#but as a friend group?? wayfinder >>>>

[psychopomp-namine]

thinking about destiny trio being tied together by childhood memories but they keep drifting apart. and I mean, I do think wayfinder trio has the most tragic separation, but the wayfinder and seasalt trios had one looooong separation before a meaningful reunion, as opposed to destiny trio that separate over and over.

thinking about how wayfinder and seasalt trios (and related friends) are about to enter their all-time high friendship era post-KH3, meanwhile destiny trio just keeps having fragile bonds as a trio as the series progresses

and like yeah I get that that's the whole point of the destiny trio. they grow up, they change, their friendship changes and they struggle to deal with that. like I do think it's intentional, and they'll come back together in the end. but it's still kinda sad to see.

[yoroshiu]

Thinking about Kingdom Hearts' narrative with communication.

As with a lot of conflicts in story and real life, much of the most heart wrenching stuff in this series stems from a lack of communication or a severe misunderstanding between characters.

The Foretellers fall apart due to mistrust that was bred in between them, as according to the Master of Master's plan, and a lot of their interactions are full of deceit and witholding information. In an effort for most of them to do what MoM says while simultaneously realizing that they could go against his word to save the world, it inevitably leads to war.

Baldr, in his grief, is kept separate from his friends, alone until the darkness overtakes him and he ends up being consumed by it. As a result, everyone is taken by surprise and there's already too many bodies piled up by the time he's dealt with. Even when Hoder appears before him, they are unable to meet in the middle and turn on each other. He ends up killing many friends and plants a seed into what Xehanort becomes.

The basis of the Wayfinders and Eraqus is that they constantly don't talk to each other properly, pushing each other away until their tragedy becomes inescapable. Eraqus not telling his students about anything Xehanort has done, for instilling such an unforgiving view of Light and Darkness, for not telling Ventus the truth until it was too late. Terra, Aqua, and Ventus not being able to talk or clear things up until Xehanort is already beyond knees deep into his plans, and despite having their love for each other go beyond any possible discord, it is not enough to prevent unfortunate fates that befall them.

The Destiny Trio, especially Riku earlier on, suffers from a lack of communication. While not as turbulent as the other trios, it's Riku's tendency to hide away and lash out that builds the conflict between him and Sora. For one reason or another, a quite literal and physical reason for Kairi, they were unable to talk which goes on and on until RIku gets possessed. And it his shame that pushes him to hide for such a long time in the second game as well. Sora has also picked up on not saying anything, deciding to perish without letting anyone know beforehand, and the full-on effects of that have yet to be explored.

The Sea Salt Trio was built on miscommunication. Secrets, unknowns, caring so much that you believe that it'd be much better to fade away without a word than to burden someone with the pain of truth and knowledge. It drives a wedge between Roxas, Axel, and Xion at multiple points. Axel, who was stuck between loyalties, kept information to himself and ended up driving Roxas and Xion away at one point and another. Xion, who found out the truth and also made big decisions without fully explaining to the other two, also inevitably leaves a grief that digs into them even when they don't remember her. And Roxas, who was the probably the biggest victim of not being told anything, ends up barrelling forward, trust broken up until the pieces finally fell in place and he had to accept his fate in tired resignation.

But it's when love overcomes the lies, clearing them away that these groups of friends can come together and start again.

A lot of the emotional turmoil that Kingdom Hearts displays often comes from the very human act of communication with others and how often we fail to do so. The fragility that comes with one kept secret, or one mispoken phrase. How badly people get torn apart when no one says anything. Yet, it also shows how it can potentially be overcome with enough love and determination to recover what was lost, and even if it's not the same as before, there's potential to make things better.

TLDR; Connections are the basis of Kingdom Hearts. Communication is a foundation of connection. The highs and lows of communication is something that Kingdom Hearts explores extensively in the stories of its characters, and that has resonated with me so heavily that I stay up thinking about it.

[useeer]

Dance with me?

Venture, aka Sloan Cameron x reader

You're at your friends wedding, and somehow meet the cutest damn person in the world.

Tags: fluff, strong language, slight sexual innuendo

Enjoy!!

[Note: I haven't written a fic in 192739 yrs, and my ass hasn't been to a wedding since I was 10 so forgive my ignorance abt how they go!!]

You weren't exactly a party person.

Parties are loud, crowded and really socially taxing. While yes, you'd attend parties here and there; mostly birthdays or accomplishments for friends and family. It still wasn't your favorite thing to do. You are actually pretty upfront with others about how little social interaction you can handle. That being said... fear of disappointing your friends usually got the better of you. They were fine, partying was fun. 

Honestly, you'd be lying to everyone if you said you weren't thinking about your soft, cozy bed. Or how you were daydreaming about cuddling up to your pets and watching silly videos. Not even this beautiful wedding could curb your introvert nature.

It's evening now, the golden rays barely peeking over the horizon as it descends. A sweet, cool autumn breeze blows, ruffling your clothes and hair. A welcome comfort on this warm night.

The setting is truly beautiful. Soft, golden glowing lanterns are strung along the edges of the venue. Lush green plants in decorative pots line the edges. The pillars, stone and brick, are painted in the gentle glow of the lamps and lanterns. The style...is Greek? At least you think it's Greek. If someone told you otherwise, though, you'd take their word for it. Especially since half the people here are from the Wayfinder Society, all attending as friends of the groom. The wayfinders are sprinkled around the venue, chatting about and having a grand old time.

You? No such luck, you're only attending for your friend, who happens to be the other groom. While you know a handful of people, and did polite chit chat with them, you mostly stuck to yourself. Actually, that's a lie, you mostly stuck to the snack table. You're leaning by the side of it, plate in hand, trying just about anything there. I mean, what else are you supposed to do? 

While eating a particularly good cube of cheese, you let your eyes wander the room. You see a group of people laughing, another group chattering amongst themselves, one enthusiastically waving their hands in the air, seemingly very passionate about the subject. You snort, amused. Drifting eyes finally move over to the husbands, who were talking to an older couple, a quick hug is given here and there. 

Man. You were bored.

You weren't trying to be disrespectful here, you just didn't know anyone. Subconsciously, your leg starts bouncing, your thoughts dance to your fluffy, comfy bed. Reaching down for another snack on your plate, you’re disappointed to see they're all gone. Frowning a bit, you look over the table to see if there's anything else you'd like to try.

And boy, was there. The chocolate hair, the hazel skin, your eyes instantly locked onto the person plating their own food. They're dressed in a white button down, and black slacks, the sleeves of their dress shirt hugging them favorably. They even had a cute little yellow bowtie on. You couldn't tell their pronouns, so you figure you'd ask if you ever spoke. Which you weren't, you didn't want to intrude. They looked to be the same person absolutely raving earlier, you'd hate to keep them from it.

If they wanna speak to me, they will. You thought distantly, watching their hands as they pluck up a cupcake. 

Workers' hands. You mused, they seemed rough, and strong. They must be one of those Wayfinders. Your eyes trail their fingers, the back of their hand, man...they have really nice hands. Unbeknownst to you, your staring hasn't gone unnoticed. Their hands stills, just before the confectionery hits the plate. 

"Uhm... did you want this one?" They ask someone, curious, you look up to see who they're talking to. You finally get to see their face properly, and man they're gorgeous. Too bad you didn't have time to appreciate that fact, as your eyes instantly locked with theirs. You realize a little too late that you're the one they're talking to.

"Huh." Is all you manage to get out, unsure what the fuck to say to this stranger.

"The...cupcake?" They say, motioning it towards you. "Did you want it? You're staring at it like you want it." They say, clearly confused by the way you ogled their food.

"No- no I don't want it. I'm so sorry, ignore me." You cover your face and wave a hand in their direction, this is the worst thing you've ever done. Your face and ears burn in red hot embarrassment, you're just lucky they thought all you wanted was the damn cupcake.

They seem to find it a little funny now, how you're running away from the cupcake you were practically stalking as it left the platter. "Okayyyy, well then this is mine!" They joke, putting it onto their plate before strutting away, seemingly unperturbed by your god awful screw up.

God, you needed to sit down. 

You're practically on fire, feeling like you're gonna break into a sweat. Shakily, you find a chair in a less populated area and take a seat. You bend over, putting your face in your hands and elbows on your knees, as if trying to hide yourself. While you know, reasonably, that this isn't the end of the world, you can't help but feel like it is. You got caught! Red handed! 

Yes, they thought it was the cupcake, so maybe you weren't totally fucked. But also, you're totally fucked who are you kidding?!

You didn't exactly think you'd interact with them before, but it's awful your only interaction was weird and unseemly on your end. Groaning quietly, you remove one hand from your face to fan yourself, damn you feel stupid. 

You fan open part of your outfit, hoping in vain to let more air in to cool yourself down. Freaking out like this isn't a good look. After a couple minutes, you start to feel a little better. The flush of your cheeks is fading, and you miraculously avoided breaking into an anxious sweat. 

Sighing, you puff out your lips, you just sent texts to your closest friend about how massively you fumbled the bag. They laughed at you, while you scream-spammed the chat in horror. They did end up reassuring you that you were overreacting, that it was not in fact the end of the world. You thanked them before turning off your phone. You get up, dust yourself off a little before wandering back to the food table; finding yourself in front of the disposable drink cups, grabbing one. Gazing to the left, you find the water. You watch the water slowly drizzle into your cup, before downing the glass in a couple large gulps. Still thirsty, you fill it up again before returning to your seat.

Man, what a day, go to a beautiful wedding, see your friend get married, then fumble the biggest bag ever. You mentally kick yourself, even though on the outside, you look completely normal, sipping on your cup naturally.

Bouncing your foot a bit, you lean forward to scroll on your phone, hoping to find something interesting to pass the time and distract you. You're scrolling for about 5 minutes before someone sits next to you. Out of politeness you don't look, thinking it's another guest needing a seat. 

"Soo, about that cupcake. I ate it, definitely. But I felt a little bad. Here." The person next to you says, snapping you out of your doom scrolling. 

Why. Why why why. Is all you can think. They're fucking with you, haunting you. All over a cupcake. You look over and see they've got a small plate with another damn cupcake on it.

"Oh im- I'm not hungry anymore, thanks though." You try to nicely deflect, hoping they'll catch the hint and let you die in shame, alone. 

"Hmm, okay!" They say, they turn to face forward, unwrapping it for themself. They take a bite and bounce one of their legs, and you wonder why they're torturing you. They hum to themself as they continue to eat.

God. Please just go away...

They put their plate down and dust their hands, somehow already finishing the sickeningly sweet treat. "So." They state, placing both hands on either side of their seat, leaning forward, looking towards you. "Whatcha doing over here all by yourself?" They ask curiously.

