#“i'll just kill all of your village elders”

[offrozenmemoirs]

There's also a thing i'm working on in regards to Makoto and him cutting his hair as a symbolic act of moving forward with himself. He's a shapeshifter by his nature as both a dragon and a spirit, so he can grow his hair to whatever length he wants it to, but...to me, his hair being kept long was representative of his nature as a sorcerer, he was always distant, and even when he was involved in direct battles, his strategy was to stay in his dragon form and simply fry all of his enemies with his lightning breath.

Makoto becoming a dark knight and cutting his hair short is both for tactical reasons (preventing it from being grabbed) and his actual transition into a protector who will leap in front of others to keep them safe.

[blogthebooklover]

I'll Never See Her Again (Noa)

Author's Note: Here's another one shot based on Disney's Pocahontas. There will be two versions: This one is through Noa's perspective, the other one will be through Mae's. I also included two minor OCs in this one! I took a few liberties with how Noa's village, and elders establish their rules and laws. This is also available on Wattpad.

Noa hung his head in shame, sinking to his knees and burying his face in his hands.  Why did he have to feel this way?  It was his fault that Mae was captured and imprisoned.  Why did he have to care for this human?  For this Echo.  He felt tears run down his cheeks.  He didn’t want this to happen.

He heard footsteps in front of him, and the gentle touch of a hand on the back of his head.  Noa lifted his head and realized it was Soona. “Are you well…Noa?” the female chimp asked him, nudging the young male’s shoulder in concern.  Noa shook his head, he blubbered out, “This is my fault.”  Soona placed her hand on his shoulder, “No, no, no.  The elders…have strict laws…”  “But the laws are wrong.”  Soona lifted both her hands to frame Noa’s face, and placed her forehead against his.  He let out a shuddering gasp at this gesture.

The female chimp pulled back to look in his eyes, “Come, come, come.  I have…an idea.” 

Soona took Noa’s hand into her own, and helped him to stand.  The two walked further into the village to where the elders took Mae.  Two male chimpanzees who were just a bit older than Soona stood guard at the entrance.  “Shell…  Quartz…” the female chimp stuck her hand out in greeting.  The male chimps greeted the female with a brush of knuckles between each other.  “Noa wishes…to look into…the eyes of the Echo,” Soona spoke softly, also using her hands to sign certain words to the two male apes.  

Shell and Quartz exchanged a look with each other.  They signed to each other for a few moments until coming to a conclusion with a nod.  “You can…see the Echo.  But…hurry before…elders come back,” Quartz said, pulling back the woven fabric adorning the door frame.  Noa turned to look at the female chimp beside him.  Soona nodded and gently pushed him into the tent.  

 X.X.X.X.X

When he was inside the tent, Noa briefly looked around the interior to find Mae.  His golden jade eyes widened in surprise and felt relief when he did.  Mae was kneeling on the ground facing away from him, she was placed inside a small wooden structure, and she was curled up into a ball with her head lowered to her chest.  Like the ape in the cage from the children’s book.  

He walked over slowly and went down onto all fours.  The young ape reached out and brushed his fingers along her shoulder.  The female human turned around quickly in defense, before breathing a sigh of relief when she saw who it was.  Noa had his hand through the bars, hanging limply as he stared at her.

“Noe,” she whispered, her sky blue eyes brimming  with relief, sadness, and concern for her ape companion.  She placed her tiny hand into his, feeling his fingers enclose around it.  

He bit his lower lip, feeling tears stream down his cheeks at the sight of her.  Noa reached his other hand through the bars to take hold of the back of her head.  

The young human leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his.  She heard Noa breathe a sigh of relief at this gesture.  She had witnessed the other apes in Noa’s clan exchange this gesture of affection between each other.  And Noa was sharing this moment with her.

“I am sorry,” the young male breathed against her lips, “I did not wish…for this to happen.  I do not…want to see…you in pain.”  “I have survived harsher conditions beyond your village,” she whispered, trying to sound humorous.  However, even Noa could sense that her words were meaningless in this situation.  The elders were going to decide whether to kill her, or keep her here as a prisoner when the sun rises the next day.

He pulled back slightly to look her in the eyes, still keeping close.  “None of this… should have happened,” he brought the hand that was holding her head to cup her cheek, “this is my fault.”  She lifted her own hand, took a gentle hold of his wrist, and rubbed her thumb against the grain of his fur.  “If I do die, I don’t regret ever meeting you,” Mae whispered, offering the young ape a sad smile, “my friend.”  He inhaled sharply at this statement, he felt more tears well in his eyes.

Soona called out from the door frame, “Noa…we must go.  The elders are returning.”  He exhaled through his nose.  The male ape ran his thumb along the human’s cheek once more.  He let go as he stood up, only to catch her hand and squeeze it gently.  There had to be some way to convince the elders to not sentence her to death.

Noa let go of Mae’s hand, only for her to continue reaching out to him.  He reluctantly turned away in despair.

He could hear her let out loud sobs after the woven fabric closed behind him, and brushed against the fur on his back.  He ground his teeth together, at her broken sounds and to also keep himself from crying again.

[thecatundertheladder]

how about fsm's and lloyds first meeting in the fsm lives au?

First of all thank you so much for asking!!! I had a lot of fun writing this even if took ages. Right so I haven't completely figured out when the ninja actually meet Fsm, but I'll get to that later. I do have a rough timeline so probably in between seasons five and six (Possession will obviously get retconned a lot). Garmadon is alive btw.

Lloyd had never really made the connection between his grandfather and the First Spinjitzu Master. Like sure he knew it logically, but there was a real difference between 'my grandfather is the First Spinjitzu Master' and 'the First Spinjitzu Master is my grandfather'. And besides, the guy was dead, as far as he could tell, so it didn't really matter other than 'hey I inherited cool powers and also his arch nemesis'. Honestly, the only things Lloyd knew about his grandfather were that he invented spinjitzu, used the golden weapons to create Ninjago, fought the Overlord, and he had two kids, who happened to be Lloyd's dad and uncle.

So naturally it was quite a shock when one day at breakfast Wu announced that his father was coming to visit in a few days.

What resulted from that statement was a rather long and, uh, productive (not really) conversation (a very loud debate).

Cole: What?! But he’s supposed to be dead! Kai: No no one of my village elders said he just left this realm and would return when we need him most. Morro: Nah grandpa just does whatever he likes. Though he was in another realm last time I checked, at least that's right. Jay: What the fuck does that even mean?!

That ,of course, sparked a whole other debate about why Morro knew that. It got sorted out in the end, eventually, after a few thrown noodle bowls.

But while the others seemed to calm down after that, Lloyd steadily got more anxious. Because this was his grandfather, the man who had created Ninjago itself, and fought the Overlord the first time. Yes, Lloyd had done that as well, but what if he didn’t met his grandfather's expectations? What if he was disappointed in him?

Morro, on the other hand, was pretty excited to see his grandpa again; it had been two years, and despite Morro taking advantage of Fsm's omniscience to inform him about various coming and goings, he hadn’t had an actual conversation, and he had a lot of things to show him as well. But Lloyd had seemed pretty anxious since Wu’s announcement, so, like any good older cousin, Morro cornered him on the way to breakfast.

Morro: What’s up with you? You’ve been anxious ever since dad told us grandpa was coming here. Lloyd, mumbling: What if I don't live up to his expectations? Morro: Huh? Lloyd, louder: What if he's disapointed in me? Morro: As someone who's actually meet him, his expectations are don't die, and don't kill innocent people. Pretty low expectations if you ask me. You'll be fine.

This makes Lloyd feel a bit better, but he's still anxious, and he refuses to talk to anyone else about it because, to him at least, it seems a bit dumb to be anxious about meeting his grandfather when no else is (they are, Lloyd just hasn't noticed).

Anyway fast forward to The Day of The Arrival. Lloyd gets up earlier than usual in order to mentally prepare himself for meeting God. And, since he's expecting to have a few hours before the First Spinjitzu Master arrives, he doesn't really bother to make himself presentable before making his way to the kitchen.

This was a mistake.

Because when lloyd enters the kitchen there's man(?) sitting at the table wearing a black kimono with gold detailing. And Lloyd's first though is 'fuck, its the First Spinjitzu Master' before he realises that the man (? seriously why is it so hard to tell) is in his late thirties at most. So Lloyd's next thought is 'why is this random person in my kitchen?'

Lloyd, suspicious: Who are you and why are you here? Fsm, smiling: I'm your grandfather, and I'm your grandfather. Lloyd: You can't be my grandfather! You're like thirty! Fsm: I am not thirty, I'm a shapeshifter. Fsm, now vaguely concerned: You didn’t know that? Why didn’t you know that?

So, luckily, Fsm, by being themself, manages to almost completely allay Lloyd’s anxiety by getting up, telling Lloyd to follow him, and going to find both his children so they can smack them on the head because come on you two this is Morro all over again (Fsm can't really talk though, his godly domain should really be 'forgetting to tell people important information'). Because he can understand Morro not knowing that Fsm - and subsequently their descendants - isn’t human, but Lloyd is actually related!

Lloyd, meanwhile, is shocked. God, his grandfather, is in his house, looking all of thirty, and stalking through the monastery all while grumbling under his breath about his kids not telling Lloyd something, all while Lloyd trails behind him like a lost fawn.

It’s then Lloyd remembers his pyjamas and bed hair, and he just, internally cringes. Like, c'mon, this is the First Spinjitzu Master, and here he is looking like he just got out of bed (that he actually did just get out of bed is completely pointless in Lloyd’s mind). But something about this thought process must have shown in his face and body language (never mind that Lloyd is behind his grandfather), because suddenly the First Spinjitzu Master (man Lloyd really has to get his name) is turning around, stopping Lloyd in his tracks.

Fsm: Stop that. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I am 25,000 years old, and I have raised two children, I have seen a lot worse than bed hair.

That makes Lloyd blush, but his grandfather is already on the move again, seeking out his children.

Of course, once Fsm does find their children, Lloyd has the pleasure of finding out that his grandfather his half oni, half dragon (“dragoni”, his father says, “easier on the tongue”).

But once Lloyd processes that he’s not fully human (and, like in the show, he’s pretty calm about because it makes a lot of sense when he actually thinks about) he starts to bond with his grandpa and damn the First Spinjitzu Master is not anything like he expected him to be, but honestly, Lloyd is actually kinda relieved about that. He’s a lot more approachable than Lloyd expected, and it seems he’s where Wu and Garmadon got the more, um, eccentric sides of their personalities. Lloyd is still a bit nervous around him, but that slowly goes away over the few weeks that Fsm is staying for.

Throughout those weeks, Lloyd kinda starts to get comfortable around Fsm. Lloyd shows Fsm a bunch of video games (I've decided this includes Minecraft because, listen, Fsm would be great at Minecraft (specifically creative mode) and you can't tell me otherwise), as well as board games, which leads to the interesting revelation that Mystake (Mystake?! Who runs the tea shop?!) banned Fsm from playing uno a few months after it come out because he tackled someone after he had to pick up 16 cards.

Hope you enjoyed!

But yeah I’ll probably do a separate post for the family bonding.

Also I feel like I need to give fsm a proper name at this point. I’ve been calling them imaragami (ih-ma-rah-gar-mi) since I started thing this whole idea up but tbh it’s just a bunch of random syllables put together (I’m kinda attached to it at this point tho). But anyway what do you think?

