#unicorn: These are my parasite children and a love them

[raileurta]

I just have this visceral image of Unicron carrying a half dead quintesson going over to a group of thousands of half-starved humans dropping it and saying "feast my children." Then they just eat that sucker alive like some pack of organic scraplets as the Decepticons and Autobots alike watch on in horror.

[rei-does-stuff]

Don’t you love being proven right?

So i found some voice lines for cream unicorn for the affection system thats going to be coming apparently and it confirms a lot of my hcs about Cream Unicorn and I am just….So normal abt it

“We have met before, you just don’t remember.” I LOVE BEING RIGHT ABT PPL NOT REMEMBERING THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW PPL FROM THEIR CHILDHOODS HEHEHEH

My thing about them knowing pure vanilla and them not knowing is looking soooo right

This line is just kinda creepy line to me, I love, unintentionally unsettling and imagining them saying that to pure is soooooo!!!

This being as old as time knowing such personal details about you and acting like they’re your friend and know you when you don’t remember them AT ALL and think they’re a stranger is kinda terrifying lowkey

“My oldest memory? Perhaps when cookieland first opened its gate.” I FUCKING. KNEW IT THAT THE PARK WAS AS OLD AS THEM AND THEY WERE CREATED TOGETHER!!!

It confirms that cream unicorn is as old as the park itself, and was born right when the park came about (AND that they are forgotten but know others from their time at the park + confirms more of their lonely feelings with the other lines)

It also supports the idea that cream is probably one of the oldest if not THE oldest character in the game

Speaking of the park I think, for cream, that the park was for everyone at first, the pure of heart was basically everyone since cream was there since the beginning, but as time went on only children came around since they were the only ones pure of heart, so cream and the park changed accordingly, I don’t think cream minds it much, but as the numbers dwindled and their loneliness became more and more prevalent, their nostalgia yearning becomes more and more strong and their want for people to stay with them grows

Theyre so lonely, they are DESPERATE for anyone to stay with them (hence the yk…hostage thing) at this point they don’t want guests, they want people to stay FOREVER “if you were gonna leave when the music stopped, I’d rather you didn’t come” if they were gonna leave regardless they don’t want them, they want that companionship so badly that longterm stay

Cream yearns for the past, where they were surrounded by people and they weren’t loneliness, they want something permanent without realizing or understanding that their whole purpose isn’t permanent

No one is gonna stay at an amusement park forever, but that doesn’t ring in their mind because of that loneliness, and it’s because of that disconnect that they are stuck in that feeling of loneliness to begin with

Additionally I think the park and cream are two separate entities, connected for sure but separate, the park chooses who is pure of heart, how? Who knows, but I don’t think cream would make that restriction, especially with how lonely they are later on, they’d definitely get rid of the rule otherwise, Cream is only the caretaker of the park, they can only do so much, so in a way cream is the eldritch creature INSIDE another eldritch entity

(I know I do neverland comparisons a lot BUT THEYRE SO SIMILAR ITS NOT MY FAULT, but neverland is sort of sentient its how it chooses who gets to be there and sorts, I think cookieland is the same just on a muchhhh smaller scale)

Like a parasite the park needs cream and creams evidently needs the park, even if it’s the cause of their pain

Maybe at their loneliest, cream would talk to the park as if it was an entity, like it could hear them, it never responded of course but cream could swear a presence was there to keep them company, couldn’t have been just their imagination right?

“If you were gonna leave when the music stops, I’d rather you didn’t come”

Them not even wanting guests is so interesting to me, it gives perspective to apple cookie visit, maybe it was after they visited or before, maybe it was her visit that made them realize,

It’s sort of selfish, people come and you’re still not happy because they aren’t staying, “if you were gonna leave anyways Id RATHER be alone” its a lot coming from someone whos so desperately lonely but gives so much insight into them

I think this sort of mindset was after apple cookie came, and it cemented in their mind that they don’t want guests anymore, apple cookie was a guest and they care about her so much, but they barely come, they have their whole life, a family and they hate that. They can’t be here forever, and it makes them wish they didn’t even come because at least then they wouldn’t have to feel that pain of waiting for her to come back and them not coming

It further cements how stuck in the past they are!! And how they don’t wanna move on!!

