#Replacement for bracer

[mangogator]

oh my god these were a nightmare to make and im terrified of them falling apart 5 minutes into the con but MAN they look so good (claw and hand pattern came from here, the bracer part was my own pattern!)

[landgraabbed]

sometimes you gotta take in the lil details

[lotro-tooltips-daily]

[difeisheng]

in a drama that pays SO much attention to and is deliberate about giving each character a very distinct silhouette, it has been driving me absolutely fucking insane for several weeks now that some of jiao liqiao's outfits are cut like li xiangyi and li lianhua's robes.

you can see the visual similarities between jiao liqiao's most-worn outfit and li xiangyi in the general form of the robes, but particularly in the drape of the sleeves and where they fall open at the shoulders (sorry, i don't know the technical term). it's harder to see here but both outfits also have bracers that match the robes in a very integrated way and colour-wise, with the same fitting to the sleeves.

here, if not for the colours and material of jiao liqiao's outer layer, this would be something li lianhua would wear. the fit of these robes are the same. the pleats at the lapels even match. jiao liqiao is visually paralleled with li xiangyi and li lianhua, mirroring the man she's forever seen as competition for di feisheng. it's as though in truly every way, she's trying to replace him. maybe if she tries hard enough, di feisheng will finally look at her for once.

i mean hell, think about how even more interesting this scene gets— jiao liqiao's "i'm the victor in this game of love" moment— once you realize she's taunting li lianhua about having a place beside di feisheng while emulating the image of li xiangyi, the man di feisheng cannot leave behind. ("maybe you could still have had him now if you'd stayed like this. if you hadn't become what you are now. it's too bad i stepped in all those years ago, and so you're in this state, isn't it? i've won, li xiangyi.") mysterious lotus casebook already did a stellar job in everything else in establishing jiao liqiao and li lianhua as rivals for di feisheng, but this visual aspect just elevates some of these character interactions throughout the show.

[im-not-buying-it-ether]

What about Cryptid Hal stealing one your fav Batfamily or JL member gadget's and their reaction to him protecting it in his nest? (Due to his bird brain being ready to steal things that either shine on their own or can reflect light for him, it will probably have to do either one of those two for him to take interest in it)

“Captain,”

“Yeah?”

“Why, pray tell, are you part of this… horde?” Batman gestures to the small pile of shiny Batarangs, tricked out arrows, the lasso of truth somehow, Arthur’s trident, and about a million other things from the collective Justice League with a fussy cryptid glowering from the shadows on top of it all.

“Well, apparently he liked my gold bracer things and, unlike Diana’s—” he picks up the bracers next to him and gives them a shake to bring attention to them before placing them back in the pile. “—he couldn’t get mine off so I’m just part of the pile wholesale.”

Batman sighs, thinking through what materials he could replace his batarangs normal build with to avoid this in the future while also planning on swapping out the irreplaceable items in the horde with fakes to keep Hal content.

[absolmon]

So I was inspired by @sinn-bee and their dragon AU to recreate their Shen Yuan and Liu Qingge's dragon forms. I'm totally in love with this AU and I thought it would be fun to compare how I designed based on their art vs what I did for the canon character's in SVSSS.

On the left is the design I did off their design and the right is based on the canon one. I went with a Veilspun for Sinn's design because the horn shape is probably the most similar to the one's on SY, plus the hair on them is such a big aspect of them. It's a little funny that I made him a Veilspun because in Flight Rising canon Veilspun are the smallest dragon's, about the size of a cat, whilst Sinn!SY is a big boy. I made a point to make him Mint because SY's color change is the biggest indicator in their AU that Shen Jiu was replaced. I thought filigree would be a good touch to reference the bracers that are a focal point on SY's clothing.

Canon SY I focused mostly on elegance and a wind theme, so I went with a Skydancer. The outfit was the most complicated thing, mostly because there aren't any specifically Chinese hanfu in the game. I had to do a lot of layering.

Once again, Sinn's design is on the left and the one based on canon is on the right. Liu Qingge was easy to decide on a breed because of his antler shaped horns! I had to go with an Imperial, which are based on both Asian mythology and the largest breed in the game with my largest one the length of an eleven story building. I wanted to focus on making Sinn!LQG as delicate and beautiful looking as possible. I thought the silver Opal really gave him a cool natural look. I think he and Sinn!SY would look beautiful together.

My canon version was focused mostly on his meat head fighter side, but I couldn't resist giving him a cute skin designed by FR user larkhund. I love the gap moe of it. I'm not completely happy with the outfit, but I think it works.

I hope you like it Sinn, I'm so excited to see more of your art. Keep it up!

[anon-e-miss]

Yakuza/Tattooed Prowl

Life of “crime” gets him sentenced to having bitties for every person he killed

Jazz being his trainer/master/bitty sire

Basically training the roughness out of Prowl to turn him into the blushing momma he should be

Jazz working out all the kinks and getting to his soft center. Prowl reluctant but loves how his body changes for Jazz.

From rock hard shell to soft sweet bitty Ori

God I love the image of his belly and boobs and thighs having been tattooed prior and then stretching with the bitty weight Jazz puts on him

Jazz just loves taking Prowl down where he needs to be and loves how loving Prowl gets with the bitties that he just has to keep sparking him up

The sentence was proliferation.

Having been convicted of twenty-nine deaths, Prowl would was to beget twenty-nine newlings before he would be freed. It was lot. It took time to kindle and time to carry and time to whelp and to wean. It could take a millennia or even longer for him to complete his sentence but it was doable, so long as he was able to kindle. There was no consideration given for infertility.

There was the potential for other trials, depending on how much blame they hoped to put on him for the Company’s activities. It was unlikely that he would get death or spark containment in them at least, since once someone was sentenced to proliferation, it generally stuck. His lawyer would appeal the number. Regardless the result, there was hope he would be free eventually. It was better than Lockdown had gotten.

“Inmate Prowl,” he was called by a guard to come forward. A Polyhexian stood with him. “You have been assigned Jazz for your rehabilitation supervisor.”

A collar was placed around his neck, assigning him to this mech. His shackles were removed and replaced with bracer cuffs. A leash was connected to the collar and without a glyph, his “supervisor” led him off to begin his sentence. Prowl knew supervisors were frequently the ones siring these carryings but they could also arrange for others the breed the convicts on their charge. Prowl wondered which way this Jazz would lean.

[residentialsinyomakai]

Obligatory refs + Info of my Yokai Watch Ocs (*＾▽＾*)

Under a cut because there's gonna be a lot of yapping and art stuffs....explodes +□+

Caspian Hernandez || Any Prns || Watcholder

Basics:

The 15 year old 'basically Nate replacement' of this universe!

Lives in Blossom Heights mostly alone, parents are gone pretty often for one reason or another.

In addition, she lives with Baddinyan who is the only reason they're always out of Chocobars

Can see yokai through their glasses (ability can't be deactivated, but he has to focus on yokai for a few seconds in order to actually see/identify them)

Summons them w/ the Yopple-Brand summon band :'] (Customizable! That's why it looks like a disc attached to a Brute Bracer; because it basically is.) Insert disc into a slot in the side!! Whoopie!!!

Not very socially aware due to doing online school up until the age of like 12 (EVIL CAT interactions early on are constantly like 'lol that thing they said actually meant this you dork ahah you fool' 'hush weirdo I'm trying to focus')

((^ i mean in addition to that hes also based on me so like. Neurodivergent canon?? Maybe?? Idk i unintentionslly write characters like me sometimes

A bit goofy and switches moods easily. Some days can be pretty apathetic if she's in a slump.

Gameverse Friend Team of 6: Baddinyan (duh), Badude, Casanuva, Babblong, Tut'n'K'mon, and Rawry

VC: Unbearaboy! from the 'Yo-Kai Watch!' Sub (the blue one in this scene) ((yes I know it's goofy but it's the only clip I could find, skip past the beginning flashback 😭));

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Kerosque || He/Him || Formerly-Alive Yokai

Basics:

Water-Attributed Rank-B yokai of the Tough Tribe

Phrog is about in his upper 40's.

Inspirit; is kinda like when people tend to be kinda cold/curt in the mornings for seemingly no reason.

Runs a ramen stand someplace on the outskirts of Yo-kailafornia. (He's a pretty good chef too)

((He also has little custom pins you can get for free depending on who you are ^u^ a few of his customers/friends tend to.))

Uses his ladle (however you spell it) as a bit of a weapon thing. Comically large goofy ahh 😭

Doesnt go to the human world more often than he needs to. Too much everything

This man HATES stepping foot in downtown he does NOT wanna be there ever-

Kinda perpetually grumpy, resting mildly angry face. He tries to be polite but isn't very talkative at all lol

He does in fact croak. I love frog

Not pictured cause I forgot but like. Has a little swirly stomach pattern

Reoccurring yokai at his stand tend to be: Roughraff, Sick-Kun, Quinn, Ebi, Caspian, Master Oden, and occasionally Bruff.

VC: No clue yet, something along the lines of a higher version of Walrus Captain from A hat In Time, or a less enthusiastic Captain Caviar from Cookie Run? (If you got ideas, feel free!)

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Dread || He/They/Xe || Human-Born Yokai

Basics:

Drain-Attributed Rank-S yokai of the Shady Tribe

Inspirit; kinda similar to intrusive thoughs. Worse case scenario stuff, things that make you think you're an awful person, dreading situations or overthinking anything, etc etc

Is sighted quite a bit around high-schools. Hormones+anxiety+prime place for embarassment? Makes his job too easy

He has low empathy, but isn't completely incapable. Doesn't make a lot of friends and honestly he could care less either way.

Rather flippant, dry humor kinda guy, kinda similar to Jax from tadc for reference

He does have hair under there (i thought thatd be obvious but then again you'd probably also expect him to have skin and a chest/stomach under his hoodie so aifkwod), but it's usually kinda greasy.

Heart is a weak point in battle. If he ever let's it be exposed in the first place, that is

Cannot be seen by Caspian earlier in the story. Around the point I'd expect him to be in most of my drawings, he's at 'watch' Rank-B

Likes to taunt people, the easier to provoke the better. He feeds off of negative reactions and emotions for both entertainment and soul food nom nom

Usually a sad reaction is better than an angry one for him. If he finds someone's emotional weakness he most likely Will Exploit it XnX

While he doesn't care for anyone, he tends to harass Fuwhirl and Negatibuzz the least.

VC: Dont kill me but Raggedy Andy from Raggedy Anne's Musical Adventure

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Swiss || He/Him || Human-Born Yokai

Basics:

Electic-Attributed Rank-C yokai of the Eerie Tribe

Inspirit; is why people (usually kids) are picky eaters. This can look like randomly losing an appetite/ just finding several things repulsive/I'm bald/nuance/ref

Wanders around wherever. Lives in one of the Tranquility Apartments officially tho.

(Fuwhirl lives w him after they reunite <333 long story short they know him)

Has pretty poor eating habits himself tbh

Is edible!! Technically!!! He would not reccomend it (he's cake roll flavored :'])

The swirl in his hair can be dyed different colors.)

