#topaz nightingale

[sweetbunpura]

Yuu and Malleus’s grandmother meet

"So, Parents day is going ....well."

"I would believe it is, yes."

Yuu and Malleus stare at their grandmothers as they sit down under the shade of one of the trees in the courtyard.

"Child of Man."

"Hmm?"

"Is this normal?"

"For my grandma? Yeah. She does this very often with her own friends." She looks at him. "Can you hear what they're saying?"

"I can."

"Is it good?"

They both pause as Topaz and Maleficia start laughing at whatever Topaz just said.

"Believe it or not, I've never heard my Grandmother laugh before."

"So this is new?"

"Very."

The older ladies continue to talk, obvious to the smiles their grandchildren send their way.

[nottc]

LIKE THIS POST for a STARTER from any of the following muses; circuit, feds, nightingale and topaz. COMMENT ON THIS POST if you want someone specific; otherwise it'll be muse roulette.

[strwbmei]

"Would you love me if I was a worm?"

(An extensive take featuring the HI3, HSR, Genshin Impact, R1999, and PTN women in my characterlist)

Would have no idea how to deal with it and just keeps you near them at all times:

Zoya, Mattilda, Lynette, Aponia, Seele, Yukong, Jean, Beidou, Barbara, Rahu

Would become a worm with you—you'd live happy worm lives together:

Lilya, Ninety-Nine, Kiana Kaslana, Acheron, Firefly, Yoimiya, Vertin, Hecate

Would experiment on you:

Arcana, Mobius, Ruan Mei, Silver Wolf, Lisa Minci, Sucrose

Would love you no matter what form you take:

Elysia, Eden, Dr. MEI, Seele Vollerei, Natasha, Raiden Ei, Sonetto, Nightingale

Would squash you the second they see you:

Mona, Rosaria, Herta, Tingyun, Sushang, Amber, Raiden Shogun, Macchiato

Would train you to be their partner in crime:

Raven, Tennant, Murata Himeko, Pardofelis, Trailblazer, Regulus, Uni

Acts disgusted, but they would still love you:

Eula, Asta, Guinafen, Topaz, Fischl, La Signora, Sotheby, Chief, Hella

Tries to build you a home and awkwardly stares at you every night before bed to make sure you're still alive:

March 7th, Serval, Hanya, Jingliu, Keqing, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Anne, Garofano

Jokes about eating you/feeding you to an animal except maybe it's not really a joke:

Black Swan, Sparkle, Kafka, Shenhe, Yae Miko, Hu Tao, Yanfei, Corso

Would panic at first thinking you disappeared, cries out of relief when they find out you only turned into a worm:

Raiden Mei, Bronya Rand, Ganyu, Kamisato Ayaka, Furina, Robin, Kelvin

Makes you the most extravagant terrarium perfectly tailored for your needs:

Countess Chelsea, Rita Rossweise, Himeko, Lynx, Yelan, Arlecchino, Druvis III,

Looks at you like you're crazy and just walks away without answering the question:

Fu Hua, Bronya Zaychik, Cocolia Rand, Fu Xuan, Pela, Ningguang, Kujou Sara, Iron

[ironunderstands]

I decided to take notes while I played through 2.3… so here they are

First Scene

-stellaron sealed when we were asleep apparently 

-was Sunday the one to tailor everyone’s dreams?

-dreamscape itself exists???

-march’s memories are weird as normal, tentacle tried to reach into her brain but found SOMETHING???

-we were asleep when this all happened and we woke up and immediately asked if it was a dream so something is already up oh boy 

Second Scene 

-firefly and silverwolf yay 

-firefly is still on the wanted list, as Firefly this time 

-it was a missing part of her life she got back 

-Silverwolf helps her out with not being able to move freely, giving her a way out of dreaming ig??? Helps her navigate through unbothered ?

-idk the mechanics of it if you can’t tell

-Miss Samuel as a fake name lmao 

-GENIUS SOCIETY IS HERE?? WHYYY?? HUHHH

-firefly’s script isn’t over yet (third death I assume?)

-“didn’t bring you back to hear an answer like that,” did SW think she already experienced the third death? On her second death was SW the one to revive her, as it seemed like she did that on her own in 2.2?

-yeah she hasn’t done 3rd death yet, and I assume the “unforgettable reward,” is *sighs* time with the Trailblazer 

-“How will I know if I don’t try?” Hmmm this confuses me 

-SW says she’s already made up her mind 

-ooh Kafka asks for some gifts LMAOO, fashionable as always

-to Oti mall I guess, isn’t that one of the people who expressed disappointment in Sunday?

-BLADE ADVICE? telling her to not get tempted, tempted by what?

-YAY SHE GETS NORMAL GIRL TIME THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED

-oat cakes for SW or Kafka or Blade? Aww Stellaron Hunter family bonding 

-oh is she trying to defy the script?

-adding new footnotes to her destiny, hmm

Third Scene

-TOPAZ POV

-I DIED OMGNDNAKDJKWJDD

-were are on the Radiant Felddpar ship 

-Family is there but “Big Boss” isn’t, I assume that’s Jade

-there’s music notes in the air? Robin?

-Topaz points out how weird this choice of location is

-ship belongs to Alfalfa Family

-npc we are talking to also thinks it should have been held in a more secretive area (Moment of Morning Dew)

-not serious enough atmosphere 

-something’s up definitely 

-Topaz thinks conference is just a prelude- whatever Family organizer wanted to assess the IPC’s stance beforehand

-she thinks they either have their own ambitions and want a preliminary agreement, or want to make the IPC back off, we shall see ig

-Big Boss is a her (definitely Jade), Topaz complimented, saying others must be cautious of her 

-tells subordinate Thomas to just tell the rest of her employees to stay focused on the task ahead 

-yeah it’s Jade, act shocked, also she’d get mad if he called her that 😭😭

-walking around time 

-there is music all around the ship 

-not very important but there are paper birds here too

-none of the important figures have arrived to the meeting room yet, so let’s look around 

This is just from looking around:

-why are there dream pools on the ship? I thought we were already in the dream?

-the torment eagle things are here too 

-and nightingale paintings

-Sparkles bombs, delightful 

-why is there a room on the ship that looks like Mishas room in the dream 

-it seems like the Family is already aware of the bombs and is looking for them based on the dialogue of the NPCs

-there’s a lost kid on the ship?

-so many doors are closed off

-absurdist clock fun 

-the quest is titled “All About Eve” like Eve from the Bible? Is that referring to Jade?

-exhibit that hasn’t been delivered yet

-Robin has instructed them to prepare some things but it seems like the Family isn’t ready yet?

Ok I’m gonna talk to the workers now

-ok talked to the one by Sparkles bombs and Sparkle started talking 

-Numby can hear her I think, I don’t think Topaz did

-yeah Topaz doesn’t know they are bombs that Sparkle hands out, apparently she was disguised as man- maybe Sampo?, uh no all the Buttons are in one place 

-somehow nobody pressed a button, I don’t believe that, the NPC also says that all guests are terrified of death, but like, how did nobody press it?

-yep we are in the dream bc she wants to feed Numby and questions the food quality in a dream

-Numby does not like Oat Cake Rolls

-Topaz will give them a better meal in reality

-so why is there a dreamscape pool in the dream 

-asks more about Radiant Feldspar, which is also owned by Oti Alfalfa, just like the store Firefly wanted to go to

-built an Amber Era ago, it sails across all 12 hours- so they are connected you just have to cross them I guess? Or like does it slip through dimensions 

-Topaz recognizes Old Oti, however what’s weird is that despite how she points out how well decorated it is, there seems to be a lot of stuff missing + Robin thing from earlier

-only prestigious guests are invited, so how did that Pepeshi get lost?

-Ship had been sailing since it was built but was halted due to the recent reverberation 

-reverberation aka whatever the fuck just happened in 2.2

-Family attendant repeats that everything has been resolved and the Charmony Festival had to be temporarily postponed 

-so it’s gonna happen on the ship now, and will also resume the ships voyage, so I guess that’s why Robin ordered some things and everything is a bit out of place

-However, why are they gathering Sparkles Bombs onto the celebration + meeting ship? Why not anywhere else?

-Talent Motivation Department mention 

-ppl still coming after Topaz for Jarilo I will kill them <3

-poor girl can’t get a break, JADE IS HERE

CUTSCENE SO MUCH HAPPENED

-Numby does not trust or like Jade at all

-Topaz is fucking star struck on her knees dying down bad gay gay gay 

-Jade commends her for the Jarilo project, saying the Express’s favor is far more valuable than the planet itself 

-Jade says Topaz can tell her anything, then holds out her Cornerstone as if Topaz would talk to it???

-hmmm

-“you can always tell me anything, remember?” Ah so they are close, and Topaz seems to trust her and vice versa, however I (and Numby) do not trust Jade so there is something sinister going on 

Alright cutscene yapping over

-Jade says to drop the title, that they are equals

-Topaz calls her a senior, but I think she just means in rank

-Jade wants Topaz to be at her best- upcoming negotiations leave no room for error

-true purpose of conference: Oti testing limits of 2 stonehearts before offical negotiations can commence, works in their favor bc it will cause future negotiations to go smoother if they can reach an agreement (this is obvious benefit)

-hidden benefit: demonstrates the Family isn’t all that united bc he’s meeting w them first on his own territory + taking control of Charmony Festival too

-they aren’t entirely influenced by the Harmony so their personal desires shine through, influential figures haven’t suppressed their own 

-with the Dreammaster gone, the Family has begun to fall apart slowly, seems like after 2.2 Oti took over 

-Jade taught her to Listen, test and strike, Jade teases her that she changed the order on Jarilo- Topaz’s personal experience  caused this (her seeing her past/trauma in Belabog)

-meeting time!

-meeting esteemed “supporting actor” hmm

-goal is to create an opportunity for IPC to enter Penacony- Aventurine made a small hole for them to enter, and they are going to tear it wide open

Some more looking around 

-the bombs/buttons are gone 😨 and so is that guard 

-was there a projector in that room (with the dream pool) before?

-diff family attendant at that spot before

Ok back to plot time

-oh this is the place where the divergent universe takes place (I started it a bit yesterday lol, oops), seems like that’s what the Genius Society will get a hold of at the end of this?

-Oti is a Pepeshi, and I really like his character model, he seems welcoming?

Looking around time again 

-the mechanism they use for the Divergent Universe is already there- did Ratio and Screwllum meet with Oti beforehand? Is that how he figured out Dormancy?

-some more locked doors

-Whales outside the window.. (Childe flashbacks)

-let’s talk to Jade before we see Oti

-oh we can’t it just makes us walk beside her

Conversation time

-Oti is hospitable, asks them to forgive him for the wait

-Oti is such a businessman that the Strategic Investment Department makes it a requirement to read his biography

-she’s trying to flatter him but I think Jade is also warning him that she and the rest of the department know everything about him and who he is 

-Topaz doesn’t seem to notice that though and praises him for single handedly building Penacony economy 

-Oti noticed Jade’s tactics I think

-he gets straight to the point- future of Penacony

-Oti questions wtf Aventurine was doing and why 😭, almost getting killed and for what?

-oh he figured them out LMAOO, yup that was for an opportunity 

-haha Jade says “fuck he figured us out” nicely

-she puts the pressure back on him, asking Oti how he would respond 

-he first admires her composure at being called out

-“Oti won’t sit idly by when faced with a greedy wolf,” is he referring to the IPC, Aventurine or both?