[mixelation]

btw with parenthood 2 i obviously wrote the squishy fun feel good bits of the end first, where kushina goes back with them. and in this bit i wrote first, she's like "listen, i know it will make people less suspicious if i do it, so i'll submit to a yamanaka mindwalk. they're not going to like everything they find but i have no secrets from you"

except then LATER i decided she murders the entire council. so now imagine you are a yamanaka and the hokage is like: yeah this is just a formality. yeah she's my beloved wife and i AM making googoo eyes at her 24/7. also as a heads up there's a bunch of treasonous murder in there. it's okay she was right <3

and so. BECAUSE she is your boss's beloved wife. you have to do the mindwalk while she is completely unrestrained. you get a front seat to the fact that she is stupid strong and also killed the hokage and also all the other elders and then went missing-nin and took over another village. you're like "oh god, what the fuck,," and you try to probe her feelings on THIS konoha and you dig up some x rated thoughts about your boss and the vague notion that she wants her kid to have fun in school. that's it. that's what's preventing her from just going off and doing whatever she wants

then you look up at your boss and he's making googoo eyes again

[srbachchan]

DAY 5748

Jalsa, Mumbai Nov 12/13, 2023 Sun/Mon 2:00 AM

Govardhan Pooja Monday, 13 November

last night Blog was a random state of the mind and body, with some of the most extended queries that had meaning and none at all ..

but we have the benefit of some of the dearest assets in our Ef brigade that possess the acumen of the highest iq's ..

may I present to all one such reaction to the somewhat thesis dissertation of coffee shot infested brain - mine !!

Good morning…

I'll respond in an order… 'cause the reverse might sound random…

Wise quiet of silence

Perhaps this is why sàdìsts prefer the company of spartans… so that they can get away with barbarous fun…

You see, spartans are accustomed to unfair insults… They do not react…

But, come once in a new moon, they do… and when they do, they demolish the facade with simple words and gestures…

In other words,

The quiet of the silence is indeed wise… but everything has a point of ignition… and when the wise are on fire, those rotten germs infecting humanity are scorched to ashes…

From eternity to eternity

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं। - गीता

Unborn, forever, and imperishable…

Which is the only reasonable definition of being… one that subsumes continuity…

There's nothing in any measure of a being on a timeline… the suffix 'ing' does not permit that…

Seclusion, and replication elsewhere

The desolate is usually in the queue of extinction… its days are numbered… soon to be obsolete…

In stark contrast, replication is that link of a chain which assures continuum…

I'll give a true example,

There is a shikara and houseboat attendant at Dal… His name is Shafique…

(Don't worry… there are thousands of Shafiques there… I'm not revealing a unique identity…)

Shafique's father died when Shafique was about 12 years old… they were living far away, on the right bank of Jhelum, in a small and little known village…

The father had created a farm of about 5 acres which he was tilling till his death…

Upon the father's death, his mother had invited his uncle to help with the farming… lest the land goes waste…

The uncle had three sons… all were elder to Shafique… They would beat and harass him on the farm…

His uncle came to the house one day, and said to the mother, "I cannot control my kids… I'm afraid they might kill your son some day… I suggest you leave the village and go to Srinagar… I have a friend there who will find a living for you…"

Today, Shafique is around 40… married with teenage kids… And, he is determined to get back the farm, which his father had carved out of nothing…

In short,

Continuity may seem like āmour in the beginning… but it can have savage consequences…

Desolation and extinction follow…

Venus

All true, dear Sir…

However, do you know that Venus has a retrograde spin?

Which means, it rotates in the opposite direction… While Earth rotates anti-clockwise when viewed from the North Pole, Venus rotates clockwise…

Haha… kind of a magnetic couple, eh?

Crucible foetus

I sincerely hope it's not an unwanted child… that seems to be happening quite often these days…

If it survives the incubator, it dies every day of its life… The facade doesn't work…

OH NO YOU DIDN'T

Hehe… but I did… in my own way… is that prohibited?

REALLY… YOU SHALL NEVER KNOW

I care to know just enough to sing your song wherever I go… I hum your tune, I recite your words… I live your moments…

For that, I shall always kneel before God, and thank Him and thank you… 🙂

and the collision of the wishers with that Sunday fervour ..

Loved and cared for .. in its immense value ..🚩

Amitabh Bachchan

[belit0]

2000 Word Commission (Uchiha Madara / Fem Reader) @moroseu

"I was wondering if you could write Madara falling for reader who was one of the many shinobi he had to fight during the war era. He never had the chance to actually act out on his feelings until the creation of Konoha, where he saw her for the first time outside of combat, during a diplomatic meeting of sorts. She is not wearing armor, she seems a lot more gentler unlike on the battlefield and for the first time, she greets him with a smile. Who will make the first move!? Will he chase after her when the meeting ends or vice versa!? That will be left up to you!"

As I was editing this, I noticed how I changed the meeting situation and got an angry Madara instead, I just hope you like it, my darling Roseu💕😭🙏 Thank you so much for always trusting me with your amazing ideas, I feel truly honored🛐💫

EACH COMMISSION COMES WITH AN EXTRA SECRET SCENARIO, THAT I UNIQUELY AND ESPECIALLY ADD FOR THE BUYER. (I'll leave you an example of it at the bottom, but in Spanish, so you don't cheat.)

KO-FI COMMISSIONS

 Madara is angry, in such an intense and terrible mood that makes him look like a hedgehog poised for a fight. Those who know the Uchiha usually avoid getting close to him in this state, aware they will get nothing but a threat and at worst, a glimpse of the Sharingan.

Obfuscated on his desk he tries to read Hashirama's indecipherable handwriting, whatever he tried to explain in the document he left for him. Peaceful times brought out the worst in everyone, and while the Senju leader stands out as the shinobi god, he has no freaking clue about what he's doing in office terms.

Madara, adopting the position of Shadow Hokage, spends more time between trips and physical negotiations than sitting behind a piece of wood, but every time he has to deal with his best friend's errands, his blood boils inside his body.

Is this motivation enough to start another war? Maybe…

"The... a-village of... con-no.oga? What the..." He sighs to himself, abandoning the document on the table and leaning back against his chair. One hand travels to his hair, running through the completeness of his scalp anxiously, and the other to his face, wishing he could disappear into the darkness his gloves provide.

He could ask for help, interpretation, or assistance, were it not for the fact that both Senju brothers decided to disappear altogether, leaving him with total responsibility for the situation. Izuna? Of course not, he doesn't count, he is more of an enemy than an ally when it comes to administration.

With his eyes still covered he remembers those times when everything was simpler and complicated at the same time, where the paperwork was not important and the only decisive thing was blood, sweat, and effort. His body tends to miss those scenarios where it was a matter of killing or getting killed, when the only meaning was to protect his own and to return home with as many as possible, to make sure that Izuna was safe, that the family was still complete.

War times were as terrible as they were wonderful, moments where only Tajima had to deal with annoying elders and combat strategies, Madara being a free young man with the only goal of bringing the Senju heir's head in arms and presenting it before everyone as a symbol of power.

Of course, he did not count on becoming the best friend of this Senju in question, nor running a village with him.

Blood used to flow smoothly, screams rang out from all sides, weapons roared against each other, and she looked as beautiful as ever in her armor and-.

"STOP!" The Uchiha suddenly shouts, standing up and planting both hands on his desk. Eyes wide open and hair tousled, he's grateful to be alone in the office and avoid having to give embarrassing explanations to anyone.

His inkwell spills onto the paperwork because of how he slams the desk, and the document which was already illegible because of Hashirama's handwriting now becomes even worse. The half covered by a huge black stain is given up for lost, and Madara holds his hair yet again, this time itching to rip it out of his head.

"SHIT!" He vowed to never think of her again, to deny that woman place and space in his mind, to eradicate her from his memories and exile her from any corner of his brain. For years he battled against that beautiful face captured in his thoughts, charming eyes, and the ferocity with which she tried to kill him over and over again in the name of the Senju.

She was not part of the clan, but her family allied with them to avoid being massacred for lack of decision. Hashirama worked with her side by side, and the woman dared to stand up to Madara on countless occasions when the leader had to attend to other fronts.

Never had he seen anyone but Hashirama or his stupid brother dare to look him in the face, avoiding his eyes of course, but with their heads held high and proudly puffing out their chests. "Now… what is the name of this warrior who dares attempt to end my life?" He had asked her with a smirk, expecting a perfect escape rather than a coherent answer.

"(Y/N)" she confessed to him before attacking, lunging with savagery and impressive speed at him, the only time she almost succeeded in slashing his neck. He had let his guard down in front of the woman, inviting her to dance a deadly tantrum from which he himself almost ended up losing his life.

The girl proved to be unbeatable, with will and strength of steel, always with an ace up her sleeve. At some point, the confrontations against the Senju took on a new flavor, giving the Uchiha the chance to see her, to fight against her, to have the privilege of admiring her raw power, and to be the recipient of all her assaults.

She was the only warrior he could not kill while holding her at the end of his weapon.

That time, (Y/N) had gotten careless after hours of combat, almost zero chakra left and few physical resources to use. Only the last several warriors were left standing, including the two of them. There had been hours of terrible exchanges, hard blows, and worse answers, but the girl gave an easy access entrance, an opportunity Madara did not hesitate to use.

When he had her on the ground, surrendered under his body and the strength of his hands, he could feel how she gave herself to destiny, how she submitted to whatever life wanted to happen to her, and that distracted him. The kunai was resting on her neck, all he had to do was press lightly, pierce the skin, and tear her throat as with countless enemies.

Instead, his hands were diverted by the warmth of her skin, the sharpness of her eyes, how soft her lips seemed even after hours of fighting and little to no water. Her presence became intoxicating, to the point where it managed to steal his goal of slaughter completely off his mind. She was the only opposing presence the Uchiha dared to forgive, and instead of finishing her off with the edge of his hatred, he allowed her to live.

He allowed her to live.

Her face has been hunting him ever since, unintentionally etched on his Sharingan and chasing him even with closed eyes. That was their last confrontation before the peace treaty, and he never knew what became of her once the war ended, feeling incapable of asking Hashirama about her whereabouts.

He felt fortunate to have had the privilege of witnessing her, meeting her, fighting as an equal opponent against her, yet that was all. He decided to ignore the reminders of (Y/N)’s presence in his mind, to bury her in the depths of times that are no more, and allow himself to move on without regretting not enquiring about her, searching for her.

Odds are that, if he did, she would spit in his face.

The man looks at the ruined sheet and decides to try and fix it, not to give up in the face of adversity caused by horrible penmanship and bad luck. He approaches Hashirama's desk and proceeds to rummage through all the visible and hidden contents in hopes of finding a copy. If the Hokage followed his advice and instructions, if he deigned to listen to Tobirama's damned recommendations, then he should have written it twice.

Or so he hopes.

Papers fly here and there as his frustration mounts, that wonderful dream of finishing his pending assignment looking farther and farther away, embarrassing decorations from his best friend raining down on the floor. He lets out another angry scream, thankful again to be alone in the room, pounding on the wood to the point of breaking it completely.

Shit.

