allthatisleftinthedark

[allthatisleftinthedark]

"We're empty handed, up against an archer, our only chance is to strike him in the darkness." ( for Maisie pls :>)

EPIC: THE MUSICAL Sentence Starters (Ithaca Arc) / accepting / @caustichatred

All her life, the glade was always somewhere where Maisie nearly crossed into Spring's garden. Warmth greets her like a touch of the Lady's hand, fingers gliding down her chilled cheek.

Speckles and orbs fill the gnome's sights as she glances haphazardly in one direction. Drinking in the sunlight and basking in the warm glow was no one.

Only the sun remained, its heat reminding her of what would become of her—a rotting and decomposing corpse—if left out in the elements.

A grass blade caresses her cheek as her body leaves a silhouette where she lies. A slow breath drags out from her body as her eyes twitch. Her fingers writhe and plunge into the side of her waist. Her teeth pierce down her bottom lip, muting the anguish and squeal shaking in her throat.

Her left gloved hand clutches her abdomen as she winces, and her leg buckles and jerks. She raises her palm, sighing as she opens and closes her fist. The tacky substance is undeniable. Her hand ventures downward again.

Ah, there it was--the thorn. Its jagged barbs dug her muscles and torn sinew; the wooden shaft lodged into her body.

A lucky shot was all it took to immobilize her. She dropped to the ground, staying still as possible--the only thing keeping her alive. Darkness had once been her friend, but the shadows seemed closer to this adversary.

Yet from the void comes a voice. Maisie rolls her head back, seeing the world upside down. Not another soul was found, but she heard him speak. It was a hurried whisper and warning, a quick plan from the sudden ambush.

"Lucien," she said, bearing her teeth in a pained smile. Soon, she saw it. Barely visible among the shadows of the forest were those piercing golden eyes. They faintly glow as he becomes corporeal. Nearly as tall as the trees and thrice as old as the land they walked on was the monster of legends—her accomplice.

Lucien's eyes searched the horizon, but then they drooped to the ground. His circular irises soon revealed their primal truth, transforming into thin slits. His nose wrinkled, and his irises became as slim as needles.

Death is repugnant and in the air.

"Marvelous idea, but we are at the wrong time of day." Maisie presses down on the punctured wound. She glances away, steadying her breath.

As she inhaled, his own exhale was haggard and loud. His eyes remained fixed on her body. "There is a way, and I need you," she insisted.

"Drown this place in darkness," she pleads.

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EPIC, THE MUSICAL: ITHACA SAGA

sobs, what a wild ride this was. feel free to change pronouns and such when applicable.

"I'm supposed to choose a suitor to wear the crown."

"I said I would choose as soon as I weave this shroud."

"I'd rather lie than allow them to think they've won."

"I don't know how much longer I'll last since we saw that storm."

"Could it be some kind of sign that my world is all about to change?"

"Is it finally time for the challenge I arranged?"

"Though I never thought that it would come to this, just know I'll be here, buying you time."

"Time is fleeting, it's running out."

"Time to be the man of the house."

"Whoever can string _____'s old bow and shoot through twelve axes cleanly will be the new _____."

"Let the arrow fly once you know your aim is true."

"Though I never thought that these would be the lengths we go for love, I would not have it any other way."

"Where is the man who can string this bow?"

"Screw this competition, we've been here for hours."

"Screw this damn challenge, no more delays."

"Can't you guys see we're being played?"

"This is how they hold us down while the throne gets colder."

"Where in the hell is our pride and our rage?"

"Here and now, there's a chance for action."

"Here and now, we can take control."

"Channel the fire inside of your soul."

"Haven't you noticed who's missing?"

"Don't you know the prince is not around?"

"Hold him down while I slit his throat."

"Hold him down while I break his pride, his trust, his faith and his bones."

"When the crown wonders where the prince is, only the ocean and I will know."

"For twenty years I've suffered every punishment and pain from the wrath of gods and monsters to the screams of comrades slain."

"Worst of all, I hear you dare to touch my wife and hurt my boy."

"I. Have had. Enough."

"In the heat of battle, at the edge of the unknown, somewhere in the shadows lurks an agile, deadly foe."

"You don't understand it, this man plans for every fight."

"Where is he? Where is he!"

"Keep your head down!"

"He's using the darkness to hide his approaches!"

"We're empty handed, up against an archer, our only chance is to strike him in the darkness."

"We know these halls, the odds can be tilted!"

"You don't think I know my own palace? I built it."

"Old king, our leader is dead! You've destroyed the serpent's head, now the rest of us are no longer a threat."

"Old king, forgive us instead, so that no more blood is shed."

"Let's have open arms instead."

"No."

"Damn, he's more cunning than I assumed."

"I find it hard to believe that the sharpest of kings left his armory unlocked."

"Now that we have armed ourselves, let's make the bastard rot."

"Behind you!"

"Throw down those weapons and I ensure you'll be spared."

"I don't want to hurt you but, believe me, I've come prepared."

"We don't fight fair."

"Capture him, he's our greatest chance!"

"Get off me!"

"Fight til the prince can barely stand!"

