paaperboats

[paaperboats]

"Oh. Well. There goes that thought." At least the kid was prepared-- that eased Boxer's mind a little over the whole monster hunter thing. Still, how was he supposed to help out with this thing now, if he couldn't be what he had been for so long?

.. wait. Did he have to become the Transistor to be useful? What if he just.. used it?

"I could've told you for my first idea, but now.. I'm not so sure. 'Guess we're about to find out together."

Picturing the Transistor in his mind, Boxer closed his eyes; placing one of his bandaged hands over his chest. Maybe this was a little dramatic, but it was the only thing he could think of to do; grasping something at the opening of his shirt before he began to pull his arm forwards. In that instant, a giant, teal broadsword with a red eye in the middle burst from his chest; light filling the area momentarily before he settled into a fighting stance not unlike Red would usually take. But he couldn't help the way his eyes wandered downward, wide and full of an emotion he.. really couldn't put a name to.

"Holy shit-- I. Mean. .. sorry." It felt like an out of body experience, even though he was in his body.. .. this was going to be hard to process later. Regardless, Boxer passed Oliver a grin, attempting to keep himself grounded.

"'Old man', huh? Gonna have to get used to that one. Let's go." And without another word, Boxer started to run back towards the Spine; slamming the Transistor into the ground and creating a shockwave that went crashing right into its face, just as it began making its descent back towards them.

"I have weapons!"

Oh, he is absolutely delighted that the old man seemed to have changed his mind! Oliver's twin daggers are twirled in his hands with ease at the mention of weapons.

"You're gonna act weird? Like how? Go berserk or something?" He's intrigued to say the least. Still, Oliver's grin is bright and eager. "BRING IT OLD MAN! We're gonna take that thing down together! Doesn't matter how weird y'get!"

[paaperboats]

The young woman's words managed to soften Red's smile somewhat, a clear look of understanding rippling in the blues of her eyes. "I know the feeling. A moment passes, and just like that, it's gone-- right?" Auden would surely tease her for quoting one of her own songs, but she did write those words for a reason. Beyond her control, time slipped through her fingers.. and it seemed to do the same for everyone else. "Still, it sounds like a year's been no time at all so far. I'm sure the two of you have many adventures to discover together."

As Luna chases her tail, she seems to be elated that her new found is watching her; though it gives her incentive to try and goad her to do the same. Every time she would run around in a circle, she would stop and pounce at Ehll Tou, then continue on again. Red couldn't help but laugh once more, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Luna did have a friend here, once.. but that was a long time ago. I think she's very happy to have a new one."

"Magitech..? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term," as Lilli began to ask her question, Red turned her attention towards her; head tilted ever so slightly. "Where we're from, she's technically part of something called the Process. The rest of them.. aren't as friendly as she is."

A sigh passes her lips, yet she remains bright all the same; though despite herself, images of other robotic dogs similar to Luna slowly began to appear; circling the four of them as if stalking their prey. Luna perked up instantly, barking a significantly louder cry which made them all scatter in an instant. "It's a long story, but let's just say Luna is special. Sometimes, the others like her will listen to her, but it's never for long. She's good at getting us out of tricky situations, at least."

As the air settled, Luna went right back to trying to get her new friend to join her, as if nothing had ever happened. "For me, watching Ehll Tou is like seeing a fairytale come to life," her eyes crinkle as she smiles this time, not meaning to change the subject, but to branch from it. Being able to talk at length like this again made her happier than she could imagine. "But for you, I guess dragons must be all over the place where you come from."

Lilli grins as the dog and the dragon make for fast friends.The young dragon seems to be enjoying pouncing and playing with her new robotic companion.

"Oh, we've known each other around a year now, I'd say. Maybe a bit longer? Time's funny that way. I tend to lose track of it." Laughing sheepishly, she rubs the back of her head as she glances over at the other woman. It feels like she'd spent a lifetime in Eorzea, given how much her life had changed since she arrived.