"Bad day?" A female voice asks, and it sounds way too close for him to have imagined it. He knows that voice, yet it is not a petulant memory from the past, but an actual event in the same room. Memories come flooding back, the same tone he heard over and over again when she tried to impale him with her techniques. It takes him a minute before he dares to look up, but when he does, he understands not to be imagining anything.

"You look bad, need a hand?" he can't answer, can't find words to speak, and feels heat rising to his cheeks. It's one thing to see the girl you like fighting against you and always in a context of death and destruction, yet a totally different one is to appreciate her after years, casually dressed and with no deadly intentions.

(Y/N) looks even more beautiful than how he remembers her, stunning body covered by civilian garments, coaxing eyes looking at him with a tone of laughter on her wonderful face. The lack of armor allows him to admire the gorgeousness of her curves, how smooth her skin looks, and-.

"Madara?" She shakes him out of his stupor with a snap of her fingers, forcibly bringing him back to earth and landing on his ass. He blinks a few times and produces a few babbles before finding coherence inside his head again.

"Yeah, no, I mean... (Y/N)?"

"The one and only." She smiles harmoniously, her face beaming with the gesture and making him reassess whether he is dreaming or not. "I was instructed to bring this to you, you know how politics works." She hands over a sealed scroll, one the Uchiha receives with clumsy hands. He ends up having to take off his gloves for accurate finger control, opening the delivery's contents and feeling his soul returning to his body.

"Tobirama figured it would be beneficial for you, he didn't have much hope for the Hokage's work." She simply explains with a relaxed posture, like not having a care in the world. While Madara feels like he might pee his pants at how intimidatingly beautiful he finds his wife... the, woman, she seems totally unaffected.

He confirms this is the document he screwed up, but it's a legible, polished version, traced by the albino's handwriting and thoughts, proofread probably about three times before having the final product. Composure returns, and he feels like an idiot for the scene he put together, such simple solutions delivered by the angel in front of him.

"I see you're still as fierce as ever, huh? You should learn to control that anger, dear. War is over and life is beautiful." The woman winks and pats his arm, smiling again before turning and heading for the door.

It's now or never.

"WOULDYOULIKETOHAVEADRINKWITHME?!" The question sounds more like a barked demand than an invitation, but it gets (Y/N) to look back at him with amusement. She comes closer again, each step executed with both grace and elegance, making Madara feel like a little boy in front of the love of his life.

Is she the love of his life? Probably, yes.

"Are you asking me out, Uchiha?" she purrs mischievously, savoring the taste of having her former enemy basically at her feet. Madara never felt so vulnerable, and he hates every second it took him to work up the courage to ask her out. Impulses are not always good, and just as he is about to retract his proposal, the woman invades his personal space to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"When and where, Madara?"

EXAMPLE OF A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE ADDED SCENARIO

[whumpninja]

I’m having so much fun using these as an excuse to fill in backstory for some of my existing OCs. It just works so well. This piece uses OCs from my story The Coven- it’s set about a century before the main story, in 1600s Ottoman-era Greece.

Whumptober taglist: @whumperofworlds (let me know if I should keep tagging you in these or not, I wasn’t sure!)

The Coven taglist: @fabled-whump @scatteriskity @ba-bhump

Prompt used: Whumptober, “It’s us or them.”

Featuring: betrayal, human sacrifice (but it ends well!), vampires before vampires exist also you can fight me on this but vrykolakas do NOT count as proper vampires, humans viewed as prey and discussions about that

Whumptober Day Seven: moonflower

"Are you going to kill me?" the girl asked. She said it bluntly, and try as she might Iolanthe could not detect a trace of fear in her voice.

Iolanthe tested the sharpness of the girl's own dagger against her thumb. It slit the skin with a mere touch, and a bead of thick, tarry blood welled up to drip onto the sand. Hmm. Good weapon.

"I haven't decided yet," she answered. "I could."

"I know," the girl replied.

Iolanthe took the dagger and cut the ropes binding her. "Aren't you afraid I'll run?" she asked.

"If you do, I can stop you." Iolanthe let a few flickers of her magic weave between her fingers before she clenched her fist to snuff it out. "I want to talk to you before I decide what to do with you."

The girl eyed her strangely, then sat down crosslegged right there on the beach. "All right. Talk."

A half-smile lifted one side of Iolanthe's face. She sat down next to the girl, leaning back against a stone. "Do you know what I am?" she asked.

"A demon."

Iolanthe laughed aloud at that. "I suppose in some respects, I am. But no, child, I am not a demoness. I am vampiros."

"What is that?" The girl stared into her face, and now Iolanthe could see the fear hidden deep within her. She was impressed that the girl hid it so well. Usually she could taste it on her tributes before they were even given to her.

"It means that once I was very much like you," she answers. "And then I was not."

"You are still a monster, though. Aren't you?"

"Did Kostas tell you that?"

The girl scowled at the mention of the village elder who had offered her to Iolanthe in exchange for protection for the rest of his people. "He didn't have to. I know you eat humans. Of course you are a monster."

"I drink them, actually. Their blood. I have no use for the rest of them." Iolanthe waved a dismissive hand. "Have you ever been hunting before, child?"

"I am not a child. And yes, I have."

"Are you a monster for killing rabbits and such for food?" Iolanthe searched the girl's face and saw the questions there. "There is no difference. You need meat, and so you take it from creatures that are meant to be your food. I need blood, and so I take it from the same." She took the girl's chin in her hand, turning it towards her. "Do you see now?"

The girl jerked her chin away. "So I am the rabbit."

"No, I think I would like you to be the hunter." Iolanthe did not know exactly when she had decided it, but she had. "You saw for yourself how easily humans will betray their own kind. Kostas gave you up without a thought- I think you have caused some trouble for him, have you not?"

"I can fight," the girl replies, and then, with a slight smirk, "Better than he can."

"So he got rid of you. Humans are like that. They decide they do not want you, and so they throw you out. Give you to monsters like me." Iolanthe moved to the girl's side, whispering in her ear. "Sometimes that's only how more monsters are made."

"What are you saying?" the girl asked in an equally low voice.

"I do not always kill the people Kostas and others like him try to feed to me," Iolanthe answered. "Sometimes, if there is one that catches my attention, I change them. Into something like me."

"Vampiros."

"Yes."

"Why?" the girl asked bluntly. She was a blunt sort of person. Iolanthe liked those kind.

"Because I believe you can understand." Iolanthe reached out to cup the girl's cheek. "You saw for yourself what your kind is like. Selfish. Greedy. Willing to betray their own if it saves themselves. Willing to kill to save their own lives. The only reason they haven't killed me is because they don't know how. But when they learn, I will no longer have tribute and fear. I will have hunters and chases and death, eventually. Again." She smiled. "It is us or them. I would like to make you one of us, because you are too strong to be one of them."

The girl was silent for a long moment. "All right," she said quietly.

"It is not an easy existence," Iolanthe warned. "I will teach you what I can, but it will not be enough. You will be hunted. And you will have to kill."

"I've killed before."

"This will be different. You will have to kill simply to stay alive. You must turn your back on everyone you know. Can you do that?"

The girl nodded, her eyes alight with a new spark.

"You will have to change." Iolanthe reached for her hand. "Becoming a vampiros is all change. Your identity, your body...your name. What is yours?"

"Tasoula," the girl told her.

"No longer. I will give you a new name, just as I received when I was changed." Iolanthe gazed up at the full moon. "I will call you after the moon goddess. You will no longer be Tasoula of the mortals. You will be Selene of the vampiros." She leaned close to whisper in her ear again. "Always remember that it was humans who tried to sacrifice you. They wanted you to die. You will die. And you will keep coming back." Iolanthe looked deep into Selene's dark eyes. "Remember what they are to you. You are not part of them. They are rabbits. You are a hunter." She smiled. "You will have to kill before the next sunrise. I think Kostas has been allowed to live long enough, don't you, Selene?"

In answer, Selene reached out and took the dagger from Iolanthe's hand. "Yes," she snarled, and Iolanthe knew that this girl would embrace the change, embrace the hunt. "I do."

[simplyclary]

A Spin on a Famous Fantasy Ballad

(Book cover edit by yours truly)

Chapter 1

Once upon a time, there was a young peasant boy who lives in the suburbs of the kingdom of Velaria. He's not your ordinary peasant boy, because instead of doing everything expected of him, he is often found daydreaming in the back porch of his small house surrounded by the tallest stacks of books.

Being the youngest of three, he can often slip away unnoticed, which often annoys his eldest brother. His elder sister, on the other hand, is the one who often spoils him with books from their father's library.

Much like every other child who's obsessed with books, he has his personal favorite book and that is the story of Robin Hood, an archer who is considered to be a bandit but really has good intentions. This peasant boy often fantasizes that he is Maid Marian just to be with Robin Hood. That's his one wish to every shooting star, that one day, there will be an archer that's as handsome as Robin Hood who will sweep him off his feet and whisk him away from the land he's born into.

Little did he know that his wish was about to come true...

Chapter 2

In the neighboring kingdom of Celestria, a rogue archer is on the hunt for his next kill. This archer always wore a black outfit that fits his body so well that he's as magnificent as the night. Of all the animals that he hunts, foxes are his favorite. There's just something about their elusiveness that gets the archer excited, and he loves the thrill of it.

Foxes are hard to catch and so the archer rode for days until he reached the gates of Velaria. To his excitement, foxes are not scarce in Velaria but you have to be fast to catch them. Whenever he's not fast enough to catch his prey, he gets pissed but he simply moves on and wishes that he'll catch a fox soon enough.

However, his next catch will not be what he's expecting...

Chapter 3

The peasant boy was being his usual self, reading his favorite book in the town when he heard a horse's neigh from somewhere in his village and to his surprise, the most handsome archer was on top of it. The peasant boy's eyes grew wide at the sight of the handsome archer. The archer gave the peasant boy a one-over and decided he was a worthy prey.

The peasant boy tried to plead to the archer to not take him away from his family, but the archer paid no heed to the crying boy. When the peasant boy won't stop crying, the archer got so mad that he decided he was going to kill the peasant boy right then and there. The archer took an arrow from his quiver, loaded it into his bow and pulled back the string. He was ready to kill the peasant boy, but he couldn't find it in his heart to do so.

The peasant boy then offered a bargain to the archer: spare his life and they'll go back to their respective kingdoms and never speak to each other again. The archer agreed to said bargain after some consideration.

Committing to this bargain is about to be harder than they thought.

Chapter 4

The archer and the peasant boy both regretted that decision the moment they made it. They couldn't resist thinking of one another during the depths of the night. They both managed to see each other once again after a fortnight and then and there, they sealed their story with a kiss.

Spending time together was a lesson for both the peasant boy and the archer. The peasant boy now knew archery and the archer no longer killed foxes after learning that foxes were the peasant boy's favorite animal.

They both had a good life and the peasant boy is happier than he's ever been because his one wish was now answered with the appearance of his dashing archer.

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

Author Notes:

This is my first dip into writing a story, this could've been longer but I only had enough time for a short version but if time allows, I'll write a longer version with dialogue and everything.

Thank you for reading until the end if you did. This was a fun little piece to write and I enjoyed writing it.

Just guess below who you think is the archer and who is the fox? Pretty obvious if you know the characters I based this little story from.

