#...that same aoi and arthur??

[your-magloving-satinwhistle]

So..... Aoi finally told me about the breakuuuuup...

Aoi and I really are soulmates. We're very fucking similar it's almost scary. Aoi, if I wasnt so loyal to Arthur... if I wasn't so concerned I liked you mainly cuz you were Mag...

... Arthur, honey, pookie, my dear, my heart, my sky............. Ur so lucky Im loyal, omg. Love you! Try that shit on me, you wont.

[zeroannat]

the Hex Treasures series is going a bit slower right now, so I decided to put the Arthur, Aoi, and Eleanor linearts on my Ko-fi for free, instead of a pack of all 6 as originally planned

I will add the others as soon as they are done, thank you for your patience 🙇‍♂️

[link]

[b3114d0nn4]

If you had to pick one of the Hex to be trapped in a studio apartment for the rest of your life with, who would you choose and why?

Sweet Lua, what did I do to earn this kind of question

How long is the rest of my life supposed to be in this scenario? Just want to know what I'd be getting myself into

[mothtato]

A Shadow sorcerer Eleanor for their fable and frontiers game and also for those interested a small sorcerer subclass based off Nyx herself

I plan to give the same treatment to the other hex members for some practice and then maybe some other frames while I'm at it

(Trinity/Lettie, Mag/Aoi, Excalibur/Arthur, Cyte-07/Quincy, Volt/Amir, Frost/Velimir, Temple/Flare)

[wayfaringtenno]

Imagine

Main Hex + Others (I neglected the new hex members, I need to fix that)! Imagine a void disturbance enveloping Höllvania. Now both Drifter AND Operator exist in the mall at the same time. Aoi thinks they're just a kid and instantly tries to cheer them up and distract them from the "odd storm outside", just to be gently corrected by Drifter. "Aoi.. this is the me that got saved. This is the kid me... yet they're just as old as me." Amir of course, gets HYPED at meeting the Operator. Railjacks, Orbiters, Amps, ORDIS! He has so many questions for the Operator... including if he can meet Ordis himself. Eleanor has to help quiet his mind before he gets overexcited. Quincey takes one look at the Operator's outfit and decides right there and then, they need a new one. Their look doesn't seem practical for Höllvania, so if they're gonna be here for a bit, they need a new look. Lettie, being the medic she is, instantly wants to look over the Operator's overall health. With what the Drifter has been through, she can't imagine it was any easier for the Operator. ...and she was right. "HOW LONG did you say you were kept in stasis?! " Drifter had to find a way to save their other self. Now if the Operator had any Scomatic Markings, Lettie would be very gentle of checking them. Eleannor... she couldn't help but peer into their mind. What she saw, made her protective of the Operator. This "Alad V" person the Operator knows has made it to the top 5 of her shit list. Arthur is very impressed by the Operators knowledge of things... and then he realizes they were basically a near immortal child solider in a war they can't even remember. Hearing more about the Orokin from the Operator just makes him want to protect his team, including the Drifter and now the Operator as well, a lot more. Now the Hex saw the Operator did not come here alone... this Warframe named "Umbra" followed them and seem to be alive and very VERY protective of the Operator. Umbra watched the Hex's every move, but a few encouraging nods from the Drifter made him ease up. Umbra sees something in Arthur... something he once saw in himself. A silent understanding forms between the two. Now then... Velimir just sees the Operator and instantly goes into Dad mode, making sure the kid is alright. He looks between the Drifter and Operator, and asks if the Operator is the Drifter's younger sibling... only to be confused and worried when Drifter says "No, they were the me that was saved. I am the one who was not. We are the same person, just from different times. At some point, he was just telling the Operator stories of his adventures, just to see them asleep on his shoulder... he looks at if we was about to cry from joy, he misses when Neci did this and now he just decides to adopt the Operator as his other kid, Neci has a sibling now, wait how does he tell Minerva this oh dear Sol and sweet Lua what is he to do? Minerva hears all of this, and decides to treat the Operator with the respect they are due, but still can't help but to be more gentle about it. After all, if Drifter would want to help Neci... the Operator may help to. After all, the Operator has a strong connection to the Void too. The more allies, the better. She is very impressed on how the Operator can handle weapons. She of course sees Before Flare and even blink, Lizzie purrs with delight at seeing the operator! "Ahh! Both demons here! Both sugars so sweetly together!" Needless to say Flare is already welcoming of the Operator. They invite the operator to help with some music, wanting to hear what kind of song the Operator holds in their heart. Whoever this "Narmer" is... Flare bets that they won't last much longer if the Operator keeps that fire in their heart. Now for Kaya, having someone else look close to her age is already a breath of fresh air. Honestly... the Operator is kind of glad seeing someone close to looking their age too. Kaya manages to get the Operator to act a bit like a kid again with the pranks the two pull together.. sometimes they get Amir to help too.