"Well uh-" You clear your throat, "My friend’s the groom, it's his wedding. But I don't really know anyone else but him." You shrug, trying to relax and ease into conversation with them.

"Yeah, know how that feels." They say, sympathetically. "Wellll." They draw out the word, as if to emphasize it. "I was thinkin’ you could come to our table! I hate seeing anyone left out." Their smile is reassuring, until they start smirking. "Even. If. They stare at other people's food." 

Ok, you can't help it. You groan at their jab, while dragging a hand down your face. "Man, you will not drop that, huh?" You say, only a little less embarrassed this time. 

"Nope!" They tease, clearly getting a kick outta this. 

"You know what, I barely know you and you're already the worst." You joke, and your brain nearly breaks in two when they giggle at it. Their shoulders shake and they grin, still looking at you. You can't help but smile, even while trying really hard not to. They were stunning, cute and worst of all, infuriating. 

"Sorry for staring earlier...I was trying to see... your cufflinks." You say, clearly lying. As if desperately attempting to get out of the cupcake joke jail.

"Hmmm." They hum, unbelieving, eyebrows raised and nodding. "Well, too bad I don't have those." They smile, raising a hand up to show off their sleeve. 

You instantly cringe, caught once again. "Oh right." You mumble out, pursing your lips. Damn, you're fighting for your fucking life over here.

Your reaction makes them laugh. An honest to god laugh, and it's loud. They're finding WAY too much amusement in proving you wrong and you don't know why. Despite the embarrassment, you were now enjoying yourself. Talking to them, joking around, even if it's at your expense. Their laugh is almost contagious, and they've got the prettiest smile you've ever seen. 

"So.. what's your name?" You ask, your left hand fiddling anxiously at your side. Their laugh simmers down, and they sigh like they just heard the funniest joke in the world.

They hold their hand out towards you, "Sloane, yours?" You grab their hand and shake it, their grip firm. Your brain almost short circuits, realizing how much larger their hand is to yours. You say your name, and they repeat it. 

 

"It's nice to meet you!" They say, shaking your hand once more before letting it go.

"Sloane is a really pretty name." You state, trying to make conversation. Totally, 100% not flirting with them, of course.

"Awe shucks, you think so? Well I like yours too." They shoot back, their cheerful glow never dropping. They look over, and you do the same. You see them eyeing the table they came from. It appears someone stole their seat. 

"Oh, I'm sorry." You immediately apologize, feeling bad that their place was taken while talking to you. They shake their head and huff a little laugh, their curly hair bouncing. 

"Why're you sorry? Don't be. Plus, it's no biggie." They say nonchalantly, genuinely unphased. They crack a smile and lean forward, as if they're sharing a secret. "Don't worry, I'll get back at them." They whisper, a mischievous gleam in their eyes.

You giggle, and pull back a little. "What're you gonna do huh?"

They pull an inquisitive face, staring up at the ceiling almost performatively. "I dunno! Maybe I'll put confetti in all of their tents!" They announce, toying with the idea. You couldn't tell if they're serious or not. 

"You probably shouldn't do that." You jokingly warn, thinking abt how much of a pain confetti would be to get out of a tent. Much less the sleeping bags. 

Sloane grins, shining that gorgeous smile again. They seem to be the happiest person in the world. "Well, that's what they get for kicking me out of my own seat!"

You shake your head and let out a small chuckle, "You really are something."

They push you by the shoulder a bit, "I'm a great something I'll have you know." They joke, before settling back in their seat. 

Silence settles over the two of you for a bit, and it nearly becomes unbearable. That is until music begins to play. The lights towards the middle of the room light up, and the rest are dimmed to create a spotlight effect. The happy couple's chosen song is playing, and you watch as they approach the center of the room, beginning to dance. You smile, and awe at the sight. Seeing your friend so happy and glowing was truly a treat.

Sloane also watches, they love parties and weddings. Seeing two people so in love is one of life's many treasures. They look over towards you and see you recording your friends dance, they allow a small smile creep onto their face. They admire your side profile and the way your hair compliments you perfectly. You are eye-catching, and the way you practically folded over a cupcake earlier was hilarious. They love funny things, so they've GOT to get to know you. Exploring is one of their favorite things after all. 

They settle back and turn their attention to the dance. Eventually the music begins to wind down, and one of the grooms leaves the dance floor. It's the parents' dance, they think. Now that it isn't your friend out there, you click off the record button and look over to Sloane.

"So, what brings you here?" You ask, making conversation with them. They turn their head to face you, their hands loosely clasped together on their lap. 

"I'm from the wayfinders society! The other groom, Rey, is my good friend." They chirp, pointing at your friends now husband. "Y’know, me and him got lost once in a cave! Scary stuff, didn't know if we'd make it out." They said dramatically, waggling their fingers in your direction. 

"You serious??" You furrow your brow, and lean forward incredulously. Their warm dark eyes look back to their friend, and they nod. "Yeah, it was a couple years ago. We lost sight of our team, and couldn't find our way out. I ended up drilling us a new exit. Real risky doing that but we didn't have a choice." Sloane recounts, "Could've been worse!" They add, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"That's crazy, I could never do anything like that." You tap your foot against the ground, even thinking about that type of stuff gets you wound up.

They turn back to you with a hum and smile, "Well, you never know until you try! Exploring is the best thing I've ever done for myself, I love it. Seeing what the world was like before us… finding the rocks and gems the earth has made. It's real worth it." Their passion is evident, every word they speak has them glowing. You admit it's rather charming, seeing them so in love with their work. 

"Man, that's so cool." You state warmly. "You got a really cool job, Sloane. You got the job little kids dream of." 

They smile genuinely, really happy with the thought. "Well my abuela always said to follow your dreams, so I did. What about you? What's your dream?" They gently nudge your shoe with theirs.

"Hmmm, well. I guess I'm still trying to figure that out." You hum, looking at the ground. Your interests aren't nearly as exciting as theirs. Working one dead end job to the next, just trying to make ends meet. "Thinking tattooing, honestly." You add, looking up at them.

Sloane gasps, eyes widening. "That's so awesome though! I love tattoos, I've got at least four or five." They pull down the collar of their button down to reveal more of the flames tattooed across their neck. You'd be lying if you said you hadn't already noticed it. Wanting to see how far down it goes.

Quickly, you bat those thoughts away. Sticking to complimenting the line work and blocking of their tattoo. You ask what others they've got, and they explain all the patchwork they've got done on their arms. Some historical, some cool, some just to have a piece of the places they've been. They even mention a larger one on their thigh, a dinosaur skull with flowers. You try not to sound too interested in seeing them while asking if they have pictures. 

The conversation between you and Sloane runs smoothly, chattering about your lives and cracking jokes at one another's expense. The dancing at the party is now in full swing, guests of all types littering the dance floor. It's now completely dark outside, save for the lighting inside the venue. The lamps hanging from the ceiling are dimly glowing, the lanterns now back to their full glow. You even spot fireflies outside the venue, blinking on and off, flying into the wedding space and out. The place is truly beautiful.

The strumming of a bass fills the venue, an electronic guitar complimenting it perfectly. You recognize it instantly, as it's a song you've come to enjoy. Your new friend, Sloane, practically jumps out of their skin in excitement. They quickly whip their head to look at you while whisper shouting, "I love this song!!"

They bolt up, staring at the dance floor as both their feet hit the ground with a soft thud. They twirl their whole body around, looking at you with an outstretched hand, "Come dance with me??" They frantically blurt out.

You look dumbly at Sloane before slinking back into your chair a bit, cringing. "No no- I don't dance." While waving a hand in their direction dismissively. You're hesitant and it's obvious. The idea of getting in the middle of a bunch of people and dancing. God, not what you were made for.

You were telling the truth, you don't dance! Anyone seeing you attempt to dance may need an ambulance. Sloane slumps by your reaction, and pokes conversationally, "Aww c’monnn, pretty please? With cherries on top? One song?" They say, leaning backwards a bit on the heels of their feet while keeping their upper body forward. They begin pouting a lip out and sporting their best puppy dog eyes, hoping it'll help sway their case. 

Nervously, you rub your pointer finger across your thumb. This is not what I signed up for, you think as your lips form a line, eyes locking with Sloanes, trying to will yourself into saying no.

Damn.

You can't. You can't say no! You know you'd kick yourself later if you left without dancing with them. They're everything you like in someone, striking, funny, passionate... You internally groan, searching their dark eyes for a way out. Sadly, there isn't one. Their eyes only plead and beg.

And well... who are you to deny them?

Breathing in a deep, deep sigh, you fold, "Okayy. Okay." You say, holding both hands up, signaling defeat.

Sloane is about to shout out a glorious, loud YES before you cut them off with a finger up. "But first, a shot of liquid courage." You say, pushing yourself up from your chair, walking towards the end of the food table. There lay countless plastic shot glasses full of vodka. You pluck one from the rim of the platter.

Sloane watches as you down the drink, admiring the way your throat moves to swallow. They snort when they see you pulling a face.

"C'mon- c'mon- the song is already going." They bounce, having to fight the urge to just drag you onto the dance floor themself. Shaking your head, you wipe away the grimace on your face and discard the tiny shot glass into the nearby garbage.

They grab your hand and pull you into the crowd, though they seem somewhat aware of your aversion to it. So they lead you towards a less populated end of the floor, despite this, nearly everyone at the wedding was dancing. So you were still around a decent amount of people. They smile wide, looking off into the gaggle of party goers. You find it ironic this is the song you're dancing to, the lyrics playing loudly.

We've got nowhere to go

We've got nothing to prove

Instead of dancing alone

I should be dancing with you

The lyrics are slightly erotic, even, but you don't have much time to ponder it when they turn back to face you. They release your hand, before snapping their fingers in tune with the beat and swaying their hips. You giggle, your cheeks and stomach buzzing from the alcohol. Unfortunately for Sloane, you do not know how to dance. Not well at least, they laugh, watching you sway awkwardly. "You don't dance do you?" They ask, almost having to shout to be heard over the clamor of people and music.

"No, not really!" You reply, before admitting, "I don't wanna look dumb!" 

"Look dumb?! I'll show you dumb." They jest, backing up a bit to give themself some space. With their eyes locked onto yours, they bend their knees while bringing their right hand towards their head, palm open. They're walking towards you sideways, left hand swiping back and forth to their side and front. You about shit yourself, recoiling in shock and laughing. They continue though, bringing both hands up in fists towards their head, pumping them as they shake their hips, still approaching you. 

"What are you doing!!" You shout, cracking up at their absurdity. They finally pivot fully towards you, bending forward and moving their hands in circles. They finish off their charade with a performative strut your way, palms open in a dramatic walk. 

They laugh, grabbing one of your hands and pulling you further into the floor. "I'm dancing!! You should try it sometime!" They jive, sticking their tongue out. "I'm just saying, no one can look sillier than me!" You roll your eyes and shake your head. The smile never leaving your face.

