fox-buried-in-maple-leaves

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Enlightened Gambler

Alee's always had a love for the cards.

Song inspo

Fall for the restless gambler

Stone heart, there's no reviving life from long ago

Big bets, a full house surrounds 'em

Let's give you a peek through Quartzite bravado

Smile on my face as I'm stuck in this role

Alee stared at his cards, absently sipping at the disgusting wine he’d been supplied with. His hand was fine, but it wasn’t enough to win. He knew that better than anyone. Every combination, every possibility, counted and read. He tapped his cards sideways on the table, shuffling them together in his hand. 

“Does the stranger call?”

He swirled the wine in his glass, expression bored. But he read the faces of those around his table. They were all so easy to read. He singled out who had the best hand, who had the worst, who would attempt to match his ability to bluff. He set the wine down beside him, sitting up in his chair. 

“I raise,” tongue wet as he tossed in his chips.

The first time he’d ever picked up a deck of cards, he was five. He didn’t really understand the value assigned to equally similar pieces of card stock. After all, how could something so equal have such staggering values? 

No house ever wins when I make it my home

Just wagers, just chips, no golden regrets

And now I'm out of time

I've been blessed and cursed and punished (and punished)

You've no idea the life I've lived

It's been cruel, a trial, I've won it?

I mean what a climb, now I'll roll the dice, will I be

But he was keen to learn, eager to fit in even at a young age. 

He was twelve when he first won. And like a house of cards, he watched his father’s ability crumble. Alee had always played the house. It was a buff, his father said at the time. 

It was a miracle that Alee could read the cards with the voices that echoed in his head. But he still bent to the will of others, the house relinquished from his grip. But he knew what it meant to lose in life, even at such a tender age. He dedicated himself to never losing this game of cards again.

Alee cracked his neck, his head falling side to side and then back. It was down to him and one other player against the house. His claws clicked against the poker table as he straightened out his head again. 

Gone at last?

One final act, I'll win or I'll lose it all

Come try your hand

Are you up to my challenge? Ah

Lucky me, fate spin the wheel

Didn't climb up this far to fall

The greatest of bets

After all I am just a gambler

“Looks like it's just us, beautiful.” The man’s words like a snake, a certain sort of disdain bubbled up in the gambler’s throat at them. “How did someone like you get so good at something like this?” A charismatic gambler, Alee knew the type well.

It was just one of many roles he himself had played.

His phone vibrated and he pulled his gaze away from the dealer, taking a quick glance at who texted him. Vesper. He couldn’t afford to let the bartender put him off his game, so he slid his phone back into his pocket and lifted his head.

“Indeed, looks like it's just us.” Alee reached up, tucking a strand of his silver streaked hair behind his ear. He then swept up the cards he’d been dealt. And just as he had expected, his count was always correct.

“And I think I’ll go all in this turn.” The seasoned gambler smiled, his disguised brown eyes glinting a familiar red hue. 

“Did you win?” Vesper asked, leaning against their bike as he exited the casino. They were answered when he threw the heavy duffel bag at them. The gambler grinned, teeth too sharp, smile too wide. 

Go ahead use me, oh, I told you

You can stab me in the back, if you see fit

I'm a tool of the trade, a masquerade

That will always pay off for me, I admit

Hide and seek, no, you'll never find me

“I always win.” 

Alee put an arm to his stomach and then bowed, hair falling over his dull eyes. He never lost. He promised himself that. He promised he would make it so he could never lose again. Alee lifted his head to look at xem.

Vesper’s attention was on the bag, counting the money stored within. The gambler exhaled and stood up straight. He then skipped down the steps towards xem. It was the one thing he could always do right. Even when his debts piled up. Gambling, for him, was just another form of currency. 

It paid off, in a way.

Playing cards was once an activity he shared with his father. It was a bonding exercise for them. But in adulthood it had become a survival tactic. It was something he used to get by, without it, he had nothing. He was nothing.

