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requestanythingyes · 4 hours ago

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chapter two: moving on

summary: you figure out who's knocked out inside of that room, and you also knock something out yourself. fun times! 4.5k words.

a/n: i'm gonna try to push these out in 1-2 days. then again, school's about to start up for me in some weeks, sooooo... it'll be faster. i swear it lmao. enjoy!!

cw: minor injuries to reader, vague mentions of severe injuries.

previously, on star rail: it's your turn...

You scrambled out of the box you were hidden in, uncaring of the loud crash it makes, and stumble into the room now holding the Trailblazer. You paused just before you stepped in. There was only one Stellaron, and in your world, you'd picked who appeared, Caelus or Stelle. So who will you find unconscious in the middle of that room? You took a deep breath, and with determination in your steps, walked into the room to see…

Stelle. Stelle, lying on the floor in a way that indicated Kafka had lain her down gently, instead of dropping her like a mannequin. Stelle, who was currently unconscious. You stare for what feels like a long time. So, given the choice, Kafka would've picked Stelle? It feels like getting sucker punched. Instead of lingering on it, you make your way over to Stelle, kneeling next to her. You make sure you can see the door— you don't want Dan Heng and March 7th to think you're the one who knocked Stelle out, after all.

You bring your hand up to her neck to check for a pulse, and realize that your hands are shaking. You clench your hands into fists, bringing them sharply back down to your side. "Get it together," you mutter to yourself. You reach back out again, this time with barely steadier hands, and check her pulse. Just as you do, you hear two familiar voices.

You perk up instantly. It must be Dan Heng and March 7th, coming to Stelle's coordinates. You pick up a little bit of their conversation; March is telling Dan Heng something about the space station, but you can't quite make it out. Dan Heng responds to March, and the two come into your line of sight. You pick out the wariness in Dan Heng's tone as he notices you kneeling next to Stelle.

"Weren't their coordinates sent out from the space station?" he answers March, exactly like the cutscene from when you played the game. You notice he has one arm out, holding March back, and silently thank the fandom for correctly headcanoning Dan Heng as a protective friend.

March responds to Dan Heng's question quickly. "Who cares?! They're here, and alive. Do they look like a mannequin to you?" she asks back, hands on her hips. Dan Heng lets out a weary sigh, and you almost laugh at the sibling-like conversation before Stelle's lack of consciousness sobers you.

Dan Heng quickly makes his way over, eyes narrowing at you. "Who are you?" he asks bluntly, surprising you. You immediately try to find an answer that won't implicate you as a Stellaron Hunter. In the cutscene, Dan Heng had focused on Stelle first, so you thought you'd have time to think of something. He stares at you as he kneels next to Stelle across from you.

You open your mouth, and the first thing that comes out is, "I'm not a Stellaron Hunter." Great, good going, not suspicious at all, you think sarcastically. You backtrack quickly. "I saw two people leaving, and they looked like those Stellaron Hunter people," you tell him, trying to will your heart to stop racing as you put your hands out placatingly. "Y'know? One had purple hair and the other one was really short. I don't know who they are, though. At all. I just hid because the purple-haired one had two guns and I wanted to live. I saw them leave and then I came in here, and—" you cut yourself off, gesturing to Stelle with one hand. "Can you help her?" you ask.

Dan Heng stares at you through your explanation, as if trying to gauge how much of that was a lie. Apparently, he's satisfied, because he returns his focus to Stelle. He checks her pulse quickly, then puts a hand over her mouth to check for breathing.

"...Weak pulse. March," he says, turning to look up at her, "you better do CPR." You see the shock on her face, and crack a small smile at her response. "Huh?! Aha... I— I've never done it before! Dan Heng, you do it!" she exclaims, stepping back like Dan Heng would personally drag her down and force her.

He lets out a long-suffering sigh. "Fine," he mutters, leaning over Stelle just as her eyes flutter open. He leans in, and you purse your lips to keep from laughing as March rushes over, pushing him away with one hand on his face. "Wait— stop it!" she exclaims, leaning over Stelle. "They're awake!" she continues, and you let out a sigh of relief. Dan Heng looks over at you, looking like he's noting your response.

"Thank Lan... we wouldn't want a girl waking up to Dan Heng's mouth on hers, right March?" you joke, standing and crossing your arms. March giggles, while Dan Heng just shakes his head. Stelle puts a hand to her head, groaning softly. March and Dan Heng both step back as Stelle gets to her feet unsteadily; Dan Heng makes to step forward when she stumbles, but steps back again when she catches herself.

As soon as Stelle's standing, March jumps in with a series of questions. "Are... you alright? Can you hear me? Do you— remember your name?" March rattles off, concern in her eyes as she waits for Stelle's response. Stelle answers slowly, "I... don't remember a thing," she whispers, shaking her head slowly.

March lets out a little noise of concern. "Aww... this isn't good. Can you— try harder? I'm sure you can at least remember your name," she says. You sigh, stepping over to March and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, give the girl a second," you tell her softly, turning to face Stelle. "Take your time. This must be a lot for you," you continue.

Stelle nods, a little smile on her face. "Thank you. My name... is Stelle," she answers March. Dan Heng nods, professional as ever. "Stelle. Nice to meet you. My name is Dan Heng, and this," he says, putting one hand out towards March, "is March 7th." He looks at you, waiting for you to introduce yourself. You pause.

You could pick an entirely new name for yourself. One that you really feel good with. You suck in a breath, then hold out a hand to Stelle. "Hi, Stelle. You can call me Lane," you tell her. Okay, not bad, not bad, you tell yourself. You could've picked a worse name.

Dan Heng tries his best to orient Stelle to the situation at hand. "This space station was just attacked by the Antimatter Legion. We came to help at the request of lead researcher Asta," he tells her. Stelle furrows her brows, asking, "The... Antimatter Legion?" March answers quickly. "Goons of the Destruction. You're lucky that the most dangerous Lord Ravager among them isn't around, just some nasty minions. We'll take those invaders out soon, don't worry!" she finishes in her usual confident tone. You gently slap March's shoulder, realizing just how insensitive she'd been, even on accident.

"Ignore her. They're a bunch of monsters who are hellbent on destroying everything in their path. You should stick with us, just to be safe," you offer Stelle. She nods, her smile growing a little less worried. Stelle turns to March, asking, "And who's Asta?"

"Mhm, a petite cutie with pink hair. Madam Herta appointed her to be lead researcher." You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose before dropping your hands. "She's easily recognizable," you tell Stelle, before March cuts you off with her comment about Herta. "That girl really needs to step up. I can't believe her own employee doesn't know her name." You gently slap March's arm. "March! Clearly, Stelle doesn't work here," you whisper.

