#* and its like a running occurrence that someone is like HELP THERE'S A MONSTER ROAMING ABOUT

[phantasmaw]

♢*   —  @elderjia ​/  𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝

   〈❦*〉┊  The acrid stench of fear rakes across Chaewon's senses when a humid summer wind blasts across the open plateau. The echo of a not-so-distant cry chases after the gust, inhuman and guttural. Their gaze follows the path the wind carves through the quivering grass, stopping only once it alights on a familiar figure standing like a slash of inkstroke against the encroaching dusk. One of their elongated ears flicks. They straighten. The woldo gripped in the hand not wrapped in overlapping talismans lowers until its curved blade nearly kisses the ground. The barest hint of a smile tugs at their lips.

      "Out for another hunt tonight?" they ask, foregoing any true greeting but offering a modest dip of the head nonetheless. That slight smile widens imperceptibly. "If it's another case of a local begging for protection against me, then I'll earnestly apologize for causing you trouble again." Another scream slashes through the thin veil of peace. The dokkaebi's rectangular pupils shrink to vertical slits. Their gaze doesn't leave his face. "That sounds far more troublesome than me, though."

[starshipsofstarlord]

Sheer | Kai Parker

Warnings; SMUT, ANGST, and FLUFF, mentions of death, mourning, loss, mentions of murder, trauma, swearing, unprotected sex,

A/N; sorta made up a whole storyline for this imagine, may be a teeny bit different and may have gotten a little carried away, please enjoy loves

It would not uphold, the weather held a grudge against you as you trudged through the pouring rain, cursing you for thinking that you would be safe on your lonesome.

Instead of a monster, the world wished for you to drown in its falling rivers, making you shiver down to the bone. It was too cold, but you had to go there, it was a ritual.

Since the death of your boyfriend, Aaron, who was killed by Damon, someone you thought to be a friend, you felt broken.

You had tried everything to bring him back, but without the power of a witch, it was deemed impossible, and Bonnie refused to help you, claiming that it was necromancy, and far from her beliefs.

It angered you, how everybody would dismiss the lost lives that Damon took. He got a free pass, he didn’t even regret his own invalid actions.

He was a monster, and you hated him. If you couldn’t bring Aaron back, then you would instead kill his murderer. That would not only give you a sense of revenge, but also make the world a safer place. There would be one less vampire making people’s lives a misery.

“Hi there.” You stopped in your tracks, the voice sending shivers down your spine. Whilst it sounded like a man, in reality it could be anything.

The skin of a human was a disguise the majority of the time, a bloodsucker or a wolf coping inside the exterior, thirsting to break free from the walls of bones and flesh.

“Kai.” He was not exactly human, he was a witch, the one thing that you needed. You had met him through Elena, who was luckily also angered by Damon’s actions, Aaron had been her friend.

And just like that, he had died. But she hid her feelings well, pretending all was fine because she was in love with the gruelling monster that you wished to execute.

However, even though you wanted to bring back your lost beloved, the time that had passed made your mind being up the idea of moving on.

The first person that sprung into your imagination was Kai Parker, the new sociopath in town. He was new, unaware of the traumatising past experience that lingered in your heart, and not to mention, his specimen was one of beauty.

Those grey eyes, ever so curious could bore straight into your soul, and you’d gladly let him mangle it, you no longer had a use for it anyway.

“Why are you out here y/n/n?” He asked with a tilt of his head that had your heart beating profusely.

Everyone knew of his effect on you, but they told you to dismiss it. It was cruel, that they’d rather have you mourning the loss of your partner than to move on with another.

To you, it didn’t matter if he were supposed to be the enemy, you no longer wanted to fight their battles. All you desired was to be in love, with somebody that felt the same.

And whilst you doubted that Kai knew how to feel such a strong emotion, some attention wasn’t the worst thing in the world. As a matter of fact, it worked well as a distraction, it made you almost forget the grudge that you held against the eldest Salvatore.

Almost.

“It’s nothing.” You whisked the direction of the conversation away from your deceased boyfriend, not wanting to talk about him to anyone, let alone Malachai Parker.

Even thinking of Aaron caused a void to open in the middle of your chest, it was unbelievably painful. You thought some people, such as Bonnie would understand, rather than think the loss as a regular occurrence.

To put it simply, the entire ordeal was completely fucked up, and you felt much more guilty for biting your lip at the expression that Kai pulled; his eyebrows raised, and his fingers carefully running down the side of his own jaw.

Oh god, his fingers. There were so many things that you could imagine him doing with those, and from the way he waved them on a greeting, he knew that he teased the thought too.

“Basically...” he began, rolling his grey eyes with what he liked to call modesty, and you classified as boredom, “you’re stuck out in the rain, and if I’m not mistaken, you live halfway across town.”

“Stalker much?” You sneered, crossing your arms across your chest, which only made his gaze wander down, and hold their movements for a dragged out moment. “What are you looking at?” You exasperatedly sighed, only understanding when you followed his peering.

He was focused on your chest, that through your white shirt, appeared almost bare. The lace of your bra was giving him a clear frontal, and so you adjusted your arms, so that they covered more and whatever they had pushed up to peak his intrigue.

“Why am I not surprised?” Shaking your wet hair, which was pointless considering that it was still raining, you realised that you felt the creeping of the cold.

You had been oblivious to it, thinking that it was a side guest to your tears, almost a consequence. But you were no longer tearful, mostly angry at the killer that ruined your future and acted as though it were no big deal.

“I thought you were supposed to be at college.” Kai quirked his brow, proud of the fact that he knew that. However you shook your head, and watched as he removed his jacket, clasping it around your shoulders, shielding you somewhat from the weather.

It appeared as no big deal to him, but it was to you, sociopaths weren’t famous for being kind and charitable. They always had agendas, their agendas, well they were obviously sociopathic.

