#elixir [she/they/leaf]

[altocanteven]

first three new refs for my ocs!!!! making these is surprisingly tiring

[kxsagi]

*Pokes my head through your window* Good morning, may I request: Blue Lock boys with a Reader who insists they drink the homemade herbal tea she made first thing in the morning.

Characters: Chigiri, Yukimiya, any other characters you want

Because seriously, why did Chigiri or Yukimiya never consider TCM as an option?

“𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫”

a/n: i think yuki, reo, rin, and sae would def be into tea

ft. chigiri hyoma, yukimiya kenyu, mikage reo, karasu tabito, kaiser michael, itoshi rin, itoshi sae

chigiri hyoma

he blinks at the mug like it insulted his entire bloodline. 

“what did you say this was made of again?” 

you cheerfully answer, “dandelions, licorice root, and love!” 

he only heard “dandelions” and “root.” the love part did not save it. 

drinks it like it’s poison and glares at you over the rim the whole time. 

“you know i already have good hair, right? i don’t need... lawn clippings in a cup.” 

he’s so dramatic. clutches his stomach every time like he’s waiting to collapse. 

but refuses to skip a day because you always beam at him like he just cured a disease after finishing the cup. 

he actually does feel a little more energized. but he will never admit that. 

yukimiya kenyu

totally on board at first. skincare king. tea enthusiast. 

“ah, herbal. nice. did you steep it at 80 degrees?” 

you: “i microwaved it.” 

the betrayal in his eyes. 

drinks it anyway and nods politely with the stoicism of a man pretending he likes your cat’s cooking. 

goes full monk about it – sits cross-legged on the couch, sipping in silence, whispering affirmations like “my gut microbiome thanks me.” 

you find out later he’s been sneaking in a drop of honey every morning to make it bearable. 

“you can’t get mad if it still has the benefits.” 

if you try to make a new blend, he gets suspicious. “... what’s in this one?” 

you: “vibes.” 

mikage reo

very chill about it. the first morning you offer it, he drinks it and goes “interesting.” 

you ask what he means and he just says “tastes like nature with a grudge.” 

he drinks it every day but adds a bougie little mint leaf or lemon slice like he’s in a spa. 

insists you sell it as a “detox elixir” and slaps a mikage corp sticker on your tea jars. 

drinks it with his pinky up. 

convinces nagi to try it once and nagi just immediately lies down on the floor and doesn’t move for thirty minutes. 

reo just shrugs and says “it’s an acquired taste. like kale or emotional vulnerability.” 

karasu tabito

makes fun of you. every single time. 

“you’re trying to assassinate me with twigs in hot water. just say you hate me.” 

gags dramatically. slides down walls. wipes imaginary tears. 

but still drinks it. because deep down he’s a little whipped. 

sneaks in a spoonful of sugar when you’re not looking. sometimes three. 

once asked if he could add protein powder to it and you almost kicked him out. 

starts calling it “witch potion” and “swamp smoothie.” 

“ah yes, nothing like drinking a cauldron shot first thing in the morning. love you, babe.” 

kaiser michael

sips it once. pauses. looks at the mug like it personally betrayed him. 

“this is what you give to your enemies, not your boyfriend.” 

you tell him it helps inflammation. he raises an eyebrow and goes, “it’s inflaming my taste buds.” 

complains every single day but shows up like clockwork for his morning mug. 

mutters under his breath in german. probably insulting the tea. probably insulting you too but in a sexy way. 

insists on a dramatic health report each morning: “vital signs stable. vision slightly blurry. taste buds... gone. but still hot.” 

tries to bribe ness to drink it for him one day. you catch him and double the dosage. 

after a week, he starts posting selfies with #herbalhealing like he’s a lifestyle influencer. 

says he hates it but starts sending you pinterest boards titled “tea aesthetic.” 

itoshi rin

stares at the mug like it personally offended his ancestors. 

you: “it’s good for your immune system.” 

rin: “i’m not drinking grass clippings.” 

refuses for three days straight. you finally wear him down by saying it’ll reduce cortisol/stress. 

he drinks it. expression doesn’t change. not one twitch. you ask him how it is. 

“… it’s wet.” 

dramatic sigh. takes another sip like he’s at war. 

“did you brew this in a pond?” 

glares at the mug the whole time he drinks it. like he thinks it'll grow legs and fight him. 

starts researching each ingredient. one day comes home with a list like, “you know licorice root can raise blood pressure, right?” 

he still drinks it daily. never tells you why. 

you catch him once making it himself when you’re not home. you say nothing. he pretends nothing happened. 

itoshi sae

you hand him the mug with a cheerful “good morning!” and he just stares. 

“why is it the color of swamp water.” 

drinks it anyway. immediately gags like you slipped him poison. 

“is this payback for something i did in a past life?” 

says he’s gonna die every time he drinks it. clutches his throat like a victorian ghost. 

“this is why i don’t eat vegetables. it always leads to this.” 

puts it down dramatically and whispers, “bury me with my cleats.” 

complains for 10 straight minutes, then asks, “… wait, what’s this good for again?” 

next morning: already seated at the table with an empty mug. 

“not saying i believe in your dirt tea, but i didn’t need a nap during my training break today. that’s progress.” 

texts you “bring the juice” every morning like you’re his shady herbal dealer. 

still makes fun of it. calls it “potion of pain.” but you catch him once calling his teammate "weak" for not drinking his girlfriend's tea. 

he’s a silent believer. with attitude. 

© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢

[zunibugsiren]

Uprising Chapter 4

Annie felt herself slowly wake. She felt herself flush as she remembered her encounter with Smoke. She must have passed out from overstimulation.

She heard hushed voices coming from the living room.

As she got up, she looked down; a new dress on, and her nether parts were dry.

She stood up slowly and stretched before walking over to her water basin to clean her face and her teeth.

The book was real.

All her teachings and nothing could have prepared her for what transpired this morning.

Annie walked into the living room to see Smoke, Sammie, and Stack huddled up, leafing through the book.

Smoke stood up when he spotted Annie. Seeing Smoke stand, Stack and Sammie looked over and promptly stood up as well.

Annie let out a little laugh. 

“I feel like a general.”

“You are the boss,” Smoke gruffly replied. He walked over, giving her a kiss before venturing into the kitchen.

Sammie pulled her to a chair, and Stack sat down once she did.

“I know we can’t read the book yet but some of the pictures we've seen, good God, Annie. Vampyres, witches, everything you can think of is in here.”

Stack turned to look at her before glancing back at the book.

“We can’t understand the book and need you to do somethin’ about that. I can damn near sense the power comin’ from this book and I need that now.”

Annie felt her anger rise.

“I’m not one of your hoes in Chicago, you understand? You do not tell me what to do. I helped you because your brother asked me kindly. Don’t think I forgot what you did. I don’t forget, so act like you got some sense and be grateful I’m giving you an iota of help.”

She stood up, heading outside to her shack.

Sammie made to follow her, but at Annie’s hand, he stayed still.

He turned to his cousin Stack.

“Why you treat Annie like that? What happened?

Stack gritted his teeth as Smoke came into view with a plate of food.

He looked around for his wife.

“Where’s Annie?”

There was a brief silence between Stack and Sammie before Stack spoke.

“She’s in her shack.”

Smoke, seeing the guilt in Sammie’s eyes, honed in on his brother.

“What did you say?”

Silence.

Smoke stepped up to his brother’s face and in a deadly whisper asked again.

“What. did. you. say?”

Smoke glared at his brother.

“I told her that she needed to do something to help us read the book.”

Before Sammie knew it, Stack was on the floor nursing a sore jaw.

“Smoke!” Sammie exclaimed, stepping towards the fighting twins. Smoke pushed the plate of food into his hands.

“Boy, go outside now!” Smoke yelled.

Sammie swiftly moved outside with the plate, heading towards Annie’s shack.

Smoke picked up Stack by his lapels and shook him aggressively.

“What’s your problem? Huh? You don’t talk to my wife like that!”

Stack struggled in his brother’s hold.

“You gon’ let her get in between us again? ” he spat.

Smoke roughly pushed his brother onto the ground, and Stack swiftly stood up. 

“When has Annie ever gotten in between us? Tell me!”

The brothers circled each other.

Stack wiped the corner of his mouth that was leaking blood.

“You know she got pregnant!” he yelled.

“That’s what a wife and husband do, Stack! They have children! That’s my wife, my fuckin wife!”

“Where does that leave me? You my brother! My brother! I knew as soon as she got pregnant she was goin’ to make you change your mind about Chicago, about movin’. I knew it. We was goin’ to end up just like everybody else had we stayed.”

“That’s what this about?”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While the brothers hashed it out, Sammie took the plate out to Annie as directed.

The sun was setting and he gently pushed the door open to Annie’s shack.

He found her mixing elixirs, deep in thought.

“Hey.”

Annie jumped sky high.

“Sammie, you damn near scared me to death.”

“ M’sorry, the twins talkin’ a couple things out, Smoke had me bring in your dinner.”

Annie had heard the yells,  her shack being but a few ways from her house.

“Mmmhmm.” She took the plate with a quiet thank and went to wash her hands in her basin.

“Nobody want to tell me what happened, will you?”

Annie chuckled lifelessly.

“You know your cousins had a hard life and Stack was all Smoke had. It was hard for him to accept his brother had a woman, he felt…”

Annie searched for the words as she dried her hands.

“...abandoned.”

“Me and Smoke argued about it a lot. I got pregnant…”

She placed her hands on her stomach, her voice thickening as the tear stung her inner corners.

“...and lost the baby.”

Sammie’s throat thickened, and he turned away as he tried to rein in the tears. Annie had the baby a month early. Worry was evident on everybody’s face, but sorrow took over once she gave birth. The baby came out lifeless. Everybody remembered hearing Annie’s wails as they huddled outside her house, trying to find a way to help. It was a very quiet month in their community.

“Me and Smoke didn’t talk much after she passed. We was stuck. How I see it, Stack took the chance to encourage Smoke to leave for Chicago after the baby passed. Our grief took us different ways. Smoke to his brother, Stack, to go work, and me to drown myself in my work.”

She cleared her throat and motioned to the plate.

“Wanna eat with me?”

Sammie wordlessly grabbed a chair before digging in with Annie.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While Sammie and Annie ate, the brothers tumbled in her home.

Smoke had a gash on his left eyebrow, while Stack sported a busted lip and a gash on his right cheek.

Both men panted as they gathered their bearings.

Smoke paused, reminiscing on how his little brother used to get beaten by their father. He had to be better. He slowly placed his hands down waiting for his brother to do the same.

Stack readied himself, taunting his brother.

“C’mon, hit me!”

Smoke stepped back, “Stop, Stack!”

“I know you holdin’ back, c’mon baby let’s go!”

“I said stop.” Smoke roared.

Stack didn’t listen and charged at his brother only to be held in a headlock.

“Stack! You gon always be my brother don’t you know that? Did you know Annie was talkin’ bout how we was going to have our plot of land and where you was goin’ build yo’ house?”

Stack stopped his struggling as his brother’s words hit him.

“Did you know Annie made a mojo bag so that I would be protected so that I can protect you? That she worked the root every day since we was gone, so that I could protect you! Smoke spat.

Smoke quickly released his brother and Stack fell on his ass.

“How ‘Uncle Stack’ was goin’ to be so protective and how the baby was goin’ to smooth things over so that you could see we was all goin’ to be family? That no one was takin’ no one away.”

Stack felt his eyes burn at the mention of his deceased niece. He was upset when Annie told everyone she was pregnant, but by her sixth month had secretly started gatherin’ clothes for the upcoming Moore. 

He knew Annie was powerful that was certain.

He knew Annie loved his brother.

He didn’t know Annie cared for him and saw him as family.

He didn’t know Annie worked the root every day for them

He sat slumped, unseeing, as his brother crouched in front of him.

“Now, when she come in here, you say sorry. You hear me?”

Stack looked back at his brother in guilt and exhaustion.

Smoke arose to gather a cloth. He drenched it in water before ringing it out and handing it off to his brother.

Stack took the cloth wordlessly as he ventured outside to collect Annie and Sammie.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was nightfall by the time Annie and Sammie came back into the house.

Smoke took to cleaning his guns while Stack took to getting their clothes out.

Both brothers did their work in silence.

Sammie took to strumming the guitar that he was gifted by his cousins as he watched his cousins’ standoff. 

Annie was in the kitchen reading the book, learning the spells and hexes being offered.

Suddenly, without a word, Stack walked over to Annie with a red bandana wrapped item.

Smoke tracked his movements to Annie discreetly while Sammie stared at Stack tensely.

Annie looked up to see Stack, busted lip and all offering her the item.

“I made some cornbread while you was out. You want some? It taste pretty good.”

Annie only stared at him.

“You gon’ make me say it?”, he muttered

She stared at him and tilted her head.

“I’m sorry. For everythin’. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. I shouldn’t have pushed you out, I didn’t know you cared for me. All the things you did for me. You know, Smoke is all I have—”

“---used to have.”

Stack stared at her, and what Annie suddenly saw in front of her was a man, too scared to be vulnerable. Her eyes softened.

“...used to have,” Stack repeated softly.

Annie took the cornbread out of his hands, took a bite, and grinned.

“Its good.”

“Yeah?”

“It could use a little more sugar and maybe not so much butter—”

Stack exploded into laughter.

Sammie released the breath he was holding and resumed strumming his guitar, while Smoke let his eyes fall back to his gun cleaning.

Sammie suddenly stood up and walked over to Smoke.

“When y’all going to open up the juke joint. It’s been two days now since y’all bought it. Now with this book business done with, I wanna play some.”