Going off of that, he can regenerate. Useful, but kiiiinda painful

He's a bit of an a-hole, and absolutely doesn't know when to shut up. He doesn't like to fight tho surprisingly (°>°)

Sarcastic and quick to snap back at someone =u=

(There's a strange old man he helps with experiments concerning his odd biology....he hasn't been posted yet but he belongs to my friend @sketchdeath22)

VC: lol idk

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Fuwhirl || They/Them || Object-Born Yokai

Basics:

Wind-Attributed Rank-D yokai of the Mysterious Tribe

Inspirit; Makes people dizzy either randomly or after standing up ×□×

Lived at a circus for a while, but eventually it moved out of town. After a bit of aimless wandering they found their way to Blossom Heights 🌸!!!

Kinda stumbles when they walk, it's worse when they're distressed but a bit more easy to navigate when they're happier &u&

Naive, likes to think anyone's nice under the surface +▽+

Is kinda like Tattletell's in the way he had to be latched on to you to be effective. Typically via a backpack

Has one of those build-a-bear hearts inside him!!! Whoopie :)

VC: Uhhh I forgot atm but I will come back and edit lol

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Anyways, that's not including my like 'ocified versions of pre-existing characters' agsgydirofor I love yapping about ocs!!! Wahoo :)

[nethhiri]

Marooned: Chapter 47

Kid x FemReader x Killer

Warnings: mention of sexual situations, lite trauma

Confessions of a (Grown Ass Man) Drama Queen

For the entire next day, you slept. Kid and Killer had taken you back to the ship and cleaned you up after waking up in a sticky mess with you, Wire, and Heat. The following day, you woke up while it was still dark. You were in the captain's quarters, but Kid wasn't around, neither was Killer. Still feeling a bit... crusty, you decided to shower off. When you were done, you tried rousing Mini to no avail. She would not be woken easily, so you let her sleep and went to the infirmary.

You weren't really trying to sneak around. You were trying not to wake anyone up who still might be sleeping, including Kid if he was in his workshop. Hushed voices caught your attention and you couldn't help but eavesdrop. 

"Kil, what do I do?"

"What do you mean? It sounds like you already spilled the beans."

"What if she doesn't remember? What if she DOES remember?"

"Is this why you've had trouble sleeping?" Killer sighed. "Well, did you mean it? Or was it just the heat of the moment?

"Both?" Kid paused. "Yer feelin the same ain't ya?"

Killer took a while to respond and your ears strained to hear his answer. "More or less... I'm not ready to go there yet."

Your ears got hot and your palms got sweaty. The memory of the other night came back to you. Wasn't this what you wanted? You were overwhelmed at the thought. You had never experienced this feeling with one person, let alone two. Truly, you thought Killer would say it before Kid, not to mention, you never expected that either would say it in that context, or maybe even at all. Kid hated you in the beginning. Though they do say that love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and when Kid had feelings, they were usually impulsive and strong.

Suddenly, you felt very guilty about what you were doing. You went back to the entry, opening and shutting the door loud enough for them to hear. "Good morning, gentlemen." You walked into view, leaning against the doorframe to the adjoining room. They looked mildly startled, but were nonchalant. You tried your best to appear cool, like you hadn't heard anything.

"Well if it isn't our sleepy little cumpling."

You blinked. Cumpling? "I hate that." 

"What! Cum dumpling? I thought it was kinda cute," Killer pouted. 

"She prefers cum dump," Kid snickered.

"I do not." You added, "I'm rescinding my greeting and would like to replace it with 'Good morning, assholes'."

"Aw don't be like that. We had such a good time two days ago."

"You mean yesterday?"

"Nah you slept a long time, doll."

"Oh. Well, fuck." You glanced outside to see that it was still dark out. "And you guys aren't still sleeping because?"

Kid's face turned pink. 

"I've gotta start breakfast." Killer left, but not before pointedly elbowing his friend.

"I was uh... working on something for ya." Kid rifled around his workbench looking for whatever it was. 

He presented you with a metal bracer. It was fairly plain and a bit thicker than you would expect for something like that. It was very high quality metal, however, which you only knew because Kid taught you how to recognize it. You looked at it and back to Kid, questioningly. 

"It's, um, nice." 

"I said I would make ya something useful, didn't I?"

"I believe your exact words were something along the lines of: I'll make ya something that will blow your tits off." You looked down. "They're still attached." You grinned at him.

Kid huffed, bringing the item to you and using his power to put it around your forearm. "I would have made it more decorative but the whole point is that ya can mold it into whatever ya want. I thought for a while about what would suit ya, but I've seen ya pick up just about anything and yer able to fight with it, so why would I restrict ya to one thing. Ya use your fruit or yer weapon, but with this ya can use both at once." Kid added. "A snake has two fangs, aye?" He pointed to your holstered gunblade and your new addition.

You were impressed that Kid put that much thought into it. It was smart. This way you wouldn't have to look for raw materials to convert. It glowed a soft yellow as you played around with it. First, you made it into a sword, metal crawling down the back of your hand into a long, flat blade. It was still attached to the bracer, leaving your hand free. Simple enough. Next, you changed it again into claws coming from your fingertips, into brass knuckles, into a gauntlet. Then, the metal coated your arm, mimicking Kid's. 

"I'm you." You showed it off. "Wait." You used your fruit to make your hair red and spiky, and matched your facial scars to his. "Now, I'm you."

"Pf. My tits are bigger."

You quirked an eyebrow. You hadn't tried body modification in that way before. You laughed, at the same time making your boobs bigger. "This is so stupid." You made the best impression of Kid's scowl that you could and impersonated him. "Yer a pain in the ass, Rotten."

"Is it wrong that this is turnin me on a wee bit?" Kid took a step toward you, hands outstretched and making grabbing motions. 

"Fucking narcissist." You changed yourself back to normal, minus one thing, well, two things. When Kid's hands touched your chest, it was flat. 

Kid made a pouting face, hands full of nothing. "HAH?!"

"Would you look at that? You did blow them off," you said, cackling. 

"Put them back!" Kid sounded slightly concerned, "You can put them back, right?" 

"What? Am I only a walking pair of tits to you?" This time, you actually returned to your normal appearance.

"No!" He couldn't help himself, reaching out to grab one anyway. 

You knocked his hand away and backed up. "Say three things you like about me, then."

"Mouth, pussy, ass." Kid smirked. "Not necessarily in that order."

You blocked a few more of his attempts, backing away from him, before it escalated into him chasing you around the workshop. It helped that you were smaller and faster than him, and that he wasn't using his devil fruit to grab you. Every time he got closer to catching you, you giggled. He was close to catching you. It probably would piss him off, but you jumped and slid over his workbench, scattering tools and papers to the ground. You righted yourself and rounded on him, forming a sword with your bracer again. It clanged against his metal arm as he parried. Neither of you moved, pressing against each other with equal strength. He didn't look pissed though. He was laughing, too. Both of you were catching your breath.

"Tsk. I don't think you're telling the truth, Captain." You felt his force waver ever so slightly. Internally, you smirked. 

"Get over yourself." Kid forced you back. "Looks like a draw."

"I heard what you said the other night." Your eye bored into his and you waited for the inevitable hesitation in his push, using it to force him back against the bench.

Kid stumbled backwards, falling onto the flat surface. "H-Hold on." Kid pushed himself upon his elbows.

You walked until you were flush with his knees, pushing them apart to settle between his thighs hanging off the table's edge. Your power returned your sword to the bracer and also lowered the height of the table, so that you could bend over him. You licked your lips, grabbing his meaty thighs. 

Kid bit his lip. Were you referring to that? What if you weren't and he outed himself accidentally. Whatever the case, his mouth was running dry with you staring down at him like you were. His face was going cherry red as you picked up one of his thighs and rested it on your shoulder. "Remind me what I said." This way there would be no confusion. And even if you didn't return the feeling, at least he might get to hear it from your lips just once. He could pretend. 

You snickered, hand running up and down his thigh. It was hot, seeing him flustered like this. Maybe he would be open to trying something like this in the future. A thought popped into your head: Could I.... give myself a dick?. This wasn't the time to think about possibilities. No. You had to focus on embarrassing Kid as much as possible. 

You kissed the inside of his knee and leaned down until your lips nearly brushed his ear. Shockingly, he was flexible enough for you to keep his thigh on your shoulder as you did so. "I love ya." When you pulled back slightly to see his face, you were taken by the softness in it. You meant to tease him and gloat about it. This face though, it changed your mind. You cleared your throat. "That's what you said." You looked from his eyes to his lips and back. "I didn't say it."

Kid's eyes flicked the same way yours did, from your lips back to your eyes. "Ya just did."

Before you had a chance to protest or argue that you were just repeating what he said and most certainly did not say it of your own volition, Kid had pulled you down into a kiss. It was soft, not like the hungry, rough ones you were used to with him. Your lips moved slowly against his, alternating between kissing his top and bottom lip. You had released his thigh to instead grab his face, a hand on each side. You hadn't consciously done it. He sucked on your bottom lip, though didn't use teeth or slip his tongue in your mouth. This wasn't a sexual kiss, it was a sensual one, a romantic one. You pulled away and found that you both had a hard time looking each other straight in the face. You let go of the fact that you were simply repeating what he had said, unwillingly to take it back now. 

"We should go-" You started.

"Go get breakfast, yeah." Kid finished.

Somehow, this clarification of feelings, left you both more confused than ever. Neither of you could look at each other. Neither of you knew how to act. This was uncharted territory for you, and somewhat for him as well. You silently cleaned Kid's lipstick smears from each other before leaving, hesitating by the door, awkwardly staring at each other's hand, wondering if you should hold it or not. Was that something you were supposed to do now? What were you supposed to do now?

Breakfast was weird. You sat with the girls for the first time in a while. Quincy teased you, asking if you and Kid had been fighting again. Killer asked a similar question to Kid. You both replied the same thing: "Worse." Quincy and Killer were equally baffled by what that could mean. Especially since neither of you were angry or in a bad mood. In fact, you both seemed to be in anxiously happy. 

This would be the last night on the island. Naturally, everyone was making plans to go out. The daytime was for unfinished errands. The nighttime was for unfinished debauchery. You didn't have any particular errands to do, so you focused on plans for that night. The obvious thing would be to go out with Kid and Killer. Obviously you were avoiding that because of this morning's events. Killer was fine. Kid would be with him though. You asked Heat, but Heat was going to see Jade again, as he had the prior night. Apparently they had taken a liking to each other. You even asked Wire. He wasn't going out. He had routes to plot. The girls were going back to the brothel you had no interest in. So it looked like you would be stuck with Kid and Killer, or you could go by yourself. 

The night started slow. You were at a low-key bar, people-watching and drinking a beer. Unlike the other night, you weren't in the mood to fight, so you were toned down, wearing your regular clothes. Minerva kept you company, lying on the floor next to you. She scared away anyone that you didn't. When that got old, you walked around the streets. The hairs on the back of your neck abruptly stood up with the feeling that you were being watched. Despite that, you scanned the crowd and saw nothing. It was probably nothing. Your observation haki was shit anyway. 

You ran into a few crewmates in the street and in the bars. You were walking amongst the people when you felt it again. You looked at Minerva. She didn't seem concerned with anything, her ears flicking around and her snout twitching to scent the air. You had Mini wait at one of the buildings and walked down an alleyway. If you were being tailed, they would take the opportunity to have you out of sight and alone. Sure enough, someone came in shortly after. Minerva blocked the opening of the alley, leaving no escape route. With one fluid motion, you had the person up against the wall with your blade at their neck. You let your eye adjust.

