naturally.

He first sees you as you're luring a pregnant queen into a carrier. By the way she butted against your hand, you were already familiar.

"I know, Your Majesty, but I want to get you home before that storm hits." You gaze at the impending clouds in the distance. There was a light snow just the other day, and the cold snap doesn't seem to be getting better.

The lady cat eventually acquiesces, and you saunter away with her.

A few months later, he sees you holding a little orange kitten up for an inn keeper as the man sits on his porch with his morning pipe.

"Rudy will be an excellent mouser, and he's easily the biggest of his litter. He'll keep away other toms."

The man's eyes narrow. "Is he snipped?"

You nod. "Yes, sir, and fully healed. You'll have no kittens from this boy."

After a moment, the inn keeper scratches behind one of the tom's ears. Even from a distance, Sebastian hears the purring of the content little creature.

"All right, I'll take him." There is an exchange, and then you're walking away.

Sebastian follows you home, a quaint little flat that is nevertheless neat-- well, except for the messes made by the Felines residing therein.

There are blankets hither and thither, makeshift toys, the occasional item that has been knocked from a surface.

As you enter, two little tufts of fur amble across your foot, playing until one bites too hard and the other shrieks.

"Alba, don't be so rough with him." You reach down and separate the white and cream girl from her grey brother, kissing both on their noses. "Sorry, Ash, honey." The grey kitten is the smaller of the two.

He watches for a few moments as you put out food. There are three kittens total-- the girl and boy he saw before, and another orange tabby that's lighter in color than the one you gave the inn keeper-- and their mother.

A scraggly old black cat waits for his own bowl. You favor him with pets as he eats, cooing at the ancient creature. "That's my boy."

Hung on one wall is a large map of the area, pins marking locations in different colors, little notes written across it. You hum and place another pin as he watches-- green. It's where the inn stands, unless he's mistaken.

Sebastian smiles to himself as he leaves.

--

You don't know you've attracted the attention of a demon. You're just going about your life, providing care for animals, fostering and finding homes for stray cats in particular. People treat cats like garbage so often, and they're really lovely creatures. Cats are caring, social, more intelligent than people give them credit, and can be quite useful.

You've placed mousers on so many farms and local business, even a ship or two.

Your life is fairly quiet unless there are kittens to tend (especially orphans; they take constant care when younger than six weeks).

And then you start waking in the night.

It's nothing, you tell yourself. Just the cats.

But something doesn't feel right.

So you sneak out of bed one night when you just can't put your mind at ease and down the stairs to your living area. Your current fosters are all staring at a shadowed corner, and Whisper (your senior cat, whom you found sick some years ago) sits in your rocking chair, alert. He turns to you with those lantern yellow eyes, then to the corner.

"H-hello?" You don't know what prompts you to speak.. maybe it's the way the cats are acting as if there's something-- someone there. As you watch, little Rufus trills and rubs against the darkness.

You gasp.

Everything seems to happen all at once.

The shadow blurs with movement. You trip over a stair and sprawl back on flight, elbows catching with a bang. The cats scatter. There's a delicate click across the bare parts of your floor. A creak. A soft chuckle. You squeeze your eyes closed.

"My, my, quite the perceptive little thing, aren't you?" The voice is like warm, velvet fur across your electrified nerves, and your fear heightens. "It's alright, Miss." Something brushes your cheek. Your breath rattles in and out.

"What do you want?" The words are so small you wonder that it--he-- they-- hear it.

There's another chuckle, like the being is hovering over you. "I'm merely satisfying my curiosity."

You frown, and the being reads the question there.

"I had to meet these lovely cats you keep safe and warm."

The ludicrous statement forces a nervous giggle from you. "You came to see my cats?"

"Indeed."

It's said with such seriousness that your eyes pop open and your breath comes easier.

In front of you is a man. He's quite handsome; tall, lithe, with hair that blends into the night, skin that gathers what little light slips through your windows, and eyes that bleed crimson even in the inky darkness. He smiles down at you, a beautiful expression.

"How did you get in here?" You wonder.

He gestures. "Through the door."

"But I locked it," you argue.

"Did you?"

Your tongue darts across dry lips. You're certain you did. You do every night. You're very careful about locking your door before bed.

"You know, you're very pretty like this."