Locked up, I’m lost so far behind, see

Gone is the wonder, the family

the blunders

My winning streak has them on their knees

But they don't see the hand clutching on for dear life

They don't see the man as he tries and he tries

To stand tall after everything

Here I am, will I be

To him, winning was everything. To lose would be to fail.

Even when his mind was marred, breaking down from the injections. Alee still always won. It was the only thing that let him feel like himself in a time when his body no longer belonged to him. It was the one thing besides her that he could hold onto.

Maybe getting so mad over them cheating was unnecessary. But they didn’t understand. They could never understand what it meant to lose. His hands shook with an anger he didn’t even know he could feel. His mouth tasted metallic, his fangs puncturing his tongue as he tried to bite back the rage.

To be stripped of all that he was. All that he presented himself to be. It was an attack he couldn’t fathom. The cards and chips scattered across the floor as the table toppled, the force of him standing up driving it. 

Alee’s chest rose and fell with heavy pained breaths. 

When he first lost against his father, it had been a lesson. It was his father who taught him to be ruthless at the game. It was the only time his otherwise timid father had given him such a lesson. It was always to be kind, even in the face of adversity.  

I was shown my place, but I didn't care for it

You've no ace 'cause my hand's looking devilish

What you gonna do? Your days are nearly through

Only the grandest deaths for guests like you

Putting down the bet, I'm placing the wager

I'm claiming the win, hey, maybe you'll go all in

With these lies I spin, will I finally be

But to always be ruthless in the way of the cards. 

It had become his life’s greatest motto. When he had nothing else, when he was backed into a corner, he always had his skill. He always had a way out. The cards, they served him. The numbers and the symbols and each and every crease. 

Vesper held up a card, a lazy grin on their face. “Looks like I won!” They declared, shaking the two of clubs in xyr hand until the card faded into a different one altogether. Alee’s anger grew at the presented ace of spades.

“Highest card, right?” Xe turned xyr attention to the card xe had used magic to change.

Alee ran his tongue over his bottom lip, his hands balled up into fists at his sides. Then he exhaled as calmly as he could. 

“Do you know what else that card symbolises?”

Vesper raised an eyebrow. 

Their expression switched from something smug to something nervous as the card in xyr hand was knifed through. The card stock stuck into the plaster wall of xyr apartment behind xem, Alee’s blue blade stuck directly in the middle of it.

The bartender looked behind xem, watching as the card caught fire.

“It means death.”

Alee held his hand out and the knife returned to him. 

It was like stripping his soul from his body. And he couldn’t stand it. 

So he left.

Gone at last?

One final act, I'll win or I'll lose it all

Come try your hand

Are you up to my challenge? Ah

Lucky me, fate spin the wheel

Didn't climb up this far to fall

The greatest of bets

After all I am just ah

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

I love gambler characters who put on a show to act out a role.

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Character who doesn't get to die & character who doesn't get to live. Is that anything.

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i wanted to make an oc ask game 😋 things i like to ask people abt their characters:

are they associated with a certain color? what color do they wear the most?

what sort of music would they like? have you thought about what genres or bands do they lean towards? do they have a favorite song?

weapon of choice? any particular reason they chose their weapon?

how crafty/resourceful are they?

how do they typically dress? does their wardrobe lean more towards practicality or aesthetics?

how do they wear their hair? do they care a lot how their hair looks?

favorite animal? why?

do they have a nickname? who gave it to them? if it's not derived from their real name, what's the story behind it?

favorite food? least favorite? are they a picky eater? do they have any dietary restrictions?

if they wear jewelry, what kind? do they prefer silver or gold? do they have a favorite gem?

what do they have in common with you? how are they different? would you get along with them?

how long have they been around? do you know their birthday? is their birthday the day you made them or another day? what do they think of celebrating birthdays?

what languages do they speak? how fluently?

are they any good with numbers?

how big or small is their family? who did they live with growing up? do they live with anyone now?

do they have any pets? what do they call their pets?

how did they spend their summers/free time as a child?

their opinion on lying, stealing, and killing?

are they quick to anger? what sets them off?

