stonepaz

[stonepaz]

Bronya heaves a sigh. "That's one way to put it. I was told that things got physical."

How physical it was remains to be seen, but she is not keen on finding out, even if she knew that it was part of her duty to do so. It's hard to separate her own feelings from her work, she finds. It's the very reason why she approached Seele in the first place.

"Whatever the case, we have to get there now. I can only imagine that things have gotten worse without our intervention."

For a lingering moment, she stares at Seele's hand, the decision to take it weighing against the embarrassment of the act. But her actions would speak louder than her words, and for all her talk of urgency and hurrying, she does none of that when she's with the Underworlder. And so she makes the choice to simply grab her hand and let none of the implications weigh down her steps.

Bronya's marching brings them both of the Great Mines in a matter of minutes. There, they bear witness to the full extent of the problem.

The entrance is barricaded by an armed Silvermane guard. Seems the ones stationed here went ahead and blocked the way without her order: a careful move, which she approves of, though likely insulting to any Underworlder who came across the mines.

From this distance, she can identify the unfinished road that lay meters ahead of them. Because it lacks the bricks, it stops the path from moving any further forward. But the road is not even the biggest hindrance to progress that she can see—no, it was never about the road; the bricks; the repair. It was always about the rift between Belobog's worlds and how, clearly, they had never mended. Beyond that broken road, she catches the distant echoes of a heated argument.

One of the guards, recognizing her, lowers his weapon in an instant.

"Madame Guardian, thank the stars you're here!" He exclaims, "we had just about given up reasoning with these brutes—!"

"Watch your tone, soldier," Bronya interrupts with a fierceness that leaves him sheepish, "you have no right speaking about the people of Belobog in that way."

The guard nervously salutes. "M-my apologies, commander. Here, uh, let me get out of your way…" He steps to his left, freeing up space for the both of them to walk through. Bronya huffs—she'll have to talk to Gepard about this later—and turns to Seele. "Keep your head cool. I know you want to protect the Underworlders' pride, but I fear the people inside will have worse things to say about each other."

no good deed

❅[ bronya & seele ] ❅

[stonepaz]

It's a road paved with good intentions but, by now, Bronya knows they don't exactly lead to the best places. Sometimes each brick placed sets down a path that goes straight to hell. And in this instance, well… it certainly gets close.

It began with a complaint lodged against the Silvermane Guards stationed in the Underworld. Last week, a simple squabble over a broken road had turned into a massive argument. Things have been tense ever since, with the miners refusing to speak with the guards and vice-versa. While she normally wouldn't step in for such trivial matters, she received word that things had turned physical, and that Belobogian blood had been spilled.

And so here she is, flying through Boulder Town like a bag caught in a blizzard. Bronya doesn't know how badly things have escalated since the last update she'd gotten, but she tries not to tarry regardless. Even seconds cannot go to waste. 

But when she spies a familiar figure lingering by the Clinic… well. Maybe she has a few moments to spare.

( And for Seele? Perhaps more than a few moments. )

"Seele!" Bronya calls, relief coloring her voice with momentary warmth, before duty turns it cold once more, "Listen, there's been an incident up at the Great Mine. I'm sure you've already heard tell of it but…"

Bronya's expression tightens into something like a wince. She sighs.

"It involves both the Silvermane Guards and the Underworlders. I... don't know how much trust the miners will place in me, so I need your help in speaking with them. Can I ask you to come with me?"

@dream-of-butterflies

no good deed

❅[ bronya & seele ] ❅

[stonepaz]

A quirk of her brow indicates renewed interest in the topic, and Bronya finds her stiff, soldier's posture relaxing as the conversation moves forward. She tries not to pry too deeply, but she cannot help her own curiosities overtaking her. She long held the belief that a fierce fortification and loyal battalion of soldiers would be enough to keep them out of harm's way—but Bronya sees now that such sentiments are naught but idealisms. The confirmation proves as much, anyway.

She continues talking, hoping to gain more understanding.

"Maybe it's a little funny," Bronya acquiesces, canting her head in a polite nod, "I will admit, I was not expecting the Luofu to seek aid from us. I had been hoping to receive their aid, actually. My planet… is not quite as abundant as this. But what we lack in resources, we more than make up for with resilience. Perhaps that's why they asked to take me here."

A huff, almost amused. A little funny indeed, that the small frozen planet should let the large Xianzhou fleet lean on its pauldroned shoulder. But perhaps that lends itself to the gravity of the situation all the more, to be made to seek aid from a new arrival and a foreign leader. The mechanisms of the Shackling Prison groan, as the sound of ever-shifting gears hums on and on and on. Bronya's lips purse. What sort of problems could such a place have?