"Emma, what the fuck?" You let her go.

"I didn't want to shout over the crowd."

Yeah that checks out. "That was stupid. What if I killed you?"

"Then I'd be dead." 

You deadpanned each other. "What do you want?"

"Everyone else is hanging downtown. Come join."

One of the more lively bars in town was packed with Kid Pirates, you even saw Heat with Jade. You weren't actually sure if it was lively normally or if it was like this because of the Kid Pirates. Before you were able to check out the rest of your surroundings, Quincy grabbed your hand and dragged you onto the dance floor, placing a drink into your other hand. You took a sip and curled your lip, pouring the rest into Mini's mouth when Quincy wasn't looking and discarding the glass. You spotted Pomp with a better looking drink and snagged it from his table as you passed. Letting Quincy lead you in a dance that had no relation to the music at all, you nursed your drink until you spotted Killer sitting by himself. You pulled away from Quincy, much to her dismay and headed in his direction. You were just about at the booth when Kid slid into a seat. Turning on your foot, you went to the bar instead, tossing the rest of your drink back.

"So what the fuck is up with you two?" Killer sipped his beer through a straw. He saw you avoid them. 

"Nothing." Kid mumbled, staring into his drink.

"She remembered?"

"Yeah."

"Ok and?" Killer prompted for more information. 

Kid remained tight-lipped. 

"Fuck's sake. I've never seen you stop talking for this long." 

"Shut up, Killer!" Kid growled. Adding more softly, "She said it back... sort of."

"That's good, isn't it?" Killer was puzzled by your behavior. "Why are you avoiding each other now?"

"What do we do now?" Kid had never gotten this far in the way of feelings and neither had you. 

"What do you mean? I would think you'd both be in the bathroom fucking each other silly." Killer stared at his friend. "So you can be in a flat-out orgy together just fine, but you're too chickenshit to dance together? Is that it?" Killer watched as Heat and Jade came out of the bathroom, speaking of. Heat's pants were on backwards. 

"It changes things." 

"It really doesn't."

Kid huffed, leaning back and chugging the rest of his beer. He snapped at one of the waiters for another. 

You returned to the floor after a few shots at the bar. That was all the liquid courage you needed to start dancing. You started with Quincy and Emma then the shifting crowd deposited you near Heat and Jade. You and Jade put Heat in a sandwich, grinding on him from the front and the back. That fucking dog reeked of pussy, and his pants were backwards. Your lips curled into a smirk. Good for them. Your eye caught Killer's and you beckoned him over. He shook his head. You made a fake pout. He shook his head again. You gave him a thumbs down and stuck your tongue out. You danced by yourself for a while, very nearly drunk. You backed into someone, someone large. You didn't bother to see who it was. You didn't care what his face looked like in this state, as long as he was big. And you were planning on finding that out quickly with the way your body moved against his. He cleared his throat. You turned slightly, recognizing your captain. 

You jumped off him and spun around to be face to face instead of ass to dick. "Oh fuck."  You both stared at each other silently.

Kid was several beers and one shot in, enough to work up some courage. "Dance with me." He said it like a command, but the inflection was that of a question. 

You stepped toward him, grabbing onto his shirt. You were too short to put your hands around his neck without it looking stupid. It took him a minute to realize you responded affirmatively. He placed his hands on your hips lightly, as if he thought he was going to get burned by touching you. Both of you were stiff, not really dancing so much as walking in weird patterns and spinning around, like those spinning cup rides at an amusement park. You stumbled over your own feet and Kid snickered. You swatted his chest. That seemed to loosen you both up and soon you were dancing like two normal people, maybe even with the rhythm. Kid's soft amber eyes were on you affectionately, making your heart pound. You were sure you had a blush, too. Kid bent down and you met him on tiptoes to kiss. Just a simple kiss. 

Killer joined you both, "Finally." 

You both flicked him off, but let him in to dance. He made it easier to relax. You were between them, alternating between grinding on one and kissing the other. It escalated from somewhat tame to obscene in a relatively short time. Kid pushed some poor guy and his date out of the way and pulled you and Killer into the bathroom behind him. The tile on the floor was digging into your knees as you gave Killer head, using your hand to jerk Kid off at the same time. Every so often you would switch. There were plenty of angry knocks at the door from people who actually had to use the bathroom for its intended purpose. Kid was quick to tell them to fuck off. Honestly they should be grateful you guys weren't just doing this in the open. 

You emerged from the bathroom wiping the corners of your mouth followed by Kid and Killer. You winked at the first person in line. At this point the bar was dying down, so the Kid Pirates made the decision to head back to the ship. You grabbed another shot to act as a chaser for your bathroom activities and walked outside while the other two hung back to round everyone up. Minerva followed you out and the two of you walked toward the ship. 

There were still a fair amount of people out. There was a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. Maybe I overdid it. A chill went down your spine and the hairs on your arms and neck went up. It was that feeling again. But you knew Emma was still inside. Something was definitely off. Your heart was beating a a fast pace and all you could hear was blood rushing in your ears. Bile started to rise in your throat. You scanned the crowd, still slowly walking. Your body was having a visceral reaction to this presence. Abruptly you felt it, you turned and your breath caught in your throat. Piercing yellow eyes were staring at you. It was him. You saw his face. You saw his white hair. It was unmistakably him. You bent over and retched, but when you looked back he was gone.

You were shaking. You wanted to run but you couldn't. Your hand was buried in Minerva's fur to steady yourself. She was uneasy because you were uneasy, but of course she wouldn't recognize his scent, since she wasn't with you at that time. You nearly jumped out of your skin when you felt a hand on your shoulder. 

"Hey. Whoa. Are you alright?" It was Killer. "Did you have too much to drink?" You looked pale, like you were about to pass out. 

"K-K-Kil. I saw him. He's here." 

"Who?"

"Warthin."

Next

Tag list: @bbnbhm @nocturnalrorobin

[milkcos]

redesigns!! ft. an entirely new style

more abt my choices behind the read more

maka: pretty much superficial stuff, gave her a cloak-like coat to replace the trench coat and updated her look a bit more? i wanted her to have more of a grunge vibe mixed with a prep look. so she’s got mary janes and a half tucked shirt

soul: he’s very much a grunge hipster based on canon aesthetics, so i changed his jacket into a quarter zip and gave him some baggier pants. also i feel like he would be that person perpetually carrying headphones

black star: he gets platforms!!! i feel like he would persist being stupid short for the rest of his life. otherwise his outfit remains pretty similar with just added bracers. i also incorporated more blue into his outfit and got rid of his dog cone collar.

tsubaki: unsexualized your girl, and then makes her more cool. no more tiddy window, but i did keep her slit just bc i feel like it’d give her more movement. she’s got shorts now and those martial artist slippers? for increased traction. and then yk pouches bc a girl has to have some sort of storage on her

kidd: i kept his suit style, but gave him a zoot suit instead. it gave him a more personalized look and kept him more on theme with the other redesigns. also skull bolo tie which fits the suit and his aesthetic. plus i like putting male characters in heels so he’s got heels on his mock dress shoe converse

patty: desexualizes and cowboys your girl. she’s got shorts in the original so i just made them longer and added a big belt buckle + bolo tie + cowboy boot + cowboy hat combination.

liz: desexualizes and cowboys your girl pt 2. since she’s got pants originally, i feel like boot cut jeans would make a lot of sense fr her? she’s got that kinda older sister y2k vibe. matching w patty also w her accessories too <3

[the-griffons-saddlebag]

💎 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺! Ghostbow Bracer
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement) ___ This leather bracer has a blue gemstone embedded on its wrist, which glimmers with an ethereal light. While wearing it, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls on ranged attacks made with longbows and shortbows. 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙬. You can use a bonus action to summon a spectral longbow or shortbow from the bracer's gemstone. The bow is weightless, allowing you to ignore the longbow's normal heavy property while holding it. The bow remains until you're holding another weapon, until you drop it, or until you dismiss it (no action required). While the weapon persists, it sheds dim light in a 20-foot radius. It creates its own arrows, which magically appear in a knocked position whenever you draw the bow. Hit or miss, an arrow disappears after the attack or if you release the bowstring without firing the arrow. Regardless of what bow you summon, it deals force damage instead of piercing damage. 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨. The bracer has 4 charges for the following properties. It regains all expended charges daily at dawn. The available properties are determined by the type of summoned bow. 𝙂𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙩 (𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙗𝙤𝙬). When you hit a target with an arrow that was created by the summoned bow, you can expend 1 charge to deal an extra 2d8 force damage to the target. This damage is in addition to the attack's normal damage. 𝙋𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 (𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙬). When you take the Attack action using the summoned bow, you can replace one or more of your attacks with a special attack using the bow. You expend 2 charges per attack you replace in this way. When you do, you draw forth a cool beam of light from the weapon, instead of a spectral arrow. You fire this beam of light in a line from you that's 5 feet wide and 100 feet long. Each creature within the line must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 4d8 force damage. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 (𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙗𝙤𝙬). You can expend 1 charge as a bonus action to make one ranged attack against a creature using the summoned bow. On a hit, you teleport to an unoccupied space... ..Continued in the comment below! ___ ✨ Patrons get huge perks! Access this and hundreds of other item cards, art files, and compendium entries when you support The Griffon's Saddlebag on Patreon for less than $10 a month!

[noblest-roman-of-them-all]

A Thoughtful Gift

Roman tapped lightly on Remus’s door then didn't wait for an answer before entering, present first. "Here," he said and tossed the box to his twin.

"Ooh!" Remus nearly squealed with delight. "Second Christmas!" He didn't even bother waiting for Roman to find a place to sit before tearing into the box that seemed to wrapped in damp newspaper. Roman ended up sitting beside his twin on the bed, watching with a faint smile as Remus fought with the box he'd tapped all the way around.

"I wasn't sure which one I wanted to give you, but after the whole air fryer thing, I thought you might like the slime to experiment with," Roman explained when Remus popped open the box with a gasp and quickly pulled out two of the slime jars, one in each hand.

"There's different textures and whatnot so you can test to see what happens to each of them. The slimes do have borax in them so please don't eat them. They will make you sick. And I thought you could use a journal specifically for your air fryer shenanigans which I expect to be hearing all about whether I want to or not so. May as well take notes on it. I know that's what we decided to give Nico, but...it seemed fitting for you too. So. There you go."

"Thanks, Ro-bro!" Remus beamed and threw his arms around Roman's shoulders.

"You're welcome, Rem-ding." He patted Remus on the back.

Remus quickly let go of Roman and nearly folded himself in half to stretch under his bed. When he sat up, he held a box wrapped in red metallic paper with a gold bow and presented to Roman, who accepted it with a smile and tore into the paper with notably less enthusiasm than his brother.

"They're bracers," Remus told him when he pulled open the box.

"You put my emblem on them!" Roman noted, his voice soft, as he pulled one of armor pieces from its box. "Remus...these are beautiful!"

"They're for the next time you're stupid and break your arm. I won't have to set it because these will keep all your bones in place! I used that leather working book you gave me to make them."

"Well, I'm hoping I don't ever do that again, but I really appreciate these. Thanks, Rem. And I'm glad that book came in handy after all. Here," he shoved a bracers and his arm at Remus. "Help me try them on!"