Smoke looked at his cousin with a little irritation.

“Ain’t no book business done with, but we gon’ open that juke tomorrow. We gon need the space for what’s to come.”

Annie looked at her husband and swiftly walked over handing Stack the book. Stack followed en suite.

“What you thinkin’?”

Stack looked at his brother and knew.

“He plan on building an army.”

Smoke finished cleaning his gun and placed it back in his bag. 

“Every man, woman, and child will be educated. Now, what we need to do is plan logistics.”

“I found a translation spell. You’ll be able to view the words in English, but it’ll remain Ifa. This is temporary, so y’all will have to get to learnin’.”

“The 1st lesson is happenin’ tonight.”

The men followed her into the livin’ room.

“I need the room to be cleared.”

Without another word, the men pushed away the chairs, tables and sofas to the very edge of the room.

“Before you start a spell, you need to cleanse the area.  Burning sage or salt can do.”

Annie sprinkled the salt in a circle.

“I need a match.”

Stack pulled out his matches and gave them to her, before stepping back.

Annie promptly lit the circle, causing the salt to burn quickly before fizzing out.

Stack handed Annie the book, watching her speak incantations.

The candles that were burning flickered before righting themselves.

“What kind of spell was that?” Sammie asked.

“It’s a protection spell. I called on our ancestors—”

Annie was interrupted by a knock on the door.

She paused, “It’s damn near nine o’clock, who the hell is outside?”

Smoke and Stack shared a look, neither said anything as they gathered their weapons.

Annie said nothing but stood behind her husband as he walked to her door.

There was another knock, and Smoke called out.

“Who is it?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m just lookin’ for a place for me to stay the night. I was robbed.”

Smoke looked back and at the slight nod from Annie opened the door with his 45’ cocked and at the ready.

There stood a white man, bloodied and beat up, his clothes torn as though he had indeed been robbed.

“Please, sir, I can pay you the night for a stay in your home.”

He pulled out coins but the dark night made them unclear.

Stack pulled up to his brother’s right side, he wasn’t amused.

“What’s your name again?”

“Remmick, sir.”

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Not A Verstappen: Gridlocked {7}

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x fem!driver!reader x Lando Norris Summary: Your mother finally gets the truth out of you regarding Max. Warnings: 18+ only, swearing, angst WC: 2k F1 Masterlist NAV: Sibling Rivalry One || Two || Three NAV: Gridlocked One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight

The double bed was definitely not made to accommodate three people, even if you were all spooning, so you found yourself sneaking out at sunrise. You hadn’t been able to sleep with the thoughts running through your head, wondering why Max couldn’t have been more like your mother. You weren’t worried about waking Lando as you climbed out from between them, since you didn’t have an air horn on you, but you were careful not to jostle Charles who was a much lighter sleeper.

After changing into a pair of leggings and a sports bra, you found your airpods and shoved the Aura ring back on your finger before taking a lap of the village. You quickly settled into a good pace, feeling the rhythmic slap of your trainers on the pavement and timing your breathing to match. It cleared your mind and gave you a focus on something other than everything else that was happening around you. For those precious minutes you didn’t think about Max.

So far you had managed to avoid talking about him with your mum, though that was mostly thanks to being blindsided by your relationship status - it had been enough to distract her for the rest of the day. You weren’t so sure that luck would last another 24 hours but you would certainly try.

“Just leave her be, she’ll come in when she’s ready.” Your mother had been watching you all morning from her spot on the window seat, a cup of tea in hand. After Charles had woken up he had joined her and watched curiously, wondering why you were in the garden. “Avoiding me,” she said with a knowing smile. “It’s funny that the only times she would willingly do her chores were when she was trying to hide. It was a dead giveaway, but I never said anything. It was just nice to not have to ask her to do them.”

Charles chuckled as you battled to trim the agapanthus with a pair of rusted and blunt shears. “Should I offer to help?”

She wrinkled her nose and shook her head, checking the time on her watch. “She’s nearly done.”

Charles quirked an eyebrow as he looked at the progress that had barely started to make a dent in the long drive.

“Fuck,” you hissed as you the slimy residue that leaked from every cut leaf made your hand slippery and the shears fell from your grasp, narrowly missing your foot. You went to wipe a wayward hair that fell onto your nose but the sun caught the shimmer of slime and you jerked back with a groan, instead trying to blow it out of your face. You grew more irritated as the hair remained where it was tickling your nose and the urge to sneeze built up. “Fuck this shit.”

Abandoning the garden, you marched up the path and kicked your filthy shoes off before storming through the house.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” your mother greeted jovially. “Lovely day for a spot of gardening.”

“I’m calling Mr Newberry,” you grumbled on your way to the bathroom. “He can sort that mess out.”

You felt slightly calmer after washing away the slime and the chlorophyll that stained your fingers green and that feeling only grew when you found Charles waiting with a coffee made just how you liked it. “Busy morning?” he asked after handing over your elixir of life and taking his payment with a quick kiss.

“I’m just trying to help out,” you said with an innocent shrug. “I made a list of things that need fixing around here and if I don’t make the phone calls they will never get done.”

Charles tried to hide his amusement but when you narrowed your eyes at him he couldn’t stop the smile from breaking through. “Your mother knows you so well,” he laughed as he leaned in to whisper, “She knows you are avoiding her.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“Yes, she does,” he assured you, running his hands along your sides before he kissed your forehead. “Just talk to her, amour.”

A shirtless and sleepy Lando stumbled his way into the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning as he made a beeline for the two of you. You placed your mug on the table before he reached you and let him fall into the middle of the embrace as his eyes fluttered shut again. He must have been burrowed under the blankets because the heat radiating off him was almost hotter than the blistering shower you had taken.

“Why are you awake?” he mumbled against your neck.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“She’s being a coward and avoiding her mum.”

That made Lando battle his exhausted state and force his eyes to open as his forehead crinkled with a frown. “Why?”

“I’m not.”

“Because she wants to know why that person-we-can’t-mention-for-another-eight-days keeps calling her.”

“You can say his name,” you grumbled. “Max Verstappen, World Champion, Number One. Prodigal Son. Cunt.”

Your mother gasped as she entered the room with a fresh brew of tea. “I should wash your mouth out with soap, young lady.”

You winced at the reprimand. “Oops, turns out we can’t say his name.”

“This has gone on long enough, take a seat - family meeting,” she ordered as she pointed to the table. Lando and Charles took a step towards the door but your mum tutted. “You’re a part of this family now too, gentlemen.”

“Should I put a shirt on?” Lando asked as he looked down at himself. “Or shorts?”

“Please don’t.” “Please do.” You spoke at the same time as your mother, both of you sending each other slightly irritated looks. 

“Two Spitfires, Char, there’s two now,” he whispered under his breath as he went to get dressed. He obviously had been in a rush and blindly pulled clothes out because the tense atmosphere wasn’t enough to stop Charles from grinning at the sight of Lando in his Ferrari shirt.

Seated at one end of the table, you faced your mother while your poor boyfriends were the buffer between. Lacing her fingers together, she stared back at you and made that heavy sigh that every parent could which immediately induced waves of guilt. You didn’t even have anything to be guilty over, but it happened anyway.

“What happened with Max?”

You crossed your arms at the direct question. “This is why I don’t bring people home.”

“What happened with Max?”

“Nothing.” You dropped your head to the table with a thud as her penetrating stare became too much to look at.

“What happened with Max?”

“Fucksake,” you groaned as her persistence won over your impatience. “He called you a whore…well technically he called me one too, but it doesn’t matter. He disrespected you, mum, so instead of calling you what he can do is he can take his phone and go fuck himself with it.”

Lando covered his mouth as a quiet squeak slipped out behind his apologetic smile and you reached out with your foot, running it up and down his leg. You felt bad for subjecting him to this drama when he was as introverted as they come - not that anyone would guess after seeing him on tv. Charles seemed to just take everything on the chin and not a lot fazed him at all, but like you he was reaching out to soothe Lando under the table too. 

“I shouldn’t have come, I’m sorry,” you said as you started to push your chair out.

“Wait, please,” your mum asked quietly as her face softened. “He shouldn’t have said that, sweetheart, and I’m sorry that he did. I’m assuming it was after he found out about the three of you?”

You all nodded sullenly and she sighed. “It’s a shock, that’s no excuse, but it was a big shock. Maybe you should talk to him? It’s been a few days, he’s had time to think and reflect. You might be surprised.”

“Have you ever heard Max apologise?” you asked Lando and Charles. Both of their eyebrows furrowed in thought before they shook their heads. “See, Max doesn’t apologise, and I have no interest in hearing anything else from him.”

“As long as you’re doing it for yourself, honey, and not on my behalf. I have been called every name under the sun, but it's water off a duck's back. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to repair the relationship for some vindication for me. He’s your brother and you have missed so much of each other’s life already.” Your mother sighed again as she saw you had heard her words but they hadn’t broken the wall you had built. “Just think about it.”

She rose from the table, walking around it to rest her hand on your shoulder. “Just think about it,” she repeated before she left the room as you sagged in your chair like a puppet whose string had been cut.

Your phone vibrated in your pocket and you pulled it out to see your reflection broken on the screen. It still hadn’t been repaired from the last argument you had with Max when you accidentally cracked it. Perhaps it was a good reminder to keep.

Unlocking the device, you saw the notification from family share - alerting you that your location services were in use. 

“Fucking cunt,” you groaned before hearing your name from the other end of the house. “Sorry! Can I call him a prick?”

Lando laughed and this time Charles joined in as your mother ranted to herself about your language. You couldn’t help that you grew up around mechanics and drivers, they were the most foul mouthed bunch of people. 

Reaching across, Charles took a look at your phone before updating Lando. “He tracked her.”

“What do you want to do?”

Five minutes ago you would have ditched the phone and packed the car. Five minutes ago you might have threatened harassment. Five minutes of talking with your mother changed everything. 

“I don’t know,” you admitted as you dropped your head in your hands until they were pulled away. You could wear a blindfold and still know exactly who was holding your hand, recognising their touch and feel with the familiarity of intimacy. “What do you think I should do?”

“I’m not ready to forgive him for how he spoke to you, amour,” Charles shrugged. “If he was my brother, I honestly don’t know if that would change anything.”

“I’ll follow your lead, baby,” Lando said as he lifted your hand to his lips. “Whatever you decide. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking you look really good in that shirt,” you said as you looked at Charles for confirmation, his smirk evident. “Really, really good.”

“I always look good. Stay focused.”

“I am focused. I am going to call the gardener, and someone to fix that bloody pavement. Then, maybe, I’ll think about what to do next, it’s not like he’s going to be knocking down the door right this minute.”

Both of them turned to the door expecting to hear it knock and you rolled your eyes. “He’s not the bogeyman. He just likes to think he is.”

You took your phone back and opened the family share app, selecting Max’s phone and watched as it zeroed in on the pin drop. “Shit,” you sighed as the blue dot moved along the street. Leaning back in the chair, you craned your neck to see out the window and caught sight of an Audi SUV pulling in the driveway. “I take that back. Can we run?”

Click here for chapter eight.

[heroesrest64]

Character Sheets

(more to be added later)

Sky

The local carpenter, a sleepy young man who completes his jobs… eventually. You can often find him napping just about anywhere, even on his feet! A romantic at heart, you won’t regret getting to know this loveable young man.

Birthday: Spring 10

Family: None

Weapons: Broadswords, Whips, Claws

Style: Combo Connoisseur (Often starts combo chains while fighting)

Favorite Items: Wood, Pumpkin Soup (“Reminds me of home”), Feathers

Least Favorite Items: Poultry (“Why would you think I would like this?”), weeds, Spicy food

Four

The local blacksmith who always seems to be everywhere at once. He has a special penchant for weapons, and is happy to assist you in making whatever you need.

Birthday: Fall 21

Family: Smith (Grandpa)

Weapons: Broadswords, Magic Wands, War Hammers and Bow and Arrows

Style: Well-Rounded (Performs well no matter where you put him in the lineup)

Favorite Items: Metal Ores, Magic Stones, Four Leafed Clovers (“They’re good luck!), Coffee

Least Favorite Items: ocean forageables, trash, deserts (“Too sweet for my taste.”)

Time

this man runs the other farm in town alongside Twilight, mostly focused on cultivating crops and the like. He’s experienced (Read: Old) so if you need any tips or tricks, he’s the guy that you want to talk to.

Birthday: Summer 4

Family: None

Weapons: Longswords, Claws, War Hammers

Style: Heavy Hitter (He’s a bit slower but his attacks hit that much harder)

Favorite Items: Any Vegetable, Lon Lon Milk (“Better than any alcohol”), Elderflower

Least Favorite Items: Bitter recipes, soggy newspaper (“What am I supposed to do with this?”) moon dust (“…”)

Wind

An aspiring fisherman who makes deliveries from Lurelin Village and who can even ferry you down there. He’s a very nice young man, inquisitive, and always ready to lend a helping hand.

Birthday: Summer 19

Family: Aryll (Sister), ‘Granny’ (Grandma)

Weapons: Longswords, War Hammers, Clubs

Style: Sleight (Because of his smaller size, he can sneak attack enemies easier, and can even nick some of their items if he’s lucky)

Favorite Items: Elixir Soup (“You could never make it like my Grandma, but this is pretty close.”), Ocean Forageables, Fish

Least Favorite Items: Spicy foods, vegetables (“What’s a sailors least favorite vegetable? Leeks!”), egg shells (“Are you trying to curse me?”)