"You said you were a new arrival as well?" Bronya taps a finger on her chin, "I hope you don't mind my asking: is your appointment related to what happened here?"

fierce and fortified

❅[ bronya & lingsha ]❅

[stonepaz]

It has the same sound as it had before.

That squeak of boots, the thud of the ice, the murmur of centuries upon centuries of built-up snow and frozen slush as stiff heels press against it—it's the same sound, the same noise as it's ever been. Bronya is familiar with how it rings in her ears: hollow, quiet, like a whisper whose rasp had been carted away by a wind. Years of patrolling the Snow Plains, training her ear for the sound of Fragmentum monsters within the fog have etched these sounds into the record of her memory. She feels, knows that it's the same sound as before.

But whatever sameness the Snow Plains has in its sound, Bronya cannot be assured for within its depths. The discovery that the research team made had disturbed her to her marrow: A corpse of a beast that held a terrible energy, that no one could name nor identify. She recalls seeing its flesh and bone and growing weak in her knees. That corpse uncovered a part of Belobog that went beyond what they previously knew—what they could previously fathom. The body was not frozen, a marked difference from the iced statues of the Antimatter Legion from so long ago. Perhaps that's what makes her thoughts all the more alarmist, the idea that this was not Belobog's history, but rather, their status quo. Try as she might, she cannot rid the thought of an invasion, or else, some otherworldly threat from her mind.

Now, as she courses through the Snow Plains, there's another sound added to the usual chorus: a heartbeat. One that pulses deep with a young girl's agitation. Did Bronya want to know what it was? Of course. But could she be prepared for what it could mean? No.

She is never truly ready.

After walking a few more paces, accompanied by her sounds and her myriad thoughts, Bronya reaches the site where the body had been found. She expects to arrive there alone, seeing as this area was restricted to anyone who wasn't her or part of the Architects—but, strangely enough, she finds a man loitering about it. A man who she is certain has never been seen in Belobog before.

Bronya feels her heartbeat quicken, overtaking the other sounds she might hear. She takes a step forward, then swiftly makes herself known.

"Who are you?" The question comes out sharply, like the sting of an early winter morning, or the desperate bite of some cold, wounded animal, "What are you doing in a restricted area?" 

@arboriter

hell frozen over

❅[ bronya & su ]❅

[stonepaz]

i mentioned updates to the plotting call so here they are: updates to the plotting call! featuring both miss sparkle and miss bronya (robin's just about taken her fill of threads) these are just additions so untaken plots from the previous month are also still on the table.

SPARKLE

LANTERN RIGHTS AND WRONGS: you're traveling with a group of wealthy tourists to reach liyue harbor (either as a wealthy tourist yourself or as someone just hitching along for the ride), per the recommendation of the local authorities, but you can't help but feel unnerved by one of your traveling companions. you feel as though she's connected to the treasure hoarders that seem to intercept your group at every little turn. maybe you should try confronting her outright...

BRONYA

HONKAI IMPACT 4TH: bronya has sent out a call to any who may hear it—a strange creature has been found within the frosty layers of belobog, and she'd like to have it investigated. let this be your chance to lore drop.

WANTED PLOTS: CRYSTALLIZE

welcome back, miss rand! it's about the tail-end of the month, so i'll update this soon with new prompts, but i'll still put some plots up for anyone interested. any people who also lost threads due to bailu dropping are welcome to take on another thread with bronya :D though, of course, any interested parties are free to contact me

also, for thread partners i had before: i will consider our thread dropped unless you'd like to take me back up on it! just let me know, i'll be happy to continue ^^

ROAD WORK AHEAD: it's a delicate situation to insert herself into, given the fact that she's supreme guardian, but it's issues like these that bronya needs to learn how to resolve. i'd like a partner who could possibly support bronya or give her any assurances, as she is no doubt going into this with a lot of consideration for her position and the feelings of the underworlders.

SHACKLING PRISON BOOTCAMP: the set-up is this: bronya's visiting the luofu as part of a diplomatic mission, and is asked to help train some of the cloud knights. that's really it! but i would like to use this prompt as an opportunity to establish rapport between jarilo-vi and the xianzhou luofu. depending on the muse, we may veer into political discussion.

INTO THE BRONYAVERSE: a more general prompt this time. hello, honkai impact 3rd people! yes, bronya rand doesn't know about bronya zaychik, but any friends of the latter are welcome to approach bronya for anything. i think it'd be a fun thing to explore, bronya discovering a very different her.