"You should still gave full range of motion with them," Remus explained and as he tightened the laces of the first bracers, "so using your sword should be fine, but it isn't to replace your shield. So don't get any dumb ideas. That's my job!"

Both froze at the unexpected knock on the door. "Remus?" Patton's voice called.

Roman quickly snatched up his box and sank from the room and Remus kicked the box his own gift had come in under the bed before answering the door.

"What's up, Daddio?" Remus asked cheerfully and popped open the door.

"Hey, Remus. I, uh, I talked to Janus and um." He held out a box wrapped in simple in green paper. "I...wanted to give you something that...was more personal. It's an art kit. For charcoal art."

Remus stared in surprised at the contents of the box. "I...actually...don't know what to say. ...Thank you?"

Patton nodded. "You're welcome. I mean, I know you seemed excited about the air fryer, but I couldn't stop thinking about what Janus said. He was right. It..wasn't really a thoughtful gift. And you're...becoming part of our group now. You should get a proper present. A thoughtful one. So." He gestured to the kit. "I hope you enjoy it."

"I will," Remus nodded. "Thanks, Patton."

Patton smiled brightly. "You're welcome, Remus. Merry Christmas."

[zoeykallus]

Hi! I see you take requests for one shots! Could you do an echo x reader (fluff only) where the reader helps echo through a panic attack on the battlefield and echo ends up telling her about his feelings? Thanks!

Aloha! Well yes, I did, still do, and they keep coming in, so I'm a little slow to catch on, very sorry about that. But now you finally get your ask/request done 😊 Also, I'm assuming you mean TBB Echo, so that's what I'm going with. If you were thinking of pre Citadel Echo, let me know and I'll write something new.

Echo x Reader One-Shot - Always

Warnings: Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Tension/Fluff/Mention And Description Of A Panic Attack

_______________

It's nothing new, enemy fire, a tense situation, jumping from cover to cover. But something is different for Echo today. He climbs a ridge to survey the battlefield when a blaster shot hits his right prosthetic leg, right in the knee joint. He pulls himself up just in time. "Kriffin hell!" growls Echo, cursing. You hear his curse over the comm in his helmet and ask anxiously from your cover, "Echo? Are you okay?" He doesn't answer right away. Echo tries to stand up, but his prosthetic leg refuses to serve him. The leg remains stiff and cannot be bent, the joint fused together from the blaster shot. Echo tries to get up again and again, although the rational part of his mind knows that the prosthesis is simply broken. Cold sweat breaks out, his heart beats up to his throat, his breathing gets faster and faster, his muscles tense up, his body feels heavy as lead and immobile all at once. "Echo? Answer me!" Tech checks his new gadget, a small monitor built into his bracer connected to all the batchers, there he can see the vital signs of all the team members. "Sharply elevated pulse, frantic breathing, muscle tension, I think Echo is having a panic attack," he finally informs you. You bite your tongue to suppress the curse that automatically wants to come out of your mouth. "Cover me for a moment," you murmur to Tech and Wrecker, who were with you and Echo. "We've got your back, ad'ika!", Wrecker assures you and resolutely blasts two more droids. Ducked, you run to the rocky ridge and begin to climb, you must now fully rely on Tech and Wrecker to really have your back, draw their fire and make sure no one shoots you in the back. You are not disappointed, yet your heart races, and you feel adrenaline flood your system as you reach the top. At the top you see Echo lying there on his back, he moves a little, but very stiffly and by now you can hear his frantic breathing over the comm. "Echo, I'm here, everything's fine," you say as your gaze flies hastily over his body, searching for wounds.

You discover the fused joint on his prosthetic leg and guess what happened. Echo was hit, which is scary enough in itself, but when he could no longer move freely as a result, panic set in, and now he was lying here. As he tries to take off his helmet with a shaking hand, you stop him. "No, don't take off your helmet, we are still on the battlefield". You try to tell him as gently as you can and take his hand off his helmet, but you have to push through. A stray or even aimed blaster shot could be much more dangerous or even deadly without a helmet. "I can't move," Echo finally croaks tensely. "Yes you can, Echo, it's just the prosthetic that got hit, until it's replaced or repaired you'll need a support, but you have no injury," you say patiently, holding his hand. He's shaking, and you can still hear his uneasy breathing over the comm. "Echo, listen to my voice, okay? Focus on my words and look at me." He takes two deeper, slower breaths, trying to catch himself, and you see his head turn a little to look at you. Even though you can't see his face right now, his visor is pointing right at you. You would like to show him your face, but the Safety 1x1 that Hunter taught you took precedence. One of the first rules regarding armor and general protective clothing, never take off your helmet in combat, only if there is no other way at all. But he knows your helmet, he knows your voice, Echo decorated your helmet with you, so he has a familiar image in front of him. "You'll be fine, I'm sure Tech can fix it or replace it. You just got scared, it happens to all of us. But now you have to pull yourself together, the battle isn't over yet. Besides, you promised me that we would cook your famous stew together tonight". You deliberately refrained from titling it panic attack or panic in general. The word itself could have a violent effect opposite to the desired result. Some words can have a very strange power over a person.

Echo continues to breathe deeply, in and out. It takes a long moment, but finally he replies, "I haven't forgotten, I intend to keep my promise, Mesh'la." Relief floods through you. "Very good, then let's shoot the clankers down there, so we can get home".

Back on Ord Mantell: Your helmet tucked under your arm, you enter Tech's small workshop, where he is busy fitting Echo's new prosthetic leg. "Hey guys," you say cheerfully. "Hello ad'ika," Tech says kindly, though without looking up from his work on the prosthetic. Echo looks up at you from his seated position. "Hey lifesaver," he says with a wry smile. "Now, don't exaggerate," you say with a soft laugh. Tech says matter-of-factly, "I don't think Echo is exaggerating, he was in an awkward position, a panic attack in the middle of combat is a death sentence for most soldiers." Echo and you look at Tech with furrowed brows, actually you should be used to his straightforward manner by now. "How's it looking?" you ask to change the subject, "Can you handle it with the new prosthetics?" "Of course," Tech replies almost indignantly. When he finishes and Echo gets up to test the prosthesis, everything seems to work right off the bat. "Thanks Tech, I owe you one," Echo says. "Don't mention it," Tech says, "I still have to help Crosshair with his rifle, I guess it got damaged during Hunter and Crosshair's little trip together." You raise your eyebrows, "They're both okay though?" "Yeah, no injuries, Crosshair's just a little whiny about his beloved rifle" Tech noted. Tech retreats to find Crosshair, along with his toolbox, and for the moment you are alone with Echo in the small workshop. He seems strangely nervous all of a sudden. He clears his throat and finally says, "There's something I'd like to tell you." Astonished, you look at him, "Oh yeah?" "Yes. Today has made me realize that I shouldn't wait any longer to do this. The way we live, any day can be the last and I don't want to end up regretting not addressing certain things" "Oh."l Echo moves closer to you until he is standing relatively close to you.

"None of the others could have gotten me out of that stupor today as easily as you did. I know they all would have tried, but.... Well, so what I'm saying is..." Echo pauses for quite a while, licks his lips nervously, and finally says, "I've developed feelings for you. Something I never really expected. I was born a soldier, or created, depending on how you want to look at it, I've lived as a soldier, and it never occurred to me to be anything else or expect more out of life." Your heart beats faster, and you know you are staring wide-eyed at him right now, but you can't help it. Echo continues, "But then you stumbled into our lives, you stayed, and I got to know you and by now I feel there is more to life than just being a soldier. I'd like to explore with you what exactly it all is. Does that make any sense?" For a moment, you just stare at him. He laughs nervously, avoids your gaze, and scratches the back of his neck. "Oh god, I'm really bad at this, in my head it all sounded completely different". You smile at him silently, giving him time to collect himself. Finally, he says laughing softly, "Okay, simply put, I have a crush on you". He looks from one point to another, avoiding your gaze, until he suddenly feels your lips on his cheek. Echo quietly says, placing his hand on your hip, "However, I have no idea where we go from here. Are we going out together? Should I buy flowers? Shall we go out to eat? Should I learn to dance? Do I kiss you now?" Smiling, you lean your forehead against his as he leans toward you, and you say, "How about we go to my apartment, you cook the stew with me as promised, and then we'll see?" He breathes a sigh of relief as he replies, "Sounds wonderful." "Then I'll see you at my place in an hour?" "All right," Echo says with a grin. As you're about to walk out, you turn around again and say, "Oh and Echo, take your toothbrush with you, just in case" Echo blinks, his cheeks flush a little, finally he nods with a shy but mischievous smile, "Got it. Oh, and thanks for coming to my rescue"

You smile and say, “Always”

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

@arctrooper69

@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@allsystemsblue

@palliateclaws

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@extrahotpixels

@hated-by-me

@hunterxcrosshair

@malicemercy

@bebopsworld

@echos-girlfriend

@taskfork-archive

@cpnt616

@starwarsnerd111

[calcahro]

[WUTHERING WAVES LORE GUIDE]

Explaining Tacet Discords

Short thread I did for Twitter

---

Tacet Discords are sentient beings formed by the residual chaotic frequency energy. They have yellow Tacet Cores on their bodies, and amorphous, ever-changing shape. They instinctly feed on other frequencies to maintain stability and evolve.

These creatures mimic the abilities, shapes, and behaviors of others and are influenced by the types of frequencies they consume. There are 5 known Tacet Discord mimicry types listed on an in-game document: Whisperin, Howler, Tranquilite, Clamorling, and Staticoid. SOUNDS!

To learn these, you can do the following:

Read Tacet Core Drop descriptions, observe the shape of Tacet Core, observe TD behavior/shape (do they mimic a human trait/role, do they behave like an animal, do they have mechanical parts, do they resemble other things on the planet).

For clarity, when I use the term Tacet Core from now on, I am referring to the distinct ones you can see on their bodies. When I say Tacet Core Drop, I am referring to the items in your inventory. No drops in-game for the other 3 mimicry types that aren't Whisperin and Howler.

1) Whisperin: Humanoid mimicry.

These Tacet Discords stand on two feet, can mimic warriors, use instruments, etc. Human traits!

Example: You have Crownless, who mimics a Knight but can never grasp the concept of chivalry and Knighthood, rendering it a ghost of endless warfare.

Whisperin Tacet Discords have a Tacet Core that resemble a star.

Here are the descriptions of the low frequency, middle frequency, and high frequency Whisperin Tacet Core Drops. "Broken star", "Frequency Energy aligns with the hearing range of normal people".

In the Act about Qichi Village, you will come across this Tick Tack Whisperin Tacet Discord, who repeats the words of a young child from village because it absorbed their frequencies. And sorry for the ugly picture my xbox gamebar wasn't cooperating and I was impatient...

2) Howler: Animal mimicry. or just Organic? (I'll come back to this later)

Example: The apes and dreadmane hounds.

To me, Howler Tacet Discord have a Tacet Core that resemble a rose. They are rounder compared to other Tacet Cores.

<NOT SOLID>

3) Tranquilites: Earth? Inorganic?

Example: The prisms that are immune when you attack them with similar frequencies. Any Tacet Discord whose appearance resembles rocks or other earth material.

Tranquilite Tacet Cores appear rigid and layered on their bodies.