"And I wouldn't worry; Ehll Tou's still pretty young as far as dragons go, so I bet she's having the time of her life." Sure enough, the young dragon seems to be enjoying herself watching Luna chase her tail. It does Lilli's heart good to see after all the hardships Ehll Tou herself had faced.

Leaning back against a tree, Lilli glances over at Red. She notes the change in tone... maybe circumstances were different before she came here. That seems to be the way it is for a lot of people in this place. Watching as the two newfound friends run around, however, Lilli can't help but smile. Even if things were different before, it's nice to enjoy a moment like this in the here and now.

"I've never seen a dog quite like Luna; is she some kind of magitech? Er, If you don't mind my asking, that is."

[paaperboats]

[ Someone's.. coming. ]

Boxer's voice came in and out, slowly; as if he was desperately trying to hold on to anything that would keep him there. Whipping her head over her shoulder, Red braced herself for something else that would try to take him away..

Only to find a familiar face, watching from a distance.

[ Mi.. yoi? Is that.. ] the man tried to sit up, although lost his strength midway through; wincing as he fell back into the crook of Red's arm. Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to fall again as she smoothed the hair out of his face, shushing him gently.

"Boxer, please, don't move.. you'll only make it worse.."

Her gaze lifted eventually, finding the familiar eyes of the young woman who once served Red and her sword in a bar.

".. how did you get here?" was all she asked, uncertain if she could even trust who she was looking at. What if something else happened, what if.. someone tried to take Boxer away from her again? Even if Red had met her before, their entire world was falling apart-- and there was no telling what else could go wrong beyond her control.

▽* :   —   ( @geidonteispostergirl )

[paaperboats]

"Fascinating. How, on earth, did you pull.. this, off."

Royce's grating voice suddenly cut through the chaos of Red's nightmare, lifting her eyes for just a moment to catch sight of him across the field. The look on her face was on par with that of a wild animal; territorial, angry, afraid. Subconsciously, her arms tightened around Boxer; his breathing becoming more shallow with every passing moment. Why was he here, of all places? Why now, when her lover was dying in her arms a second time?

"In the cradle. Without.. the Transistor. It should be impossible, really. This is how we go back.. but how do we do that, without the tool that will take us there? Without the one thing that can fix what we.. ruined."

Maybe he was the bad dream. Maybe all of this was because of him. If she ignored him, if she just focused on Boxer, would that be enough to make him go away?

What could she even do without the Transistor?

She didn't want it back. Not now. Not when she had Boxer. But how were they supposed to make it out of this alive?

Red ducked her head down, squeezing her eyes shut, as if refusing to acknowledge the person before her. If they weren't in this position, she would have done everything in her power to take him down-- even as he sauntered towards her slowly, dragging an identical weapon down by his side.

But as something snapped across the grass, it pulled Royce's attention away; piercing eyes darting in another young woman's direction.

".. we have company, I see. Something else that should be.. impossible. Yet here you are."

"And who, are you supposed to be."

▽* :   —   ( @hopeled )

[paaperboats]

part two for this event has me Screaming i am Not okay!!

red and boxer will be losing themselves for this part of the event, in the sense of that they will refuse to believe that their happy dream might be coming to an end. they've whisked themselves away to one of the final areas in the game, which is not something either of them should remember going to yet, however it is something they've unknowingly lived through with their canon point. manifestations of the camerata, the very people who were the responsible for boxer's death may make an appearance there, as red deals with the loss she may be forced to experience a second time.

red will be hostile, especially if she doesn't recognize your character. boxer will be very weak, grappling with his mortality, but may be persuaded to speak to a little easier than red at first. if any of their enemies show up, they will need help. red refuses to even acknowledge the transistor's presence, but boxer may realize that they need it to get through this.

anyway, this post will serve as a starter call if this at all interests you! i will cap this at 2 as i try and finish responding to my part 1 replies!