Alarms bells sound in your head at the compliment, despite his affable manner.

Your eyes dart around the room, but there's no safety. You slowly ease up a stair.

The sculpted lines of his face fall into a frown. "Are you going to run away from me? That would not be a good idea."

"Why not?" You slip up another step.

His scarlet eyes gleam. "I don't know that I can resist the chase."

Your heart thuds against your ribs, your pulse becomes a rushing river in your ears, and you can feel the beat through the arteries in your throat. As though he can hear your terror, his lips spread in a wide smile.

In the darkness you can just make out the flash of fangs

You turn and flee toward your bedroom.

Before you make it to the top, a vice wraps around one ankle and tugs you down, down, down, bumping painfully along the way.

When you reach the rug in the center of your living area, he flips you into your back, kneeling over your prone form. "I told you running was a bad idea."

He looks like a cat with a cornered mouse. You cower, but his long fingers curls around your wrists before you can curl in on yourself.

"Now you've made me hungry."

Do those canines look longer? Sharper? And his nails are pointed and black. There's a strange mark on the back of one hand.

"You are too delectable." His tongue flicks wetly across his lips. As he begins to close in, you accept you're about to die.

Your body tenses, eyes shut, lips part with a gasp--

And something soft and hot presses to your mouth. Slick muscle strokes against your tongue, and you belatedly realize your midnight visitor is kissing you.

[snowleopardcrk]

Creature from Beast-Yeast

The sand kicked up into a cloud with their tail swaying as they rummaged the sand for bits of food, occasionally spitting out sand.

Meringue Cookie swam above the coral rocks, following the trail of moon jellyfish into the general medicine area of New Tearcrown. She spotted the aura of a juvenile creature rummaging through the sand, she peered around for any signs of Frilled Jellyfish Cookie.

"Frilled Jellyfish Cookie?" She called out, for a moment she was only met by silence. "My lady! You've returned." Frilled Jellyfish Cookie chirped, carrying a bundle of kelp in her arms. Meringue Cookie smiled and quickly swam over. "Mhm! I am, Sea Bunny Cookie told me of a new creature that's currently residing here. Could that be the juvenile they were talking about?" She questioned, motioning over to the hollow-whale like aura rummaging through the sand. Frilled Jellyfish Cookie nodded. "Of course! One of the elder crimson jellyfish informed me that they're possibly a shapeshifter? But, I am not sure... I didn't find anything in the archives." She sighed, Meringue Cookie crossed her arms in thought for a moment.

Suddenly, Meringue Cookie was nudged by something by its snout. She looked down towards her tail only to find the creature inspecting her carefully. "oh? Hello, I see you're a little better today." Frilled Jellyfish Cookie chirped, it turned its head towards frilled jellyfish as she spoke before going back to nudging Meringue Cookie around gently. "Ah- Hello! I'm Meringue Cookie." She greeted happily, putting a hand on its head. It tilted its body up slightly as Meringue stroked it gently before it suddenly darted away, almost smacking Meringue with its long tail.

Frilled Jellyfish Cookie pulled Meringue back gently. "Ah!- something must've spooked it.. Are you okay, my lady?" She questioned, Meringue Cookie nodded. "Yeah.. Just a little surprised, that's all!" Meringue's gaze followed its aura as it sunk to the ocean floor, slightly tilted. "Is it...Okay? I don't think its swimming properly." Meringue Cookie turned her head towards Frilled Jellyfish whom sighed softly. "Well, some jellyfish found it near the surface with fish nets attached to it with some other wounds. I think it got caught in those massive nets and thrashed its way out of it." She theorized. Meringue thought about it for a moment and nodded. "I see.. I'm going to visit my sisters now! I'll be at home if you need anything." Meringue Cookie hugged Frilled Jellyfish before swimming off and towards home. "of course, my lady! I'll see you soon." Frilled Jellyfish Cookie waved at Meringue as she swam off.

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

(Next Day...)

A moon jellyfish carrying a little sea bunny floated into the castle. "We've got news! We've got news!" The Sea Bunny chirped excitedly. "Ohhh, really?" Gold Citrine Cookie swam over excitedly. "The new sea creature can shapeshift into a mermaid! The rumors were true, Frilled Jellyfish Cookie sent me here to inform all of you!!" she squealed, waging her little button tail.