-offscreen negotiation

-seems he said something that offended Topaz and Jade, Jade says she’s all ears

-Oti says he requested this meeting to dissuade the SID from trying to lay a finger on Penacony

-asks them to back off before they lose face in the future 

-Topaz points out their fuck ups- Aventurine almost getting murdered and the Charmony Festival fuck up, that there are plenty of real issues plaguing the area

-Oti says they need to be more creative in the land of dreams 

-“My actions will help Penacony take a significant step forward by “self-listing” and going public!” What does that mean 

-Jade asks if he’s gonna bypass the IPC and go public on a universal scale (still don’t know what that means)

-rather than letting the IPC take hold, he’s gonna open the sweet dream to everyone in the universe- which is worded REALLY sinister if you ask me- is he gonna try and make everyone in it dream?

-he redirects and says that from today, anyone can become a shareholder in the Land of Dreams, and that’s the Path of Harmony he chooses

-Oti was aware of the Oaks family’s entanglement with the Order, calls them blockheads who prevented this from happening sooner

-Oti is thankful that the “reverberation” (Sunday and Order’s downfall) has allowed for the obstacle between him and his reforms to be eliminated

-publicize their finances so the universe still has faith in them + the Family remains confident in its future

-neither Jade nor Topaz seem happy about this, seems like they don’t feel as if they are on equal footing

-Jade asks Oti if he’s being waiting for Penacony to regain the spotlight, so if the IPC does anything, their actions will be scrutinized by trillions of people 

-asks them to consider their next moves carefully 

-Jade suggests they conclude the first half of their conference, and that they will respond on the behalf of the IPC later

-he just tells them to take their time (Oti is confident he is in control)

Scene 4- Trailblazer POV

-seems that meeting has concluded as Dan Heng asks if the Alfalfa Family had a meeting with the IPC

-Aventurine told them that to “return the favor”

-I wonder what happened in the meantime to get us here

-Welt points out that Penacony hasn’t changed much since the prison era, suggests that Penacony would rather invite the IPC to the table- on the surface to cooperate- but in reality to secure their own survival 

-which is why the Astral Express are now mediators, and Dan Heng doesn’t know who to stand behind

-Welt doesn’t trust the followers of the Harmony to be as innocent as they presume they are

-if either the Family or the IPC were to take control of Penacony, the efforts of the previous nameless to free it from that illusory hedonism would go to waste

-we were in a deep sleep apparently (uh oh)

-one of the dialogue options says that TB felt like they were in a really long dream 

-another asks where Himeko is

-Welt says their adventure in Penacony is reaching its conclusion

-After Ena’s dream shattered, Montour System’s branch of the Family took control of the situation, most members of the Oak Family fell unconscious? But their lives weren’t in danger 

-Gopher Wood, the previous Dreamaster was confirmed to be the mastermind behind everything, however we know that Sunday killed him. But didn’t he kill him in the dream? So how did gopher wood die in reality? Or did like, the power of the Order that Sunday must have used on him cause that, or did he step outside the dream to face Gopher, then go back in?

-Sunday will face a trial: the Family won’t disclose any further details 

-public perceived incident as an attack by evil forces targeting the Charmony festival, believing the Family had failed to safeguard the sweet dream which eroded their credibility significantly

-at least it has the least impact? Even if it’s far from what really went down 

-SIOBHAN IS BACK

-she says they will get over it

-“you don’t know who’s awake and who’s pretending to be asleep”- another ominous line 

-gives them a toast 

-trailblazer asks why she’s there again, Siobhan is just confused 

-asks when they will leave Penacony

-Welt says they will stay a bit longer, just not too long 

-she says this farewell is missing something 

-“maybe a special drink to honor those who are not here” oh yeah Gallagher is gone GONE

-To the Nameless resting in peace… and to Gallagher, oh he’s so gone

Walking around time again 

-everyone but Himeko is here 

Ok taking this many notes is exhausting and is lowkey killing my enjoyment 😭 so I’ll just leave the REALLY important stuff from now on 

-The Family claims the Oak Family used the stellaron to help sink everyone into Ena’s dream 

-others had their own delusional dreams 

-DH says the hidden dangers of the Order have always been within the Harmony, an issue that has persisted in the Family from the very beginning 

-more awareness makes this complicated 

-March has a button now too, says she was told the buttons will explode Penacony if pressed 

-himeko’s been up to something lately she will tell us at the festival

-Siobhan gives us another drink, saying it will “bring back the flavors of Penacony” which makes me believe it will help us get back here somehow 

-Welt is sure it will leave a lasting impression, hmmm

-she says if we happen to find Gallagher, to let him have a sip 

Scene 5: Jade POV

-Oti is tricky but there is still hope

-Jade asked Topaz to make a phone call offscreen, presumably to the express who agreed

-talking in code

-Jade asks Topaz if she thinks Penacony is worth it

-Topaz says yes

-Jade questions if this project is too bland for her

-Topaz says she would be here if it weren’t for Aventurine

-Jade pointed out she entrusted him with a cornerstone, which is as precious as life itself to finish this gamble 

-however Topaz points at out that Jade’s stone couldn’t have made it in without either of their cornerstones: and that the Jade stone allows Jade to see all desires that flow through the dreams to gain a bargaining chip in the negotiations: this must be the “harvest” Jade was referring to in 2.1, seems like this is her Cornerstone’s ability 

-Perhaps that’s why she held it up earlier? To allow Topaz to vent her feelings into the Jade stone?

-Topaz actually staked her Topaz’s stone for Jade’s sake, not Aventurine’s

-Jade is greatful Aven is alive, saying it’s the best outcome, Topaz immediately says they have strayed off topic

-Jade says she will go alone, instructs Topaz to meet “honored guest”- likely the Nameless

-Jade spots Robin

-turns out we were actually in the previously locked off rooms in the back of where we met Oti, he’s still there, and he’s wearing glasses? Was he before? We can’t talk to him tho 

-ah this also unlocked some more doors- it’s where the ship is captained, but the captains room is locked 

-Robin is preparing for Charmony Festival

-Jade lies saying she’s on her way to meet Oti really she’s just here for info before meeting him 

-Robins never met him, she says Alfalfa is respectable when it comes to business, but not necessarily in other respects

-Jade asks where Robin thinks Penacony is heading, Robin is hopeful, thinks Harmony needs new direction 

-“no permanent allies or everlasting enemies,”

-2nd half of negotiations- no Topaz this time

-Jade is gonna be meaner bc Topaz isn’t here you go manipulative queen 

-says Oti is not the only merchant who has seen the changes in the cosmic market over the past ten Amber Eras

-Jade declares that Penacony has no way of sidestepping the IPC and going public, that they can’t stop the IPC, the IPC will tear down and rebuild as they see fit

-tells Oti that if he doesn’t want to be a laughingstock and have everyone after him, he better drop his “pie-in-the-sky-plan” perhaps he was planning on using Sparkles bombs to take out the IPC ambassadors now that the protection of not being able to die in the dream is no longer there- or at least he has control over it

-Jade reminds him IPC controls more than half the news in the universe 

-says trillions of customers will receive a, “The Family’s protection for Penacony has expired. Any mishaps in the Dreamscape could result in permanent brain death,” message from the IPC if Penacony decides to go public

-threatens to make his entire currency worthless with how many contingencies the IPC has, Jade is confident she can pull it off, even from Pier Point

-she promises that the IPC won’t jeopardize the interests of the Family heads under Oti’s leadership if he gives up the plan to go public 

-they (IPC) want allies in Asdana, Jade says they can assist Penacony with financing, will acquire 30% equity shares from the Family, and in exchange will also help rebuild Penacony 

-Oti thinks it’s too much, and worried about the future 

-Jade happily says there are no guarentees- this is based on mutual respect- but the board of directors will consider the interests of the Family heads to some extent

-she points out this would be beneficial for the Family, and for him, if they both take a step back, also points out this will attract more customers like he wanted 

-as the head of the Alfalfa family, Oti accepts, seeing no reason to refuse, but as THEIR (Xipe’s) chosen one, he still needs one final answer (hmmm this is an interesting detail)

-talks about the rise of Xipe and fall of Ena, he asks why the IPC seeks to collaborate with the Family (Harmony) rather than the Order, who is far closer in ideals (Preservation)

-Jade says it’s about credit, saying that through the Preservation, the IPC can perpetually ensure credits value, meaning they have no need for the Order, as they have made their own, with Qilpoths “credit” being the heart of everything

-Oti understands this will eventually lead to the IPC taking control over everything 

-“this universe doesn’t need two types of Order” (Preservation and the Order)

-Oti says he’s convinced 

-code words from before come back in (shit I should have written them down, it was poison something, sweet dew, and apple something, sweet dew shows up this time per Topaz’s invite)

-unsurprisingly, it’s one of the Nameless: Himeko

-Astral Express will be shareholders? Perhaps this is so they can guarantee the future the Nameless wanted like Welt mentioned

-IPC gets 30%, gives 5% to the express to “honor the sacrifices and contributions made by the former Nameless to the Land of the Dreams,” which is A) true B) the real honor is the express now having a foot in the door to prevent Penacony from being like it was before

-Himeko is a member for the board of directors- what board? One in the IPC, or for Penacony, the Family?

-crew agreed to assist in reconstruction of Penacony, and commit to bringing the dreams of Penacony to other worlds 

-However, they really wish for the Harmony to not be distorted again, that tragedy must never occur again

-negotiations end, we (as Jade) will go to meet up w Topaz again 

-Jade believes the family heads will soon realize the situation, and that Oti’s agreement didn’t just represent their agreement, but the followers of the Harmony in general (this last part is only implied though)

-Topaz says she will handle the arrangements for formal negotiations 

-Jade allows her to- gives Topaz a sense of control OOOH THE MANIPULATIONNNNN

-Topaz is shocked bc big responsibility, but Jade interrupts

-she says that Aventurine initiated this case and Topaz was his project partner, but since he overplayed his hand (taking on a case he couldn’t handle on his own?) Jade got pushed to the forefront 

-OOH MORE MANIPULATION, Jade says she came here to help Topaz sort out the toughest issues, saying “I trust you’ll be able to wrap things up quite nicely, little Jelena,”

-Topaz’s objections immediately get pushed aside bc of Jades words, and asks Jade to give Diamond her assurance

-Jade tells her to not worry, Diamond has always trusted them, and Jade will put in a good word for her, and Topaz will get her position (P45) back in no time

-Jade claims her business is done so she’s gonna indulge in her own little hobby (I’m scared)

-which is opening a Bonajade Exchange branch on this ship, whatever that is, Jade believes the guests on this ship had or a wealth of valuable treasures tho 

-it’s a pawnshop, and Jade says she will leave, saying she’ll “see you around Topaz”

-Topaz has one more question, Jade gladly lets her ask, she asks about the dose of “bitter poison”, wondering how Jade got it (I’m guessing her Cornerstone), it wasn’t her cornerstone, a “lady concerned with the future of the Harmony” told her (maybe this is Robin? But it seems like that was their first meeting? Hmm) 

-Jade says she agreed to help her with something later (which makes me think this was Sparkle now haha), and that they can deal with it after they leave Penacony

-“that’s what ‘investment’ is all about”- the seeds of opportunity have already been soon and Jade simply gives them a little bit of nourishment for them to take root, afterwards all they (her and Topaz) need to do is wait patiently 

-like right now, and Jade’s final “guest” boarded the ship

I’m insane about this actually yall. TOPAZ CENTRIC STORY??? WHAT IF I DIED. Also I love the way Jade was written in this, they made her as manipulative as I wanted her to be, so yeah I love her THEY COMMITED TO THE BIT I PRAYED FOR TIMES LIKE THIS

Scene 6: Firefly POV

-she boards (rather sneaks onto) the ship, so I assume she’s Jade’s final guest 

-oh she’s heading to the pawnshop that grants wishes (it’s definitely Jade’s), perhaps to get those gifts she wanted earlier, or defy her destiny like she wanted to earlier?