Fission Junrock. Description: "A Common Class Tranquilite TD inhabiting mountaineous areas. Often overlooked due to its lava-like shape."

Vanguard Junrock. Description: The same except "lava-like shape" -> replaced with "rock-like appearance".

I did say you can identify Whisperins if they walk on two feet, but that's not the ONLY factor. Stonewall Bracer is not considered Whisperin despite walking on two feet. Description: "An Elite Tranquilite TD found in mountainous areas. They bear huge sizes and inhabit rocks."

What about ROCKsteady Guardian? Looks like its composed of rocks, but the highlight for it is the role it assumes: a Guardian. It attacks and protects like one. (Same with the Chasm Guardian TD). It has the humanoid description, Whisperin Tacet Core, and behaves like a warrior.

Roseshroom has Tranquilite description, yet visible Howler Tacet Core on body. This is why I wrote Earth? or Inorganic? For most Tranquilite they are inorganic, but not if the plant TD are involved. Howlers could also be the organic umbrella and then it would make sense too.

Here are the descriptions of the middle frequency, and high frequency Howler Tacet Core Drops. "Natural cycle of life".

4) Staticoids: TD attached to man-made objects... or (Act 5 with Court of Savantae).

Examples: Mech abomination, Autopuppet scout which is in a discarded vehicle, Traffic Illuminator, Chaserazor/Carapace (the car TD).

The visible Tacet Core on Autopuppet is square-ish like Tranquilites, but not exactly the same. The similar shape can be because man-made objects are also inorganic (DUH). But to me, the Tranquilite Tacet Cores have more stacked layers.

Last time I checked, Mech abomination had a Clamorling drop but a Staticoid description. So keep that in mind... another inconsistent element, I know. The Tacet Core for Staticoid TD looks rigid and square-ish, but not stacked layers like Tranquilite.

5) STUPID Clamorlings. I have yet to find a TD with this classification besides Mech Abomination, but again, Mech Abomination had a Clamorling drop but Staticoid description. You will learn a bit about this TD in Act 5, at the laboratory where it is located.

Anyways that's all I have to say about Tacet Discords for now. I'll come back to this if anything changes down the line and if we get more Tacet Core Drops for the other 3 mimicry types in the future. Whisperin is honestly the most solid out of the rest, bye bye

[covenofwives]

Going Home Part 2

DreamXD is madder than he has ever been, having just saved Dream and George from the End. While he takes George home he has different ideas for Dream, instead giving his brother over to someone else to watch while he cleans up Dream's mess. Dream's lucky day is he gets to meet another God, too bad the God is a sleepy grouch who doesn't seem to want anything to do with Dream.

Part two of the three part fic! You don't need to read part one if you don't want to, but you might miss some details.

As voted by the peoples, part three will be coming out later on when it's finished. Originally this was only supposed to be two parts, but part two was going too long and I had a much better idea for it to be it's own story. It'll be worth it I promise!

Thank you all for your patient and support with this AU and I hope you all enjoy!

---

The tall white columns of the unending void ended a while back. Dream didn’t know when, but suddenly the hallways opened up to a wide void of opalescent colours. There were shapes and shadows off in the distance that moved around but Dream had no time to focus or make sense of them. He was dragged, by his arm through the seemingly endless spot, never being allowed to slow down. If he started to slack behind or falter a single step, DreamXD yanked his arm and he’d be stumbling to keep up.

The brothers had been walking in silence for probably ten minutes now. Neither said anything. Dream gave a glance up to XD every once in a while, but the anger radiating off his brother was too great for him to find the words. He tried to focus on something else, but his eye would keep wandering back to XD, and take in the marks of battle on him.

His lower right arm was limply hanging by his side. His cloak was torn to near shreds and covered in golden and violet blood. He winced every time he looked at those wounds, but it gave him enough courage to find his voice.

“E…EhexD…” Dream cleared his throat. His sibling didn’t respond. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for-”

“Stop talking.” XD’s snapped.

Dream clamped his lips shut, and just let himself be dragged the rest of the way in silence.

Eventually the landscaped changed. Gone were the white with tiny colourful hints and instead it slowly morphed into a dark blue. The dark blue overtook the white, but left small speckles all dotted about. Some shining or streaking through.

Like a night sky. Dream thought. He was so mesmerised by the stars, his steps faltered and he was yanked back to XD’s side.

“Keep up!” XD hissed.

“Wh-Where are we?” Dream was still too impressed to be scared.

“That’s not important! We’re here…”

Dream looked ahead, expecting to finally see something else grand in this wondrous place, but instead it was a lain out pile of blankets.

The blankets were all different shades of blues and purples. There were a few pillows strewn about between the blankets as well and a clumped up pile of blankets and pillows in the centre.

XD walked over the blankets and pulled Dream along. Dream was more hesitant to step on the cloth with his boots but XD didn’t really gave him a choice. He dragged Dream over the blankets to the big pile in the middle.

Dream didn’t even have time to look at it before XD gave the blanket a swift kick and the blankets jumped. They flailed and kicked about and Dream realised it wasn’t just blankets. There was a person in there.

The person kicked of the blankets and twisted themselves around. They sat up in the sheets pooled around them. They had a black tight turtle neck but their arms covered in flowing fabric that ended at the golden bracer around his wrists. Their hair was an unkempt, the colours fading between a dark and light blue as what seemed like stars streaked through their hair.

It reminded Dream of the realm, but when the person woke up the realm started to change. The night sky instantly faded and was replaced with a dark teal colour stretching out over the realm. It seemed to match the colours streaking down the stranger’s cheeks. Like colourful tear marks, almost.

The person looked around frantically before realising XD was there. “Wh-What is it? Wha-?”

“You’re watching him.” XD spoke before they could even finish.

The person seemed taken aback to the order. He looked incredulously to XD, though most of his expression was hidden by the large but familiar white goggles on his eyes. Eventually the stranger’s attention looked to Dream beside him, taking him in for the first time. He looked over the mortal before the corner of his lip turned up in a scowl.

He turned his bed back to XD then. “Excuse me?” It was less of an asking tone and more of a demand for an answer.

“You’re watching him.” XD repeated, and lifted Dream’s arm slightly as if to point out who the ‘him’ was. “Until I get back, Dream is to stay here and not leave.”

Dream just managed to keep back his gasp, but only because the news of it had shocked him. He honestly wasn’t sure where XD was taking him or for what purpose. But the last thing on his mind was to think XD was taking him to a babysitter. And a stranger no less! Dream’s mind added.

“Oh?” The stranger sat up straighter now. All daze of being awoken was gone and replaced with anger. “Am I to be a babysitter now? I don’t remember becoming one.”

Dream could hear his brother’s fangs grind together. “Just until I get back.” His attention then snapped to Dream, who had to fight back the urge to cower away. Even with the mask hiding his expression, Dream could hear the snarl in his brother’s voice. “You will wait here,” he said and pushed Dream forward to sit down.  Dream just caught himself but his legs wobbled under him so he was half sitting.

“I-I’m not a child!” Dream found his voice. The shock had worn off to anger now. To be treated in such a way was embarrassing. “I don’t need minded over!”

“This isn’t babysitting, this is punishment!” XD pushed Dream down till he was sat (half sitting half fallen) on the blanketed ground. “You should be grateful I’m taking you here! I’d lock you in the prison myself if I wasn’t so angry!”

The mention of that dreaded place took all fight out of Dream, and he shut his lips then. So it had been a thought that crossed his brother’s mind. There was a level Dream could get to in XD’s head that meant he deserved to be locked in the prison.

But even if he was silent, the stranger certainly wasn’t. “And I have no say in this?!” The person huffed. “Why am I being punished for something your brother done?!”

“Because I asked you to!” XD snapped, the last of his patience gone and he ended up shouting. Dream had heard XD angry, but he’d never heard him shout like that before. “And you’re supposed to be a friend who wants to help out another friend!” He added, his voice calmer now. “So, please, watch Dream until I get back.”

A long silence settled between XD and the stranger. Dream felt the tension rise like electricity between them, until the stranger huffed. “Fine…” He mumbled. He lay back down in the blankets, pulling some over him again but he seemed to be going back to sleep.

Once that was dealt with, XD sharply turned to Dream. Suddenly all the built up tension seemed directed straight to the blonde mortal, and Dream even flinched when the End God pointed at him.

“You will stay here, with HD, and not move!” He growled. Dream could hear his fang click together, seething with rage. “You better pray no-one else followed you into that stronghold and that yous were the only idiots to go through, otherwise you’re in worse trouble!”

Before Dream could even respond, or even think about what could be considered ‘worse’ right now, XD turned and he left. Disappearing instantly.

Even with XD gone the tension and electrical charge of the air still remained. Dream kept himself as still as possible, afraid to move and encure XD’s wrath again, or annoy the stranger wrapped up in his blankets.

At least Dream knew their name was HD now, though he couldn’t see much conversation happening between them. HD didn’t seem to want to talk or entertain XD’s visit, so it was even less likely he’d put up with Dream’s company.

Dream moved his head slowly and risked looking over to HD still buried in the blankets. They hadn’t seem to have moved since XD left. Maybe they had fallen back asleep, or they were trying to at least.

He hadn’t really been given an order from this HD, though the order from XD was clear. ‘Sit here and don’t move.’

Still, even with the threat of further anger from XD, the restless energy had returned. Dream had calmed down from the shock and fear of his fight with Dragon and facing XD’s wrath, and now it gave way to curiosity. And mischief.

Dream gave another sly look over to HD. He was still wrapped up in his blankets, only his starry hair flowing over the pillows was seen. Surely he was asleep by now. And if he was asleep there’s no way he was going to notice if Dream just wandered off just for a little bit.

He wasn’t allowed to look around when he was being dragged here by XD, but nothing could stop him just taking a harmless look around now. He’d be back way before HD even woke up. No-one would know.

He was curious how far this colourful realm reached. It seemed to fade in from the opalescent walk he was on before, so did that mean it was two different areas? How far did they stretch?

Dream was sure he could find out. The realm lay in a slight yellowish-green hue right now, fading from the teal of earlier and Dream wondered if it would fade into more colours. Or if there was something to set them off.

He had too many questions to just keep still. With a last peek back, Dream unfolded his legs out from under him and slowly stood up. HD didn’t move. Dream half stood up, taking a careful step forward. HD still didn’t move.

Already filled with the confidence he got away with it, Dream looked ahead, trying to remember which direction he and XD had come from and took a few steps forward. He was confident he could make it back to the grand hallway he saw. If he could just…

“UGK!”

Dream felt his hood be yanked back, pulling him down down before he was dragged back, undoing the distance between himself and HD.

“Do not even think about it!” HD hissed behind him. “You think I’d be that dumb and let you wander around by yourself?”

“I-I wasn’t going to go far!” Dream tried to reason while also trying to pull down the collar of his hoodie so he didn’t choke. HD’s grip was strong and he was dragged back all the way before the hand finally let go. Dream turned back but was surprised to see HD was still wrapped in his blankets. He hadn’t even turned around. Dream gave a sceptical was confused and looked behind him to see what had grabbed him.

It was a white floating hand in the process of letting his hoodie go. It was attached to no arm or body, just floating by itself.

“WH-What is THAT?!”

The hand floated to HD’s side before disappearing in a white mist.