The other gem mermaids slowly emerged from their respective rooms at the commotion and the squealing Sea Bunny Cookie who was simply incomprehensible. Meringue Cookie and Aquamarine Cookie swam towards the two, curious. Gold Citrine Cookie whipped her head around. "Did you guys hear? There's a new mermaid in tearcrown, and they were that new creature in the medicine area!" She informed them shortly, Meringue Cookie stopped swimming for a moment. "Really? I'm going to see this for myself." Meringue Cookie clasped her hands together. Aquamarine observed the three in curiosity. "I'm following, I want to meet them too." Aquamarine Cookie began swimming towards the exit. "Wait for me!" Gold Citrine Cookie called out and quickly swam after Aquamarine. "H-Hey! Don't leave without me." Meringue Cookie almost felt herself pout slightly, quickly following the auras of her elder sisters towards the exit.

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

"C-Careful!" Frilled Jellyfish Cookie helped the guppy up from the coral rocks. "I'm fine...I'm fine-" They insisted. "Are you sure? You crashed into the coral rocks.. It can make your wounds worse." she guided them away and towards more open waters. The little guppy pouted slightly yet struggling to swim forward properly.

Peaking over the towering coral rocks, the three gem mermaids observed the two from a slightly distance. "Aww, they're a guppy too!" Gold Citrine chirped, turning to Aquamarine and Meringue Cookie. "Lets go and introduce ourselves, it is only polite." Aquamarine swam over the rocks and towards the guppy and Frilled Jellyfish Cookie.

"Aquamarine, Gold Citrine and Meringue! Did everyone get the news?" She peered over the guppys shoulder for a moment as the three approached. "mhm! Sea Bunny Cookie told us." Gold Citrine mentioned with the other two nodding along. "Do you want to introduce yourself or should I do it for you?" Frilled Jellyfish Cookie questioned, the young guppy stayed silent for a moment and turned around. "Hi...I'm, Moonflower Cookie..." she lifted her hand shyly, trying to stay steady. -------------------- I LEGIT RAN OUT OF IDEAS HERE!!! AHAHAHASKJAKJSOKAOKJSDOIQJ help :( Meringue Cookie belongs to @minecraftninjerkid

[mammoney-22]

Found this in my drafts so here lol

Headcanon that my MC is straight up an animal magnet. Almost every time they go out, they come back with something. As a result HOL is always crawling with critters they're trying to find homes for -and a few permanent residents because someone got too attached.

Minor edits made May 31st. Mainly grammatical stuff.

At first a few of the brothers were pretty fed up. But anytime a threat of any kind was made towards the animals MC just appeared out of thin air with the most terrifying expression on their face.

*random goat that followed them home, currently eating Beel's snacks -package and all*

Beel, about to lose his shit: How would you feel if I ate you?!

MC leaning into the room, smiling: I'll replace your snacks, but touch the goat and I'll make a real nice roast outta you.

Beel and the goat actually became bffs after this.

Satan sitting in the common room, book in one hand, scruffed puppy in the other: This is the last time you interrupt my reading you little runt!

MC wrapping their arms around his neck from behind, whispering softly: Put the puppy down, Satan.

Satan, slowly setting the pup back on the couch: When- how- ?!

MC: I was summoned.

He still thinks cats are better, but he definitely cried when the puppy left.

Mammon gently yeeting a rabbit (did not hurt it dw) when he caught it eating his money: That's not lettuce ya dumb furball!

*turning around and seeing MC in the doorway*

Mammon: M-MC, um.. when did you get here?

MC, scooping up the rabbit: I mean this in the nicest way possible because I love you, throw her again, and I'll burn every Grimm of yours that I can find ❤

*Mammon.exe has stopped responding because they said they loved him while also threatening him*

He's not turned on or confused thank you

Won't admit he likes the bunny but MC catches him dressing her up in little yellow tinted sunglasses and gold chains like two days later.

*MC regularly comes to dinner with a snake wrapped around their neck or arms, sometimes a lizard tucked in their hoodie pocket, or some strange insect/arachnid perched on their shoulder*

Levi:

Simply stops functioning because not only are you nice to him, but you seem to appreciate the more widely considered 'strange' creatures as much as he does

Generally asks to hold said creature

And take pictures -of you holding the thing obviously

You just.. look so much cooler than him! Obviously.