They grab your other hand and start dancing for you, swaying you side to side. You can't help but giggle, letting them have their fun. You sway your hips and release their hands, moving yours back, snapping your fingers while doing circles and stepping side to side. Their grin widens and they yell, "Hell yeah! get it!!" Encouraging you. 

Smiling big, you continue attempting to dance with them. Sloane closes their eyes and lets themself feel the music, they move their feet expertly, and their arm movements intentionally. Seeing this makes you realize they definitely know how to dance. Your eyes explore them, their body and the way they move. It feels dirty watching them like this…But they invited you to dance, you think maybe they want you to watch them. Enjoy them, drink them up. 

It feels as though they've already wrapped you around their finger. You feel sadness bubble that the song is already ending. Luckily the next song that plays doesn't disappoint, more bass-y than the last. This one still just as popular as the day it released. 

You let yourself loosen, swaying your full body in rhythm with the bass as the song goes on. Sloane is looking at you again, and you daringly strut around them, stepping in beat with the drums. Alcohol does wonders for self esteem. They wait for you to come back around before stepping close, pulling you in by the hand. You raise an eyebrow, checking them with a grin, before gleefully walking back, shuffling your feet in tune with the music then pulling them towards you. They follow excitedly, their foot work impressive as they step towards you. They raise your held hand up as they approach and you twirl around to face them once more. Confidence runs through you at this point, letting go of the hand above you. You bring your free hand up quickly, placing it on their chest before grabbing their opposite hand. They're grinning so hard, pulling back, until your arms are taunt. Then jerking you towards them, you turn so your back hits their chest. Sloane has one hand around your front, hugging you just beneath your chest. The other holding your hip, their head resting next to yours. You both just sway now, enjoying each other's company and the music. "This okay?" They ask in your ear, the tone in their voice dropping low.

"Huh?" You say loudly, turning to face them. 

"I asked if this is okay!" They announced a little louder, and closer to your ear.

"Yeah!" You affirm happily, like this is the best day of your life. 

Do I wanna know?

If these feelings flow both ways.

Sad to see you go.

Sorta hoping that you'd stay.

Baby we both know.

That the nights were mainly made for sayin' things.

That you can't say tomorrow day.

Dancing with them like this, swaying side to side feels almost romantic. And you're having a really hard time ignoring that fact. That coupled with your already burning attraction has you dizzy. You could stay here forever. Another song passes by, and you both continue dancing with one another. At one point, you fumble through a waltz before they twirl and dip you. Despite having the time of your life, exhaustion was quickly catching up. Feeling a bit hot, and tired, holding both their hands, you turn around.

Looking up at Sloane, you truly get to admire their beauty. They've got beautiful curls, swooping and gentle. Their hair is natural, soft looking, and when you danced you could even smell their shampoo. Their eyes are a deep brown, rich like the dirt they so love digging through. You finally notice their eyebrow piercing as well, and you bite your lip. It suits them. You think. 

The longer you analyze their features, you wonder how the hell they're even real. How someone could look as perfect as them, be as charming as them. It nearly drives you mad. They smile a little, their eyes darting away. Their flushed cheeks grow a little redder at your prolonged staring. You smile a little, this is the first time you've seen them at least a little bashful. It's adorable.

The music is playing quietly now, seeing as most of the guests vacated the dance floor. Only a few stragglers are left, you included. So now you can properly talk to them.

"You know earlier... I wasn't exactly looking at the cupcakes…” You purse your lips, and squint your eyes, as if to will yourself to get the words out.

“I was staring at you." You chew your lip, looking away shyly. This confession could make or break this… whatever this is. You certainly don't wanna break it. While nervous, you had a feeling they would respond positively.

Their eyes snap back towards you, and they let themself smile, raising an eyebrow. "Ohhh, I'm that pretty, huh?" They tease.

You sigh and roll your eyes, they really are such a bastard. "Yeah yeah, whatever." You mutter, playfully pushing their shoulder. Not risking stroking their ego any further.

"No no, tell me, was it the bowtie?" They snicker, pushing their chest out a bit to really show it off. 

You shake your head, running your hands up from their own and readjusting their accessory. “Yes, it was the bowtie, all I wanted was you, bowtie.” You whisper at their chest, pulling the sides of the bow.

“Psh,” They chuckle, “Okay for real! What was it, huh?” They say, flashing their signature grin while raising their eyebrows suggestively. Perhaps telling them was a bad idea, you purse your lips again, realizing they'll bother you forever until you tell them. It seems like they're DYING to know.

You hum, dropping your head onto their chest. With one hand still on their chest, you let your other trail down their arm before grasping theirs, bringing it up towards you. Flipping it palm up, you let your free hand lightly touch their palm. "Your hands, I like them. I was looking at them." Dragging your fingers along their palm, you feel every callous and rough patch of skin. You turn them over to admire their nail polish and knuckles. You even start to massage in-between their fingers, just soaking up the fact that you can touch them like this, and they're allowing you to.

They seem to be at a loss for words, and you figure that doesn't happen too often. Smiling, you walk your fingers up their arm and to their shoulder to rest it there, bringing your other arm up to mirror it. Their hands come up to your waist and bring you close. While enjoying the embrace, you weren't expecting them to shake you and hug you in tightly. They groan into your shoulder, as if frustrated. You puff out a laugh at their weirdness. 

"Sorry- you're just so cute." They say, pulling back. "I just met you and you already got me in stitches." They admit, kicking the dirt by your feet. You figure instant attraction to a stranger is just as new to you as it is to them.

"Well..." You start, not even sure what to say. "We can… go back to my room? I'm staying at a hotel nearby. We can hang out, talk...see where it takes us?" Your voice raises at the end of your sentence, as if a little worried they'll say no. That's another lie, you were a LOT worried they'll say no, denying you any more of their time.

Your anxiety is evident as your eyes search their face for a clue, a glimmer of what they might say. Of what they could be thinking. 

Sloane looks at you with tenderness. Such sweetness you could melt. They bring a hand up to cup the side of your face, rubbing their thumb across it. "I'd like that." They say, their voice seems to tighten as if they're both excited and nervous about the proposition.

Yeah, usually parties suck. But this one? This one was amazing.

[keeperthemultiversemom]

*soft gasp*

"I-

Thank you, I suppose ? I am not quite certain of how much of this is a compliment but you do look amazingly dazzling too, my dear, as always"

*Keeper is flustered*

I know it's rude to talk about age to women. But should we call you Grandma? You look muuuuuuuuuuuuuch older than Keeper.

"Hey @keeperthemultiversemom

I think this was meant to be a compliment? You look absolutely dazzling for your age!"

Note: Peacekeepr Poppy by @arikihalloween

[jukari91]

The Finale

In the finale for Te Fiti's heart, it's all about the stakes.

Moana is determined to complete the mission and has devised a daring plan to get past Te ka.

But when this plan seems to be failing because Moana's boat capsizes, the capricious demigod Maui unexpectedly returns.

Unfortunately, we probably won't find out what exactly happened between the argument and the reunion of the two main characters. Only that Mini-Maui gave the big one a good dressing down.

Now Maui is determined to support and protect Moana.Even when his rake breaks during the fight and he is practically defenseless, he doesn't back down.

Incidentally, this is the only scene in which Maui is actually seen fighting.

The most impressive scene in the entire film is the Moana 'Moses' moment when she stands before Te ka and gives her back her heart after a thousand years.

Tefiti returns and makes the island flourish again, Maui gets a repaired hoe, and Moana gets a new boat.

Now friends, the two say goodbye, and Maui pays Moana respects.

In the end, they both go their separate ways. Moana returns to the reborn Motunui and leads her people back out to sea.

The ending of Moana is simply incredible to watch and so well-concluded that the announcement of the second film confused me so much.

The story was told from my perspective, and there was nothing more to add.I wasn't a fan of the movie Moana. You saw it once, but nothing more.

I really liked the Motunui section, but from the moment it was basically just Moana and Maui constantly bickering, it just became exhausting!

Tamatoa was a necessary change from all those voiceless, side-by-side apparitions.

The final act in the second film is less suspenseful.

Maui and the new demigod Moana pull the island up, the crew rejoins them, and the newly reappeared island of Motufitu is admired.

After the sea routes are reawakened, new boats with people from other tribes suddenly arrive from all directions, as if on cue.

With this, Moana has achieved what she wanted to achieve at the very beginning of her mission and vision: to find other people.

This time, everyone is heading to Motunui: Moana, her crew, the newly arrived Wayfinders, and even Maui is there.

At the end, the crew sets sail with Maui into the unknown waters beyond Motufitu.

Hopefully, onto the next adventure.

I was invited to the cinema for the second film... Since I found the first one uninteresting, I don't know when else I would have seen it 😅

For the hopefully upcoming third film, I'd like to see Moana and Maui get closer, and for the supporting characters to develop as well.

The problem is... It's Disney.I mean, really Disney Disney... not Marvel Disney or Pirates of the Caribbean.But Disney Princess, which means there probably won't be any major drama.

It would be cool, though, if the people were really people. If, after a thousand years, several groups of people suddenly encountered each other. I wouldn't give them a week before there was a fight over culture, beliefs, food, or general power.

Simea also has the potential to become a really tough, conflict-ridden character for Moana. After all, she'll be forced to take over Moana's place in the line of succession and will probably still have to live in her shadow.

But as I said. This is Disney Princess, something like this is unlikely to happen. 😏

[fridgefanatic]

Okay, but what if in KH4, we get a Wreck-it Ralph world and it’s not Game Central Station.

Litwak’s Arcade. Sora goes to Litwak’s Arcade and his friends are inside the games looking for him, trying to reach him.

You play as Sora, who himself is playing as the Guardians of Light in various pixel art styles, in parodies of games. They’re trying to communicate to him, they can see him, but at the same time he doesn’t recognize them.

They’re trying to send little signals the best way they can. But if they don’t follow the arcade machine input, the Wreck-it Ralph characters will see our Guardians of Light as doing the equivalent of going turbo.

There could be parts that follow either group’s perspective, too. Maybe they try playing by the game’s rules at first. Then when it doesn’t work, we could follow the characters going turbo, exploring inside the machines themselves.

Here are some ideas for what games I would put the characters in below the cut:

Nooot sure Riku would be there if he’s also in Quadratum, but my gut tells me some variation of platformer like Donkey Kong or Mario for him— It’s also the genre for Wreck it Ralph itself, which, worldception makes sense if Riku is here. (This would also reference his running-up-building gymnastics in Another Side, the damsel in distress nature of Sora rn, and the urban setting of Donkey Kong).