"I kept the lights on while I waited for you to return."

The lights flickering and getting dimmer as they wait, eventually breaking <3 but they still wait

UGH ITS JUST SO GOOD!!!!

I KNOW SO MUCH ABT TGEM I DIDNT EVEN NEED THE VOICELINES BC I KNEW THEYD BE LIKE THIS FROM THE START IM SO GODDAMN GOOD

[unluckyplanet]

Roleplay Search!

Looking for more 1x1 rps! A bit about me, I’m a minor, I’ve been rping for 5 or so years, my preferred platform is discord, I’m semi-lit and..... a tad awkward. As in pretty unskilled in the art of casual communication. Rp ideas under cut

Pokemon! I’m keep going back to my pokemon obsession and I have a couple of ideas - Literally just a pmd style thing. Maybe not the humans-turning into pokemon, but a pair of young pokemon becoming explorers and eventually taking down an ancient evil.  - Evil Team grunt x Undercover agent. Or just, platonic. It doesn’t have to be romance, I just really like enemies to friends stuff. One of the characters is a teen/young adult who joined an evil team, and gets paired up with another new recruit who is trying to take down the group from the inside. Could either be casual shennigans, or following the story (from the evil team’s perspective.)  - Ultra beast fusion rp! Lusamine finds out about Nihilego’s ability to fuse with humans, and thinks “gee, what if we could do this with other UBs or pokemon.” So she takes a bunch of kids, children of aether employees, interns or volunteers eager to help, and fuses them with ultra beasts. Those kids would be our characters and.... well, I don’t have any real plot ideas. If it’s interesting I’d love to brainstorm ideas tho

MHA rp idea. Our OCs are some aspiring heroes who’ve been hurt time and time again by hero society. So they become vigilantes, fighting villains while also trying to expose the corruption among the heroes

Magical Girl rp! Our characters are a pair or group of magical girls(or just magical people in general) connected to these flowers called Eternablooms. Slowly they find out that these flowers aren’t as nice as they thought and are actually parasitic and ultimately detrimental to their health

MLP, I love my little pony, and the worldbuilding and general themes of friendship. Also it gives me an excuse to draw ponies - A pair of unicorns are chosen to succeed the princesses (or at least train to do so) and a few days later the Princesses are suddenly snatched up by some evil force. And so begins their journey to find the elements of harmony and defeat (or redeem) whoever threw equestria into chaos.  - While traditional ‘magic’ is restricted to unicorns and a few other animals, it doesn’t stop normal ponies from trying. Like our characters! Two magic enthusiasts who are hornless, but willing to search for ways to master magic regardless.  - Newbie changeling ruler and newly ascended alicorn are forced to work together to face a bigger threat. Preferably, my oc would be the changeling since I already have one, but hey! I’m always looking for an excuse to make more mlp ocs

PJO, a group of demigods arrive at CHB and immediately get smacked in the face by a prophecy.... Do I have an actual idea for this propehcy? Unfortunately, no. I just want to use my demigod ocs

Homestuck, I read this stupid webcomic years ago, and it will never let me go.  - Flarping trolls? I don’t more to add onto this... just... flarping trolls.  - Cherub session! We each play a cherub who are entering a 2/4 player session together.  - Two player session, a pair of wannabe players with no friends willing to entertain them, end up playing an incredibly glitched session alone. The difficultly has been raised drastically, their prototyping has gone horribly wrong and ontop of that their medium just wasn’t built correctly. Humans or trolls work! Or both!

The Owl House, a couple of teen witches begin their slow descent into wild witchery. Probably more casual and school oriented?

And uh, I think that’s enough. Too much maybe. If any of these ideas are interesting send me a pm here or a friend request to Jupiter#7701 on discord!!