Stelle lets out an awkward laugh. "Um... where should I go?" she asks, fidgeting in place. Dan Heng answers confidently, crossing his arms. "Back to the master control zone. Asta and the other researchers have gathered there." March continues where he's left off: "Plus! That's where we parked the Astral Express! Don't you worry, we'll protect you from the monsters and clear up this mess," March assures Stelle.

Stelle shakes her head. "Who are you guys? And what's the... Astral Express?" she asks. You sigh silently. This was taking a lot longer in person than it did in game, but you weren't complaining. It was like magic being on the Herta Space Station, and you were trying to get onto the Express as well.

March answers Stelle's first question. "Dan Heng and I are members of the Astral Express crew!" she practically cheers. Dan Heng nods slightly at the statement, continuing, "The Express has some dealings with Madam Herta, so we come to visit the space station from time to time." March bounces off of his words, explaining, "We just so happened to arrive during this... invasion. Of course," she continues, grinning, "as a— ahem— crew of heroes, we're happy to lend a hand."

You jump in, explaining your presence there and creating a plausible backstory. "I was just visiting here, and my ship left without me. Then I got knocked out by a random monster while I was trying to fight my way to somewhere safe, so I don't really remember much of anything," you tell Stelle, offering her a small smile of understanding.

"And the Astral Express itself?" Stelle asks again, a hand on her head. March tilts her head. "Yeah, you've never seen it? The Express comes here every once in a while," she answers. You put a hand on March's shoulder again. "Clearly not," you answer March's question, "Stelle obviously doesn't work here," you tell her again.

Dan Heng continues from what March said. "It's a unique train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon," he answers matter-of-factly. March nods. "I'll show you once we're back at the master control zone," she promises Stelle.

Stelle nods in response. "Let's go then," she tells the three of you. Dan Heng uncrosses his arms, answering, "You, Lane, and March go back togethe." You jump slightly at the mention of the new name you'd chosen for yourself. He turns to face March, noticing her questioning look. "Arlan from the Security Department lost contact in the vicinity. I need to find him first," he answers March's unasked question.

You offer to go with him. "It can't be safe going alone, Dan Heng," you say. Not only that, but you also have no idea what fights he gets into on his way to Arlan. Dan Heng, however, declines. "I'll be alright. You focus on March and Stelle," he tells you, turning and making his way towards his target. You nod once even though he doesn't see it.

March turns to watch him leave, and her eyes catch on a baseball bat lying on a counter in the corridor. "Stelle, maybe you should take this," she comments. "The Legion are rampaging through the space station like a pack of wolves— this trip won't be a walk in the park. It's better if you have something to protect yourself." You walk over and grab it, handing it to Stelle with a smile. "We got this," you assure her— and yourself. March nods, adding, "You're safe as long as you stick with me!" You take a deep breath. Then, the three of you leave the room, ready to confront the monsters on your way to the master control zone.

You, March, and Stelle leave the room at a brisk jog. The Curios on the wall seem to catch Stelle's attention, and she falls back. After a second, she shakes her head, speeding up momentarily to fall back in with you and March. You hit the control pad to open the doors directly in front of you as March comments on the Curios.

"This place is full of fancy little gadgets— Herta's collection. I really don't get why she'd go out of her way to collect them and then leave them here to gather dust," March says. Stelle laughs quietly, and you look at her in surprise. You'd have to start getting used to Stelle being her own person, separate from you and making different choices. You look away, shaking your head as the three of you continue down the hallway. It takes exactly 11 seconds for you all to turn the corner and run directly into a floating sphere from the Antimatter Legion.

Stelle acts far more quickly that you'd thought she would, darting forward and landing a solid hit on the creature that rings out in the corridor with a dull thunk! As the scene before you fractures into the combat setting, you wonder if everyone else sees that same fracturing and change in setting. You blink, focusing on the battle in front of you.

It's not as bad as the set you encountered on your own— only two swordsmen, or Reavers as March calls them, and a sphere, or Baryon. You and Stelle, being Lightning and Physical respectively, make quick work of the Reavers, while March finishes off the Baryon.

March scans Stelle with a calculating look in her eye, which is something you never thought she'd be capable of. "You're stronger than you look... Seem to be quite the fighter," March finally says as you guys continue towards the atrium to your left.

As you approach, March slows down, and you and Stelle follow suit, stopping near a chest and hologram. As March speaks, you quietly make your way over to the chest, popping it open to get a few more random items and, to your delight, Stellar Jades.

"So we'll take that on the central platform to go down to the master control zone. Do you know the way?" March asks Stelle. You sigh, opening your mouth to answer for Stelle, before March continues. "Um, I noticed that you're not wearing the space station staff uniform. Do you really work here?" March asks. You sigh. "Of course not, March," you answer, "c'mon, look at the way she's dressed. That's not a Herta uniform. We'll have to follow the signs to find Asta," you say, turning and forging ahead. "Memory loss, huh..." March starts. "You must've been injured," she says to Stelle as she follows behind you. Something on Stelle's face must alert March, because she backtracks. "N-never mind! I won't ask if you don't wanna talk about it."

Stelle nods gratefully, and the three of you continue on your way to the master control zone. Of course, there's no straight path to the elevator, and you run directly into a floaty mage monster, which March quickly identifies as a Distorter. You all get to work on the Reaver, Distorter, and two Baryons. March provides a little defense to Stelle when the Distorter locks onto her, and Stelle drops her ultimate, taking care of the Baryons and doing serious damage to the Distorter. You finish off the Reaver with a few well-placed hits, and March shoots the Distorter square in the face, finishing the battle.

The three of you finally make it to the elevator, but when March goes to activate it using the control pad, she lets out an annoyed sigh. "Ah, I knew it," she says. Stelle tilts her head. "It's broken?" she asks, using her bat as a cane with one hand on her hip. March turns, holding her hands out as she speaks. "Yeah... I pressed all the buttons but nothing happened." You sigh in response, willing the control pad to suddenly work. You've been walking and fighting for a hot minute, and you're not exactly used to it. "Is it because there's no power, or because the control pad itself is broken?" you ask, glancing at the orange screen.

March chuckles awkwardly. "I, uh, don't really know. Too bad Dan Heng isn't here. He's like a walking encyclopedia... He knows a ton of complicated stuff— maybe even elevator repair..." she says mournfully. Suddenly, Dan Heng speaks up from right behind you. "I don't know that one," he answers bluntly. You let out an undignified noise, almost falling over in your scramble as you move over to stand half behind Stelle.