"Make the king obey our command, 'cause if he won't I'll break the kid's hands."

"Mercy? Mercy?"

"My mercy has long since drowned."

"As long as you're around, my family's fate remains unknown."

"You plotted to kill my _____."

"All of you are going to die!"

"You filled my heart with hate."

"All my life, I've died to meet you, thought about your name so much it hurts."

"Now you're here, I can't find the words."

"All my life, I'd have died to know you."

"I can't help but wonder what your world must be."

"All this time I've wondered if you'd embrace me as your own."

"For twenty years, I've wandered, for so long I've felt alone."

"Oh, _____, look how much you've grown."

"Oh, _____, sweetest joy I've known."

"Used to say I'd make the storm clouds cry for you."

"Used to say I'd capture wind and sky for you."

"Held you in my arms, prepared to die for you, oh, how time has flown."

"I can only wonder what your world has been."

"All I've ever wanted was to reunite with my own."

"Twenty years, we've wandered, but today you're not alone."

"_____, I'm finally home!"

"You were never one for hellos."

"I can't help but wonder what this world could be if we all held each other with a bit more empathy."

"I can't help but feel like I led you astray."

"What if there's a world where we don't have to live this way?"

"If that world exists, it's far away from here."

"It's one I'll have to miss, for it's far beyond my years."

"Is it you? Have my prayers been answered?"

"Is it really you standing there, or am I dreaming once more?"

"Your eyes look tired. Your frame is lighter, your smile torn."

"I am not the _____ you fell in love with."

"I am not your kind and gentle _____."

"Would you fall in love with me again if you knew all I've done?"

"I know that you've been waiting, waiting for love."

"Left a trail of red on every island as I traded friends like objects I could use."

"Hurt more lives than I can count on my hands."

"If that's true, could you do me a favor?

"See that wedding bed? Could you carry it over?"

"How could you say this?"

"I had built that wedding bed with my blood and sweat, carved it into the olive tree where we first met."

"A symbol of our love ever lasting, do you realize what you have asked me?"

"The only way to move it is to cut it from its roots!"

"Only my _____ knew that, so I guess that makes _____ you!"

"I will fall in love with you over and over again."

"I don't care how, where, or when, no matter how long it's been you're mine!"

"Don't tell me you're not the same person."

"I love you."

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These two are so dear to me

[allthatisleftinthedark]

At the behest of Lourdes, the head of the security unit, and due to a significant shortage of guards, the residential notary public/office lady was unexpectedly needed in the field.

Juniper's claw was still wet with ink when the boss handed her an envelope and provided an address. She wiped her claw with a napkin, threw it away, and exchanged the order for the freshly signed documents her boss needed.

"I happen to be," the cat accompanies the answer with a sharp-toothed smile. Her ears flared forward as she spotted the apparent contact standing beside the table. "Sorry for the lack of names and description; this was an of-the-moment arrangement, ya?"

"The name's Ghost Whisker." Ghost Whisker spots the offered hand. She glances at her right claw, clear of claws, and returns the greeting with a heavy and confident shake.

She withdraws her hand and sits at the table closest to the window. The sunlight bleeds through, warming her fur. Seating comfortably, she gestures to Kimura for the only other seat available.

"You want to order something to eat? Drink?" She plucks the paper menu from the side display, glimpsing over the writing. "There's a senior discount that's calling my name. I can sport you a plate if it looks good to you."

"So, you're the person who I'm gonna be working with, huh?"

Tomoko rolled her shoulders, giving a small exhale. She's never met a catfolk before, but she's pretty flexible. This was more or less just them hashing out details for a future job, Arata wanted to expand the territory just a little, maybe a shop or two.

"Name's Kimura, nice to meet you."

She held out a hand to the other, her expression neutral.

@allthatisleftinthedark liked for a starter!

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Art by Morten! Find him over Bluesky!

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Art by @corbeybean !!

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credit to womp womp!

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Icon change for the season, indirectly matching with @caustichatred !!

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Happy Halloween, 2024!

Sino and Maisie are dressed as two interesting siblings from the hit show, Grav.ity F.alls! Neither of them coordinated this and it certainly was a shock for them both. As long as no one directly addresses this, they think they'll be fine. (Not if I have something to say about it!)

Art by Mars

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"I will deliver that remiss to whom you address it to, for I find no Lady in our presence," Maisie regards Ariortos as she clasps her hands together, inflection flat and matter-of-factly. As the head of the Zarin house grimaces, face sinking into the recesses of his palms, the gnome continues, "Lady Nelia happens to enjoy seeing her eldest brother's more emotive side, as she said so herself."

Stepping aside the tiefling, she says, "It would be a shame if you made yourself stoic and unwilling to emote." She leans in, arms crossed, "They'll know you as the Hard."

The tiefling wears a very unamused and disappointed expression. His glasses are removed and he rests his head in his hands. Why, oh why does he have to deal with such childish behavior from people?

"I am not encouraging this behavior, Lady Doscedar. It is bad enough I have to deal with it from Nelia."