-hey those closed off areas are unlocked W

-she spots TB, Robin is also there 

-there’s a nice banquet table for people in that room, we got a shot of it earlier during Topaz, Jade and Oti’s meeting, idk what line of dialogue it was for tho 

-Firefly overhears Robin saying that she will, “present a gift to the Astral Express on behalf of The Family as a token of gratitude for the Nameless’ contributions to Penacony”, asking for the staff to help her w the arrangements

-Firefly then asks how to get to the pawnshop, yup it’s Jade’s spot, she gets the directions 

-Silverwolf was gonna meet w the Genius Society? Why? Also apparently she mentioned Jade’s stuff earlier, I don’t remember that though, maybe I forgot to write it down

-we can look for the TB so I’m going to 

-TB is being a dumbass as ever and Firefly is amused 

-she wants to talk to us but Firefly wants to meet Jade first 

-we can’t go over there even if we want to

-Jade made her exchange in the dream pool room for some reason 

-asks Jade to call her Samuel

-Firefly says she wants to give up living, and that she’s willing to give up everything she has

-even Jade is gagged

-Firefly is like yup! Everything!

-Jade says she should turn around bc she’s not familiar with the term, “pawn” aka she’s betting quite literally EVERYTHING

-Jade says she doesn’t have anything of equal value to offer her

-Firefly is upset, says this shop must just be a marketing gimmick 

-Jade says she will help Firefly understand what she means, telling her to go and talk to the other customers, when she understands what “pawn” really means

-we see the TB being stupid again, this time w Dan Heng tagging along

-again she plans on catching up w them later

-first person she meets, Stacy, finally won a gamble w the blessing of Lady Bonajade

-there also seems to be way more guests on the ship 

-second person she meets, a Pepeshi named Dell, gets his crush named Dorothy to go out with him, implied that he wished for her to say yes

-ppl seem to be gossiping about a grey haired person, either Firefly or TB

-yup it’s TB

-someone has been hiding in the Moment of Sol in Penacony under a fake identity, proposing as a professor at Paperfold academy, apparently this intellatron (Walker) found him (idk who him is) with the help of an influential figure 

-ah this is unimportant this was just the wishes of the third person

-Firefly still doesn’t get it, but their wishes did seem to come true

-Jade said it was just to show the exchange was genuine, how she shows how all three of them gave up so much in exchange for their wishes, so yeah, glorified drug dealer, but it is an equal exchange, and Jade only encourages these people’s delusions, giving with the power of her Cornerstone for a hefty price

-uses their endless cycle of desires to get what Jade desires from their whirlpool of horrific decision making 

-Jade knows Firefly’s identity, and she asks Firefly if she’s really willing to give up everything, Firefly isn’t surprised though 

-Entropy Loss Syndrome was thrust upon all of the Iron Calvary in order to keep them fighting for Glamoth, and from falling into the wrong hands 

-Firmament Front is gone so those who know the secret and could cure the disease are nowhere to be found, but Firefly still wishes to continue her existence 

-Firefly asks if the IPC has a remedy 

-Jade just says there might be a silver lining and leaves it at that 

-Firefly realizes that she can’t provide anything of equal value bc nothing she owns has any meaning 

-asks Jade if she’s gonna ask her to restrain the other Stellaron Hunters for her survival 

-that’s not the case though, Jade acknowledges how remarkable close the Stellaron Hunters are, compares them to the Stonehearts, OOOHH LORE DROP

-Jade says like how the Stoneheart follow Diamond, the Stellaron Hunters are, “Traveling on the Path of Finality but struggling against your destiny, attempting to move in the opposite direction?”

-Firefly remains silent

-Jade hopes all of them will visit her pawnshop one day

-Firefly asks if she can see this as an invitation from Diamond to the Stellaron hunters behind the IPC’s back

-Jade says to consider it a person offer, not representing the IPC or SID

-Firefly says she will pass on the offer, but she has a question

-Firefly points out that SW could let the entirety of Pier Point know of this in seconds, so why would Jade ask this 

-Jade says it’s because she believes her and Firefly are the same

OH MY GOD STONEHEART PICTURE

-she believes the Stonehearts band together to get what they want, and have been invited by Diamond to join them whilst on their own journeys

-Jade says all stonehearts carry a void (ambition) that can only be filled from the outside 

-also omg Topaz and Aven look GOOOODD GRERRAAAA TOPAZ LOOOS SO FINE EEJFHJEJAKSKWS RAAAAA AVENNNNNNTURJEJNWKAND AAAA

-so Diamond promised them something, he divided the power of the Emanator of Preservation into ten pieces (for the ten stonehearts) and gave each of us a Cornerstone to fill that void 

-“Mortal flesh is fragile, yet my heart is unyielding like the monolith. For without this resolve, the way of the Preservation would fade into oblivion.”

-Jade says this pledge goes beyond a mere oath, it’s their collateral in exchange for the Stonehearts desires, and their future 

-whatever they gain from it will make the Stonehearts stronger, allowing them to achieve the great cause of the Preservation (what Diamond wants) when the war among the Aeons eventually comes (HUHH WHAT NOWW I MEAN WERE GETTING THEIR GOALS AT LEAST?!!)

-Jade tells Firefly to take her time 

-Firefly says she will, and says it’s shame that the pawnshop won’t give her what she wants, as her last attempt (death?) will end with “hope”

-Walker comes to give her his memories

Scene 7: Trailblazer 

-he points out how the meeting went smoother than expected 

-Charmony festival opening ceremony is starting soon

-AVENTURINE AND BOOTHILL?!!?

-Boothill threatening Aven jokingly but not jokingly, Aven brushes it off

-seems like they came to an agreement off screen

-he notices us + typical flattery, Boothill gives a normal greeting 

-Aventurine admits his words are nothing more than flattery and not genuine (at least due to the option I picked) 

-Boothill says to set aside the under the table stuff as to not spoil the mood

-Aven gives congratulations bc he can’t be there personally (he’s a hologram) to witness the crew getting celebrated 

-Aven says his job was just to give the IPC an opening, which he achieved (even if it was a mess

-Aven says he wouldn’t have been able to dig up such dirty information without the help of a “knowledgeable friend” HMMM IS THAT RATIO???

-Acheron still fucked him up though, and he admits this would have gone smoother had she not injured him 

-we thank Boothill, he’s like it’s nothing I’m a galaxy ranger it’s part of our duty, he’s happy Galaxy Rangers are making a comeback and asks the TB to pass on his regards to any Hunt followers he meets

-BOOTHILL STRAIGHT UP ADMITS THAT AVENTURINE IS GONNA HELP HIM FIND OSWALDO SCHNEIDER WHO HE HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE WITH??? HE ADMITS THAT!!? HUHHH, I mean he did say he’s not one to beat around the bush but still 

-Aventurine also talks about the feud between the Marketing Development Department (Oswaldo) and Strategic Investment Department (Diamond) is fairly well on wok, but he didn’t expect the Galaxy Rangers to get involved

-he thinks things are gonna get spicy 

-I wonder if the IPC knows about this deal between him and Boothill, I doubt it though, and I think Aven might be hiding this from everyone 

-this reminds me that he was deliberately acting like he hadn’t grown around Jade during their conversation in 2.2, which makes me think he’s planning to do something beyond just whatever he is gonna do with Boothill, or at the very least Aven wants to make things easier for himself by acting as if Penacony didnt change him 

-they wish the TB well, Avens hologram disappears 

RATIO.

EVERYONE PAUSSEEE

-he’s standing where the now activated Divergent Universe thing is AAAA

-it’s all over the screen/hj

-OK CALM DOWN BE SERIOUS 

-OFF THE BAT TSUNDERE - “your performance at Herta’s space station was… adequate, I suppose,” thats high praise coming from you hehehhehe

-“Hm, no wonder the gambler likes you so much.” HUHHH??! Can’t keep AVENS NAME OUT UR DAMN MOUTH FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS??? We didn’t even bring him up 

-“This individual is my responsibility during the trip. Hmph, nothing more than an errand from the Office of Academic Affairs,” the who of what now? Not the “hmph” and downplaying 

-tells the Trailblazer to take advantage of the opportunity the Charmony Festival provides 

-TB asks Ratio how he rates Aventurine, Ratio says that the IPC and Guild position them as strategic partners; but Ratio sees himself as a teacher, and like everyone in Ratio’s life, Aventurine as a student, Aven isn’t an ideal student, but not utterly obtuse. He remarks that the void inside of him (which could be referring to either the one mentioned as being filled by the Stonehearts or just Aven’s general lack of a will to live) cannot be filled by talent and knowledge. Ratio hopes he doesn’t turn into a philosophical zombie. Which I like that up, and it’s basically someone who behaves like a person but does not have a conscious experience. What I think Ratio is suggesting is that what Aventurine is missing isn’t talent or knowledge, but genuine connections with other people, goals, desires, a purpose, things that aren’t so material 

-TB teases Ratio, saying they thought he would make them get their act together, Ratio says that saying such a thing means we haven’t grasped the essence of learning, OH MY GOD HE SAYS EXACLTY HOW I BELIEVE HIM TO VIEW KNOWLEDGE SOMEONE SEDATE ME

“Acquiring knowledge aims to enhance living” I KNOW THIS IS A SIMPLE LINE BUT ITS LIKE AT THE CORE OF RATIOS PHILOSOPHY, HE WANTS TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE TO HELP OTHERS GROW AND PICK THEMSELVES UP 

oh my god, that’s why Aventurine isnt his typical student, to improve Aventurine’s life, he DOESNT need knowledge or talent, so Ratio has to try other methods…

Forgive me for the person I’m about to become I fear 

-we say good by to him 😭😭😭😭

-“I detest noisy gatherings, as they intrude upon my thoughts.. What a waste of time” AUTISM!! BRO IS OVERSTIMULATED LEAAVE GO ELSEWHERE WHY ARE YOU HERE UR CLEARLY HAVING A BAD TIMEEEE

Alright bye Ratio onto the next one

-TOPAZ AND NUMBY??!?

-Topaz eco ship mention??

-ooh we ask her about her Cornerstone and if she can transform herself like Aven

-her ability isn’t as “visual”? So it’s not a transformation 

-LORE DROP; abilities of Ten Stonehearts are all different, some can even read thoughts and grasp desires (Jade), she warns us to be careful 

-Topaz is greatful for the timing in Belabog bc it let her and Bronya be friends 

-Jade convo next!

-I picked Sundays name and she went “not a bad name, just lacking in virtue,”

-she does her deal shtick, I’m gonna ask to revive Akivili 

-poor girl is dumbfounded, but she accepts 😭

-she asks for the tail of an animal and I think she asks for the tail of the cat in the stellaron hunters 😭

-sorry Akivili you aren’t returning 

-ARGENTI

-his lines aren’t voiced unfortunately 

-he’s talking about the beauty as always, saying we are already walking that path due to our virtue 

-apparently if an admirer of Beauty gets lost in the pursuit of power, they risk descending into “the Omen of Evil” a form that’s neither human nor beast 

-he compares this to Sunday; whose actions argenti believes were no different from the Omen of Evil, and that he lost his way along the path of righteousness 

-he wasn’t there at the final battle because Ena’s dream was too realistic and he couldn’t bid farewell to a fallen friend who had turned into a beast, so Argenti stayed within the dream for a while 

-he blames himself for not passing the trial of Beauty this time, and for hesitating, wishing to become more determined that ever 

-him and Sunday competing for who has more religous trauma LMAOO

Alright I’m done talking let’s wait for the opening now

-Firefly is here!