[thechaoticdruid]

~My Tav for roleplay and story purposes~

Name: Winnie (Winnifred)

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Class: Druid (Her favorite form being the direwolf. I also like to imagine she has some doggy-like characteristics because of it lol), she's also multi-classing as a wizard for reasons.

Age: 23

Race: Human

Hair: Reddish brown

Eyes: Pink

Height: 5'3

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (With a bit of a good lean I suppose)

Love interest: Astarion

Backstory: Winnifred was raised deep in a hidden forest village, amongst her fellow druids. Her grandmother was the archdruid of their circle and took to raising her after Winnie's parents went missing (aka the likely died horribly on an adventure.) Winnie lived a peaceful, but boring life in the village for thirteen years until eventually it was raided by goblins and everyone she'd known and loved was slaughtered before her very eyes. Winnie was captured by the horde's leader, a strange drow wizard who only allowed her to live because he thought she'd be the perfect test subject for his 'experiments'. She never learned his name, but since the event his face has haunted her nightmares. Winnie remained his lab rat for weeks following the raid. Eventually however her suffering came to an end when a band of adventurers came to her rescue. Apparently they were old friends of the family though she had never once met any of them. They freed her from the prison she'd been held in before setting fire to the goblins camp, killing every last one of the circle's murderers....Well all except for the drow...

Sometime after that Winnie was taken in by Arva, a half elf who just so happened to be the leader of her rescuers. She brought Winnie back to her group's hideout in Baldur's Gate's under city and for ten years Winnie learned how to survive on the streets, using some not so heroic skills Arva had taught her....

•Just stuff about Winnie•

Winnie is weird.

She rarely takes anything seriously and will usually use humor as a way to keep herself sane as she puts it.

She's definitely not a saint but there are some big no nos for her when it comes to morals. No harming innocents, children, or animals.

Self righteous rich tits can suck it tho

"Think you can just spit on me? Huh!? I'll bite your fucking ankles!"

Winnie is an insomniac with permanent raccoon eyes. Shh...don't say anything she gets self conscious!

She has really low self esteem when it comes to her appearance.

Growing up all the other children in her village used to call her ugly a lot. Pretty much all of them aside from a gnome child named Demi.

Winnie liked Demi. Demi used to call her tall.

Winnie isn't particularly romantically experienced. Mostly due to her low self esteem and urge to faint or run away screaming when around someone she finds attractive.

Astarion is her first everything really.

Moving on from that Winnie has a bit of an obsession with cheese. It's like her favorite thing ever.

If you have any she will steal it.

Her handwriting is awful.

She has a habit of pretending to be dumber than she actually is to throw people off.

She identifies herself as being interested in men exclusively, but if I'm honest she does have a bicurious streak.

Mostly because Karlach once asked her what she would do if Astarion was a girl.

Karlach is like her best friend, but don't tell Star he'll get jealous. Shhh...

Has a little plant in a small pot that she affectionately calls Vern.

Currently writing erotic Bloodweave fanfiction titled 'Blood Mage' as a side job to afford Astarion's costly wardrobe. Shhh.... don't tell Gale.

Likes to draw exaggerated doodles in her journal a lot. Usually illustrating important events in her life.

She often dwells on something she remembered one of the older druids saying before the raid. The elder druid described Winnie as "a weed amongst the flowers."

Winnie used to flip the old lady off behind her back all the time.

Will probably be updated and expanded on. Feel free to ask questions. I might make a separate one of these for my Durge .

IMPORTANT: While I am open to doing a little roleplay here and there I'm only doing it with users above the age of 18. Anyone without their age on their blog will be blocked or ignored. Also I'm not comfortable roleplaying the canon characters at this time so don't ask please.

[raayllum]

Hello! They’re back! Hooray! I was wondering how you think ghosting functions as a spell? In the context of Rayla’s return key to the silver grove everyone who went in with her was similarly magically blacklisted by association upon visiting (probably non-permanently but it’s not like they’ve tested it) and Ethari was able to temporarily break it for all under her key simultaneously.

But outside of that do ghosted elves encountered in the wild still not show up? Or is it a security concern so it’s a being shut out of community life at home style punishment primarily do you think? Because Runaan presumed dead isn’t ghosted, so it’s theoretically possible his key could let Rayla in functionally unghosted if it’s individual entrance keys the spell applies to not the person’s body/their soul instead.

Anyway whether or not it becomes relevant in the show or clarified/discovered to such detail I figured you’d at least have an opinion that’s interesting!

Thank you!! That's very sweet

I get the sense that 1) most Moonshadow elves don't leave their village/forests and 2) Ghosting spells don't work outside members of the community. aka if Ethari went somewhere and saw Rayla, there might be distortion/think his eyes were playing tricks on him, but if an elf from another Moonshadow village other than the Silvergrove saw her, there'd be no problem. We kind of know this from the TDP reflections "Chasing Shadows" in which Rayla meets another Ghost known as Redfeather in Scumport, who's met enough Moonshadow Ghosts to know they typically change their name and that Rayla is an outlier.

I'll touch a bit more on 1) for what we know about Moonshadow elves too. The only discussion we see of anyone leaving the Silvergrove are assassins, and given that Moonshadow villages are presumably hidden by illusions, you have to already know they're there to get in, so it doesn't seem like the majority would trade directly with each other, and would maybe congregate in other places (the Hollow Wood) and then retreat back to their own communities.

For the Ghosting spell itself, it just seems like it's a widespread illusion that focuses on 1) the faces of the community, who have to communally do it and 2) subsequent illusioned erasure of the Ghosted. It only seems to 'activate' when the Key is used within the village to get through the spell that cloaks the village itself (illusion-ception lmao). The Ghosted spell spreading by association is also very Moonshadow / cycle-y ("I didn't kill anyone" "Your leader did. What's the difference?" / "They thought I ran away, just like my parents"). It's sad, too, cause it means if a Ghost has a family they want to bring home at one point just to introduce to other people / even give a kid up for a safe life in the village, they... can't, really. It's complete social exclusion / shunning

I do think they'll use Runaan's key to let Rayla back into the Silvergrove in S7 to witness his and Ethari's reunion / reunite with Ethari herself. Whether she or they will actively campaign for her to be let in (which leads to the screencap that seems like a trial) > the elders being like "you dare come back and show your face, now you must undergo it" we'll have to see, but I'll be curious if nothing else.

(It'd also be very cute if Callum comes with and is prepared to start dancing, Runaan looks at him in done surprise, and Rayla admits that you don't also have to dance to be let in. Then he gets all smug/bashful about her just wanting to dance with him all those years ago)

[parryperi]

Could be remnants of my Persona 3 brain and how I viewed the two protagonists there but I like to view the masc and fem builders as twins too.

Whether or not I still go with the same headcanon I have with p3 where "whichever protag you picked is the one that survived" is up in the air ahaaa.

I think for Builders it can either be that or a case of "whichever protag you did not pick is still in Cantlin".

The "the other twin is dead" idea sort of stemmed from the fact that Lulu's parents were killed when she was taken away. Sure, might not be a case for all prisoners of the Children of Hargon but yknow!

Thinking about this because I was in the midst of writing a drabble and it just kinda cemented itself into fem!builder's backstory in that drabble. Idk when I'll finish that thing but like, I guess I kinda like the way I put it from a character standpoint?

So, from the way I wrote it for the fem!builder, it goes like this, just to summarize:

• Masc (abbreviated to MB) builder and fem builder (abbreviated to FB) both grow up in Cantlin of course.

• MB is regarded as a total ray of sunshine and loved by the community in Cantlin. The go-to guy if you're having trouble with fixing your house or making a new shed. FB envies him a bit and looks up to him.

• FB's builderpedia is full of drawings from the two, with some of the blueprints FB has being inspired by her brother's machinations or some have corrections for each other written down.

• Basically, FB views her brother's work as being perfect and way better than hers.

• Children of Hargon invade and some circumstance makes them not care for elder villagers, so the twins' parents are no more.

• Both twins know neither of them can adhere to the "no creation" principle. Some sort of circumstance makes it come to where only one twin can be taken alive while the other is implied to face death.

• MB, wanting his sister to survive, does something to draw the ire of the invading monsters so they'll take his sister alive and leave her fairly unharmed.

• Before being separated, MB tells FB to keep making things to make people smile like he does. Furthermore, tells her that when they meet again, he can't wait to meet all the people whose lives shes improved.

• Afterward, FB takes on MB's sunny persona as a way to not only carry on his legacy, but as an attempt to be as successful as him.

• Despite how FB really feels at times and her own opinion of viewing her work as amateurish, she keeps up that persona and confidence throughout the story, especially since it seems to please people.

• Idk if you can tell yet but becoming a people pleaser is what hinders her in Moonbrooke. Thusly, knowing her work was used to harm people she loves tends to make her feel physically ill.

• At some point, FB feels like MB was meant to be the builder Hargon brought to the Isle of Awakening, but didn't anticipate MB sacrificing himself for his sister. Let alone, she feels like a fraud when called a hero as she only views herself just being hungry for praise and adventure.

• It leads to some inner turmoil, like her thinking her friends would have liked MB better than her, and that MB would have avoided everything that happened at Moonbrooke, regarding him as a better fighter too. With how she's asked if she'll ever go back to Cantlin, her anxious mind warps this into believing her friends want her to go away, but later resolves this.

• Eventually finds her own strength in herself, feeling her sunnier side start to come more naturally and feel more comfortable in her new life. While she would like to visit her hometown, she's fearful she may not he able to return to the Isle of Awakening if she does. Knowing she has no family left in the other world, she considers some of the islanders and her friends as newfound family.

Its very much a wip but like, its been on my mind. Let alone that MB and FB's roles can easily be swapped if I want to write about MB another time.

[larabiatasstuff]

Hey bestie! I'm back with a Valek request 😁 So my idea was, instead of being in the more modern days, the world is a bit more fantasy (king of like knights, castles, taverns, villages etc.) So what if there was a war going on with vampires and werewolves, and they are always fighting eachother and getting in the way of human life. And the humans pretty much just try to stay away from areas populated with vampires and werewolves, and many train to be warriors incase a vampire of werewolf threaten their homes. So your a young warrior, and the most skilled one around, and you are asked to find a little girl in the forest because she ran away. And when you do find her, your ambushed by werewolves and the nearly kill you, its then that you find out this was a trap and the little girl was a werewolf all along. Valek and other vampires save you and bring you back to their camp, where you discover they aren't actualy that bad, and they don't even feed in humans, unless they ask to be. And after spending some time with Valek, you grow close and offer to help in the fight against the werewolves. The night before you all go to finaly defeat them, you and Valek end up sleeping together, and once the battle is won, you stay with him 💚 take all the time you need bestie, I love you 🤗💚💚💚

Aaahhhh Bestie, I'm absolutely in love with your request and I'm beyond excited to write that for you 🖤

It were hard times for us humans these days. Vampires and werewolves fought a war against each other and it was difficult to stay out of their way. Every village started to train their young men to fight just in case they would attack them,while the women hid in their homes, avoiding to go out alone. But not me I refused to hide if something would come and attack us. I would be there waiting for them. I trained very hard and after a short time I became the most skilled warrior in the area. One day while I was patrolling, our village elder approached me. "Y/N my child we have a problem." I looked at him. "What is it?" "The carpenter's daughter ran away last night. Something must have scared her. She ran into the woods and you know that none of us will be able to get her back so I ask you. You're strong and brave please bring the little girl home." I nodded, I knew the carpenter and his wife and I also knew their daughter." Of course, I'll get a few things and leave. I'll bring her back I promise. " he put a hand on my shoulder" Travel safe Y/N. " I nodded and went home to pack my stuff. After a little while I was ready and left the village. I heard the stories about the woods, it was werewolf territory but I wasn't scared, I was focused on my quest. The sun was already setting when I arrived at the forest, it was dark and misty and it seemed every animal stopped making noises. I pulled out my sword, took a deep breath and entered the forest.