[paaperboats]

This wasn't supposed to happen.

The time they were given here, the chance to be together again-- neither one of them wanted to admit that it could end, that what they dreamed of truly was just that. A dream. Not the reality they long sought for, that they fought tooth and nail for every waking moment they spent in Cloudbank.

Hadn't they suffered enough? Wasn't it time for them to be given back all that was taken from them? Here, or at home-- it didn't matter. It didn't matter as long as it was theirs. As long as it was them, together.

But their bright world had plunged into darkness without so much as a warning; the lights of the Empty Set going dark, as the scarlet curtains warped and withered away. Red clutched at Boxer's chest as his arms curled around her, shielding her from the chaos that threatened to pull them apart again. It felt like the world was ending, but all Red could hear was the sound of her heart pounding loudly in her ears; her grip on her lover's jacket growing stronger by the minute.

"We have to go," he urged, although where, he didn't know. "Something's wrong, Red. I'm.. I'm not.."

.. but suddenly, Boxer's knees began to buckle; losing strength all at once. His arms fell to his sides, sliding past Red as she gasped; reaching for him as she travelled with him to the ground.

"Why am I.. like this? I'm not--" it felt like it took every ounce of strength he had, but the man raised his bandaged palms; looking down at them as his body began to tremble. "I'm not supposed to be here, like this. In this body, I'm--"

"I'm dead. I.. died.. why aren't I in the country.. why can't I see the sky..?"

The words all but broke Red's heart, tears immediately erupting from her eyes as she grasped as his shoulders, doing everything in her power to ground him.

"Auden, please-- it's okay. You're okay, I'm here, I'm right here..!" but the look in his eyes grew dark, almost lifeless; and the heartbeat in her ears immediately silenced. His body slumped against her shoulder, as his fingers weakly circled around hers.

[ Red. ] And when he spoke again, his voice sounded different. Hollow. Slower. As if he was speaking from inside the Transistor again. [ Red.. don't.. don't let me.. go.. ]

Without a word, she pulled Boxer closer to her; squeezing her eyes shut as more tears cascaded down her cheeks. She couldn't lose him again. She couldn't watch him die again..

She refused.

As the comforting scenery of the place they built together disappeared, a field of wheat erupted below them; dancing in the wind as it pushed the hair out of her face. The sky remained dark; orange and red hues obscuring the sky, as hundreds of blades similar to the Transistor burst from the ground. They stood in various sizes; some disappearing beyond the clouds, while others remained closer to the ground, sticking out in all angles.

But neither Red, nor Boxer, seemed to care.

Not even when the world threatened to swallow them whole.

[paaperboats]

"I knew this would end poorly," Solaris sits at his desk, looking unimpressed. With the sight in front of him, who could blame him? Mimosa fans the currently overheating haphazard cube of a machine from much earlier. Though she tried to seem like she had everything under control, it was clear from the start that this hadn't gone entirely as she expected. Solaris' chidings fall on deaf ears, as Mimosa frantically tries to stop the smoke now coming out of the cube's vents. "Oh relax, I have it all under control!" she says, but the truth is far from that.

In the city below, the dreams manifested by the citizens carried on in abundance. Laughter, merriment, and joy filled the city with each new creation that came into being. Whether it be changing the environments around them or creating beings that could only exist in their imaginations, the city of Spirale seemed keen to make the most of their shared dream. Little did they know that this would end just as abruptly as it had started.

It starts as a low wail in the distance, soft at first but gradually growing louder. People looked around, searching for the source of the sound, only to see that the once blue astral whale that made its way across the city's skies had now darkened to a deep purple. And worse, it seemed to be rapidly growing in size. While it had initially only been big enough to partially cover the sun, it had now grown big enough to cover the entire city and all of its wards combined.

Its pained cries now reverberated through the city, some citizens even finding it hard to stand in the wake of it. Then it begins its descent toward the city, mouth agape. Before everyone knew it, the entire city had been swallowed whole by the whale; thus did they find themselves in the literal belly of the beast.

