#02. gloryseized

[flockrest]

♡ / @gloryseized

     Blizzards. Hearing about the titan of Biron Snowshelf from scouts who managed to flee unharmed from it had already been plenty concerning, but actually seeing it with his own eyes? The rumours really don't do this thing justice, Tulin thinks as he takes the monster in: all huge heads and huge wings and huge everything of it.

     It's, uh. More than a little intimidating, 'specially when it does stupidly ridiculous stuff like warping the shape of the Windlines strong enough that he can feel it from all the way over here with a single flap of its stupidly huge wings — but! It's not the biggest thing he's ever seen; s'not even the biggest thing he's ever fought, and, most importantly — just like when he was battling the biggest thing he's ever fought — Tulin is very much not alone right now.

     It's why, with a hop-step-flip, his bow's drawn and ready as he slips into a hover — even though, technically, he's only s'posed to be a scout today. Another Rito who observes from afar, does not engage, and reports any "new developments" straight back to the Elder.

     "We can take 'em," he affirms, resolved in his friend's company and the ever burning desire to help. ( Honestly, he's not sure what Dad expected from him when he gave him the okay to be sent off with Link, of all people. ) "Ready when you are!"

[balladetto]

cont. from here / @gloryseized

     Forgot. He forgot.

     An isolated part of Link knows that isn't the right word for it. Realises, distantly, how unfair this maybe is of him — as though this is something Shion should think to remember for him when he only knows the bits and pieces of Link that are polished enough to be seen. As though Shion's the strange one for being some amount of normal about the moon. But this is how he puts it: I forgot, and the voice that would argue against the surge of hurt that spears through Link's veins is not loud.

     ( He's too cold with fear to care to strain his ears to listen for it. )

     The world bleeds in cinders, ashes of red that curl up in the lungs breathing them in like wildfire fumes. Everything sways. Everything shudders. It's the trembling of an earth that cannot move away from the moon that seeks to consume it, and Link— braces himself, stumbles over himself, catches himself on too small hands and knees; is in two places at once without it registering that he's actually stuck, actually frozen, actually unmoved from where he's standing and sinking into a shell carved from echoes of another time and world.

     The head won't shake. The fingers dart down, then up, then for the pouch they will not ungrip as nnnn clings to gritted teeth. It's a twitch of a sound he can't fully release while Tatl urges in an ear, the song! The song, play the song!

     Link doesn't know what this is. He doesn't know what the moon wants. He doesn't know how to ask when all he can do is look up at Shion, heart pounding a horrified rhythm, and think of what he will lose to the ocarina he can trace beneath the leather separating it from his touch this time.

[missallanea-aa]

@stygicniron : you have more power than i thought. ( from Mimir @gloryseized to Sif )

Oh? A brow lifts somewhat, turning her head to regard Odin's advisor with a measure of derision in her gaze. The goddess is quiet a moment longer, turning her attention back to her work a moment before she speaks : "How kind of you to reveal just how lowly you think of me, Mimir."

It was hardly a surprise, of course. There were goddesses whose power far exceeded her own, warriors of Asgard who made themselves known through battle and fierce displays. Her own strength was a quieter sort, but no less worthy of her status among the Æsir. She would not have her abilities spoken down of by one who was not even truly of their own kind.

can we talk about what happened prompts

[missallanea-archive]

"You shouldn't make such an effort to dismiss a compliment. Luck is an excuse, one most often used by the talentless." Again, her tone is somewhat stricter than the conversation may have called for, but there was no aggression behind it: simply wishing that the young woman would see her skills for what they were.

Rising from her seat, Nathalie moves closer to observe Marinette's handiwork more closely. Giving no acknowledgement to the girl's continued thanks, she takes hold of the finished garment to observed the corrections the girl had made. Despite the stress and lack of time, her stitchwork was even and solid.