[supersaiyadaddy]

Dystopia Reading Recommendations by my friend Victoria H:

 

All Good Children by Catherine Austin

The American government has developed a treatment to cure teenage delinquency which is bad news for 17 year old Maxwell, graffiti artist and angry, young man. This novel is a chilling look into the future of social control using pharmaceuticals.

Angel Fall by Susan Ee

One of the few books on this list I haven’t read, but book sellers and readers alike love this series. I’m looking forward to reading how 17 year old Penryn Young survives when warrior angels attack San Francisco, beginning the apocalypse. 

Children of Eden by Joey Grace

Rowan is her parent’s second child, which in a world of strict population control, makes her not just illegal but marked for death. Another novel recommended by my bookseller best friend which has received rave reviews.

Gone series by Michael Grant

I’m honestly not a huge fan of this series, but mine is definitely a minority opinion.  One day, all the adults are simply gone with no explanation, leaving teens suddenly in charge of a world of children. A scary scenario which becomes more perilous as animals and the remaining humans begin to change, developing dangerous supernatural abilities. 

Sixteen by Julia Karr

One of the lesser known books on this list, but one of my favourites as unlike so many other dystopias the setting isn’t also the plot. Nina is nervous about her fast approaching sixteenth birthday when she’ll receive a government mandated tattoo indicating she is now sexually available. After her mother is attacked, Nina discovers that everything she’s been told her about post-sixteen life is a horrible lie.

Legend series by Marie Lu

In the dystopian Republic, June is a fifteen year old military prodigy determined to capture her country’s most wanted criminal, fifteen year old Day, a survivor of the slums. Both think they know everything about their world, but both the hunter and the hunted will be profoundly changed when they learn the truth. The whole series is a must read. 

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden

To rein in online bullying, the government now controls who is targeted for mob justice, and what level of punishment is deserved. Teenaged Cassie has had every reason to believe in the fairness of this system, until one online joke makes her a target of a violent punishment far in excess of her crime. Fully believable and scary; I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

A fascinating novel of what happens when fertility is limited to the teenage years, and the competition is fierce for the privilege of impregnating the smartest, healthiest and best looking girls. Melody, who scores high on all three categories, believes she’s the luckiest girl in the world until she discovers she has an identical twin sister, Harmony, who is determined to save her from a sinful future.

The Knife of Never Letting Go series by Patrick Ness 

On an alien world, a small community of human men have the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. But when soon to be 13 year old Todd discovers that the Noise of everyone’s thoughts isn’t as omnipresent as he’s been told, he’s forced to flee for his life. For there are many dark, violent secrets on this world where keeping secrets should be impossible. 

Burn Mark by Laura Powell (sequel Witch Fire)

In an England where the Inquisition never ended and witches are still burned, developing the ability to do magic during your adolescence is a curse almost no one wants. Glory is determined to embrace her gifts despite them trapping her in a life of crime. By contrast, Lucas, son of a Chief Inquisitor, feels cursed by his developing powers which are threatening everything he ever wanted. These novels contain one of the more realistic depictions of the practice of magic, and of the oppressive history of British social classes.

Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

A very well known series, but unfortunately much maligned due to the declining quality of the movie sequels. However, the books themselves, especially the first two, are a compelling portrayal of a society at war with itself.  I couldn’t help but root for Tris and Four, two young people determined not to allow violent prejudice limit how they live their lives.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera 

In this near future, computers predict with unfailing accuracy who will die in the next twenty-four hours. Two very different teenage boys receive the much dreaded notification, and as the hours pass for them, you will question with increasing anxiety how accurate the title of this novel is.

Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman

On an Earth where humans have conquered death, Scythes are responsible for compassionately ‘gleaning’ a quota of people to keep the burgeoning population under control. Two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, are unwillingly recruited as apprentices. Soon, their own lives will be on the line as there’s a growing movement within the Scythedom to destroy the rules that limit their ability to kill.