NON ROMANCEABLE

Legend

The curator of the local museum. He claims all of his attractions were stolen by a man in a bunny hood. A little standoffish at first, but knowledgeable beyond his years.

Birthday: Spring 25

Family: Fable (Sister)

Weapons: All Weapons

Style: Veteran (Capable of wielding all weapons with high dexterity)

Favorite Items: Hibiscus(“Reminds me of somebody… Thank you.”), artifacts, apples

Least Favorite Items: rabbits foot (“Where did you get this? It’s disgusting.”), Mermaid Scale, Goddess Statue Figurine (“I swear it’s like she’s looking at me…”)

Hyrule

The town's healer. He’s a little sassy at times, but is always very helpful and never gives up. Unfortunately, his cooking leaves a lot to be desired…

Birthday: Fall 8

Family: None

Weapons: Broadsword, boomerang, magic wands

Style: Magic and Mayhem (Has innate magical abilities that don’t need a conduit to activate.)

Favorite Items: deserts, herbs, Honey (“I’d say it’s for tea, but I might just eat it like this…”)

Least Favorite Items: Fairy Wings (“That’s sickening.”), bitter foods, Trash

Twilight

Runs the other farm in town alongside Time, focused on raising the animals there. He’s strong and fiercely loyal to his loved ones. He’s best friends with the town chef, so you can often find him hanging around the local tavern.

Birthday: Winter 7

Family: None

Weapons: Broadsword, Ball and Chain, Claws

Style: Wolf Hunter (Attacks animal-adjacent monsters with more ferocity)

Favorite Items: Pumpkin Soup, Goat-related products, Onyx (“I hear these can make openings to dark worlds. Probably just superstition, but it’s a fun thought.”)

Least Favorite Items: Bitter foods, Perfumes (“The smell is too strong.”), Wolfsbane

Warriors

The village's main protector, previously a knight of Hyrule who retired after the Great War. He’s known to be a bit of a womanizer, but he isn’t known to go out with people since coming to Hateno. What could be the source of these unfounded rumors?

Birthday: Winter 26

Family: Linkle (Sister[?])

Weapons: All Weapons

Style: Leader (Often at the front of the party, dealing decisive blows and commanding the rest of the party)

Favorite Items: Spicy foods, Armor Polish (“So shiny I can see myself!”), Any armor/ weapon (“I can add this to my collection.”)

Least Favorite Items: Trash, monster guts, Crystal Ball (“You had this? …You weren’t watching people through it, right?”)

Wild

An amnesiac man who somehow made his way to Hateno and decided to open a tavern. Despite his memory loss, he’s a natural in the kitchen, and even the stranger sounding recipes turn out excellent.

Birthday: unknown, presumed Fall 13

Family: None

Weapons: Broadswords, Bow and Arrows, Spears

Style: Wild (Often unpredictable in his attacks, either unleashing impossible combos or falling flat on his face)

Favorite Items: Edible forageables, Silent Princess (“It’s familiar, somehow”), Hearty Soup

Least Favorite Items: Wolf Pelt (“That's not funny.”) [Cant think of anything else rn]

Universal Loves: Goddess Plume, Master Sword, Hylian Shield

Exceptions

Legend- Goddess Plume (“More burdens to bear.”)

Universal Hates: Hyrule’s Cooking, Failed Dishes

Exceptions

Wild- Hyrule’s cooking/ Failed Dishes (“It’s okay to fail, as long as you don’t give up.”)

Legend- Hyrule’s Cooking (“Hyrule made this?… Do you think he’d be mad if I displayed it under ‘worlds most deadliest poison’?”)

[magicpaint]

Perfume for characters like Marie Lottie Duchess etc.?

Movie Characters —

Katrina van Tassel (The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad)

Strawberry Scarecrow (Birch & Besom) — Strawberry milk, a warm flaky croissant, cozy flannel stuffed with sun-baked hay, marshmallow meringue

Bobbing For Apples (CocoaPink) — Orchard peaches, Honey Crisp apples, glowing Jack O' lanterns, pumpkin flesh, and layers of creamy vanilla with just a touch of the warm patchouli fragrance of Witch's Brew.

Coquette (Siren Song Elixirs) — Meyer lemon, Freesia, Coconut milk, Tahitian vanilla, Cream, Shortbread, Honey

Kiss Me At Midnight (Nui Cobalt) — Languid patchouli, clove bud, ylang ylang, labdanum absolute, skin-warmed suede, and syrupy black fig.

She Poisoned the Strawberries (Death & Floral) — Fresh picked strawberries, the musk of a scorned lover, cold sparkling champagne.

Madame Adelaide Bonfamille (The Aristocats) —

Dressing Table (Pulp Fragrance) — Red lipstick, white oak, face powder, tonka and vanilla beans, & a cup of coffee with milk and sugar.

Aphrodite's Temple (Luvmilk) — Honey slathered peaches with a hint of spice and vanilla, rounded out with rose and a touch of sweet burning wood.

Warm Heart (Lovesick Witchery) — Notes of drizzled honey, cardamom cream, milk, vanilla, gingerbread spice syrup, and espresso.

Chantilly Lace (Deep Midnight) — Warm Vanilla, Eastern Sandalwood, Sweet Honeysuckle, Sweet Musk, and a sprinkling of White and Pink Florals.

Baroness (Laurel & June) — rich amber, spicy vanilla and a touch of heavenly musk

Duchess (The Aristocats)

White Robe (Luvmilk) — Creamy coconut milk, sweet sugar cane, a hint of smoke, white amber, and pure honey.

Serene Queen (Lovesick Witchery) — Notes of orange blossom, chamomile tea, rice milk, vanilla, and tonka bean.

Signature White (CocoaPink) — A blend of delicate shea blossoms, rice flowers, vanilla cream, sweet sugar and heliotrope with delicate undertones of amber and sandalwood.

Dreaming Ever So Peacefully (Laurel & June) — Puffy lavender clouds, cashmere, clean sheets, white tea, thyme, star jasmine, a touch of fresh bergamot and coconut, Egyptian musk, warm woods

Grace (Nui Cobalt) — Sun-warmed pink magnolia, wild rose, pearl musk, vanilla orchid, and organic tonka bean butter.

Marie (The Aristocats)

Kneady Kitten (Luvmilk) — Warm sweet bread, melting butter, a base of rich vanilla.

Purrgeoisie (Pierrot Perfumery) — Strawberry shampoo, petit fours, steamed almond milk, vanilla resin, caramelized amber

Cotton Candy (Morari) — Delightfully sweet, floaty clouds of spun sugar

Blanket Fort (Nui Colbalt) — Cotton flower, grey suede, warm amber, green fig, tumbled teakwood, and raw vanilla bean.

Tiara (Damask Haus) — Radiant white pink iris, gleaming musk, ambroxan, peach flesh, cashmere, peru balsam, benzoin, silk.

Bianca (The Rescuers)

Divine Femininity (Lovesick Witchery) — Notes of lavender, rose, vanilla, myrrh, and cedarwood.

Éclair Violet (Laurel & June) — Soft powdery violets, blue iris blossoms, vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, and electrifying Iso E

The Lingering Scent of Invisible Lilacs (Morari) — Lilac, Violet, Violet Leaf, Humid Air, Gentle Rain

Iris Royale (Smoky Mountain Scents) — A classic opening of fresh bergamot and sweet violet is quickly joined by a heart of creamy Iris and soft rose. A base of sweet, woody amyris and earthy patchouli is accented beautifully by traces of cedar and brown sugar.

Dusk (CJScents) — Lavender, sandalwood, and vanilla

Charlotte La Bouf (The Princess & the Frog)

Heart Breaker (Luvmilk) — Rich butterscotch, warm graham crackers, faint notes of cinnamon and brown sugar, and a drizzle of caramel.

Sweet Talk (Deep Midnight) — Caramel, Spun Sugars, Pink Cocoa, White Florals, Raspberries, and Blush Apricots

Toujours Doux (Laurel & June) — Sweet red cherries, almond, a big pink rose bloom, bright white lilies, vanilla, and vetiver

2AM in Lafayette (Sorce) — Vanilla co2, oakmoss, cafe au lait, ribbons of caramel, beignets dusted with powdered sugar

Parisian Pink (Nui Cobalt) — Peony petals, a suede settee, osmanthus, silk tree, spun sugar, Margaret Merril roses, pink grapefruit, and antique sandalwood.

Disney Parks Characters —

Sally Slater / The Tightrope Walker (The Haunted Mansion)

Ballet Arabesque (Pulp Fragrance) — Dark rum, dulce de leche, roasted chestnuts, rockrose resin, Moroccan bakhoor, black vanilla bean, spikenard, oakmoss, & coffee CO2.

Girls and Graves (Death & Floral) — Sugare’d grapefruit, pink musk, soft cherry blossoms, fluffy pink clouds of fairy floss

Swamp Elixir (Death & Floral) — Soft honeysuckle and mossy oak trees, blended with water lilies and sparkling pink lemonade.

Cirque Sombre (Pierrot Perfumery) — A mysterious blend of midnight jasmine, smoky incense, nighttime breeze, and a deep, dusty note.

Southern Gothic (Siren Song Elixirs) — Magnolia, Vanilla Accord, Night blooming Jasmine, Oakmoss, Tobacco leaf, Cedar wood, Sandalwood, Black amber

Melanie Ravenswood (Phantom Manor)

The Secret of Wives and Widows (Death & Floral) — A dark and mysterious blend of Arabian sandalwood, luscious vanilla, orchids and southern night air; white tea in a fine cup of china held by a figure with long painted nails.

Lace Draped Spectre (Solstice Scents) — Vanilla Musk, Spicy Pink Carnation, Pink Pepper, Rose, White Musk

Flowers Nocturnal (Solstice Scents) — Jasmine, gardenia, moonflower, tuberose, vanilla.

The Widow in White (Pulp Fragrance) — Meyer lemon, white grapefruit, orange blossom, sandalwood and vanilla.

You Are Mine (Sorce) — Black cherry, ginger, lemon, saffron, dark chocolate shavings, rose absolute, osmanthus, leather, almond, tonka bean, oud, vanilla bean, cedar, a stretch of softly powdered skin

Website Links —

Birch & Besom

CJScents

CocoaPink

Damask Haus

Death & Floral

Deep Midnight

Laurel & June

Lovesick Witchery

Luvmilk

Morari

Nui Cobalt

Pierrot Perfumery

Pulp Fragrance

Siren Song Elixirs

Smoky Mountain Scents

Solstice Scents

Sorce

[fifithefabulous]

SPcollect Dreamland Vol. 2 fragrances

Doppio Dropscythe: Gourmet wood fragrance

In the black forest in winter

Gorgeous masquerade

This is his masterpiece, a magical dream

Patchouli and Oud are a tall and deep forest

The cold and fresh smell of juniper berries comes to you,

Like the first snow in winter

Looking back, it feels like I have entered a warm and gorgeous masquerade ball

The aroma of roses and milk sugar creates a romantic waltz

The great magician salutes with his hands behind his back and invites you to join us for the first dance tonight.

TOP

Patchouli, Cocoa Bean, Oud, Sweet Orange

MIDDLE

Juniper berries, rose, dulce de leche, vanilla pods

LAST

Blackcurrant leaf, amber, cedar, musk

Elira Pendora: Floral fragrance

Walk like lilies

Blooming majestically in the dim light of morning

Morning dew drops on the white petals

Basil and pear bring a sense of wisdom and restrained elegance

The scent of melon and cotton is like her gentle fingertips

When dawn rises, mountain lilies and freesias bloom in the morning light

She walks gracefully in the quiet valley,

Bring a sunshine rain that purifies all things

TOP

Basil, pear, honeydew melon, cotton

MIDDLE

Mountain lily, freesia, rose, osmanthus

LAST

Vetiver, white musk, patchouli

Millie Parfait: Fruity fragrance

The black cat witch's special elixir

On a full moon night, sincerity brings wisdom

The naughty black cat overturned a basket of first-picked apples

Elegant daisies and lychees compose a lovely waltz

The Calamity Witch brews a sweet-smelling elixir under the moonlight

Orange blossom and sweet pea bring a spell of vitality and brightness

The bark of the red teak wood is engraved with words:

Produced by Witch, quality guaranteed. The effect is better on full moon nights.

TOP

Daisies, lychees, plums, apples

MIDDLE

Orange blossom, lemon, rose petals, sweet peas

LAST

Grapefruit, vetiver, red teak

Yang Nari: Gourmet floral fragrance

On the soft grassland

Shepherd Girl's Ditty

By her side, there will always be a happy season of falling cherry blossoms.

Use sweet peaches and honey to make a sweet statement to conquer the world

A plain with wild ginger flowers and lilies of the valley in full bloom, full of endless possibilities

Clean morning dew falls on fresh and innocent strawberries

It's such a nice weather today

Take a sweet nap with the sheep

TOP

Sweet peach, honey, pink pepper, wild ginger flower

MIDDLE

Sakura, lily of the valley, strawberry

LAST

Amber, sandalwood, frankincense

Shu Yamino: Oriental floral fragrance

In the mysterious mist dream

He holds the key to dreams

In the mist, an incredible encounter with the dream traveler

Bright bergamot and black tea aroma intertwined, refreshing and slightly sweet

Frankincense and papyrus are like his gentle and polite greetings

Walk through fields of peonies and irises in bloom

Travel through the wilderness scented by beeswax and teak wood

Follow the breath of orris root and explore the boundaries of dreamland

TOP

Bergamot, black tea, frankincense, papyrus

MIDDLE

Peony, iris, beeswax, teak

LAST

Ambergris, Orris Root, Bourbon Whiskey

Uki Violeta: Oriental citrus fragrance

Clear and awe-inspiring, quiet and healing

The cradle of dreams of stability

The reclusive dream teller keeps dreams

Under the starry sky, the scent of bitter orange and spices comes.