if applicable, can they drive? if they have their own, what color is their vehicle? is the inside neat and tidy, or a mess?

their favorite place to be?

do they sleep well at night?

how would you describe their voice? can they sing?

do they have any creative hobbies? (art, writing, music, etc)

how good/bad is their hearing? what about their eyesight?

how do they move? are they clumsy? light on their feet? do they use mobility aids?

if applicable, do they have a favorite sport? do they play any sports or prefer to watch?

how do they show that they care about someone? how do they express that they don't like someone?

are they associated with any particular element (air, earth, fire, water)?

do they smell like anything notable?

do they like receiving gifts? giving gifts? what is their ideal gift?

do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?

if applicable, how would your other characters describe them? i mean specifically the people around them.

how would your character describe themselves? it doesn't have to line up with how they really are.

do they ever return home?

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

which oc has magic that is rare in their world?

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

jaehuin: a character page with modals and tabs by pouthongwon

preview / code

features - dark/light mode. just press on the toggle to switch between them - four standard links (home, ask, archive, and dashboard), plus five custom links in an extra sidebar - a modal for each character with three tabs containing a character's biography, relationships, and works they're in

note: there are comments in the code with instructions on how to enable javascript. alongside my usual credits.

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Do any of your OCs have a physical or mental illness that exists only in fiction?

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Fandom OC Ask Meme

⟢⋱⟡☾ a collection of asks for OCs belonging to specific fandoms

How does (canon character) feel about your OC?

How does your OC feel about (canon character)?

Has your OC ever made (canon character) laugh? / What about cry?

Do your OC and (canon character) ever cross paths?

Which canon character annoys your OC?

What canon character gets annoyed by your OC?

Which canon character respects your OC most? What gained that respect?

Which canon character doesn’t respect your OC whatsoever?

Which canon character does your OC respect a lot?

Which canon character does your OC not respect at all? Why?

Which canon character is pissed off by the general presence of OC? (we all have those people)

Does your OC have a crush on anyone?

Who would probably have a crush on your OC?

Who would your OC most likely to get a puppy-crush on? (but it can’t be the cc they’re actually shipped with!)

Who would your OC say is their best friend?

Who would call your OC their best friend?

Who has brought your OC to tears before?

Who has your OC made cry?

Is there someone your OC didn’t like at first, but then got along with later?

Is there someone your OC liked at first, but then grew to dislike?

Who does your OC hate?

Who does your OC love? (platonic)

Who does your OC love? (familial)

Does your OC love anyone? (romantic)

Has your OC ever had to let a canon character down easy?

Has your OC ever been rejected by a canon character?

Did your OC bear witness to anyone’s full character arc?

What is the worst thing your OC does in their story?

What is your OC’s ‘‘darkness moment’’ in the plot?

What is your OC’s redemption moment?

Is there a canon character that your OC needs to ask forgiveness towards?

Is there a canon character your OC needs to forgive?

Is there anyone who your OC would die for?

Is there a canon character who would die for your OC?

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Having OCs is the best because all my headcanons for them are confirmed

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Just Straight Up Word Salad - Submitted by: fastman27

#FCDEDE #FBC7D7 #E8AFD8 #CF9EDF #A493E4

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Ugh Grimshaw thinking again. I have to shout out Ren's Monarch for advocating for Grimshaw and getting him that alloted time in the darkness.

His healing abilities stem from the fact his cells die and regenerate at an increased, albeit painful, speed.

Bright constant light then force his cells into a type of stasis. This means his cells can't regenerate properly. Being in constant light is killing him.

And he only mentions his discomfort when asked. He is dying underneath the bulbs but this is his penance. He thinks this is a fitting punishment even though he knows he can't provide them any additional information that could make them stop.

Grimshaw has said what he has to, there's nothing more to say. So if they want to torture him, they can. And he just. Accepts death by light.

Of course Monarch is having None of that. They are, in an unexplored way, each other's foils. She can't let their friends turn into the monsters she previously faced. But they also can't let Grimshaw, someone they barely even know, suffer like that. Ugh, falls over.