Unwind Series by Neal Shusterman

And if you thought the world of Scythe was twisted, this dystopian series by the same author is set after an American civil war where the opposing sides reached a terrifying compromise. Abortion is now illegal, but between the ages of 13 and 18, unruly teenagers can be sent by their parents to be ‘unwound.’ A process that claims it allows the teen to live on in their donated organs inside more worthwhile citizens. Despite this bizarre premise, the author manages to create a very convincing and terrifying future.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (first book of the Bartimaeus series)

In this alternative universe, the British Empire dominates the world because British magicians are able to summon and control powerful demons. When Nathaniel, a young apprentice magician, decides to summon a djinn to get revenge on his teacher, he’s immediately in way over his head. For Bartimaeus is a conniving and hilarious demon, who is often too smart for his own good. If we lived in a just universe, people would have lined up for these books like they did for the Harry Potter series.

Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

A well known dystopian series that deserves all the praise it has received. Tally has been told all her life that she’s ugly, that everyone is until they turn sixteen and extensive cosmetic surgery transforms them into a Pretty. Tally has eagerly awaited this transformation all her life, until she makes a friend who doesn’t want the surgery as it does far more than just alter outside appearances. This whole series is well worth reading.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

A classic from the 1950s that’s still easily available for good reason. This novel is set in a post-nuclear war Labrador where any mutation from ‘the norm,’ no matter how small, is feared and hated. Suspect crops are burned, mutant animals are slaughtered, and any human who appears abnormal is sterilized and exiled to the dangerous, radioactive Fringes. David Storm believes he’s lucky because his differences and those of his friends are invisible. But the arrival of his sister Petra, whose telepathic abilities outstrip all of theirs, threatens to expose them all.   

An Introduction to Zombies:

Zombies Versus Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

An amazing anthology of short stories about zombies or unicorns by some of the best YA authors. Funny, disturbing and moving stories of the zombie apocalypse alongside unicorn stories like none you’ve ever read before.

The Girl with All the Gifts by Mike Carey

Told from the perspective of ten year old Melanie, the titular girl, this tense thriller takes place in a world where a fungal infection has transformed much of humanity into cannibalistic hungries. This novel tackles all the hard questions of what makes someone human, but never falters from being an entertaining and scary page turner. Also, the movie adaption is as excellent as the book.

Rot and Ruin Series by Jonathan Maberry

Fourteen years after zombies first appeared, the United States has reverted to the Old West, with small towns surrounded by the rot and ruin of civilization. Benny Imura, 15, doesn’t remember what life was like before, but wants to believe there’s more to existence than living behind tall fences and locked doors. But zombies aren’t the only dangers beyond the town’s borders. This entire series is an Intelligent, compelling and believable version of a zombie apocalypse.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Barricaded in a high school in a small Canadian town, Sloane Price and five other teens try to survive a zombie outbreak, their troubled pasts, and each other. A tense, smart thriller I couldn’t put down. Warning: themes of suicide and child abuse. There’s a sequel novella, Please Remain Calm, that I haven’t read yet, but it’s available on kindle.

Peeps by Scott Westerfield

This is smart, scary book where zombies aren’t caused by a disease, but a parasite which turns people into cannibals who hate everything they used to love. Warning: the teen protagonist, Cal, has become an expert on all kinds of parasites and describes them in graphic detail. But if you have a strong enough stomach, this is one of the most unique visions of zombies from an excellent writer. There’s a sequel that’s hard to get called The Last Days that’s shamefully still on my pile of to be read.

[aithne]

(Illume) Epilogue: Wear Red When You Bring Me Offerings

Yukiko delivered her child, a healthy son named Ryutaro, on the second of October. Iyotushi Akechi was crowned Emperor on October fifth, 1583.

When the smoke cleared, all of the retinue but Reiko could be healed and returned to life. The spirits were dispersed into the land through Tadaki's tower, and there they reside to this day. After the coronation, the retinue departed for the four corners of Japan, to see if the war-torn land could be salvaged.

