pathfinderofparadise

[pathfinderofparadise]

Lays on the floor, staring up at the ceiling

Has the haze of brain fog been due to me lacking in something physically? Is it really starting to clear now that I've started taking vitamins again? Was the answer to me feeling like trash for months that simple?

Whelp

On that note, I am sorry for vanishing suddenly. Aicken's muse was extremely hard for me to pick up, let alone wield, in that stagnant funk my brain was in.

In the campaign, we finished Jak and Daxters world, a few weeks ago. Aaaand now we're at... The Land of the Sun. Or something like that. Emperors New Groove.

Met Pacha, he's a sweetheart, uuuh. Aicken saw Yzma, met Kronk. Kronk saw him in his darkness form, was very casual about it, more concerned about if Aicken was stuck in the wall or if he was good. Proceeded to roast Yzma within an inch of her life as he was describing his encounter with the rest of the party. Didn't get too much further into the plot, since bf got a booster shot and it kicked his ass after awhile, but we'll continue it on Friday.

Aicken loves that world as a whole, though. Lush greens everywhere, the culture and styles remind him of home, the heat of the place is wonderful, the only thing missing is the technology. Plus? He kinda looks like royalty in the get up he's in. It hasn't come into play yet, but it might just!

He also has a cocoa bean now that he intends to grow into a tree.

Unrelated to the above: I've also been slowly working on my alien/ fantasy race of musical gecko-raptors. I've had them for YEARS now. 6-7 I think? My project at work inspired me so now I have a new character for the race, as well as some new references done for them!!!! I love them a lot c:

[pathfinderofparadise]

Where have I been!

Tired c: and I'm a new project at work which has been distracting me much more thoroughly than my last one. The burden of knowledge is a beautiful, golden crown, in my case, that I won't be able to show off for awhile yet. Ah well.

Also my friends got me into one of my older OCs! Again. I forgot how much I loved him and that a huge crime.

Everyone, meet Lucky. c:

[pathfinderofparadise]

What is your inner stuffed toy?

Aicken's inner stuffed toy is a lemon plushie!

You're a super unique person! You've been told before that you're a little bit off a weirdo, but that's totally ok. The people who love you REALLY love you and know that there just isn't anybody in the world who's exactly like you. You're complex, special, and interesting!

[pathfinderofparadise]

When the jaws open wide and there's more jaws inside, that's a moraaaaaay!

Unbound Reel Eel!

Well, Reel Eels aren't a canon Heartless, rather a variety my boyfriend made for our KH campaign. They aren't just named that for the pun, rather, their second pair of jaws can be launched out to clamp down on their victims and pull them in!

Also they're a whopping 50 feet long!

[pathfinderofparadise]

What soft romance cliché are you?

Aicken is... Oh.

The italicized oh. Often seen in romance novels and fanfics. When a character looks at someone, wondering why their chest tightens when they're near, why their heart beats quicken at the slightest touches, why they lose their breathe at the sight of them and suddenly realization dawns on them— oh. They've been in love for a long time now. you are soft and quiet, probably the most overlooked. Though when you love, you fall deeply. I'm sure you have a lot of anxieties when it comes to love, and you're more inclined to fall in love with a longtime friend than a stranger. Though, your love is pure. and maybe if you have someone in mind, this is your sign to tell them.

[pathfinderofparadise]

What color does your love feel like?

Aicken's color is bright sunny yellow! 🌻☀

Sweet tasting popsicles, summer dresses and shielding your eyes from the sun. Your love is the excitement of something brewing, something growing. It's the almost childish bubbling giggles of something new, but with the potential to stay. It's wide smiles, blinding sunny light and warm bodies that gravitate to one another. It's the the softness, the willingness, the slight holding of breaths in a crucial "what if" moment. It's the impatience too. The bouncing on tiptoes to see further than your eyes can reach, the holding out for a future that never seems to come even though you're ready, you're so so so ready. It's the constant feeling of warm sand beneath your feet, holding out for the crashing waves. And still you wait, dry and impatient and with burnt soles of feet. Your love is sour candy, enjoying it as your nose scrunches up from the aftertaste of it. It's hands that grab and take hold, that reach and ask them to stay and hope and beg and wait. It's bubbling excitement sure, but it's also demanding, focused, driven. It's love like a plan, with a path and route and a clear destination. And you bonce on your tiptoes, and burning, waiting for the soothing water, the crashing waves, you hold onto the melting popsicle, you wait and wait and wait. It's tiring almost as much as it's lazer focused ambition, deeply rooted desire and the unrelenting hope that it will work, that it will come. And it does, I promise it does. The waves crash, the beach floods and the pain passes, the water cool and soothing and you can let yourself fall in, sinking, sinking. And it's good, it's perfect, what you were hoping and more, holding and embracing you and welcoming you into the stillness you always knew you were reaching for.