WE'RE SO BELOBACK: another general prompt! do you want to get to know belobog? now you can, with the help of the president! i think bronya holds a lot of pride for her planet, and is interested in gaining allies from far away places, so... if you'd like to bend her ear, feel free to.

[stonepaz]

"That's enough, soldiers. Take a 15 minute break, but don't sit down immediately. Let your body slow down gradually. Is that understood?"

As the lines of Cloud Knights break their formation, a chorus of Yes Ma'am's and Understood's echo through the large, cavernous space of the Shackling Prison, not unlike the affirmative cries Bronya hears as Silvermane Commander, yet unique in its quaver. She should know—she is very familiar with Belobog and all its intricate sounds. Just by listening, she can tell that the Cloud Knights of the Luofu are trained very differently—where Belobogians find themselves training for defense as well as offense, and valuing tandem attacks from safe positions, those from the Xianzhou fleet seemed to take a more direct, aggressive approach. She can appreciate how both armies contrasted one another. Perhaps that would make them all the better allies, should they unite beneath one banner…

Bronya breaks away from her position at the front of the group, busy with her own thoughts. Free now to let her attention wander, she momentarily sets her sights on the things she finds curious. Gray eyes trend up, marveling upon the sight of floors upon floors of cells, chains, and machinery. She could barely fathom the idea of such a large body of water, yet to have all this beneath it too? The Xianzhou Luofu was definitely formidable, far better fortified than the icy planet that treaded Preservation. All this resource would surely stave off disaster. It surprises her, then, the rumors she hears about this prison, and the reason for this training camp.

The Supreme Guardian turns on her heel, and finds a woman watching by one of the towering pillars. She recalls that someone from one of the Luofu commissions was supposed to supervise the training—Bronya thinks this could be her. She certainly put on different airs from the Cloud Knights. Intending to speak, Bronya makes her approach.

"The Cloud Knights finished the first half of their training. They're on break right now, but we'll continue with the latter portion soon." she reports, though her official tone melts when she chases her words with a curious remark, "Your soldiers have far exceeded my expectations, as has this facility. The resources you have here are truly impressive. But, despite that, I heard that there was trouble in this prison recently. Is that true?"

@crimsondragcn

fierce and fortified

❅[ bronya & lingsha ]❅

[stonepaz]

(yo! BELOBOG SWEEP. also auntie gonna auntie~)

"Bronya!"

Serval strolls into the Supreme Guardian's office with a smile and wave, her striking clothing and makeup a stark contrast to the solemn politicians and Architects huddled around their stacks of paperwork.

Her sudden appearance stirs up a storm of glances and whispers, many curiously pondering her relation to the Landaus, why she continued to let her engineering talents languish for that "noisy" music, or her boldness in being so casual with the Lady Guardian.

But Serval was used to gossip (heck, she was itching to know some of the drama around here herself!), and she's known Little Bronya since the girl was too small to even see over the Guardian's desk. How could she not treat her like family?

She takes in the sight of Bronya behind said desk, and briefly sees the shadow of another woman there.

...Family.

Serval thought that about the previous guardian too, once.

"Not working yourself to death, are you? I'd warn about gray hairs, but," She chuckles, giving Bronya's perfectly curled ringlets a pointed look. "Well."

Bronya flinches when she hears her name called from across the room, the treble all sorts of vibrating and electric. The Qlipoth Fort does not usually go a decibel above the din of pens scratching paper and drawers being slid open and shut, and a long night meant she had grown rather sensitive to sounds. But a glance through tall stacks of permits and notarized documents shows her that, well, her visitor can't help but make some noise.

She rises from her chair—apparently for the first time in a long time, given how it makes her quietly groan—and approaches Serval with a weary, but sincere, smile. The opportunity for them to meet is rare, especially with the Supreme Guardian's work keeping her in a state of chronic unavailability, and so Bronya revels in the sight of her. The workers that scurry about the fort do not share in her enthusiasm, but they must understand: family is family, and Serval is just about the closest thing Bronya has left.

"Serval! Please, don't trouble yourself too much," Bronya reassures, flicking a glance back at her cluttered desk, "this is just about the average amount of paperwork we have to process in a given day. It won't kill anyone here." And certainly not me, she almost adds, but she feels that the ever-intellectual Serval already knew that.

At the older woman's comment, she almost giggles—this was exactly the type of remark that amuses her—before quickly stifling it with a cough. Though she will gladly take the time to speak with Serval, it would still not do for her to be so openly boisterous. Not during work hours, when noise was lethal. 

"...Anyways." she says awkwardly, "Was there anything you needed, or did you just want to say hello?"