But from the glazing of the witch’s eyes, you only saw a lost man. He was misinterpreted by all that he knew, they treated him like an outsider, alienated him as though he were a monster, and validly that was why he was seen as one.

“No.” You whispered, confused as to why you were so complied to correct the man. “My boyfriend was killed, I don’t want to go back there, it’s clear why.”

You attempted to give him a small smile, but it came out as a pained grimace. Just the thought had your mood drained, even more so since there was no route to resurrect him.

“Oh yeah, I heard about that.” He didn’t shiver in the rain, instead he seemed comfortable simply standing there, conversing with you in the rainfall. “Damon did it, right?”

Licking your lips, you hesitantly nodded, ashamed of the fact that you had once called the vampire a friend. From the start, you were always wary of him, but eventually you managed to become close to him. And then he ruined your chance of happiness, literally sucking the life out of it.

“What a dick.” Kai was blunt with his annotation, but you couldn’t deny that he was right about them. “Sorry for your loss and all that blah blah. We should get somewhere warm though, you can tell me more.”

It was a strange feeling, you felt pulled to the male, it was as though he was one side of a magnet, and you were another. And so you accepted his invitation, and followed him, breathing in the scent of his black coat. It was much sweeter than you had expected.

🏹

His so called home was an apartment, that you no doubt expected he had convinced someone with his magic to give him rent free. Or he killed them, either or you guessed.

But the thought of death itself was one that you weren’t too keen on thinking about, not now. Instead, you’d rather enjoy the company of someone that didn’t shame you for hating and desiring to kill the one and only Damon Salvatore.

Most of your friends didn’t take you seriously, they just barked laughter, not believing, nor willing to think that you could ever commit such a sentence. But they didn’t share your pain, if they did, you were sure that they’d understand.

Matt got it, he resented the vampire and a lot of the other blood suckers too. And your certainly couldn’t blame him, he had lost his sister, and there was no reason behind her change. It had all just been a game, a gruesome one at that.

Kai lightly removed his jacket from your shoulders, hanging it on a hook to dry. He almost appeared embarrassed, having you in such a private space.

But you didn’t want him to endure such a mindset as that. Instead you smiled, brushing your damp hair out of your face, grasping his hands. They were cold, and that made you frown. No one ever cared what he had gone through, instead they just wanted to rid the world of him.

Even his family had dismissed him, all because he had been different, and treating him as such had definitely had a mind mingling affect on him. It repented an unstoppable rage inside of him, one that ended in dead children and imprisonment.

“Thankyou.” The small example of affection had Kai tilt his head awkwardly and pull his hands away from your own. He wasn’t used to people even being polite towards him, let alone openly sharing contact with him.

You should have been scared of him. Or at least somewhat repulsed, but you weren’t, and it was a first for him. Most around him taunted him with blame, or pointed out his obvious flaws.

And so he ducked his chin downwards into his chest, taking a couple of steps back, mumbling something about retrieving you a dry shirt.

As you waited for him, you peeled off the sheer layer, dropping the ball of wet material upon the ground. Your bra had soaked into your skin, but you left that on out of modesty.

When Kai returned, his mouth gaped open, eyes widening at the half undressed sight of you. But he tried to avert your gaze, blushing at your lack of attire.

“It’s okay.” You jested to him , reaching out for the clean shirt that he had brought for you. “You can look, it’s not like I’m naked.”

“Yet.” He smirked as he allowed his stare to freely roam. His voice had been small, but you had heard it as clear as day. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be thinking like that, you’re in mourning and I get that you wouldn’t want to, yknow.”

His hand gestured between the pair of you , prompting what he was talking about. But maybe he was wrong, after all, it had been a while since you had any physical intimacy, and you’d be a fool to deny that there was chemistry between you and a particular witch.

“Don’t be sorry.” You put the dry shirt aside, walking closer to the brunette. “I am in mourning, but I’m going to get my revenge, and a distraction sure wouldn’t hurt.”

“And here I thought that you were just a pretty face.” Kai’s hand drifted to the side of your face, pulling you closer so that your lips were almost brushing. His breath ghosted over your own intermingling the fumes of lust and intrigue. “But it seems that there is a darkness in that mind of yours, I’m impressed with your plans to say the least.”

“I haven’t even told you any of them yet.” Your hand drifted under the band of his jeans, plucking teasingly at the denim, licking your teeth as you made strong eye contact with him.

“Tell me after.” He ordered, grasping your hips, and clashing your bodies together. Your lips worked hungrily against each other, both pairs of your hands grabbing all that they could, you and him both desperate to hold onto anything.

Kai shoved you backward into a table, trapping you against it as his lips fell downwards, and began to suck at your neck.

But at that contact, you pushed Kai away, freezing for a moment. Damon’s teeth had been on Aaron’s neck, sinking in and draining all that be worth.

“See Elena thinks I’m a monster, and she’s right.” You were unable to move as Aaron stood against the vampire, you had been compelled, and you wanted nothing more than to scream out for Damon to stop, but there was no audio in your throat.

There was no scream as Damon bared his fangs , nor when he sunk them into your boyfriend’s neck, instead you were holding back your tears, as you had been commanded to.

He held him to his mouth for a moment before dropping his body lifeless upon the ground. And you couldn’t help but stare at the sight.

Enzo wore a content smirk, and it sickened you to your stomach. Damon turned, his thirsty eyes boring into your form, that wanted nothing more than to crumble into a million people.

“You may now speak.” His pupils found yours, engaging with your soul, that felt broken and completely shattered.

“Are you going to kill me too?” A part of you was hopeful that he would, but as he came closer, you recognised the mischief in his stance.

He had plans for you, none of which you suspected to like. “Do it, show Elena how much of a monster you really are!”

If he killed you, you’d have liked to think that Elena would be furious , but it was expected that eventually she would forgive him when he put his humanity back on.

“Or instead...” you feared his humoured expression, eyes flickering between his feet that were walking closer to you and your dead partner that lay lifelessly a couple of meters away. “I could show her how much of a monster you are.”