You put a hand over your heart, mock-glaring at Dan Heng. "Dan Heng! What was that for?!" you ask. March's reacted similarly, you note as you look over at her shocked expression and the way she seems to have jumped back. "Whoa!" she exclaims. "Why are you here?!" she asks first, before narrowing her eyes. "And how did you get here before us?"

Dan Heng answers, using a hand to gesture. You follow his movements as he speaks; he's elegant in a way that you've never really seen before. Stelle seems to be doing the same as she listens to his explanation. "I took another route to the upper level, and I saw you guys from up there," he says. Dan Heng shrugs, then reports on Arlan. "Arlan's in the control room. He's been injured, but not fatally." You let out a breath you didn't know you'd been holding as March responds to Dan Heng.

"You found him! Will he know what to do about this elevator?" she asks cheerfully. You huff out a laugh, sinking to the floor to rest as Dan Heng brings a hand to his chin and crosses the other arm over his chest. "I suppose as the head of the Security Department, he should know," Dan Heng muses. "Then let's go talk to him!" March answers cheerfully. You nod in agreement, but you're hesitant. In game, Arlan hadn't been visibly hurt. But this was reality now. What would you see?

You let the three pull ahead, messing with the control pad in front of the elevator. The fix turns out to be far simpler than the game had made it seem— the machine was just deactivated. It looks like you'll have to get Arlan to fix it after all. You follow after the three of them, turning the corner just seconds after. You're just a few seconds too late as you watch them get locked in a combat you'd found to be avoidable (aside from the tutorial).

Again, it's not too bad (one Distorter, one Reaver, and one Baryon), but it hadn't been necessary. You sigh, jumping into the fray and quickly dispatching the Reaver into glowing dust. You were already used to March's and Stelle's battle styles, so you didn't pay Stelle any mind as she bashed the Baryon, nor March as she tried to help Stelle. But your eyes caught on Dan Heng.

You can't look away. You stand there, lips parted, as you watch him tear into the Distorter. It was like watching a dance— each strike with his spear, and the maple leaves that appeared in the air around him, mesmerizing you. It doesn't take long for Dan Heng to finish off the Distorter, and he notices your staring.

"Is something the matter, Lane?" he asks, straight to the point. You startle slightly, but close your mouth, pursing your lips slightly before shaking your head. "No, not at all," you answer, "but the way you fight..." you trail off, gesturing between him and the now-empty space where the Distorter had been. "It's... graceful. I've never seen anything like it," you tell him earnestly. Without waiting for a response from him, you turn so you can see all three of them.

"I fixed the controller," you tell them, not beating around the bush. You continue, saying, "We should get Arlan and head to the master control zone." Dan Heng nods, while March agrees enthusiastically. Stelle copies Dan Heng, and the four of you set off towards the room just a few steps away.

As soon as the doors open, Arlan turns to face you all, his purple eyes widening at the sight of so many people. He winces slightly, and your eyes fall to the brace around his left knee. You hadn't noticed that in game, but you must've skipped over that detail. You look back up at his face when he speaks. "Hey... you're all... together?" he asks, wincing slightly when he turns to look at each of you. You nod as March elaborates in her usual cheery tone, "Yep, we're from the Astral Express!"

Arlan nods, seemingly a little disappointed, which you also hadn't picked up on in game. "Oh... did Madam Herta send you to help?" he asks, his voice lilting up at the end hopefully. You scrutinize him; while much of the fandom had agreed that he was between 19 and 22, he looked significantly younger in person— so much so that you blurt out, "How old are you?"

You slap your hands over your mouth, mortified. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry—" you start, but Arlan just laughs. "No worries," he reassures you, "I get that a lot. I'm actually 18," he answers. You slowly put your hands down, whistling. "Damn, you're young," you tell him. "But you seem like you know what you're up to."

Arlan nods at you, and Dan Heng speaks up. "To answer your question, it's just a coincidence. We came to deliver the rare relic Herta trusted us to find... We didn't expect to arrive during an invasion," he tells Arlan succinctly. Stelle looks at him with what looks like a little surprise as March asks Arlan, "Why is the Antimatter Legion targeting you guys?" You huff out a little laugh as she continues. "It seems like they just ignored the surface of the planet and came straight to the space station."

You mutter to yourself, "Isn't their entire purpose to destroy everything in sight? HYV was really trying to push the plot..." you trail off as Stelle looks at you in confusion along with Dan Heng. You shake your head, indicating that it's nothing. Stelle turns back to Arlan, trusting you, while Dan Heng stares at you a moment longer before doing the same.

Arlan shakes his head, apparently not having noticed the interaction between the three of you as he answers March. "I... have no idea," he tells you guys defeatedly. It's like watching a kicked puppy; his shoulders fall, and he hangs his head slightly. "The Legion came at a very suspicious time— almost right the security system suddenly failed," he continues. "Lady— ah, Lead Researcher Asta immediately began to organize the evacuation."

You let his words fade in your head, continuing to scrutinize him. You hadn't missed his slip-up with Asta's title, but the two were close, a relationship you'd seen in game. He'd seemed detached, almost cold, when you'd been playing Starrail, but in reality, he was more childlike and expressive. You note the X-shaped scar across the bridge of his nose as well, yet another thing you hadn't noticed while playing the game.

"I— hahhh, dammit...." Dan Heng's exasperated groan snaps you back. You were a little surprised to hear anything near a curse from him, but you weren't complaining. "Hoyo let them swear" had become something of an everyday phrase for you as you'd played the game, so hearing your favorite characters actually able to express themselves was... a little endearing, honestly.

March hands over an encryption key to Arlan, and he reaches out with his left hand before hissing loudly. Dan Heng outstretches his hand, but Arlan shakes his head, using his right hand to grab the key from March instead. He hobbles over to a console, and you have to fight the strong urge to tell him to sit down while you do it for him.

The four of you follow behind him, surrounding the chair Arlan's sitting on. A few short taps later, the five of you watch the elevator rise from the lowest floor. "Let's go," Dan Heng says quickly, turning to leave. Arlan stops him. "Hold on. I only activated the elevator on the highest floor. We'll have to go there to use it."

Stelle tilts her head, asking Arlan bluntly, "Why? It's so far. Can't we just use the stairs to get to the correct floor?" You're shocked by her forward thinking, looking at her on your left before you quickly agree with her. "Right! Instead of bringing the elevator back down, isn't there just a walkable path to the master control zone?" you ask Arlan. March nods emphatically beside Dan Heng, who shakes his head. He puts a hand on your shoulder to get your attention, but Arlan speaks up himself before Dan Heng gets a chance to say something.