Darkness swirled around them, the shared dream now becoming tainted. Dreamed creations that had once been deemed harmless now become feral and untamed. Beings created from memories were now tainted versions of themselves, giving voices to the darkest insecurities of their masters. Worst of all, familiar yet twisted landscapes and scenery of peoples' homelands blotted the darkness of the whale's inside. The most horrible thoughts lurking in the depths of peoples' minds now became manifest without word.

And throughout this all, Mimosa stood in that hidden laboratory, watching the scene unfold before her with a worried expression. "Well, I guess I don't have it under control! But I can fix this!" Solaris only rolled his eyes again as he went back to playing damage control in any way he could.

--

Welcome to the second part of Phantasm Amalgam!

So… what's going on? To make a long story short, the astral whale that was up in the sky? Yeah, it's become corrupt because of the dream machine not being fully perfected, and so what was once a gentle and docile creature has now become the devourer of good dreams. The entire city and all of its citizens have been swallowed by the whale and while they were first floating in darkness, the whale soon started to create twisted versions of characters' homelands and loved ones! Oh, and those cute little dream creations or manifestations of memories they created? They're all evil and twisted now, while also being super powerful to boot!

Secondly, here are some brief explanations of what you can expect while in the belly of this beast:

Any and all creations or beings made from here on will quickly become corrupt and twisted versions of their former selves. This includes animals and humanoids, whose strengths will also match your character's, so they're definitely viable threats.

Now you can create scenery from your character's world. But be warned that while it may start normally at first, it'll eventually become twisted. How twisted depends entirely on you though! Think of it like a horror movie, where things start normal enough at first but become increasingly uneasy as time passes. (e.g., memories of characters becoming muddled, people saying things that they shouldn't or wouldn't, being met with random violence from usually docile people, etc.)

Landscapes from different worlds are melding together as well! This is something you have complete creative control over and we encourage you to make it as interesting as you'd like! You may find yourself in one place, only to be transported to another just as quickly. You can also find bits and pieces of another character's world melded into yours! This must be done with mun permission, however. (e.g., seeing people from A's world in B's world instead, scenes that played out in A's world now happening in B's.)

There is still no limit to what you can create or change while inside the whale. Still, it may have adverse effects (e.g., animals going feral, dreamt-up beings becoming violent, a character losing their sense of self after changing anything about themselves, becoming trapped in their own dreamscape, etc.)

Powers will continue to be fully unlocked for this portion of the event to give characters a fighting chance!

As always, please feel free to send any questions you may have to the masterlist!

You can keep making starters for Part 1 during Part 2, if you so choose!

The second half of the event will go from today, August 9th to August 23rd 11:59:59PM EST!

[paaperboats]

Well, that was a point. As the Spine slithered up a tall building, disappearing from sight for a moment, Boxer skidded to a halting stop in his tracks, looking down at Oliver while still keeping him under his arm.

"Kid, no offence, but-- are you nuts? That thing is no joke. I know you do the monster fighting thing for a living, but. It kicked my ass. It kicked my girlfriend's ass. And I hate to say it, but I can't help you. Punching it isn't gonna get us very far."

Still, in that moment, an idea came to mind. If Boxer had somehow willed himself to be human again.. did that mean he could phase back into the Transistor whenever he wanted?

Without wanting to waste any more time, he quickly put Oliver back down on his feet.

"Do you have a weapon? Or, uh. I guess, do you need a weapon?" this was.. definitely an out of pocket way to approach the situation. Oliver probably thought he was some kind of freak already. "There's one way I can help you. But don't judge me if I start acting weird, alright? I won't be able to help it."

"That's right! They're all over the place so I kick their butts!" It was simple enough, really. If there was one thing he was good at, it was hunting them and tracking them down.