[grate-prime]

Hex Height Headcanons.

Ingame the hex are all roughly the same height. I believe this to be mainly for model rigging purposes. This is how tall the hex are in my head and what y'all should picture if you read my fic.

Arthur: 5'5"/165cm (Babygirl height)

Amir: 5'7"/170cm (wishes he was taller)

Lettie: 5'2"/157cm (the shortest and angry about it

Aoi: 5'4" (perfect angel height)

Eleanor: 6'/183cm (teases Arthur about his height)

Quincy: 6'2"/188cm (secretly very happy he's the tallest)

[warframe1999]

Sooo…

The protoframes, huh?

i wanted to go a bit into what each member of the Hex (yay, new syndicate!!) had to say when you got into proximity of them in the relay. there’s honestly a lot here to set the scene not only for 1999 itself, but introducing each protoframe as well as sort of hinting at their interpersonal relationships, and how they interact with one another! some of my favorite kinda of lore is specifically character development and personality-focused dynamics like this so here!!!! i walked back and forth for an hour for YOU! here is all proximity dialogue for each character in the Höllvania Mall relay:

ARTHUR:

“Question. Could I take Quincy down if he turned on me?”

“We’ll find you, Doctor. That’s a promise.”

“Stop sniffing around my head, Eleanor. If I want to talk, I’ll talk.”

“We need to keep Lettie on her feet. If she goes we all go.”

“Dunno why we even bothered with that cleaning rota.”

“Yeah, we can hold this place.”

“One day, Aoi. No more roadblocks and checkpoints. Just you and me and the bikes, open road for miles, all this bullshit far away. I swear to Sol.”

“Still too open. We need more chokepoints.”

“Bottled water. Like sodding gold dust.”

“Well Amir’s still alive. That’s a win.”

LETICIA:

“I got nothin’ to prove to you, Quincy! Go play your little games, niño.”

“¿Qu�� onda? The Lady Eleanor ain’t no more freaky than the last time you checked in. ‘Less you know different?”

“Yo, Aoi. Chill, hermana. Do something for yourself, for once. Arthur ain’t going to blow away if you blink.”

“The boss says care for his sister I care for his sister. As long as you still are his sister… and as long as I feel like listening to him.”

“Being loved and being hurt? Yeah, I make no distinction. I knew someone, once, wired the same way. Kept me sane. And what of it? Te crees muy acá ¿no? Get outta my head, Eleanor.”

“Never signed up for this. I’ll be home Mamá. Your little girl doesn’t end here. No te preocupes.”

“Man, I’ve been awake so long that even the spiders in my head have all gone to sleep.”

“Wacha: unless you’re pissing blood right this second, whatever it is can wait.”

“I swear, should lock Aoi and Amir in a cuna. Didn’t sign up for no babysitting gig.”

AOI:

“I don’t wanna go on patrol. I wanna take stuff apart.”

“Nearly time for the On-lyne boys.”

“Metal, metal, metal, what do you want to be?”

“Yep. I can live like this.”

“Arthur needs to keep some fuel in the tank for himself. Goddamn savior complex that man has…”

“I oughta get some headphones. Then I wouldn’t have to hear Quincy work off all that surplus testosterone!”

“If they take Entrati out, who’s going to look after that mutant jaguar of his? Poor thing won’t last five minutes in the wild.”

“Amir! Remember to hydrate!”

“Dear past self: we finally got those super powers we always wanted. Whaddayaknow.”

“GodDAMN. Lettie would you keep your frickin’ rats OUT of my SPACE?”

QUINCY:

“Don’t look up, Doctor.”

“Arthur needs to leave the Major to me, innit. Respect my methods.”

“Don’t mind the waiting. Plenty to be thinking about.”

“You don’t know me. Never see what darkens your rooftops. Inevitable, like the rain. Handing out consolations in a transient connection. Boom. Smoke. And ghost.”

“You wiv me, Eleanor? How deep in you go? See anythin’ you fancy, girl?”

“Amir is a weak, weak boy. Like Aunty said, ‘duppy know who fi frighten.’”

“Thassit… nice and steady.”

“How many man have the opps got? Not enough t’be takin’ me. Never.”

“Oi, Lettie! Grab y’ strap and let’s go. Best a five buys the drinks?”

ELEANOR:

“Don’t expect me to tell you what I’ve seen in Amir’s head. He’s not a beautiful, broken marionette, and he’s nobody’s project. He’s one of us.”

“Quincy thinks he’s going to wake up one night to me chewing the flesh from his ribs. Maybe he’s right.”

“I know you’re there. I can feel you. It’s okay, I won’t tell the others.”

“Aoi? She’s lovely and kind and strong, and… I kind of hate her a little bit. Because it should have been her spreading her happiness into everyone’s heads, and me throwing cars and trucks around.”