Not that Bronya minded a visit but… Serval probably already knew that.

[stonepaz]

deep dive character sheet

stolen from: ree my friend ree :D tagging: anyone who wants to do it ^^

NAME: Bronya Rand

BODY

height: 158cm / around 5'2

strength ★★★★☆ — she's fit, military trained, and resilient. only thing stopping her is a physically larger body.

dexterity ★★★★★ — has very steady and dextrous hands on account of being a marksman

health ★★★☆☆ — could be better, admittedly… she needs more sleep…

energy ★★☆☆☆ — similar to health

beauty ★★★★☆ — a cold beauty!

style  ★★☆☆☆ — dresses regally and primly as a leader but has little sense for personal style

hygiene ★★★★☆ — personal hygiene is great, but particularly tough days means she can neglect it a bit. you do not want to see bedhead bronya.

SKILLS

perception ★★★★★ — more for battle than for people; she doesn't really have the skill for reading others

communication ★★★☆☆ — communicates her orders clearly, more personal things are left unvoiced to her own detriment

persuasion ★★★★★ — it comes with the job

mediation ★★★★★— preventing a battle is better than winning it

literacy ★★★★★ — is very well-read thanks to being the supreme guardian's scion. that densely packed schedule means she has read dostoevsky.

creativity ★★☆☆☆ — tends to solve problems using solutions she already knows can work

cooking ★★☆☆☆ — decent at it (the things you learn when deployed!) but usually lets others cook for her

tech savvy ★★☆☆☆ — definitely knows how to repair certain weapons but still calls her phone an "android" so. take that as you will.

combat ★★★★★ — too good, too young

survival ★★★★★ 

stealth ★★★★☆ — can stage ambushes and snipe people

street smarts ★☆☆☆☆ — of course her education lends itself to certain situation but she's very much coming from a sheltered upbringing.

seduction ☆☆☆☆☆ — mm… not at all

luck ★★★★☆ — big part of preservation is constantly winning your odds

handling animals ★☆☆☆☆ — is largely unused with them, treats them very delicately

pacifying children ★★★★☆ — she's very gentle with them but please don't cry in front of her

MIND

intelligence ★★★★☆ 

happiness ★★★☆☆ — there will always be things bearing their weight on her mind but she is overall content

spirituality ★★★☆☆ — walks the path of Preservation more faithfully than her mother but does not necessarily do so for the sake of the Amber Lord

confidence ★★☆☆☆ — still prone to doubts, still relies on the insight of others to guide her. a leader cannot be overconfident. the people do not need an icarus.

humor ★☆☆☆☆ — if she's funny, it's not on purpose

anxiety ★★★☆☆ — has many worries that occasionally compound into nightfuls of doubt

patience ★★★☆☆ — tries her best but can have breaks in temper

passion ★★★☆☆

nice        ☆☆★☆☆ mean — would like to be kind but has a tendency to be relentless

brave       ☆★☆☆☆ cowardly

pacifist     ☆★☆☆☆ violent

thoughtful ★☆☆☆☆ impulsive — she thinks so much it haunts her sometimes

agreeable ☆☆★☆☆ contrary

idealistic   ☆★☆☆☆ pragmatic — has very big ideas on how the world should be that only recently became shattered; she will continue to work towards her ideal belobog, though.

frugal ☆★☆☆☆ big spender 

extrovert   ☆☆☆☆★ introvert — she's not that good at socializing…

collected   ★☆☆☆☆ wild

ambitious / possessive / stubborn / jealous / decisive / perfectionist

SOCIAL

charisma ★★★★☆ — you're compelled to follow her orders but might find her a bit awkward in more casual situations

empathy ★★★★☆ — is quite soft-hearted

generosity ★★★★★ — the supreme guardian shall ever-provide

wealth ★★★★★ — it's a given since she's the supreme guardian, though given belobog's debt situation, perhaps the qlipoth fort coffers aren't as full as one would think…

honest  ★★☆☆☆ deceptive  — hides things from people but for what she believes is good reason

leader �� ☆☆★☆☆ follower — she leads and follows her people

polite   ☆★☆☆☆  rude — born to cuss out people who annoy her, forced to say "oh, i understand."

political ★☆☆☆☆ indifferent

BELIEFS

higher power ★★★☆☆ — see: spirituality

fate/destiny ★★☆☆☆ — believes in it but not in its power: it can be endured

magic ★☆☆☆☆ — doesn't know much about the universe at large

soulmates ☆☆☆☆☆ — she doesn't know she's yuri in every universe

good and evil ★★★★☆ — certain things are good, other things are evil, but there is a complicated in-between that's shaped like her mother

luck ★★★★☆

PRIORITIES

family ★★★★★ — she still loves her mother, in her own complicated way. i think a lot of her desire to do well also has to do with upholding legacy.