“It’s to keep you out of trouble.” HD grumbled. He slightly turned over, looking to Dream through his white goggles. The lenses of them looked like static rather than a darkened lens. “If you try and get away, they’ll drag you back. If you keep trying they will hold you down until XD gets back. Is that clear?”

HD turned back over, this time laying on his front and gathering the pillows under him. “Sit there, be quiet and don’t bother me.”

That was the end of it, according to HD. It was impossible to tell if he’d fallen asleep again, or just pretending like he did last time. Dream watched him for a few seconds before slightly scooting away. He tried moving quieter this time but almost instantly the hand appeared in front of him, and before Dream could move it grabbed his arm and pulled him down.

“Don’t! Move!” HD hissed. “You move again, you’ll regret it. I promise you!”

Dream didn’t want to chance it again. HD sounded mad and the hand that forced him down was a lot rougher than the one before. He - very slowly - sat himself up again and when he didn’t move anymore the hand slowly let go and disappeared. A lot slower this time.

Now Dream was overly curious about the realm, but he no longer had the freedom to move and explore it. Which just made the urge to move that much worse. He crossed his legs over one another, one of them slightly twitching as he waited for…anything.

He supposed the only thing he was looking forward to now was XD returning, and then he’d have to deal with that whole mess. Dream sloughed  slightly. His mood soured as he thought of XD returning. He’d still be just as mad and still refuse to listen to Dream’s side of things. Well that was fine. XD never listened before why start now?

Going down this thought process was depressing, but Dream couldn’t distract his mind enough. He tried looking around the sea of soft blankets and pillows, only taking note that the colours were fading into a night sky again but that was it.

Dream was leaning his head over his hand, almost lulling to sleep himself when, finally, something changed.

The distant horizon seemed to mist out and fade from view so Dream wasn’t sure if the shapes were really there or just his eyes playing tricks. He stared at them, for a minute or so and realised they were there. Various shadowed shapes with glowing eyes were watching him from a distance. Few of the shapes were tall, humanoid looking, and others were not. Despite whatever shape they were they all stared with their glowing eyes, watching him.

Dream froze, unsure what to do. The figures were so far in the distance that surely they weren’t a threat, but Dream didn’t know how to deal with them. Were they friendly in this realm or was their fighting? Did HD know these figures?

He thought he was doing well keeping himself calmed enough, but one of the figures just slightly moved. It wasn’t like they lunged forward or anything like that but it was a noticeable move that got Dream’s heart racing and without taking his eyes away he tapped onto HD’s shoulder until he heard them huff.

“I told you to stop bothering me!” HD hissed as he pulled himself up from his pillow.

“There’s people here.” Dream made his voice go quiet. He felt rather foolish until HD suddenly picked himself up from his pillows, and looked to the shadowy figures with urgency.

HD doesn’t move for a few seconds before giving a light shrug with his shoulder. “They’re Gods.”

Dream blinked. “Wh-What?!”

“Other Gods.” HD refluffed his pillow under him. He leaned on it but didn’t bury his face in it like he was going to sleep. “They’re just checking you out. We don’t get many mortals through here.”

“Th-There are Gods here?!”

“Well you’re in the Godly Realm, so I would hope so!” HD huffed, like it was the most obvious thing. “They’re just having a look and they’ll leave.”

Yet despite HD’s confidence when Dream looked over, HD kept his eyes onto the distant figures. Dream tried to look at the Gods, but also keep his eye on HD. He didn’t know what was normal here and only had HD’s reactions to judge. During one of the times he glanced out to the shapes he saw another one of them move closer.

Dread filled Dream’s heart. He wanted to reach for his axe but was horribly reminded XD took his weapons from him. He hated feeling so defenceless.

He felt something grab onto the arm of his hoodie, and Dream looked down to see the white hand had appeared again. It gripped tightly onto Dream’s arm but it wasn’t like before, when it was pulling him. This time it was firm hand on him, offering support rather than harshly moving him.

The kindness confused Dream, but he didn’t have long to ponder on it. When he looked back up, there were fewer figures and even more going off to leave. Eventually they were all done, faded further into the horizon and the hand disappeared.

“See?” HD folded his arms under his head. “They left.” He sounded confident but Dream could also hear the sigh of relief in his words.

“Will they be back?” Dream gave a last look around the open horizon, suddenly not liking how open the space was.

“Others might, those that haven't seen you and want to. But they won’t come near here. No-one comes near me, and they’ll know you’re XD’s and Drista’s brother so nothing will happen to you.”

When he was certain there was nothing around, Dream relaxed again. Or relaxed as much as he could. He noticed HD seemed more alert. They were turned slightly on their side, and one hand rubbed under their goggles.

“Are…does that mean you…?”

“Yes, I am a God. I know. I hide it well.” HD huffed, but his voice was lighter than it was before. Perhaps that was even some attempt at humour. “Well I doubt I’m sleeping with you here.”

“Is that all you do?” Dream asked.

HD slowly looked around and made a waved off gesture to the area around them. “Well it would be a shame to let all these blankets and pillows go to waste.”

Dream held back a snort of laughter, only because he wasn’t sure if HD wanted it taken as a joke. But the starry haired God’s lips turned up in a small smile as he pushed himself to sit up.

It was hard to judge how to act when HD was awake. When they were asleep all Dream had to do was keep quiet but now he wasn’t sure what his goal was. They were hard to judge and even harder to read  with half their expressions hidden by the large white goggles.

The goggles looked strikingly familiar. And the shape of HD’s face reminded Dream of George in a way. It wasn’t an exact copy, like a clone or twin, but there was something similar about them in the shape of their jaw and nose. While that fact should have raised questions, it actually made Dream feel a little more relaxed. A reminder of George was better to have around if he couldn’t have George here with him.

Was that the reason George became so close to XD?

“What did you even do? To get XD so mad?”

HD’s voice pulled Dream out of his thoughts. He was thankful for it. “I uh… I went to the End.”

HD was setting up the pillows closest to him so he could sit up, and he paused midway through setting down one of the pillows. “Oh, yeah, I see why now.” He sounded surprised. “If it had been anyone else he would have killed them. I can see why he’s so mad .”

Dream felt the same agitation rear it’s head again. “Well he shouldn’t be! It’s my home too. I have a right to go back.”

“Did you want to go back home? Or did you want to kill the Dragon?”

Dream opened his mouth then quickly closed it. His cheeks burned red when HD gave a satisfied smile.

“I-If I could have gotten home without killing her, I would have!”

“Yes yes, but then you wouldn’t be the hero who saved the End.” HD settled onto the pillows, lounging over the pillows rather than laying on them. “Did you even consider that you might have given the dragon a way out to the Overworld? Or, did you even consider the possibility that you could have died?”

“I wouldn’t have died!” Dream snapped. “I wouldn’t have!”

“Really? So XD just came across you having a stroll in the End, is that it?”

“I would have killed the dragon!”

“Would have and would not have. You seem to have a lot of explanations for how it would have went. So should XD have left you? Were you just moments away from landing the killing blow?”

Dream opened his mouth again and then quickly shut it again. He didn’t know how to answer that one without admitting that HD was right. If XD hadn’t turned up when he did, he and George would have been dead. Burned alive by the fire or even if they did somehow avoid it, Dragon was being constantly healed and Dream and George would get tired eventually.

“Then what was your plan when she had died? Did you think XD would be thrilled you risked so much and put others in danger?”

“Yes!” Dream snapped, surprising himself with his answer. “Yes! Then they’d finally listen to me and take me seriously! Then they might actually pay attention to me again!”

An awkward silence fell over the two as the words said couldn’t be taken back. Dream’s face felt hot and he wished more than ever he had his mask to hide away in. It was worse as he couldn’t really tell what expression HD was making under his goggles and thick hair. He almost looked stoic, or unimpressed, but his shoulders slouched a little with his sigh.

“Ah…” The God finally spoke. “You didn’t want to be the people’s hero. You wanted to be a hero to XD.”

It was stated as a matter of fact and even Dream couldn’t find the fire to argue with it. He just looked away, with his face burning. His eyes stung with unfallen tears that he quickly blinked away.

Everything had been simpler explaining his plans to George, because while George bickered with him and said it was dumb, he would have followed Dream. Not from hazardous loyalty, but because there was an understanding between them that even if things did go wrong, they could have worked it out together. They were good at adapting to things and handling the unexpected.

HD’s elbow rested on one of the propped up pillows and he leaned his head over his hand as he watched Dream. Dream shyly looked back once he was sure his eyes were dry, but the static lens of HD’s goggles were cold to stare into. “Seems to me you didn’t have a plan at all, little champion. You just had a plan of what would happen after it.”

Unsure what to do with himself, Dream gave a half hearted shrug. Maybe he had said too much, but it wasn’t like HD was going to understand him anyway. The God couldn’t help or hinder the situation anymore so nothing was lost.

His eyes went to wander off until he noticed HD was still staring at him. Or, he assumed he was under the goggles.

It must have been a good few seconds of silence before HD spoke. “You’re so much like XD.” He breathed.

Dream shuffled under the comparison. “Well…y-yeah, we’re siblings.”

HD just hummed at that. They stared for a few seconds more before suddenly pushing himself to sit up. “You should change your clothes. You’re a mess.”

Green eyes blinked rapidly in surprise to HD’s sudden mood switch before Dream looked down at himself. He hadn’t realised how scuffed and ripped his clothes were. One of the worst rips was on his legs, tearing through his trousers to his shins. It was probably from the dragon’s teeth when she shook him off after stabbing her eye.

“I don’t have a change of clothes.” Dream pointed out, but HD seemed to have that fixed.

He was sat up, and suddenly clothes materialised on his arms. A soft short-sleeved green tunic and black sweatpants it looked like. “Will these fit?” HD asked, but he had already pushed the top up against Dream’s chest as though checking the measurements himself.

“I…y-yes…”

Dream quickly changed out of his shredded clothes and into the new ones HD had got for him. Or…made for him? Either way, the clothes fit him perfectly. The material of the top was soft, Dream kept touching over it just to feel. The trousers were a little rougher in feel but still very comfortable. Dream felt more relaxed and when he looked back to HD, there was another set of pillows propped up beside him. HD pat them and Dream, shyly, scooted over to sit by the God.

“Thank you…” Dream said.

“You might as well be comfortable, since I guess it will be a while before XD comes back.” HD shrugged. “He’ll be…oh! You’re hurt.”

Dream looked down to where HD had pointed. There was an ugly bruise and deep cut down his left arm, just under the sleeve. It was caked with dried in blood and there was another cut just over his wrist. Dream hadn’t even realised he was injured. Now that he looked at them he could feel the sting of the cuts and the aches of the bruise before his body followed suit. It was like it suddenly remembered what pain was.

“Do you want healed?” HD offered.

“Uh…y-yeah. If you have bandages I can do it myself.”

“No no, I can just heal you.” HD said it so casually and expectedly, like Dream should have known. Dream looked over to see HD holding out his hand, expectantly waiting for the arm to be given. “Give it here.”

Dream was hesitant before giving his arm over to HD’s waiting hands. The starry haired God held the arm in one hand, while the other covered over the wound.

The hand over the wound was warm, and Dream tensed himself. He remembered being healed by XD and remembered how much it tickled. His skin prickled just from the memory and he was expecting the same feeling to follow, but it never did. HD’s hand was just warm and a few seconds later he pulled his hand back and the wound was gone. The bruises had all faded as well.