Arlan winces, explaining, "Yes, there is, but..." he trails off. You get what he means immediately— he wouldn't be able to walk it. You nod in understanding, explaining to a still-confused Stelle. "Sorry..." Arlan apologizes, "This space station was entrusted to Lady Asta by Madam Herta. I have to do this for the safety of the master control zone and the staff there."

You nod. "Totally understandable. We should get you something for your hand and leg before we set off, though," you point out. "Dan Heng? Is there anything we can use to help?" you ask, turning and surveying the control room. Arlan shakes his head behind you. "My leg is injured... I'd only slow you down," he starts, but you quickly cut him off.

"We won't leave you behind, Arlan! It's too dangerous to be out here alone," you argue, level-headed. Dan Heng nods, adding, "You won't slow us down. And you should be able to shut down the elevators from the master control zone, right?"

March tacks on cheerily, "Agreed! Stelle, Lane, and I made it here safely, and now we've also got Dan Heng. We're more than enough to protect you!" Stelle nods, speaking for maybe the second? or third? time since she'd joined you. "Just trust us, and don't overthink it. You can always use me as a crutch," she jokes with Arlan. Hearing Stelle speak comes as a shock each time. That aside, with all four of you insisting on it, Arlan agrees to come with you.

You and Dan Heng quickly set up Arlan with a temporary splint on his left hand using a cut-up clipboard and a piece of the bandages you'd picked to add to your inventory, and he leans on Stelle as the five of you leave the control room.

You all follow Arlan's directions, leaving through the door in the back and turning left. You mentally scream as you spot a Distorter floating in the room up ahead, and you wish very hard that you had Acheron's ability to demolish enemies on the spot. That was something you'd discovered during the Penacony arc playing the game.

Unfortunately, it looks like it's time for yet another fight. You wave your hand, summoning your staff. "Let's do this," you say confidently, slamming your staff into the monster's torso.

thanks for reading! i'm sure you're gonna loveee the next part ehehehe >:)

taglist: @zlxxpyfxxkerr: shoutout for motivating me to write this piece! @mqggy: wsg girl, part two out frfr

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requestanythingyes · 1 day ago

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LISTEN UP- GET OFF OF GOOGLE DOCS LOVES!!! STAY QUEER STAY UNSERIOUS <3

You need to move off of Google Docs!

I know some people have seen the news recently and may be doubtful of it. To the uninformed, Google Docs has started using AI to find "inappropriate" and "problematic" content, scraping your documents and deleting it. I know some people are unsure if this is real or think this is not going to affect them.

I regret to inform you that this is real.

As I was on a call with some writers and we were moving our documents as a precautionary measure, one person discovered entire pages missing that they did not delete themselves. This is happening to us, it's not a hoax or a rumor, it's happening right now. You need to move everything if you want to preserve it.

If you're a writer with writer mutuals, please reblog this so they know. I rarely write on Google Docs anymore, but I started my fanfics on there, and I would be devastated if I lost works more than ten years old because people decided marketing appeal is more important than creative freedom.

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requestanythingyes · 1 day ago

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chapter one: the end of the beginning

summary: on a normal summer day, you sit down to play one of your favorite games, honkai star rail. sure, the loading screen looks a little off, and that animation of pom-pom waving at you is definitely new, but it can’t be bad, right?

cw: minor injuries.

You wake up to the golden rays of the sun on your face. and, as any normal person does in the middle of summer break, you scrunch your eyes and yank your blanket up to avoid the light. And, as any normal person, you go straight back to sleep.

The few moments of consciousness had reminded you of the out-of-place dream you'd had that night. After the newest lore patch in the game, you'd been hung up on all the angsty tidbits that hoyoverse had so kindly dropped on you like an atomic bomb. You'd quite literally shed tears over phainon's fate, and promptly erased it from your head by diving back into playing the game.

Even though it hadn't felt like a long time since you'd begun playing, you were actually pretty far into the game. you'd long since completed the trailblaze mission on jarilo-vi, been left open-mouthed at the stunning cutscene presented at scalegorge waterscape near the end of the luofu mission, cried over sunday's unsaid goodbye to robin at dreamflux reef, and finally— finally— reached amphoreus, after months and months of hearing the friend who put you on to hsr beg you to play it.

So, when you finally drag yourself out of the comfort of your soft, warm blanket and into the bathroom to prepare for the day, your plans for the day are simple: get ready, prepare food (pasta for lunch, maybe head out alone or with a friend to grab dinner), and play through amphoreus.

You finally settle into your favorite spot, dressed in your most comfortable clothes and ready with a series of delicious snacks set to be devoured during unskippable dialogues. You tap away at your screen, ready to play. You finally settle into your favorite spot, dressed in your most comfortable clothes and ready with a series of delicious snacks set to be devoured during unskippable dialogues. You tap away at your screen, ready to play.

Something about the loading screen looks a little odd— the usual straight line of the Astral Express seems almost like it's moving in... 3D? You shake your head. Obviously you're just seeing things. You tap as soon as the 'tap to start' screen appears, and again, something seems a little off. The tiny pom-pom drawn on the tips screen is waving at you? You blink once. Twice. Pom-Pom is still waving.

You blink again.

And suddenly, the surroundings of your home are gone. Instead of your favorite spot with snacks galore, you're suspended in a vast nothingness. and in front of you float words. The first thing you notice is that they're written in star rail's specific font.

The next thing you notice is that they read, quite clearly:

Please choose from the following items for your inventory. This cannot be changed once the game begins.

Completely and utterly baffled, you tentatively reach out and tap at the image of your snacks. a tiny pop! accompanies your tap, and an information box appears, reading:

Snack Shelf A series of snacks chosen specifically for their comforting taste and texture. When consumed, grants 12% boost to defense.

Your jaw drops. You might be a little slow, but you're certainly not stupid. you're being isekai'd into Honkai: Star Rail! You let out an excited noise, a huge grin breaking out on your face. You quickly choose decent items— the snacks, a good lightcone, relic set, and outfit for yourself (you squeal a bit at the sheer range of options, finally settling on a badass outfit, with added accessories to make it really pop), and your weapon.

You linger over this one, swinging your feet. While range didn't matter when it came to actual combat, you distinctly remember getting the 'ambushed' screen multiple times while you learned how to play on the Herta Space Station. You tilt your head, swiping through your options and settling on using a bo staff. You quite literally giggle and kick your feet at the thought of finally joining the game you loved so much, and fighting side-by-side with your favorites.