friends ★★★☆☆ — has only recently started having friends

love ★☆☆☆☆ — still struggles to grasp love as a whole

home ★★★★★ — everything for belobog

health ★☆☆☆☆ — …she forgot to eat today

praise ★★★☆☆ — doesn't actively seek it out but… well… a little compliment won't hurt.

justice ★★★★★

truth ★★☆☆☆ — sometimes the truth costs too much

power ★★★☆☆ — wants to maintain influence but in a way that has integrity and consideration for due process

fame ★★★★☆ — fame has some very selfish connotations which i don't think bronya has but... well. see answer for "others' opnions" for a better explanation

wealth ★★★★☆ — in terms of belobog's economy; the visit from the ipc has made her realize how fragile they are

others' opinions ★★★★★ — it's important to her that the people of belobog see her as someone reliable and trustworthy. they must have faith in their guardian, otherwise, their "guardian" is nothing more than a tyrant.

[stonepaz]

WANTED PLOTS: CRYSTALLIZE

welcome back, miss rand! it's about the tail-end of the month, so i'll update this soon with new prompts, but i'll still put some plots up for anyone interested. any people who also lost threads due to bailu dropping are welcome to take on another thread with bronya :D though, of course, any interested parties are free to contact me

also, for thread partners i had before: i will consider our thread dropped unless you'd like to take me back up on it! just let me know, i'll be happy to continue ^^

ROAD WORK AHEAD: it's a delicate situation to insert herself into, given the fact that she's supreme guardian, but it's issues like these that bronya needs to learn how to resolve. i'd like a partner who could possibly support bronya or give her any assurances, as she is no doubt going into this with a lot of consideration for her position and the feelings of the underworlders.

SHACKLING PRISON BOOTCAMP: the set-up is this: bronya's visiting the luofu as part of a diplomatic mission, and is asked to help train some of the cloud knights. that's really it! but i would like to use this prompt as an opportunity to establish rapport between jarilo-vi and the xianzhou luofu. depending on the muse, we may veer into political discussion.

INTO THE BRONYAVERSE: a more general prompt this time. hello, honkai impact 3rd people! yes, bronya rand doesn't know about bronya zaychik, but any friends of the latter are welcome to approach bronya for anything. i think it'd be a fun thing to explore, bronya discovering a very different her.

WE'RE SO BELOBACK: another general prompt! do you want to get to know belobog? now you can, with the help of the president! i think bronya holds a lot of pride for her planet, and is interested in gaining allies from far away places, so... if you'd like to bend her ear, feel free to.

[stonepaz]

Bronya knows tyranny when she sees it—the unfortunate consequence of being Cocolia's descendant—and Herta Space Station seemed to operate solely on the basis of it. The fear of disobedience hangs so thick in the air that she thinks she can see it form fog. It's beginning to get to her, too.

Her hands furiously arrange papers into a stack, slamming them onto the table. She almost finds herself growling. What had begun as a simple way to fulfill the end of a favor she owed soon became a study in workplace politics, oppressive officework, and just how irritating the sound of another person's voice could be when one heard it long enough. The Supreme Guardian would normally consider herself well versed in the art of paperwork, being a master of it herself back in Qlipoth Fort. But this? This went beyond her capacities as a bureaucrat, perhaps even as a human.

"I've finished processing this set of reports," Bronya whirls around breathlessly, dropping the thick stack of paper onto a woman's desk, "can I please take a break?"

The woman, a trainee much like Bronya, flinches, then nervously pushes up her glasses. "Um, well... We aren't due for a break until—"

Bronya decides she's heard enough. She responds flatly: "I'm taking a break."

She rises from her swivel chair, groaning as she feels the hours of idle weight get to her knees. A few of her fellow workers look up, surprised. Most are too enamored with their own work to care. In any case, Bronya leaves the office space they share, heels clicking hastily as she wanders into the hallway. There is a small prick of fire that needles its way to her heart—the fear that she sees in the workers' eyes, the way they are worked down to the marrow. It reminds her so much of the same injustices that plagued her home. Though she is in no position of power in this Space Station, she still wonders—is there anything she can do?

Her silent ponderings are interrupted when she walks into a strange figure. Bronya quickly shifts a foot so as to catch herself, then turns to the lady she had collided with. She didn't seem to wear the typical Space Station uniform, not the ones that the official employees did, anyway. She must be like Bronya, then. The Supreme Guardian sighs.