The Crane Clan was decimated by the machinations of Arenro, and on Lord Akazawa Tsuneyasu's death in 1585, the Crane was simply folded into the Scorpion, Tomika and Funitsu ruling jointly over the combined clan. The pair stayed married (though why they did so was the wonderment of all who knew them, except Yukiko), and eventually had three children, two boys and a girl. Soshi Tsutsako never married, preferring her shujenja studies to all worldly affairs, so she claimed.

The Crab did survive to rise again, though Hideyoshi did not return to his former position as Clan Lord. Haku's daughter Kita was adopted into the clan and ruled them for forty-four hard years, as the Crab fought to regain even a shadow of its former glory.

Haku married within his clan and had five children--not including the one who was Yukiko's son. Few ever guessed Ryutaro's parentage, as he took strongly after Yukiko's father. Those who did guess never spoke of it; Haku took the secret to his grave. It is unknown if Yukiko ever knew who the father of her child was.

Hideyoshi served under Akechi as the general of the Imperial Army for seven years. His body never fully recovered from his extended spirit possession, and as his health declined he gave up his position and went to live in Sapporo, in the newly rebuilt Phoenix palace. He died in his sleep in 1598.

Hiroshi found that life within the Unicorn suited him and kept both of his wives pregnant almost constantly for years. Sun Bear took over leadership of the clan when she gained her majority, and proved to be a fierce and wise leader. Hiroshi died in battle in 1622.

Panda and Nibori eventually had a number of children, most of whom were hengenyokai, two of whom were nearly pure Air Spirit Folk, the twin heirs of Skyhome. Tadaki visited regularly until Nibori's death in 1642. Panda outlived her husband by twenty years, but on his death gave leadership of the Lion clan over to her eldest son and retired to Skyhome. To her dying day, she went for daily flights with Gryphon.

Gryphon found himself a mate--a number of them--and lived quite happily in Skyhome for the rest of his days. He always seemed to have a kitsune or two around him, the only gryphon to ever keep pet foxes.

Tadaki moved the City of the Sun to a large island far off the coast of Japan, and used his now-formidable arts to cloak the island with spells that even today prevent any who are not of hengenyokai blood from finding it or even being able to think of it for very long. He married Kintro, a childhood friend, in 1585. (When she told the story of their betrothal, Kintro never failed to point out that Tadaki, when Kintro told him he was going to marry her, looked around panicked, in hopes that it somehow wasn't him she was speaking to. He did eventually reconcile himself to the notion of marriage.) As of the early 1700's, he still lives in the City of the Sun, the staff that he carries extending his lifespan far beyond the usual for hengenyokai.

Iyotushi Hirohito, at a strongly worded suggestion from his brother, surprised everyone by marrying Soshi Karasuko, Funitsu's stepmother. Thus he cemented the Imperial family's ties to the Scorpion clan. He held the official position of Imperial Advisor for the rest of his life. He and Karasuko had no children.

It turned out that the Demonbane had been holding what was left of the original Thrykreen and the entire remaining population of kitsune in a secure cell under his now-destroyed palace. There were six of each, and by the time they were found they had all paired off. Fortunately for mankind, the two halves of the race decided that they vastly preferred each other's company to living parasitically off of humans. To this day, the myobu (as they call themselves, after the Celestial kitsune who were all killed by the Demonbane) live very quietly in small communities that are usually walled away from the human life around them. A number of them also live in Skyhome.

All of the altered Thrykreen died within six months of the Demonbane's death. The Warresh still slumber in their crystal city, and hopefully always will.

Jeron spent a time wandering the length of Japan, occasionally dropping in on those who had been his compatriots, attending each wedding and funeral alike. For a while, he sailed on the Benevolent, becoming friends (and, it is rumored, lovers) with the copper-eyed second mate, Kalva. When Japan opened its borders in 1642, he traveled west, first through China and India, then Europe, eventually settling in London for a number of years. In 1685, he returned home, settling down to write an English translation of the events of the Spirit War.