You quickly click the bright white "next step' button that appears once you choose your weapon. A spread of 8 information cards appears in a smooth, wave-like animation, arranging themselves into two rows of four. You take a look at the first one, brows furrowed as you read:

You groan. Now you have to actually think about what path you want to follow, based on combat ability?! "This is going to take forever! Can't you just tell me which path has what combat ability in a list? Instead of these cards?" you ask. You cross your arms, staring at the cards and willing them to rearrange themselves. No dice. You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose and continuing to look through each of the cards.

You focus mostly on the combat abilities each path would grant you. you move onto the next card after the Hunt, and scrunch your nose as soon as you read "nanook." THEY were the leader of the Antimatter Legion. On principle, you decide not to pick THEIR path. You look to the next card.

Nous, the Erudition. You immediately shake your head. Following the Erudition would lead to you joining the genius society, and that meant you'd probably never leave the Herta Space Station. While it sounded cool to be one of the 80-some smartest people in the universe, and crazy multi-target damage sounded awesome, you'd much prefer to join the express.

Xipe, the Harmony. You nod along to the information on the card, and then scrunch your nose at the ability information. The ability to buff allies? "Hmph. no offense to any of my support friends, but that's just not for me," you mutter, skipping the card.

You don't even read past the title of the next card— IX, the Nihility— before skipping it on principle. Your entire goal here was to make your time alive mean something, and you're pretty sure that not believing in the path you follow meant no powers.

Qlipoth, the Preservation, is skipped because defense might be great, but you're looking to be a fighter, not a shield. Yaoshi, the Abundance, is skipped because of the path's opposition to the entirety of the xianzhou alliance, and dan heng as well. All of that leaves you with just Lan, the Hunt, and Fuli, the Remembrance.

You sigh, looking over your two options. Single-target damage, or memosprite battle summon? Like any normal person who needed to make a decision, you shut your eyes and randomly point to one of the cards. You open your eyes to find yourself pointing to the card labeled Lan, the Hunt. "Huh, the first one I read. alright then," you comment to yourself, shrugging. Considering you were planning on joining the express, the Hunt was actually pretty lore-friendly. You hesitate just a moment longer, and finally, tap the card. It glows a soft blue before floating out in front of you and growing larger as two buttons appear on the bottom of the card.

Lan, the Hunt The Reignbow Arbiter. Directly opposed to the Abundance. Those who follow the Hunt admire determination, ruthlessness, and tenacity. Choosing this path will grant you great single-target damage. Are you sure you want to pick this path? This cannot be changed afterwards. [ Follow the Hunt ] [ Return to Paths ]

You quickly click Follow the Hunt, wanting to get to the actual isekai part of the process. As soon as you click the button, the final option screen appears in front of you, accompanied by red text this time.

Are you sure you want to proceed? Your chosen items and accessories cannot be changed after this point. [ Return ] [ Proceed ]

You don't hesitate, entirely sure of your choices as you go to practically slam the Proceed button. Your finger is just inches away from the button when you pause again. If you join the starrail world… What happens to your original world? Are you just erased from existence? What about the people you love? The people who love you? You pose the question out loud to the silent, dark void around you.

To your surprise, it responds. “Worry not, young one,” it starts. You open your mouth to say you’re not young, but shut it just as quickly. You have no idea how long this isekai void has been around, and the absurdity of the thought has you grinning. The void clears its throat. “Ahem. You and your existence will be promptly removed from your original universe. There will be no means of recovering that so-called data, and you will be the only person aware that you once lived in another world. The basic knowledge of this new world will be granted after your first conversation in the new world.”

You let out a little “oooh.” You hadn’t thought about that. What year was the game in? What calendar did it use? All the little things that were second nature to you in your world like time, space, and etiquette… You bow awkwardly to the void. “Thank you, I didn't even think of those things,” you tell the void. It laughs at your gratitude.

“There is no need for that formality, child,” it tells you. “I have done this for others, both from your world and from others. All I can tell you is, be prepared for the adventure ahead of you, little one. It is unforgiving, but it will grant you what you sought after in your first life.”

The void falls silent, and you return your focus to the option screen in front of you. This time, when you go to click the Proceed button, you do it a little more reverently. This was your chance at a completely fresh start, in a world where you held an almost infinite knowledge of everything. You promise yourself, and the void around you, in a solemn oath. “I won't waste this chance you’ve given me. Thank you.”

As soon as you say those words, the void around you fractures in the familiar combat-opening animation from hsr. You freeze, shocked that the first thing to happen to you is combat.

As soon as it really registers, though, you wave your hand like it's second nature. You thank the void under your breath as your chosen bo staff appears, and you're ready to beat the living daylights out of whatever Antimatter Legion creature appears in front of you.

But it's not the Antimatter Legion you're confronted by at first. You stare as the first cutscene of the game, the attack of the Antimatter Legion, plays out. You drop your staff, and it dissipates into mint-green glitter as you watch; Asta directs everyone to their places, Arlan fights off a particularly nasty creature, and Dan heng and March 7th run through the corridors, finally coming across the elevator filled with bright light—

Suddenly, even though you know that the cutscene is longer, it blinks out, and a voice cuts through the darkness. While you’re surprised, the instincts that the void instilled in you kick in, and you wave your hand again, ready to fight.

"While you are a part of the script, you are more... unpredictable, let's say, than the rest of the actors on the stage of the universe."

You pause, thinking. Who could it be, who could it be? Who calls life a script and people actors? It hits you suddenly— it must be elio! You furrow your brows, responding with all the confidence you can muster.

"Elio, correct?" you ask. "I know about you. And I know that you already know where I'm from. So, play along with me and my whims. You don't have a choice," you continue, bluffing. You actually have no idea what elio can do to you, and in all the times you fantasized about getting isekai'd into starrail, you'd completely ignored elio's impact on the storyline.

"Hmm. interesting," is the last thing you hear before the opening cutscene rushes back in, loud and bright and completely at odds with the void from before.

You watch silently, a smile creeping onto your face when Kafka finishes her conversation with silver wolf. Kafka turns, glancing at the swarm of Antimatter Legion creatures right behind her. She turns to face the monsters, and your smile grows wider at the manic look on her face. Then, the scene in front of you fractures in the familiar combat opening, and you feel your feet hit the ground.

You let out a disgruntled oof, bending your knees to help absorb some of the impact of being dropped from god-knows-where onto the unforgiving metal floors of the Herta Space Station. Kafka shows no sign that she's noticed your presence, simply facing the creatures and attacking the floating spheroid. You stare at her, mouth agape. It seems like she finally notices you, because she turns to look at you, her signature half-smile rising lazily to her lips.