I wouldn’t be opposed to Riku in a first-person shooter or stealth game either, depending on how his relation to Yozora turns out, he could parry Xemnas’ lasers like crazy in KH2

We already know MelMem is a rhythm game, so Kairi would probably be in a game like DDR or Guitar Hero if she were there. But I’d also dig seeing her in a collect-a-thon where we can finally level her up as a Princess of Heart

Donald and Goofy in either Duck Hunt or a gummi ship version of Galaga (low hanging fruit)

I can see the sea salt family playing as the Ghosts in Pac-Man!

I’m also imagining Roxas in Pong (“It’s just like struggle bat!”)

And I want Axel in Street Fighter because he’s always talking smack. Rematch between Lea and Ventus imminent

Xion could haunt the Photo Booth, alternatively— Sora snaps a picture of himself and we get a reversal of their relationship in Days.

I am also going to suggest Rampage using keyblade armored forms, either hers (since she’s huge wtf) or the Wayfinder trio’s

I could see Naminé being in Q-Bert, except completing the field with your colors could be somehow connected to memory reparation and data mechanics. I can also see her in a Kirby world, since the Kirby worlds tend to be arts and crafts themed, and she’s also technically a replica now

Ventus, Aqua, and Terra in Sugar Rush, except their cars are based on their gliders— it just makes more sense for them than anyone else, I think

Going to Hero’s Duty would probably trigger Aqua’s Land of Darkness PTSD, but this time she’s not alone and Terra (and/or King Mickey or Ventus) comes with her. This would be a really good game for both of them, actually, because Cybugs could be an analogy for darkness stealing your form

Joust, but it’s Cloud Strife riding a chocobo

Last suggestion? Dream Eater claw machine. I want to see Sora with Meow Wow plushies

[briefobservationdreamer]

The Beach

What I love most about the beach party at the end of KH3 is the fact that not only is everyone finally happy and having fun after so much hardship, but no-one is sticking rigidly to their previously defined friendship groups. Not only can that limit personal growth to define someone by their relationship with one or two people (especially notable for the trios), but it is also something that has hurt many of these characters in the past. Riku and Isa felt cut out and replaced when their friend joined a trio they were excluded from. The wayfinders had a limited perspective on life due to growing up in isolation and being raised and trained to be keyblade wielders under rigid dogmatic beliefs.

Here, there is none of that. Instead, people are branching out from their original friendship groups, expanding their horizons and building other connections on their own terms that they can grow and learn from.

Riku sees Terra again, is on friendlier terms with Roxas, and the three have a race together.

Xion and Naminé get to interact under much better circumstances and collect seashells.

Lea, Isa and Ven have fun together playing with Lea's frisbees after over a decade.

Before, they were a collection of friendship groups who were mostly personally concerned for the other members of their group and for the greater good, united only by the goal to defeat a common enemy.

Now they are a community.

I hope we get to see more unorthodox friendships in this big cast of characters, especially for characters like Aqua, Terra, Naminé, Isa and Ienzo who don't really have many friends and would likely have difficulty making them (especially Naminé, Isa and Ienzo). It would do them in particular a lot of good to expand their social circles. Just like how it was important for Riku to have friends besides Sora and found one with Mickey, or how its important for Roxas and Xion to have friends more their own age like Hayner, Pence and Olette.

[finitevoid]

The wayfinder trio are siblings to me sorry they’re siblings and eraqus is their dad and I’m attached enough to this interpretation that I find ways to make that literal in modern aus . the seasalt trio are not siblings that is the most Group Of People Who Are Friends group the series has. the tentative awkwardness. Thinking hard about inclusion and exclusion. Lea is 25 and buys them booze . etc. And t the destiny trio are in love with each other

[lightandfellowship]

I love the detail of Terra, Aqua, and Ven leaving their wayfinders at Eraqus' grave, because it's like they're saying "We hope you find your way in the afterlife." but ALSO "We don't need these magical charms anymore to ensure that we're never apart, because we've been to hell and back and we're never going to let ourselves lose each other like that ever again."

It's such a nice symbolic gesture of how far their friend group has come, and how determined they've been to reunite despite their awful, hopeless circumstances. It's like when Ven leaves Terra's wooden training Keyblade in Neverland because "he'll make new memories". Now their "magical charm" is just...their resolve and love.

[the-writing-artist]

Updated List of AUs

All completed works can be found on my AO3, under the penname 'BlueAbzies'.

~Code Lyoko~

The Boy in the Computer: Jeremie and Aelita swap roles. Main story is DONE, side stories are WIP (titled 'The Girl From the Outside').

Echoes of a Different Life: Derivative of TBITC, where Michel and Sophie's plan with Lyoko healing Jeremie didn't work. WIP, planned for TGFTO.

The Stars In Your Eyes: Derivative of TBITC, where I make the Jerlita Sapphic like SAE as mentioned below. WIP, planned for TGFTO.

The Drifter: Derivative of TBITC, where Final Round goes differently, as XANA destroys Lyoko before Jeremie is devirtualized. WIP, planned for TGFTO and idea from Ani and their Gone Wrong AU.

Backup Programs: Derivative of TBITC, where a pre-evil backup XANA exists. WIP, planned for TGFTO and idea from Boxy.

Code: MEMORY: Aelita and Anthea swap roles; my beta reader helped me out a lot with this one. Has sequel tiled 'The Healing of Memory'. DONE, unless my beta reader gets more ideas.

The Missing Piece: Jeremie and Laura swap roles; an appreciation piece for all the work Jeremie actually does in the series. DONE, but planning a story with an alternate perspective.

Silver and Gold: Jeremie and Aelita are childhood friends and both get tangled up with Lyoko, in more ways than one. WIP.

Lyokowarrior Sissi AU: A world where Sissi actually followed Ulrich into Lyoko when she was first offered, replacing Yumi in the group. WIP, has no official title yet.

Sapphire and Emerald: A universe where Jeremie was born as a girl; Sapphic Jerlita basically. DONE.

Bridge Across the Milky Way: Yumi is the girl trapped within the supercomputer, Ulrich is the one who finds Lyoko, Jeremie is the kid with arguing parents, and Aelita is the one who has pressure from family, plus another swap or two. WIP, and coming along nicely thanks to my beta reader.

The True AI AU: A world where the revelation that Aelita is a human also includes Jeremie as the AI. WIP, has no official title yet.

The Best Kept Secret: Jeremie has a secret about his body, and Aelita ends up finding out what it is by accident. WIP.

~Fullmetal Alchemist~

For Hope, I'd Give My Everything: Roleswap between Edward and Alphonse, among others. Lots of angst, WIP.

Great Divide: Edward and Alphonse are parent-trapped in a modern universe, and there's a reason for things being this way. WIP.

The Space Between: Alternate ending to CoS where Edward stays in Amestris, and Alphonse has a secret. WIP.

~Kingdom Hearts~

Destiny's Embrace: Kairi wakes up in a strange new world where everything seems too perfect to be true. DONE, but may rewrite it.

Days Lost: Kairi grows up with the Wayfinder trio, and things happen differently according to her memories of them. WIP.

Destiny's Twist: The Kingdom Key goes to Kairi after Sora turns into a Heartless to save her in KH1. DONE, may add a sequel once KH4 comes out.

Overturning Fate: A ReMind AU where Xehanort gives Kairi the chance to save herself. WIP.

The Cycle of Fate: Ventus hides in Kairi's heart and the cycle of fate hits the Destiny Trio harder than in canon. WIP.

Don't Wake Me Up: Kairi is dragged into the whole Xehanort-induced nightmare mess too, branching off from DDD. WIP, but can be read on my AO3.

~The Outsiders~

Dawn Goes Down to Day: Pony wakes up the hospital only to find that everything he wrote in his theme was just a dream. WIP.

Shaken Up: Pony is jumped that day instead of Johnny. WIP.

So Eden Sank to Grief: Pony dies in the hospital instead of Johnny. DONE.

A Different Sunset: Dally and Johnny survive the events of the book. DONE, but may add another entry eventually.

Modern AU: Takes place in modern times and centers on the topic of the gang's mental health, starting with Pony's. WIP, but can be read on my AO3.

~Crossovers~

Code: MIRACULOUS: A world where the CL characters are placed in the world of Miraculous Ladybug, and Jeremie finds himself as the Guardian replacing Waldo/Franz after the man mysteriously vanishes. WIP.

Code: HEARTS: Lyoko falls to darkness in Kingdom Hearts 1, and XANA finds itself teaming up with Xehanort. WIP.

If you have any questions about any of these, feel free to send me an ask~

[superfanficnatural]

The Son: Chapter 21

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Male!Reader (The Son)

Summary: You’ve finally broken free of the forces controlling you at a great cost, though the cost of doing so was even greater than you thought. Now, you fight for the antithesis of what you had been representing, and have to grapple with finding your own place in the galaxy while grappling with the person trying to find their way into your heart. Will The Son choose the light? Or the dark? Whatever the answer may be, may the force be with us.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to get to you guys! A lot goes on so I hope that makes up for lost time. As always, I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: A certain scene from the clone wars series is mentioned here in italics, yes it is straight from the script I did not add anything myself but it does mention drugging.

Word Count: 5,412

Italics are your thoughts

Masterpost

“He knows we’re here? How?” Poe asked.

It took all of a second of looking at her to understand they most likely connected once more. Grabbing Poe’s hand and beginning to move, “The how doesn’t matter, we need to get out of here, now.”

You mentally beat yourself up slightly as you allowed yourself to lose focus and not understand that Kylo had connected with Rey again but knew it wasn’t the time. The group began to pick up the pace and run as fast as you could through the crowd, aiming towards where you had landed the ship.

As your team was running, “Freeze! Hold it right there.”

A stormtrooper with his gun held up towards you spoke, “I’ve located the Resistance fugitives. All units, report-”

He was suddenly cut short with an arrow through his eye, your group flinching as the arrow flew past. 

Turning to look behind, there was a humanoid figure wearing a helmet, a crossbow in his hands, “Follow me.”

Your group shared a small look before begrudgingly following the person who turned and began walking. There was a pill shaped land trawler with decorations hung up on all sides, the person making towards an opening in the side.

“Hurry,” they stepped up to another door inside that led to the front where the driver was, “Leia sent me a transmission.” They slid open an eyehole and spoke a foreign language temporarily with a creature beyond the door, seemingly operating the vehicle.

“How’d you find us?” Finn asked, regaining his breath.

They took off their helmet and revealed themselves to be… Lando Calrissian! You only recognized him through Leia’s memories but knew he was someone that you could trust.

“Wookies stand out in a crowd,” he smirked.

Chewbacca immediately let out a few noises and pushed forward to wrap him in a hug, reuniting with an old friend.

Lando laughed, “It’s good to see you too buddy!”

“This is General Lando Calrissian,” 3PO chimed in.