Part two🖤

[nerendus]

tell us a lil abt ur ocs <3

On it, boss!

I don't know what fandoms little anonling is a part of, but I'm going to use that as an excuse to talk about all of them.

However probably the girlies that I am most obsessed with I can't talk about since they are part of, like, professional projects and I very much do not want this account to be associated with that in any way. But I can say that pretty much all of them are either morally dubious medical practitioners or just really, really sad cyborgs.

I'll start with my D&D characters since those girls are just, so good and tasty.

There's Zia....something. She had a very long name and an even longer italian surname.

She is a Drow multiclassing with wizard and monk, and everything terrible that could happen to her happened to her. The...condensed version is that she had a chronic disease that was quickly killing her, and a god traded her death with her twin brother's soul so she got a get out of jail free card. And during the whole campaign which sadly ended prematurely, her whole entire quest was trying to approach her brother and explain that she is implicit in the murder that has yet to happen. Great lady. She had emotional issues and I spun a wheel at the beginning of each session to see how mentally disturbed she would be.

My other D&D character never got to see action (one day...maybe) and that is my beautiful lass Andlyn. She's a tiefling warlock with a minor degree in Bard. Her whole thing was that she was born into a cult worshiping a devil that forced her hand into killing her fiance. As such, she began her Rebellion Arc and begun killing cultists and she was therefore kicked out of the club :( But luckily for her, the devil she had worshiped didn't like all the attention the cult was giving him, so he turned her into his warlock under the pretense that she would seek out the cultists and kill them. She also liked singing at taverns.

And my last D&D character...is my first one. My lovely half elf blood domain cleric Atheleisia (not sure if that's how its actually spelt, I forgot its been so long). I love her so much, she is so over the top. She is a cult leader that liked to abduct children and make herself their mother while she experimented on their bodies. Specifically, she had this delusion that they were all riddled with sins, and as such, she had to craft them into monsters to remove the sin within them. She was also in love with her god that was a dragon that she deluded herself into thinking they were engaged when I don't think he ever even knew her name. She was great, I definitely need to bring her back in some other project.

So...now on to, like, fandom OCs, feel free to skim around to your own little fandoms.

Given that it's my current obsession, I'll start with my beloved Rogue Trader Alwena von Valancius (not to be confused with my other OC, Alwena EldenRing). Her whole thing in detail in on the RT discord server and that's too many words to copy and paste here, so condensed, she is an Iconoclast pyromancer that forged her sanctioning with the help of her cousin Mianno (not to be confused with Mianno EldenRing, look I use the same characters for every game ever) who she was slightly in love with. Her unsanctioning ended up making her thoroughly fucked up, and after the events of the game, she turned herself into something of a war saint and declared war across the other dynasties that refused her rule. She eventually is assassinated by her son due to her last few years of life barely able to register reality.

For Bloodborne, I have my little girlie Magdalene. She's a Vileblood knight that deserted her post during the Cainhurst massacre and didn't return until the events of the game. There...isn't much to it after that. She had a lesbian thing going on with Fake Iosefka and Amygdalas around the Unseen Village because she has superior taste over us all.

I have a few for the Elder Scrolls, one being my dark elf Nerevarine Arcanea. I don't remember much of her lore since it's been awhile since I played Morrowind, but she was a petty criminal in the Imperial City who came to Vvardenfell and immediately began several different polycules. She probably was really big in the Greater Vivec City Polycule. Despite what Azura wanted from her, she started relationships with both Dagoth Ur and Almalexia but don't worry! She does kill them in the end, just because Azura asked really nicely. IDK, she probably had the hots for Hiricine as well, but I don't think that would've ever worked out.

I have...a lot of dark elf OCs in TES, they're my favourite race, but I do have one Nord OC that I am greatly obsessed with. She's Vahkulass--draconic for Spring Princess--a dragon priestess that escaped the fate of her fellows and lived a life of seclusion in Skyrim while awaiting the return of her lord Alduin. Specifically, she married a dragon priest, and when a rivaling priest killed him, she took his place and declared war on everyone who had tried at some point in overthrowing their rule. But after all that, she stopped being a warlord and just lived a silly life as the weirdo lady in the mountains that didn't seem to age. However, she also worshiped Akatosh, and when she was made Dragonborn, despite her sadness, she did not hesitate in fulfilling her destiny in killing the World Eater. She probably fucked Odahving in the process, but that's something else.

And uh...I think that's it? Yeah probably, my Tarnished OCs have absolutely, no lore. They are just pretty women.

But yeah, thanks king. 🫡 I am not proofreading any of this because this is way too many words.

[shannaroka]

lady kaede's village is nearly a six day trek for the young girl, traveling far from her village past the once beautiful island of hōraijima. the pinkette priestess clenches her first, annoyed at the white haired intrusion blocking her path. sakura's village elders have sent her, in her elegant pastel kimono as a sign of respect, to answer the call of help that lady kaede had sent forth. her gloved hand stretches, fingers extending as a mechanism to cool down (to prevent her from scratching inuyasha's eyes out like a cat attacking a dog). out of memory for the priestess kikyō, ❛ inuyasha —— ❜ a loathing greeting, crossing her arms. of all the half-demons she could have crossed path, why is it always him? ❛ pleasure to see you. must you always lurk around kaede's grounds? ❜

@heroeswove from inuyasha : ❛ i don't need your help. ❜

❛ wonderful. i didn't come to help you. ❜ jade eyes dart away from his golden gaze, securing her bag across her back before taking another step forward. lady tsunade has sent her with a mission, one that the aspiring lady sakura intends to complete. ❛ your village requested aid that i am personally delivering from mine. if you could just get out of me way, i'd like to get out of here and back without a scratch from your claws. but do carry a message for me — lady tsunade sends her best to your brother. ❜ sakura too can dig under another's skin, relishing in the discomfort of the demon that killed kikyō before her. ❛ the sooner you let me pass, the sooner i'll leave. ❜

[druidx]

Find the Word Tag - Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan - Part 1

I have a lot of Find the Word tag games. So I decided to put them all together to make me edit the Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan, a NaNoWriMo novel from 2012 based on the first TTRPG campaign I participated in the Fighting Fantasy World of Titan setting.

There was a total of 145 words to find so I've split these into batches of ~50. I've not removed any duplicates, and where there's not an exact match I've used synonyms instead.

I've grouped the words by the original tagger - though some of these are old enough the tagger has changed URLs...

Fair warning before you click:

I have tried to keep the snips short, but at ~7000 words, this post is 'colour of the sky' long.

Well, if we're sitting comfortably, I'll begin.

➤ @aquadestinyswriting

Bother

The dragon tilted its head, red scales flashing like fire and blood as it looked at her from another angle. "Well, if that's all it was…" It said, in a descending tone. Alexis nodded fiercely. "Then I suppose I can let you off… But I want you to do something for me, first." "And what would that be?" Richard asked. "There is a Blackguard," the dragon said, "who has been making a nuisance of himself in my territory. I would like him killed.” The dragon sniffed the air, gaze landing back on Richard. “A job, I suspect, for you, holey one.” "Why should we fight your battles for you?" Richard asked. Alexis hissed at him, but the dragon just. chuckled. It crossed its paws, laying its chin down, considering. "Quite frankly," it said finally, "why should I? Why bother sullying my claws when you have appeared at the perfect opportunity to rid this pest for me?" Richard pursed his lips, then gave a sharp nod.

Kettle (Tea)

While Kassandra stoked up the fire and set water over to boil, David, Richard's brother-in-law, bustled around fetching plates and bread for the travellers crowded around his kitchen table. When all had a cup of nettle tea and a plate of bread and jam, David settled into his explanation. “They came a few weeks back,” he said. “They told the village elders they just wanted to practice their new religion in peace. The elders agreed and gave them land to build a chapel. After all, there’re so many gods already – what could one more hurt? “Of course folks are curious. They dropped in to see what this new god was about. And these new priests started converting them.” Bastet raised an eyebrow. “That’s the problem?” “Doesn’t sound like it does it?” David gave a bitter laugh. “But something happened to the folks they converted. Became mindless and mean about it. Our neighbour Sam – you remember, Rich? The fella with the lazy mouser? – he always let me borrow his post-holer, and I’d always let him use my ploughshare. But I went up to ask him for it and he threw me out on my rear, saying the new god didn’t approve of it.” He shook his head. “We never had much, but we had each other. We were a community, see? Now, we haven’t even that.”

Language (Accent)

CW Swearing

Alexis paused at an intersection with Bastet and Victor on her heels and looked around. She couldn’t make head or tail of the street signs, so she grabbed a passer-by. "Excuse me, I’m looking for the trade district," she said. The woman she had caught looked down her nose, brushing away a wave of well-coiffed hair, from where it had fallen at her sudden stop. "It would be over that way," she said, gesticulating to the east. "Thank you," Alexis said, but the woman was already walking away, brushing at her sleeve as though something nasty had landed on it. "Spoiled bitch," Alexis muttered, turning to stick out a tongue at the woman’s back. Bastet winked. As the snooty woman passed, she stuck her foot out, causing the woman to trip. "Oh, my. So sorry," Bastet said, in mimicry of the woman’s polished accent. "I didn’t see you there." The snooty woman spluttered from where she sat on the cobbled street, as Bastet and Victor walked on. Alexis let them catch up and smacked Bastet lightly on the arm, but she couldn’t help smirking at the woman’s comeuppance.

➤ @corkythewriteblr

Citizen

Loyal

"We need to leave," Bastet said. "We don’t know who’s loyal to Dire. These people have their hands full right now, but it won’t stay that way.” "She’s right," Richard said, unfolding from his crouch. "Come on." Mute, Alexis stood, trotting to keep up with the others as they made their way down the castle bailey and into the city, swerving through the chaos of screaming townsfolk to retrieve their mounts from the Inn.

Qualify

Sand (Blacksands)

"Sirs," Richard said with a sharp salute. "I can confirm that both Zharradan Marr and Balthus Dire are dead. We have liberated Troll Tooth Pass, and the city of Castle Dire." "Excellent," Hengar said, his tone relieved. "This is just what I needed, some good news to cheer me up." "Good news? You mean there’s been bad news?" Alexis asked. "Yes, sadly." Hengar sat back in his chair. "Master Yastromo, if you please?" Yastromo inclined his head, long white beard swaying with the motion. "Of course, Captain." The old wizard sighed. "I am sorry, my children, to send you straight out again. However whilst looking through Zagor’s effects, I discovered something disturbing." He held up an amulet depicting a stylized eye in a circle. "He’s still dead, right?" Alexis said with trepidation. Yastromo gave her a sad smile. "Yes. I’m afraid this could be much worse. It seems Zagor was part of a cult called the Eye of Myurr. I have also received word that this cult of Myurr is gaining traction in the town of Port Blacksands. We do not know their aims, but given they worship a demon prince from the Pit, it is surely not anything good." Yastromo glanced at Hengar and stepped back.