“I thought there were going to be two of you! Where’s the other one?”

“Blood. There’s gonna be a fight. Something… bursting. Crossed swords. Arthur!”

“What on earth is a ‘Mara Lohk’?”

“Oh, you’re going to make such a difference this time around.”

“I don’t think Doctor Entrati expected me to survive. I had a lot more than just a cough. But… survive I did. And Lettie has not forgiven me for it.

“Oh. OH. She’s wonderful! Triple-faced goddess! But there’s a shadow on her, isn’t there?”

AMIR:

“A little zap, and… infinite credit! No more ‘insert coin’! Not that we could insert coin. We have no coin. Once we had coin, but now Aoi has smooshed all the coin. Coinnnn.”

“Why did they never make a console port?”

“BAD MOVE, SPACE CAA-DET.”

“But the one thought none of them spoke out loud was - could Lettie reattach a head?”

“Hey, Arthur! Arthur! Arthur! Arthur! Arthur! Dahh, you missed it.”

“Eleanor? Are you there? Can you - can you give my brain a hug please? Thank you.”

“We’re getting a little too excited, let’s step it down, step it down before we get the blue cracklies. In one two out one two.”

“Oi’m Quincy. Oi’m gonna blow out yer kneecaps. Mashup in yer chip shop alright.”

“Ungh! This violent video game is influencing my emotions! Societal norms… eroding! Morality… subsumed! I MUST KILL!”

“This place used to smell so good. Coffee. Cookies. Fresh clean socks. Now it’s just rust, pain, and old socks.”

[bunnyframerot]

Is it justme or is the loading screen hinting at potential pairings? Am I delusional? Aoi is looking at Arthur like in the animation, Lettie and Eleanor have their backs turned to eachother, And Amir is either trying to get Quincy's attention, or they're just both- there, in almost the same space they could've spaced them out evenly or something, showing more of their personality BUT NO

THEY POINT OUT THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE THREE PAIRS INSTEAD

[kivaember]

its midnight. i cant sleep. so here's a dumb drifter/arthur oneshot where drifter is doing laundry naked and tries to flirt with arthur who's just too ???? to really process it (if you cant tell this is pre-drifter/arthur but drifter sure is trying their best)

(i also wrote this in 30mins so... ough hghgrgh anyway here yo ugo)

-

One of the 'perks' to becoming a biomechanical monstrosity against his will was that Arthur no longer had to contend with the chore that was laundry.

His 'clothes' was his actual skin now and could never be removed, and so 'laundry' was now standing inside the very cramped staff showers sequestered in one of the shops and scrubbing off the various techrot fluids, gunpowder, brick dust, etcetera that normally clung to him post-mission. A quick, fifteen minute chore that required little to no interaction with a machine that could shrink your clothes or run the colours if you selected the wrong spin cycle or temperature.

(There were drawbacks to being released from the shackles of needing a washing machine, however. The issue with your skin becoming hardened, armour like carapace is that it has grooves, it has indents, it has little nooks and crannies that require dedicated scrubbing with a nail brush to ensure you get every last bit of dried techrot viscera off your body otherwise you'd stink like the rotting guts of roadkill for days.

Sometimes that 'fifteen minute shower' became forty (and scalding hot), because some evil techrot prick decided to messily explode its guts all over you and its guts had the same consistency as industrial glue.

The less said about that incident, the better.)

Still, sometimes they had to wash something from time to time: blankets, etcetera. There was an old electronics store that Aoi had organised when they made the mall their base of operations, granting them one functioning washing machine and one functional dryer. Aside from being aware of their existence, Arthur didn't know much beyond that. He only walked past that electronics store when doing his patrol rounds.

Which leads us to now: it's early morning (as in, 3am early), and Arthur was walking past the electronic store when he became aware of a peculiar yet familiar noise. The thrum of a washing machine in mid-spin cycle.

Arthur paused, curious but not alarmed. Three in the morning was an unusual time to be washing anything, but it could be Lettie laundering sheets for the few injuried civilians they helped, or Quincy laundering clothes to use as barter currency, or hell, even Aoi laundering some On-Lyne merch she dug out of Hollvannia's rubble. Still, Arthur felt like it'd be best to poke his head in to see what was what, so he walked into the store not really expecting much.

He was completely unprepared for what awaited him.

-

"Man, this takes forever..." Drifter mumbled under their breath, watching their clothes spin inside the curious little machine called 'the washing machine' (exactly as it said on the tin: it was a machine that washed your clothes). It used water and soap (unlike the Orbiter's 'sanitiser' that used a combination of UV light and deoderiser to 'clean' clothes) and had a lot of options that kind of left Drifter somewhat overwhelmed on what to pick (so had gone for the hopefully safe option of 'mixed' and '40C').