Mammon:

Poor baby nearly shits himself when you sit next to him and he realizes there's some horrifying, eight legged, kitten-sized thing clinging to your shoulder

He tries to ignore it but he's leaning away from you the entire meal

"Ain't ya afraid of anything, human?!"

Lucifer:

Sincerely doesn't fucking care anymore.

He tried being mad for so long and you just ignored it

I mean, animals at the dinner table? C'mon MC.

Fuck it.

At least your little creatures are less rowdy than his brothers

Asmo

Do you care about him at all?!

Fear isn't good for him

Nor are gross things.

And that spiny, hissing thing clinging to your forearm was the definition of his bane

Satan

Thoroughly amused with his brother's reactions

Finds your creatures fascinating

Not fazed when one makes its way across the table and up his arm

This causes Asmo to nearly faint as the thing becomes much closer to him

Satan obviously shoves it in his face

Till MC basically rips his head off

They're delicate, he gets it now

Please stop lecturing him it's kinda scary

And hot?

[spotaus]

Thinking I might redesign and/or finally design a smarter base for ec-4o!Dust. Because a farm-house is funny, but doesn't make much sense anymore.

So, I think it's smarter to have an old government base as his location. It'd have good space for storage when Blue eventually comes along, a bunch of old firearms for Dust's obsession, and would be a safe and defensible location as long as Dust's Paps keeps an eye out for intruders. It makes sense for a lot of plot points too, and adds an extra symbolic layer?

Like, Dust being there, he wasn't familiar with the government so he just clears out and burns whatever is left in the "office space" so he can make it into a house. He patrols the other two or three buildings every once in a while, but for some reason he doesn't know, folks avoid the place like the plague. He lives the solitary life he wanted.

Then Blue shows up, and he lets him and Rust share the space with him, for supplies and money in turn. Society is rebuilding, and Dust is gonna need to catch up. Blue has no clue why it's intimidating for his shop to be set up in an old government lab. He's unaware of the implications, but he's such a friendly guy that customers eventually warm up to him. The scariness of the government is lessened, because the old government that destroyed the country is gone, and now there's a kind soul helping others in its place. Rebuilding trust and comradery unknowingly.

And later on when other characters interact with the space, it gets Life in a way it never had. When Ink gets his hands on it and paints murals on the walls of the workshop in vibrant colors. Saejun is my favorite, because when he moves in, the other extra workshop is transformed into a garden, a green-house. He does hydroponics and breathes life slowly but surely back into the dead dirt, flowers cracking through the concrete style. It's a bright green spot that branches out in all directions like veins. Plants grow up the sides of the office, and harmless nature-creatures reside there.

When Cross, and Error, and Night and Dream find this place, when they're repaired, it has very little life. They're afraid of the war just as the organics are. Will it happen again? Are these people tampering with our codes? But no. They get to see this place turn into a home. Shelter others. Recreate lost things from scratch. It's a paradise they never got to see in their lifetimes. It was never in their calculations.

And then when Geno and Reaper show up. Geno, a guy who'd been stripped of his whole life, forced to start and finish a war that took millions of lives. The answers he seeks are all in an old government building, a place that ruined his life. He swore he'd see things to the end, though, so he approaches it expecting the worst. And instead of government officials that somehow escaped his vengeful wrath, he finds a ragtag group of monsters and robots, who are living peacefully in the location. Some of them resent him for what he did, but others accept him with open arms. He's not sure how to react for a long time. The belief that something good prospered through the war us unthinkable.

Then Reaper. He's under the belief that tech is his enemy. He was raised to resent the robots, even before the war. The war only proved his family right. And so seeing this place, with robots living freely? It made him furious. He'd been stripped of his weapons after attempting an attack, though, so he had to bide his time. And yet, the longer he stayed, the more he heard of each robot's story. How they were manipulated, and had their very essence altered. Their bodies and functions forced to do something they never wanted to. That struck a bit closer to home. But it was Saejun and Axe that really hit hard for him. Axe was raised in a Cult. That was what he'd called it. One that made him believe things that harmed him. One that forced him to do things against his will. For everyone else this was a place of relaxation, but for Axe it was a place of healing. And Reaper realized, begrudgingly, that Axe's story felt a lot like his own. And maybe, just maybe, he might've been in the wrong.