He bit into his wrist, bringing it towards your mouth, and as much as you felt the urge to squirm, you could do nothing more but stand there and abide his compulsion.

“Are you okay?” Kai asked, brushing his nose against your own, wanting to know if you wanted to continue. He knew that you were a victim of trauma, and he understood it’s affects.

In regards to his past, his coping method had been inflicting it in return. But you had done no foul against him, and so he would not torture you or force you into something that you had no intention of continuing.

“Yeah.” You breathed, blinking to push the memory away, temporarily at least. “Bedroom.” You ushered, squealing distractedly as he hoisted you into his arms, wrapping your legs perfectly around his waist.

He dropped you upon the mattress, hovering over you, removing his shirt after you began to tug on the dark and rain pelted material.

Leaning your elbows, you unclipped the back of your bra, discarding it somewhere far from your memory, and Kai sunk down, his lips latching onto your nipple, playing with the other in his rough hands.

“Your fucking gorgeous.” He hummed around your breast, his fingers drifting down your stomach to the band of your leggings.

His compliment made you smile, and as he ripped off your pants, he slipped a hand inside of your panties, rubbing your sensitive flesh. But you groaned, frowning at his tantalising actions.

“Just need you inside of me.” You told him, and he was more than happy to comply, so he worked on his belt, as you slipped off your own underwear, and removed the torn fabric from around your legs.

When you looked up, you noticed that he was completely bare, and already had himself in hand. There was precum balancing on his tip and at the sight you licked your lips.

“You ready?” He asked bringing his head down to your chin, placing a delicate kiss upon the bump, and teasing his other tip against your opening, swiping through your wetness and using it to lube himself up.

“God yes.” You sighed, your hands finding refuge upon the back of his shoulders, your nails sinking into his firm skin.

And so, with consent, he pushed in, groaning at the initial tightness. “And I thought that it was wet outside.” He laughed, causing you to snort, he was funnier than you had expected him to be.

It almost made you swoon, but no, you couldn’t be interested in Kai, could you? Everyone thought you had been, even Bonnie had stated that you often undressed him with your eyes in the worst of situations, but it had never been a big deal to you.

And then it hit you like a ton of bricks, with a snap of Kai’s hips. All along you had denied any interest of another man, all because of the one that you had lost. And everyone already knew that there were sparks between you and the witch, before either of you had caught on.

“Shit.” He huffed, reaching down and biting your lips, causing your eyes to flutter sensuously, and dark veins to appear underneath.

At the feeling, you tried to bury your face sidewards into the pillow so that he couldn’t see, but he held you still as he gave shallow thrusts inside of you.

“Don’t look away, I think you’re beautiful.” Him saying that alone had you almost in tears. Despite trying to bring Aaron back you feared what he would think of you when he returned, or well, if he could.

Would he think you a monster, that stood idly by when he was killed? Because if so, you’re heart would literally break, and you wouldn’t be able to bare living any longer.

Living, funny. You hardly described what you were doing as such anyways. But currently, you did truly feel alive again, perhaps that was just the affect of having a dick inside of you.

But as Kai reached down and fiddled with your clit, you knew that you were done for. Your head fell back, eyes closed and mouth open, showcasing your fangs, your orgasm hitting you like a train.

He continued his movements until he felt he was nearing his point, and then he finished too, having no worry in impregnating you as you were well, to put it lightly , dead.

Both of you panted as he pulled out and fell beside you. Your eyes stared at the ceiling, your concentration eventually broken when Kai spoke.

“Damon did it, didn’t he? He turned you.” Your face had returned to its previous disguise, you looked human once more. But it was no secret that you were now a savage, a monster like Damon.

“Yeah.” You bit your lip, trying not to cry at the thought. It was the last thing in the world that you ever wanted, but Damon knew that too. And so he had cursed you, for all of eternity.

“Then he deserves to die.” Kai stated, he was already against the Salvatores, but his hatred for them had just increased.

[jenovahh]

Wild Greens Choke Tended Gardens - Ch. 2 - Antirrhinum (Snapdragon)

This...dream again.

A sky of fire and brimstone.

The air is naught but ash.

Robed figures run for their lives.

A terrible beast lands before him, its many eyes staring him down.

He is without a weapon. Always has been when he dreams of this place.

The beast roars, the people scream, and yet he remains still.

Not out of fear.

Not out of bravery.

“Zenos!”

Someone takes his hand.

It’s so warm in his, so soft.

The monster bellows again, charging an attack.

The hand pulls him out of the way.

“Don’t be so stupid!”

Suddenly he is nowhere and everywhere, time and space stretching out before him in a sea of white. He stands on his feet, dressed in leisurely attire instead of his full regalia.

“What were you thinking?!”

Zenos can’t help but smirk, watching as the dream warps into a lush garden, filled with plants of all kinds, ones certainly not native to Garlemald. The dreamscape tantalizes all of his senses. The vibrant green of the many trees, the feel of the lush earth beneath his feet. The sound of a bubbling creek reaches his ears just as he can taste the freshness in the air.

“I was thinking of when you might show up to rescue me as usual, my friend.” He smiles. Only here would such an action be normal.

“By the gods, you’re so reckless…” his friend sighs, exasperated.

“It is hardly reckless when it has been the same song and dance since childhood.” Zenos murmurs, beginning to walk through the garden. “You know this.” He doesn’t bother to see if his friend follows. He knows they will.

“Careful; one would think you enjoy my heroic efforts.” Their voice is teasing yet...sweeter somehow. More feminine. That's strange, he thinks.

Though he knows it will do him no good, Zenos turns to gaze at his friend, unsurprised that all he sees is mist.

It has always been this way, since childhood as he had said. He would have dreams of the end of a star, of rivers filled with blood, people dead in the streets. Even as a child he had been afraid, unsure what to make of such visions, until he had seen something else like him.