It also took ten thousand years to wash their clothes, but at least there was something hypnotically soothing about watching the machine spin and spin and spin with that heavy sloshing noise accompanying it. It was why they were sitting on the ground in front of it, staring intently, with the only thing fighting off the chill of the mall being the blanket acting as padding between Drifter's ass and the floor.

(They didn't really feel the cold nowadays - or the heat, thinking about it - but the floor was hard and uncomfortable and Drifter's ass was tired of hard and uncomfortable things.)

Anyway, they were so fixated on watching the washing machine that they didn't hear Arthur's approach until the man literally stood over them and said: "Marty, why are you sitting here naked."

"Sol, Arthur, you need a bell on you," Drifter grumbled, having jumped a little. "Anyway, isn't it obvious? My clothes are washing."

Arthur wore a strange expression. He wasn't directly looking at them - his gaze kept shifting as if trying to look at anything but Drifter - and he had his hands on his hips and was tapping his left heel against the ground that signified 'I am uncomfortable and embarrassed about something but I refuse to admit it'. Drifter kept a very organised mental file of all of the Hex's various habits and tics to ensure continued optimal communication, and Arthur's was particularly comprehensive, as the man spoke more with his body than his words.

(Drifter was unaware that this was not normal socialising behaviour, but considering that they grew up in Duviri, the land that practically picked up a book titled 'emotional regulation' and aggressively beat you over the head with it until you were unconscious, Drifter ended up developing a rather clinical approach to 'making friends' that was more like building a profile of your target with the same care of a professional assassin plotting the perfect murder.)

"Right, yes," Arthur continued after a stilted pause. "But. You're naked."

Drifter shifted their focus entirely on Arthur at that, their eyebrows slightly raised. "Yes, I am. That tends to happen when you don't wear clothes. You become naked."

Arthur blew out a short breath and covered his eyes with his hand. Exasperation. His 'Drifter, you are doing something weird/strange/off-putting and I am aware it's because you had the most fucked up childhood known to man so it's not completely your fault but Sol is it testing my patience right now' sigh.

"Right, okay," Arthur said. "Let me rephrase: it's a social faux pas to be naked in public like this."

"But I'm not in public? I was sitting here alone in the dark at three in the morning before you came along," Drifter pointed out calmly. "If you're embarrassed about seeing me naked, just say so. I'll put the blanket on."

Arthur, oddly, turned a little red. Drifter hadn't catalogued that expression yet. "I'm not- embarrassed. It's just, you're- just, sitting there. Naked. Shamelessly."

"Yeah?" Drifter scratched the back of their neck. Was this a 1999 thing? Was Drifter committing some kind of super serious culture crime right now? "Wait, shamelessly? What's there to be ashamed about?"

Arthur covered his eyes again. He looked like he was regretting his life's choices.

Drifter looked down at themselves. They thought their body was fairly inoffensive. They were average in terms of height - maybe on the short side - and their body was lean with well-toned muscle from years of romping across Duviri getting attacked by Dax leaping out of every single bush and hedgerow. They were perfectly proportioned, with no glaring Void mutations or whatever, and appeared to be, no matter how true or not, a normal human being.

Was it the boobs? They were normally hidden underneath their cloak, so maybe those were a surprise? Or maybe it was all the scars? Yeah, the bite marks on their shoulder were probably kinda ugly looking and shocking, but Arthur knew about the Zariman and what happened on there (the whole cannibalistic adults thing). Arthur also couldn't throw stones because he had scars - practically everyone had scars around here!

Drifter nodded. It was the boobs then.

"Is it the boobs?" they asked, and cupped said boobs for emphasis. They were pretty big. Were a massive pain whenever they misjudged a Void Sling and folded over the edge of whatever elevated platform they'd been aiming for and squashed their tits...

Arthur made a funny noise and leaned down to smack their arm. "Stop that- it's not the- it's not them."

It was definitely the boobs. Drifter had never seen Arthur look so flustered.

"I think it is," Drifter said impishly. "Aw, don't you like them? I think they look pretty nice. Look, they're the perfect size for cupping in your hands-"

"Stop grabbing them."

"-and when I squish them, they make a nice cleavage. See?" Drifter finished cheerfully, squishing their boobs together to make said cleavage. It did look very nice. Ah, it was a shame they liked layered clothing... they could probably rock a low-cut shirt or something.

Arthur was very pointedly not looking at them or their cleavage. His face was also very red.

Drifter chuckled but took pity on him. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. I was only teasing."

They shifted their weight, tugging the blanket up to wrap around their torso, hiding their body from view. The floor was uncomfortable now but, hey, Drifter's sat on worse surfaces.

"There, I'm all covered up," Drifter said. "I didn't realise being naked was such a big thing, though. Don't you see the others naked all the time?"

"Look, it's not something you just do casually," Arthur sighed, warily glancing at them before looking at them properly. "I don't know how it is in the future, but here in 1999 you don't just flash your tits at someone and expect it to be a... non-flirty thing."