-we go over how wack the plot has been 

-she asks if we will be leaving again 

-I picked the idk option and Firefly says not to worry bc we are on the path of the Trailblaze

-Elio told Firefly that her journey will tell her how to live on and the rest is up for her to find out, and she will hunt for leads everywhere, including Penacony 

-TB says that no wonder she was investigating the Watchmaker, but even if she didn’t get what she wanted, Firefly says she get a deal from Jade

-we warn her not to make deals w the IPC bc they are shady

-Firefly is like no dw I didn’t do anything stupid or get anyone involved 

-she apologies for lying to us earlier about being from the Iris Family

-I accept it bc I’m not a cunt but I’m glad they allow you to turn her down 

-OOH FIREFLY’S STRUGGLE AT EXPRESSING HER EMOTIONS YESS HOYOVERSE THIS IS WHAT I WANTED GRRRRR

-uh oh bloodhound family is here 

-Firefly is sad and like “I guess we have to say our goodbyes”

-but she’s hopeful bc her “script” hasn’t ended yet- so they will meet again 

-TB is worried but figures she will be fine, we decide to check on her later after we attend the festival 

-we get a message from Firefly, saying she handled everything but she’s sad she won’t get to see Robin perform 

-Ceremony begins and Robin shows up

-March is fangirling

-Robin is eating as always 

-she’s like “yeah this has been crazy but hey we’re doing it now!”

-thanks Oti Alfalfa for his dedication 

-she’s like thank god it’s over

-oh she brings up the Watchmaker

-she gives a tribute to Misha/ Mikhal Char Legwork for laying the foundations of Penacony

-thanks him for allowing the Dreamscape to exist, that Penacony’s success is rooted in the Trailblaze that the Watchmaker brought with him and only by honoring that spirit can harmony be spread 

-everything is back on track, and Penacony’s family give the Nameless a token of appreciation 

-They give the ship to the Astral Express?!!? That’s a fun one, I think Robin pulled some strings for that one to screw over Oti for throwing Sunday under the bus

-she toasts the Harmony, the Trailblaze, the future of Penacony and the universe, and the generous Alfalfa Family Head, Mr. Oti Alfalfa

CUTSCENE TIME

-Oti is amused by Robins cunning

-he’s SPARKLE TIME

-she put a bomb in the ship and we got 10 minutes to find it oh boy 

Cutscene over 

-she gave us a map at least 

-HASTIEST GROUP CHAT IN EXISTENCE TO FIX THIS

-LMAOO

-this is great it’s bomb hunting time

-because the hounds are stupid and gathered everything spending 48 system hours to press all her buttons 

-it’s hidden among 999 dolls and the challenge is to find where the real one is hidden 

-Robin asks everyone not to panic and that they will prepare for evacuating 

-however the Oak Family has relied on the power of the Order for the guarantee that you can’t die in dreams, but since the Order’s blessings are lost, this bomb might actually kill people 

-everyone agrees to help

-Aventurine isn’t taking it seriously likely because he isn’t actually there, he’s like “Wanna bet who will survive this?” and Ratio’s like “k” bc he’s done w Aven’s shit and higher priorities 

-Black Swan finds 131 fake bombs, area gets evacuated 

-Boothill finds 217 of them with the help of the hounds and Ratio wearing his alabaster head, nobodies found it yet but nobody seems too concerned 

-Argenti finds 145 bombs but again, duds

-IPC found 329, but again, nothing 

-last one is in the cockpit 

-Sparkle rickrolls us

-it’s a bomb 

-they found the remaining dolls but nothing

-Sparkle gives the coordinates of the last, true bomb, and everyone agrees to gather there 

-TB finds Firefly standing by Sparkle’s bomb 

-Sweet Dream no longer has the Order’s protection and if it were to blow up there could be bad consequences 

-she says the design is unique and as if it’s been locked by some mysterious Path force

-nobody knows how to deactivate it 

-Firefly doesn’t think anybody there can fix it

-she says Black Swan might be able to teleport it, but Firefly found a note inside the doll

-a note that’s complete nonsense and says it contains a virus very dangerous to Memetic entities like BS plus a bunch of Bananas for some reason? It’s all very unserious 

-Firefly reminds us that she has three “deaths” in the Land of Dreams

-so this is the third time 

-we’re like nah ur not dying 

-Firefly says she’s not in the dream like normal people, she has a Stellaron Hunters special method (Silver Wolf) that let her to be in here , and it lets Firefly perform feats others can’t 

-as long as she can bear the pain of the memoria pressure, she will be able to dive into the primal Memory Zone and extend a lifeline to the Radiant Feldspar

-she’s gonna try and take it into the depths of the Dreamscape (Primordial Memory Zone) so nobody will get hurt 

-Firefly tells us not to worry and that SAM will allow her to get back safely if she lucky 

-determined to give this story a happy ending 

-Firefly reminds us of Acheron’s words, “The so-called impossible is merely something that has yet to happen..”

-the moment that could disprove the “impossibilities” hasn’t arrived yet

-Firefly has so many choices to make before her “death” in whatever form it takes, and she believes that when the moment arrives for us to make a choice, the answer to our end will already be in our hearts 

-“it is not destiny that shapes us, but we who shape destiny,”

CUTSCENE

Compare astral express and stellaron hunters like light and shadow and tied together 

-OH BOY SO MUCH HAPPENS

-Sparkle detonates the bomb early but it’s actually fireworks 

-she then bops us off the edge of the ship but Firefly catches and saves us

-it’s really cute tbh

-she reaffirms what we said, both that destiny is ours to choose and that the reason why life slumbers is because one day we will wake up

-there’s a little procession of scenes of everyone so far

-highlights being Ratio leaving and Boothill pulling out a gun due to Argentis yapping

-and Aven reminiscing in the place where he found himself again

-we also get a little peak at what Acheron is doing

-she put three flowers on the graves of the Nameless, officially saying by to them 

Cutscene over 

Scene 8; Acheron (although still from TB perspective)

-child wanted to put flowers down for the Nameless? I don’t really understand her first line in this 

-oh the child is Mikhail and the flowers are for the other two Nameless, and when he’s  gone someone placed one for him

-she says “your wishes will always be remembered by someone,” likely talking not just to Mikhail, but the audience

-Now Penacony has finally welcomed the dawn after the long dark night, even if the path ahead won’t be easy 

-“Tiernan, you can now go home”

-the Nameless are also preparing for our next stop

-we say goodbye to the old Nameless, Gallagher and Acheron 

-“in the Land of the Dreams, anything is indeed possible,” - March

-“History may not remember the names of the dead, but the stars will attest to their journeys, the first glimmer of light in the prolonged night often illuminates little, as it is fleeting and the darkness too vast. But because of this, people will remember: As long as something shines in the night sky, then when the first star falls.. countless more will follow, streaking across the horizon.” - Dan Heng, I loved his speech so I had to write it 

-they give a toast to the fallen Nameless

-“A toast to history that no longer remains silent, the passionate and courage’s pursuit, and a voyage that traverses the stars,”- Dan Heng ur COOKING

-we can talk to Acheron, and she calls it a fitting end to our story

-we say bye to Gallagher, who we don’t even know if he was a “living person”, callback to the 13 thing, an “enigmatic” character for sure

-at least our journey and his love for Penacony was real

-we toast him too, and using the drink that Siobhan made for him 

-“to all lies, and the singular truth,”- March 

-she also asks him to not speak in riddles if they ever meet again 

-we say bye to Micah, Welt apologizes for only now speaking to him, Welt asks what the people of Dreamflux Reef do now, many will continue to live there, and “those accustomed to being away will mostly have a hard time getting used to a life of darkness with their eyes closed,” Micah will also watch over the primal Memory Zone as the Order has faded 

-“Penacony’s nights are long, and there are many who are still far from a good nights sleep,”

-they still manage without the Sweet Dream

-toast to the ppl in Dreamflux Reef and their tenacity 

-we finally say goodbye to Mikhail, it started from the moment we met him and it ends by saying goodbye to him

-“just like a clock’s hands that turn round and round, the start and end of each day will always land on twelve o’clock- the advent of time moving forward,” - Himeko, it really is over isn’t it, honestly I wonder now is just what that dream pool and projector were for 

-the entire adventure started bc of Mikhail and it’s ending because of him

-“And then, a new page will be turned.”

-��To Penacony’s past, present, future… and the child’s unwavering dream unto death,”- Himeko

—“the Trailblaze can illuminate the way, but ultimately, the future of a world belongs to those who live in it,” - Dan Heng, just like Belabog and the Luofu huh 

-March has a strange feeling that she had a few stops ago that’s really strong this time, she talks about how many stories these three Nameless have experienced, and she compares them to the current Nameless and their own adventures, and that they lived the “every day” we do now

-but it’s all in the past, and TB says to her that we should live in the present, but that’s what March can’t get out of her mind

-she’s upset at that the Nameless then didn’t get their happy ending, but the TB now shouldn’t live through them, however since us (especially March) has witnessed their lives, their are special to us now, so she hopes their story gets a good ending when it comes 

-but what if those Nameless and us now aren’t special, and we won’t get a good ending?

-if Mikhail might not have had no regrets, how can we know we won’t? 

-“Then, what is this regret we feel in our hearts right now…?”

-Himeko assured that all of them are searching for the answer to this question, that against the backdrop of a cosmos, our lives are fleeting 

-however, even if the universe doesn’t remember the never ending Trailblaze, but people, and those who travel along the silver rail themselves will

-“As long as we remember, their stories (The Trailblaze) will never end,” OH MY GOD THIS MIRRORS WHAT BS SAID IN THE ONE TRAILER WHERE WE WILL CARRY OUR WISHES TO COUNTLESS STARS AAAA

-Mikhail answered this question himself, dying with a smile on his face even after his complicated life

-its meaning will be interpreted by those who come after us 

-it’s not the answer that’s important, but what we can learn from others answers 

-“This is what Trailblazing is”

-March tells DH to tell a dad joke to lighten the mood

-he won’t 

-it’s never a bad thing to reflect 

-we got a long way ahead of us WHOOO

-so it’s time to tell PomPom what we saw

-then prepare for the next stop

-time to say final goodbye to Acheron

-she asks if we remember our first meeting

-we reminded her of an acquaintance 

-because of the Self-Annihilators curse, what she thought was a familiar meeting was merely an illusion, attributing her feelings of that old friend to us the TB

-however you can ask if it wasn’t an illusion 

-Acheron says it’s improbable we ever met before, and there’s nothing left to retrace but Nihility 

-I can keep pushing 

-she doubles down, said this me and your memory of her aren’t the same person

Red Text oh my god

-“But some things will never change,”

-she just laughs in response 

-oh my god she’s talking about her past companions oh no her Kiana her Bronya noooooo NOOOOOOOOOO

-they didn’t achieve the outcome they wanted, but our sheer stupidity makes it feel like they never even left

-she talks about how things can seem so similar yet so different 

-Acheron has wandered alone, encountering “acquaintances” who’s silhouettes overlap with her past

-she asks us what we think her “Deja vu” means

-im going with “the wish to return to the past”

-she says all of our possible answers are incomplete

-it’s something that’s not external, but something that’s within us, an emotion spanning across time from a certain moment in our past to reach us

-every time we reminisce, we notice both the tiny but unforgettable things we leave behind, and the other things that remain constant throughout 

-that’s the summary of our lives, the proof of our shared path 

-within those small moments, those tiny regrets, we glimpse our own essence, and truly “exist”

-Acheron says to “set forth on your voyage without hesitation, Nameless, on the path of the Trailblaze”

-even if our ending has been predetermined (OOH CALLBACK TO 2.1 and 2.2 AAA) there are countless things humans cannot change 

-but before that, there are still many things we can do

SHES WORD FOR WORD REPEATING THINGS 

-“And because of this, the “end” will thus reveal a completely different meaning”

-“this is the meaning of ‘journey’” 

I AM INSANE ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY AAAAAAAAA

THE CALLBAKCS THE REFERNEFES I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT FUCK ALL OF YOU I LOVR YOU ACHERONNNN

-“all those things, beautiful before, are still do now. And I believe… It will still bloom at the end of the Nihility, until we meet again beneath the sun’s rays,” OH MY GOD SHE HAS HER HORNS AND OLD OUTFIT SHES SO BEAUTIFUL 

AND WE ARE GONNA MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF THE STORY AAAAAAAA

Back at the Express

-Pom Pom is crying 

-Dan and March bickering 

-Pom-Pom started crying over the adventure, March has never seen them so sad before 

-now they are angry

-we caused so much chaos and threw the time-table off and if we keep acting like this the Express is gonna run out of fuel 

-well not really they are just masking their sadness

-we take a break in the next car while Himeko comforts Pom Pom

-we chat a bit, those three Nameless must have meant a lot to them 

-we don’t know shit about Pom Pom’s past lmao, but their emotions haven’t become dulled by the grind of time, and they still value every journey 

-we might actually run out of fuel bc due to our existence Pom Pom has had to delay the warp jump schedule 

-the express converts every “Trailblaze” into the energy it needs to run, like a perpetual motion machine

-we are using up fuel much faster than expected, and can only pull off two more warp jumps at most

-which means we must consider our next destination carefully 

-the two worlds nearest to us are the oceanic planet of Lushaka and the Agate World Melustanin

-we still need to vote 

-BLACK SWAN SHOWS UP

-Welts like ‘alright give us the juice’

-she overheard how the express obtains fuel 

-her suggestion could be the lifeline that saves everyone

-OH ITS THE DH = DF LINES YESS

-“those mired memories of yours”

-if the express needs a special trailblazing expedition to recharge its engine, then they should go to a world that even Akivili never even reached, and the express will never have to worry about energy again

-March is like “is that possible?!!”