Guidance to those lost in nightmares in the direction of escape

Jasmine and sandalwood are whispers on the pillow

The silence of Guaiac wood is gentle and powerful

Listen carefully to a quiet good night song

TOP

Bitter orange, bergamot, pepper, cardamom

MIDDLE

jasmine, sandalwood, wine, rose

LAST

Guaiac wood, gin, orris root, amber

Artist: Kanose (@zhujichuzi) on X

Info, Vol. 1, Vol. 3

[mystic-headcanons]

would like to once again say how wonderful your recent saeran fic was!! i love it dearly <3 and i also have a request if they’re still open! could you do some more hurt/comfort with ge saeran about him coming off the elixir/withdrawal and the nightmares and hurt/comfort that no doubt follow? i’d imagine him and saeyoungs relationship probably starts out rough and the physical symptoms of withdrawal are hell. (no rush to write this, and if it’s too similar to what you just wrote feel free to skip this request! thank you! <3)

thank you sm !!!!!!! <3 i was VERY excited to write this

placed under the cut because this got longer than i expected

THE FIRST NIGHT:

saeran couldn’t move. his limbs felt like lead and his mind was splintering and he was shaking like a leaf. his body was a livewire, and every beat of his heart sent a wave of shock coursing all throughout him. it was pure, unbridled white-hot pain. if there was anyone in the room with him, saeran couldn't feel them. if anyone was trying to speak to him, saeran couldn't hear them. all saeran could hear were the voices of his personas arguing back and forth, each one fighting for control. all saeran could feel was the complete agony that he was in-- and he could only blame himself for that. maybe if he were better, if he were stronger, if he weren't so disposable, things would be different. or...or maybe if he wasn't so gullible, if he didn't trust the first two people that showed him kindness, if he just...just wasn't born at all. saeran was sure that he was screaming out in agony-- though he couldn't hear it, the way his throat scratched when he swallowed was a good enough indicator. if mint eye was paradise, then this surely was hell.

however, by some miracle, saeran survived the night. he honestly did not think he would- the pain was excruciating and saeran was begging a god he no longer believed in to just let him die already. surely, hell could not be worse than what he had been experiencing all night. slowly, the pain ebbed away until it was a low, pulsating thrum. his vision returned to him and the first thing he saw was her, with her head bowed to her hands and mouth moving impossibly fast. behind her was saeyoung, with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes....and saeran hated it. hated him for being there, for seeing saeran at his worst. (this wasn't his worst, not really. his absolute worst was when rika forced him into mint eye, when saeran was forced to take the elixir. was forced to hate his own flesh and blood because he was too weak.) slowly, saeran's hearing returned to him, and he could hear the last remnants of a prayer fall from her lips. saeran didn't believe in any god, but he'd say as many hail mary's as it took to remove the devastated look from her face. he'd fall to his knees in the confession box, would beg forgiveness if it meant she wouldn't look so broken.

her name fell from his lips as if it were his own broken prayer, and her head snapped up at the sound of his voice. "oh my god, you're still here." her voice cracked as she leaned forward. her embrace was as gentle as could be, and saeran had to force himself to not fall apart yet. saeyoung was still in the room, and saeran would not allow himself to cry in front of his brother. that was one weakness he wouldn't show him. "so are you." he responded, voice just above a whisper. speaking felt like someone was actively taking sandpaper and harshly rubbing it against his throat, and he winced at the pain. she must've felt it, because she pulled away and reached for the glass of water at his bedside. "of course i am. saeyoung and i both didn't leave your side once." the mention of his twin had saeran's eyes narrowing at his brother. "can you...tell him to leave, please?" she hesitated for a moment, looking back at saeyoung before looking at him. "he's-- darling, he's really worried about you--" "please." he cut her off, begging. his mind was reeling and splitting and saeran could not be around his brother, not right then. there was a part of him that knew rika lied about his brother, that knew he was brainwashed and forced to believe in her sick lies, but it would take a lot longer than one night for saeran to move past all that. all the trauma and the dark thoughts and the "my brother abandoned me, he doesn't love me, he hates me he hates me he hates me." mantra that was, quite literally, beat into him. (and more than that, there was the, "killsaeyoungkillsaerankillsaeyoungkillsaeran" mantra that he stuck to for months. hurting his brother became his only life goal, and that wasn't something that he could move on from so easily.)

she looked back at saeyoung once more, who got the hint and nodded. there was a flash of pain in his eyes, but he hid it quite well and even managed a smile. "i'll go...find something for you to eat." he mumbled, before shuffling out of the room. it was silent for a beat as she fussed over him some more; on her lap sat a bowl of water and a rag, and she gently ran it over his skin. "i had to do this all night." she quietly mentioned, tears gathering in her eyes. "your skin was...god, it was burning hot. we really didn't know if you were going to make it." "but i did." he weakly clutched her hand in his, giving it a squeeze, "and it's because of you. you took care of me."

THE FIRST WEEK:

the entire week had been rough. though saeran wasn't in as much pain as he was that first night, it wasn't by any means comfortable for him. his insides still felt like they were liquifying, and he was taking more aspirin than he should've because his head felt like someone was repeatedly taking an ax to it, but he was alive. he was alive and, somehow, his heart was still stubbornly beating. saeyoung didn't visit him during the day, but saeran knew he was there during the night. (saeran woke up once, at three in the morning, to soft sobs and hushed whispers. he'd cracked his eyes open just enough to see saeyoung being held by her. there was a brief moment of intense jealousy, but that eventually ebbed away to sadness. would she be happier with saeyoung? with someone who wasn't as broken, as weak, as pitiful?)

the night became a relief for saeran. his pain drained him to the point of pure exhaustion, to where saeran would fall into a dreamless sleep. yet, no matter how long he slept, it never felt like enough. he always woke up somehow more exhausted, somehow still weak. "you're fighting off an addiction, saeran." she'd said to him when he voiced this thought. "both your mind and your body need time to heal. you also did not sleep at mint eye. like, ever." saeran could finally move, but he had to lean on her to take even a single step. she supported his weight, was right there for him to lean on and never once complained about it. she took everything in stride, and saeran couldn't help but be in awe of her strength.

keeping solid food down proved to be a challenge. keeping anything down, actually, was hard. saeran took one sip of water and would be dry heaving for fifteen minutes. it was like his body was trying to expel anything that entered it. he knew it was worrying her, knew it was worrying saeyoung, too. this could only go so long before he'd wither away into nothing, before he'd close his eyes and not reopen them. he'd always been thin, but now he was like a skeleton. (every time saeran passed the mirror, he had to avert his eyes. it hurt to look into.) it was vanderwood, surprisingly, who'd ended up saving him. they'd entered with an iv and a bag of fluid, and refused to meet his questioning gaze. "better for both of us if you don't ask anything." they said, their voice gruff. "but this will help. it's what they give you at hospitals and stuff. just-- get better. for her. for saeyoung. and for yourself."

THE FIRST MONTH:

it was a mistake to leave saeran and saeyoung in the same room alone. saeran knew that saeyoung truly loved him, but there was still so much lingering hurt and anger. and saeran was growing increasingly annoyed at his own inability to do...well, anything. he was weak and he couldn't even sleep through the night because he was terrorized every time he closed his eyes. and although saeran loved his twin-- he truly did, deep down-- he just snapped. "this is your fault!" saeran yelled, gripping his own hair in frustration. he didn't even know what saeyoung had been talking to him about, just that he had mentioned the state saeran had been in for the past month and it completely set him off. "you left me alone with our mother. you let me get taken advantage of by rika. you left me. you got to throw parties and make friends and forget all about me while i had to spend my existence in constant suffering. you want to know how to make me feel better, saeyoung? kill yourself. maybe then, i wouldn't constantly be reminded that i'm the mistake. that i'm the weak one, the one who always gets left behind." the more saeran spoke, the more saeyoung's face fell. of course, as soon as the words left his mouth, saeran was regretting them, but...well, the damage was done. whatever relationship they'd managed to string together was ruined, and saeran could only stand there as his twin silently cried.

"you were the only thing keeping me alive, even after i left." saeyoung quietly spoke, looking down. "i do not exist without you. i thought about you every single day. and if i knew that this is what rika was going to turn you into, i never would've trusted her or v. all i wanted to do, saeran, from the moment we entered this world, was protect you. even if it-- even if it cost me my life. and i wish you could see that." saeyoung sighed, and suddenly he looked so much older than he was. it was clear to see that the years they spent apart was taking a toll on him, and saeran didn't know how he could miss that. "i'll leave you alone, now. i won't say anything and you won't have to see me. i'm just-- i'm just glad that you're alive. that's all i need, is to know that you're happy."

both saeran's mind and heart felt heavy as saeyoung left the room. he paid no attention to the hushed voices outside of his door, instead choosing to slowly sink down on his bed and stare at the floor, tears slowly dripping down his cheeks. he'd wanted to hurt saeyoung-- wanted him to feel a fraction of what he felt, but why did it feel so unsettling? there was no satisfaction, no sense of justice, nothing. in fact, saeran felt so much worse having yelled at his twin. he barely registered the sound of the door opening and closing, or the way the bed shifted as she sat next to him. she reached out, gently carding her hand through his hair as she pulled him in. “you know he loves you, right?” she said, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of his head. “i know it’ll take time to unlearn everything from mint eye, but you need to understand that saeyoung loves you more than anything else in this world. you are his brother, and there isn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for you.”

“…do you think he hates me now?” saeran’s voice was quiet and hoarse when he spoke, and he leaned his full weight on her. “there’s not a thing you could do that would make him hate you.”

THE FIRST YEAR:

it had been a rough year. after those first few months, saeran was physically better, but his mental state was the absolute lowest it’d ever been. it got so bad that saeyoung, vanderwood, and his own partner had all taken to watch over him in various shifts. it had been awkward with saeyoung at first, their relationship torn and tattered at saeran’s hands, but they worked through it. it was a very long process, with saeran sometimes snapping at him or pushing him away- metaphorically and physically. saeyoung kept him occupied, would tell tales of princes and princesses, of happy endings. (where was his own happy ending? did he even deserve one, after everything he did?) vanderwood didn’t really say anything to him, but on rare occasions they would tell embarrassing stories of saeyoung that would have saeran softly laughing and his twin crying out in rage. for all that vanderwood said about not liking anyone in that house, it was clear that they were now apart of saeran’s fucked up little family. however, it was when she watched over him that saeran wouldn’t let himself hide anything. he bared it all to her- his thoughts, his feelings, all of his fears. she had this way of grounding him, of taking everything he said and telling him what he needed to hear.

jumin ended up recommending a therapist for saeran to try, and though he was against it at first, he ended up going. (there was no choice, not really. it was either therapy or, as vanderwood so lovingly said, “we could always try electroshock therapy.” while cracking their taser. saeran’s not really sure if that was a joke or not.) slowly, saeran’s mental state became better. there were still bad days and there would always be bad days, but saeran no longer thought of just ending it all, of taking the burden off of everyone else. however, with therapy came the nightmares. now that his mind wasn’t actively working against him and could rest, the nightmares snuck up on him.

most nights saw saeran sitting up with a sheen of sweat on his features. when she felt him stir, she’d sit up too, her arms automatically going around him as he cried. there were dreams of him killing saeyoung, of him killing her. of saviors and elixirs and being forced to comply to the abuse. the worst ones, though, were the ones where he never left mint eye. where he was never saved and would always remain at the savior’s side, a loyal companion. it was those dreams that left saeran in a state of total fear and despair. she was always there to dispel that fear, though. she’d hold him close and whisper until he fell asleep. would tell him things like, “it’s not your fault, saeran,” and “you are good. down to your bones, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, you are good. you cannot blame yourself for what you did under the elixir and under rika.”

she always had bags under her eyes, and there was always a hint of exhaustion within her, but she never complained. she was still as bright as the sun- always joking with saeyoung and teasing vanderwood and treating himself with the upmost care and softness. one night, after a particularly bad nightmare, one where she left had left him, had told him that he wasn’t worth saving, saeran had sobbed in her arms. “why are you with me? you would be happier with saeyoung.” his words caused her to pause for a moment, a perplexed look on her face. “no? saeran, i’m at my happiest with you. i love you more than i’ve ever loved anyone. saeyoung is my best friend, but you’re the love of my life. nothing will ever make me leave your side.” her words did little to dispel the bad thoughts form his head, so she took his face between her hands and looked at him. “saeran, my love. i would take a million sleepless nights, would live out of a cardboard box, would live on the run, would do anything if it meant i could stay by your side. i don’t want anyone else but you, okay?” and she kissed him. it was a featherlight thing, and very quick, but it had warmth spreading out over his entire body.

“even when i’m like this?” he quietly asked, sniffling. “when i’m plagued with nightmares every time i close my eyes and neither of us can get enough sleep?”