[pathfinderofparadise]

Art update!

1. Rough Neoshadow sketch

2. Wip of an Eel Heartless (not based in any currently existing Heartless). It was given a name but I forgot it lollol

Double jaws AND transparent teeth, fuck yeah!

Note: I am STILL taking suggestions of what Heartless I should make Unbound next, so if you have a favorite, hit me up in dms or an ask c:

[pathfinderofparadise]

Sora may have bitten off more than he could chew with that wish, with Scamp happily accepting the pets and scratches at first, before desiring even more, donking his head under Sora's chin, and proceeding the practically climb into his arms, disregarding that he was a little too big for any unexpecting person to suddenly pick up, especially with those big awkward monster hands. Congrats on your new mutant dog!

"Don't fret any! I can say with confidence that no question is bad if your intention is to learn! And while your question seems far too specific to be hypothetical, I'm more than happy to help in any way I can!" That and maybe some of the books Sora was looking for here have somehow found their way into Aicken's hands... And house. Somewhere.

Aicken really didn't seem phased by Sora's brand of questions, quite the opposite, curiosity breeding curiosity, the idea that he's coming across something new and exciting shimmering in his vibrant emerald eyes. Soon his hand found it's way to his chin, and he started to think, a thumb pressing against his lips as he started to pace.

"I suppose then that would all depend on a few factors! Some people are able to move on despite being scared, spurred on by confidence or necessity or perhaps the fear itself is keeping one trudging along which makes one stay away for their mental and physical health. Even if parts are missing, they can be found again or healed over given enough time and love and patience, so in a case similar to what you mentioned, I believe if the person can't move on, then the only thing holding themselves back is... them? But why is that?" He stopped his pacing, turning to Sora, head tilting in question.

"Fear of what is to come? Of the past repeating itself? Fear directed at their own actions? Hell, even a lack of inspiration or something more on the medical side, such as depression?" He hummed a quick little tune to himself, then continued. "What exactly is this fear, this issue, and what can be done about it before the healing process can start?"

Sora knelt down so he could lightly pat Scamp on the head. The grabby hands were absolutely adorable and he wanted nothing more than to scoop him up and cuddle him.

"Keeping a positive outlook... can heal hearts?" Sure he knew that but for him it was his positivity healing others hearts not his own. Then again that was all directed toward his friends anyway. Kinda hard to be positive toward oneself when they are constantly worried.

"An incomplete heart... with holes? Do you know how one would... well be able to handle that? Say parts of them are missing but they are scared to move on?" He scratched once under Scamps chin testing the waters on what the little guy would be okay with when it came to the affection.

"I'm sorry if that question was bad. I have been on the hunt for some information and actually I was reading through some books and documents when this little guy found me." Sorea grinned sheepishly at Aicken. "You know your stuff so my question just kinda came out."

[pathfinderofparadise]

Do you survive the narrative?

No, but that’s ok. You’re remembered fondly for generations after this one.

Songs will be sang of your name, it will be invoked during dinners and bedtime stories. You're not truly gone, not really.

[pathfinderofparadise]

Things I have bought so far:

A bunger plush for me and a Ralsei plush for my bf

Too Many Dice

Heya! c:

Popping in to say that I'll be at PAX West today! Haven't been to this one before so this'll be fun. Tomorrow I'm off from work, too, so I should be able to recover and reply then ♡

[pathfinderofparadise]

Heya! c:

Popping in to say that I'll be at PAX West today! Haven't been to this one before so this'll be fun. Tomorrow I'm off from work, too, so I should be able to recover and reply then ♡

[pathfinderofparadise]

I’m sleepy and if you saw something, no you didn’t-

[pathfinderofparadise]

Aicken clapped his hands together, dramatically pointing at Sora afterwards "You're correct! You already understand way more than probably three thirds of the world's population!" There was some pride in his words there, all too used to having to explain that darkness and light doesn't exactly make the situation purely black and white. "I think light has a similar effect, only it's something more along the lines of blinding you if you aren't careful. Or if you're not wearing sunglasses."