-a world many don’t even know exists, hidden away by outside observation, only revealed by the light from the monitor of the Garden of Recollection

-fettered by three Paths, its destiny hanging in the balance 

-“The Eternal Land, Amphoreus”

NO THIS IS CRAZY THIS IS CRAZY BECAUSE THAT IS RATIOS HOMELAND SO HOW DID HE GET OUT FROM THERE, A PLACE NOT EVEN AKAVILI HAS BEEN ?!:!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA

JADE SCENE?!!

YOOOOO

-she calls Sunday a child

-it seems like he tried to escape and got caught

-he thinks he’s gonna die

-his fate is entirely in Jade’s hands

-he wants the pretenses to be over and to just have time to talk 

-she’s glad he’s still a cunt 

-she came to fulfill Robin’s wishes, to offer a trade if he’s willing to accept 

-she talks about his oath between him and Robin of building a haven where everyone can attain peace 

-she asks if he would be willing to speak to her if there was a chance to fulfill that vow 

-Jade sets him free, tells him to see the world for himself

-Sunday doesn’t want to accept it though 

-however the trade is still up, and Jade is willing the wait for his answer 

-she gives him a word of warning 

-“Life is too short to miss out on golden opportunities”

And it’s over

Wow that was great 

OK! I will definitely not be doing this again because oh my god this made the quest take like 10 hours (most of the time was just typing it tbh 😭) made it far less fun than it could have been, however it also really helped me understand what was going on a lot; and I’ll look back on this if I want to remember the plot in 2.3

Overall I think it’s a really satisfying conclusion for Penacony, and any of the things I thought were weird kinda dissipated because they are minor nitpicks at best, and we did say Penacony would have to figure itself out from here

if you somehow decided to read all of these, I admire your patience lmao, and I hope you enjoyed all of the parts in which I started absolutely losing it

I recommend you don’t do this lmao, it’s more fun to just play through and look at the wiki later imo, maybe take more overarching ones after you have already completed a scene? This was certainly a learning experience at least

[basiilgarden]

⋆｡°✩ Celestellaron character list ✩°｡⋆

Organized in order of when the character was claimed ~ Characters with posted profiles on tumblr will have it linked and their name will be colored ~ If you’d like to claim someone, send me an ask or a discord message

Vanya Hemlock (Kafka) - @geminiiviolets

Saber (Blade) - @rosietrace

Nero Horatia (Silver Wolf) - @rosietrace

Beryl Lathika (Himeko) - @authoruio

Sun Jian (Dan Heng/ Imbibitor Lunae) - @terrovaniadorm

Sadya de Runa (Sampo) - @authoruio

Guan Zǐ-Xīn (Jing Yuan) -@silent-dragon

Venus Radix (Dr. Ratio) - @twsted-princess

Sinclair Roisin (Argenti) - @terrovaniadorm

Bailu - @wanou-dorm

Casper (Huohuo) - @authoruio

Black Swan - @geminiiviolets

Lady Slinger (Boothill) - @terrovaniadorm

Stefano Flavia (Aventurine) - @sakuramidnight15

Guinafen

Topaz

Cailean Hound (Gallagher) - @terrovaniadorm

Nightingale Sanctus (Robin) - @terrovaniadorm

Dove Sanctus (Sunday) - @terrovaniadorm

Misha - @twsted-princess

Firefly - @twsted-princess

Luocha - @silent-dragon

Jasper Drakon (Jade) - @geminiiviolets

Ruan Mei - @nem0-nee

Acheron - @revivemyreverie

Hikari Ibara (Sparkle) - @rosietrace

Jiaoqiu - @sakuramidnight15

Redirect back to Celestellaron main post

[revserrayyu]

2.1 Penacony thoughts [part2]

**Spoiler warning** Covering up until we switch to Acheron’s POV alongside Welt (not their first conversation but actually playing as her, hence the cover photo), so be kind to yourself and look away if you haven’t reached that point yet. Brace yourself once more; I’m going to ramble.

First things first, this whole shrinking down scene where we traverse through a model of Penacony was so odd. Poor Ratio had to be rolling his eyes so hard just watching a tiny Aventurine run around like that.

I feel like we didn’t learn much about Sunday last patch, but hearing him speak about how orderly and presentable we should be at all times really fits his personality. The pretty boy certainly knows how to look good and leads me like him even more..

But only for a moment as he then uses some Harmony trickery against Aventurine so he’s forced to answer his several questions truthfully, or at least that’s the feeling I got from watching this interrogation. Seeing this was quite interesting to me because there’s this anime call No Guns Life where a character by the name Tetsuro has an ability called “harmonie” which allows him to control other extends (robots basically) and they way the anime shows it looked very familiar with all the color.

Moving on, Sasuke Uchiha vibes are coming in strong with our gambler being a potential sole clan survivor, not to mention Aventurine admitting his love toward his family is something he values more than himself. Also, I don’t like this bird.. sitting there, keeping an eye on everything, even during Aventurine’s chat with Sparkle later on. I know the Family has a big Nightingale theme going on but still. Big Brother (or in this case the Family) always watching hm?

NOPE. Any small hope I had for Sunday being someone we could safely trust has flown straight out the window with this sinister smirk of his, no matter how handsomely good it makes him look here.

I love that no matter what is going on or who he’s talking to, Ratio always manages to mildly insult others without a care in the world.

So stuff about the Cornerstones gets revealed, how all Ten Stonehearts have one of their own and how very important said stones are to them, so what on earth was Aventurine doing with both his and Potaz Pazto Topaz’s? Also found it interesting how closely hers resembles Qlipoth’s body when she isn’t a Preservation unit like Aventurine is.

Sunday then gives Aventurine only 17 system hours to live and he has to spend it solving Robin’s case with little to no outside help or hints on where to begin. Talk about immense pressure. Let my man gamble in peace!

And if all that wasn’t enough to make me start feeling bad for our fancy man, we get a sad backstory featuring his sister and even learning how both their parents died! Because OF COURSE they’re setting me up to get upset about him for some reason later on in the story and now I’m so terrified because if I learned anything from anime it’s that these kinds of flashback are major red death flags.

The feeling of joy came back to me though upon seeing Topaz show up. Despite Aventurine being around and all the mentions of the IPC, I honestly wasn’t expecting her to visit Penacony at all, but I’m very pleased to see her again! She definitely grew on me after that one quest in Belobog and even though she doesn’t have access to most places on Penacony like her coworker currently does, it’s nice she’s willing to lend a helping hand to us.

It doesn’t settle well with me that none of the Bloodhounds know who Gallagher is. Ain’t he supposed to be top dog around here and in charge?

Oh red text, why must you haunt me so easily? Imagine how different all of Penacony would feel if we had the option to completely turn off subtitles. People would definitely have various opinions regarding Acheron if they knew of her ominous words or not.

I wanna chalk this up as a HI3 reference, but I can’t be sure as I’ve never played. If so, I love how they can toss in hints about Welt’s past like this.

And hers.. I imagine bits and pieces would line up with her past one way or another too.

A little while after that, we cut back to Black Swan and y’all, we FINALLY get some sort of Boothill interaction in the story! Only audio for now but I’ll take it!

Hearing about bullets, him getting annoyed about Acheron being a “galaxy ranger” and the Hunt path are wonderful ways to confirm who it is and I can’t wait to eventually see him in game.

Seems like he isn’t too thrilled with Acheron though and of course, he too knows of her Emenator status. There goes my brief hopes of them being in friendly terms and seeing them work together I suppose.

This item that Ratio gives Aventurine before he suddenly disappears (again) and how it features one of his voicelines.. hilarious. It’s like it was spoken specifically for Aventurine and no one else.

I may be a little stupid.. do we know who the other mute is? The one dead is clearly Robin, but surely the other can’t be Sunday right? He spoke perfectly fine. I’m thinking back to all the Penacony characters we’ve met and they all sound fine, aside from Sam but he’s robotic so naturally he would sound a bit different yea? Maybe we haven’t met this other mute yet, I dunno. The “again” part of Sparkle’s line makes me feel like we have met them at least once.

Sweetie, how the fuck did you manage to sneak such a dangerous device into Penacony?? Even Aventurine is concerned about how the Family doesn’t know of it.

Okay.. so the whole flashback with Aventurine being bought as a slave and used to gamble for his master is tough. I know many people speculated what the mark on his neck said, and majority did think “slave” was written, but man, the hint didin’t make this story any easier to hear. Being blessed with luck ain’t always a good thing hm? Hearing the guy say “all or nothing” and learning from Topaz about how that phrase is now Aventurine’s mantra.. oh boy.

Siobhan is gorgeous and if she was playable I’d definitely pull for her.

SERVAL MENTION HUZZAH! I’m aware they mentioned my girl during the livestream and how they’re both the rebellious ones in their respective families, but Siobhan actually wanting to meet her? Oohhh~

Okay but the fact we’re encountered so many deaths, during the many story and side quests, in a short amount of time shouldn’t be normal. The way he seems so indifferent about it too.. “so what?” like sir, people are dying.

Oh, we did indeed receive one as well. That was the invitation, wasn’t it? I thought the music box Acheron stole from Duke was something different and special for different reasons. Nevermind.

I seriously need to check back into the creepy dream we experienced last time after Sparkle knocked us out, where we encountered that memory zone meme and listen to all the shouting we heard of this Mikhail guy. I figured he had to be someone important, but the Watchmaker and betrayer of the Family? Oh dear.

I bet you anything it’s Misha. Working behind the scenes in the hotel this entire time would definitely be an effective strategy, and his technique outside battle literally stops time and that seems like the perfect kind of ability for someone named “Watchmaker.”

Gallagher wondering if this certain person is real or not is another reason I think it’s Misha because apparently no one notices his presence at all. During that one scene with us, Firefly, Acheron, Misha & Clockie last past, the girlies didn’t acknowledge Misha at all. Only us and Clockie spoke to the boy. In return, Clockie is only seen by us and Misha as well. So that’s just strange.

For a moment I wonder if Misha is actually like.. a ghost of sorts and we’re just going insane seeing visions of people and cartoon characters everywhere. But that’s all stuff I shall find out later. Hopefully. If the story decides to answer my many concerns.