The man talks about the creature from his world and honestly, SERIOUSLY, the more the man talked, the more Oliver wanted to see this thing. His eyes are wide and round with wonder. Tealish hues sparkling with awe--

Even when he starts to see the formation behind him of the very creature the man was talking about. "Whoa..." And just when he's about to ask like that? The man has already turned, scoops the kid up, and is BOOKING it.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeey! WHY RUN WHEN WE CAN FIGHT THOUGH?"

[paaperboats]

"Nier?" In an instant, the lighthearted look on Red's face quickly dissipated; replaced with an immediate concern as she crouched lower to the girl's height. Frowning, she pulled a handkerchief from one of the hidden pockets of her gown; wiping the sweat from Nier's forehead. She looked paler than usual, uneasy.. not at all what she had expected during what Red thought was one of the most wonderful times on the island that she had ever experienced. But even if her dreams had come true.. perhaps that didn't ring true for the other residents on the island.

"Are you alright? You don't look well," still, as their eyes met, she could tell some part of Nier had steadied; keeping a firm grip around her hand. "We don't have to do this right now if you.."

Despite what she thought, however, the mention of someone waiting for her seemed to lift Nier's spirits tenfold; Red almost surprised at how the offer had grounded her so quickly. Still, with a careful nod, she rose back up to her feet again, not moving from Nier's side.

".. alright. But if anything changes, please don't hesitate to tell me."

Lifting her head, she felt her expression ease once more; a smile gracing her features as spoke someone's name ever so softly.

"Boxer.."

".. we're ready for you."

There was a beat of silence in the air, hanging heavily as the man took a deep breath to steady himself. Bandaged hands reached for the curtain now shielding him from view, slowly pulling it back to make himself apparent, and revealing just where Red's jacket had ended up. He looked upon the two before him, as if taken aback for a moment.. like he was really, truly, seeing Nier for the first time. Red was always his viewpoint inside of the Transistor, and while he could make out the shapes and faces of those around her.. it was nothing like this. Seeing the world.. living in it. He almost forgot what that was like.

".. hey, kid." It was all he could muster at first, as Boxer finally started to make his way towards the two; stopping just a few feet away. Part of him felt like he should have made clear who he was, but at the same time.. felt silly for even thinking that. He and Red always had an inkling that Nier may have known more about them than she let on.. and he guessed, now was as good a time as any to truly find that out.

"I'm glad to.." meet you for real, he wanted to say. But that somehow didn't feel right. Raising a hand to rub the back of his neck, all he did was smile; exhaling a small breath he didn't realize he was keeping in. ".. it's really good to see you."

She had to be careful. Something was wrong with the city, and it was now creating... Nier didn't really know how to describe it. Everywhere she looked, there was something new being created and something else being destroyed, all in the blink of an eye. The people seemed to be enjoying themselves, reveling in a world created by their thoughts. Nier's own thoughts rarely brought such comfort; she had to be very careful.

Around her, the city began to shift- her own doing? No, these fixtures aren't familiar to her. Lampposts, trees, furniture, all of it was foreign. Nier wants to keep moving, to find a way out of this nightmare, when a familiar voice stops her.

Red's voice is soothing. The sweat stops beading on Nier's forehead as she turns, and finds the woman dressed in shimmering finery. It gives her something to focus on, and her heart stops thundering in her ears.

"Ah, Red, I- I'm... I'm glad..." is all she can manage. She gives a weak smile as she trots to the woman's side, thankful for the distraction. "T-the city, I don't know what's going on, but I... I'm glad I can hear your voice, but I wish it would stop- I mean, the city, not-"

She stops at Red's words, eyes wide. Even without knowing what she's talking about, there's only one thing, one person she could be talking about. The stress, the lingering terror, all evaporates in an instant, replaced by curiosity. Her nod starts small, gradually growing as she reaches out for Red's hand. Holding it anchors her to the moment.

"I... Yes, I think I would..."