“Don’t be afraid!”

They took his hand then, too.

“I’ll be by your side so it won’t be scary!”

Faceless and formless, he had known this friend since the first time they appeared in his dream, providing him his one and only companion even if it was in his mind. He liked everything about them.

They liked to spar. So did he.

They liked to wrestle. So did he.

They liked to learn about magic, and all kinds of things. So did he.

It was the only piece of childhood Zenos had, born and bred to succeed his father on the Garlean throne.

He chose not to overthink their presence, not wanting to acknowledge whatever implications that this constant mental companion entailed.

Especially when they started being...affectionate.

His mother had passed before he was given the chance to know such comforts, and his father was too busy ruling to do something as simple as give his son a hug. He had known solitude the majority of his life, except for these dreams where he...craved their touch.

As children it had been innocent things such as holding hands as they frolicked through the fields to bone crushing hugs when he would tell them of their accomplishments. Only as he approached adulthood did the tone shift, holding a heated edge he was unfamiliar with.

He hated to admit the fact, not sure when things changed or why they changed. He knew such desires did not come from within; his friend was not a representation of himself. It was almost as if they were their own person, learning and growing with him.

“My friend,” Zenos begins, still staring at their incorporeal form, “what are you?”

It is silent save for the sound of water racing over riverstones, of the wind whistling through the leaves of the trees.

“What do you want me to be?”

The question throws him off kilter, not expecting a question in turn. Pursing his lips for a moment, he thinks of his answer. “You have been my friend since our youth. You are everything I could possibly ask for in a companion, even if you exist only in my mind.”

Their form shimmers for a minute, almost solidifying for a moment. “But what if you have a soulmate?”

He frowns immediately at that, a sense of betrayal weaving through his chest. “You would have me believe in something so preposterous?”

Their form shimmers once again. The dream space begins to warp and tremble, his body feeling heavier.

“Would it be so wrong to be happy?”

He opens his eyes slowly, body feeling heavier than usual. He’d dozed off at his desk again, grunting as he sits up straight, twirling his wrist to release some of the tension.

It is another sunny day in Kugane, able to see the elite walk through the streets below from the comfort of the Garlean consulate. While he had plans he wanted to tend to in Ala Mhigo, his father requested him to be present in the East, and so here he was at the behest of his father. It wasn’t like he had a better way to spend his time.

He hadn’t meant to drift into dreams, lips pulling downward as his sky blue eyes scans over paperwork upon the lacquered table. Sighing, he begins to actually read the documents, seeing more trade routes, more night watch reports, but even then his mind begins to drift back to his dreams.

The concept of soulmates was not new to Zenos. He had heard of it, mostly from savage races, as it was not a common occurrence in Garleans, for they spat at the concept. No amount of destiny could override the value Garlean society held for matches of power, of blending strong, affluent families together. His role as the prince would be no different. His father is sure to have a slew of women of his choosing prepared for him, all of them wealthy, pure blooded, and able to sire an heir.

Zenos was ever grateful for his sire’s continued good health. It delayed the eventuality of having to rule his homeland.

He was thankful he did not have a soulmate, not wanting to be bound to some weakling that was meant for him and him alone. This empty world had already disappointed him enough. Whatever bride he was given could be ignored, much like how his father cast his mother aside. Such a line of thinking filled him with dread and bottomless loathing for the day he would no longer be able to roam the lands in search of worthy prey, forever tied to the cold halls of the imperial palace to rule from a throne.

Something in the reports thankfully catches his eye, leaving him to abandon such a dismal line of thinking. Officers have received word from scouts that the Warrior of Light is making trouble in the Ruby Sea.

The Warrior of Light… he muses. He had heard of them. The one who ended Gaius’ reign thus dumping his occupation in his lap. Savior of Eorzea, ender of the Dragonsong War. 

Eikon Slayer.

Already he could feel his blood rush at the thought of meeting such a powerful foe. Could they be the challenge he had been waiting for?

He had to go and reprimand the Doman wench anyway. He had tasked her with keeping the regions subjugated beneath her heel, only to have the Warrior of Light come and disrupt their hold on the Confederacy, and the Ruby Sea by proxy. If he was quick, perhaps he could even make a slight detour and put himself in the path of this supposed legend.

Standing from his desk he summons a servant to set the preparations of departing for the Ruby Sea in motion. More servants arrive to help him dress in his armor, his thoughts focused on meeting this Warrior of Light. Already he anticipated their duel, impatience sinking its claws into his very being until it became a singular thought.

Unfortunately as the prince, he was required to have an entourage of guards to “protect” his person. He would love nothing more than to track down this legend himself, to enjoy their duel freely. They were more for show if anything, or at least from his perspective, a way to see if those who attempted to approach him would be good sport. Anyone who could be cut down by his guards certainly was not worth his time.

His presence is immediately felt as their ship sails across the sea, but it is not the only thing he feels. The usually radiant ocean is overtaken by a sudden storm, clouds darkening unnaturally, the seas churning fiercely. His eyes turn to the Kojin island where the eye of the storm stares back peacefully, even as his soldiers yell over the winds for him to go back inside. Their intent was to dock at Onokoro, news of the prince surely being enough to squash any potential uprisings, but those clouds...

“Change course for the isle of the beastmen.”

The soldier next to him sputters, surely seeing the storm as well. “M-My lord,”

“I would not question my motives, lest you desire to show how well you can swim in the open ocean in full armor.” Zenos drones, not even bothering to watch as the soldier frantically apologizes and makes their way to the control room to do as he was told.

The rain pelts against his armor, rolling off the polished metal as they draw closer. The ship is big enough to dock at the raised cliff, knowing that the primary method of entrance is via an underwater tunnel. The beastmen he sees already appear frantic, some of them unconscious upon the ground making him wonder if it was the Warrior of Light’s doing. The eye of the storm is calmer as expected, but as he turns his gaze to the sky he notices it is because the clouds begin to part.