➤ @talesfromaurea

Cliff

Desert

CW: Blood, animal death

"Very well. Good luck," Nicodemus said, gesturing at Cee-Jay. "Apprentice?" The boy nodded. With a flash and a jolting motion, the group were surrounded by torch-lit sandstone walls and wailing lizardmen. Victor sent a ball of flame rolling through the crowd, Richard close behind, cleaving a path. Bastet and Jay ran, Victor and Alexis, covering their rush towards the portal. Richard had turned aside, making his way through the press of bodies flung against his sword, towards the lizardman elder whose blade was already slick with the blood of desert rodents, and a wavering chant could be heard through the scrum for fighting.

Ocean (waves)

"Bast!" Alexis shouted. "I need you. Richard’ll take care of Victor. I need help now!" Goregut lifted Bastet around, dropping her next to Alexis. The two of them hunkered down, Gorgut shifting splintered planks as Bastet and Alexis lashed them together as best they could with freezing fingers in the torrential rain. It was a small, pitiful thing, but better than not having anything at all. The three of them tied themselves on long halters to the raft, and then with a joint effort, launched themselves into the heaving waves.

Storm

As is often the case the morning after a storm, a blisteringly clear blue sky beat down upon the sandy shore, with only the merest breeze to ruffle the black braids of the shipwreck survivor. Alexis coughed out sand and rolled over, pawing at the salt crusting on her eyes. She dragged out her water skin and washed off her face of sand and salt before taking a long drink. When she felt slightly more alive – certain that the Great Ever After wouldn’t leave her with crusty eyes – she stood up and started to explore the island and see if she could find her friends.

➤ @whimsyqueen

Fascinate

Alexis clenched her free hand as he walked towards her and forced a smile across her lips. "Most feared Lord Dire," she said. "We have come from the Fort at Trolltooth Pass, sent by your brother in darkness, my Lord Marr, to bring you this gift." "Now, isn’t this a treat," Dire said, stepping around her and Three, his eyes feeling as though they lingered on her as much as the patchwork construct beside her. Dire stopped in front of them, taking a few steps backwards. "Please, show me what it can do," he asked, his silken voice and sickly sweet perfume writhing about her, like the snake of temptation in books of yore. Alexis stepped away and glanced at Richard. They hadn’t planned any of this out, and she wondered how long she could keep the charade up before Dire would know something was wrong. Richard dipped his head, his eyes skittering to where Bastet was signing at her in thieves' hand signals. It was a pattern, followed by the sign for someone getting flattened. Alexis cleared her throat, brushing her nose, signalling she understood. “Three,” Alexis said, addressing the construct. “We’re going to play a little game.” "Goody! I like games," he said. “Please take two steps backwards, and then four forwards for me.” “Okay,” he said, and, squinting at his feet, walked back then forwards, quietly counting his steps. Delighted, he looked back at Alexis. “Done it,” he said happily. “What’s next, ‘Lexis?” “One step right, one back, two forward.” “Okay!” Again, Three’s face scrunched in concentration as he counted his steps, stopping right in front of Dire. “Fascinating,” Dire said, staring up at Three. “You can control it even without it’s crystal.” Alexis glanced back at the others. Victor shrugged. Richard loosened his sword from its scabbard. “Yes,” he said, “it’s a new system my Lord Marr is trialling. Woodling, show him the final command.” Alexis murmured her assent. “Three? Smush!” she yelled.

Gentle

Breakfast finished, Alexis slipped outside with a plate of raw steaks and headed towards the stables. “Good morning, Three,” she called. “Hullo, ‘Lexis,” he said, giving her a wave. She knelt beside her riding dog, placing the plate of steak in front of him. Neisk’s tail beat back and forth as she peeled one steak off and passed it to Three. “Eat,” she commanded, ostensibly to the dog, but Three also devoured the steak as Neisk gave a chuff and settled down to eat. “How are you this morning, Three?” she asked as the construct licked his fingers. “I’m fine,” he said, giving her a big goofy smile. “Your doggy is cute.” “Yes. My to'mae is a very good boy.” Three gave Neisk a gentle pat as the dog was licking the plate. “Listen, Three,” Alexis said. “Me and the others have to go into the city, but we can’t take you. You, um, stand out, a bit. Are you okay staying here with Neisk?” “Oh,” Three’s face fell. “Okay ‘Lexis.” Guilt gripped Alexis’ heart, so she reached over and hugged his arm. “I’m sorry, honey. We’ve got some very important work to do in the city and it’s… difficult when you’re with us.” She looked up into his big, trusting, mismatched eyes. “It’s okay, ‘Lex. I understand.”

Holy

CW swearing

"Yeah… It's some kind of powerful magical item, for sure," he said. "It’s glowing bright blue, but I can’t work out what it’s been enchanted with. Give me a sec, I’ll cast Detect Alignment to find out if it’s evil." Once again the rest of them exchanged looks but kept silent as Victor wiggled his fingers in a slightly different pattern. "Revelux in denomination!" he commanded. The wind sighed. Sand scuttled. Victor screamed. He dropped the dagger, falling heavily into the sand, and covering his eyes. "Holy mother of fucksticks!" Bastet rushed over to him and Alexis swiped the dagger. "What happened?" Alexis said. "Are you okay?" Bastet said, cupping the wizard’s shoulders. "Vic, talk to me?"

Ritual (Rite)

Nicodemus raised an eyebrow. "Indeed." He gestured to the viewing mirror again. "As you can see these cultists are devoted and stubborn fellowes. They have almost finished clearing the temple and preparing for their heinous rite which will allow them to open a portal to the demon dimension, or as you might call it ‘the Pit’, bringing their foul lord Myurr through to wreak whatever havoc he wishes on our world. We can not let this happen. As such I am sending you back with this." He handed Richard a cylindrical device, then waved a hand to bring forth a man in pale robes. "This acolyte will transport you back to the temple, and assist you in sealing this portal forever."

➤ @eli-writes-sometimes

Heir (Prince)

"Are you okay?" Bastet said, cupping the wizard’s shoulders. "Vic, talk to me?" "I… I’m all right. I think," he said, his voice shaking. "So. Um. Yeah. That thing is pure evil. As evil as a prince of evil in the dimension specially reserved for really evil things." "What did you see?" Richard asked. "Red," Victor said. "Only red. That thing is giving off an aurora of evil so strong that I see nothing but the waves of light from it. Give me a moment – I must wait for the spell to wear off."

Humanity (Human)

"Richard!" came the delighted cry of a woman. The door flew open and out sailed a middle-aged woman, long braids of ashy-yellow hair streaming out behind her. "Kassy!" Richard cried as the woman threw herself into his arms. "Kassy, what’s wrong?" Her fingers dug into his shirt, her face pressed against his chest for a long moment, before she looked up with reddened, haunted eyes. "Oh Richard, it’s terrible," she said, tears in her voice. “What is? Kassy? What’s happened?” "Richard?” Sticking out from around the door was the head of a human male. His eyes were heavy and his thatch of dark hair was in disarray. With one flickering glance, he took stock of the mismatched adventurers on his doorstep. “Richard, are these people your friends?” “Yes. David, what-” The man pushed the door wider. “You need to get inside now. Hurry!”

Take

"Ho! Whoa. You hold up a moment there, lassy," the captain called. Alexis stopped and turned back, arms folded and head tilted with a glare. The captain grabbed a line, swinging from the ship to the dockside, and landed, silken waist sash fluttering in the breeze. He struck a pose, one hand on the hilt of his sword. "Are y'trying to suggest that I, Captain Dragan Bloodbeard, of the beautiful Oaken Rose, is not fit to take a couple of poncy humans over the seas to Khul?" The captain took a few, stalking, steps forward, glaring down. "Well, are ye?"

Tough

(Word edited out for better prose) CW: Slavery

Once all the women had eaten, the guards unlocked their cell. The slaves filed out and, one by one, were locked to a long chain. The chain was dragged by a guard down to dim pits where veins of opalescent stone ran through the rock. The chain was locked to a staple on the wall, and pickaxes handed out. The other slaves began to attack the rock face. With a glance at Bastet, Alexis followed suit, struggling to even lift the pickaxe.

➤ @thewriteflame

Erase (Remove)

Alexis must have slept at some point, as she woke in a dog pile of small children and blankets. The sun was burning its way through the hall’s high windows, promising a fine day; what little the weather cared for mortal tragedy… She lay back, staring at the wide-beamed ceiling, exhausted down to her bones. At least it would make assessing the damage easier than if they had to manage it in the rain. Her thoughts turned to Richard and Ithanor, passing buckets in the rain, and to Bastet who’d vanished into the dark, and to Victor, throwing magic and water around with only one care. She should, probably, go check on them. Alexis slithered out of the warm pile, pulling the blankets over those who were left shivering with her departure, watching the children with a fond smile as they snuggled together, filling the hole she’d left. She adjusted her armour – apparently never having managed to remove it the night before – and found her travel pack and weapons close by. On soft feet, she padded out of the Town Hall and into the courtyard.

Flight

"Thank you, so very much," said the dragon. "I’m afraid I was in over my head there. If you kind folks hadn’t come along when you did, I would have been dragon kebab for sure. Thank you again, for saving me, Kypris of the Copper Dragon Flight. Is there anything I can offer you for your excellent service? Alexis instinctively held out her hand. "It’s very nice to meet you, Kypris," she said. The dragon extended a talon and they shook "Why didn’t you use your acid breath attack?" Bastet asked. "My my, you’re very knowledgeable, aren’t you little drow. Well…” Kypris scuffed a foot into the sand. “I was taken by surprise and they tangled my mouth shut before I could use it. I sadly haven’t yet learnt the full way of magic. So I couldn’t do much against those wretched little creatures. Now, please! What can I do to repay your kindness?"

Sleep

CW smoking/ drug use

Slowly they all woke, grateful to find both their necks and belongings intact. “Usually I do not let people sleep here,” the barman said, taking a suck from a long pipe, huffing out a cloud of scented smoke. “But I see you are new here, with no place yet to rest your heads. For the service of keeping the braziers lit and protecting you through the long night.. Eh, I will give you a discount for your newness. Two silver bits each.” He waggled his eyebrows and held out a hand. “Thank you, good sir,” Richard said, passing over his money. “Your kindness in protecting us while we slept is greatly appreciated. You are a godly man.” Silently, Alexis passed over her money. As the coins slipped from her grip, she signed in Thieves Cant, ripoff. The barman grinned widely. With a little prodding, Victor and Bastet also parted, grumbling, with their coins. "Now we’re all friends," Alexis said, "perhaps you can help us further. We’re looking for a ruined temple, somewhere deep in the desert. It’s rumoured to contain a portal to other worlds. Have you heard of such a place?” The barman shook his head. “I have not. But there is a man who sells maps from the marketplace. His name is Hassan. Perhaps he can point you the right way.” “Thank-” Alexis began, but stopped when the barman held out a hand, rubbing his thumb against his forefingers. “The desert is cruel,” he said. “A silver bit.” Alexis scowled. “Two copper is all that direction is worth, and we both know it.” The barman grinned as the copper coins landed in his hand. “Assamarra go with you, tree-child.”