[paaperboats]

SOME PROMPTS FOR PICKING UP/CARRYING MUSES BC WHY NOT

1)  for sender to pick up a sleepy receiver and carry them to bed.

2)  for receiver to pick up a sleepy sender and carry them to bed. 

3)  our muses are hiking and receiver is tired so sender picks them up to carry them the rest of the way. 

4)  our muses are hiking and sender is tired so receiver picks them up to carry them the rest of the way. 

5)  for sender to pick up receiver who keeps insisting they aren’t tired and carry them to bed anyway. 

6)  for receiver to pick up sender who keeps insisting they aren’t tired and carry them to bed anyway. 

7)  sender has been sitting in receiver’s lap but receiver needs to get up for something,  so they just simply carry sender with them. 

8)  receiver has been sitting in sender’s lap but sender needs to get up for something,  so they just simply carry receiver with them. 

9)  sender sprained their ankle so receiver sweeps them into their arms to carry them to get treated. 

10)  receiver sprained their ankle so sender sweeps them into their arms to carry them to get treated. 

11)  sender walks into kitchen while receiver is cooking,  receiver picks them up and sets them on the counter. 

12)  receiver walks into kitchen while sender is cooking,  sender picks them up and sets them on the counter. 

13)  our muses are kissing and sender picks up receiver to make it easier. 

14)  our muses are kissing and receiver picks up sender to make it easier. 

15)  sender picks up receiver and places them on the hood of their car while talking. 

16)  receiver picks up sender and places them on the hood of their car while talking. 

17)  sender picks up receiver and places them on the hood of their car while making out. 

18)  receiver picks up sender and places them on the hood of their car while making out. 

19)  things are getting heated between our muses and sender picks up receiver,  placing them on a table/desk/counter rather than making it to the bed. 

20)  things are getting heated between our muses and receiver picks up sender,  placing them on a table/desk/counter rather than making it to the bed. 

21)  sender picks up receiver just because. 

22)  receiver picks up sender just because. 

23)  our muses are walking somewhere together and sender spontaneously picks up receiver to carry them the rest of the way. 

24)  our muses are walking somewhere together and receiver spontaneously picks up sender to carry them the rest of the way. 

25)  sender has been working too hard,  receiver carries them away to force them to rest. 

26)  receiver has been working too hard,  sender carries them away to force them to rest. 

27)  sender is trying to do something rash so receiver simply picks them up to make them stop and listen. 

28)  receiver is trying to do something rash so sender simply picks them up to make them stop and listen. 

29)  in a moment of pure joy,  sender picks up receiver and spins them around. 

30)  in a moment of pure joy,  receiver picks up sender and spins them around. 

[paaperboats]

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

✈️ AIRPLANE — have you traveled anywhere that helped you discover something about yourself and/or about the world?

😠 ANGRY FACE — how easy or difficult is it for you to express your emotions? if you find it difficult, what do you think is holding you back?

🎨 ARTIST PALETTE — what are some hobbies that you like to partake in? do you think they're just to pass time or to distract yourself, or do you believe some of them potentially have therapeutic outcomes for you?

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

🖤 BLACK HEART — what would you say is the darkest thought you've ever experienced? what do you think caused you to have that thought? have you ever planned on or fantasized about acting on it?

🏹 BOW AND ARROW — if there's something from your past that you'd give anything to go back in time and redo, what is it?

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your favorite holiday and why?

🌙 CRESCENT MOON — what would you say is your current biggest dream and/or career aspiration and why?

❌ CROSS MARK — how would your life be different if [name of person] had never been in it? would it be better or worse?

⚔️ CROSSED SWORDS — do you have any skills that you are absolutely grateful you have and that mean a lot to you? how do you usually use these skills? would they come in handy if someone you cared about was in trouble?

🔮 CRYSTAL BALL — what is a core memory from your childhood that you think defines you today?

🗡️ DAGGER — what is something or someone you know you can't afford to lose? how far are you willing to go to make sure you don't lose it/them?