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

grimshaw is 36 now thank you

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shoutout to devotion so deep it borders on heresy/treason, has to be one of my favorite types of relationship

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the past is the past. leave it there. leave it there. LEAVE IT THERE.

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Wish I Didn’t Have to Be So Curious (It Killed the Cat!) - submitted by @thetwistedwhiskersshow

#31043F #A966EB #D7CAE8 #3C2B4D #60566A 

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

Sorin

It was a rare power, one that could combine all known classes of magic. A coveted power known to corrupt the user. 

Timeo Manifestation. 

A simple title for an encompassing power.

One she used to get what she wanted. Or to simply play with her food.

Red eyes peered around the dark, hand moving to the blade in his jacket. Laughter echoed off of the walls, but as quickly as he could turn, he could not place where it was coming from. Even with the ability to see in the dark, the woman continued to elude him.

“Tell me, Cardinal of the Fates.”

His grip tightened on his blade as he swiped out forward, but the hot blue blade cut through total darkness. Nothing. “Where are you, witch?” He muttered, voice low as he spun once more, peering into the dark. She gasped in faux shock at his insult, and he turned quickly, slashing behind him. To no avail. She was warping his reality.

“What do you fear?”

“I don’t fear anything.”

“Everyone fears something.”

Alee looked up as she sat on one of the support beams, legs dangling, a smirk on her face. Her position was only revealed by the white glowing parchment floating beside her. She tilted her head down at him, black and pink hair falling into her face at the action, obscuring her dull green eyes. 

“I defeated my demons.”

“No, you buried them, Prophet!” She seemed angry. The woman stood up on the support beam, balancing her weight with practised ease as she glared down at the man. “Nobody is without fear. Not even somebody blessed like you.” She snarled. But Alee could only roll his eyes at her whiny attitude.

“Death cannot take me, nor can you.”

He flipped his blade in his hand, pulling his arm back to get ready to throw it at her. 

“Watch me.”

She lifted her hand above the paper, pulling the visions from within. Green eyes glowed white as she manifested and reflected his fears back at him. Alee’s grip faltered on his knife as the room around him warped and changed. She was changing the reality around them in order to show him his greatest fear.

But there was only one problem in her plan, one flaw in the design.

Her eyes stopped glowing as she lowered her hand, looking down at the scene around them. The warehouse had turned into an apartment. The stench of blood and something vinegary was strong in the air, it made her nose twitch. She looked at his fear, looked at the open bathroom door beside him.

But he looked at her.

Saw through his fear.

“Your powers have no effect on somebody who has already experienced their greatest fear.” 

Her eyes widened as he threw the knife, the blade embedding itself in her thigh. Alee watched as the woman fell from the support beam, hitting the concrete thud with a sickening crack. He dragged himself with sluggish movements away from the sound of pained sobs and pleas for the reaper to do something. 

Alee tilted his head up to the ceiling, taking a deep breath. He could smell the stench of death. The reaper’s perfume. The smell of the apartment. It overwhelmed his senses. His head dropped with a robotic lull. His eyes were duller than hers as she weakly lifted her head to look up at him.

“Even if it worked.” He crouched down in front of her, ripping his knife from her thigh. The woman screamed out in agony, bones fractured, organs bleeding within. “I am cursed by destiny.” He dragged the bloodied tip of his knife along her bruised cheek. “And you are nothing compared to what they have done to me.”

She tried to pull another fear, desperately attempting to use the last of her energy to do something against him, to fight, to win. He tapped the blade against her cheek, a small smile on the man’s face as the scene behind him began to melt away. She was melting away, for the time being at least.

“I’ll claim your energy one of these days, Cardinal.”

Alee laughed, his eyes narrowed.

“You will never claim me, Sorin.”

[fox-buried-in-maple-leaves]

hiii I made a ship template for me and my friends bc I wanted to compare our oc's aesthetics lol

a higher quality + transparent version is available to download on my ko-fi for all your editing needs ^_^

tagging is not required, but please do not remove my watermark!