She's stunning, but now's not the time to focus on that. As Kafka herself reminds you, you think giddily. "My dear, you can gawk at me later... how about for now, you help me out with these monsters, hmm?" she asks, one hand elegantly gesturing to the creatures standing in front of you.

You mentally shake off the star-struck state you're in, then once again wave your hand, marveling at the way your staff materializes in your grip like it's meant to be there. You adjust your grip slightly, then leap forward, willing your arms to wield the staff in your hands properly.

And it works. Like magic, you don't even feel the impact, and your staff finds its mark square in the creature's torso. The creature immediately eats shit, falling to its knees and fading into glowing bits. Kafka follows up with two quick slices to the spheroid, and it falls to the same fate as its partner. You notice the break effect symbols above the creatures’ heads, and deduce that you’ve been given powers from the lightning element. Not bad. You’d at least be of use in most of the battles you find.

You and Kafka are returned to the random room in the Herta Space Station, when a sudden headache hits you at the same time as basic knowledge of the starrail world fills your head. You lift a hand to your head, pressing like it could get rid of the headache. The void from before must hear your silent plea, because the headache fades just as quickly as it appeared. Kafka turns to face you, this time with a much less friendly look on her face. “So…” she starts. The look on her face, however, scares the living hell out of you, and without waiting for her to finish her sentence, you turn and run, following the path you vaguely remember from the opening cutscene.

You dash through the doors right in front of you after hitting the control pad next to them, willing them to shut behind you faster. Kafka, while beautiful, was also a Stellaron Hunter, and she’d have no problem killing you if she needed to, if your memory served you correctly. You take a few seconds to marvel at the glass hallway you’ve run into, feet still moving even as your eyes roam your surroundings. It’s still unreal— the holographic portraits, the idea of a space station in the middle of nowhere— but you know you have to keep moving. Elio most likely hasn’t informed Kafka who you are, you muse, which is probably why she was so wary.

And then you remember the Doomsday beast. You had to run into the Astral Express crew at some point, and following the path Kafka would take was definitely not the way to do that. But you had no other choice— there was no other way for you to feasibly run into the Crew on ‘accident.’ You continue through the doors ahead of you, quickly ambushing the lone Antimatter Legion monster in the middle of the room. You brace yourself for combat, and you’re surprised to open your eyes to not one, but five monsters in front of you.

You swear under your breath, remembering how turn-based combat works. You look over yourself, trying to find any indication that your skill is charging, and hopefully, fully charged. Two tiny, glowing meters on the edge of your staff’s grip catch your eye. One is almost full, while the other is barely a quarter full. You sigh. The nearly-full one must be your skill points, and the nearly-empty one must be your ultimate. You look back up at the monsters, weighing your options. It’d probably be best to get this over as quickly as possible by attacking the weaker ones first. Two spheroids, two swordsmen, and a floaty guy. This shouldn’t be too hard, considering it’s a tutorial battle…

You leap forward, attacking the spheroid on the left. It crumbles into dust immediately, and you return to your place, bracing yourself for the coming attacks. The swordsmen come at you first, and you block their attacks. They still get through your guard, though, leaving two small cuts across your left arm. You grit your teeth, checking your meters as you wait on the floating monster. Your skill points are maxed, and your ultimate is nearly there too. The floaty creature blasts you full in the face with a bright blue beam, and you cry out as you nearly fall over. You had to kill that thing— before it killed you. The ultimate meter on your staff flashes twice, reminding you that now, you have two turns in a row.

You throw out your ultimate with a shout, and all of the creatures are immediately hit with a storm of lightning. AOE damage, you think to yourself. Nice. You watch as the remaining spheroid and the two swordsmen crumble into glowing dust, leaving just the floating monster. You target it with your skill, which turns out to be a blast-type attack. Also nice. Not just limited to single target, though I can do good damage with that given I’m following the Hunt, you muse, before attacking the monster with a series of well-placed hits from your staff. You leap back, watching in satisfaction as it also succumbs to the glowing dust.

You continue on the path you remember; Silver Wolf told Kafka down the corridor, on the left. You try breaking a few of the random things you come across, and you’re delighted to find that you do get random items out of them. You also notice a few chests and open those too, smiling when you find Stellar Jades in them. Finally, you reach the end of the corridor, and you slam the control pad to open the door. They open, so slowly you swear that the machine senses your rush and is out for you.

You sigh, slamming your staff on the floor and shifting from foot to foot as you wait. Finally, they open enough for you to squeeze in, and you’re in the room that Kafka and Silver Wolf use to bring the Trailblazer to life. You step forward tentatively; something in the room gives you the feeling that the wrong step means game over. Your gaze falls on the Curio disguised as a computer, and you walk over to it, gently tapping the screen. A loud buzzing fills the room, and the hologram dissipates in the corner to your right, and a small hole appears, revealing the room Herta keeps her Stellaron in. You gasp softly, but don’t walk through.

Leaving this room the way it is would absolutely give you away. Reluctantly, you tap the Curio monitor again, and the hologram reseals itself as you walk over to the small pile of containers that you recognize as a destructible object. Using your staff, you pry apart the stack just enough so you can squeeze in and shut the container over your head. It’s going to be a long wait for Kafka and Silver Wolf, you think, before you hear the doors slide open. You breathe out a sharp sigh of relief, shutting your eyes in the darkness of the box you’re hiding in.

You hear the two Stellaron Hunters converse and try to find the Curio, giving up after checking all the terminals in the room. You hear a loud thump! and Silver Wolf’s small cheer of victory. There’s silence, and then buzzing fills the room, indicating that the hologram is coming apart. Kafka and Silver Wolf step into the Stellaron room, and the room falls silent. You hold your breath, waiting to hear the magic sound of Kafka and Silver Wolf stepping out. You wait, and wait, and wait. After counting how many Aeons there are (18), how many elements are on the Astral Express (counting you, 6), and two attempts at naming every single character you know of in the game, you hear Kafka’s iconic line to the Trailblazer: “When you have a chance to make a choice, make one you know you won’t regret.” And finally, she and Silver Wolf leave the Stellaron room, and you’re free to leave your makeshift container prison.