"My apologies for running into you. You must be on break as well, yes?" a pause, then she suddenly adds, "You should enjoy it while it lasts. They don't seem keen on giving us much time to rest."

@originsrebirth lets unionize yahooo

together, we rise!

❅[ bronya & raiden mei ] ❅

[stonepaz]

WANTED PLOTS: SWIRL

she's alive! yes my bronya muse has been uh. kinda going through it the past month or so (i even had to put her on hiatus) but i am determined to keep this flame going. here are some of my wanted plots going into the season

BACKALLEY BELOBOG: there have been no shortage of strange rumors reaching qlipoth fort (doppelgangers, lost dogs, etc.) and bronya is frankly sick to death of investigating things for herself. no, she knows there's no back alley near the golden theater, please stop bringing it up to her. but maybe, as bronya and your muse walk through the city at nighttime, a strange voice sounds through iron grates. venture... no closer...

more notes: i'd like to explore a more horror style setting as i think belobog lends itself to supernatural things very often. i'd like to see bronya thrown into a situation where she has no control over anything.

DRAGONSPINE EXPLORATION: so picture this. you are a supreme guardian inspecting what seems to be a very unstable cavern of corrosion when, snap, chomp, gulp! you are swallowed by the fragmentum and taken to a very snowy, frigid place. you think, is this belobog? but are met with a group of very unfamiliar people who are begging for your help. now replace the you with bronya. yep! smooth transition. anyways! bronya is somehow in teyvat now, and wants to help ease the situation in dragonspine since it hits very close to home for her. she'll fight off the abyss mages and seal this "heart"

more notes: despite the more urgent situation that underscores this interaction, i'd still love for this to be a moment of cultural exchange. please let bronya yap about her little doomed planet. who knows? maybe a belobogian knows a trick or two about living a better life in these frigid temperatures...

LUMINARY WARDANCE REPRISED: this is going to be more simple than the other ideas: bronya's just here as part of a diplomatic trip to strengthen ties between jarilo-vi and the luofu. show this white girl the beauty of xianzhou culture!

[stonepaz]

"Seele!" 

The very breath is stolen from her throat as a hoarse scream sounds from her lips—had she ever known anguish until that moment? Bronya thinks not. That resounding crack of bone had been enough to inspire Aeonic levels of fear. Though the danger is behind them, the sight of the injury rallies the maelstrom that had been brewing within her all this time, the blizzard threatening to rip her into twain. It is strange—she has seen good men meet their death in this very same snowscape, get cut and cleaved by the very same axe, and yet Seele's fracture is a cost she is not willing to bear. Especially since that cost was used to bargain for her own life.

How she hates to feel this way! Damn it all—if she could rip this treacherous heart from her chest, she would. There is no planet in this Universe where such pain feels necessary. Yet here she is, steeped in abundance of it.

"What was I doing? What— You—" she sputters, before shaking her head furiously, "Nevermind, step aside!"

Eagle-eyes quickly scan their surroundings. She would apologize properly to her cherished friend in due time, but the Guardian's penance has to begin with Seele's safety. Bronya's eyes narrow, and whatever Fragmentum monster had ambushed her is promptly met with the end of her gun's slender barrel. She lines up the shot and kills without mercy, her heart as cold as the ice that had crusted the monster's body. Her gaze sweeps the field again, drawing out the Plains' circumference with vigilance.

She is certain that there are no more of them, but she does not let her guard falter—not after what had transpired. The dog completely forgotten, Bronya's worries shift towards Seele and the horrific injury that dislocates her wrist. Right now, there is no Supreme Guardian that stands in this storm—only a scared young girl who fears for her best friend's life.

Something between them has changed. Bronya cannot run from that realization now. She can only confront whatever has emerged from the shadows of ignorance.

"Seele." There is anger in her tone, but more than that, a wordless sadness that hangs limp off of her voice, like the corpse of a soldier on an empty battlefield. Bronya's grasp remains tight on her gun, and her expression even tighter. "We're abandoning this search—I'll order the Silvermane Guards to take it in our stead. I'm bringing you to the nearest medical facility. Don't protest. You need first-aid. And we…" hesitation makes its way across her face, but is soon hardened into resolve, "we need to talk. Properly."

wonderful you came by

❅[ bronya & seele ] ❅

[stonepaz]

"Before you protect others from darkness, you must first be able to protect yourself."

assorted media sentences (accepting!)

She would be wise to heed his words, for they carry with them the weight of a thousand mistakes—a thousand darknesses that he must have had to fight or flee from. But on some fundamental level, she cannot find herself agreeing. Indeed, even with the eldritch gap of knowledge between them, from the precipice of a life that has lived for centuries and one that has barely reached its second decade, Bronya has hubris enough to take that wisdom and throw it to the skies.