Drifter cocked their head. "What if I was being flirty, though?"

Arthur gave them a very, very, very long look.

"......did you sit here naked at three in the morning waiting for me to walk past or what?" he finally asked.

"No, I'm not that deranged," Drifter said. "But, y'know, I'm an opportunist. You also looked very cute going red like that, so I couldn't help myself-"

"I'm leaving," Arthur declared. His face was again going adorably red. "I'm patrolling. I'm leaving to finish my patrol."

"Okay, have fun!" Drifter said cheerfully, watching Arthur practically power walk out of the store. "If you wanna stare at my boobs again, just let me know!"

They didn't get a response, but they didn't expect one. Arthur was curiously timid whenever Drifter tried to flirt with him, but he hadn't once outright rejected their advances or told them to stop so... who knew what was going on here. Was he just shy? Was Drifter just bad at flirting? They were pretty inexperienced in it...

"Hmm... maybe I should ask Quincy for advice after all..." they muttered thoughtfully as they returned to watching the washing machine's spin cycle. "I'll tell him I showed Arthur my boobs but he just ran away."

-

(Later, everyone heard Quincy laughing himself to near-tears after Drifter recounted their latest flirting attempt in those exact words.)

[diabolikartstudio]

The way i want to draw soft intimate moment the drifter has romancing the hex members 🥹

Like imagine you both are in the shower, them just inches from your lips. All while they are caressing, rubbing,cleaning you from head to toe…

Like the slow burn romance that a lot of people really wanted😭

😭😭😭😭the hex are just version of intimate personality type i love. They just be out here reminding me that love like that is real. Tugs on my heart strings🥺

Arthur over here like typical intense romantic. Hes so emotionally intelligent and a massive slow burn romance. In private moments he is very intimate and open ( big teddy bear). But he wants you to know you can relax and feel your emotions without carrying so much weight. It felt like id just melt of overstimulation of having been told to lay the weight of the world off my shoulders.

Quincy is just freaky af but the way he flirts fulfills my humiliation kink and praises kink( i flirt this way sometimes). And he definitely has a body worshipper🥰. The way he wants to do dates just makes me feel special. He’s confident because he already knows what hes doing ( i mean his literally one of the only hex members getting it) but he take the relationship seriously.

Amir is literally goofy, cheesy, kinky, flirty, intelligent and eager. He watches movies and plays games, hes witty, considerate and literally the definition of Adhd. His flirting is so sudden because he doesn’t expect people to love him as he does. He is a beanie i would love to protect but he is definitely a man who is capable and can act on his intimate feelings for you with confidence. Also the collar👀

Aoi is the same as Amir( just that shes a music head). Shes very thoughtful in her actions with you romantically. A major hopeless romance as well. She is also willing to experiment and flirt in unsuspecting moments. The consideration she puts into the relationship she desires to be reciprocated.

Eleanor is so flirtatious and curious. She’s honest and open and wants you to also be honest with her. She clearly explorative😏 and wants nothing but you all day. And she tried to be thoughtful about what she does for you and happy to reciprocate.

And lettie out here taking charge of the relationship lol 😂 intimacy while never be lose of a tough girl who loves you by threatening you with pain or demand for you to inflict pain on her☺️lol but genuine she care in such of aggressive way that its sweet.

They are all really dynamic characters the care they have for you make you just want to be in their presence

[necirusalka]

the amount of "deep analysis" the warframe fandom has produced that boils down to "quincy is mean and aggressive, arthur is a sweet angel who's never done anything wrong, amir is a hapless baby who needs to be protected, eleanor is a delicate motherly waif, and aoi and lettie frankly just don't exist" is just astonishing. there is no way we have been watching the same gameplay and listening to the same dialogue because there is no way you could possibly be so wrong if we did.

quincy is not 'hot-tempered' because he got annoyed at arthur once or bc he hates the guy who medically experimented on him. arthur is not free from scrutiny over being antagonistic to the other hex because he's a Sad Emo Boy Trying His Best. him being a dickhead is kind of the crux of his character and most of this community has just been projecting traits HE exhibits onto quincy because they can't comprehend quincy not being an Angry Black Man stereotype.

amir being reckless and having trouble acclimating to his powers does not make him less of a mature adult. arthur is also renowned for his volatility and being a "loose cannon" as stated in his dossier, but nobody infantilizes him like they do the man of color who's heavily coded as being auDHD.

eleanor suggests herself to have been a bruiser type who loved fighting before she was infected. she's not anyone's fucking mother. sometimes women care about and protect their friends because They're Friends, not because she's Channeling Her Maternal Instincts.

there is just as much you can glean from aoi and lettie's interactions as you can from everyone else's, about their mindsets about being infected and their present priorities and goals and their relationships with the other hex, but nobody mentions them except in passing. aoi is passed off as air-headed and vapid and lettie is silently labeled a Mean Latina and forgotten about because she's not palatable enough.

like honestly if you're gonna drop long-winded tirades about the hex in the main tags you should at least take the time to understand the most BASIC personality traits that define them cus some of this stuff is so flagrantly just an assortment of antiblack, ableist, & misogynist stereotypes that it's just embarrassing to read

[random-warframe-thoughts]

Eleanor plays VtM confirmed!!!!!! And Amir has at some point!!!