"He does." She wasn't exactly in the habit of sharing the sort of things Adrien talked about, but it was hardly a secret. "You were one of the first friends he truly made when he began attending public school... and while it isn't my position to say, I must admit, you are one of the more... positive influences that he's had." Chloe Bougeois had been his friend for as long as Nathalie could recall, but the spoiled princess was hardly the influence she'd prefer for the boy. "He's the reason we've had our eye on your performance, truthfully."

"Oh, I've been very lucky," Marinette starts to say before the mention of Adrien's name causes her fingers to slip on her needle, jabbing her fingertip with a sharp poke. Quickly pull her hand away from the design so as not to get blood on it, she reaches for a tissue, quickly applying pressure to the wound. It's not the first time she's jabbed herself in the fingertip and it certainly wouldn't be the last. But this is the first time she's done it in the middle of a competition, her threading heartbeat reminds her, and her cheeks light with a flush at Adrien's name.

"And clumsy," she adds with a groan, pinching her pointer finger and thumb together, tissue pressed between them to stop the bleeding. Adrien talked about me? her mind rattles unhelpfully, as she tries to straighten the garment with her freed hand. At least that one is done--now just to sew the buttons on the other.

Marinette laughs a little as the woman dismisses her thanks just as Marinette dismissed her own compliment. "Well, you helped me with the last minute adjustment," she says, pulling the tissue away to check her finger. Good, at least it's done bleeding, and she starts her work on the final garment. "Adrien talked about me?" she manages to voice, keeping her hands steady this time.

[vyrulent]

02. wrapping a blanket around their shoulders from behind (from Jonathan @gloryseized to Lucy, vampire setting!)

Lucy’s dainty fingers curled around the frayed edges of the offered blanket. It wasn’t as if a vampire truly needed it, yet it was the action of offering a comfort that warmed the newly turned vampire. The blanket was pulled close to her.

He’d won. He’d defeated everyone. They’d continue on while their loved ones would feed the worms. They’d thrive into the centuries while their loved ones turned to nothing but skeletal remains wrapped in rotting fashions.

The monster had conquered the fairy tale norms. The wolf had devoured the girl. The witch had baked the children and had eaten her fill.

“Thank you, Jonathan.” Pain tinged through her spoken word. It was written on her features. There was a want, a deep desire, to break at the sight of sweet Mina’s intended now damned. Had he suffered days on end from the Count’s nightly terrors as she had?

“Will you sit with me?”

[missallanea-archive]

"That would be my choice to make, Ladybug, now wouldn't it?" Mayura shows to sign of hesitation, no wavering in her opinions as Ladybug shifts from her heroic do-good tone to one of concern. It was a tactic, an attempt to put doubt in her heart, and nothing more. There was no reason for the girl to care for whatever happened to her enemy.

In response to Ladybug's cautious approach, she takes another step backward, attempting to keep some degree of distance between the two of them. "I would happily give up my life to see this through." And very well may, if the strain on her body was any sign. A twinge of pain travels through her, and she struggles to keep it off her face -- not willing to give any sign of weakness. Not now. "You do what you do to protect the people you care about. I am doing the same."

And of course by 'willing to sacrifice', Mayura meant herself, Ladybug notes critically before that mild irritation shifts to concern. It's not only worrying enough that Mayura and Hawkmoth want to go through with completing the Wish, even apparently knowing the risks, they're the ones who want to give everything up. It's wrong that they are putting everyone else through the struggle of their foolish quest, but something else gnaws at Ladybug's heart, another worry as she finds herself taking a step closer to the Peacock Miraculous wielder.

"You know your life isn't worth sacrificing for this, right?" Ladybug replies softly. She doesn't want to even begin to assume what kind of relationship Mayura has with Hawkmoth, not without any more information, but the hints so far are troubling to say the least.

[missallanea-archive]

Young love was such a silly thing. Trying to be in a relationship before your hormones had settled, when every little heartbreak felt as if it was going to be neverending. Teenaged nonsense. It's none of her business, really; there was no reason to say anything of the sort to the young girl, but she'd be blind to not notice.