The Phoenix Clan passed to Yukiko's son, Ryutaro, and Yukiko served as both the Phoenix regent and Empress until he reached his majority. Akechi ruled for thirty years, overseeing the rebuilding of Japan after the Spirit War, but insisted on keeping the borders of the country closed to outsiders. He died in 1613, followed by Yukiko in 1618. Ryutaro passed on the rulership of the Phoenix Clan to his firstborn daughter and took on the mantle of Emperor. Under Ryutaro's rule, the borders of Japan became progressively more open and the Clans began to fall out of power, as the Emperor worked to make Japan a part of the world.

Takumi Yamashita and Edi-lo were buried in the same shrine, on the grounds of the Phoenix estate in Sapporo.

Takumi Reiko was buried on the Iyotushi estate, just outside of Kyoto, in a shrine built for her by Akechi and Yukiko. The shrine is on a hill overlooking a river. From the torii of the shine, one can look down to the riverbank and see the place where a mage and an immortal once met and fell in love.

Her grave is one of the few places on the earth that the myobu hold sacred.

--Saruwatari Jeron, September, 1703

September 12th, 1703

Jeron leaned back at his desk, looking at the manuscript in front of him. "That's it, then," he said aloud to the empty room. "It's done."

Even with Reiko's spirit gone, he still retained the habits that having her around for a century had ingrained in him: speaking his thoughts aloud, leaving offerings at the small altar under one of the windows in this small house, double-checking to make sure he didn't accidentally close the door on her tails when she was frisking around in fox form.

He had begun the translation after she'd gone, almost twenty years ago, returning to Japan and finagling his way into the Imperial vaults, where Yukiko had stored her journals and letters before she'd died. There was currently a fad in London for myths and stories from the Orient, and Jeron had a publisher interested in his translation. The desk before him was littered with paper and parchment, covered with elegantly handwritten Japanese script.

"Funny. Only the myobu and hengenyokai will ever realize what this is, if they ever read it. The humans have already forgotten us. It's probably for the best."

He stretched and rose. He'd go visit the shrine on the Iyotushi estate tonight, he decided. Since he had returned, visiting Reiko's grave had become another habit. Seemingly by accident, he had ended up living only an hour's walk away.

Though I am not certain what I will do, now. Return to London, I suppose, for a little while.

That evening, he walked into the shrine overlooking the river. A young woman, fine-boned and very small, was standing on a stool, lighting lanterns. She heard his step behind her and turned, smiling. "Welcome, stranger."

Jeron stopped cold.

The girl's eyes were amber as topaz. He felt the prickle of her life force against his skin, like a subtle wind. She was kitsune, and from her raised eyebrow, she knew that he was Thrykreen. He bowed slightly, and went inside. The shrine attendants were usually human, though he supposed it made sense that a young kitsune might come here to serve a few years.

After paying his respects, he returned outside. The shrine attendant was standing at the torii, looking down at the river with a wistful expression on her face. He sat on a stone beside her. "How goes the hunting?"

She quirked her mouth in a small smile. "Well enough. Tell me, have we met before? You look familiar, though I can't place you."

"We might have. What's your name?"

"Ishimaru Kaede. I grew up in Skyhome, and my parents finally let me out into the world on the condition that I do a turn as a shrine attendant. I picked here, because it feels very peaceful to me."

"I haven't been to Skyhome since Panda died. That was--has it really been forty years now?" He looked over at her, and in the light from the lanterns saw something that he had missed before, a pure white streak in her black hair.

She saw where his glance went, and self-consciously patted the streak. "I was born with it. The priest said it was a sign that I had a troublesome last life. And, yes, it's been forty-five years since our Panda died. I'm only nineteen, so I never met her, though my parents are friends with her sons. What's your name?"

He hesitated. His name was legendary, and he felt a great reluctance to give it and possibly ruin the first good conversation that he'd had with one of the myobu since Reiko's spirit had left him. He couldn't bring himself to lie, so he said, truthfully, "Saruwatari Jeron."