Honestly, not surprised. She's so Tzimisce coded. Ngl Amir gives me Thinblood vibes, and I mean that with the deepest affection.

While its on the brain, here's which clans I think the Hex would be if they played VtM;

Eleanor - Tzimisce

Amir - Either Nos or Thinblood

Arthur - Banu. There is no other option, he is as Banu as it gets.

Lettie - Some might say Gangrel, but I would argue Lasombra.

Aoi - if anyone on the team was a Salubri, my bet would be her.

Quincy - I know the obvious choices are either Ventrue or Toreador, but I think he'd make a great Tremere.

Kaya - True Brujah. I trust her to actually do it well.

Velimir - Honestly, I feel like Ravnos would fit him.

Minerva - Banu. Cut from the same cloth as His Maj.

Flare - Toreador, obvi. Specifically, a Child of Cacophany.

Drifter - Mine would be a Kiasyd if he could. Otherwise, a Malk for sure.

[lurker2773]

So i know that like no one cares but can we talk about how the Hex syndicate standing levels up from handing in collectibles (and I know that it isn't uncommon since we already had the Holdfasts) but the collectibles in question are just. literally junk you find lying around It's not even useful junk most of the time--it's mood crystals and comic books and expired (probably) boxes of cereal and LITERAL ROTTING PIZZA LEFT ON ROOFS AND SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYWAYS and the Drifter is just like

"Yeah, I bet Lettie would be fine with me handing her this moldy 'pizza' food thing right here that is distinctly not cube-shaped. Hm. Yes. This seems reasonable."

And given that the Hex never really made it clear what 'supplies' or prized objects for them are, unlike the Holdfasts on the Zariman (voidplumes), Drifter defaults to just assuming they want stuff that can be found just lying around mission areas, because that's usually how you find syndicate medallions and moldy pizza boxes are basically the same, right?

And given that the romance is locked behind syndicate rank, it gets so much more deranged--I imagine the Drifter is running around Hollvania during missions frantically looking for vaguely shiny or edible objects, tears running down their face as they sob into a teddy bear and hoping that maybe Aoi/Arthur will finally like them enough to date them after they drag back a comically oversized, rough-spun bag full of rotting food, misbegotten camera film, and abandoned On-Lyne CDs that they called in their personal ship to help them find and conscripted Umbra to help get all it into the mall

and when Lettie finally has enough and asks the Drifter to please, please stop giving her whatever they have in their bottomless pockets for the rest of the day they go back to the backroom and make. like. a little pile. a nest out of the lonely little things and then they quietly whisper to the structure about how proud and happy they're going to make the rest of the Hex when Lettie scrapes together enough sanity to take more items off of Drifter's hands.

This was unhinged. I deeply apologize but I need you people to see the vision

Magpie Drifter. Doesn't really know how to talk to people. Tries to give people that they like cool shiny things they found. I think that's sweet. And also cryptid behavior but sweet.

[hexergraf]

Food must be square!!

Because I am oddly proud of predicting this particular quirk about the Drifter, and the conversation with Arthur was both amusing and kinda sweet... this popped into my head and I will probably have to draw it at some point:

Amir: *watching the Drifter incredulously* "Hey, Aoi... you know that joke about how if we ever traveled back in time, we could kill off a medieval peasant by feeding them a spicy Cheeto?" Aoi: "....Yeah?" Amir: "So, uh..." *gestures to the Drifter* Drifter: *is neurotically cutting their food up into cubes and getting overwhelmed by too many flavor profiles at once* Amir: "WHAT the hell is happening in OUR future? Marty is having a mental breakdown over sauce and cheese existing in the same space."

[39nnfq]

Writing some house party/boiler room set/rave Hex and wanted to share my ideas with the class before I upload to AO3

Read under cut :3

Aoi — happy hardcore number 1 fan. She’s the most likely to been to many raves throughout her life. Designated “rave mom” who has been around the block enough to carry fans, water, binkies, etc. You name it, she’s got it on hand. The Queen of Kandi by the way, she knows how to many anything from cuffs to masks. The light shows she gives with her new abilities would go CRAZYYYY. Probably the one to drag the Hex to parties in the first place.