“We know who he is, 3PO,” Rey responded, turning toward the golden droid with a knowing look.

“It is an honor, General,” Finn said with admiration.

“General Calrissian, we’re looking for Exegol,” Poe got to business as you didn’t have much time before the First Order most likely swarmed the place.

He took a look at each of you before replying, “Of course you are.” He raised his arm to show his wrist, clicking a button on the device there to display a hologram of the Sith wayfinder, “Only two were made.”

“A Sith wayfinder,” Rey exclaimed. “Luke Skywalker came here to find one.”

He chuckled, “I know. I was with him. Luke and I were tailing an old Jedi hunter.” He clicked a button once more and displayed a pale looking fish-like man, “Ochi of Bestoon. He was carrying a clue that could lead to a wayfinder. We followed his ship halfway across the galaxy here. When we got to his ship, it was abandoned. No clue. No wayfinder.”

Rey’s eyebrow dropped in thought, “Is Ochi’s ship still here?”

“It’s out in the desert, where he left it.”

“We need to get to that ship, search it again,” Rey spoke with vigor.

Her trepidation worried you slightly but you understood her anxiety all the same.

After she had spoken, the sounds of transports began to fill your ears through the crowd, leading you and Calrissian to peek out the window of the machine you were in. To your annoyance, there were multiple TIE’s and troop transports flying overhead.

“I got a bad feeling about this,” Lando admitted. Turning to your team once more, “Ochi’s ship is out past Lurch Canyon, go.”

“Thank you, General,” you spoke, offering him a grateful smile as your team began to move out.

“You too, Chewie,” Lando responded to Chewbacca’s roar for him to keep safe.

“Leia needs pilots, General,” Rey turned at the door to face Lando one last time.

“My flying days are long gone. But do me a favor, give Leia my love,” he smiled.

“You should give it to her yourself. Thank you,” Rey finalized before she jumped out of the vehicle, you following after.

Your group began running the moment your feet hit the ground, curving around a stone structure for cover Poe shouted, “There! Those speeders.”

There were two speeders parked just on the outside of the crowd that your group veered over towards. When you arrived, Poe wasted no time getting on his back and underneath the speeder.

“We don’t have the ignition keys, we need to keep moving,” you commented, looking around to scout.

You barely got the words out before the speeder suddenly revved up and turned on, Poe popping out from under it and opening a side panel on the other one to snip some wires.

“How do you know how to do that?” Finn asked, an expectant look on his face.

You turned to face the speeder and approached as well, “Yeah, Poe, how do you know how to do that?”

Hotwiring was a skill Poe never told you he had and as far as you knew, was a skill he wouldn’t have just picked up in the Resistance.

“No need to worry, I made it!” C3PO finally approached as his frame didn’t allow him to have much mobility.

A group of the natives began shouting and moving in your direction and you realized you were most likely stealing their speeders. 

“We gotta go,” Poe cut both of your questions short and moved to get on the speeder.

With a sigh, you got on the speeder as well, making sure to remember to ask Poe about it later. You were on one of the speeders with Rey, Chewie, and BB-8 while Poe and Finn took up the other with 3PO. You rushed off into the desert, aiming towards Ochi’s ship that wasn’t quite in sight yet. To your dismay, within moments, lasers began flying past you and you turned to see troopers on the chase. Without wasting any time, Rey turned and began firing back with her pistol as Chewie began to shoot as well. Igniting your sabers, you focused on defense as throwing one of them at this speed and with such rough terrain would prove tremendously difficult. There were two speeders trailing you with two troopers on each one, soon to be only a singular trooper as the speeders suddenly tipped forward and launched the troopers on the back. They began flying as the jetpacks on their backs activated and you were soon being attacked on two fronts. 

“Oh! They fly now!” 3PO shouted.

“They fly now?” Finn also shouted, adding to the surprise.

“They fly now,” Poe affirmed, turning back to focus on driving.

Rey began evasive maneuvers as you now had to dodge from two different directions in a rather open area, your footing nearly coming loose as you attempted to deflect the laser bolts. 

“We can’t keep this up forever!” you yelled over the sounds of the chase.

As if the trooper could hear you and wanted to hammer the point home, one of the flying ones sent out missiles from his gun, flying overhead and landing just in front of your speeder to try and avoid your sabers and destroy your transport. Luckily for your group, while dodging you came across tall mountain structures that Finn and Poe were able to funnel through. Unfortunately, your speeder was separated from Poe’s but at the least they weren’t in open coverage any longer. 

Still trying to avoid the missiles from above and the blasts from the speeder behind you, BB-8 began chirping loudly, something about a gas canister.

“Not now, BB-8!” Rey managed to respond over her steering.

Managing a look from the corner of your eye as you deflected, BB-8 began to poke at the gas canister that was sitting in the back of the speeder. After a few attempts at prodding at it, it suddenly ignited and flew into the air, exploding into a yellow powder bomb that acted as a smokescreen. It wasn’t long before the trooper followed you out of the smoke but with his sight impeded so heavily, he ended up driving straight into a small rock that acted as a ramp, sending him up into the air.

With a yell, Rey hit the handbrake on the speeder and drifted you to the side, using her other arm to aim at the speeder that was now directly above you and fire underneath it at its engine. After a few laser bolts, the speeder exploded, a few parts being flung in your direction that you blocked with the force after throwing your arms up in defense. 

“Never underestimate a droid!” Rey said with a smile as she resumed steering.

The other transport was still presumably following Poe’s speeder as you had no sight of it, though now both of the flying troopers were on your tail. Thankfully, Chewie managed to get a shot off on one of them, his jetpack malfunctioning and sending him slamming against the ground. Now, a ship was finally visible, resting just atop a small stone structure in the middle of an open desert, other mid-sized mountain ranges scattered along the horizon. 

“Ochi’s ship! I’ve seen that ship before,” Rey called out.

“Rey! You get all of them?” Finn called out, making you look to your left to see them now riding alongside you.

“There’s still one-” you were in the middle of replying before the trooper once again sent missiles from his weapon.

Both missiles hit their targets as your group got launched by the explosion, both speeders destroyed and landing on a strange black colored pool of what seemed like rocks. After landing, you tried to get back up but found it to be slightly difficult as you heard the trooper flying overhead. He was about to make another pass but your group recovered, managing to aim and fire back even on your backs and knees. A few bolts whirred past you which you avoided before the collective blasting of your friends eventually hit the trooper. His jetpack also malfunctioned and sent him into a flurry, ending up with him crashing into a mountainside with a small explosion following. The shockwave made you among the others flinch backwards slightly and that’s when you felt yourself begin to sink.

“What the hell is this?” Poe scurried as he began to sink as well. 

“Sinking fields! Try to grab something!” Rey explained.

There were parts of the speeders scattered around but unfortunately for you, you had already placed your weight on your hands to pull yourself out before Rey explained where you were. Your hands were immobilized as the more you tried to pull them out, the more the rest of your body sank. 

“Poe!” you yelled, true fear striking you as his body was soon to be consumed before your eyes.

“Y/N-” his words were cut short as his head sank underneath.

Things were moving much too quickly and before you even had a chance to focus and use the force, you were also soon taken by the sinking sands. 

“BB-8!” you heard faintly over the muffled effect of the sand as you sank.

Father... sister... I’m sor-

Your final death woes were cut short as you heard cracking underneath you and before you knew it, you had a searing pain in your backside. 

“Ow,” you moaned, opening your eyes to see a small cave before you.

You had landed straight on your behind and before long you saw BB-8’s head pop out from another crack that had formed, his small metallic body slamming against the floor.

Just behind where he landed, you also noticed Poe strewn out across the ground, gaining his bearings as well, “Y/N?”

You got up and rushed to his side, helping him get up and bringing him into a hug immediately, “Maker, I thought I watched you die in front of me.”

You could feel his body sag with a sigh as he held you in return, “Me too, I’m glad you’re safe.”

Separating from each other, the both of you looked around, “Rey! Finn!”

“You didn’t say my name, sirs but I am alright,” C3PO made himself known behind you as he walked forward.

You seemed to be in a small cave system with many cavities carved throughout like small roads. You wondered if it was a natural cave or... something worse.

Crackling from above came from a few feet ahead of you and Poe rushed forward to anticipate another one of your companions falling through. Eventually, they broke through and Rey stumbled down into Poe’s arms, Poe helping her softly to the ground as she gained her bearings.

“You alright?” Poe asked.

“Yeah, where’s Finn?” she asked as well.

“Where’s Chewie?” you asked, standing next to them.

As you spoke, a loud crack came from behind you and Chewie’s large figure dropped down as well.

“That answers that,” you said simply.

“I’m good,” Finn made himself known, walking through one of the cavities carved out into the small clearing where you were congregated.

“Ah. Master Finn,” C3PO greeted him.

“What is this place?” Poe questioned.

“This isn’t the afterlife, is it? Are droids allowed here?” 3PO pondered.

Finn came up and put a hand on Rey and Finn’s shoulders, looking towards you, “I thought we were goners.”

“We might still be,” 3PO commented in the back.

“Which way out?” Finn continued.

Rey took her lightsaber out and ignited it for light, Poe glancing at it from the corner of his eye before he begrudgingly turned on his flashlight, producing much... less light than Rey.

You turned from the group and began to head down one of the passageways, “Let’s go.”

Rey turned first to follow, “We have to hurry.” Rey addressed Finn as she walked, “So what was it?”

“What?”

“What you were gonna tell me,” she responded.

You continued walking and took notice of the strange shape the walls had. They were smooth yet had small continuous ripples throughout. It reminded you of when a rock fell into a pond and the waves emanated outwards. 

“When?” Finn asked.

“When you were sinking in the sand, you said, ‘I never told you...’” Rey tried to spark his memory.

“I’ll tell you later,” you heard him reply.

“You mean when Poe and Y/N’s not here?” Poe sassily approached them.

“Yeah, mhmm,” Finn affirmed.

“We’re gonna die in sand burrows and we’re all keeping secrets?” Poe pressed as he walked past them and towards you.

Deciding the light from behind you wasn’t enough after needing to strain your eyes enough, you ignited your white saber as well for lighting, “Is this really the time?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as you tell us about all that shifty stuff you do,” Finn pressed back.

“Actually, this might be exactly the time,” you admitted, still walking forward but wanting to hear Poe’s response.

The small passageway you were walking through once again opened up into a smaller room with a few other passageways leading in different directions when Poe spoke, “I do not wanna know what made these tunnels.”

His avoidance of explanation twice now began to gnaw at the back of your mind. Why is Poe intentionally keeping things from me? Is there a past he doesn’t want me to know about? Even after I told him everything about mine... 

“Judging by the circumference of the tunnel walls,” 3PO began to explain.

“I said I do not wanna know. Not,” Poe turned back to look at the droid and drive the point forward.