It seemed the Agreste men, on the other hand, were quite good at missing the obvious.

Adrien couldn't see Marinette's affection for what it was, because he was far too used to people showing him adoration. He couldn't decipher it. Leave it to a more mature person to see Marinette and her melodramatic nature for what it was.

Breaking her gaze away from where she watches Adrien and Ms. Tsurugi's daughter, she looks to see Marinette looking at her with a strange look on her face. As though she's caught something, noticed something. Perhaps she's a bit too observant for a girl her age.

"It isn't my place." The grip she has on her tablet tightens briefly, pressed firmly against her chest. It really wasn't, and yet. "...Just question whether or not you can handle standing beside your friend if this continues. I think it would be far more painful than you imagine."

missallanea asked:

when you really love someone ,  you want them to be happy .  even if it isn’t with you . ( nathalie @ marinette but I think she's projecting jesus )

Meme Tag -- @missallanea

"I-I don't know what you mean!"

Marinette splutters helplessly as her cheeks redden, although she can't take her eyes off of Kagami and Adrien together, almost feeling like her heart is breaking in two. She cares about the both of them! Adrien because he's the boy she's had a crush on for months now, memorizing every little detail about him that she can, while Kagami is her new friend, someone she wasn't sure she could be friends with but then ended up growing close to after they got to know each other better. Marinette would do anything to see the both of them happy and yet.

And yet.

Is she really so obvious? That even M. Agreste's assistant can see how lovesick she is, even though Marinette has only talked to Nathalie and handful of times. God, what a mess. Why does her heart do this to her?

Glancing up at the woman however, Marinette catches something else in her eyes rather than the knowing look she expected, something wistful even. "What.... what do you mean?" she asks curiously.

[flockrest]

     Right! Preparations: a great idea! Tulin nods, humming an affirmative — a good warrior always ensures they're prepared for anything, and as one of the best his flock has to offer, he's gonna go into this max-prepared.

     Not like he was 'bout to skip over the process altogether 'cause he was too caught up in the tailwind of the unstoppable team they make or anything.

     Totally.

     ( This is probably why Dad gave him the okay to be sent off with Link, of all people. )

     He touches down again while Link rummages through his inventory, bow held between wingtips now as he checks over his own quiver. He always grabs a full stock before he leaves the nest and its weight hasn't changed since doing so today, but it can't hurt to make sure! Then he's being presented with some new arrows, 'cause Link's an amazing friend like that, and whoa.

     "Hey, neat!" If kinda gross! He's not sure if eyeballs were a necessary touch when fire-fruits are a perfectly acceptable thing, but the heat pulsating from the arrowheads is definitely gonna be handy — Tulin's current collection of Molli's Special Arrows likely won't be doing much 'gainst all the titan's frost. He takes the bundles with a beam, carefully slotting and rearranging them into the spaces he reaches for first when shooting. "Thanks!"

     There's a whole bottle of something being offered to him when he next looks up. Some sorta elixir, he realises, with a surprised blink and tilted head. For him? Gosh. It's awfully nice of Link, but he's not planning on getting hit or anything — and those aren't easy to come by, y'know! At least, not for Tulin and his folks, whose apothecary dabbles more in powdered herbs and crushed pastes— oh, maybe that's why Link's sharing.

     But Tulin's gonna be fine! He's got the Windlines and skies, and isn't a fully-fledged Rito for nothing! The titan may be unfairly huge, yeah, but he's pretty confident it won't be able to outpace him — no monster ever has! And with his Secret Stone, it feels like no monster ever will. Between the both of them, the one who needs any elixir more would be his ground-bound friend, for sure.

     "All yours," he insists with a shake of his head, "I'll be fine! Now c'mon, s'that all we need?"

Link is skeptical, breath dancing from his mouth to curl around his face as he eyes the distant gleeok, snapping a few more photos. It seems to be settled at the moment, if sitting ominously in the distance, three heads seeming to bicker with each other could be considered settled. And even in a settled state, it certainly looks threatening.