The girl blinked. "Oh." She considered this, and her hands crept to the hems of her sleeves, fidgeting with them. The gesture was unconscious and so reminiscent of Reiko that Jeron's heart gave an unexpected twist.

Nonsense, he told himself. I need to stop looking for her in the face of every woman I meet. This is a pleasant girl, a pretty young kitsune, nothing more.

"I've heard stories of you my whole life. It's interesting to have the reality sitting beside me. You're not as tall as I thought you would be. The stories make you sound like you're a giant."

He chuckled. "Things get exaggerated. I'm a Thrykreen like any other, Kaede. I'm just a bit older than most."

Kaede tilted her head, considering this. "And you were a part of the Spirit War. And you knew Takumi Reiko. What was she like?"

He closed his eyes, remembering. "Small, smaller than you, even. Confused, much of the time. She held great sorrow within her, enough to almost drown her at times. She loved fiercely, and she was one of the bravest souls I've ever known. She died the death of a warrior, fighting for something she believed in."

"Is it true, that her spirit is still attached to you?"

Jeron shook his head. "A century to the day after she died, her spirit disappeared. I believe that she had finally worked out her sorrows, and was ready to move on--whether to another life, or to whatever afterworld waits for myobu."

"Ah. I'm sorry, Jeron."

An odd question occurred to him, and it came out of his mouth before he had time to think about it. "Tell me, do you have nightmares?"

Her eyes widened, and she stared at him. "I do. How did you know?"

"I don't know. What do you have nightmares of?"

Kaede looked down to the river, her eyes distant. "I dream of battles with demons who spit molten copper. I dream of sailing ships, of another kitsune dying because I could not protect her. I dream of standing in front of a man who I am terrified of, even though I don't know why I am. I dream I am walking naked on the deck of a ship, and a black-garbed man stops me from throwing myself into the ocean. I dream that my father tells me that I am no daughter of his--though my real father loves me dearly. And other things. I don't know why I dream these things; my life has been a happy one so far, and I count myself very blessed."

Jeron said, softly, "Perhaps they're just echoes of the past. Sometimes stories take on lives of their own. But I doubt it means anything, really. They're probably just nightmares."

"Probably."

He stretched and rose. "I must be off home. I do visit regularly, though, so I should see you again. It was good to speak with you, Kaede."

"Likewise. I'm glad to know there's another myobu living in the area. My parents would be pleased to know there's someone around who can keep me out of trouble."

He grinned briefly, the first evidence of the sense of humor he evidently kept well hidden flashing in his eyes. "I'm not so sure I'm the one to keep you out of it. Perhaps we could find some to get into, one of these days."

Kaede's eyes glittered with amusement. She watched the Thrykreen walked down the road and away from the shrine, murmuring to herself, "I think we may both be in trouble already, Jeron."

(Ishimaru Kaede and Saruwatari Jeron were married in April of 1704.)

Here ends Illume, a chronicle of the conflict that became known as the Spirit War. 3/2004 - 10/2004

[a-byronic-heroine]

“My kind aren’t the story or fairytale type, if you hadn’t noticed. Most stories told to children have morals to them. The moral of Lara Dorren’s story, for example, was to stay away from humans and avoid attachment and affection or it will lead to the destruction of our entire society. Also the death of your mother if you heard the songs, though I had already been responsible for my mother’s death by then, so that never really applied to me. The moral of the tale of the Unicorn’s escape from enslavement was to always kill you enemy. No exceptions. Get your slaves from other dimensions entirely.” She snorted at his opinions on Auberon’s sculpture. Oh, if only he knew.