The guards deter any Red Kojin from getting any ideas, enabling him to look around the isle for the Warrior of Light. That storm was not natural by any means. He knows they are here.

As he crests the slight incline, they find the responsible party for the defeated beastmen. A young girl and a woman stand surrounded by the turtle-like creatures, the girl with her rapier drawn and the other with her fists upraised, the two of them ducking and weaving through their seemingly endless numbers.

One of his guards moves to draw his sword and with an outstretched hand, he ceases their movements. “Hold your fire.” He orders, feeling as if he’s seen these two before. “I believe the guest of honor will not show if we kill them.”

“Of course, my lord--”

“S-Susano is slain!”

He turns as one of the shelled beasts comes running as fast as he can, not even caring that he nearly bursts through the imperial guard. “S-Susano is slain! Slain by the shell-less one!”

The Kojin all give worried and angered mumbles, the two females eyes finally taking notice of him. “Is that--”

“Zenos?” The blonde one snarls, immediately turning her attention to him. “What are you doing here?!”

While loath to waste his time with this riff-raff, perhaps they can provide him some answers. “The Warrior of Light. Where are they?”

The two women tense immediately, shooting him distrustful glares, immediately going on the defensive. “And what do you want with her?” The younger one hisses, already turning her rapier to him. While weak, even he could admire her tenacity.

“I would be willing to forgive this uprising you’ve started if you can deliver her to me.” Zenos hums, watching as their scowls twist further. “It would be no problem for me to squash this little rebellion underfoot. However, I find myself amenable to cutting my losses, if you can bring me the Warrior of Light.” To help the message get across, he rests his hand upon his revolver. “Something tells me you know her.”

“Because we’ve already met, you fool.”

Attention turns to the newcomer, her blue eyes blazing unafraid as she steps forward. With her robes drenched and her wavy hair all over the place, she looks even worse than he saw her last.

But there is a fire in her eye that confirms his suspicions.

“I’m A’yana Salvia, the Warrior of Light.” She huffs, her tail giving an angry flick. “And you are going to let my friends go, peacefully.”

Zenos can’t help but stare blankly for a moment, unused to the notion that someone felt they could order him around. Especially someone who he had defeated before, granted he also wasn’t in the habit of leaving them alive for them to be so bold a second time. “Oh?” He chuckles, turning to face her fully. There’s not an ounce of bravado in her voice, her stance showing she intends to back up her unspoken threat if he doesn’t release her friends. “Such bravery from someone surrounded by imperials and beastmen. What leads you to believe I would allow your friends to walk away?”

Her eyebrows pinch together as she crosses her arms across her chest. “You had come looking for me, have you not? Sorry to disappoint you once again, but I am the Warrior of Light and the Warrior of Light is me.” She tilts her chin up, looking down her nose at him. “You are strong, but I am willing to lay down my life for my friends. I would do whatever it takes to allow them to escape.”

She is still weaker than him, this he can tell, but there is no denying the set of her jaw, the resolve in her eye. “Tell me then, hero,” he drawls, more interested than he’d like to admit. “The storm that was here but a moment ago. Were you the cause?”

Just as distrustful as her friends, he watches her eyes narrow at him, deciding on whether to tell the truth. “No. It was caused by their primal which I defeated.”

He senses no dishonesty from her, piqueing his curiosity. So, she did live up to her title, the Eikon Slayer. She did not have the strength to best him in battle, but held the power to vanquish a primal…

Smirking, he prepares himself for what he hopes will be a mildly entertaining show. Turning to the beastmen, his tone promises retribution should they fail. “Beastmen. Unless you would have us raze your home to the ground for your failure…” he can’t help but grin as he faces her once again. “....kill them all.”

Hell breaks loose as the beastmen begin to move toward her, the Warrior of Light drawing her globe and beginning to move. Her friends move as well, fighting off the beastmen that begin to attack. His eyes never leave her, observing her each and every move. She is clearly untrained in combat, relying on instinct and adrenaline to keep her head from being cut off. He begrudgingly has to admit that she moves well, moving as if she were a step ahead, confidence in every step she makes as the beastmen fall to her one by one.

Like this, it is easy to see why Eorzea has championed her as such, the Warrior not even breaking a sweat as she fells the Kojin as if they were insignificant obstacles, unworthy of her time.

Is this what he looked like in battle?

“Lyse, Alisaie, run!”

Jolted from his thoughts, he barely moves in time to dodge a spell of hers, though it catches the majority of his soldiers, clustering them together before launching them in different directions. As they gain their footing, he’s surprised to find she’s set her sights on him, knowing just how well their last battle went, and how poorly it could end this time. She seems no less deterred, astrolabe twirling as she slowly dispatches his soldiers.

Such selflessness is wasted on her abilities, he muses, finally drawing his sword. Distantly he hears cannon fire from the North, her friends shouting that the Confederacy has begun to take back Isari. Though obviously reluctant they make a break for it, high tailing it out of the beastmen’s compound.

“Are you so eager to die?” He questions, taking slow measured steps toward her.

“Who said I was going to die?”she sneers, dodging another blow from his men, sending them flying. “All I needed was time.” With an elegant twirl, bright stars blind his vision momentarily, his soldiers groaning in pain. Gritting his teeth, he opens his eyes just in time to see her running away, annoyance hurrying his movements as he takes off after her.

His long strides allow him to catch up effortlessly, drawing his sword to summon lighting that will block her path. Sparks fly as lightning tears through the ground before her, erecting a wall she cannot get past. Her face betrays her feelings, her ire clear on her feline features as he slows to a stop. “I did not think you the type to run.” he calls out to her, enjoying the familiar weight of his sword in hand. “Though I suppose that is the natural instinct of cornered prey.”

“Why are you even here?” She asks, astrolabe still drawn, ears pinned back.