He hasn't tried to fight one of the great monsters before, shimmying back from his lookout position to review the picture he'd just taken on his Purah Pad, zooming in some of the pictures to get a closer assessment on the monster. After he'd been attacked by the mummified form of Ganon underneath the castle, he'd been severely weakened such that now he still found himself struggling against enemies he once handled with ease. And even if he was at his full strength, he's certain that this isn't going to be an easy fight.

At least he's warm enough at the moment, giving Tulin a critical eye as the Rito skips back his way, and the young Sage seems to be warm enough too, but that doesn't mean there aren't other things to do before the attempt. Pointer finger taps his left shoulder before swinging his arm wide before tapping the left shoulder, pointer finger then hooking forward. Both hands extend in front of him before looping in a couple circles. << We need to prepare. >>

Pulling his bag towards him, he begins shuffling through his supplies. Although he hadn't anticipated such a fight, he has the components he needs to be ready for it, hopefully. Finally, he produces some fire arrows, or rather arrows merged with fire Keese eyes, giving several bundles to Tulin while keeping one back for himself. He has a fiery sword he can use as well, if he gets close enough. But they'll also need potions--do the potions have the same effect on Rito? Pulling a cold resistance and toughness potion out, he offers it to Tulin with a look.

[missallanea-archive]

You know what happens when the Wish gets granted. Such a grave tone in the young girl's voice, and such a serious look in her eyes. Mayura can't help the way that she gives a half-hearted roll of her eyes, not quite willing to have a child lecturing her on the costs.

"And perhaps there are those out there who are willing to sacrifice for those goals." A life for a life. Wasn't that an even exchange, a cost she was far too willing to pay. "Have you ever stopped to question what it is Hawkmoth seeks to use that Wish for? How it may be worth more to either one of us than anything, anyone else?" Her gaze briefly darts away from Ladybug's face to watch the two boys, keeping careful note of when they will need to make their quick exit. "I took up this mantle to help him: if you think the idea of sacrificing a life will frighten me away, you're mistaken."

Ladybug's sigh is almost sorrowful, shaking her head a little. It sounds like Hawkmoth and Chat Noir are trading verbal barbs too, but these not quite so tempered. "You know what happens when the Wish gets granted." Or maybe she doesn't, maybe Hawkmoth hasn't let that detail slip to his loyal assistant? Maybe it's the same with Hawkmoth and Mayura like it is for her and Chat Noir where the two don't really know each other.

Keen eyes behind a domino mask pin the woman with a look. "It's about balance. I don't know what Hawkmoth wants, but whatever he asks for, something of the same value will be lost. Someone could die or their life ruined or..." She shakes her head, lips pinching together in a frown. "That much power shouldn't be used."

[missallanea-archive]

She hadn't signed up to fight literal children, but here they were: she's far too involved now, too far gone to step away from it all. The bored tone of voice with which she had spoken was equally as reflected on her face as she watched the two boys in their fight. It is only with Ladybug's remark that she turns to the girl, a smirk overtaking her expression.

"...Aren't you, though?" She doesn't need Sentimonsters or powers to attack this girl, not in a way that will truly strike her. She's seen that insecurity for herself -- if she could just spread a little more doubt into her mind, perhaps she would continue cracking. "You could have long since ended all of this. You're the ones who continue to drag this out."

missallanea asked:

a little bit dramatic , don’t you think ? ( mayura @ ladybug okay I'm done now lksfghfk sorry for the inbox spam )

Meme Tag -- @missallanea

It was one of the rare instances when both Mayura and Hawkmoth decided to show their faces for themselves. Chat Noir had already started to fight against Hawkmoth, dueling with a pair of sabers and the latter cackling manically. Marinette could only assume he did hours of practicing such laugh in whatever hole he decided to live in and send akumas out of.

She rested her hands on his hips, arching an eyebrow. " I don't know. I'm not the one who's been terrorizing Paris for months."