“even then. i’m not ever leaving your side.”

it took a very long time, but the nightmares subsided. his therapist put him on medication that, admittedly, saeran was very wary of. he only took it after saeyoung and vanderwood thoroughly looked through its contents and ensured it was safe for saeran to take. slowly, he had started getting better and had started to open up to saeyoung. they had very long talks, the two of them, that often ended up with both of them in tears. saeran had picked up gardening at his therapist’s recommendation, and he would often spend hours out in his garden. there was a part of him that worried that he’d no longer hold the love for flowers and gardens that he once had- he spent a lot of time in the gardens at mint eye, too. but the moment he picked up gardening, those fears dissipated. she would often be in the garden with him, had taken to laying in the grass and cloud gazing with him. “i’m proud of you, y’know.” she’d said one day, turning her head to look at him as she squeezed his hand. “you’ve come a long way since mint eye. it has been….a very long, and very hard struggle. but you survived it. and i couldn’t be prouder of you.” saeran didn’t know how to tell her that it was because of her. that he only had the strength to keep going because she was strong, because she stayed by his side through it all and never once wavered. all he could do was lean in and kiss her, but he knew she got the message all the same.

[altocanteven]

[ID: a poorly drawn image of my main objectsona, elixir, standing in front of the screen fearfully saying “they’re right behind me, aren’t they?”. an 100 algebralien stands behind her. /end ID.]

100 followers….. crazy work guys /silly

but srsly, tysm for deciding my silly objects and art and yappenings appeal to your eyes!!!!

[sc0rpiflow3r]

Snippet for Disrupted Allegiances 🖤

I can't resist, can I?

Here’s a snippet from Bellatrix's chapter in Disrupted Allegiances (there are still two chapters about Andromeda).

The Black Sisters are fantastic <3

In this one, Bella meets Voldemort (it's been so incredible writing about them, they're completely insane and unhinged)

(---)

“Dark Lord,” she announced, bowing deeply.

The shop was eerily silent, and he was behind the counter, leafing through a book with an almost reverent grace.

A shiver of both dread and exhilaration coursed down her spine, and Bellatrix understood why he inspired such profound fear.

He was not as physically imposing as Rodolphus – he was tall and slim, with a lean, but strong build.

Yet, his presence was charged with a magical potency that manifested as a thick, almost palpable aura of darkness – it was intoxicating.

She felt as though she were drunk on power, intoxicated by the sheer force of his dark magic. His very being exuded a captivating malignancy that rendered her helplessly entranced, unable to look away.

It was like the Samhain sacrifices, when the veil between the living and the dead grows so thin that one can almost touch the spirits of ancient power.

He was an embodiment of that thin boundary, a living paradox of awe and terror.

He seemed almost otherworldly, too potent to be real.

Lord Voldemort was a force beyond comprehension, a magical sovereign reigning over his realm.

A Dark King, draped in shadows and commanding reverence. His power was a potent elixir, intoxicating and dangerous.

He was a ruler of darkness, a master of the arcane, casting a spell of fascination and dread over all who dared to approach.

Every glance he cast was like a caress of ancient magic – cruel, beautiful, and utterly enthralling.

His presence was an enigma, a consuming vortex of dark magnificence that left her breathless and captivated.

[mistressofduskanddawn]

Azurite Discovery; Scathecraw Of Aloe

[ID: A top down view of an aloe vera plant, a slender succulent-family plant with many triangle shaped leaves and spikes on its edges. This aloe vera has red and green colouring, with the red concentrated at the spiked edges. The plant branches out like a star, taking up the complete image with no background other than its leaves.]

ONE OF MY MAIN THINGS WITH TAMRIEL PCP IS ITS RELEVANCE TO EARTH, as that is the world we live and the one I adore. I enjoy finding the Aedra and Daedra in this world, and in many aspects, they fit right into our world—and in some ways, they do not. And this either requires the reality that Tamriel is not Earth, conversing with them, or more gnosis discovered about the world. One of these ways was the nugget of information that dearest Azura gave unto me: the Scathecraw found on her altars in Raven’s Rock in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are the red aloe of our world, and can be used for practical in her domain of vanity.

SCATHECRAW OF ALOE

Scathecraw has limited lore, the wiki describing it simply as:

Scathecraw is a long, tough reddish grass growing in the thermal ash regions of the Ashlands, Molag Amur, and Red Mountain regions of Vvardenfell. The plant also spread to the ashlands of southern Solstheim after the Red Year. The rieklings of Solstheim call it redgrass and ritualistically burn it. The soft inner flesh of the plant can be used in alchemy.

[ID: A side by side comparison of scathecraw from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and aloe cameronii. To the left is the scathecraw depicted growing on a low-resolution soil in front of a rock wall and a wooden post held by rope. Then to the right a picture of an aloe cameronii garden with dozens of plants, most of which possessing a vibrant red colour.]

Conversely, aloe cameronii is a grass aloe. Scathecraw’s name also clues to it being aloe: scathe means “hurt, injure, to hurt or injure someone” and craw meaning “the crop of a bird or insect, the lower digestive system of an animal.” Just as scathecraw is devised of spikes, so does aloe, which clues to me that it is more than appearances that Azura spoke of scathecraw being a variety of aloe.

Aloe vera is also mentioned as a genuine part of Tamriel; 

The Aloe Vera are tall and leafy plants that are found mainly in southern Hammerfell, but also in warmer climates like the Gold Coast in Cyrodiil, in pockets throughout the coastline and its hills. The Yokudans were well aware of the herb’s potential in medicine, often using it to staunch the flow of blood and to heal wounds. It can be mixed with other ingredients to create elixirs, like combining the aloe’s lacquer with a crushed leaf can lessen the effects of pox.[7] According to local legend, making a concoction with Ginkgo can boost one’s stamina.[8]

There is a variety of aloe that exists across Tamriel, among which include the Salloweed Aloe in the vicinity of Phaer on the island, Auridon. The alchemist, Hendil learned that it could be used as a powerful sedative against his vampiric son.[9] The aloe vera of Vakka-Bok have been harvested by the Root-Whisper Tribe, deep in the wilds of Murkmire. It was known for its unnaturally fast healing properties, such as keep wounds from festering and soothes burns. While many people do not know why it heals so well, it is theorized that the arcane magic of the sun had given the plant its abilities.

I do not see anything that contradicts scathecraw as a type of aloe, and besides, it is a gift from Azura to witness scathecraw as a variety of aloe. For the Elder Scrolls pagan, aloe as stated may be linked to the sun, and as such, even Meridia and Magnus. Azura’s own connection to magic—which arrives to the world from the light of Magnus’ sun—clues to me why she would reveal such a thing. Aloe vera can be used for burns, healing, potions, prayer, incense, and most fittingly for Azura: its power within vanity. 

THE USE OF ALOE AND AZURA

I find Azura fond of most beauty products that truly work to provide beauty, a shine, and promote love of the self. Aloe is a wonderful tool as a powerhouse against wounds that is readily available with its nature of being largely accessible to grow as a succulent. It is commonly applied within healthcare and skincare products for its power over wounds. Most of all, I am particularly interested in its usage and interest to Azura, who guided my hands to the flora.

Devotion wise, I may witness growing scathecraw of aloe—the red aloe—in honour of her ways of self-love and self-care. Azura cares in earnest of us, with her actively promoting my own journey into sustainable beauty practices. Aloe is also lovely for those of us who are low income, as it is cheap to obtain and easy to grow. Scathecraw of aloe also comes with stunning red flowers, which may be gifted as offerings to the mistress of dawn and dusk. It may also be applied in her wonders of magic as a usage in potion and salve making—essentially, real world alchemy—under her guidance. There is likely far more to learn of aloe, but that is for us as Elder Scrolls pagans to journey together under fair Azura’s stars and twilight. 

References

Growing Aloes in our Succulent Garden. (n.d.). https://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/sloan.html

Lore:Flora A – The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP). (n.d.). https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Flora_A

Lore:Flora S – The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP). (n.d.). https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Flora_S

Skyrim:Temple – The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP). (n.d.). https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Temple

[dailycharacteroption]

Herbalist (Alchemist Archetype)

(art by TamberElla on DeviantArt)

The thing about alchemy and chemistry in general is that many aspects of it were born in an herbalist’s garden. Many plants produce all sorts of biochemicals that serve a purpose for the plant itself, but also have curious effects when ingested. This is where the first medicines came from, literally feeding the ill pretty much any local plant and seeing if something worked. Essentially, every single medicinal drug in existence is merely a poison that is carefully applied to maximize the beneficial effects while minimalizing the bad.

Applying it to the quasi-magical power of alchemy in 1st edition Pathfinder, and we can see how herbalists would be a sort of cousin to the traditional alchemist, focused on growing and caring for their ingredient supply, rather than turning to animal byproducts and rarified compounds from the earth.

Now, we’ve covered plenty of plant-themed alchemists before, but what sets the herbalist archetype apart is their focus on leshies!

Leshies in pathfinder are nature spirits given form and greater awareness through specially cultivated plant bodies grown by druids or powerful intelligent plant creatures such as treants/arboreals and the Green Men, and the interaction between these specially grown bodies and the animating essence seems right up the alley of an archetype dedicated to similarly utilizing horticulture to perform wonders of science and medicine.

With their desire to understand their own existence, many horticulturalists might be vine leshies or other fully independent leshies (such as the options converted from P2E by yours truly), but though the flavor text suggests that they are the only ones taking this archetype, I feel that anyone with such an interest in leshies and their magical existence might seek a similar path, utilizing their discoveries even if they cannot truly create leshies on their own.

Naturally, these herbalists know how to supplement and replace alchemical skill with knowledge of herbalism. What’s more, while traditional alchemists work based on intellect and knowledge, these practitioners instead utilize wisdom and practical understanding.

Additionally, whether they are leshies or not, their studies of the primal powers have granted them the ability to access druidic magics, though they must follow the same rules that extracts normally do, requiring them to make sense as a drinkable potion or elixir.

Finally, these horticulturalists learn how to create alchemically-infused seedpods rather than bombs as a ranged weapon. These pods crack open violently on impact to harm foes, though without splash damage. However, as they gain mastery, they can use them to replicate the nasty side effects of the various plant projectiles of actual leshies, from the deafening snap of a leaf leshy, to the blinding effects of fungus leshy spores, to the entangling vines of gourd leshies, the sickening spittle of flytrap leshies, or the blinding brackish seawater of seaweed leshies.

If you’re interested in an alchemist with access to certain buff and attack spells normally only seen with druids, as well as an alternative to bombs with free debilitation effects, this archetype might be right for you. Consider also, however, that this archetype is also meant to work with the gathering and preparing of herbs subsystem from Ultimate Wilderness, so keep that in mind if this does appeal to you.

For a vine leshy or other sapient leshies or other plantfolk, I imagine that pursuing this path is very much one of self-discovery, which can be fun to roleplay. Other ancestries might view things differently, perhaps trying to understand with analysis and experimentation what primal casters understand intuitively.

Assumed to be a witch by nearby villagers, Old Mira is a hermit living on the edge of Sunshadow Woods. While it is true that she does brew many a potion, she is in fact an herbalist that finds companionship in the leshies of the dark forest rather than among her own kind. For the right price, however, she can sell all sorts of remedies and carefully prepared herbs as well, and is always interested in rare plants she can attempt to breed in her greenhouse garden.

Arbus of the Reef is in a bind. His seaweed leshy companion has been kidnapped by grindylows, and he can’t leave a new growing leshy body unattended to rescue her. If the party agrees and succeeds in doing so, he’ll happily teach them some secrets he’s uncovered in how to grow leshies without truly being part of nature.

A horror of shadow has come to the fields of Aldnoon, a termagant velstrac seeking to turn the population of these farmland into her doomed adoptive brood. Opposing her is Old Candle, a gourd leshy herbalist. They hope to cure those affected by the fiend’s poisonous flux, but they’ll need help to face such a monstrous horror of a mother.

[sadnesslaughs]

You are the last mortal human, and you have refused every offer to become immortal.

(A response to a writing prompt)

My hundredth birthday and not a friend in sight. Sure, I was surrounded, my small room at the care home crowded by excited journalists and celebrities, but not one person in the room knew a thing about me. They only knew me as the last mortal, that’s all they cared to know me as. It was lonely, to say the least.

My shaky hand did its best to hold the champagne glass that had been placed on the tray in my wheelchair. It was a struggle to even take a sip these days. I’m sure one of the nurses would have helped me if they could have parted the sea of people that all flocked around me, each absorbed in their own conversations.

“Woah, hey, look at him go. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK.” A young man chanted, throwing himself onto the back of my wheelchair. The wheels kicked up, nearly sending me tumbling down, only just being stopped by the man hanging onto it. “Maybe he found the elixir of life is to have a little drinky drink. Speaking of drinks, squad, if you want a real elixir of life, you can try my new Splash Mash drink.”

The camera never left his face, mainly because he refused to let the floating camera look at anything that wasn’t him. It didn’t matter what he was doing, good or bad, he needed the camera to know it all.

I wasn’t old enough to be a grumpy technology hater. It was the year 2074, after all. I had grown up using similar technology to these younglings. It’s just their fascination with everything being live astonished me. A life’s a personal thing. How can you have a life when everyone’s watching it?

“Yes, drinking has certainly kept me spry in my old age. Spry, now that’s an old person’s word, isn’t it?” I smiled, raising my glass to the man, and yet he was gone, already having exited the room after getting what he wanted.

A glass clinked mine, a lady, well dressed and professional taking his place. The crew behind her stood like soldiers on the battlefront, ready to charge the enemy lines on her order. For now, they only stood stiff, perhaps because of the heavy cameras pinning their shoulders down. “Ethan Barlos, the last mortal alive.”

“Yes, I’m.”

She didn’t seem to be speaking to me; her gaze back on the camera after the initial clinking of glasses. She stood beside me, posture unmoving and structured, like the general of this media team. “Ever since the creation of the Hethertiling injection, humans have long forgotten what it means to die. Today, we are with a man that hasn’t forgotten what it means to die. A man who has pushed aside immortality to continue his mortal life. Why have you refused the injection?”