Amir — you keep this boy away from any substances PLEASE or else he will start to bounce off the wall. Like a dog (haha) he will probably ingest anything anyone offers him and then after eating enough questionable things (illicit substances) he will throw up and learn his DARE lesson for the day. Will probably have a lot of fun dancing with Aoi and Eleanor but his social battery may run out relatively quickly because too many lights and people (he’s a people’s person but only to an extent). Loves light shows and the atmosphere of so many people having fun in the same place at the same time. Probably needs a toddler leash by how many times he’s simply gotten lost in the crowd chasing something that got his attention

Eleanor — guys to me.. she is a former trad and/or cyber goth. She likes industrial music and knows how to muzz and all that fun stuff. She also knows how to do makeup and will use Amir (and Arthur) as mannequins for her old trad goth makeup. Eleanor likes to bond with the others and see them happy, elbowing the sulking Arthur with a drink in his hand and motioning to the others having fun. This is the one time where she’ll break out the old dresses and thick high boots like back in the day.

Quincy — He’s not so much there for the dancing or the experience as much as he’s there to make potential connections (and “connections”). To be honest he’s rather be at the regular bar knocking back drinks and flirting with hotties, buuuut seeing everyone have fun warms his heart is something new. Will goad Lettie and Arthur into dancing too (to their annoyance). He likes to meet people and build connections as he goes, the man of many exchanges he is. HOWEVER. If you DO somehow get him on the dance floor, he would tear it to SHREDS. He knows how to jumpstyle and hakken (how did he learn that??)

Lettie — She went when she found out Arthur and Quincy were somehow talked into going. Has to play “rave mom #2” but against her will (she feels responsible for the safety of the Hex). Would probably stay in the back with her drink watching everyone else have fun, but when Amir eventually overdoes his high she trip-sits him most of the time. Brings extra narcan and water for anyone who needs it. After enough alcohol in her system she could be convinced to dance ONE TIME.

Arthur — alright alright he is undoubtedly very Anti Fun (not because of his personality but because when you’re old you get a Little Grumpy) but if you’re telling me he wasn’t also a baby bat/emo/punk kid who went to lots and lots of basement shows, you’re indubitably WRONG!! (Some of this comes from Eleanor and when she was a trad goth growing up he wanted to be Just Like Her, but always gave himself “panda eyes” with her eyeliner). He knows how to have fun, boiler rooms and raves simply aren’t his jam. Also, at his grown age he thinks he is “too old” to dance and have fun, so he prefers to “keep an eye on everyone” from a distance at the corner of the room, beer/solo cup in hand as he taps a foot to the beat. But take him back to a punk show? No one is safe in the pit. Trust.

[sojournerstales]

WF1999: Summer Heat ch.3

fem!drifter x eleanor

hey there. I think everybody has one of those hump chapters, but I figured some broader stuff out in writing this one. we're on loop 1, the year before the good end, btw.

03. I Like To Be Here

I can feel her breathing. It's through a layer of separation. That sensation of touch fed through the transference link. Eleanor's body against Mesa's. Mesa's hands on Eleanor's hips. Still it's there, body heat and a heart beating.

The last stretch home is made unscathed. We go down into the familiar underground, easily gliding by wrecks we have passed a dozen times before. Down here the soundscape changes. Everything feels closer and the roar of Eleanor's tomi echoes loud enough to drown anything else out.

Except there is that link between us. That psychic line kept open.

"Earlier. Back at the Zoo." I still sometimes worry that my thoughts projected would be seen as an intrusion, but I'm brave enough to start conversation.

"Mm?" Eleanor pulls back on the acceleration. The tomi reduces to a cruising speed and its roar pitches into a prolonged thrum.

"Something happened. I saw it. When you helped me up."

"Oh. That." Smooth turn. Eleanor and Mesa's body weight shift in sync to keep balance. We're almost home.

"Don't gotta tell me," I assure her, "But you can."

"You were being cute," Eleanor says eventually. She slows the tomi further. "I just wanted to eat you right up, my dear."

I feel a shiver and that gives me something to think about. It's my cheeks that feel hot, not Mesa's facial shell. I miss my chance to pick at it.

"Right-o. Last chance to brace yourself. I can feel the brooding tension of brother-dearest from here."

"So no chance of us just sneaking right through?"

-

No chance at all.

Mesa highlights two figures as Eleanor and I pull into the makeshift garage space. Arthur posted up by the task-board, his skana balanced with its tip on the ground and the hilt snug against the heel of his hand. Aoi sat cross-legged on the workbench next to Arthur.

"Lettie must be busy," Eleanor tells me. Her voice feels narrowed. I've learned this is the sensation of a private line. "There is no way she would miss this particular show."

We ride into center stage and Eleanor cuts the engine. Its final rumble echoes alone for a full second.

"You're missing a bike!" Aoi calls out at us, grinning.

Arthur grunts. It's a suitably dark and broody sound. He spins the skana once and then catches it. As far as I can tell, he's got all kinds of feelings about Eleanor and I getting close and I don't think all of them are good.