💧 DROPLET — are you grieving something or someone? do you feel like you lost something or a part of yourself with it/them?

😶‍🌫️ FACE IN CLOUDS — is there something you're hiding from the people you love? if so, how urgent is it for them to hear it? what's holding you back from sharing it?

🍂 FALLEN LEAVES — how would you metaphorically describe your life and the journey(s) you've been on?

👻 GHOST — is there someone or something that you feel is missing from your life? do you know if there's any way to find it/them?

🩶 GRAY HEART — what kind of friend do your friends consider you to be (mom friend, uncle friend, funny friend, etc) and why? what do you think this says about your personality?

🤝 HANDSHAKE — do family or platonic relationships mean more to you? or do they mean different things to you?

❤️‍🔥 HEART ON FIRE — what angers you the most? what triggers this anger, and how do you cope with it? what does this anger feel like, if you had to describe it?

💋 KISS MARK — if you had to share a romantic kiss with a loved one, where would you share that kiss and why? are you thinking about giving this romantic kiss somewhere other than the other person's lips?

✝️ LATIN CROSS — are you a religious person? did you grow up religious? does your faith mean anything to you today?

🩵 LIGHT BLUE HEART — what do you fantasize about the most often (generally/sexually/etc)? are there any people that are significant to or that you can see in this fantasy and why?

⚡️ LIGHTNING BOLT — how has [significant event in muse's life] impacted you? what has it made you realize about yourself? about others? about the world?

💄 LIPSTICK — have you had any romantic or sexual experiences that made you realize something about yourself?

🪄 MAGIC WAND — would you describe yourself as a superstitious person (someone who believes in superstitions)? do you believe in luck?

❤️‍🩹 MENDING HEART — how strongly do you experience your emotions? does it depend on who you're interacting with and/or the context of the situation?

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

🫂 PEOPLE HUGGING — generally speaking, do you feel very supported by the people in your life? how strong and cohesive is your support system, if you have one? do you often feel like you're at the front of the line or pushed to the side by the people in your life?

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

🎀 RIBBON BOW — how confident are you with your physical appearance? is there anything about it that you are insecure about? is there anything about it that you are happy about or gives you confidence? how do you think people perceive you based on your physical appearance?

🧪 TEST TUBE — if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what is one thing you absolutely have to resolve and/or do before then?

🤔 THINKING FACE — what three emotions tend to dominate your mindset? do you know why they do?

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

💀 SKULL — how has [name of person] 's death influenced your outlook on life, if anything?

☀️ SUN — would you describe yourself as more of an introvert or extrovert, or are you somewhere in between? how come?

🪽 WING — if you could choose to have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why? what would you do with it?

✍️ WRITING HAND — what is one thing you wish you were better at? this can be a tactical skill, social skill, hobby, etc.

[paaperboats]

Another Transistor doodle

Show us Mr Nobody's face! *rattles cage*

[paaperboats]

"Don't mind them. They're harmless.. for once."

It seemed that as their minds drifted, little pieces of home soon followed; dozens of the Process making their appearance on the island.. though not in the way Red nor Boxer anticipated. Instead of shooting laser beams, the small robots instead shot bubbles from their eyes; while the Cluckers tried to climb up on them and float away.

It.. was an odd sight, to say the least. But also a little funny.

"I kind of like them like this, actually," Red laughed as she spoke, watching each of them topple over one another when they couldn't reach their goal. It was nice, at the very least, not to feel threatened while in their presence for once.

"Yeah. Can't really complain, either." Dark eyes trailed over to the man who had approached them, however; hoping that their lighthearted reactions weren't offending him in someway. "They're probably not like anything you've seen before, but I guess.. walking into a bunch of robots isn't that unusual for you. Seen anything familiar to you yet?"