The crew pushed forward, advancing now that the general had directed a question towards me. Soon, they surrounded me and I yearned for a white flag to wave. “I’ve lost all the family and friends I’ve ever had. Each one dying before the injection became the new norm. I guess I just miss them too much to consider living forever. There’s a comfort in knowing there’s a finish line to life.” I smiled, hoping the answer sufficed. She nodded and then continued talking.

It felt like I was an endangered animal, everyone crowding around me for the spectacle. It was their chance to see the last of something. An experience they didn’t want to say they missed. I did the same thing when the koalas were going extinct. I went to the zoo, took photos of them just so I could say I saw one. Well, I raise a eucalyptus leaf to you, koalas. I now share that strange feeling of slowly becoming a distant memory.

When she finished talking by my side, she joined me for a small conversation. The conversation had nothing of substance to it, more general small talk to pass the time. I think she mainly did it, so she didn’t feel guilty about doing an entire report by my side with barely an input from me. Still, if it made her feel better, I was happy to talk. She seemed a nice lady, anyhow.

As she left, so did many others. What a strange experience it was having strangers fill your room. All these celebrities I’ve never heard of, people of importance and so forth. To me, they were all strangers, nothing more.

“Excuse me, can I have a moment of your time?” A meek feminine voice asked. She stood in the room’s corner, trying to avoid the people leaving. There was something familiar about her, yet I couldn’t quite pick the face.

“I don’t know how many moments I have left to spare.” I joked, although that only made her frown, which was not my intention at all. “But for you, dear, I can find a few extra. What do you need?”

She dragged her way over to me, keeping her hands clutched together by the front of her dress. It was funny. Alice’s little friend used to do the same thing when she was nervous. Then it clicked. “Ah, you’re Alice’s little friend, aren’t you? Wow, you’ve grown a lot.” I grinned, ushering her to my side with as much enthusiasm as my old bones would grant me.

“You remember me?”

“Of course, sweetie. You and my granddaughter were the sweetest pair of girls around. Oh, I used to love talking to your grandmother about you two. You were our little superstars.” I had to wipe my eye, not having thought about those times since I came to this home.

“We loved our grandparent’s.” She sheepishly said, trying to find something to say as I got emotional.

“And we loved you so, so much. What can I do for you, dear?”

“Nothing, I just came to say hi. I heard there was a party and wanted to drop in and see you. Since Alice is…”

She couldn’t find the words, and neither could I. What happened to Alice was a tragedy. Only a month before the injections came to market, she passed away because of heart complications. Those injections would have been able to heal her body. She only needed to hold on for that extra month.

“I always told people it was because she had too much heart.”

“Huh?”

“About Alice’s passing. Her heart couldn’t handle all the love she had for the world. She was as wonderful as her mother. I really don’t understand where they got it from. Must have been from my wife, because they didn’t get it from me.” I laughed, or maybe it was more of a sob, those memories flooding from my eyes as I leaned forward, only to find I was leaning into warm arms.

“She was lovely. I think she had a lot of you in her, too. How have you been, Mr. Barlos?”

“Please, dear. It’s only Ethan now. You’re far too old for Mr. Barlos.” I wiped my eyes, leaning away from her arms. “I’ve been lonely, dear. I think my time’s nearly up and I’m a little scared of that.”

“Have you considered the injection?”

“In my weaker moments, I have. Although, I won’t deprive these people of a spectacle. It would be anticlimactic if they didn’t get to see me die after all the effort they’ve put into hosting this party.”

“Why do you want to stay mortal?”

I sighed, knowing the exact reason I wanted to stay mortal. Yet, it always felt silly to say out loud. “Because I want that chance of being able to see them again. All my loved ones are gone. I want to join my family wherever they may be. If there’s nothing but darkness on the other side, then I’ll join them there too. I guess I’m holding out hope that there is something more to death than, well…. Death.”

She took my hand, holding it as she stood by my side. “I see.” She massaged the back of my hand with her thumb, thinking about what to say next. “Is it ok if I visit you? I don’t want Alice cursing me out when you meet her. She would want me to look after you.”

“Dear, you don’t have to.”

“I want to. Only a few visits. I’ll make them quick.” She pleaded.

“Alright, dear. If you want to. Thank you.”

“Ok, I’ll come by tomorrow then.”

“Before you go, dear. I must apologize. I seem to have forgotten your name.”

“Emily.”

“Emily.” I repeated. That’s right, Emily and Alice. How could I ever forget? “Thank you, Emily. I’ll look forward to your next visit.” I watched her leave, happy to get to reconnect with some part of my life. Maybe that party hadn’t been all bad?

[veilxstars]

"Everything she heard, everything she saw seemed to be in disagreement with her own manner of understanding and feeling. To her, the sun did not appear red enough, the nights pale enough, the skies deep enough. Her fleeting conception of things and beings condemned her fatally to a perversion of her senses, to vagaries of the spirit and left her nothing but the torment of an unachieved longing, the torture of unfulfilled desires." — Octave Mirbeau 

Marisol Hargrove | Potioneer at Pure Leaf Alchemy & Witch | Moodboard

THE POWERS: Her magic lies in potion-making and infusion. Her powers allow her to craft elixirs that can influence emotions, enhance intuition, and mend the heartache of others. Each potion she brews is drawn from her extensive knowledge of magical herbs and ingredients cultivated in the lush gardens of the Hargrove property. Her powers, however, are not without their limitations; the strength of her potions can vary, and if she’s distracted or emotionally unsettled, the results may not turn out as intended.

Strengths:

Master Potion Maker: Marisol's expertise in potion-making allows her to create a wide variety of brews tailored to specific needs, such as elixirs for healing, enhancing dreams, or calming anxiety.

Emotional Empathy: Marisol possesses a deep emotional insight that enables her to understand the feelings of those around her. This quality helps her connect with customers and craft potions that resonate with their emotional states.

Historical Knowledge: Having been trained by a trio (and later with the addition of Lorraine) of witches, Marisol possesses extensive knowledge of magical history and folklore, allowing her to draw upon this wisdom in her potion-making.

Weaknesses:

Emotional Turmoil: the loss of River can cloud her judgment and interfere with her magical focus, leading to unpredictable potion outcomes or spells that backfire.

Potion Dependency: Marisol's reliance on potions creates situations where she feels she must solve every problem with magic.

Social Isolation: Due to her perceptive nature, Marisol can sometimes come off as deceptive or unapproachable.

[finishinglinepress]

FLP CHAPBOOK OF THE DAY: response by Patricia J. Boyle

On SALE: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/response-by-patricia-j-boyle/

response is an engaging collection of reflections and observations that call the reader to look more closely at the world we inhabit. The poems recount tales of leaving home, surprising encounters, losing a pet, coursing rivers, and passing storms. They talk of flowers and trees, bubbles and snails, the companionship of an evening walk. These and other stories invite us to contemplate our connections to others and the plants and creatures who share our space. The poems reflect gratitude for the awe-inspiring moments that arise in ordinary circumstances every day. #poetry #nature #environment #life #relationships

Patricia J. Boyle is a San Francisco Bay Area poet and author. A former meteorologist and retired teacher, she draws inspiration from the natural world and human nature. Her writing has appeared in many anthologies, including the California Writers Club Literary Review, Havik, Voices of the Valley, and Wingless Dreamer publications. Her work has won awards from Wow! Women on Writing, Writer’s Digest, and Bay Area organizations. She is past president of the Tri-Valley Branch of the California Writers Club and author of the young adult fantasy novel, Traitor in the Realm. This is her first chapbook. Visit her at www.patriciajboyle.com and at https://www.facebook.com/PatricaJBoyle/

PRAISE FOR response by Patricia J. Boyle

In this lyrical collection of poems, Patricia Boyle celebrates the natural world and explores her connection to it. She offers homage to birdsong, a marbled shell, a flowering dogwood, and the chatter of children, and I am transfixed by the “miniature, reflective worlds” and the intimacy of her quiet joy. “Be the beauty your seedling was destined to be,” she says, and “fuchsia veins, delicate ruffles of such loveliness/they make my chest ache.” After reading these beautiful poems, I am right there with her, “drunk on the elixir of limitless possibilities floating on the breeze.”

–Constance Hanstedt, Author of Don’t Leave Yet, How My Mother’s Alzheimer’s Opened My Heart and Treading Water.

This chapbook holds a treasure trove of images, the natural world revealed as majestic, even when observing the smallest aspects of that world – the veins in a flower, the twitch of a tail, rainfall. These are Patricia Boyle’s responses to being immersed in this natural world in this aptly named chapbook. Even when a human being intrudes upon this world, Boyle treats them gently, as if they were a fragile leaf in the hand. Reading these thoughtful, calm poems is a balm to the soul and reminds us of what is most enduring and most abundant, the natural beauty around us.

–Gillian Wegener, author of This Sweet Haphazard, Sixteen Rivers Press, 2017

Patricia Boyle’s response is a tapestry of nostalgic reflections, keen observations, and delightful flashes of insight. With masterful strokes of poetic imagery and expression, she takes us from “First Night,” where we meet a teenager drunk on the elixir of limitless possibility floating on the breeze, to “Evening Walk,” where we stood on the curve of the Earth and gazed at the western sky. Throughout, we are immersed in the poet’s profound wonder and appreciation for both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of our world and the creatures who inhabit it.

–Peggy Schimmelman, Poet Laureate of Livermore, CA and author of Make Me Your Love Song

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry #chapbook #read #poems #nature #environment #life #relationships

[pupika-samika]

A King is Nothing Without His People

Chapter 8

As Lave Burns

CW:  light mentions of violence

<- Previous Archive Next ->

Revali came back an hour before twelve, taking a few minutes to relax before joining in on the games. No one bothered to ask about his experience, he'd explain when he wanted to. After a few games, when the sun hit the middle of the sky, Link began his descent back to Rito village. Saki and Amali had prepared a delicious seafood curry and lunch was filled with profuse thanking both of the Rito. Fostri was happily weaving between Link and Kass, the two having to control their laughter when the Korok decided to bring his leaf flier out and create a small whirlwind in the kitchen. When everyone was done eating, Link decided it was time to say goodbye for now. He had Saki help him take his new feathered accessory off, sheepishly explaining that it would burn up from the heat within Death Mountain.

"You know, if you undo the loop right here, you can widen it and wear this as a necklace." She explained, showing a knot hidden near the three coils of rope. Link hesitated with a response. Is it disrespectful to take the feathers off? What if they get dirty or messed up? After a beat of silence, Saki said "as long as you keep the original feathers, you can wear them however you want. This was a bit last minute so we went the easiest route and made a hair accessory but Rito have made them into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and other types of jewelry." She laughed as she handed the feathers over to Link.

He took the feathers and looked at them before stashing them in his slate, putting them in his important items window. "I should leave now if I want to have enough time to inform the Gorons before sundown. Can you tell Kaneli I'll be back soon? Within the month at least," he asked, knowing Kaneli would forget; on purpose or on accident. Saki nodded, promising to pass the message. He received farewells and good lucks before he took his slate off his hip and turned it on to the map screen. He scrolled until he saw the Shae Mo'sah shrine and waved goodbye to his family- his family- before clicking the teleport button.

It didn't take long for the heat of death mountain to fry him, causing him to rip the Snowquill set off and throw his Flame Breaker set on. The enchantment of the armor didn't help to alleviate his overheating but at least he wasn't close to bursting into flames. Link worriedly looked at Fostri, wondering if the Korok really would be ok with the intense heat. Maybe I should catch some lizards and make him a fireproof elixir. Would that help? He seemed fine enough, a little droopy but fine.

"I can't wait to see your grandson again! It's been so long since we've seen him," Mipha said from somewhere behind Link. He couldn't care much to turn around to look at her, instead barely dodging a rock thrown at him.

"Hello, Jafar! Lovely seeing you too," Link greeted enthusiastically as he took out a Royal Bow he had managed to fight a lizalfol for. He knocked a normal arrow and fired, internally cheering when the arrow hit and killed the octorok. Normally that didn't work on the first try.

A scoff was heard as he put the bow away, his armor making a clacking sound as he moved. "I can't believe you named that octorok Jafar. Actually, I can't believe you named any frequent monster you see." Revali huffed, not backing down when Link sent him a mystified look.

He made his way across the bridge, not paying attention to the lava running under him or the rocks so hot they could set him on fire. "If I didn't name them then how would they know it's me and not some random traveler? I wouldn't want them to hit a passerby." He said, keeping his voice low as he got closer to Bargoh, the city's watcher. Link waved in greeting to the Goron and made his way down the small hill. "Daruk, how likely are the Gorons to accept what I tell them?" 

Link figured it was a good idea to ask the Goron in the group, surely he'd know the most about the race. Said Goron didn't hesitate in answering the question. "Well, they probably won't care. If culture stayed the same after the Calamity then at most some will ask how you became King, at worst you’ll probably be threatened, and at terrible they’ll follow up on that threat.” Daruk paused as he thought over the consequences that could happen, earning two glares and a half scowl from his fellow ghostly companions. “But you have us here little guy, we’ll protect you! You have nothing to worry about while we’re here!" That's... reassuring. I pray to Hylia that their culture has remained the same, I don't think I could passively handle a whole city of angry Gorons. 

"Bludo should be at his house at this time. I plan to talk to him then go look at Rudania but I don't think I can get much done. It's way too close to the volcano, I was lucky I didn't burst into flames while I was completing the beast. I'll have to find a way to move it to safer, accessible ground." He rambled as he made his way down the slope, waving to Bludo when he saw the elder Goron. Bludo half-heartedly waved back, giving Link a curious look. The Hylian had last visited less than a week ago. Usually, there were a few weeks between his visits. 