I have Mesa climb off the bike. She registers for my benefit Arthur's skana and Aoi's complete lack of conventional weaponry - highlighting then the metallic coils around Aoi's wrists. Before more detail starts to filter through I emerge from the frame. Mesa is rendered inert and I stand before her to begin explaining myself, "I wiped out. It's my bad, I --"

"While we appreciated the heads-up, I do not think you understood the sheer number that came after us. Or how fast." Eleanor's voice cuts through what I was going to say inside all of our heads. There is a brief, intentional pause for effect before she continues, "Personally I bless our lucky stars we got back here in one piece ourselves."

Arthur finally steps forward, "Maybe if at least one of you had stayed on communications --"

"Do you have any idea how far I have to go just for some peace and quiet? Apologies, brother, if I did not want one of you lot nattering away in my ear."

Aoi is about to say something, but she clocks the same thing that I do. Eleanor and Arthur coming face-to-face and a certain intensity about them. So Aoi gives me a look between the middle of them. I don't get the specifics of what she's trying to impart. I come from a world where thoughts and feelings are plainly spoken and Aoi just has so many expressions.

What I do get is out-of-signal radio static from Eleanor as her bickering with Arthur remains loud, but obfuscated.

"Listen!" I pipe up, trying to cut through whatever noise Arthur and Eleanor are immersed in. "Important part is that we made it, yeah? And lesson learned for next time. So why don't we just cool off?"

Aoi winces, but I think it's sympathetic.

Arthur scoffs and shoots me a look that could mean anything.

And Eleanor looks downright smug. I feel a small sensation in the back of my mind. A psychic nudge. Pat on the back? Soft elbow to my ribs?

"All I ask is next time you two decide to go walk-about, give one of us a heads up and stay. On. The. Line." He wipes sweat from his forward with the crook between thumb and finger, then addresses me specifically, "We're not on holiday here."

I hold my hands up in surrender. I'm not about to talk back to Arthur, not when he's worked up like this. I know how well Eleanor can needle him. We'll touch base later. He's already heading back into the mall proper anyway.

Eleanor is too, not turning to look at either Aoi or I. "Well I need a lie down. Ta-ta, lovely. And you, Aoi."

It leaves Aoi and I in the garage and she's looking at me. Really looking at me. And unfolding from her seated position and getting to her feet and coming up close.

"What?"

She smiles.

"What?" I whine.

"She left in a strop and came back in a good mood," Aoi muses, she shrugs her shoulders high and walks a meandering circle around me before coming back to my side and leaning on my shoulder, "You're good with her. Or..."

"Or..?"

"You are good... With each-other?"

"I don't know. Maybe?" I groan outwardly and slap my palms against my face.

Aoi takes my hands and pulls me forward a step. "Oh it's just so cute! You fixed the fumble, then?"

"I fixed the fumble." Why did I have to tell Aoi everything?

"Yay! We did not fix the AC!" Aoi delivers that like it shouldn't be bad news. It does soften the blow. "It's like a heatwave in there. Really makes me wish we had a pool. Or wish more than just my face and palms could sweat." Aoi looks down at her hands in mine, "Sorry," and her expression wrinkles. "Clammy."

"You're good." We let go of each other and side-by-side make our way into the mall.

Aoi wasn't kidding. Between the civilian population we had let in, the veins of infestation binding certain walls together, the sky lights, and everything else, it's a heatwave. "... I could have Yareli hose us down," I muse out loud.

"Is that the magical girl?" Aoi gasps, I can practically hear the sparkle-eyes emoticon.

"Yeah," I snort, "Criminal I haven't introduced you two yet."

"You will do that. One hundred percent. Once I am less busy. I might need to convince Amir that one of the arcade cabinets is to be sacrificed to the AC Gods. Or we find scrap parts from somewhere else."

"Anything I can do?"

"Ohh, you could hand out water bottles? You could..."

Work in the Central Mall never really ends. Even before we let refugees in. It's a place held together by spit, duct tape, and techrot. It's a home, too. I walk with Aoi to the arcade and see Amir challenging two kids at once on a pair of arcade cabinets. And in a similar vein there is a trio of young girls thinking they are being sneaky behind a planter as they all watch Eleanor walk by - fear and excitement. Arthur looks to be having an important conversation with Lettie. It's terse, until she puts a hand on his shoulder and I watch as both of them relax.

Finally - as I'm making my way back to my room - Quincy catches me walking by. Things are tense there too. He's still trying to figure me out. He nods before turning back to the pair of lads he was talking with. They've a box of merchandise between them. I doubt Arthur approves.

In some ways it reminds me of the camp Kahl had set up. Or even before then the underground networks of the last free people in Narmer space. And even before then I realize maybe this - this right here - is what Duviri's market square always failed to emulate.

Nothing here is so clean and tidy.

part 3 of 4?

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