“I had come having heard reports of the Warrior of Light’s presence in these parts…” he hums, watching how her chest rises and falls. Taking a closer look he can see her exhaustion, most likely having used the bulk of her energy subduing the beastmen’s primal. “As I had not read any descriptions of their countenance, I would not have thought a weakling such as yourself could hold the title.”

Her eyes flash dangerously then, and something in him burns bright. He doesn’t know what it is, but he can’t help the smile on his face.

“The Warrior of Light...it makes sense you would run. Surely after being used to vanquishing whatever an enemy sets in your path, you would find yourself lacking after defeat at my hand.”

“Be quiet!” She snarls, tattoos glowing for the briefest of seconds and he hears something snap behind him. He barely dodges a broken piece of coral meant for his head. That’s all the distraction she needs to finally get one spell off on him, the magic nicking his skin uncomfortably before dissipating.

A temper… he ponders, shifting toward her again. “So the Echo isn’t your only blessing...you also have the ability to control vegetation, but not without cost to yourself as I had observed at our last duel.” he muses aloud, giving a swing of his sword. She dodges the wave of magic he sends at her, allowing him to close the gap. She dodges sluggishly, his blade barely slicing the first layer of skin. With a solid kick to her stomach she stumbles, but does not fall. “With blessings such as these it is easy to see why you would struggle against me. You are used to overwhelming your enemies with nothing but pure luck.”

“Shut up!” She roars, tattoos glowing brighter this time as more coral sharpened into knife-like points attempt to skewer him, quick on his feet to evade their attacks. Her eyes shine as he takes in the determination in her eyes, an elation filling him at seeing how desperate she is to kill him.

Her assault doesn’t last for long, her markings ceasing their glow as she collapses to the ground, eyes rolling back in her head. The coral falls to the ground limply, nothing but useless husks without her magic flowing through it.

He moves to see if she’s truly unconscious, until something wet trickles down his neck. Reaching up he removes his helm, the leathery pads of his gauntlets swiping across his skin. Bringing it to his lips, the familiar tang of blood coats the tip of his tongue, the raising of his eyebrows barely perceptible.

Perhaps our gap in power is narrower than I first thought.

His feet move on his own accord, until he stands above her, taking in her fair features. She breathes normally, and while he is no medicus he can still see the exhaustion in her bones. He wonders at her power; what is it’s source? Surely that savage god Hydaelyn cannot bless her with such ability, an ability that seems to take so much out of her. A mystery...

His soldiers finally reach him, having pulled themselves together. “My lord! The savage, have you--” they stop their prattling as soon as they spot her still body on the ground. “Is she,”

“She lives.” he murmurs, eyes not having left her prone form for a second even as he returns his helm to his head.

“Do not bother to sully your hands, my lord. I shall finish,” the soldier doesn’t even get to finish his sentence before he’s slit their neck in a single swipe of his blade, their blood dripping down the metal.

“Pick her up and bring her with us.” He drones, and he can hear them shuffle behind him as they decide who he was speaking to. “Quickly.” he sighs, sheathing his sword as his men move to pick up the unconscious savage from the ground.

He can’t explain his actions.

He did not enjoy killing; it was merely a by-product of battle, a way to punish those who failed him. Such incompetence was not fit to live.

But her…

His eyes have yet to leave her still, blue eyes following her as his subordinates pick her up rather roughly. They split the task between two of them, somehow unable to manage to carry one small woman. It bothers him for some reason.

“Give her to me.”

The two soldiers shuffle back over, one holding her by the legs and another by her arms. He can’t help but roll his eyes even if they won’t see it, stooping to take the woman from their hold and carrying her in his arms. A hunter should shoulder his kill... he thinks, turning to leave the isle.

“M-My lord?”

“Silence. Carrying this savage, this...beast, does not require usage of both of my hands. It would be nothing to sling her over my shoulder and slay you for your ineptitude.” He barks, quieting the soldiers immediately. “I would question Eorzea’s savior-- take her measure.”

Not wanting to be killed for doing something as bold as to question his reasoning, the soldiers all mumble their affirmations and quickly get in formation, making their way back to the docked ship.

His heart feels as if it is racing.

It is a strange feeling, given that even during most of his training he doesn’t even become short of breath. He is in peak physical form, and yet…

He cannot stop himself from clutching the woman in his arms a little closer to his chest.

Even when they board the ship, it is hard to shake the discontent of putting her down in a cell, unsure what to call this magnetism he feels deep within. He deposits her in the holding cell with deceptive gentleness, seeing no need to bind her in chains. They’ve already confiscated her weapon, and there is certainly no plant life for her to manipulate down here.

The Warrior of Light, A’yana Salvia…

Even if uttered within the confines of his own mind, something within him begins to change.

[thedemiurgickids]

Levels of the Ri Verse

AKA the dimension that Brody travels to sometimes, and fights most monsters there.

ONE: SIMPLE REFLECTION 

Nothing all that special; depending on the place you’re in, you’ll be set in an “opposite” version of it.

Everything will be upside down, though gravity will still work normally (you’ll be standing on the ceiling instead of the floor, and on the sky instead of the ground.) All color is replenished to grey--except yourself, of course, but the colorlessness slowly disappears underneath your feet the more you walk.

It turns to a specific shade of your signature color, in which is something that everybody has.

Really, anything can go on from there. You’ll be the only one in the level. You may step on some sort of invisible staircase, or even have some sort of strange gravitational pull--as if you’re on the moon. But either way, your journey will end in your desired destination once you pass through the portal you came from. 

TWO: SAFE CAUTION

Again, depending on the place you are in, you’ll be set in an “opposite” version of it.

Except this time, instead of fully being turned upside down, it will be at an awkward diagonal.

It will seem scary at first, because everything is different from the first level; instead of everything being grey, it is now your signature color. And every step you take will have a greyscale from underneath it.

Not only that, but depending on what element you’re more connected to, it will show up in this level. Whether be flames of fire here and there, completely being submerged underwater, floating in the air because of the strong winds, or even rubble and vines sprouting out of every object you pass by.