And idk this place that once brought so much fear, a place where robots were customized for a horrible war? One that Dust barely survived, one that Blue was too young to remember, one that everyone either participated in or was forced to live through? The place that started it all heals the damage done by it. Smth smth story symbolism?

Oh, one last thing: Lust's recovery was initially meant to be in a hidden room of the farm-house, but now I'm thinking there was a scrap room in the warehouses that no one ever got to, and Lust was put in there because his model was just too impractical for the remodeling for war-machines. There's a lot in that room like him, but he's the only one with his files still in his ecto. So, his experience with this place is jarring too. Last he remembered, he was being ushered into a building with other ectos, and they were being scrapped. Now he wakes up in the same location, but none of that horror is to be seen, instead replaced with a bright workshop and even brighter eyes looking him over worriedly. He was freed from his programming constraints while Blue worked on him, so he has to learn to be an actual person, and this place he was sent to to become a pile of scraps became his first real home.

[shadowqueen402]

Hello again! If you want to, can you continue on with the idea of TADC cast being introduced to Wonderworld? (And for Pomni, a way to escape)

Sure thing! I can already imagine how that will turn out.

When Balan led the seven to Wonderworld, neither of them were expecting much. But they were curious as to why Wonderworld took place inside a theatre building.

But when they entered into a world with a wide green land and thirteen different lands, neither of them were prepared for any of this.

"This is Wonderworld?" Ragatha asked, looking around. "I've never seen a world such as this before!"

"And what might those be, Balan?" Caine asked, pointing to the thirteen different lands.

"Those are called stages, Caine," Balan explained. "They're places that my thirteen fellow friends reside in order to confront their personal pain."

"So basically, your friends come here to emotionally heal, correct?" Zooble guessed. Just then, she suddenly felt something touch her leg. When she looked down, she spotted a bunch of colorful, round creatures approaching her. "Don't tell me that your place is infested with Gloinks too!"

"An insect collection?" Kinger asked, glancing down at the creatures with curiosity.

"I don't think those are insects," Gangle pointed out. At this, Kinger yelped despite the fact that Gangle was literally right next to him.

"These are not Gloinks nor insects, you see." Balan scooped one of the creature up into his hands. "These creatures are called Tims; worry not, they're super friendly."

"Alright, I've had enough of these things," Jax said, averting his eyes while looking mildly annoyed. One yellow Tim had hopped up and was now nuzzling his cheek. This caused Ragatha to stifle a giggle.

"Come on, Jax," Ragatha said, scooping one up gently. "That little guy sure likes you."

"Dear brother, I heard voices from within." Another male's voice immediately grabbed everyone's attention. "I wasn't aware that you brought Visitors in."

Everyone turned and stared in awe at the person who entered the room. He was a man who was as tall as Balan. But unlike the behatted maestro, this man had black, tentacle-like hair and long tentacles emerging from his back. His outfit was purple and black. And his eyes were blue with a yellow sclera. By his feet was a small black creature with a white mask that looked like a squirrel.

"Dearest friends, meet my twin brother," Balan said, walking over to Lance. "Despite us being different, we still look out for each other."

"Is he a maestro too?" Ragatha asked.

"While Balan himself is the maestro of positivity, I am Lance, maestro of negativity," Lance explained. "Together, we work to give every Visitor a chance. To help them mend their hearts and regain their balance."

"Whatever you say, Gloomy," Jax said, smiling mischievously at Lance, who wasn't amused by the nickname that was given to him.

While everyone was talking to the two maestro brothers, Pomni looked around silently. She stopped when she saw them; two doors with some light flowing inside. Now was her chance! She could finallt escape!

Pomni waited until everyone was distracted. Then, she quietly snuck off and made her way out of the Isle of Tims and down the corridor. She was so close! She could finally leave! Once she opened those doors, she would be back home and into her normal life!

Pomni reached out for the doorknob. But to her dismay, something stopped her. She was suddenly knocked over and was snuggled by a bunch of Tims. "GAH!" Pomni yelped. This drew everyone's attention as Balan walked over to Pomni.