"I see it rather differently." she muses the response, "I cannot protect myself without protecting others. Similarly to how I cannot protect others without protecting myself. There is no one before the other—the process is concurrent."

She begins to pace a little, boots sliding across the museum's carpet as she goes deep into her own thoughts. How best to express this thinking with eloquence? Perhaps it was like this: a protection was bidirectional. Of course, people could not be protected were she herself not safe—but she could not be considered "protected" if any of her people found themselves in danger. She is the people of Belobog, and the people of Belobog are her. They stand as a united front, defending each other from whatever storm looms over them. Though, she supposes that if she had to make the choice to save one over the other—she would unequivocally surrender herself. And perhaps that single choice could spell all the difference.

She turns to Jing Yuan, silver eyes meeting sharp gold. Here is that gap once more, though it fills with a shallow well of understanding. Her lips quirk upward. "But I see why you would caution me, general. Between me and others, I walk closer to darkness than I ought to. I will keep your words in mind."

[stonepaz]

"You can lose a chart, you can lose a compass, but you can't lose the stars."

assorted media sentences (accepting!)

"Heh, I quite like that sentiment."

The quip comes with the click of her heels against Belobog's cobbled streets, where she and Firefly roam together. Bronya often takes walks at night, but not with other people. She should do it more, she thinks—the company, and whatever sentiments spawn from it, are quite nice. Most especially on a night like this, where the stars greeted them in multitudes, spanning across the sky like a scattering of snow or, perhaps, the trail blazed by a train.

She continues to ponder the words in silence, her eyes still trained up toward the galaxy beyond. Less than a year ago, she would never have imagined the vast cosmos that lay outside her planet's reach. Now, it's all she can seem to think about. For 700 years, none knew of their survival, and yet they managed to return to the universe some way, some how. Truly, it was a testament to how some things can never truly disappear. Like the will of a people surviving—like a bright speck against the night.

In that sense, Belobog did not really seem like a planet. Perhaps it was more like a star, twinkling against the endless darkness—unseen but never truly lost. Always there to guide you back towards where you need to be.

[stonepaz]

Assorted Media Sentences, Vol. 10

(Sentences from various pieces of media. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"You sent me to die. That's kind of a deal breaker for me."

"I'm afraid I don't believe in superstitions. I believe in science and in nature."

"There are two kinds of men: those who have the guts to pull the trigger, and those who do not."

"Will you hold me? Just for a moment."

"If vengeance is all you seek, seek it elsewhere."

"I'm going to tell you a story, but you're not going to believe it."

"Something tells me you're not a flowers kind of guy."

"We are connected, the Devil and I."

"Your ego is astounding."

"You can't save the world and the ones you love. You need to make a choice."

"It is quite the feat to kill that which is already dead!"

"I promise I'll explain everything that I can to you, and you will feel better when I do."

"I never knew so many books even existed. Have you read them all?"

"You were right; it's not like the books."

"I detest you more than you could ever know."

"Why do you feel compelled to save and avenge?"

"The world cares little for sense. Perhaps it is not meant to be understood, but rather experienced and accepted."

"I want you to listen to me because I think you've needed to hear this your whole life. You aren't a good person."

"I've decided this is to be my last voyage."

"You can lose a chart, you can lose a compass, but you can't lose the stars."

"Before you protect others from darkness, you must first be able to protect yourself."

"I'm not scared. Not of you."

"I warned you, but you didn't heed me."

"I really don't have an answer that's going to satisfy you."

"You and me; we can accomplish anything together."

"Do you want revenge? Is that what you're thinking right now?"

"Officially, I was dead for two minutes."

"I promised you complete honesty, and I am giving that to you!"

"I am certain you didn't come here for a sympathetic shoulder to cry on."

"I can't believe you thought I was dirty. I may be a prick, but I'm a patriot!"

"You're lacking in imagination, that's your problem."

"A guy only gets that drunk when he wants to kiss a girl or kill a man - so, which is it?"