The Auberon she had known was no great warrior. No great mage, either. Just a jaded, self-absorbed man who preferred dreams of paradise to reality. But the Aen Saevherne had raised him to nearly god-like status. Everyone loved King Auberon. The histories claimed he was the king to help form Tir na Lia. How he led vast armies into the heat of battle, wiping out anything in his path. How his wisdom built the very foundations of the Aen Saevherne and all the governing branches. How surprised they must have been when they discovered he was dead. By something as cunning as poison mixed into an aphrodisiac no less. If only they knew what an insufferable parasite she was in her life. How cruel he could be with a few simple words and a dead stare. “He certainly didn’t look that healthy or lively when I met him. But I do know he’s killed unicorns by breaking their necks with his bare hands. That’s factual, at least.” She giggled when he wanted to see it, rolling her eyes. “That sculpture was in the courtyard to greet visitors if you can believe it. Pure marble with sapphires for his eyes. And Aen Elle are supposed to be emotionless in the sight of that nonsense. I had to try and not roll my eyes in front of my slaves and servants.

Now that she was living comfortably—happily, she’d admit only in the privacy of her mind—she could look back on her past with little bitterness. Sure, she missed the massive bed, the room solely for bathing with a bath she could swim in, the clothing, the library, and especially the private royal gardens. But she could look back at some things and see how awful or insane they were now that she was more removed from it all. How ridiculously narcissistic some of the politicians and advisors could be. Like Auberon with his statues and paintings of his dead wife everywhere. Or Crevan with his experiments and books he’d written about himself. And that ridiculous poetry. Or Ge’els and his awful paintings he thought were revolutionary. In many ways, her world wasn’t perfect or wonderful. She realized that now that she’d been away from it.

As he explained his Kat-vampire thing, she began to grow more wary concerning Eskel’s safety. She never worried about herself. After everything she’d been through, she believed she could handle herself. But Eskel…she couldn’t bear to lose him. The very thought made her stomach roil and her chest tighten. Even seeing him only slightly injured was like taking a javelin to the heart. She almost suspected he’d heart her heart rate skitter with anxiety, because he almost immediately changed the topic to her attire for that evening. Kly only rolled her eyes. “The only way I wear that itchy nonsense is if I’m dead or being mind-controlled. You can wear the puffy dress. I’ll wear my dress. Do I need to play bait? Vampires like blood if I recall correctly. I sincerely doubt this kat-thing has had Aen Elle before. That would keep it off you, at least.” She reached up with the hand on his shoulder and traced over the edges of his scar idly.

❰❰ DANCE ❱❱ (Try to teach her some of that fancy footwork)

The more Kly learned about humans, the less she liked them. They were far too emotional and fickle. They were ridiculously superstitious and lacked in every creative way outside of culinary feats. And now there was this ridiculous dancing business. What was the point? Was it some mating display? There were literally no benefits to it, and yet humans seemed to think it worthy of their upper classes. They actually thought it a form of diplomacy. Eskel insisted she learn it so she could join him during his contract at the ball. They were in some stupid human country where Eskel was doing some vampire contract thing at a masked dance gathering he called a “masquerade”. She was perfectly fine waiting in their very nice inn room enjoying the warm fire and new apple tarts the innkeep was serving, but apparently this wasn’t part of Eskel’s plan. No, he wanted to show her what human “luxuries” were. Wanted to drag her into this miserable event with him.

Kly was staring at Eskel in their inn room, rather unimpressed as he told her he was going to teach her to dance. She was wearing one of Eskel’s shirts since the weather was nice out while Eskel was in some lounging clothes of his own. He waltzed in, opened the window, letting a gust of autumn breeze in and turned on his heel to face her, hand outstretched. Kly heard the faint strumming of a lute outside. Some troubadour playing for the inn while people sat outside and sampled wines. All of them in their ridiculous puffy dresses, frilly hats and collars and overdone makeup. Kly rolled her eyes but took Eskel’s hand.

She was immediately pulled up from her reclined position on the bed and practically dragged into Eskel’s thick chest. She grunted as the air was knocked from her lungs and she struggled not to fall. One hand came up to fit over her waist while the other took her hand and put it on his shoulder before taking the other one in his. He pulled until their chests were lightly pressed together, one of his feet between hers. She narrowed her eyes as she looked into his yellow ones suspiciously. “Is this really dancing lessons? Or are you just trying to have sex with me?”

@wanderingwolfwitcher