Your group trekked for a short while longer, the order of which led changing with 3PO somehow in the front. Poe was shortly behind him with BB-8 in front of him, his flashlight hitting a corner and illuminating something different than the sand walls. 

“Woah, what is that?” Poe directed toward 3PO, still not close enough to make it out while the golden droid was standing in front of it.

Finn was just behind Poe and after coming a bit closer, “Is that a speeder?”

“An old one,” Rey came up from the back of the group.

“Perhaps we will find the driver,” 3PO pondered.

BB-8 booped and beeped and Poe responded, “Yep, BB-8, I think dead too.”

You really wondered if he didn’t know how to speak droid or not because that was exactly what the small ball had said.

C3PO was inspecting the front of the speeder when he spoke, “Oh my. A hex charm.”

“A what?” Poe turned back from inspecting a tunnel.

“A common emblem of Sith loyalists,” he explained.

You came closer as well to inspect it and your brows came to knit together, “Why is it that I don’t recognize this?”

“Sith,” Rey muttered.

“This was Ochi’s?” Finn surmised.

“Luke sensed it, Ochi never left this place,” Rey walked around the vehicle.

“Why can’t I...” you muttered to yourself. 

Your fingers grazed over the emblem, holding your lightsaber as close as you could to ensure you could capture it in the light. Yet... nothing came to you. How was it that a Sith emblem was lost to you? You feared you weren’t quite as attuned to your dark nature as you once thought you were, and knew it meant nothing but bad news.

“And he ended up down here,” Finn continued off of Rey.

“He was headed for his ship,” Poe began to understand. “Same thing happened to us, happened to him.”

“So how did Ochi get out?” Finn wondered.

You noticed them begin to move down one of the passages and shook off your thoughts, moving to follow them as well.

“He didn’t,” Rey finished, stopping in her tracks.

The rest of you caught up and noticed a skeleton in the room in front of you.

“No he didn’t,” Finn put his hands on his hips.

“Bones, I don’t like bones,” Poe strained.

“Bones? Never a good sign,” C3PO managed to sound as dreaded as possible which didn't help at all.

BB-8 chirped and Rey, taking off her staff, said, “Yeah, I see it.”

She walked forward towards the corner that BB-8 rolled towards and reached for something that BB-8 blew some sand off of. As she removed it, your eyes landed on a unique designed dagger.

As Rey held it, she muttered, “Horrible things... have happened with this.”

You felt out for the dagger and felt the same pain and suffering Rey had, though not as concentrated as she did whilst holding it.

“There’s writing on it,” Poe noticed.

“Perhaps I can translate,” 3PO offered.

The golden droid held it up to his eyes after Rey handed it to him, “Oh! The location of the wayfinder has been inscribed upon this dagger. It’s the clue that Master Luke was looking for.

“And?”

“Where’s the wayfinder?” Poe finished Finn’s question.

“I am afraid I cannot tell you,” 3PO lowered his arm and turned back towards you all.

“What?” you said, two seconds from grabbing the dagger and doing it yourself.

“20.3 fazillion languages, you can’t read that?” Poe accused.

“Oh, I have read it sir. I know exactly where the wayfinder is,” 3PO responded pridefully. “Unfortunately, it is written in the runic language of the Sith.”

“So what?” Rey fired.

“My programming forbids me from translating it,” he bit back.

“So, you’re telling us the one time we need you to talk, you can’t?” Poe looked at the droid with disappointment.

“Irony, sir,” 3PO responded, looking between the group before he walked over to the side.

“Give it here, I’ll do it, maker,” you muttered. 

“I am mechanically incapable of translating from Sith,” the droid appeased.

As he spoke, a small rumbling began to penetrate the ground and a large figure began to rise behind him. 

“I believe the rule was passed by the Senate of the Old Republic,” his explanation continued. Finn and Poe raised their guns while you and Rey raised your sabers in his direction which made him turn and scream as the large creature behind him opened its large mouth and screeched, “Serpent! Serpent! Serpent!” 

He rushed behind your group as you stood your ground and looked upon the large worm-like creature. It had six eyes, two large ones on each side of its face with two smaller ones joining them. It only had about fourteen teeth but they were large and menacing. While it snarled at you a few times, it hadn’t made a move to attack you at all, prompting you and Rey to put down Finn and Poe’s guns. You put a hand on Rey’s shoulder and she looked over to you, receiving a nod. You wanted her to try to connect with the creature, and you knew that she could do it. If it was truly violent, it would have already attacked your group several times over by then. She handed her saber to the side as she made eye contact with the serpent, Finn taking it out of her hands. 

“Rey,” Finn whispered.

The light from their flashlights and your sabers managed to pick up more than just the head of the creature. Its entire body was wrapped around the room in front of you, its long shafted body coiling around. Rey approached it and it snarled but still ultimately did nothing, allowing her to step over its body.

“Y/N,” Poe stressed, aiming his gun at the creature again.

“Don’t,” you whispered.

“Shh,” Finn shushed the group.

Rey was right in the middle of it now, the serpent's body circled around her multiple times with its head right above her and hissing.

“I’m gonna blast it,” Poe stated.

“Don’t blast it,” you and Finn said simultaneously.

Rey lowered herself to the ground and reached a soft and steady hand towards its body. The moment her hand came to touch its skin, it roared which made her stop in her tracks. She didn’t remove her hand however and it still did not attack her.

She closed her eyes and began to focus and that’s when you noticed. The serpent was hurt, scratched in some manner and was bleeding. Focusing her force energy, she managed to actually transfer some of it from her body into the serpent, effectively healing the damage the creature had taken. Poe slowly lowered his gun as he took notice of her actions as well. Before long, the bleeding was completely gone and the wound looked as if it were never there. The serpent blinked slowly and groaned in a contented tone before turning its head and beginning to slide through a separate tunnel. Rey removed her hand as if it were shocked statically and held her wrist while rubbing it slightly. Eventually, its entire body was gone and with it, a passageway crumbling open with light pouring inward. 

BB-8 was the first to roll forward and beeped at Rey, “I just transferred a bit of life. Force energy from me to him. You would have done the same.”

The last part she responded to the droid after he beeped back at her questionably. 

You came up to her while she was still in her kneeled position and helped her up with a hand on her shoulder, “When did you learn to do that?”

“I’m... not sure. I just, felt it,” she tried to explain.

You gave her a slight smile, wondering just how powerful she might be. Force heal was not an easy force technique, and it certainly wasn’t one anyone could do on a whim. Chewie picked up the dagger from where 3PO dropped it and brought it up to you, offering it carefully. You took the knife from his hands and looked over it, seeing the inscriptions along the blade. Though when you tried to read it, you came up blank.

“3PO are you sure this is Sith?” you questioned, turning it over in your hands.

“Of course, Master Y/N! That is the runic language of the Sith,” the robot replied.

“Then why can’t I read it?” you asked aloud, fervently focusing on it yet still not understanding the symbols.

“Wait, I thought you knew Sith?” Poe came up to you, shining his flashlight on the blade as well.

“I knew it better than I knew common, yet,” you sighed, “I can’t seem to understand a single symbol.”

First you weren’t able to recognize the Sith loyalist emblem, and now you had lost your ability to understand Sith. These developments were turning for the worst as you wondered what else you were suddenly incapable of. It didn’t make any sense. You knew Sith because of your former position but even then, you used the language for thousands of years. Even if somehow that power was lost to you, the language would have had to stick anyway right? Your thoughts were brought back to how your wayfinding ability was muddled and your future visions were no longer coming to you. If Snoke wasn’t the one blocking me, perhaps it’s been Palpatine all this time. Who knows what kind of power he has amassed over centuries.

“That’s weird, right?” Finn offered, standing at the now open passageway with light.

You continued to look at the dagger as if you would suddenly begin to recognize the language to no avail when Poe placed a hand on your shoulder, “We need to get out of here, sweetheart. We’ll figure this out later, together.”

You finally ripped your eyes from the blade and handed it back to Chewie who placed it in his bag, “Yeah, let’s go.”

Your group exited the underground to the surface to see Ochi’s ship not far from your position. This time as you walked, you made sure to avoid any and all of the small pools of sinking sands. Luckily they were colored a darker gray so it was easy to discern it from the normal sand. 

As your group got closer and began to scale the rock structure the ship was on, C3PO spoke up, “We cannot possibly fly in that old wreck.”

“We gotta keep moving. Find someone who can translate that dagger, like a helpful droid,” Poe pressed.

“Our ship is most definitely impounded or completely surrounded so this is our only way off this planet,” you added.

Hurt panged through you momentarily at your own incapability to read the language inscribed on the dagger. Your already precarious situation wouldn’t have been much more complicated if you could have just read what was written.

“Yeah they’ll throw us in the Pits of Griq,” Finn threatened.

“Yeah,” Poe chuckled. “And use you as a target droid.”

“You both make, excellent points. At times,” the golden droid admitted.

Finn was helping Poe get a leg up to keep climbing the rock when Rey turned off and walked towards the edge. You noticed it and slowly edged towards her, noticing her focusing on something in the distance.

Finn came up behind you, “What is it?”

Rey turned and handed her staff to Finn, “I’ll be right behind you.” She gave him her bag as well, “It’s ok.”

“Poe,” you called up to him a bit higher, telling him more with your eyes.

He looked back down with his hands on his hips and sighed, “Yeah, we’ll get the ship ready.”

With a nod, you clapped Finn’s shoulder and set back down the rock with Rey. You walked just a step behind her as the two of you began to walk slowly into the open desert. You weren’t quite far from the rock, but had put enough distance to hear the ships engines begin to fire up behind you. You walked with Rey a bit further then she came to a stop. You could feel him by now too, hear the roar of his ship's engine, it was Ren.

“Are you ready? I won’t be helping until I absolutely have to,” you attempted to strengthen her.

She turned to you and nodded once sharply before turning back towards the direction Kylo was flying towards you. You put the force energy into your hands and feet and pushed off as you ran toward the mountainside, launching yourself up sizeable high before sticking your lightsaber into the side of the cliff and hanging. For now, you would overlook their battle. It was entirely possible the nexus event was upon you here and now, but you couldn’t risk it if it wasn’t. Your mission was far greater than the risk of losing this current war, it was missing out on yet another millennium before being able to awaken, not the intention of your father and sister. 

Kylo leveled his TIE fighter at the same height as Rey, flying just along the surface of the sand. She ignited her saber in response and turned around! Facing the other direction, she had her back turned towards him and it seemed to enrage him further. His TIE picked up speed and was now beaming towards her quickly, and just as he was beginning to get closer, she began to run. 