Ohh goddess, what if he questions me because I don't visit often? What if he's mad I don't visit here as often as I visit the other races? He should really stop thinking so little of everyone else. It's not good for his mental health.

The trek down the slope didn't take very long and soon Link was standing in front of Bludo. Fostri retreated from Link's shoulder to hover with his magic leaf, floating a safe distance away from the pair. The reason Fostri wasn't currently laying over Link like a cat desperate for attention? The metal of his armor was too hot for the Korok to touch. "What are you doin' back here? You 'ere just here some days ago." Straight to the point, no use dancing around the topic, as always with Bludo.

Should Link do the same? How does he go about doing this? 

"Take a deep breath little guy and just tell him. Nothing will go wrong, trust me." Daruk assured Link. He didn't turn to look at the Goron, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to the empty space the spirit resided in. 

"You remember around a week ago when Vah Rudania fired a beam aimed at the castle? That was because of me. Rudania was helping me defeat Calamity Ganon." He started off, forcing his arms to his sides so he didn't fidget with them. "I defeated the Calamity and saved the Princess. She was too weak to survive long after the Calamity was destroyed so she entrusted me to run this kingdom for her." 

It was quiet for a few seconds. Bludo stared at Link, making the Hylian fidget with nervousness. Why isn't he saying anything? "Gorons! Link here is the new King of Hyrule!" Bludo unexpectedly yelled, his voice louder than Link thought he could possibly yell. The surrounding Gorons, and singular Gerudo, paused. Most sounds stopped, making Link realize just how busy the city was. The sound of rolling rocks and metal on metal resumed after a beat or two. No outraged cries, no confusion, no anger. No nothing. Nobody was reacting. That was it? He had expected something climatic to happen. Not even Ramella seemed to have a reaction besides staring at Link for a second longer.

He couldn't help but flinch slightly when a guttural laugh sounded from beside him. "See, I told you you had nothing to worry about. Us Gorons take change in stride!”

“Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe your exact wording was ‘At worst you’ll probably be threatened and at terrible, they’ll follow up on that threat.’ And I, for one, would not have defended this featherless cucco."

"You wouldn't defend Link? Really? I'm certain I saw you glaring daggers at Bludo. Did you see that too Mipha?"

"Leave me out of this, please."

"I would have protected the little guy."

"We know Daruk."

"I love the little guy."

"We know Daruk."

"That all you 'ere for Link?" Bludos voice startled him, forcing him to focus on the conversation at hand and not the conversation going on behind him. 

A few seconds of thinking were required for Link to remember what else he had to say. "That's the basics of what I had to say, yeah. I uh- I'll come back in around a month with more news for you. You don't… have any questions?" He asked, not believing Bludo accepted this that easily. 

With no hesitation, Bludo shook his head. "Nope. 'Sides asking when you'll come visit us again." The familiarity of the situation was enough to make Link's body shake with a surprised laugh. Bludo always asked when he'd visit and Link always said after the next blood moon. That’s something that stayed consistent between the two of them.

"I'd say I'll come back after the next blood moon but I'm not sure if I actually will. If that's all, I'm going to check on Rudania then talk to Yunobo. After that, I'll be gone before tomorrow morning." Link took his slate off his hip as he explained his plans, the map window quickly replacing his item screen. 

As Link was scrolling the cursor to the Divine Beast, Bludo bid his farewell. "It was fun seein' you, come back soon. Don't keep us waiting for so long again." Bludo waved a dismissive hand to Link and made his way back to standing in front of his rocky hut. With his talk with Bludo over, Link decided to get Rudania out of the way next, wanting to spend as much time with Yunobo as possible. It was only ten a.m and checking Rudania shouldn't take more than four or five hours, leaving him with plenty of time to talk with his best friend. 

Fostri, who Link had embarrassingly forgotten about, was looking around the city with amazement. If not for Mipha's gentle reminders to follow, the Korok very well may have been left behind. Link looked around, hoping Bludo and anyone else were too far away to hear what he was about to say. "Fostri, I want you to stay down here. It's way too hot up there and I'd feel better if you stayed down here."

The reaction Link got, while unwanted, wasn't unexpected. "B-but Mr. Link I want to go up with you!" Fostri whined, focus suddenly honing in on Link.

"You can't come with us Fostri, it's too hot and you don't have any protection against the heat. I can do my job much easier if I knew you were down here, safe and somewhere I trust. Stay down here so I don't have to worry you'll burn up?" 

What could he say to make the Korok listen? "Revali can stay behind while Urbosa, Mipha, and Daruk come with me. We'll only be gone for a few hours and will be back before you know it." 

It had been a surprise for everyone when Fostri had bonded with Revali. The Rito would never admit it but he had grown to like the Korok as well. "Hey! I never agreed to stay behind!" Said Rito protested, feathers fluffed up in mock anger.

"I'll stay if Revali stays, but I go if Revali goes!" Fostri negotiated

The expectant glares from the other four party members were enough to make Revali puff up his feathers, letting out a false sigh of annoyance. "Fine- Fine! I'll stay down here babysitting while you four trek up that hot mountain and have fun fixing an even hotter overgrown lizard!" He huffed and turned his beak up at the group.

Mipha perked up at that, raising a ghostly hand to ask for attention. "Actually, if it's ok with everyone, I'd like to stay down here as well. Even dead, I don't appreciate being in this heat, let alone going to the mouth of the volcano." She ended, letting her hand fall to her side with as much grace as possible.

Link shrugged, glancing at Urbosa and Daruk who both nodded. "If you want to stay then that's fine with us. You should have said something earlier, you could have stayed at the foot of the mountain instead of coming up with us." He pointed out, a frown forming on his armored head. 

"No I don't mind the heat, it's a personal preference at this point. You could say it's instinctive to not want to be near an open-source of dry heat." Mipha explained, taking brief pauses to think over what she wanted to say. 

The blond nodded in understanding. He didn't understand the whole instincts thing but he could understand not wanting to be in the heat. Plus, if she didn't want to go then he wouldn't make her. 

"So Revali and Mipha will stay behind while Daruk and Urbosa will come with?" He waited for any objection, humming when there were none. 

Link, after making sure Fostri wouldn’t follow him, pressed teleport on the great Divine Beast Rudania. The beast was laid over the opening of the volcano like a sack of potatoes. All four legs were dangling uselessly over the sides, the head sat limply against the walls. It was difficult to tell but Link was sure the tail was just barely hanging above the hot lava inside. 

The three shared similar looks of unease, though Daruk seemed more concerned on how they would get on. 

"Maybe we should- can you check if it can be moved?" Link asked the Goron, the lava flowing below was enough to have him rethink this whole plan.

Daruk scratched the back of his head, putting his thinking face on. You know he was thinking really hard about something when he put his thinking face on. "Maybe? The slate would need to go on the control unit before I could check. Even if she could be moved, I don't think she'd listen to me." He nodded as he talked, his thinking face melting back to his happy-go-lucky smile the second he was done explaining. "I'm sure she'd listen to you so there's no problem! Well- aside from getting the slate to the control unit. How are you goin to get it over there?" 

It took an embarrassingly long amount of time for even the smartest of the trio to come up with a solution. Link had accidentally dropped his slate and, on instinct, Urbosa bent down to pick it up. Successful holding the slate in her hands, she held the item out for Link to take. The five seconds of silence seemed to last an eternity as the three of them saw how the slate stayed perfectly still in Urbosa's transparent hand. 

"Well, it seems we found a way to get the slate over. You stay here Little Dove and we'll get this Divine Beast moving in no time." Urbosa made sure to have a tight grip on the slate as she walked on air over to the beast's control unit. 

Little Dove? Since when did she give me a nickname? Link thought as he watched Daruk also walk on air to join his Gerudo counterpart. Urbosa held the slate up to the control unit, staring down as slowly turned on. The control unit slowly lit up, starting from the bottom ring and making its way up each petal-like ridge. Soon the whole unit was glowing a brilliant blue. Rudania, affectionately called Ruda for short, slowly lifted its head. A loud, mechanical grumble arose from the beast, clearly showing its distaste of being woken up from its long deserved rest. 

Minutes seemed to pass in a second, Urbosa's call snapping him back to reality. "How's it looking Big Guy? Can she be moved?"

Daruk, who Link hadn't even realized had gone missing, materialized next to the Gerudo. "She can get down the volcano and a little more, probably all the way to deep Akkala over the course of a few days." He summarized, glancing in the direction of deep Akkala. While the land over there wasn't ideal, not enough flat land and rainy weather every day, it was the best they could do. 

Biting his lip in frustration, Link looked over the land. It was hard to tell distances without his map, but he could see the faintest blue glow coming from the distance. "Hey Daruk, would you say Gut Check Rock is a good spot? It's mostly flat and dry, plus it's much closer than Deep Akkala." He suggested, switching his focus from the slate in Urbosa's hands to the faintly glowing shrine that sat upon the highest rock.  

A quick look at the map was enough to get Daruk rethinking his plan. "That could work! Good thinking little guy! You hear that Rudania? Head over in that direction." Daruk tried commanding the beast. The beast was having none of it, letting groans and thumping its tail against the side of the volcano. If it wasn't for Link's impeccable balance and heavy armor he was sure he would have fallen over due to the fierce vibrations. 

"Rudania! Quit it! Come on, get a move on!" 

"Is it… supposed to be doing that?" Link tentatively asked as the beast continued to refuse to move.

"For a divine beast, it's not. But for Rudania? I'm surprised it even listened to turn on. A stubborn, lazy thing it is. Even moreso than Medoh. She doesn't like listening to anyone, not even Daruk." Urbosa explained as she made her way back over to Link, holding out the slate.

Eagerly taking the device back and strapping it to his waist, Link had to wonder how much personality the machines had. "They can be stubborn?"

"Yes. They can be stubborn, lazy, dramatic, loyal. They're exactly like animals. Except much bigger, deadlier, and more mechanical. It's not- or wasn't- uncommon to see Daruk and Revali arguing with their beasts. For Daruk and Rudania, most arguments were one-sided with Rudania throwing tantrums. Revali and Medoh were much more fun. And louder. Medoh would scream at Revali, Revali would scream back. Rudania is a giant baby while Medoh is just a drama queen."

"You hear that Rudania?! Would you quit being a baby! It's not that far a walk!"

"What are Naboris and Ruta like?" He was curious about the four beasts. He wasn't sure if he'd known much about them in his past life but he's sure as hell going to know about them as much as possible in his current one.

"Naboris and Ruta were like the perfect older children. Naboris would listen to almost any command and wouldn't raise a fuss. Ruta on the other hand was careful about everything. Ruta had incredible spatial awareness, always careful about where he put his feet down. Naboris wouldn't care about such things. If you were in her way then you better move before you got squashed. She cared in her own way, though. She'd back up her team however she could, taking over fights that looked like they could get out of hand."

Silence, aside from Daruks yelling, filled the air as Link thought overall this new information. The beasts have personalities? So did they also have consciousness? Were they sentient beings? Should they be classified as animals instead of machines? This- this was a breakthrough he wasn't ready for. Purah would have a field trip with this information if she didn’t know about it already.

Urbosa chuckled, holding a hand up to sweep the hair away from her face. "I can hear the gears turning in your head Little Dove, don't think about it too much. They're still machines. They can't do anything by themselves, they need a pilot. They can have as much personality as they want but without a pilot, they're as useful as a pile of rocks." 

"That's it! You hear that? Get moving you giant pile of rocks!"

"They need pilots? Maybe that's why Rudania isn't moving. Since Daruk is technically dead, he can't grab the controls to move the beast."

This time silence truly did hang in the air. Both Daruk and Urbosa looked stunned. Had they forgotten they couldn't interact with most things? "That would make sense, wouldn't it? So then, who do you suggest we bring to get Rudania moving?" 

He knew it was a trap. He knew what she was trying to do. Even so, he had to take the bait. "Daruk, you said it would probably listen to me. You want to put that theory to the test?" 

A look of surprise came over the Gorons face. Had he not heard the suggestion in Urbosa's question? "Sure! Hop on, let's see you whip old Rudania into moving!" 

Link nodded and made his way over to the ledge of the small rock hill. He carefully crouched down and got his glider, readying Revali's gale. Without said spirit present the gale wasn't as strong, only managing to get him just enough high to make it to the very edge of the beast. He wobbled as he caught his balance, taking a few seconds to stabilize himself. A huff of embarrassment left him as he made his way over to the control panel. The panel phased between a bright and dull blue glow. 

A hesitant look was shared with the Goron in front of him. An encouraging look was returned, giving Link a slight boost in confidence. He put a hand to the panel and closed his eyes in anticipation, waiting for something to happen. He opened one eye and looked around. The beast continued to sit over the side of the volcano, the panel continued to glow and dull. 

"Maybe try yelling at her? She never listened with a simple asking her to."

"...do I have to?" 

"Yep!"

"Alright Rudania. Time to get moving. Over to Gut Check Rock. Let's go, move it."

The beast continued to refuse to move.

"No, you have to be louder. Shout as loud as you can! Watch, like this. Alright Rudania! Are you going to continue sitting here like a pebblit or are you going to get a move on like the strong Talus you are!" 

Once again, no reaction. Wait no- there was a reaction. And that reaction was slumping over the volcano more. "Go on, give it a try. You never know." 