You scramble out of the box, uncaring of the loud crash they make, and stumble into the room now holding the Trailblazer. You pause just before you step in. There was only one Stellaron, and in your world, you had picked who appeared, Caelus or Stelle. So who would you find unconscious in the middle of that room? You take a deep breath, and with determination in your steps, walk into the room to see…

thank you for reading thus far! yes i left you all on a cliffhanger mwahaha >:) you’ll have to wait until next time to see who popped up! comment/dm if you want to be added to the taglist! vvv

taglist: @zlxxpyfxxkerr: thank you, zee, for inspiring me to write this! @mqggy: first tag request! i'm excited to see what you think of the next one!

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requestanythingyes · 3 days ago

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The end and beginning fade into one.

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requestanythingyes · 3 days ago

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━━ die with a smile .

In every zombie apocalypse, there's always one who is immune to the infection. And Blade, it seems, is the unlucky one who has to carry that burden.

blade x gn!reader (kinda. relationship is ambiguous)

contains: gorey language (rotting flesh, wounds), zombie apocalypse au, horror(???? I GUESS????? I DONT EVEN KNOW BRO), reader dies lol, blade got major issues

wc: 2.4k

a/n: lord i am NOT good with horror BUT !!! might as well give this a try. if you can call this horror. I DONT EVEN KNOW I DONT WRITE OR READ HORROR IM JUST A GIRL anyways. this is for @stellaronhvnters's event that's happening rn! the prompt i ended up choosing was zombie, and i hope i brought it to life! i am actually so sad i wasn't allowed to write for sunday. can you believe this. SIGHS

taglist: @sh0jun , @themoderatelyawesomeninja , @xphantasmagoriax , @rainswept , @lucensei , @akutasoda , @naraven , @scribs-dibs , @apathicace , @flurrina , @tragedy-of-commons , @cakechase , @kiiyoooo

Immune.

It is a word that Blade has heard time and time over again, and a word he has grown to hate.

Immune. Immortal.

A blessing, it is, to any other soul, especially in an apocalypse such as this. In a world where survival itself is a luxury, and comfort even moreso, what sane person wouldn’t wish for eternal life - or better yet, a life without fear of death?

They say he is lucky, the others. They say that he is blessed, and that whatever cruel deity overlooked this world must’ve found a sliver of fondness towards him.

They say that he is not human, the others. They say that he is something entirely else - not someone, no, something that cannot possibly fathom the pains of humanity, of a mortal life.

And so they say, why not let him bear the weight of a savior? After all, blessings must be used, and they cannot allow Blade to be selfish.

A pity, truly. They seemed to have forgotten, the others, that no matter how blessed he may seem, the deity is still cruel, and will not stand for shortcuts.

And so, Blade has long forgotten the meaning of the word “companion”.

Days pass like seconds in his constant weariness, and his body has become something akin to that of a clock; going through the motions, surviving but not living. His eyes bear witness to the downfall of his home, and yet he cannot see it - he cannot see anything; not the once-vivid colors of nature nor the once-bright streams of light that dare to warm his barely living skin.

He knows not where he is right now. All he knows is that he is injured, a gash on his arm that streams with useless blood. It will heal in due time, which is why…

“This is unnecessary,” he rasps.

If you had a name, he doesn’t remember it. Your face is blurred as everything else in this world is. You’re one of many, hundreds, that he has traveled with - why, he doesn’t know. Perhaps he feels some sort of obligation, like the ones the others have said long ago, to protect those who aren’t favored like he is.

But that isn’t Blade’s main concern. What is, is the bandages binding his wound, bleeding bandages that are wasted on someone of his constitution.

“I will heal,” he continues, his voice a repetitive drawl. “Save it for your own skin.”

And yet the bandages do not fall - in fact, they may have tightened.

“Your blessing allows you to recover from injuries and pain,” you reply, weariness wearing down your own voice, and yet there is a spark of indignation beneath the exhaustion. “It does not excuse you of pain.”

Blade scoffs. “I am not so weak as to kneel from such an insignificant wound.”

“But it hurts, doesn’t it?”

He blinks. Seizing his stunned silence, you continue.

“While your body takes the time to heal, it becomes prey to infections, parasites, all of which are painful and annoying to deal with, as I’m sure you know. It isn’t wise to rely on your blessings all the time.”

But it’ll only take a second. Gods work quick, after all, and their blessings quicker. He has no need for your bandages nor for your ointment.

He sighs.

“Do what you want.”

He doesn’t have the energy to argue much further. If this futile attempt at aiding him is what will calm you, then he will bear with it.

Blade rears his head slightly so that he can catch a glimpse of the wasteland that lies outside the broken-down shack you’ve temporarily taken refuge in. The streets are quiet - for now. But evidence of past destruction stains the road in warning: do not stay, do not yield. Do not think you are safe, for even a moment, because that is when they will strike.

And they will come, the victims and the assailants, with their rotting flesh and grey skin, and you will have but two options: survive and remember, or join them in their pack.

Both you and Blade are well aware of this fact, evident by the fact that you are still human. No one survives long in a world like this without some sort of wits on them, which makes your insistence on treating him all the more befuddling.

He inhales, and the stench of decay fills his nostrils.

They will be here soon.

He stands up abruptly, interrupting your work and leaving the bandage untied. With a grunt, he finishes the binding himself, cutting off the excess with his namesake.

“We can’t afford to dally,” he says gruffly as he pulls on his black coat once more, hiding the bandages and shielding his scars from past battles. “Come.”

He doesn’t wait for your answer. If you have any brains in there, you’ll follow.

It’s eerie, the way fog curls and billows like smoke as he wretches open the door. He cannot feel the wind, but he sees it well enough in the way it drags the fallen clouds across the deserted earth and tickles what little life is left in the leaves of wilted trees.

He hears your footsteps behind him, along with a little sigh, and he resumes his march.

Dried leaves crack under his boots. The air is quiet, as if he were in a vacuum chamber, too quiet. He wonders how long ago it had been since these dirtied streets were clean and covered not by leaves and dried flesh, but by the pit-pats of dozens of people, all on their next chapter of life.

The silence is deafening. His brows furrow slightly.

With a glance back at you, he confirms his suspicions. Your hackles are raised, and the grip on your weapon has switched from idle to offensive. You peer into the fog’s depths, scanning the premises for anything, live or dead, that might be hiding.

Neither of you dare to speak. Talking only sets them off.

But then again, if they are really here, there is little you can do to deter them.

They come in packs - at least, most of them do. Like the humans they used to be, they can be quite fickle. Most prefer each other’s company - if they can call it company, but there are always one or two or five who go on their own, and those either die quickly or become stronger than what is manageable.

His breath mists from his slightly parted lips.

He breathes in through his nose.

The air is sour.

He stops.

He listens.