Sound (Hearing)

Before she could get her answer, Richard came pounding over the hilltop. "She shall give it up over my dead body!" he roared, launching into the midst of the cultists, blade flashing in the sun. Fire roared from overhead, arrows zipped through the azure sky. Alexis felt like she’d blinked, and all the cultists lay dead, bleeding into the sand. “Greg damnit!” Alexis snapped, rushing over. “Why in the Pit did you kill them all? We could have gotten information from them. Like why they only wanted the dagger!” Muttering she began to riffle through the bodies for clues. “They… They were cultists,” Richard said, shrinking down. He toyed with the hilt of his sword. “Evil-doers. They were trying to kill you. You’re so small, and you hurt easily. I was just trying to keep you safe.” Alexis looked up, hearing the upset in his voice, and gave a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Thank you, for saving me. I just don’t understand why they wanted the dagger. It’s a piece of junk. I only wanted it because…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I just wanted it.”

Space

"Arts, I want you to show these lubbers to their quarters, then report back to deck. We’ll be setting the sails in half a turn of the clock." "Aye, Cap’n. Passengers, if ye’d follow me?" the First Mate said, leading the way below decks to show them to two cabins. "Ladies, ye’ll be in here," Arts said, pointing to one. "Gents, this'll be your cabin." He pointed to another. "I'll leave ye get settled. It’d be appreciated if ye could stay in your quarters till the Oaken Rose is underway. Dinner will be shortly after then." With a nod, he left them to their quarters.

"Well this is cosy," said Bastet, as she and Alexis arranged themselves in the cabin. It was indeed a tiny space, with narrow bunks on one side and a small tin sink, recessed into a dresser, on the other. Opposite the door was a porthole, letting in the smallest amount of light, over which hung a hurricane lamp. "Mm," Alexis agreed.

➤ @the-writing-rat

Boiling

"Yes!" she said. "We have been sent to rid your menace from the face of Titan." To her surprise, Zagor laughed. "Oh my," he said, wiping away mock tears of mirth. "What an adorable notion. Whilst you all look the part, I doubt you have the skill. So you are welcome to try, but do not think you will succeed." "We have might and right on our side!" proclaimed Richard, raising his sword. "We cannot fail!" At that signal, he and Ithanor made their charge The villain’s smirk dropped and his black eyes became those of death. He flicked out a hand and the last thing Alexis felt was the hissing and boiling of an orange inferno headed straight for her.

Charity (Offering)

"Excuse me, good sir," Victor called up to the pirate. "We are looking to secure the services of a boat and a captain to take us to the continent of Khul, the new land of adventure. Might your good self be available for this service?" "’Sir’?" the pirate looked around as if confused, and his crew laughed. "Ain’t no ‘sir’s here. Ain’t none but us brigands and rouges." Alexis ground her teeth. The seaweed under the hot sun was pungent, the lack of beer from the ridiculous rules of this cesspit pounded at her head. “Your h'excellency might be in the wrong place, eh lads?” “Enough!” Alexis snapped. “Brigands and rouges it is, if you can’t even see your way clear to not making fun of someone offering you good manners. C’mon Vic, these fools aren’t fit to take us up the street, let alone to Khul in this rickety old tub.” She turned on her heel, marching away when the laughter ceased.

Puzzled

She sat down next to the former barbarian, his hair and attire neater than she had ever seen it. "So what of you, old friend?" she asked. "Business booming for you too?" "Oh aye," Ithanor said. "As if I wasn't busy enough with the repairs and upgrades on the town, they've got me drafted in building a host of new homes. All these new bodies want places to live." "That's excellent news." "Oh and," Ithanor said with a shy smile. "Roderick’s not the only one with a new addition to his life." "Oh?" Alexis gave a puzzled smile. "Yeah. I, ah, managed to find myself a wife as well. Very soon after you left actually. Her name is Maeve, and we’re expecting a child, late spring of next year." Ithanor fiddled with his tankard. "I’ve got us a cottage close to the northeast wall, if you ever want to pop on over."

Succinct (Terse)

It wasn’t until evening chow when the winds picked up, large globs of rain hammering into the deck and soaking through anyone foolish enough to not have an oilcloth. When Richard stood to offer a hand, Bloodbeard held out a hand, saying, "I do thank ye for yer help, these past weeks, and by the end of the voyage we'll have made crewmen of you, I’m sure. But for now, let my boys work. Go down to yer cabins, and kindly stay until the all clear’s been given." With a terse nod, Richard led the way below, the First Mate's orders receding as they did.

Weather

Eventually, Bloodbeard came below, his hat drooping with the weight of water and his beard hanging in a sodden mess as he put his head around the door of the larger cabin which they’d stuffed themselves into. "Ah, you’re all here. Good, good. We seem to be having a wee bit of a storm, lads and lassies. But ‘tis nought to worry about – this ol’ girl’s weathered her share of rough seas.” He patted the bulkhead. “It’ll just get a bit bumpy at times. If you could remain here for the time being, that’d be grand. Can’t be having you lubbers out on deck, under me crew’s feet while they try to save her…” Bloodbeard’s eyes darted, and he forced out a chuckle. “Or risk ye being swept off to the briny deep, eh?”

➤ @sleepyowlwrites

Settle

The dragon clapped its paws again. "One moment then, please." It stood on its hind legs, squeezing its eyes tightly shut. The sand around it kicked up in a sudden twisting wind, knocking Alexis over as the others coughed and struggled to shield their faces. The wind died as suddenly as it came, dust settling around a handsome man with golden-tanned skin in the clothes of a travelling merchant. Alexis blinked and Kypris winked at her, his eyes – slitted like a cat – flashed with copper flecks. "Neat trick," said Victor appraisingly.

Sideways (Open-sided)

"Thank you," she said. "We should find someplace to sit and study this thing… Wait a sec." Alexis stopped, looking around with a frown. "Where the hell did Bastet and Victor go?" Richard glanced around, a hand shading his eyes. "There." He pointed to where a group of people congregated around a low table. On dusty cushions sat Victor on one side, his competitor – a dark-skinned elf – on the other. On the table were a set of bone tiles and a large stack of cash. Victor, in his bright robes, was frowning down at his hand, while Bastet stood behind him, hands on his shoulders, cheering him on. "They appear to be playing a game.” Alexis squinted up at Richard. “For money." "Yes, thank you. I know what gambling is. They can use their money however they wish." "They’re probably cheating." Richard pursed his lips and huffed. “Be that as it may, the fate of the world takes precedence over the immoral actions of our friends.” He gestured to an open-sided tent. “Let’s get something to eat while we look at the map.” They took a seat under the awning within sight of the gambling table, and a waitress brought them a tray of hard cheeses, nuts and cured meats. ”I assume you know how to use the map to find the temple?” Richard asked. “If the map is good, then yes, easily," Alexis said.

Sound

Outside, the day was warming up quickly. The four of them wandered through the tented village in search of a marketplace. It wasn’t hard, following the sounds of hawkers and hagglers, to reach the center of the oasis and the packed market. Narrow lanes bordered with awnings and tents, were filled with people and livestock, braying and hollering. Trestles covered in a dazzling array of food and goods, bright fabrics – soft, diaphanous, silky – dangling from racks, piles of skin and fleeces. The smell was incredible: sizzling meats, perfumed flowers, woody spices, offal and dung. Bright fruits alongside mounds of powders in umber and terracotta. Weapons and clothes and scents Alexis could never have dreamed of in a million years, sold by people of all creeds, their dialects and languages swarming into one joyous conglomeration. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. Alexis trailed along behind the others, dipping fingers into pots of spice to smell the strange new smells, running her eyes over glittering treasures, laughing and playfully batting away the small children who thrust trinkets and flowers at her.

A lull in the tumult of sounds made her pause. Something like a whisper, a gut-feel, a tickle on the back of her neck made her look back at the stall she’d just passed. Under a lean-to awning of red and yellow were stacks of chests, some open with the papers inside spilling out. "Guys?" Up ahead Richard looked back to see Alexis wandering back to a stall of some wordsmith. “Victor, Bastet! Alexis has found something,” Richard called out, with a huff adding, “I suppose her ‘treasure sense’ is tingling.” Richard returned to her side, as Alexis was scanning the stall. Crackling stacks of papyrus, held down by painted stones, and rolls of parchment lay across the stall’s table. Idly, she picked up one of the rolls, peeking at its contents – a map, of some kind.

Spacious (Space)

Alexis reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, but Bastet shrugged her off. "It’s okay," Alexis said. “You tried, at least.” "When we get out of here," Bastet hissed at her. "That one is mine." Alexis backed away to give her some space and went to find the elven woman. "Nassurae," Alexis said “Yes, sá itil?” "I don’t know night from day down here, but I’m told you do. If my friends and I are to free everyone, I need to be awake three hours before the guards come to take us back down the mines. Do you think, if I sleep now, you’ll be able to wake me on time?" Nassurae looked thoughtfully at the other elven women in the cell. Each nodded, gripping hands, their eyes alight with hope. “Yes,” Nassurae said. "We can accomplish this. We will take shifts and wake you when it is time." “Thank you. I’ll rest now.” Alexis glanced at Bastet. “I would recommend leaving my companion for now. She’ll sleep when she’s able, and I’ll rouse her when it’s time.” "Quiet dreams, eshen," Nassurae said, as Alexis lay down and closed her eyes.

Supposedly

CW Racial slur - black american

A rustle came from behind them, causing the group to turn. Richard and Ithanor drew their blades as a human and a black-skinned elf emerged from the scrub. "Who are you?" Ithanor demanded, levelling his blade at the newcomers. "Umm, hi?" said the drow. "Well?" Nathardrin said. The human stepped forward, brushing down his shabby robes. "My name is Victor, with a monocle. It seems we both have had the same idea: to sneak into Firetop Mountain and destroy the evil Zagor who lurks within." "And what are you supposed to be?" asked Richard pointing at the drow. "Some kind of pointy-ear coon?" The drow straightened, shoulders pulling back as she looked down her nose at Richard. "My name is Bastet," she said coldly. "Despite your manners, I, and my comrade here, wish to assist you with your venture into the fortress to defeat Zagor." "Oh really?" Alexis said. "Yazty-" She turned back to where the wizard had been standing, only to find the patch of rocky grass empty. "Oh. Well, I hope one of you’s a spell-slinger." "Indeed, little one. I am the mighty Victor with a Monocle!" said Victor, swaying a little. "I will astound you with great acts of wizardry and maybe even set alight to some things." "And I am a fighter of great renown," said the drow. Those from the militia shared dubious looks. "Well, there’s not much point us standing around debating it," said Nathardrin. "We may as well get on with this."

Sweep

(edited the word out for better prose)

As the stablehand led their mounts out, Victor slipped him a silver. "We were never here, okay?" he said. Wide-eyed, the boy nodded, grasping his broom and vanishing into the stalls to send out little puffs of straw dust.