“There you go. Where else are you injured?” HD let go of Dream’s arm. “I saw a bruise on your ribs earlier.”

There was a dull pain thumping against Dream’s ribs and side just from it being mentioned. He pulled up the tunic, looking down to the bruise that was currently purpling.

Even despite nothing happening with the last wound, Dream still tensed when HD pressed his warm hands on his ribs. He moved his hands to cover more of the bruise and Dream flinched.

“You’re tense.” HD stated, still concentrating on the wound.

“S-Sorry…” Dream swallowed back the nervous giggles in his throat. The touch didn’t tickle at all. In fact it felt nice. But Dream was just anticipating himself up for tickles that weren’t happening. His skin felt overly sensitive.

HD hummed lowly. He was still healing over the last of the bruise when he asked. “Has XD ever healed you before?”

“Uh…yeah.” Dream gave a slow nod. “A few times before. Why?”

“Just thinking out loud.” HD excused and carried on until the bruise was all gone.

Dream gave an experimental poke to where the bruise was and there was no pain. He sighed in relief.

“Anywhere else?” HD asked, but he seemed to be expecting the answer.

Dream gave himself a look over. The cut on his wrist was already gone. He thought he could feel a bruise earlier by his hip but when he poked there it was fine. His eyes travelled down to his leg, and he could feel the sting of a cut there. He lifted up the leg of his sweatpants and was relieved the cut wasn’t as bad as he thought. It wasn’t deep, but it was starting to bleed again down his shin.

“Can you heal that? Please?” Dream looked over and HD had already moved himself down.

He took the injured leg in his hand and the other covered over the wound, as normal. It stung a bit to move the leg but when Dream felt the heat, he started to relax.

Dream let his guard down too soon. The moment he started to relax, a tingling feeling prickled on his skin. Like light pulses of electricity coursing through his skin, starting from the wound and working it’s way out. Dream couldn’t help the jolt in his leg, alerting HD.

“What’s wrong?” The God’s voice was soft, unusually warm.

“Not…nothing.” Dream controlled the laugh welling up in his chest. “Just sore…” He quickly excused.

“Sorry. I’ll go slower.”

No no no! Not slower! Dream wanted to yell, but he controlled himself. All he could do was bite down on his lip, and try to distract himself from his tickly shins. HD surely must have felt his skin jumping under his touch.

Finally it was over. The cut was closed and HD pulled his hand back. It took a moment for the tingling to die down but when it did Dream sighed in relief.

“Oh! You’ve got a cut on your foot.”

Dream had no time to respond before his ankle was grabbed. His foot was yanked up and onto HD’s lap, pulling him to lie down. Going from sitting to suddenly laying on his back confused Dream for a moment, and he hardly had time to scramble up and make a grab for HD’s arms before his hand got closer. “Wait wait! N-No! There’s no cut on my f-foot!”

“Of course there is.” HD said so casually. “I’m looking at it right now. You’re not calling me a liar are you?”

“I…” Dream knew no good way to answer that, and he had no time to as HD’s fingers touched onto his heel.

Before he had at least a few seconds between the heat before the tickling started. Now they came together. He felt his foot grow warm and the tingling started instantly. Spreading out from his heel and over his foot, tiny ticklish shocks ran over his skin and tickled his nerves.

“S-Stop! Stohohop!” Dream couldn’t stop his leg from trying to kick.

“What’s wrong, Dream?” HD’s voice did well to sound concerned, but when Dream looked at him the God was grinning. He moved his fingers up from his heel, to Dream’s arch and the very thin veil of determination Dream had was lost.

He threw his head back into a laugh and kicked out his other leg. He was trying in part not to kick at HD, but it was hard to control when his very survival nature was to get away from the tickling no matter what.

“PLEHEHEAHASE Nohohot thehehere not thehehehere! S-STohohop!”

“Your feet are so ticklish, and XD’s feet aren’t ticklish at all. So you’re not an exact clone of your brother.”

A deep red rushed to Dream’s cheeks. Somehow being compared to his sibling in that way was horribly flustering, but it also told him that XD had been tickled by HD before. Dream would have loved to think of that more, but HD’s fingers travelled up to his toes and he jolted up to try reach the God’s hands.

“No no no. None of that.”

Dream was pulled again, forcing him on his back again, only this time he had his leg pulled up into the air, keeping his foot completely out of reach. Dream looked up to see his ankle being held up by one of the white hands, then another appeared right by his foot and immediately began dragging a finger down, from his toes to the heel of his foot.

He laughed from the tickling and partly in shock. He did not expect another one of those hands. How many could HD make?

“Where else are you ticklish, little champion?” HD asked.

Dream’s cheeks grew pink from the laughter, but now they felt red form the nickname. “N-Nohoho whehere?” He tittered. The hand up by his foot wiggled over his toes, tickling under a few of them before slowly scritching down. When it reached his arch he pulled and wiggled onto his side.

“You’re a bad lair.” HD hummed. “Now, let’s see.”

Both Dream’s wrists were grabbed and hoisted up over his head. A little squeak came out that was probably supposed to be pleading but words were lost to him. When he felt he had just enough breath to speak again, it suddenly turned to a scream as his tunic was lifted up to show his stomach.

“Oh, it looks like your tummy needs healing.” HD said, his voice not even straining at all from holding Dream down. It probably didn’t feel like anything to the God.

“N-Nohoho it doesehehen’t!” Dream giggled. His first response was to hide his stomach, or cover over his face but with his hands trapped he didn’t have that luxury. Instead he twisted his head to hide in his arm, though it hardly covered much. He knew his red cheeks were still visible.

“Oh yes it does! It’s all jittery. It’s clearly in pain.”

“Ihihit’s cause y-yohohohour t…t…”

The words stopped, his laugh muffled as Dream pursed and bit his lips together. HD’s eyebrow raised so slightly and the hand tickling over his foot gave a good taser right into his arch, already marked out as his weak point. His laughter came spilling out of him.

“Can you not say it?”

The tickling on his foot died down. Not completely gone though. The fingers were just lightly tracing over the ball of his foot and down to his heel. They deliberately avoided his arch, saving that spot till they really wanted him to laugh.

“Wh-Whahat?” Dream tried to play dumb.

It did not work. “’Tickle’. Can you not say the word tickle while you’re being tickled? Can you say it at all?”

“Shuhush!” Dream hid into his arm again. “I cahahan!”

“Say it.”

Dream’s lips clamped again. Even the thought of saying it made him giggle into his arm, followed by a few more giggles when the hand on his foot wiggled a finger over his heel again and again. “Plehehease stohop!”

“Stop what? What do you want me to stop doing?”

“You know! Yohohou-!”

“No I don’t. You need to tell me.”

Even if Dream wanted to, his body physically wouldn’t let him. It felt like his tongue tried to physically tie itself into a knot whenever he tried to say the word. It was embarrassing, and mortifying to admit how much the word effected him.

Keeping quiet had never worked before and of course it didn’t work now. The finger on his foot went right over his arch. It didn’t tickle yet but it was a clear warning of what was to come. One of HD’s own hand lay over his stomach. It slowly began to heat up, bringing it to a warm temperature.

“P-Plehease…”

“I’ll stop when you can say the work ‘tickle’. That’s fair.”

“Nohoho it’s noo-OHOHOHOHOHOHO!”

Fingers scribbled over his arches and stomach. HD’s hand moved in a circle around Dream’s tummy spreading the tingling all around but avoiding his bellybutton with each loop. The hand on his foot scribbled up and down but always went back to his arch, never letting it go without tickles for so long.

“NAHAAHA! PLEHEEEEhehehease! H-Hehehe Dehehehehe! D-DohoHOhoHOHON’T!”

“Don’t what, little champion?”

“YohOHOhoHOhohou! Knn-!”

The ephemeral hand on his foot tickled right under the ball of his foot. A  sensitive spot that turned his laughter up into silent shrieks, only for a moment until it came roaring out and his other leg tried in vain to kick against the white hand.

HD’s fingers on his tummy found a terribly sensitive spot just under Dream’s bellybutton and focused there. The tingling tickles had faded, now just being tickled by HD’s kneading and pinching.

“You better say the word, Dream. I don’t think you can last much more of this.” HD spoke matter of factly, like he wasn’t the one absolutely destroying the mortal with tickles.

“Ihihihi cahahan’t!” Dream squealed and tried to hide in his arms again.

“No no, none of that now.” A hand grabbed onto Dream’s chin and pulled his face out of his hiding spot. Dream made a scream of protest between his laughs. He tried pulling away, but it was another white hand that held him, and it had no sympathy for Dream’s plight. “I think you’ve hidden too much.”

“ThaA-AHAHAT’S NOHOHOT FAHAHAHAHAHAIHIHIR!”

“You better say it then. I think your face is gonna explode from how red it’s getting.”

Dream didn’t want to think of how red his face was getting, or how much the fingers tickling over his foot were focusing on his arch. HD’s fingers were just inching ever closer to his bellybutton, and when the nail just brushed along the edge of his bellybutton, Dream’s back arched and screamed.

“TIHIIHIHICKLED! TIHIHIHICKLED! I’M BEING TICKLEHEHEHEHED! YOHOHOUR TIHIHICKLING MEHEHEHEHE! STOHOHOHOHOP!”

In HD’s defence the tickling stopped by the second time he uttered the word. The hand tickling over Dream’s foot pulled back and faded out and HD pulled his hand back from Dream’s stomach.

“Hmm…alright. You managed to say it.” HD sounded disappointed, though Dream could only half hear him with his panting breaths and racing heartbeat.

He was given a moment of peace to catch his breath and let all the tingles leave his body. When he finally caught his breath with a sigh and his brain settled down, he realised his leg was still being held up in the air. His wrists had been let go, and he brought his arms down in defence when he looked up to HD. The God was still looking down at him, with a sly smile that made Dream nervous, and sweat run down his neck.

Dream opened his mouth to speak, his voice was shaky before he even tried to speak; but HD spoke first.

“What’s this called then?” HD moved before Dream could answer, or ask what. They took in a huge breath before pressing their lips to Dream’s stomach.

They moved so fast Dream didn’t have any chance to protect himself Suddenly his top was lifted and HD had leaned in before Dream could realise what was going on.

The raspberry started in the middle of his stomach and rippled out over his skin, strumming his nerves like a guitar and sending the tickles rippling throughout his body. Dream made a scream, though it was jumbled between his laughter and screeching. His arms flailed wildly before finally getting on the same page of defending his stomach and he tried to push at HD’s shoulders.

For as spry as the sleepy God looked, he was undoubtedly strong. Dream couldn’t move him even an inch. HD was so bothered by the attempt he pulled back, taking in another shorter breath and blew again over Dream’s tummy. This time a little bit up so it was under the blonde’s ribs.

“HeheHEHEHEHEehehe DehEHEHEHE! S-STOP STOHOHOHOP STOHOP! PLEHEHEHEASE!”

HD pulled back a little more, but mercy was not on his mind. He was grinning widely, a maddening look of having too much fun to stop. “Tell me what I’m doing, then I’ll stop.” His voice got familiarly high pitched in a hyper tone.