And then he hears it - the crack of a leaf, crushed under a foot that is neither his nor yours.

Instinct seizes him and he whirls and grabs you and throws you out of the way. Steel meets flesh, carving it with the precision of a butcher and the life he used to have. He faintly registers cold blood as it coats his face in a splatter, its iron taste on the tip of his tongue as he shouts at you,

“Go!”

They come in packs, the creatures. As they swarm him like an infestation of houseflies, Blade begins to miss the eerie silence.

He plunges into a familiar, red-tinted haze. He slashes and slices and cuts through corpses of those who should’ve been put to rest. Rotted teeth bite into his arms (he briefly remembers your insistence on infection) and he kicks them off and his namesake soon follows.

Undying, the two of them are. They are more similar than the others like to admit, but truth is, they are both cursed by the deity. Never will they live, never will they die. Forever, they must exist in this world, until all that’s left of them is a memory.

For how much longer must he endure this? For how much longer must he fight?

He’s tired.

He wants to sleep.

But rest doesn’t come easy.

In the corner of his eye, another one of them lunges at him, falling teeth bared and eyes lolling from their sockets. He tugs his sword, but it is hindered - only slightly, embedded in the flesh of another. It’s a second he’ll lose, and a second that decides it all.

For a moment, he’s half tempted to let it bite.

But then comes a BANG! and then the distinctive smell of gunpowder and then his face is coated in body bits once more.

“What’re you doing?!” Now it’s your turn to grab his arm and pull him away. “There’s too many of them. Let’s get out of here!”

He clicks his tongue in annoyance. You’re loud, but you’ve got a point.

You shove him behind you and unclip one of the many grenades that hang from your belt. He knows this move well enough now, and therefore knows to avert his gaze once he hears the pin pulled and the bomb sails into the crowd of them.

BOOM!

The explosion is only just enough to startle their attackers and create enough of a divy in their ranks that you can push through. Blade leads the retreat, catching any stranglers with his sword while you keep your gun aimed behind you to ward away any pursuers.

He runs, as he always does. He scales hills with a speed that should’ve left his legs stiff and burning, leaps over canals that are flooded with pollution, and turns corners so fast that his neck might’ve broken. Only once or twice does he glance back to see if you are following.

You are, although, you are slower. Something is weighing you down.

He runs, until he can no longer hear the groans of the deceased and the sourness fades away into crisp nothingness. The smoke-fog lolls back, and he thinks he finds peace, but then-

A weight crashes into his back, making him stumble. With a growl he doesn’t feel, he leers at you.

“What now-?”

He stills as he sees your state.

“Sorry, I just-” Your breath is ragged as you pant. You try to push yourself off, but your legs give out and you crash back into him. But that’s not what catches Blade off-guard.

You are like a second sun, with the heat searing through your skin and burning him through his clothes. His eyes widen as he fully takes you in.

Sweat drips off of you in raindrops. Your skin shivers in small, terrifying tremors. Your breath is short and rasp and choked and hollow, as if every inhale takes all of your energy. Your eyes are barely peeking open as you try to stay conscious.

Words die on the tip of his tongue.

You inhale again, gasping as you try to speak. You want to move, but your body fails you.

“S-”

“Quiet.” He turns you against his chest to assess the danger. Your chest heaves, and- there.

He’s seen it far too many times.

No. Not again.

How- When? When had it- no.

His brows furrow and his teeth grit.

There, tearing through your jacket and into your shoulder, ripped clothes and frayed threads, a bite, black, purple, bruised and bloody and slobbery. And in between, the beginnings of greying skin.

An infection.

His mind begins to race for the first time in years. Fear erupts in him like a sealed volcano as he fights himself on what to do with you.

He should kill you. Get it over with, make it quick before you suffer. There’s no coming back from a bite - you’re as good as dead now, so it wouldn’t be wrong, right? It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to kill a fallen companion (if you could even call them that).

Yes, he should - he needs to do it. Now, while you’re still weak and vulnerable, while you still hold your humanity within your grasp.

In one hand, is you, a person whom he has only known for a month or so. In the other hand is the sword that has never left his side.

The choice is obvious.

Yet why can’t he make it?

“Bl…Blade,” you rasp. His glare pierces you. “I…”

“Don’t waste your energy,” he says quietly, almost gently. He doesn’t recognize his own voice.

“...this-” you cough suddenly, hacking phlegm for a few horrid seconds before you’re able to speak again. “This is- like a really bad time to say this, but… you smell really, really good. Like… like… like meat.”

He freezes.

Now. Do it, as you always have. Don’t think of it any longer.

Yet his feet are rooted and his hands are stone. Like a moth to a flame, his eyes can’t tear away from your face as you stagger, dirtied hands clutching at his dirtied coat. Your lidded eyes are hazy.

His namesake is heavy like a weight in his hand. Bandaged, calloused fingers grip and shift and relax and then tighten again around the handle as he struggles with a decision.

He takes too long.

You lunge at him with abrupt strength and tackle him to the ground. Blade chokes as gravel digs into his shoulders. Still-warm hands seize onto his broad shoulders with a grip so tight they might shatter. And above him, the sun halos your silhouette, basking you in shadow.

The grip on his shoulders trembles.

“Sor….” your language begins to slur, deteriorating into the common groan of them. “Hung….”

Blade doesn’t reply, too caught up in his mind and in witnessing your last moments as a human. Your mouth hangs open, breath and saliva dripping from it as the grey climbs up your skin in patches of mold.

“Hurs…” you mutter. “Hurs… so…”

Your hands leave his shoulders in favor of pulling down his collar in a manner that is hauntingly gentle. You pull, layers and layers of cloth down and away until his throat is fully exposed, Adam’s apple bobbing.

Fingers trace his throat, thumbs rubbing against it. Animalistic hunger overtakes your pupils, which have always smiled so kindly and tiredly at him, blurring all sentient thoughts away.

Blade squeezes his eyes shut. He breathes, feeling the air pool in his lungs.

And then, at last, he decides.

You scarcely resist as he switches your positions. He slams you to the concrete and raises his namesake, pointed tip situated just above your heart.

And then he sees you, as he always has.

And despite your clouded eyes, your dog-like breaths, and the mold growing on your skin, you smile softly.

But why?

Out of relief?

Out of gratitude?

Or… out of forgiveness?

Blade doesn’t know, nor does he ever find out, as he takes one last look at your life, soaking in all that remains of you and burning it into his memory.

And then he plunges, and the deity laughs once more.

And again, he loses the meaning of companion.

reblogs w comments are appreciated !!

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