However, you will not become hurt. You can touch fire. You can breathe underwater. You will not be chilled by the winds, and you will not stumble over rocks.

Plus, you won’t be the only one there; depending on your soul animal, that specific animal will guide you through the wreck.

THREE: MIRRORS

Mirrors. You will be entirely surrounded by mirrors. Whether on the floor, on the ceiling, or the walls--they’re everywhere. However, they will be set in hallways, which is relieving to know that you can at least move around.

Something to note: if you are a being with two or more souls, you will see a glitch effect on your body that only slightly shows those souls. It is semi-transparent, and is colored the signature of that soul as well. It will make the same movements as you do, since it is barely hanging off your body in the first place.

Don’t expect the third level to be so melodious; this one shows more disturbance than the other two.

Finding your way out takes some time, but with touch and feeling, you will be able to go through each section.

However, within each section of mirrors, the atmosphere will slowly darken, and you may see something--or someone--in each mirror room you go through. Whether it be a simple dark figure or an example of your worse fear, it will frighten you behind your back for a few moments before disappearing.

At the very end room, you may feel uneasy already, so the best option is to run through the section and dive into the portal without hesitation.

FOUR: SMOKE TOWN

You will wake up on the ground, staring up at the smoky grey sky--in a smoky grey town.

Nobody exactly knows why you wake up in a place like this, but to be honest, it all depends on what’s in the town. Not the town itself.

But the town is actually rather disturbing itself. With an unhealthy environment, citizens in coats, hats, and gloves roam around its streets, stiffly, walking almost in the exact same motion as everybody else. Most of them wear masks of all sorts. The ones who don’t have black tears from their face.

If you have more than one soul, you will be separated from them, but you won’t be alone. In fact, those souls will all be in one level together. Anybody else who only has one soul will be alone.

Your job is to blend into this scary place.

Next to you will be a mask of your spirit animal. You will need to put it on to hide your facial expressions and face. 

Then you walk through Smoke Town. You pass by most people, but they will not greet you. In fact, they just give you an unnerving glance before continuing their way. However, most people without masks will grab you by the wrist and beg you for...whatever, really. It all depends on what you want. That’s what they’ll say.

If you don’t respond or say no, they’ll leave you alone. If you say yes, they’ll deny your help.

You’ll pass by many shops and windows filled with disturbing images; depending on your fear, they may show many things relating to that. 

Ex:

- If you are afraid of the dark, everything in that shop window will be pitch black, and the closer you get to it, you’ll see someone staring back at you from inside.

- If you are afraid of death, coffins will be laid out, and people will be seen burying others.

- Worse, if you have more than one soul, there will be a combination of all; for instance, if you are afraid of fire and death, someone will be seen burning alive inside.

One specific part is when you bump into someone with the same spirit animal as you. They look the same, with their body shape and voice, but the only problem is that their bodies will be completely covered by a cloak, and their masks and faces will be shadowed by a long hood.

When they speak, their voice is yours, but completely monotone, first whispering, “Intruder,” but then going to a full on shout, then a scream.

At this point, your only choice is to run past them, and dive into the portal over cliff.

FIVE: NOTHINGNESS

Surprisingly, you will be put into a completely colorless chamber; it is only a white color, and at first, nothing is there at all--except you and the other souls you (may) share a body with. Sadly, if you only have one soul, you’re completely alone.

The thing is, whoever you share a soul with will have their hands chained to yours. Unbreakable.

Nothingness. Nothing is seen at first. All you have to do is get up and walk around, feel the walls, feel the floors, whatever you want. But nothing will happen.

In fact, soft music can be heard playing in the background, and it’s actually quite peaceful.

A few long moments will pass. Then, the music stops abruptly, and is instead replaced by a loud screech of a microphone.

And a voice will ring out through it. Depending on what you are afraid of, that specific voice has to be a person that unnerves you. For instance, if it is your scary mother, then that’s who it shall be.

It will announce: “WELCOME TO THE NOTHINGNESS, (it will announce your name, or names here)! PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY. WE HAVE MANY SURPRISES IN STORE FOR YOU. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ANY OCCURRENCES OF INJURY OR DEATH IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. 

“THE DARKNESS WILL COME. IN THREE. TWO. ONE. GOODBYEEE!”

The lights of the purely white room will shut out to black, and you will be left with seeing nothing.

In fact, if you have supernatural energy, magic or powers, most of them will be taken away, except for the simple basic abilities.

If you stay quiet, you will hear footsteps slowly come behind you, and if you don’t want to be frightened, the best thing to do is to stay close to the middle. Or not.

Then, based on your signature, your hands will start to glow that color. But when you turn your head to the right--or left--you will see the embodiment of your worst fear.

Then it will push you down into a portal, and you are free of the fifth level.

SIX: AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE

It all depends on what they fear more: water, or heights and angles.

If you are afraid of heights, congratulations; you get to go through a tunnel on a rollercoaster. There will be twists, turns, and especially heights and hills. If you are afraid of water, however, you will be on a small boat going through a tunnel filled with water.

Again, if you have more than one soul, you will have that person with you.

Throughout each section of the ride, a specific children’s story will be told, and it is all based on your backstory. For instance, if you’ve had a terrible childhood and hate your parents, you may hear Hansel & Gretel. If you feel uneasy with yourself and trusting people, you may hear Little Red Riding Hood.

Either way, each story ends in a disturbing way.

Then you’ll fall through a portal.

SEVEN: PSYCHOLOGY INTERVIEW

The final one.

For once, if you have more than one soul, you will be completely separated, and have a section entirely on your own. Lonely, isn’t it?

Good.

You’ll be put in a psychiatrist’s office, sitting in a chair in the middle of the room while there’s a desk across from you. It seems normal enough. However, the atmosphere and objects in there will be based entirely on your personality and your fear.