3

2

1

She leaped just as Ren’s ship was about to run her through, with a yell, twisting her body and thrusting her saber through one of the wings, severing it from the ship. She landed back on the ground as Kylo’s ship began to wobble, unsteady with only one side pushing forward. The other wing separated and broke off, leaving only the center cockpit to remain as it crashed and scraped against the ground for hundreds of feet. As soon as it came to a crashing halt, the hull suddenly exploded!

“Rey! Rey!” Finn came shouting towards Rey.

You deactivated your blade and fell back down the mountainside, using the force to push with your hands and soften your fall. 

“They got Chewie! They got him!” he yelled just as a First Order transport ship took off behind him.

As you were running towards them, Rey reached out with the force and held the transport in place. Its engines were scrambling to take off yet she held it just the same and attempted to drag it back in. As you arrived finally, the three of you took notice of a Kylo Ren walking towards you from the direction his ship had just exploded in, completely unscathed. He began to reach out with the force as well and pull the ship out of Rey’s control. Deciding enough was enough, you reached your arm up to help Rey when you were struck concussed by a foreign object to your head.

“Y/N!” Finn yelled.

Fear struck through Rey as well, muddling the strength in her pull.

Before you knew it, you were on the ground with a stinging pain in the side of your head. Finn had come up to you and yanked whatever was there out and you could finally pull a breath into your lungs-

“Leaving so soon?” you mused, holding Ahsoka in a headlock in the back of their ship. You turned her back around to face you as you choked her, “Not without this you won’t.”

The drop hatch opened in front of you and Anakin stared in horror as you dropped her through it and dived through yourself, “Ahsoka!”

You metamorphosed into your large bat form and held her by your legs bringing her back to your citadel.

...

“You are alone now,” you walked slowly around a drugged Ahsoka in your small goblin form. “If you are to survive, you must forget your master.”

You pulled her by the hand as she brought her free one up to her head, “I don’t think I-”

Grabbing her further by the arm, you bit her forearm, injecting a dark poison. 

“Y/N! Y/N!” you were suddenly pulled back into reality on Ochi’s ship.

You grunted as a painful pulse went through your head, “What did they do to me?”

The ship was rocking slightly and you could just barely hear over the ringing in your ears the sounds of lasers firing. 

“Y/N! Baby, you better be ok, imma get us out of here,” Poe yelled over his shoulder while piloting the ship.

Finn was in front of you, “They hit you with some kind of electric bullet. I couldn’t tell what it was since we were in a-”

Another lapse of pain hurt so badly it knocked you right out.

Next Chapter

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[drakeanddice]

Mausritter last night, and since this blog is rapidly becoming my campaign diary, I figure I should get the details down just in case anyone is enjoying reading along.

In bullet points first, then details and lessons learned beneath the break.

Flew from Fox Cross to Swamp Farm on pigeon back

Recruited a warband

Began the process of rebuilding the Scarecrow

Tasked with collecting lichen from the Face Oak for a curse on the City Rat general

Met with the Queen of Big Stump; Knighted?

Exchange riddles with Bzz-Thwip and the Cicada Fey

Granted audience with the Face Oak and asked to plant a Face Oak acorn in exchange for curse lichen

Made camp safely beyond the fairy ring

Survived an ambush by a tiger centipede

Last night was a set-up for the big set piece where we save the patch from the marauding City Rat raiders under Cluny Cleftjaw. We rode on Pigeon-back from Fox across to Swamp Farm, a journey that would’ve taken the day but instead took just under an hour. There’s a reason a flight in the book puts a price per hex for flight at 200 pips, after all. We got to meet Francisco, the Fox Cross Pigeonspeaker and made friends with his fine feathered partner “Crrlprr.” Yeah, that’s pronounced with all the r’s rolled. Best of luck.

We flew back down to Swamp Farm to talk to meet up with our protege Tam, with the side objective of levying some help with the incoming horde from the good folk of Swamp Farm. Which means we’ll have to meet with the Speaker-For-Ghosts. When we first met her she was a wizened old crone of a mouse, but following a ritual which we were assured would keep the Ghost Owl at bay for another generation, the years bled from her before our eyes as her consort, a mouse referred to only as the Elder, grew progressively more crabbed and feeble. She now appears in the flower of her youth once more, and dotes on the Elder like a particularly soft-hearted daughter. She does know Cluny by reputation, and Tam, sleeping in the Stoneskip Inn, has already brought news of his coming. After some questions to ascertain our objectives—and an out of character discussion to nail those down (always handy)— she pledges 15 hardy swamp mice to our cause. That’s almost a warband!

War bands are cool. If you mean to fight something huge, the kind of thing that a mouse would have a big problem fighting alone or in a small group— foxes, big snakes, cats— you can hire mice at arms and get yourself a unit that functions at that scale. Teamwork, rather than pure size will do the job, but typically hiring a warband is not a cheap endeavor. We’ve got retainers that believe in our cause. So long as we’re making forward progress on that cause, they follow us. Their captain, Marrow, is a fisher mouse who acts as the voice of their unit. A morale barometer. If the Wayfinders start straying, he’ll be the one to make it clear that the Swamp Farm irregulars expect changes or they’ll take their little reed coats and fishing tridents and go.

Bindi has been carting around the mushroom heart which animated the Scarecrow from the south field in their titanic battle with the Crows and their automaton. In the course of the battle the Scarecrow burnt, but the Waywatchers managed to save that small part in hopes of rebuilding the magical protector at a later time. Bindi’s been keeping the heart in a little straw and rag doll that she’s been referring to as “The little Fun Guy.” With some trepidation she asked the Speaker-For-Ghosts if her magic was sufficient to help make the Fun Guy strong again. The Speaker-For-Ghosts assured Bindi that she would teach the mushroom how to walk and talk, but that he was already perilously strong.

Our Waywatchers are naturally wary of magic— and at this point who could really blame them— but Bindi is a curious soul and on a whim as she set Fun Guy on the throne asked if the Speaker couldn’t just magic Cluny and his Horde away. Speaker-For-Ghosts told her that killing curses are deadly in both directions, death in for death out. But that her magic could cloud the rat-generals mind and confuse his orders, though it will require the beguiling lichens from the Face Oak to the south, behind enemy lines.

This is an ugly choice. Our Waywatchers with less than 20 mice aren’t in a position to court open conflict with the horde. Rats are nearly twice the size of mice, fierce and merciless in battle. The last time they crossed blades with the scouting party that occupied Tyreton, they nearly met their end. They decide instead to seek further reinforcements at Big Stump or, as it’s now known by the players, Min-Mouse Tirith.

Floating down the stream with their fisher mice, they are challenged by a force of salamanders and mice, bearing patchwork uniforms and the blazon of Big Stump. Mercenaries in service to the Queen of the Stump. They grant passage but a force of 20 mice bearing no banner and owing no allegiance strikes the watch captain as suspicious. The Waywatchers and their retinue are advised to present themselves at the Keep. This solves the question of how they’ll secure an audience with the leader of the settlement, though, Fennel (previously a messenger) does not recall a Queen of Big Stump.

The seneschal greets them in the courtyard and begins instructing them on royal protocol. Upon their left knees, hands over heart and heads bowed the appropriate amount, the Waywatchers are announced to the court as the great doors are drawn back.

The Queen of Big Stump is reclining on an ivory throne, clad in a mantle of weasel fur and a small crown jauntily perched over one ear. Tiger-striped, emerald eyed, we meet her lady ship, her highness, mother of the realm, called Swiftclaw, Eye Unblinking, Azura, Queen of the Stump and Regnant Lady Cat of The Southern Patch.

“Cats eat mice!” gasped Bindi, before several paws were slapped over her mouth.

Last session, we talked through some truths about Cats. All cats, as the mice of the Patch know them, are self-important and status conscious. They are, to the minds of mice, all mad. Fickle, capricious, and the sort of creatures that mice count as walking catastrophes. This moment felt very much like entering the castle to find the dragon seated upon the throne and everyone in the court just sort of okay with that.

She was complimentary. Engaged. Quick-witted. She folded her claws beneath her chin as they told their story and, warily, asked if they could count on the help and support of Big Stump in the coming battles. “We will match and match again the contribution of Swamp Farm. I will not abide Rats Our Kingdom. As beloved companions of the Realm, you may avail yourself of Our walls, on the singular condition that when the sword and spear and horn are still, first pick of plunder goes to me…as befits your liege-lord.”

Birch agrees to terms, wheeling and dealing as he does. They don’t trust her, of course. How can mouse trust cat? Marrow and his band, grumbling and unsure, are left with the royal guard to get acquainted with the units who will fight side by side with them. Now we have a proper warband, but we can’t drag them down to the Face Oak without attracting the attention of Cluny’s forces.

They set out midafternoon and lucky encounter rolls mean that they aren’t opposed until they cross the fairy ring. The toadstools are inhabited by strange cicada creatures whose pantomime attempts at communication leave the mice perplexed. Luckily the Wayfinders have a Rune of Be Understood, and using its power —though it leaves poor Fennel drained and grizzle-furred— they open the channel of communication.

They puzzle through their interlocutor’s, Bzz-Thwip’s (it does not translate), odd phraseology and cadence. They will be conducted into the presence of the Face Oak (Queen’s Face, mirror to sky and soil, eldest matchless rod of burl and bone), but not for free. After Fennel attempts to pay for passage with a shovel (bugs like to dig, right?) and gets horrified screeching as he bares iron inside the fairy ring (bones of stone ripped and wrought and not yours nor ours to wield here amid the bright effulgence viridian unspoilt, defile’t! Curse’d curse’d and thrice curse’d!), Birch offers rations and the Cicada happily accepts this as payment for guidance until sundown.

They move fast, scurrying through a familiar, and yet alien landscape. Everything seems to have the brightness turned up. Spring flowers turn their heads to mark their passage. But they get to the Face Oak, and not knowing how best to address a tree, Bindi goes with the direct approach. She shouts at it.

Now, I was expecting to tax their Rune again, but with a lucky Wisdom save, Bindi is understood by the tree who happily rearranges their Jack in the Green face into the face of a titanic mouse. We are dealing with fairies here, so clearly they must bargain. Nothing you haven’t earned by valor or guile or craft may come back through the fairy ring without consequences. Bindi asks what the tree wants and it drops a single acorn at her feet. “When you go home, find a shady spot, plant this and wait 200 years.” Ominous.

They scrape their lichen from the tree and make haste back for the fairy ring. They cross the boundary right as the sun dips below the horizon. Box-Thwip calls that fair play and devours the rations he was given on the other side of the line with terrifying crunching sounds. The Waywatchers assume it would’ve been bad to be caught on the other side of the line after sunset.

The Waywatchers search for a campsite, settling in a narrow gravel defile not far from the stream that they followed from Big Stump. It’s on first watch that the tiger centipede strikes. In about eight sessions we’ve only fought twice and both of those were nearly catastrophic. But this fight feels like better odds. I mean in theory. The centipede is four times their size, has pincers dripping with venom, and is basically a walking suit of armor, but there’s only one of them.