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@offrozenmemoirs / x

Maisie purses her lips, the delight in her eyes undeniable. She waves her hand as if casting a spell, suggesting, "How about this one: 'Salutations, bone lord?'" She raises her hand, smiling, as if offering an even better alternative.

[allthatisleftinthedark]

◉ what hobbies do they do together? if they prefer parallel play what sort of tasks and hobbies do they like to do in each other's company? (Sino and Soup)

SEND IN A SYMBOL FOR SHIP DEVELOPMENT / accepting / @offrozenmemoirs

The party members spent much time in the same room doing their respective hobbies, like Soup cooking and Sino repairing her weapon. Their first visit to Ignora and Lenora's mansion made this the most obvious on the chance they spent time together. But they do tend to spend time by themselves. During this time, the gnome researched the void in Lenora's forbidden study, and the elf practiced their dance with Fire Blossom.

One of the things they did together that I see working out more and happening more often is gardening. With Lady Spring's blessing, plants naturally sprout and grow around the elf, depending on their mood. Meanwhile, Sino has a technical background in raising a garden. So, with his green thumb and her worn hands, they can cultivate plants and keep them up.

Another thing that has dramatically boosted their relationship is dancing. As far as it has been written, it happened only once, but it has strengthened their relationship and allowed them to rest their at-odds minds when thinking of the party and their goals. I'd say that it became a part of their shared hobbies in their downtime throughout other times in the campaign. Sino would lead and have Soup on their knees to do some silly slow dance, but Soup still managed to be taller than her. That would be another hobby of theirs, in my opinion.

More hobbies can come up soon! They both like to learn (or be observant), so there's that!

[allthatisleftinthedark]

❀ what is the dumbest argument they've ever had? (Junie and Frazz)

SEND IN A SYMBOL FOR SHIP DEVELOPMENT / accepting / @offrozenmemoirs

Trying to keep their relationship while working at the Graneyean Academy of the Arcane Arts is undoubtedly challenging when one partner wears a white shirt, and the other has tri-colored fur. The unspoken fact of their different stations is that a library assistant and a faculty member would send the committee of ethics and human resources with a boiling case that would have eliminated Juniper from her position. Unlike Frazz, she was not an essential or valued employee, nor did she have any bargaining chips that would compel the academy to keep her had she made a grand offense or crime against the school's reputation.

One of their dumber arguments was Juniper trying to convince Frazz to avoid wearing white clothes and lying about when she was visiting. Frazz, the ever-clever gnome, was convinced that she should walk around shirtless if that were the case, and Juniper quipped back that she (Frazz) could do that whenever and didn't need her to ask for to do that (be shirtless).

At this rate, Juniper avoided getting on top of Frazz (resting her head on her lap) or in scratching range to prevent her hair from getting onto Frazz's clothes. Juniper's concern (as aforementioned) took a while for Frazz to understand, and the severity that it took on the librarian's mental health because of how fragile her job security was.

The debacle was quickly over within a month after the couple invested in a lint roller, and Frazz used her mage hands to clean up her clothes before she attended any staff meetings or lectures.

[allthatisleftinthedark]

✩ what is their go-to food when they want to have a treat together? Maisie and Creed

SEND IN A SYMBOL FOR SHIP DEVELOPMENT / accepting / @offrozenmemoirs

Maisie and Creed have similar tastebuds, but she cannot handle as much spice as the tiefling. With their history of traveling and surviving off the wilderness, many of their "go-to" food would comprise food over the campfire.

One of the easiest things Maisie could prepare for Creed is skewers, especially for corn and freshwater fish. As Creed habitually goes underwater for religious rites, Maisie sees this as an opportunity to ask her to grab or spear some fish.

Maisie seasoned the foods and usually stored several skewers for them on the road. There are several hot ones, specifically for Creed.

[allthatisleftinthedark]

 Witch Hat Atelier | Tongari Boushi no Atelier by Kamome Shirahama – Chapter 78

[allthatisleftinthedark]

SEND IN A SYMBOL FOR SHIP DEVELOPMENT

✩ what is their go-to food when they want to have a treat together?

♡ who said i love you first?

✧ how do they break the tension after a disagreement?

◛ what is their preferred method of communication when apart?

♥ how do they cuddle when they share a bed?

✿ do their music tastes align? are there some things they clash on?

❀ what is the dumbest argument they've ever had?

✾ what kind of 'couple talk' have they developed? (baby talk, weird words or phrases that are an inside joke etc.)

᯽ how has your muse changed since their relationship? in what ways do they rub off on one another?

❉ what was the first quirk of the other's which became endearing but annoying?

❁ what moment made them realize they're in love?

★ what foods do they swap or pick out of their food that the other will eat for them?

❥ what song(s) would they send each other when first beginning to date?

◇ who likes to cook and who cleans? how do they generally divide domestic labor?

◉ what hobbies do they do together? if they prefer parallel play what sort of tasks and hobbies do they like to do in each other's company?

▣ what is their favorite color(s) to see the other in?

❖ how does their casual intimacy look? what part of the body do they tend to innocently/comfortingly caress?

◈ what was your muse's first impression of the other? how did it change over time?