"Please don't make me yell Daruk," Link felt his ears growing hotter at the embarrassing moment he could feel brewing. The expectant look he was given showed the Goron wasn't backing down. His hand ghosted down to his hip, making sure the slate was glued to his side and couldn't be used to take a video of him. 

"Rudania! Get moving! Now! Please-" He added weakly, not getting a chance to finish as the beast began moving. He stumbled around as the ground started moving. The only reason he stayed standing upright was because he quickly grabbed the control panel and braced himself against it. 

Surprised laughter arose from next to him. "See! That wasn't so hard now was it!" Daruk cheered. He made a motion to slap Links back but the hand flew through him instead, something Link was grateful for. He couldn't imagine the bruise he'd get if the rocky hand could actually touch him. "It should take a few hours to get to Gut Check Rock. Even though Rudania isn't the fastest, she's the most agile and can climb over anything! Scaling this volcano should be a breeze!"

--

Scaling the volcano had, in fact, not been a breeze. Sure, Rudania was able to climb over lava rivers and giant piles of rocks… when it wanted to. Multiple times Link had to yell at the beast to get it moving. Once, it had stopped right as an Igneo Talus had spotted them and was making its way over to the beast. That hadn't been fun. 

By the time the group made it to Gut Check Rock the sun was more than halfway across the sky, slowly making its way to the edge of the horizon. Rudania suddenly lowered itself to the ground, creaks, and groans echoing from within the beast at the action. "Alright, alright. You earned this rest you lump of coal." Daruk affectionately huffed, patting at the control unit. 

A group of Gorons had started the crowd near the beast, staying a few ten feet away from the beast. Link turned to the two spirits next to him, a plan for crowd control quickly formulating. "You two go and see if there's anything major I should fix-up. I'll go see if I can convince them to head back to the city."

"Aye aye, your Highness." "Sure thing little buddy!"

A heatless glare was sent to Urbosa before he jumped off the beast, paraglider deployed at the last second. As he put his glider away he noticed the term crowd may have been an overstatement as there were only three Gorons present. "Brother! Why's that beast doing over there?! Is it here to partake in the extreme challenge!?" Bayge all but yelled, getting himself pumped up at the thought of the gut challenge.

Link barely hid his wince as he remembered the gut challenge. That hadn't been easy the first time around, his body still ached whenever he has to climb for long amounts of time. "No, Rudania needs to rest here for a bit. Just until a Sheikah tech can make their way over to give it a look over. Is that fine with you guys? I'll turn it off before I leave so there's no risk it'll accidentally attack you." He explained, leaving out some pieces of less important information.

"If we can keep training I see no problem with it. What about you brother?"

"I agree with you brother! Brother?"

"I agree with both of you, brothers. As long as it stays over there and doesn't get in the way of our training, it can stay as long as needed! Now, are you here to partake in the extreme challenge?!" 

"N-No, I'm just here to look over the beast then I'll be going." Subtlety, he began walking back to the beast. "I should get going. The faster I get Rudania fixed up the sooner it'll be out of your hair." 

Rudania thankfully hadn't been too high up, a short burst of Revali's gale being enough to get him to the top of Rudanias back. He waved to the three Gorons before heading inside the divine beast. The panels that let light in were still open, allowing Link to see the inside of the divine beast with no problem. "Urbosa, Daruk? Anything broken?" He called out, taking the slate off his hip to count how many ancient parts he had on hand. It was dropping worryingly low, only two hundred and some for each ancient part.

--

The trio didn't spend long in the divine beast, the more major of damage required tools and parts Link didn't have while the minor was far too expansive. The only thing they could do was make clear warnings of what was broken and defeat any stray monsters that made their way onto the beast. Once the sun had started kissing the horizon, Link figured it'd be a good time to stop. Besides, he had one last thing he wanted to do before he headed back to the city. 

Grabbing his slate, Link began thinking of where he could find a cooking pot to make some needed elixirs. He was running low on most elixirs, making a few fireproof ones for Fostri was just an excuse to stock up and make more. There should be a cooking pot at the mines but there's also a few in the city, plus I'm sure there's one up at Gut Check Rock and it's the closest. 

He hummed and mulled over the possibilities. The pros and cons of each location. Making up his mind, Link tapped on the Gorae Torr Shrine. Sure it was just a hop and a skip away but after all the moving and stress he's gone through today, Link thought he deserved to be a little lazy. 

His body dissolved into brilliant blue tendrils, each spiraling upwards and dancing around each other as if they were strings in the wind. It took only but a fraction of a second but to Link, that second became an eternity. That was until he was shoved on his feet on the platform of the Gorae Torr Shrine. He quickly got to work, pulling out different kinds of lizards, frogs, butterflies, dragonflies, and monster parts. He preferred the tastes of Moblins better than all monsters, but Bokos, Lizals, and Keese were close seconds. He absolutely hated Molduga and Hinox parts. They tasted absolutely revolting, the raw frogs he used probably tasted better than those monster parts. Chuchu and Octorok were fair game. Not as tasty as Boko or Lizal parts but definitely better than Molduga and Hinoxes. 

He preferred using fangs, talons, and horns since they were easier to grind up and mix. Though Chuchu Jelly, Keese eyes, Lizal tails were the second easiest, and messiest, to grind. 

As Link went on his internal ramble on monster part flavors, he made multiple elixirs of every kind. From stamina to hearty, hasty to sneaky. He didn't stop until he ran out of space to put the elixirs, his window quickly filling with the different colored bottles. Urbosa and Daruk had vanished some time ago, resting in the depths of Link's soul. It made him nostalgic in a way. Having his friends so close yet so far away from him. 

Cleaning the cooking pot with clean water and a rag, Link gave one last look at Vah Rudania. The beasts had been turned off before the three left, a short goodbye shared between pilot and machine. The legs were hugged close to its body and its head resting on the ground, blue eyes dulled to nothing. It looked peaceful. You wouldn't think such a relaxed-looking being was capable of destroying half of Hyrule on its own. 

Opening the map, Link scrolled until his cursor sat over the Shae Mo'sah shrine. He clicked teleport and once again disappeared into thousands of blue tendrils. Each one had a mind of its own yet worked together to transport him to his destination. 

He plopped heavily on the shrine platform, his armor clanking as it made contact with the stage. He looked around the city, looking for the telltale teal flames to show where his other ghostly (plus leafy) friends were. He couldn't see them from where he was, which was a little worrying. "Hey Urbosa, Daruk? Do either of you have any idea where they are?" Link hesitantly asked. He wasn't sure if they could hear him from within his soul. 

"Mipha says they headed to the hot springs near Eldin bridge. They're making their way back now." Urbosa helpfully answered the question. How she hears Mipha from within his soul was a mystery but he wouldn't question it too much. 

Instead of waiting around for the trio to arrive, Link decided to head off to find Yunobo. It was 7 pm, meaning Yunobo should still be on the bridge overlooking the path leading to the city. A brief look at the bridge showed the Goron standing exactly where Link knew he'd be. It took a few minutes but eventually, Link made his way to the young Goron. 

As he stepped on the bridge his armored feet loudly announced his presence. "Hey Yunobo! How's lookout going?" He asked as he stood next to Yunobo, standing comfortably next to his friend. 

"Link! Lookouts going great, goro! No suspicious activity aside from Rudania moving. … that was your doing right? We don't have to fight Rudania again do we, goro?! Please tell me we don't have to fight Rudania again-"

"Don't worry Yunobo, Rudania won't be attacking anytime soon. It's dormant over at Gut Check Rock with Bayge and his brother's. You don't have to worry," Link comforted. In a weird, twisted way, he was glad to be friends with Yunobo. The poor guy panicked more in an hour than Link did in a day.

"That's a relief, goro! I would have helped you take it down again though! At least after I've had a few seconds to shake like a leaf." Yunobo laughed at himself. "So, what brings you over to me, goro? Rudania isn't secretly attacking, is it?" He whispered the last part, looking around to make sure no one was close enough to hear. 

"Ah, nothing really. I wanted to see you before I headed off the mountain. I don't know when I'll be back so I thought I'd say goodbye before I left."

"Wah?! But you just got here! You're leaving already, goro? At least stay till morning and have breakfast with us, goro!" Yunobo cried, making the bridge creak from his sudden movements.

The Hylian winced just thinking about the hotel… beds. Sure, he understood why they couldn't have fabrics and soft items up at the volcano but Hylia, those beds were rock hard! "I'm not sure Yunobo, I still have a lot to do and only a few days to-" 

"I have important information and I won't tell you until you at least have dinner with me!" A tense silence followed the abrupt yell. Yunobo clamped a rocky hand over his mouth, realizing how forceful he sounded. Link looked at the Goron, surprise, and shock on his face, a little pride mixed in as well. The Goron had never raised his voice, let alone threaten (though is it really a threat if there's no physical harm involved?) anyone. "I-I'm sorry goro, I-"

"Alright. I'll stay the night until breakfast tomorrow," Link decided. If Yunobo threw himself out of his comfort zone for a simple request then Link would grant that request. Plus, he loved the rocky guy. Spending a few hours with him would be enough for him to ignore how uncomfortable the hot mountain made him. 

"You- you will? You'll stay the night?" 

"Well, you asked me to. If you want me to stay then I will. Besides, we haven't had a sleepover in ages. I want to try your rock roast, how has your practice with that been going?"

The conversation between them flowed smoothly. The breaks for silence weren't awkward, instead, they were spent target practicing with the few ostriches that wandered too close to the city or watching the nearby lava streams flow. 

At 9 pm, Yunobo stood up and stretched his body. "I'd say it's around time we head to my house, wouldn't you goro?" Link nodded and stood up as well, enjoying how his bones cracked as he moved. 

"Yeah let's head to your house, I'm starving!"

"Good thing I prepared some rock roast earlier! I planned to share them with my brothers but I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I shared them with you instead goro!" 

The walk to Yunobos house was relatively short and quiet, Yunobo's hole-in-the-wall house being close to his lookout. Link sighed at the slight decrease in temperature, feeling it was cool enough to take his helmet off. He didn't need to wear the full armor set, hell wearing only the pants would suffice in keeping him from overheating. But he'd rather be safe than sorry. Couldn't defeat Calamity Ganon only to have a stray ember be his demise. 

He groaned in relief as the humid helmet finally left his head, allowing his sweaty skin to have some fresh air. Well, as fresh as you could get on a volcano. 

"This is exactly why I refused to visit this horrid place when I was alive. Honestly, how do Gorons and Gerudos live in such horrible environments!" A disgusted voice broke the peaceful silence. Link subtlety turned his gaze to the entryway, his focus moving from the Goron to a blue Rito. 

Revali was openly glaring around the area as if it had personally offended him by existing. "It's not that bad at a lower altitude but I admit, even I wouldn't have come up this high while I was alive. This heat would fry me alive." A softer voice said, followed by a red Zora walking in the entryway. A small leafy creature followed after the Zora, happy chimes radiating off of it. Crap, I knew I had forgotten something. 

"Oh by the way goro, this is for you," Yunobo said suddenly, startling Link enough that he almost dropped his helmet. He stored the armor in his slate before taking a closer look at the gift in front of him.

It wasn't anything special, just a thick, giant red ribbon. Link, although confused, took the ribbon with a grateful smile. "It's pretty. What's it used for, exactly?" 

"Down in the mines goro, it's easy for hair to get in the way and block our view. We use these fireproof ribbons to keep our hair out of the way. I know you already have a hair tie but just in case it breaks while you're out there or you find a need for a new one. Plus, you could see this as an honorary Goron ticket goro!"

Link looked down at the ribbon in surprise, then looked back up at Yunobo. He had noticed most Gorons, especially those in the mines, wore ribbons but he didn't expect the reason behind that was so important. "Thanks Yunobo, I appreciate it. I'll make sure to use it soon," he ran a finger over the material before putting it in his slate. He'd make sure to wear it next time his hair tie breaks, which should be any day now. 

"Here! Have a rock roast, goro! Tell me how it tastes!" 

The two shared dinner (Yunobos rock roast wasn't as good as Daruks but Link wouldn't tell him that. Despite the raw feeling to it it still tasted pretty good.) and conversation as the sky grew darker and darker.

"I should get going and see if the inn has any spare beds this late at night. It was fun hanging out with you Yunobo."

"Huh? Why go to the inn when you can stay the night here goro? Besides, I'm sure my bed is much more comfortable than the inn beds."

Link looked around the small house. There wasn't much room to begin with, plus with the furniture and decorations, there was barely any room to walk around. Where would he even store a spare bed? " If you're offering, sure. Where's the spare bed?" 

"Spare bed? Why would I have a spare when mine is big enough for the both of us?"

"..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yunobo, I fear if I slept in the same bed as you, you'd crush me in your sleep." 

"W-What?! I wouldn't crush you! At least… not on purpose." 

The Hylian sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll just sleep on the floor."

"No! I couldn't make a guest sleep on the floor when there's a perfectly good bed here!"

"Don't worry, the ground is actually more comfortable than most beds I've slept in." He didn't include the fact that the ground oftentimes has grass and a stuffed shirt pillow substitute could be added.

"If you're sure… Goodnight Goro! See you tomorrow!" Yunobo bid goodbye much too excitedly as Link laid down on the ground. Truthfully it wasn't that bad. The ground was much cooler than he thought it'd be. If only he could add a blanket to lay on, then it'd be on par with even the softest beds in the stables.

"Goodnight Yunobo, see you tomorrow."

Followed by a whispered,

"Goodnight Fostri. Don't wander too far away." 

Said korok hummed, content to lay down on the floor a foot away from the hero. 

Tomorrow he'll visit the Zora's. Hopefully, everything went well. He hoped everything would go well.