▽* :   —   ( @solarbulletace )

[paaperboats]

"Is this.. even a good idea. What if she doesn't like me. What if I'm not--"

"You already know that she loves you, silly. Looking different isn't going to change that. Besides.. this is you. She just hasn't gotten a chance to learn that yet. Don't you think she deserves one?"

"... I hate when you're right," the tone of Boxer's voice changed within an instant; turning into a grumble as he crossed his bandaged arms over one another. Red chuckled softly, reaching up to cup his face in her hands; leaving a kiss on one of his cheeks.

"I'm always right. Get used to it."

That quip managed to pull a smile on his face, eventually giving in and laughing a bit, too. It wasn't as though he didn't want Nier to see him like this, but after being in the Transistor for so long.. it left him feeling insecure, somehow. Like she would prefer him as the way she always knew him.

But Red was right. She deserved a chance to at least meet him like this.. so as her footsteps came into earshot, Boxer quickly dipped around a corner; as the space around them shifted from a park, to an eerily similar scene from Cloudbank. Trees partially turned to lights, their leaves hanging down like giant crimson curtains.. and in the center of the stage stood Red. Her normal torn up gown was gone, instead restored to what it used to be; tresses of gold spilling to the floor, while the leather jacket she always wore also seemed to be missing.

"Hey," speaking felt so casual again, like the ability had never been ripped from her to begin with. She reached out as the space between them lessened, taking the girl's hands into her own and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for meeting me here. I know the last time I had my voice, I made you cry.. but I still remember you. I promise. I haven't forgotten any of our time together."

She looked over her shoulder, noting where her partner was hiding before she continued. ".. I have someone I want you to meet. You do know him, but he's a little different now. Would you like to see him?"

▽* :   —   ( @deathreversed )

[paaperboats]

"A monster hunter, huh. At your age? They must be all over the place if that's the case."

Yet the thought seemed to concern Boxer somewhat, unable to help the way his brows furrowed. It wasn't like the kid was safe in Spirale, either-- especially with all the crazy things that happened more often than he would of like. Briefly, the man seemed to get lost in thought for a moment; and as he did.. things started to appear behind him.

"Our world used to be a lot safer than it is now. We've got robots running rampant all over the place-- though I guess the worst thing we faced was what I call The Spine. Nasty thing. Long like a worm, but huge. Breaks the ground whenever it hits it. 'm glad we put that thing to rest the last time we were h--"

.. weird. Why did it feel like something was watching him the more he talked about it? Slowly, Boxer started to turn his head, and to his surprise.. there it was! Watching the two of them, as if getting ready to strike at any minute. And since he wasn't in the Transistor anymore.. well..

"Oh, crap."

He picked Oliver up under his arm and started booking it.

"Runrunrunrunrunrun!"

▽* :   —   ( @ostentumm )

[paaperboats]

"A dragon.. how beautiful. I've never seen one before-- not even in this place," perhaps even the colouring of Ehll Tou made Red feel a kinship with the creature, smiling at all its glory. "You're companions, then? How long have you been together? As for us, well.."

"Bark!" the sudden excited cry of the robotic dog came out before Red could even finish her sentence; jumping around the dragon as she wagged her tail. The woman laughed; an airy, bright sound as her smile turned a tad apologetic.

".. we've been with Luna longer here than at home. To be honest, I didn't think she'd be able to be here with us right now, considering.." .. she trailed off, then; seeming like she had just pushed the thought away all together. "In any case, I think she's just happy to have a friend again. I hope yours doesn't mind."

▽* :   —   ( @starlightdive )

[paaperboats]

with red and boxer reunited, here's a starter call for the event!! i'm going to keep it uncapped, but selective! i'm very excited but not sure how many threads i can handle atm for part one.. (if i don't write you one for this, i'll see if you'd like to do something for part two when it rolls around!).

these two will mostly just be over the moon about being together again. since it's their greatest dream, they might not even realize (or want to admit) that what's happening around them isn't real. if you're lucky, you might even get to hear red sing :')