Your psychiatrist, on the other hand, will be someone you remember. Someone--most likely one of your parents. It will be someone, alright. However, if you don’t have a parent, it will be someone you solely trust.

They will first ask you what you are afraid of, and you must be completely honest. After you’ve answered, they will then take out different objects and ask you which one you’re afraid of.

For instance, they may take out a clown mask and a knife, and put them side by side. 

“What are you more afraid of? Clowns, or knives?”

Then after that’s over, and they add in extra talk, they will then take out a sketchbook and give it to the person. They will ask, “Tell me, with each two people represented, who do you dislike more?”

It will be of people that they know, whether family or friend, enemy or close acquaintance. They will have to decide between which person, of course, until it all comes down to the two people they dislike the most. Even the person answering this question will be put in the book itself, incase they need to express their self hatred.

Their psychiatrist will share opinions, and then afterwards, mock them.

Then through the portal they go.

[octoberinspo]

RESONANCE OF FATE mission-based plots.

Because I love this game so much, I took the time to mine some potential plots based off of some of the main and optional guests in the game. Feel free to use them as listed, or as a base for a bigger/longer plotline. The quotes in the parenthesis are the overviews for the mission the plot was inspired from; they are merely there as examples. (Source for mission overviews.)

An inconvenienced mother needs Muse A to deliver some goods to Muse B. They could be something simple like cooking utensils or hardware, or something else entirely.  ( “Ooh. You've come along at the perfect time! I need your help, and it's urgent! My son is on his way to Core Lift 1. Please get these knives to him!” )

There’s a small herd of either wild animals or monsters lurking close to a commute area, and Muse B has called Muse A to help come and deal with the issue, because they’re an expert at handling these sorts of things. ( “Could somebody please do something about the pack of Stray Curs roaming around on the other side of Rainy Bridge? So dangerous, they are!” )

Someone’s lost an item of sentimental value to them. Maybe it’s Muse A, maybe it’s Muse B, maybe it’s someone else entirely. And either both muses are out on an area-wide search for this item, or one’s in search of the item that belongs to the other. ( “I have a problem. I wonder if you could help me with. You see, I lost an irreplaceable watch the other day. I was hoping you could recover it for me. I believe it must have fallen out while I was on the way to Cardinal Jean Paulet's manor.” )

There’s a terrorist threat in the area. Either Muses A and B are tasked with helping in the effort of eliminating this threat. ( “A group seeking to overthrow the world order has arisen. They have become increasingly active with many sightings reported around the Core Lift on Level 4. The terrorist threat must be neutralized. Hunters in the area are to aid in their suppression.” )

In a variation to the above plot, Muse A is on the side of the resistance effort and Muse B is the leader of said terrorist threat. ( “We want you to clear out the rebels who are occupying Mine 24 on Level 11. The ringleader is a former military man by the name of Gelsey. This matter must be kept quiet. We therefore cannot order a major military deployment. Surely you can take care of this?” )

Muse A is called by Muse B under the pretense that they have an emergency that they need to have taken care of right away... only to find out that the reason they were called was just so they could fetch a bottle of liquor for them. ( “Come see me right away at my manor in Chandelier. I'm in a terrible pinch, and I'll simply perish if you don't hurry.” / “Run along to the Refridgia in the Silver Canyon on Level 7 and scrounge up a bottle of red wine, would you darlings?” )

Muse A has a very keen interest, and seeks to use Muse B as a test subject for their next project. ( “I've developed an interest in the clothing and fashions of the inhabitants in the lower levels. So, what I would like to see is one of you, how do you say it, out-decked totally in casual fashion. Let me decide... The younger male! You shall be the model! From the tops of the hairs on your head to the tippity toes, transform yourself casually.” )

Muse A calls Muse B for help in delivering a package, but doesn’t offer much details on the contents of the package. Muse B becomes rightfully suspicious, especially when the two find themselves seized on multiple occasions in the interest of claiming the dubious cargo. ( “I need this parcel transported to Ebel City. Something smells about this job, but... Can you be trusted with this?” )

Muse A is a hunter who is called in to help with a pack of wild beasts that Muse B, a less seasoned and experienced hunter, has attempted to deal with only to retreat. In the interest of sweetening the deal, they offer compensation for Muse A’s trouble. ( “I accepted an extermination job, but I'm outclassed. But walking away from the job's not in the cards. I'm not putting a dent in my good name and reputation! So, could I get you to take down the Piledriver Giant that appeared around the Freud Remnants on Level 8.” / “Three Grass Yetis sprang up from under the Waterless Bridge on Level 8. I tried to put them down before they could do much damage, but couldn't handle them alone. Please defeat them for me!” )

Muse A enlists Muse B’s assistance an acquiring a rare item of interest. Because the artifact was left behind on dangerous grounds, Muse B decides it’d be best if they went with someone backing them up. ( “Are you familiar with the Freud Remnants on Level 8, perchance? Apparently, a certain hunter found a copy of the ancient texts there. But they just left it, claiming to have no interest in such a thing. I must have the ancient texts. Please, find the artefact for me.” )

Muse A is the sole survivor of an expedition their commander (Muse B) had sent them on. While the two haven’t been in touch for some time since then for obvious reasons, Muse B decides to reach out to Muse A in the interest of investigating the site of the expedition, due to either unnatural occurrences in the area, an interest in reconciling the failures of the last expedition, or both. ( “I must have words with you at my manor in Chandelier. The great tragedy of Lucia... I have something to ask of you, the sole survivor.” / “Search for a sacred sign thought to be in Lucia on Level 6.” )

Muse A is an experiment gone horribly wrong, transformed into either an entirely different beast, or something superhuman with no sense of control over its new powers. It doesn’t help that its mind is shattered thanks to the experiments. Because the situation has spiraled out of control, Muse B is the one who’s sent in to detain Muse A through any means necessary. ( There is no mission overview of this, but this is literally one of the openings of the game. )