(originally written on 3/28)

[pearlsoflongago]

March Days

The Newest Season

Calligraphic Galleon, Ottoman, by Abdul Qadir Hisari

Cargoes

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus, Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores, With a cargo of diamonds, Emeralds, amethysts, Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days, With a cargo of Tyne coal, Road-rails, pig-lead, Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.

--John Masefield

Buttonwood Farm by N. C. Wyeth

A Fairy-Tale Spring

And then she danced….

Where are you, Hyacinth? There is a lover waiting for you somewhere, my dear.

It is the first of Spring. The blackbird opens his yellow beak, and whistles cool and clear. There is blue magic in the morning; the sky, deep-blue above, melts into white where it meets the hills. The wind waits for you up yonder—will you go to meet it? Ah, stay here! The hedges have put on their green coats for you; misty green are the tall elms from which the rooks are chattering. Along the clean white road, between the primrose banks, he comes. Will you be round this corner?——or the next? He is looking for you, Hyacinth.

(She rested, breathless, and then danced again.)

It is summer afternoon. All the village is at rest save one. "Cuck-oo!" comes from the deep dark trees; "Cuck-oo!" he calls again, and flies away to send back the answer. The fields, all green and gold, sleep undisturbed by the full river which creeps along them. The air is heavy with the scent of may. Where are you, Hyacinth? Is not this the trysting-place? I have waited for you so long! . . .

She stopped, and the watcher in the bushes moved silently away, his mind aflame with fancies.

—A. A. Milne, from Once on a Time

Lovers in a Landscape by Muhammadi

Spring

VII

O Eyes, go forth the Spring to view, That smiles upon our Plains anew. A Heavenly Child in cradling Flowers, Sweet Breath from Skies unclouded drew. The Morning Breeze his Nurse, that rocked His Cradle, with soft Lullings due. The Baby feigns to sleep, and blinks, Shutting his little Eyelids two. And when the Lids are oped again, The Eyebrows drip with sparkling Dew. The Bees hum round and busy sip The Nectar, and make Honey new. O come, and let the Baby's smiles And Laughter, pierce thee through and through. O come, and leave your wintry Cell, And let Heaven's Light thy Life renew. And build new Cells with honey'd Wax, Plann'd like the Bees' six-sided, true. And warmed by radiant Fire of Flowers, Old Winter's reign of Death undo. Regret is dead; Love lives again; New Life transforms the Landscape's Hue. Bold enter, then, green Spring's loved Haunts, And drink fresh Wine, nor fear to rue. And drinking full Love's sweetest Draught, The glowing Heart new Love shall woo. Love wakes afresh in Earth and Heaven; The Rose in green, the Sun in blue. O Nightingale, behold thy Rose! O Eagle, thy bright Sun pursue!

—Jeláleddín Rumi, translated by William Hastie, DD

Woman with a Spray of Flowers from Safavid Iran circa 1575

[manganyeh]

Character Tags

once again shouts out to my online sister @fleeting-starshower they rules!!!

Honkai Star Rail

#be cleansed of sin: hanya tag

#spider's web: kafka tag

#skysplitter's herald: yunli tag

#whistling flames: tingyun tag

#scent always lingers: lingsha tag

#debt collection: topaz tag

#dazzling ninjutsu: rappa tag

#written in the stars: asta tag

#crimson tears: acheron tag

#biology experiment: ruan mei tag

#a grand performance: mr reca tag

#three bullets, one gun: boothill tag

#sparkling monodrama: sparkle tag

#skysoaring: yukong tag

#bonajade exchange: jade tag

#harmonious crescendo: xipe tag

Genshin Impact

#shredding waves: mualani tag

#depths of the seas: freminet tag

#floral sample: emilie tag

#say cheese!: charlotte tag

#some like it spicy: xiangling tag

#akademiya's sage: faruzan tag

#the show must go on: furina tag

#from the spina with love: navia tag

#dance of sabaa: nilou tag

#flames of judgement: arlecchino tag

#flowerfeather protector: chasca tag

#a dutiful maid would: noelle tag

#guardian of irminsul: nahida tag

#a spark, an explosion: yoimiya tag

#qixing secretary: ganyu tag

#bubbles and sango pearls: kokomi tag

#master tinker: xianyun tag

#a thrilling story: xingqiu tag

#lady of ice: ayaka tag

#new shoots from old branches: tighnari tag

#flames burn bright: mavuika tag

#gem-studded rhythm: xilonen tag

#wish i may, wish i might: layla tag

#dandelion knight: jean tag

#opera finale: yunjin tag

#heir of the raven: fischl tag

#ignition key: dehya tag

#hypostasis emulation: sucrose tag

#windborne traveler: lumi tag

Zenless Zone Zero

#shockwaves: anby tag

#criminal investigation captain: zhu yuan tag

#mouse trap: jane doe tag

#master proxy: belle tag

#or a little flames!: burnice tag

#a guide for the living: rina tag

#need a light?: lighter tag

#calydon's king: caesar tag

#head hollow investigator: yanagi tag

Honkai Impact Third

#fenghuang of vissitude: fu hua tag

Wuthering Waves

#sleepy shielder: taoqi tag

#a work of art: zhezhi tag

#we promise we deliver: lumi tag

Reverse 1999

#twirling nightingale: isolde tag

Super Mario

#lipstick kisses: peach tag

Cookie Run Kingdom

#sugar paradise: eternal sugar tag

#intoxicating scent: white lily tag

Demon Slayer

#love hashira: mitsuri tag

Legend Of Zelda

#princess of hyrule: zelda tag

Dragon Ball

#satan's spawn: videl tag

Alien Stage

#my clematis: mizi tag

[bernardellinewsagency]

when i manage to get around to running a changeling: the dreaming campaign with my friends, how many hsr characters do you think i could sneak in there as npcs? cause i'm thinking it could be a lot. specifically i'm thinking of penacony characters and more specifically i'm thinking about sunday and robin bc of fucking course i am. I'm obsessed with tragically doomed siblings.

sunday would be lord domhnaigh (literally just sunday in irish) of house gwydion. he's a sidhe who's supposed to be aligned with the seelie court but his father, count gofraidh (gopher just. isn't a name?? i couldn't find anything about it?? but this is irish and kinda sounds like it so it works), is trying to manipulate him into working with the shadow court. and by god, it's fucking working, unfortunately for all involved.

his sister is lady robin ni fiona, a sidhe tutored in sorcerery by eiluned sorcerers. she's skilled at singing, manipulating glamour, and using the two in tandem. inspires many to dream of performing on the grandest of stages. she's aligned with the seelie court, and feels as though her brother is slipping away from the beliefs they once shared.

gallagher is gallchobhar ni gwydion. the only motherfucker here to have an irish-based name that i could've used and i had to go no, actually, make it more irish. anyway. he's a knight in service to lord domhnaigh and he fucking hates it. i also can't decide what he would be. a redcap?? perhaps?? his name would literally be gallagher, by the way, but the sidhe nobles would be like hmm. no. if you're a knight now, you need to show your status, and use a name closer to the kingdom (ireland) that we (fae folk) come from. thus, using the irish origin of his name instead of just his name. i think this would be incredibly funny but it might just be me having an odd sense of humor.

my other ideas are that sparkle is a fox pooka, topaz is a wolpertinger bc oh my god that fucks so hard, misha is animate chimera within the dreaming, veritas is an incredibly odd nocker, black swan being a swan maiden would be on theme but i'm not sure how well it actually suits her, argenti is sidhe obviously and a noble member of house fiona, firefly is a piskie, and boothill is probably a redcap.

also if the noble houses were based on the five families in penacony then it would be house oak (oak family, no changes necessary), house lymer (bloodhound family, from lymer, the word for a medieval scenthound with lyam meaning leash), house luscinia (nightingale family, a genus of birds including nightingales), house seamair (alfalfa family, irish for clover, a similar crop), and house tuar ceatha (iris family, irish for rainbow, with irises getting their name from the greek goddess of rainbows. it was the only idea i had for that one). i had to make them fancy sounding and extra bc i'm... not sane. teehee.

[r3d-f0xs-blog]

OC Associations

Thanks @vince-linder ✨️

This will help with Skye.

Animal: Nightingale

Colours: Light blue, silver and white

Month: May

Song: Rebuild Through Compassion - Deadlife

Number: 4

Day or Night: Day

Plant: Chamomile

Smells: Antiseptic, clean fresh cotton

Gemstone: Topaz

Season: Spring

Places: Mountains, hospitals, the outdoors, space and the sky

Food: Pancakes with maple syrup, ice cream

Astrological Sign: Pisces

Element: Air

Drink: Peppermint tea

Tagging @chevvy-yates @genocidalfetus @elvenbeard

[sillywitchsong]

And the final decision is...add one bed, call it done and play!

So aside from all the memories helping me remember what happened...nothing exciting happened until Ruth had her baby. Nightingale Freebird, daughter of Crocky Freebird and Ruth Clarke

The girls are mad at each other, even though they both rolled the want to friend the other...then slept on it and decided nah...Crystal achieved her bronze badge on the toy bench

So I found the modified store baby toys (modified to reduce screaming time before they wet the diaper) and while I enjoy using them...the fix "leave baby alone" doesn't work anymore. I have to watch the adult sims like a hawk or they *let out* the overly tired toddler or constantly bottle feed the baby. Note to self...could lead to troublesome nannies later... On the flip side, no that baby is skin and bones messages appear (until they are a toddler anyway)

Oh, Topaz is now a kid- hey, anyone noticed how toddlers taught to walk run faster? Or is that just active personalities? -and I bet the active personality wants to learn how to walk first. I wonder if I should try a legacy run and keep track of the wants rolled...it's too nitty gritty when playing the whole hood

I don't know why she looks so forlorn here...her mommy just had a shot gun wedding with Oliver right after Crystal moved out with all her kids...and they are sneaking off to consummate their vows...

Crystal's kids...remember Cherry was Oakley Yvonne's git (and her half brother just took over the property) and Topaz is Derrick's child (I can't remember how I spelled his name. Do other writers struggle with the spelling of their characters?)

Anyway... we just found out Crystal is expecting Crow Tinyleaf's child... and therefore has moved in with him and his two children via Ivy. (Teen love. Doesn't always last) (I married my highschool sweetheart. Still strong nearly 20 yrs later)

I think I'm going to adapt (adopt?) The rule that knocked up sims marry the baby daddy...if they aren't married already. . . Crystal, how did you manage to do what you did? Hmmmm. Wondering if I should throw in a break up option...or am I going to torture these pixels by declaring they made the bed now lie in it? Still no orphanage...so they don't have the option of giving it up. I am thinking about adding one...just so unwanted babies could be given up (I think I classify as a family sim, so unwanted babies don't exist for me) guess I need to think about what qualifies as an unwanted baby...

Lol. Topaz only wanted to see Ruth's ghost as a toddler...he was p'o'd when she moved in. Luckily that want went away...

Oliver and Ruth Yvonne...to be continued next round

[sweetbunpura]

Topaz Nightingale meets the staff

Trein took one step into Crowley's office and sees the headmaster hiding in a corner as a woman berates him. He's far too tired to ask and instead looks over to see the rest of the staff off to the side. The only ones not afraid are the ones standing in the center of the room. Vargas is laughing while Sam, Crewel, and Chestnut stand on the other side of him. Kassie moves away from Crewel to gently touch the woman's arm.

"Mom, I think he's had enough, for now at least."

"Kassie, I was going easy on him." Now that Trein can see her, the woman is older than Kassie.

"I know, but he went through: Yuu, me, and now you."

"Fine, fine." That woman stepped back and turned on her heal towards the staff. "Hello, I am Topaz Nightingale. I'm Kassie's mother and Yuu's grandmother."