➤ @drabbleitout

Accept

Soon enough their packs were ready and armour had been donned, and now they stood in the blustery morning, the dirt of the courtyard underfoot. To one side their mounts stood patiently, as Hengar ran through the lists of evils they may face: Goblins, orcs. A bugbear, if they were unlucky. While Alexis listened with half an ear, she studied the mounts with concern, and when the captain was finished, raised her hand. "Yes?" asked Hengar. "Sorry, Captain. None of those mounts are short enough for me to ride." "Do not worry, little one," Yaztromo said, coming from the door of the Town Hall, tugging on riding gloves. "We shan’t make you walk. You’re to ride with me, if that’s acceptable?" "Oh." Alexis flushed and dipped her head. "I’d be honoured." Hengar tilted his head at Yaztromo, his eyebrows raised. Yaztromo replied with an allowing flourish of his hand.

Bark (growl)

"What did you find?" Ithanor asked. Quickly, Alexis outlined the layout of the fort, the two sets of stairs, and the pattern of the patrolling goblins. "We should take them out," Richard said. "Are you stupid?" Alexis growled. "What part of 'stealth reconnaissance' did you not understand?" Richard blinked. "Uhhh…" Alexis could see on his face that he didn’t understand, but before she could snap the answer, Ithanor beat her to it. "It means we go sneaky-sneaky-sneaky," he said, pantomiming a person stepping carefully. "We can’t take them out because it’ll make too much noise, and risk them raising the alarm. We just have to be like little mice, trying to steal grain." "Oooh," Richard said, in a rising tone of understanding.

Borrow (scrounge)

Alexis rose closer to noon than she would have liked, rolling out of bed with a series of groans. Her head felt ten times heavier than usual, and her mouth was as dry as pound cake. Aside from the snoring of the night watch, the barracks were empty. Victor, she supposed, was still in the pub, but where Bastet and Richard were she had no idea. By the neat folds, Richard would have risen early. Bastet, on the other hand, might have woken just before Alexis by the state of her bed, or been just as hungover. After dunking her head into the water ewer, Alexis wandered down to the mess hall to see if she could scrounge up something to eat.

Dry

CW Blood

Zagor was sitting in a chair by his desk on the far side of the room. He smirked at them as they entered and fanned out. "So. You’ve come back for more?" he asked, his voice the rasp of two dry sticks being rubbed together. Slowly the lich unfolded himself from his chair, as Victor darted around to fire off a Magic Missile. Zagor’s robe singed, but the creature inside remained unharmed. While Richard and Ithanor charged in, Alexis and Bastet took up flanking manoeuvres. The battle was arduous, but between the five of them, they whittled the lich down until finally, the pale creature lay deformed in a pool of its own black blood.

Fine

Slowly the group made their way down to the ground floor, exiting through the now open front gate and into the fort’s courtyard. "Yaszty!" Alexis cried, spotting the wizard perched on the back of a wagon. She hurried over to him, the others trailing behind. "I am fine, little one," he said, raising a tired hand. "I assume you were successful?" Alexis nodded. "Yep, we got that bastard and his phylactery. Is Lieutenant Nazaretian around? We should report our success to him." Yaztromo hung his head, letting his shoulders slump. "Sadly, the Lieutenant perished in the battle, taken out by an uncannily well-aimed goblin arrow. The men here have nearly finished their clean-up efforts, so I shall be returning with them to Toreguard soon. I shall convey our success to Captain Hengar on my return.” He cast an eye over the group, taking in their dented armour and bloody scars. “You should take some time to rest before returning. Now the Firetop is free, there is no rush.”

Large

"It doesn’t look like they managed to crack the combination," Marag said, running her hands over the outside of the vault. "Good ol’dwarven engineering, that. Everything inside should still be there, then." With that, she began to finagle the door mechanism, until, with a soft noise like a sigh, it opened. Marag pulled open the door, and Alexis’ jaw dropped. The walls of the vault were lined with gold and platinum ingots. The floor was filled with chests, weapons racks and armour stands, upon which hung the most beautiful items – plates of pale, glistening, silvery metal; bladed hilts crafted with tiny jewels; crossbows engraved with strange runes. Magar stepped into the room, gesturing for the group to follow her. With no regard for the horde of treasures, she went to a chest pressed against the left wall and threw open the lid. Inside, nestled in neat rows on trays, were hundreds of gemstones. Maga scooped up a handful, and moving through the group, doled out a large ruby to each. "I hope this will be compensation enough f’helping us. And as advanced payment for taking out that velskkus, feel free to choose an item that’ll help you in your coming fight."

Mercy

"And how much will this map and information cost us?" she said, squinting. "Ah ha! I see the little miss is shrewd, as well as beautiful," Hassan said with a wink, and without breaking stride, added, "Three hundred gold pieces." Alexis gave him a flat look. "Fifty" "Fifty! No no, I can not go lower than two hundred, seventy-five." "One hundred, and you throw in a compass." She cast her eyes over the pile of treasures. A beautiful curved dagger with a jewelled hilt caught her eye. "And this." "All for one hundred golden bits? No no! Lady, you are crazy. That dagger is five hundred gold alone. Two hundred and twenty-five, and that is like cutting my own throat." "Please," Alexis scoffed. "That dagger is thirty at most. You think I can’t spot coloured glass just because the sun’s brighter here? Two hundred and twenty-five for the map, information, the compass and dagger, and one misdirect should anyone ask about us or our destination. Agreed?" Hassan threw up his hands. "Gods have mercy on me! Beautiful, shrewd and cruel, tsh." He shook her hand. "It is agreed."

New

Twilight was falling, the sky banded with pastel rainbow shades, as Alexis returned from the market with her haul of fresh supplies. As she walked along the dirt track towards the pub chomping on a newly harvested apple, she passed a pair of elders gossiping over a fence about some scandal from a few villages over. She slowed down to listen in as one of them complained about the reign of terror from a monstrous elf who claimed to be a paladin. Back at the inn, Alexis knocked on the gent’s door. “Heads up,” Alexis said, tossing him an apple. Richard glanced up from where he was trying to buff out the dents in his armour and caught it with one hand. “Ah, we haven’t had apples in ages.” He sniffed the skin. “Makes me feel a little homesick. How was the market?” he asked, placing the apple aside and returning to his armour. “About that,” Alexis began. Richard’s head shot up. “No, not the market. The market was fine. I got everything we needed. I meant, um. The village you’re from. What was it called again?” “High Creek. Why?” Alexis bit her lip. “Um.” Richard’s brown eyes creased in concern and he set aside his work. “Alexis?”

Peel (skins)

"Hey," Bastet said, calling her back to reality. "I think there's someone in here." Alexis looked over to see Bastet peering through the bars of the cell door. "Hello?" Bastet called through them. From the other side of the door came a blistering string of curses in a harsh language. "Whaddaya dirty green-skins want with me now?" the voice said in common. "I think it is a dwarf," Bastet said, glancing at Alexis. "Whaddaya mean, ye think it be a dwarf?" asked the voice mockingly. "I most definitely am a dwarf, ye lousy stinkers." Alexis shrugged at Bastet. "Sounds like a dwarf, yeah." "You can pick locks, right?" Bastet asked. "Yes. You go get the others, and I will let the very angry dwarf out of his nasty cell." "'His'! I'm very much a ‘her’, ye cretin." Bastet tilted her head. Alexis nodded, making shooing motions. Baset shrugged. "That’s right," the angry female dwarf called, as Bastet hurried off to find their comrades. "You’d better run, ya mangey beskur!" "Hey, enough with the name-calling," Alexis said, looking up from her investigation of the lock. "You keep that up, and you can stay in there." "Och! Now I’ve heard everything. Yon gobbo thinks keeping me in here’s a threat!" "I’m not a gobbo. I’m eshen." "What’s that?" Alexis sighed, spitting the word. "A woodling." "A woodling? Tch! Can’t be. Woodlings never come out the Darkwood." "Well, this one did. Now will you please be quiet so I can concentrate."

Work

Tentatively, Ithanor moved forward, placing a hand on a tall warhammer. As if that was their signal, the others moved forward, selecting what they wanted. Richard selected a suit of plate mail, Nathardin a recurve bow, and new swords each for Bastet and Victor. "Excuse me," Alexis said as Marag was finishing up with Victor. "I don’t see anything smaller than dwarf-size…" "Ah, now, let’s see. What’re you after, hen? A weapon or armour?" "Armour, if possible?" Maga squinted thoughtfully. "Aye, aye. I’ve got just the thing for a quarter-pint. A masterwork project it is, and a bit of an experimentation for the crafter. I doubt he ever thought it’d be worn." Marag chuckled, pulling from a chest a beautiful set of supple black leather armour, studded with that pale, glimmering metal. "Aye, this should see you right well, hen." Quickly Alexis changed. The armour fit like it was made for her. She grinned at Marag. "Thank you."

[itfitsitshipsart]

Anti-Hero and Bejeweled(my two favs from the Midnights album <3 ) for the F/O(s) of your choice. :)

Alright! More Reiji ranting! ^3^

Anti-Hero: Is your F/O more of a hero or an anti-hero (or a villain) Do you or your F/O ever experience feelings of inferiority or have moments of weakness and how do each of you handle them? 

Well, both, really. Before I go more into my personal story with him, if one looks at his character, he is definitely the hero... if you pick his route in the games. Otherwise, he ranges from being an obstacle for MC and the other guy to get past... or he ends up so far gone that he tries and/or succeeds in murdering the other guy or MC. Let's just say... his mental state is fragile thanks to his past.

Now, even in his story with my S/I, he isn't 100% the good guy depending on how you look at it. Mainly because of how he tries to kill his brother, the one my S/I is engaged to, and then later stages a coup to become king, though the coup thing even Shu (said elder brother, who was in line to be the next king) was cool with. And he has in his childhood the fact that he burned down an entire village once and murdered his mother.

Now, second part of the question! ...Reiji definitely deals with an inferiority complex thanks to his mother's treatment of him and Shu. His actions being ignored and hard work being praised no further then told he will be able to serve his brother, future king, well, and Shu being given all the attention, it's easy to see how he could develop such a complex. He tried to act like he was far superior to everyone, Shu included, but internally, he usually didn't feel it. He also felt he couldn't connect with others well, couldn't understand them at times, and why they do what they do.

Meanwhile, my S/I felt quite... bland and not unique. She didn't feel inferior per say, but she felt like she didn't belong in such a place, and to be chosen for such a path. And she felt alienated, an average human now amongst vampires and other demons.

Reiji and I helped one another though, the very act of choosing Reiji over his brother, despite being pushed in that direction, and the constant being there for each other. Two lonely souls found each other.

Bejeweled: What are the shiniest, brightest parts of you and your F/O and your personalities? 

Okay, this autistic coded vampire has his hyperfixations, and it's so wonderful to see him so passionate. Like, will I remember all the things he tells me about this new teacup? Or every property of this new poison he developed? No, but I'll try, and I want him to tell me more. Literally, when he is in his element, it is the best. Another great thing is how, even though he tries to be callous and cold... he can't. He hates to admit it, but he cares about his brothers (yes, he tries to kill one, but he gets over those urges and even cares about that one). And seeing the little things he does for them just because is sweet.

As for me, Reiji would say the best part about me is my gentle kindness and general optimism (even though that optimism wavers often). My character is deep into the 'I can fix him' story, and it works for her.