[stonepaz]

hc + 💌 for a romance-themed headcanon !

thematic headcanons (accepting!) | hc + 💌 for a romance-themed headcanon

okay maggie i see you. fine. let's talk about romance!

i'll start off by talking about how bronya sees love. given her upbringing and the values that have subsequently been instilled within her, i believe bronya loves through duty—devotion, loyalty, unwavering resolve. i don't think bronya has a very clear idea of what love is outside of this. i think her construction of love is not intimate or personal at all. she very much loves like a leader. which is great when you're, well, a leader! but not so great when you're courting someone.

poor seele…..

so why isn't it so great? i personally see it like this: bronya is incapable of recognizing love in a romantic way. she's familiar with it from other people—she knows how courtship goes, she knows how people can fall in love. but she doesn't know how it manifests within her. which is why, when it does start happening, i think bronya is oblivious at first—then a bit anxious once she realizes the depth of her feeling.

romantic love is just such a… strong feeling for her to have towards one person. cocolia is probably the only person she's had quite a deep, personal connection with, and her relationship with her mother is… was… well. you know! so i think bronya doesn't know what to do with it. especially when within the proximity of her, let's just say, object of affection. she gets a bit lost. she feels the urge to fight against it because she fears what it will do to her judgment.

but i think she'll eventually overcome it. this sort of issue is a result of her past and, as we can see throughout the story, bronya's been trying quite hard to break free from that. so i think she'll get her shit together and realize that it's not so bad at all. she wants to love. she's only so afraid of it because she also wants to be careful. but once she lets go of her inhibitions i think she'll be corny as fuck LOL. if you've seen her texts you know she can be a bit of a boomer. she has that traditional noble sentiment. so basically she's a hag stuck in a 22 year old's body. so i think she'll do things very traditionally—flowers once a month, candlelit dinners, perfumed letters.

for now, we're stuck with her being a bit of a disaster. oops. actually i've been writing her to be a bit disastrous but i feel this will change the more she interacts with different people. always love me some good character development! presently, though………… yeah you're gonna have to forgive her

[stonepaz]

hc + 👪 for a family-themed headcanon

thematic headcanons (accepting!) | hc + 👪 for a family-themed headcanon

also asked by @phantomiaou <3

SPOILERS FOR: THE BELOBOG CAMPAIGN!! please scroll past if you haven't played it yet and want to go into it blind \(^^)/

i will begin with this: in the time they were mother and daughter, bronya and cocolia loved each other very much.

i have no doubt in my mind that cocolia truly cared for bronya. from bronya's character story, we know that cocolia is quite affectionate with her—she reads her stories and lets her sit on her lap, embracing her. throughout the belobog campaign, cocolia also shows genuine concern for bronya, even going so far as to doubt the stellaron's plans when bronya disappears. bronya herself also says how cocolia tried to be the best mother for her. 

while bronya also acknowledges that she may not have known cocolia as well as she thought, i think cocolia was never actively malicious towards bronya. or towards anyone, as a matter of fact. (but this isn't a cocolia analysis oops)

you have to understand, guys: they are each other's only family. for more than a decade, they were the only ones who could enjoy each other's company outside of politics. so bronya loves her mother. terribly. and cocolia loves her daughter as well. but cocolia isn't just her mother—she is the supreme guardian. and bronya isn't just her daughter—she is the heir. and this is where i must also state the following:

bronya and cocolia loved each other very much, but their love doesn't change the circumstances under which it was born. they are the only ones who can enjoy each other's company outside of politics, but politics is so inherent to their lives that all the lines get muddled.

what do i mean by this? well, lest we forget, cocolia adopted bronya. she chose bronya out of all of the children in the overworld and underworld to be her heir. from the time since she began being bronya's mother, she was also priming bronya to be her progeny. her heir. this complicates their relationship far more than you could think. because while cocolia has been a very good mother—as supreme guardian, we all know what she's done. but to bronya, cocolia is both her mother and the supreme guardian—the lines have been blurred and that's why it was so hard to sway her at the beginning. it was only until she saw belobog for herself, without cocolia's influence, that she was able to form her own opinions on things.

i think bronya's relationship with cocolia is directly correlated to her relationship with the guardianship. bronya has had doubts about the role of the supreme guardian—how much can they actually do? how meaningful are their actions? this is precisely why she begins breaking away from cocolia to begin with. but we see it's difficult for bronya to cut away entirely. because cocolia is still her mother, and despite all of her faults, bronya still reaches out to her anyways. she doesn't even condemn cocolia for what she's done. and if you watch the cutscene where cocolia dies, you see bronya desperately trying to get to her. because of how personal the role of supreme guardian is—because of how it seeps into the mother-daughter relationship, bronya's dynamic with cocolia ends up affecting both the family and the work dimension of her life.

and i think this is why bronya takes her job so damn seriously. the supreme guardianship is not just a position she must fill in: she has personal stakes in it as well. she needs to make up for what her mother has done. she needs to carry on this legacy. she needs to ensure that her planet will thrive. because she is her mother's daughter as much as she is belobog's guardian.