"Grandmother?" Vargas asks. "Did the mirror bring you here as well?"

"I would assume so." Topaz hums. "I was out drinking with my friends when I woke up here after getting home."

"At this rate, the mirror might as well bring her entire family." Trein hears another member of staff say.

"You do not want that." Kassie and Topaz respond.

Chestnut sighs. "I know we were called here, but if Crowley is finished cowering, I would like to know why. I have patients to get back to.

"I'm going to assume it was to introduce Topaz." Sam adds in. "Patients? Which of the imps got hurt?"

Chestnut clams up and looks over to the women. "...Ms. Homura-"

"WHAT!?" Both woman round on him and Chestnut's ears press flat to his skull. "What happened!?"

"N-Nothing major!" He raises his hands. "Just an accident in gym! Her broom collided with Mr. Ashengrotto's and Mr. Viper's! They got some minor head injuries and I wanted them to stay in the infirmary until it clears!"

Topaz takes a deep breath. "Take me to her."

"Mom, introductions are in order." Kassie reminds her.

One look from the grandmother had everyone standing at attention.

"Ashton Vargas!"

"Sam."

"Divus Crewel."

"Howard Chestnut."

Her eyes moved towards Trein.

"Mozus Trein and this is Lucius."

"Nice to meet you all. Howard, was it?"

"Please call me Chestnut."

"My apologies. The infirmary?"

"Right, right." They quickly left the room, leaving the remain staff there.

Vargas was quiet for a few moments before turning to Trein. "Don't do what Divus did."

"Vargas!" They both shouted at him.

[nottc]

• robots tag drop.

[strwbmei]

highlighted in purple = fluff only

╰┈➤ Character List ;

Honkai Impact 3rd ¡! ❞

Raiden Mei, Kiana Kaslana, Fu Hua, Rita Rossweise, Elysia, Eden, Mobius, Dr. MEI, Aponia, Murata Himeko, Silverwing, Bronya, Seele, Pardofelis

Honkai : Star Rail ¡! ❞

Herta, Asta, Himeko, March 7th, Trailblazer, Serval, Guinafen, Natasha, Bronya, Seele, Cocolia, Ruan Mei, Hanya, Topaz, Black Swan, Acheron, Tingyun, Fu Xuan, Yukong, Sparkle, Jingliu, Firefly, Silver Wolf, Kafka, Pela, Lynx, Sushang

Genshin Impact ¡! ❞

Jean, Lisa, Amber, Eula, Mona, Fischl, Ningguang, Yelan, Shenhe, Keqing, Ganyu, Beidou, Raiden Ei, Raiden Shogun, Yae Miko, Kujou Sara, Barbara, Hu Tao, Kamisato Ayaka, Lynette, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Sucrose, Yanfei, Yoimiya, La Signora, Furina, Arlecchino

Reverse : 1999 ¡! ❞

Sonetto, Matilda, Tennant, Vertin, Druvis III, Regulus, Sotheby, Arcana, Lilya

Path to Nowhere ¡! ❞

Chief, Nightingale, Zoya, Iron, Anne, Rahu, Macchiato Kelvin, Corso, Uni, Garofano, Hella, Hecate, Ninety-Nine, Countess Chelsea, Raven

Thirsts of any characters are welcome in my inbox, I just won't respond to some depending on which character.

[sinsmockingbird]

CHARACTER LIST: Characters I Write For

GENSHIN IMPACT: Amber, Arlecchino, Ayaka, Beidou, Candace, Chiori, Clorinde, Crucabena, Columbina, Dehya, Eula, Furina, Ganyu, Jean, Keqing, Kokomi, Kujou Sara, La Signora, Layla, Lisa, Lynette, Mona, Navia, Nilou, Ningguang, Raiden Ei, Rosaria, Sandrone, Shenhe, Shinobu, Tsaritsa, Xiangyun, Yae Miko, Yanfei, Yelan, & Yoimiya

HONKAI IMPACT 3RD: Ai Hyperion, Aponia, Dr. Mobius, Durandal, Eden, Elysia, Erdos Helia, Fu Hua, Jackal, Kallen Kaslana, Kiana Kaslana, Kira, Mei, Misteln, Pardofelis, Rita Rossweisse, Senadina, Thelema, & Yae Sakura.

HONKAI STAR RAIL: Acheron, Asta, Baiheng, Black Swan, Bronya, Caterina, Cocolia, Constance, Firefly, Fu Xuan, Hanya, Herta, Himeko, Jade, Jingliu, Kafka, March 7th, Natasha, Oroborus, Phantylia, Qingque, Robin, Ruan Mei, Seele, Serval, Stelle, Tingyun, Topaz, Xipe, Xueyi, Yaoshi, & Yukong.

PATH TO NOWHERE: Adela, Angell, Anne, Ariel, Bai Yi, Bianca, Cabernet, Cassia, Chameleon, Chelsea, Cinnabar, Coquelic, Corso, Deren, Dreya, Du Ruo, Eirene, Eleven, F!Chief, Garofano, Hamel, Ignis, Iron, Jane, K.K., Kelvin, Langley, Lisa, Macchiato, Mantis, Matilda, McQueen, Nightingale, Ninety-Nine, NOX, Oak Casket, Pricilla, Rahu, Raven, Rebecca, Serpent, Shalom, Shawn, Stargazer, Sumire, Tetra, Uni, Vanilla, Yao, & Zoya.

[mochie85]

The Nightingale

The Nightingale Collection Complete Masterlist

One-shots based on this May prompt list. Prompt 12: "They think they can just replace me?" Prompt 13: The roar of the crowd

Summary: You've tried keeping a low profile on the planet of the Forgotten, Sakaar. Until an unexpected arrival forced you out of hiding. Warnings: mentions of SA, otherwise fluff, angst Pairings: Loki x Female Reader Word Count: 3851

“Five minutes my little nightingale. I can’t wait to hear what you’ll be singing tonight.” The Grandmaster said to you as he cupped your cheeks tenderly. You smiled your most cloying smile and bowed to him.

“Anything to please you, Grandmaster.”

“Oh, that’s what I like to hear.” He turned to Topaz smiling, but Topaz looked straight on, not once showing an ounce of care. “And have more esteem, would you darling. More pizzaz! I have a special guest with me tonight. Says he’s a prince.” Again, you gave him a sweet smile and said, “Anything to please you, Grandmaster.” Then you bowed. He smiled but then lost interest in you knowing that he wouldn’t get anything else out of you.

You hated being so close to him. He was always so handsy. Whatever you could do to make him move along and forget you, you’d do it. You learned early on to just accept whatever he gave you, do whatever he says, but do it repetitively. He’d get bored eventually and move on to something more novel.

The Grandmaster took his seat on the top balcony. The house lights were already down. Only the spotlights shone on stage. You could see the Grandmaster talking to someone in the seat next to him. No doubt the prince he mentioned earlier. But like everyone else, they were obscured by the shadows and the lone light that was shown upon you.

You sang a lullaby your mother used to sing to you when you were younger. It was a story of a warrior maiden who roamed the land looking for adventure and fighting battles. As with all stories, they come to an end. This story ended happily with a prince who fought side by side with her and they fell in love.

The story was so beautiful, but you sang it as if it were a tragedy. So passionately heart-rending, that no one would’ve known that the actual lyrics of the lullaby were merry. No one here knew your native tongue. You were alone in the land of the forgotten and lost things.

The audience was moved by your tearful song. They were moved by your emotions. At the end of the lengthy melody, you wiped a tear from your eye, turned to the Grandmaster, and bowed.

The entire audience stood up to give you a standing ovation. The roar of the crowd could be overheard throughout the palace, almost rivaling the roars of the arena. You gave one last bow and walked off stage.

Loki couldn’t help but be awestruck when you walked out on stage. There was something about you. Some familiarity was nagging him in the back of his head. When he first saw you, he was reminded of home for some reason. Rubbish. Here he was. On an unfamiliar lawless planet. Loki just lost his father. His brother was fighting a forgotten sister – who knows where – far away from home. He has no knowledge of how to get back. This can only be a feeling of loneliness and homesickness. Loki didn’t like it. He needed to get rid of this mood quickly. Fortunately, he has befriended the Grandmaster, the one being on this entire planet that could help him with the distraction he so desperately wishes for.

Then, when you started singing, Loki couldn’t help the tear that escaped his eye. He never expected to hear the lullaby his mother used to sing to him at night. He’s never heard it sang so hopeless before either. How cruel are the Fates to never give me a proper place in life, but constantly remind me of home!

“Hmm? Tell me, what do you think? Isn’t she magnificent?!” The Grandmaster said to Loki nudging him on his side.

“Astounding, Grandmaster. Tell me, where exactly is she from?” Loki inquired.

“No one knows. She won’t tell me, like most people that you’ll meet here. It’s better that you learn now, not to ask so many questions.” He ended forcefully.

“Right, my apologies. I was just so moved by her song.” Loki tried to charm his way back into his good graces. The Grandmaster seemed to accept his apology and smiled again.

“It was wonderful! Come, you shall meet her.”

You had been told to wait for the Grandmaster in your dressing room. You sat there fidgeting, wondering what horrors would await you tonight. Just give in. It’ll be easier. The Grandmaster came in like a hurricane. With an entourage around him and Topaz to his left at all times. You stood up hurriedly and bowed to him, looking down on the floor.

“There she is. My astounding nightingale. Isn’t she exquisite?” He turned to someone behind him asking the question, not waiting for an answer. “My dear. I was so moved by your song tonight, please come have dinner with us. I want to introduce you to my new friend.”

“Anything to please you, Grandmaster,” you said. When you stood up from your bow, you locked eyes with a stranger. His eyes were as blue as ice and his hair was as dark as Odin’s ravens.

“Heil ok sæl, milady. Health and happiness to you.” He took your hand and laid a very gentle kiss on it. “I am Loki, Prince of Asgard.”

At his introduction, your muscle memory kicked in. You bowed even lower, your hand still in his. “Lenge leve Prinsen. Long live the Prince,” you greeted.

Faen! You just gave yourself away.  You looked at him with wide shocked eyes before you controlled your face back to a guileless expression. If he knew what you were, he didn’t show it. His expression remained the same.

You have kept yourself safe all these years by not revealing you were Asgardian. By not exposing the fact that you were a Valkyrie. If the Grandmaster knew, if any of the scrappers knew, you’d be bound, tied, and then forced to fight in the arena. You didn’t think you could survive against the Grandmaster’s reigning champion.

“Wh-what’s this? What’s this? Do you two know each other?” The Grandmaster asked with suspicion in his eyes.

“Hardly, your grace. Wherever did you acquire her? Such lovely comportments on her betters! Ah, but it must be you. No doubt, she must’ve learned such politeness from under your tutelage.” Loki said, charming his way out of the situation.

“Well, she has been under my tutelage, as you call it. Come, I’m starving. Let’s all have dinner.”

Dinner was held on one of the Grandmaster’s larger pleasure vessels where extracurricular activities were encouraged.  You tried to avoid Prince Loki at all cost. You didn’t want another slip-up like earlier to happen. You had walked around quietly and absent-mindedly, waiting for the scrappers to come and abduct you to play in their barbaric arena. You were so caught up in your imagination, that you had failed to see that you were heading into a private chamber.

“You were so beautiful tonight, my sweet. But I saw how you looked at the Grandmaster’s new pet. I didn’t like that.” You turned around to find one of the arena champions blocking the exit. He always made you feel uncomfortable. You never entertained him. But he had it in his mind that you were once an item.

“Move.” You walked closer to the exit, but not too close so that he can grab you.

“But why did you walk in here if not to lure some helpless victim to your clutches.” He said with a sneer. No. You realized that his intentions were far worse. “Do you honestly think you could just replace me?”