"My apologies, Pomni," Balan said while scooping up the Tims. "My dear Tims mean no harm, really." Jax, in the background, was heard snickering at the sight.

"Y-Your Tims…?" Pomni asked, backing away from them as they chirped at her.

"They must have assumed you wanted to play," Balan guessed. "When it comes to affection, Tims sure have their way."

Pomni stayed rooted where she was. All she could do was eye those Tims in curiosity and fear.

[wynsomeart]

I beg to know WHAT is going on with the dimensions vortex???

I know you probably wanted the short concise answer but you see you made the fatal mistake of asking about one of my special interests my friend. So now I will allow myself free reign to lore-dump to my heart's content 😈

BASICALLY

All my stories are connected in the dimensional vortex. Every circle is a contained galaxy of dimensions, every galaxy has dimensions that share a base reality (eg, Earth) but differ in drastic ways (eg. One dimension is our normal, mundane Earth, but another has mutant abilities, and another is stuck in a steampunk culture because their technology evolved differently than ours, and also they have gods, and so on. But they're all still on EARTH, even if they might all call Earth by different names, and have vastly different experiences of Earth). So that will be the Earth variations dimensional galaxy, but another one of the circles is a land entirely underwater, where creatures other dimensions couldn't even comprehend swim the crimson depths, and another a stereotypical fantasy land, and another falling apart by the seams since the beginning of time, and so on. Of course, there are many more dimensional galaxies than depicted above, that's just a rough example.

Basic unpolished map and an old drawing of my Padeus OC ^

In the middle of all the common dimensions is a disc land of towering forests. Ellorriond is the place where all realm gates are located. Inspired by the forest of pools from The Magician's Nephew by C S Lewis. This land is inhabited by the only creatures that can traverse all dimensions, a synthetic race of humanoid beings called the Guardians or the Padeus. The word means "the forest" but is also derived from "parvus deus" which means "little god", relating to their artificial creation by the Truth (placeholder name for the all-powerful God that watches over the vortex. Not to be confused with the many minor gods that reside in many of the dimensions. Placeholder name because it is inspired by Truth from Fullmetal Alchemist). Padeus also means "sad" in Sudanese, so take that how you will. The Guardians watch over and monitor the dimensions as vassals for the Truth, keeping order and making sure everything stays neat and tidy. They also have a unique mind magic that allows them to control people, give and remove memories, look into people's thoughts and so on. Because they did not evolve naturally and were created fully formed, they are often callous and uphold the Truth's will with little thought to individual mortality.

Efansaelian elves ^

A good example of this is Efansael. This dimension was overtaken by a parasitic darkness, and in order for the elves there to live, they had to relocate to another dimension within their dimensional galaxy (so they were compatible with the current residents), but the only way that someone is allowed to do this is if they give up all their memories of their old home. Of course, it was that or extinction, so the people of Efansael took the offer, but to the Padeus this is a fair exchange to maintain order, even if there is now a dark and abandoned dimension that was once filled with so much light, the culture and history lost to time. One of my planned book series details the life of a couple of these relocated elves! And of course, my main Guardian OC Vuarindmædstakhe and his friends venture into Efansael at some point in their own stand alone trilogy :P of course, the adventure will be dampened by the intervention of IDLA (the inter-dimensional liberation army run by the half crazed child of a god from a completely different dimensional galaxy who just wants to find away home) but I still think it'll be interesting exploring the different sides to morality and order vs true freedom.

Anyway, there are also inhabited dimensions that are blocked off from the rest of the dimensional vortex. Due to war or misusing their access to other dimensions, their realm gate was destroyed and the people in it washed of their memories of any reality beyond their own. That's what happened to our reality! A good example of this happening is the Aulae (gods) of the land of Thestery thinking they can wage war against the Padeus to gain true freedom (gods aren't allowed to travel between dimensions, for good reason), causing not only their realm gate to be shattered, but their deaths causing an entire environmental and ecological shift in their dimension as the magic from their carcasses fed the earth and their blood mixed with the rivers and ocean tides.