A lot of OSR games, contrary to games like D&D where combat is a central pillar, assume that open combat is a failure state. If you and an enemy are taking turns hacking and slashing at each other, something has gone seriously wrong and now we’re hoping that the dice fall kindly because all of our other plans have gone to shit. Mausritter is no exception. Our beefiest character has 10 HP before he starts taking critical wounds. Our least beefy can take 5. The centipede rolls a d8 damage any critical damage does 1d12 Dexterity damage. There’s a possibility that a single bite could kill a character, and there is no rolling to attack in this game. It’s the centipede’s turn; take *rolls* 7 damage. Out of hitpoints? Take *rolls* 6 dexterity damage, and now roll under your new Dex score. Didn’t roll under? Time to make a new character.

Luckily, our heroes win initiative here because the centipede rolled “curious” on its reaction roll so it wasn’t a surprise round. It was following the unfamiliar mingling scents of fairy (something that is not prey, to be avoided) and mouse (tasty noms) and was cautiously investigating. The mice spring into action. This looks a lot like two spear mice to the front while Fennel speeds arrows to cover. The fight is quick and brutal. Birch is wounded, but manages to come out with some new bleached stripes in his fur from the centipede’s venom rather than making a meal for the beast.

Overall an eventful three hour session. Our return to Big Stump is next week, and we’re loaded down with centipede chitin and what looks an awful lot like a mouse-sized lobster tail thanks to Bindi the sewer guide’s culinary acumen. We aren’t sure how our continued relationship with Azura the Cat Queen will shake down, but the enemy of my enemy, you know? At least that was the feeling around the fire. The mice in town didn’t appear distressed by their new Queen, no one was obviously acting…yknow oppressed. But a mouse is slow to trust a cat’s claws even extended in friendship.

I suppose we’ll have to wait for next week to find out.

[doodlegraveyard]

I also wanted to know how you felt about the pixies and if you were going to use them in your au

@seth-the-whalelord you are two for two on 'asking very simple questions that send me into a brain spiral' lol thank you this is. actually very useful for getting me to figure this stuff out. This is what i've gotten to write thru on my lunch break.

So! Pixies.

Once again I have no idea if I’m about to spout an Unpopular Opinion or not but…..I don’t like…..little, ‘Mascot’ characters. And I tend not to like the Pixies. Theyre trying Too Hard to be Beloved and it CAN be pulled off..........but I’m sorry I can’t stand their shrill little voices………………

I GET that it’s a kids show and you want little critters to appeal to little kids and sell toys of but like… the cast of Winx is HUGE and bloated at a baseline?? Like the Winx and Specialists by themselves are already so much to deal with. I will say upon rewatch, the Pixies are definitely better than like, any of the other little critters they add in later seasons. There are definitely episodes where the pixies Work and aren't completely overwhelming, and they're liked enough to be worth keeping, conceptually.

I like the idea of the pixies being plot relevant to the fairies development, and I actually have been thinking about explicitly tying them to charmix (or, idk if I’m keeping the concept of Charmix entirely intact because its BARELY a form. But i guess it can remain as a concept, and as a stepping stone to leveling up a fairy has to get her pixie/charmix (so its a standard step not just something the Winx girls have)

I really like how Amore and Chatta specifically contrast Stella/Flora’s respective personalities, because it brings to mind to me that charmix is supposed to be about overcoming some personal fear or weakness/character flaw, it makes sense to me to tie them together.

THAT SAID some of the pixie/fairy relationships are stronger than others.

Lockette’s theming as Pixie of Portals/a wayfinder can be styled as helping Bloom who is currently feeling ‘lost’ in an unfamiliar world, help her navigate both herself learning about and her newly discovered backstory/identity. I think that pretty much works: Lockette encourages Bloom to find the truth even if she’s kind of afraid to/ has been avoiding it. Amore’s calm peacekeeper demeanor definitely helps to temper Stella, and I feel like she could help deal with issues of not just romantic love but her relationships with her friends and her parents. I think Stella is full of love and affection, but doesn’t always show it / in the most considerate way.

Chatta forcing Flora to talk to Helia about her feelings is a pretty good example of what she brings to the table there, though I never want it to be just flattened to Flora’s romantic subplot - Flora could do with speaking up more in general! Have her forced to intercede in a friend conflict or assert herself when previously she was just letting the group overrule her!

Piff. I am conflicted about. Because like… she’s just a fuckin’ baby. there's a limited amount of personality there. She's sleepy. She's baby. I guess I think it’s cute that she helps Aisha with her bad dreams. I knee-jerk wondered if it was in bad taste to ‘mom-ify’ Aisha by giving her effectively a baby to care for but it really doesn’t read like that too much because Aisha is arguably one of the best-written and most complex of the girls. Piff could play a dual role - as someone Aisha has to stand up for and be brave for, but also a manifestation of childish wonder, to push Aisha to enjoy things she maybe didn’t have the opportunity to experience as a kid.

Tune is where it starts to lose me. I get it, Musa is tomboyish and brash and Tune is about manners but that really doesn’t feel as…important a problem to deal with? I feel like it may be a thing where Musa has to like… repair difficult relationships she has that are made rockier by how quick she is to argue, or maybe take responsibility for mistakes - like a formal apology and maturely talking about things rather than being avoidant? I’m not sure it’s best styled as ‘Etiquette’ if that’s the case. I’m taking suggestions on this one idk.

Aaaaaand they didn’t even try with Digit. She’s just a Flanderized version of Tecna. It doesn’t feel like she contrasts or challenges Tecna’s personality in any interesting way...Idk I kind of feel like she has to be changed whole cloth?

I know they replaced Tune and Digit but I’m not as familiar with Cherie or Caramel. I might look into whether their concepts work better for Musa and Tecna character arcs as they are currently swirling around in my head. What's the general consensus on those two?

My design thoughts are. I want to make the pixies much more…. Abstract I guess? What if they’re not their own species as much as concentrated sparks of magic - Fairies generate a lot of excess magic, hence ‘their pixie’ is actually a part of them - a little external manifestation of their magic fissured off my whatever internal conflicts or unaddressed needs they have, and resolving that allows them to re fuse with the Fairy? (Bonus: pixies are only around when relevant and I can poof them away when I don’t want them in a scene lol)

[bestfictionalplant]

Round 2 Group 5

Propaganda and spoilers under cut

Paopu Fruit:

Legend says that if two people share a Paopu fruit, their destinies become intertwined. They'll be a part of each other's lives, no matter what. The legends were so known that they reached out beyond the confines of their world, so that people from other worlds who had never seen a Paopu fruit and didn't even know what it was called still heard the story; that "somewhere out there" a star-shaped fruit existed that bound destinies together. Some people made star-shaped lucky charms for their friends in the hopes of borrowing a bit of magic from the fruit; that their destinies would become intertwined, and they would be a part of each other's lives, no matter what. from the beginning of kh1 there was a lot of talk of sora sharing one with Kairi and with riku, and then by the present they have... he actually shared one with Kairi and then his and riku's combined keyblade has a paopu fruit as the keychain. additionally the wayfinders aqua makes are inspired by the paopu fruit legend :] Stitch from Lilo and Stitch made a cobbled up version of the lucky charm after seeing a different character with one - so even though Stitch didn't know the original legend, he technically has a copy of a copy of a Paopu fruit in his possession during the game lol and I just think that's cute

Plant:

How long that tiny seed must have lain dormant, waiting for the soil to heal enough to wake it. How it must have loved its first taste of rain. How it must have relished in the warmth of the sun.

[scorchedpawswcrp]

Hello Desert Friends! We’re on day 3 of Metal Scrapper applications being open and are feeling the hype! We thought as a fun way to remind people our applications are open we would host a couple of application-themed polls :D

Our first question is: Which group are you applying for first? The Metal Scrappers, or the Wayfinders?

A reminder that Metal Scrapper Applications Close 11:59 pm March 8! Wayfinder Applications will open at 12:01 am March 8!

[wilsons-journey]

🧸/🏆 and 💢/🔪 for Wilson, Valefor, Kying and Neeve! (double pick of emoji since I couldn't decide who to ask things to hehe)

OC's Background Relationships Ask Game

🧸 - Childhood friends

Wilson, despite her being always an sociable person, she never really had friends back then. One of the reasons why her father gave her a Raptor (Bean) as a pet.

Valefor, he once was Friend to a Sylvari! His name was Tiwa. He was also the reason why Valefor yearned for freedom. They traveled together, until Tiwa sadly passed away due to an illness.

Kying, Atlas, he was once his best friend when he was small. Later they grew apart due to a lot of differences. Kying nearly killed his former friend in this altercation. Giving Kying the huge scar he has - caused by the overseeing Primus - as he tried to separate these two.

Neeve, None. Only Opponents. She was a difficult child.

________________________________________ 🏆 - Best friends (past, current or future)

Wilson, She might not had friends in her childhood - now she adopts every stranger as friend. Collecting them like shiny stones But Fuma and Mishra are the closest to her. They not only her best friends, but also partners.

Valefor, Beside Kying, Valefor is also very close with Vale (Aurenes Champion and former Wayfinder / Commander). But I feel he won't see her as his best friend. This title only goes to Kying, who he loves and trust the most. But Vale still counts as family (like many other people connected to her) - he thinks very highly of her. Also marking Wilson as a good friend. Don't dare to harm her, or you summon Valefors wrath.

Kying, in the past it was Atlas and sometimes I think about letting them reconnect. At the same time I'm not sure if Kying is too hurt by the past, to let his former friend back in. But apart from Atlas, Kying will grew close to Neeve in the present. Maybe Kying even becomes good friends with some of the neighbor Lowland Kodan

Neeve, A group of merchants (I still have to give names and more background). Especially two Norn Siblings grew very close to Neeve. They stay in connect - even after Neeve settled with her Brother.

She also grows close to Kying.

________________________________________ 💢 - Person they can't stand / 🔪 - Enemy/nemesis

Wilson, she always tries her best to befriend everyone. It's hard to imagine her really disliking someone or even see someone as her enemy. but I would say she avoids rude people that actively are mean to her and her friends.

Valefor, Israfil. Israfil and uh Israfil. He hates this man to his guts.

Kying /Neeve, for them I have a hard time to determine someone they can't stand or see as an enemy. Both tend to avoid people they don't like (or bluntly kicking their face - looking at you Neeve)

But I would say their biggest Enemy/Nemsis is their past and with that themself. Both haunted by it - giving both a harder time to embrace the future that lays ahead of them. While Kying has less problems in the current past - Neeve still struggles, as she tries to reconnect with her brother.

Also a reason why Kying and Neeve tend to become good friends.