As Aicken continued and gave Sora a gleeful "of course!", Scamp also took advantage of the permission being granted, the keyblade in his mouth suddenly at low priority. So much for the shiny trophy. It was placed on the ground, and Scamp bounded over to Sora, reaching for him with his tail going a mile a minute. Affection? Friend? Pats? Grabby hands grabby hands grabby hands at Sora.

The set of questions brought forward didn't shake Aicken, and he shrugged. "Yep! No strains here, though!" A pause. "Err, well, not any that were caused directly by me. Outside sources of untoward stress and direct hardships have certainly caused some dangerous and possibly even life threatening consequences but I feel like those issues would have been around even if I wasn't working with Heartless!" Aka. Under stable conditions, everything is fine.

"Disregarding that, my heart is still... full? Complete? Sorta? The shards of my heart can return to me! In fact, that's how I can summon my boys, they don't just hide in my shadow all the time, they're still a part of me!" Dozens of Heartless of his own making, harmlessly chilling out in his own heart. It's not the first time this has happened... Won't be the last, either.

And then there was a twinkle in his eyes, accompanied by a cheeky grin. "Besides! Even if not, hearts can heal! You know that saying that people can die from a broken heart? That's a thing! But also, people can recover from having their hearts broken. So, as long as I'm in good spirits, so long as I'm happy and content and loving my life, there isn't any damage that can't be undone. No extra darkness can get in that I don't want there." This big dweebus sounds so confident, so self assured and resolute in his beliefs. And, well. He's still here. Thriving, even! So at least some of that has to be true. Or true to him.

Sora nodded along to the explanation given about Scamp. His curiosity growing. "Darkness isn't evil. I know that for a fact." But it can lead you astray.

Sora asked if he could step closer to see Scamp in better lighting. He was curious about the little thing and how friendly he was.

"Six years of research! So each of these little guys has a piece of you? Like your heart?" He placed his hands together behind his back in thought.

"Wouldn't that end up putting a strain on your heart if you spread it so thin?" More darkness to leak in and less ability to control it? Was he asking for his own sake... yes.

It was safe to say Sora was curious about research Aicken was doing and felt that it in no way could harm others.

[pathfinderofparadise]

Aicken's Heartless form: Complete!

For the most part, he has near total* control over this form, and will always shift into this whenever he uses his magic to borrow his Heartless' abilities for himself (of which he does have to learn how they work if it's new).

There may be times where this control breaks, under times of extreme stress, or if hos brain manages to shut down. Depending on the situation following this shift will determine is he's aggressive or just... Kind of looses his domestication but can be safely interacted with. Sort of like a docile wolf with some extra intelligence sprinkled in. Werewolf. Or something. Take your pick.

Near total: Even when he is aware of himself, some things are instinctual and can't be helped! Like, say, snapping at someone who steps on his tail, or the rumbling purr he'll make when given affection. He'll apologize for the snapping, at least!

[pathfinderofparadise]

Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and say "aaaaaaaah"!

After some interesting conversations I got a doodle down that showed off his tongue. Prettied it up and gave him some color, and now we have this.

[pathfinderofparadise]

Your Art is wonderful!

🅰🅰🅰🅰🅰🅰 Thank you ;; ♡

[pathfinderofparadise]

Aicken's Heartless form: Complete!

For the most part, he has near total* control over this form, and will always shift into this whenever he uses his magic to borrow his Heartless' abilities for himself (of which he does have to learn how they work if it's new).

There may be times where this control breaks, under times of extreme stress, or if hos brain manages to shut down. Depending on the situation following this shift will determine is he's aggressive or just... Kind of looses his domestication but can be safely interacted with. Sort of like a docile wolf with some extra intelligence sprinkled in. Werewolf. Or something. Take your pick.

Near total: Even when he is aware of himself, some things are instinctual and can't be helped! Like, say, snapping at someone who steps on his tail, or the rumbling purr he'll make when given affection. He'll apologize for the snapping, at least!