Every dimensional galaxy is a tiny mirror of the larger dimensional vortex. Dimensions of more similar nature cluster together, but there is always one in the middle, and that one is fed psychological parts of every dimension around it. The people don't have to physically interact with one another, but parts of every culture and language and so on from the surrounding dimensions all find themselves mishmashed together into one complex amalgamation in the middle dimension. There will be clothing fashions, words from every language mashed together in their speech, architecture, cultural practices, and so on. If you hear someone from Centre Earth (also known as Shintennik, or formally Karthurya) speak, for EG, you will probably recognise a few words from your language, intermixed with Chinese, German, Malay, Zulu, and langauges that come from more magical versions of Earth. This can be seen in how women's last names are the Russian version of English's male's last name (fathers name)-son: (mother's name)-ovna.

Lastly there is two other known ways to travel to other dimensions without using the state sanctioned realm gates. The first one is a rare mutation that can manifest that allows for opening portals between dimensions in your dimensional galaxy (only one case has ever been recorded, and even then it needs two people with specific mutations to come together to pull it off. Actually, Judas from the post your question comes from is one of those halves. He's not actually from Shintennik, Centre Earth, and was sent there as a child in a freak accident from my friend's own story when him and his brother's (my friend's character) mutations manifested. Yes, I have other people's dimensions in the vortex as well, and honestly, anyone's free to add theirs too for funsies, as long as you don't use any of my characters or worlds without asking first), and a taboo practice only done twice ever in history, where you combine different body parts of creatures from different dimensions to you. Like a fucked up Godrick the Golden from Elden Ring). In actuality, of course, this doesn't work, the second time being done in only the most desperate situation, by a half-crazed man driven mad by the separation sickness that befalls the twins of night and day). However, you can offer something to the Truth in order to be given true freedom to travel without hindrance, but the price is high, and only an unlucky few are ever given audience with the greater god in the first place. 😁

[echantedtoon]

Housed Hearts Ch1 Prologue

They say home is where the heart is. Well for a REALTOR it's where more than just their heart resides. Mostly their appetite. So which is stronger? The yearning of a heart or empty void of hunger? One woman is determined to find out.

(House Hunted, House Hunted 2, Maison Talo, Heim Baile, Uncanny Valley, coverart, Ivy, John Doe Plus, and John Doe all belong to Mortisfox. Dom Hus belongs to Bileshroom.

Warning: Rose getting her eye clawed out is mentioned briefly in the flashback. Mentioning of blood. 

The Fishermen are my own original Uncanny Valley species and if they're mentioned at all they belong to me. Above is what Rose looks like with her scars. Will contain oc x cannon content.)

The world of Uncanny Valley was a dangerous place where you had to keep your wits about you. Things happened often. And if you weren't careful, you'd be swept away never to be seen again. Or worse. Found deceased or changed forever. She always needed the warnings. She always had. From the moment she was a little child those rules had always been hammered into her. Serious talk after serious talk by her parents.

"Never trust anyone who isn't even human." "Stay away from them! Never engage!" "Don't listen to anything they have to say!" "You ended up like this because you didn't listen! Do you believe us now?"

That child that had attempted to touch the unknown creature without thinking paid the ultimate price when claws were slashed out, blood was splattered, and her eye taken. Her parents had  taken this as a result of her not listening to the warnings and said she would learn from now on. She did for the most part. She had learnt to be more cautious about things going forward but never carrying the predigest they had in her heart. It was a terrifying thing for her to go through and a terrible thing to live with but she was always a person whom remained open minded. You couldn't live in a place like this with a closed mind. She wasn't one to ever point blame at a whole species because of one individual. Her parents  still didn't get her way of thinking. Only one whom seemed to think so was her Uncle and cousin but they rarely visited and lived far away from here. So it was only natural for her that she'd just go about her life the way she wanted to. And then it was time for her to strike out on her own and make her own sense of the world and make her own living. Which includes moving in to her own apartment and earning a job at the local greenhouse in town. She always did love gardening. 

The Uncanny Valley Housing Company was the ones to call and set her up with a real house with a real lawn so she could really plant things like she's always wanted. She knew well enough to not ask anyone claiming to be a realtor. It was all really just a matter of hiring a moving company and then taking a bus ride to the new home she's been looking forward too for a long time now. 

The road to the bus station was slow and bumpy as she stood up from the typical plastic-y benches. Her stop was here. Smiling, she grabbed her rolling suitcase and walked to the doors as they opened up upon reaching the bus stop. 

She was almost there.