“Move. Or I will move you forcefully.” You threatened. He only laughed at your warning, thinking that you were just a helpless entertainer. He moved to grab you but was suddenly dropped to his knees, screeching in pain. Prince Loki had held his arm back, forcing it up.

“I suggest you leave the lady alone,” Loki said.

“Aye, she’s the one that led me here.” The fighter said grunting.

“She said ‘move.’ I don’t recall that ever being an invitation. Now go before I make a mess of the Grandmaster’s ship with your entrails.” Loki pushed him to the floor and watched him get up to leave. He turned back to you and moved out of the way of the exit. Bowing as he showed you the way out.

You looked at him defensively, walking away. He followed you, keeping a short distance behind you. When you stopped to look outside one of the windows, he stood next to you with his hands behind his back, overlooking the tall castle building.

“You can stow that blade you are hiding. I mean no harm.” He smiled down at you. You loosened your grip on your hidden sword, unwillingly. It seems that no matter how long you’ve been away from Asgard and its royal family, your body is still eager to obey. Is that why they’re considered gods? “I never would have imagined meeting a fellow Asgardian in a place like this. It is definitely far from the gilded halls of Valaskjalf, isn’t it?” Loki’s low timbre tingled in your ear.

“I’m afraid I know not what you speak of your highness. I am but a humble singer.” You answered.

“Then where are you from?” 

“It’s best to learn not to ask those questions here, my lord.” You said with a tightened jaw.

“So I have been told. It seems I have a lot to learn.”

“Everyone here is from somewhere and from nowhere. We are all but lost and forgotten things.”

“You do not need to be afraid of me my dear. I am the god of mischief. I will grant your ruse a success. I will aid you.” He said with a benevolent smile. You stared at him for quite some time. You didn’t know whether to believe him or not. You’ve relied on yourself for too long. You’ve survived by not letting anyone get close to you here. Every woman for themselves. You’re general would have been disappointed in you if she heard you think that, especially to someone from the royal family. “All I ask…” Loki continued. There it is. The catch. “…is that you become my ally. My eyes and ears. My confidant. A friend. I ask this of you as your Prince.”

“I’m sorry your highness, but I am not Asgardian. And even if I were, you have no reign over here.” Over me. You quietly walked away and left. You spotted the Grandmaster and joined him by his side.

The more you pushed back, the more Loki wanted to be near you. He’s never felt an immense pull towards something before. Clearly, this is just my homesickness. Loki was torn between wanting to get to the mystery that was you, or forsaking you all together so that he wouldn’t have to deal with the pain of remembering his former life.

Yet, true to his nature, he was a glutton for punishment. Loki ended up coming to your performances nightly. He couldn’t stay away. He sat there night after night, hearing you sing of the beauty and wonder of Asgard and its people. Each night, he would send flowers down to your dressing room, as a peace offering. Or a ‘thank you’ for the wonderful performance. They were always accompanied by a note and it would say, “Heil ok sæl, my warrior maiden.”

He knew! He must know. Why else would he call you a warrior? Every night he would send you flowers with that note, and every night he would taunt you and remind you that he knew your secret. Sometimes there would be more to the note, compliments on that night’s performance. He would flatter you on the color of your dress. Or how stunning you looked with your hair braided. Or he would notice how hard you struggled to get the very high note but persevered in the end.

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was trying to court you. But you did know better. This isn’t a lullaby from your mother’s stories. This is Sakaar, and you would never find your way back.

You heard a hanger slide from the clothes rack in your private dressing room. Without hesitation, you pulled your Dragonfang out from her sheath and pushed the sharp edge against your trespasser’s neck.

“Is that a Dragonfang? You’re a Valkyrie?!” Loki asked with wide eyes. Your face mirrored his own as you realized what you had confirmed.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to deliver my flower to you.” He looked at your waste bin, filled to the brim with his notes and floral gifts. “But I see that they were not as well-received as I’d hoped.”

“Do not make me kill you, your highness.”

“Can you though?” Loki asked with a smirk. “Can you harm a member of the royal family? The family you have sworn to protect?” He started walking towards your blade. His newfound confidence from your revelation makes him bold, calling your bluff. You backed away, pulling Dragonfang with you. “I do not know what you are trying to hide. Nor how you got to be on this anarchic planet. But I am your prince! You have sworn an oath to protect me.” Loki backed you against your vanity. Your blade is still sharp against his neck. A thin cut, marking where it has touched his smooth skin. “Just as you are an Asgardian citizen, and I am sworn to be of service to you.” His eyes gleamed with mischief as his smirk graced his soft lips.

He caged you in between his arms. “If you want to oust me to the Grandmaster and his scrappers, then so be it. But I will not hide in fear any longer. Nor will I succumb to your blackmail.” You spat out.

“Scrappers? Blackmail? My dear, what has this planet done to you?” Loki backed away slowly. He saw you for what you really were. A wild little bird who had to scratch and claw her way to survive on this lawless planet. Not once having the support she had when she was a Valkyrie. A part of a team, a family.

Is this his fate too? Is this what will become of him if he stayed here. Grant it he’s already betrayed everyone he holds dear. He’s had to fight and scheme his way to survive. He knows too well the predicament you are in. “I swear to you by Odin’s beard, I did not mean you any harm.”

“Do not swear by Odin. The Allfather is the reason why I’m stranded here on this gods-forsaken planet.”

“Then shall I swear by my brother’s beard? After all, I believe he means to take his place as Odin’s heir.” Loki said with a slight grimace.

“I…I’m sorry, what?”

“Odin has passed. He has been called to Valhalla to be with my mother. Consequently, his passing is the very reason why I’m here.” Loki clarified.

“I’m sorry for your loss, min Prins. May Valhalla receive him.”

“Say that again,” Loki said, coming closer to you. His eyes glinted.

“May Valhalla take him.”

“No. Before that.” He said coming closer to you again.

“I’m sorry for your loss?”

“Mm-mm. Try again little bird.”

“Min Prins.” You whispered. Loki smiled.

“Again.” The command in his quiet voice sent shivers down your spine. You couldn’t help but obey the order.

“My Prince.” Loki stared into your eyes as if he saw something there he hadn’t seen a second ago.

“You will join me for dinner. Tomorrow night. I will collect you here after your performance.” Loki started to walk towards the exit, opening the door.

“I refuse.” You said firmly.

“Your prince requests it.” He said looking back at you. With a smile, he closed your door, just as you threw Dragonfang towards him, wedging itself on your wooden door.

The next night, you sang a longer performance. You sang every song you could think of much to the pleasure of your adoring audience. Eventually, you did tire. You couldn’t keep singing forever just to avoid having dinner with Prince Loki. Loki knew this, he watched with bated breath at the end of each song wondering if this would be your encore.

You waited in your dressing room, weighing the pros and cons of going to this dinner with him. Every scenario you thought of ended with you being betrayed or brokenhearted, or worse dead. What to do? What to do?

Your thoughts were interrupted by a knock on your door. One dinner. One dinner and Loki will get bored of you. Accept whatever he gives you, do whatever he says, but do it repetitively and he'll get bored of you. Just like the Grandmaster. It’s worked for you before. It will work for you again.

You opened the door to Loki holding out a stem of orchids with five blooms on it. “Darling, you were exceptional tonight.” He said walking into your dressing room. You bowed and gave him your most saccharine smile. This is going better than I thought, Loki assumed. “Are you ready for dinner?” You were about to answer when he interrupted you. “But of course, you should save your voice. You exhausted yourself out there.” He said with a knowing smirk. “Come. I have set a private dinner for us in my chambers.”

You couldn’t help but feel like you were walking inside the lion’s den as you entered his room. Soft curtains were billowing from the open balcony door. His room was massive with a private hot tub in the corner and a large four-poster bed backed up against the wall.

So this is what a room in the palace looked like. It was gaudy. You preferred the small dressing room you had in the theater. Even if you didn’t have a private hot tub to yourself, at least you weren’t under the watch of the Grandmaster 24/7.

“Do you like it? It’s a little too gauche for my taste, but I can’t complain. Please sit.” Loki gestured to a table made up of two dinner plates and candlelight. He served you wine and dinner, acting as the gracious host. And you played along.

He was sweet. He wasn’t forceful. He complimented you on tonight’s performance, asking how your voice was feeling. If it felt any better to give it rest. You just smiled sweetly and nodded your head.

Loki’s smile faltered slightly, as he asked, “Would you like more wine? Maybe outside on the balcony?” You weren’t acting your usual self and he noticed. He missed your fire, your boldness, your voice.

“Anything to please you, your highness.” You said habitually.

“No. Don’t. Don’t do that.” You looked up to meet Loki’s eyes. You had displeased him, and you didn’t know why. He looked pained and saddened by what he just witnessed. “Don’t treat me like him. I am not the Grandmaster.”

“Then why did you force me here to have dinner with you?” You finally fought back.

“You will always have a choice with me. If you wish to go, then I will take you back. Come.” He stood up and held out his hand. Would it really be that simple?

“You said, ‘Your prince demands it.’”

“I requested it. I only wished to take you out to dinner and spend more time with you. You are the only reminder I have of home.” Loki confessed. You were surprised by his admission. Humbled that he was willing to admit that to you.

Loki took you back to your dressing room in the theater. He wasn’t deterred at all about what happened tonight. If anything, it actually spurred him on to prove to you that he was different. “I will come back tomorrow.  Hopefully, you will say yes again. Until then, my nightingale.” He kissed your hand and left.

True to his word, he came back again the next night, and the night after that. Each time he would show up with a flower in hand and a smirk on his face. “Your Prince requests the pleasure of your company.” And each night, you had turned him down, testing his resolve as well as his claim of it being your choice. This did not deter Loki. He was more motivated to actually be near you. The look in his eyes would grow every night he talked to you. It was desire and heat.

Each time, you refused him, something in your body was just pulling you closer to him.  Truth be told, you were enjoying the attention that he was lavishing on you. You doubt that if either of you were ever back in Asgard, he would’ve given you the time of day.

Until one night, he failed to show up at all.

It was an hour past your closing number and Loki hadn’t come to ask you for dinner. You were relieved. He must’ve finally given up on you. But you were also disappointed. Have I gotten used to his devotion? Do I really desire him, or is it his attention? What if something happened to him? What if the Grandmaster found out?

You heard the handle of your door opening, and without thought, you unsheathed Dragonfang and pointed it at your intruder. Loki came in with his hands held up. “Darling, it’s only me.” He said with a surprised voice. You looked him once over. He was well. No injuries. No marks or bruises. Apart from tired eyes and a downcast face, he was fine. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. It seems my brother is here.”

“Thor? Is here on Sakaar?”

“Yes, he was in the arena tonight against the Grandmaster’s reigning champion.”

“Is he alright?” you asked. You knew how lethal the champion is.

Loki just rolled his eyes, “He’s fine. But I’m afraid, now I have to help him. He has found a way to leave this planet. I will help him fight against our sister. For Asgard.”

Leave? You were surprised to feel heartbroken. You were right to never get into something deeper. That you didn’t let yourself fall for him because of this. Because he was going to leave you eventually.

“And I want you to come with me,” Loki said. “This might be the last and only time I ask, my dear.”

“You want me to come with you?”

“Yes.”

You dropped your sword onto the floor and held his face in your hands. A fire ignited within you and you brought his lips to yours as you kissed him. A gentle push on his lips turned into a heated caress. He wrapped his arms around you pulling you close. His hands tangled in your hair, as he gently pulled it to kiss you at a better angle.

Panting, needing air, he wiped his thumb across your bottom lip. “Please say you’ll come with me.” He pleaded. You only nodded as you pulled him again for another kiss.

⬅️Series Masterlist | PART 2: Heirlooms➡️