“RAHh- Y-YOHOhou’re bloHOHOwing rahahasbeherries!” Dream quickly gasped between HD’s attack, taking in large gulps of air when he could.

“Well well well. So you can say that just fine.” HD’s voice overly imitated being impressed, and Dream knew it wasn’t over. He let out a low whine which turned into giggles as HD grinned again.

“What’s this then?” HD asked and then Dream’s blood ran cold.

The God opened his mouth, this time showing off his fangs. They weren’t as long as XD’s, but they were just as rounded and thick. Dream’s eyes went wide just looking at them and he had no time to shout out before those fangs were on him.

The fangs touched below Dream’s bellybutton. They nibbled along the bottom of his stomach, circling up to the side of Dream’s tummy, and that’s when Dream’s mind stop keeping track of where the fangs were and fried into full blown panic.

His throat felt like it ripped from his shriek. Words or letters at least jumbled into his laughter but even he couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. His whole body was in survival mode.

One of his legs was was still held up, but the other flailed with his arms. His knee hit onto HD’s back and his hands were beating and clawing into HD’s shoulders as he hoped he was pleading though the roaring and screeching laughter.

The tickling stopped not long after the knee went into the God’s back, though Dream’s laughter didn’t go down until his ankle was let go and he could curl into himself and protect his tummy.

All of his nerves felt fried and jittery. He gasped for as much air as his lungs could ask for, and only when his breathing got under control did he realise HD was talking.

“Are you dead?! Please don’t be dead!”

“I…I’m nohot dead…”

“Thank Prime…” HD breathed out a sigh of relief. He worked his hands under Dream’s armpits, earning a panicked whine from the blonde but he could do little more than wiggle and curl up more. “Hush, you baby. I’m only moving you.”

Dream was lifted from his protective curled position. He felt his back pressed against HD’s chest, and the God’s arms wrap around his chest. The pillows and blankets under them were moved and quickly rearranged by the ephemeral hands. They patted down the last pillow before HD pulled Dream and himself down to lay on their side, Dream still in the God’s arms.

“I thought I’d honestly killed you.” HD’s voice mixed with worry and a huffy tone. “Then XD would have absolutely killed me.”

A twisted part of Dream’s brain wanted to dispute that fact, and say XD wouldn’t care, but he quickly shook that thought of his head. It settled like a dark weight in his chest, but he quickly spoke to distract himself from it. “Well…you went at me with your fangs!”

“XD used his fangs on me and they don’t make me react like that.”

Dream processed that information with two outcomes. HD was ticklish, and XD had tickled them before. He would have loved to explore that fact further, but the softness of the pillows and the sudden smell of lavender was overwhelming him.

“God you are his brother. You even get sleepy after your tickles too.”

Dream opened his mouth, wanting to deny that fact and also wonder aloud how HD had tickled XD before, but all that came out was a long yawn. His body stretched as well, comfortably clicking his bones and melting him more into the soft sheets and HD’s arms.

“When…hmm…when will XD come back?” Dream asked, his voice already slurred with sleep.

“He won’t be back for a while, you’ve got time to sleep.” HD assured him. Dream didn’t want to question why the God was being so affectionate to him in fear he’d stop. HD seemed to switch between sudden annoyance to sudden fondness. It reminded Dream of a cat.

It reminded Dream of George.

Dream wanted to wonder more, but the thoughts weren’t enough to keep his interest awake and he drifted off to sleep with HD’s gentle purrs against his back.

---

Dream was roused from his sleep with a hand gently shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes with a whine, blinked the sleep from his vision and got his bearings. HD’s arms were still around him, but looser. The realm was in a dark blue night sky again, and the blankets under him were still warm. And XD stood in front of him.

The tall God stood above the two, with his mask still on. His cloak was still tattered and a mess, and his one arm still hung limply. Dream tried not to stare at it, but his eyes couldn’t help flicking to it.

“Get up…” XD voice was quiet, and tired.

Dream gave a look back to HD. He opened his mouth, but was quickly shushed by XD.

“Don’t wake, HD. I don’t want to bother him any more than I already have.”

HD’s arms weren’t exactly holding onto Dream, so it was easy for him to slip out of them. Even if he felt bad about leaving HD without saying goodbye.

“I’m taking you back to the Overworld.” XD said as he took his brother’s arm to help him stand.

The thought of that panicked Dream before he could rationalise his mind. Anxiety rose up his spine and stopped himself half way getting up. “W-Where?” He blurted out, not catching his volume.

“Shh!” XD hissed. “Quiet.”

“Where are you going to take me?!”

“Hush!” XD snapped. “I’m taking you to George, that’s all.” His voice was softer at the end, not at all like the venom he had before. His whole demeanour now seemed calmer than the rage he was in before, though Dream couldn’t tell if it was from XD’s mood calming down or just making sure HD could sleep. “Keep quiet. You’re going to wake HD.”

“Too late…”

HD’s sleepy voice mumbled  from his blankets. The night sky realm faded out to a soft blue as the starry haired God turned on his back and rubbed his eyes under his goggles. “You’re back…” He mumbled to XD, and seemed to really wake up when he got a look at the other God. He paused before pushing himself to sit up. “You’re exhausted.”

“I’m fine.” XD quickly shrugged off. “I just need to take Dream home and-”

“Nope.” HD cut in. They pushed themselves up in one fluid move and now Dream found himself stood between XD and HD. “I’ll take him home.”

It was a surprising offer even to Dream. HD didn’t seem like the kind to leave his nest often, and it must have been a big deal as XD seemed stunned for a moment and his voice stuttered.

“U-Uhh…H-HD no. No you don’t have to do that.”

“No I don’t. But I’m doing it because I’m nice.” HD stepped forward to Dream’s side. “I can teleport there easily and drop him off. In the meantime,” he pointed up to XD. “You’re going to park yourself on those pillows and wait till I get back.”

Dream’s eyes flicked between the two Gods curiously. HD was speaking with such authority, and XD was surprisingly responding to it. Dream had never known XD to be anything other than the powerful, unwavering older brother, but with HD he seemed meek and more docile.

“I… Are you sure you can take him?” XD asked.

“Yes! Prime sake it’s not that hard! I can drop him off and come straight back here. You just sit and rest.”

The mask blocked his expression but Dream could read his brother easily. XD was torn, debating with himself on what to do. His head cast down slightly and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other before he looked at Dream. “Are you fine with that?”

Part of Dream wasn’t, just for the chance to talk to XD. If XD took him to George, it would be easier to explain their actions and get the God to listen to them. But XD looked exhausted and his still unmoving arm churned Dream’s stomach.

“That’s fine.” Dream nodded.

XD thought on it for a moment longer before nodding as well. “A-Alright.”

HD seemed pleased, and slapped his hands onto Dream’s shoulder. “Great. Now, go sit down. I’ll take Dream home and be right back.”

XD complied to the instructions, moving past the two and slowly sitting down. Dream noticed they were wincing as they moved. “J-Just be careful.”

“I’m not a novice! I have done this before.” HD seemed to roll his eyes, and focused down onto Dream. “Where am I taking you?”

Dream opened his mouth to answer before realising he didn’t have a good way to answer. He wanted to ask if HD knew coordinates but HD had materialised a map in his hands like it was nothing, and held it out to Dream.

“Here. Point where I’m taking you.”

The map wasn’t an area Dream was familiar with. It covered a wide area of forest and meadows, but no clear landmark. And then Dream blinked and the map slowly changed. It melted from it’s old picture, forming into a new shape. The forests were cut away. Squares and shapes of all sizes took it’s place and it began to look familiar.

The SMP! Dream thought, amazed. It was a very zoomed out map, but it nearly covered most of the SMP area, and Dream could see the red mushroom colour theme of Kinoko Kingdom.

“Here…” Dream pointed at the map. “But I need to go to a specific place. It’s like…”

The map changed again as though responding to Dream’s words. The images morphed again and instead of looking out over all the SMP it was zoomed in to more detail to Kinoko Kingdom. Dream would have been more amazed had he not seen George’s cottage on the edge of the kingdom, nestled in the dark oak trees and suddenly all Dream wanted to do was get home as soon as possible.

“There. That cottage right there.” Dream pointed.

HD looked at the spot Dream had pointed out. He did nothing for a long moment and Dream wasn’t sure if the God was just thinking or charging up some power. Just when he thought about asking, HD grabbed at his arm and he was teleported.

HD’s teleportation was very different from XD’s. With XD was a like a quick journey through an air tunnel to an abrupt stop, but HD’s was softer. It was like stepping into a pool of water, not too cold but enough to feel the pass of something over his body and then suddenly he was there, back on the Overworld.

It was dark like the dead of night and the dark oak trees were shaking their leaves softly to the wind. The smell of flowers and mushrooms filled the air and HD let go of Dream’s arm.

A light suddenly shone though the window of George’s cottage. Dream could hear his friend shout something and then the door was flung open.

The cuts and scrapes George sustained during the fight were cleaned up and somewhat covered. His mismatched eyes were wide and sunken and the mushroom blush over his cheeks was almost gone. Clearly he had not slept, and yet despite his haggard look, his eyes lit up and he ran to Dream to pull him into the tightest hug.

“I thought XD had taken you back to the prison!” George cried. “I thought you were gone again!”

Dream’s arms went around George so naturally and he felt himself relax and almost fall into his friend’s arm. Waves of emotions, both happy and remorseful, swept over him and made his tears very confusing, but he couldn’t care. He was with George again and everything was right.

“Where did XD take you?” George pulled himself back, taking himself out of Dream’s arms and Dream just about held himself back from protesting. “What happened? Did… What are you wearing?!”

Dream blinked and looked down to himself. Of course, he was still in the clothes HD gave him.

HD!

Dream turned, ready to apologise, but there was no-one there. HD was gone without a trace of ever being there. Dream gave a last look around before his eyes fell on George again, and thoughts of HD were gone. His only focus was George.

“Dream? What happened?”

“I… In a minute.” Dream said and took George’s hand. “I’ll explain everything but…right now I just need to lie down.”

The two went in, exchanging more tearful words and happy exclamations between them, then they fell asleep in each others arms with nothing being explained.

[violet-moonstone]

Heathers Part 3: Alchemist Heather

Part 2

This option is inspired by School of Dragons. In this game, Heather was a scientist who helped teach young Vikings on Berk. Going down this route would also require some retconning since she doesn’t show an interest in science in RoB. It could be that she gained an interest/started training shortly after her appearance in the show. Perhaps one of her parents was an alchemist, or maybe she apprenticed with someone afterwards (in a story somewhat similar to that of warrior Heather and her mentor).

She would use alchemy/chemistry in combat to cause distractions, illusions, and harmful explosions or other dangerous effects. It would be cool if she had a weapon or contraption that used alchemy or dragon-based technology. I’m thinking some modified version of the long sceptre/magnifying glass(?) she holds in SoD. To the untrained eye, it would look like she was doing magic, when in reality, she would have little vials of various liquids, gases, and powders loaded into her device. These would produce different effects when the substances interacted with each other or were projected into the air/at a target. I think this change in her design would also require a different dragon (sorry, Windshear) whose abilities/traits could be integrated into the alchemist focus. I’m not quite sure which dragon though. A Gronckle would be fitting, but repetitive...maybe a dragon who secretes a variety of liquids with different effects—like poison, venom, paralysis, hallucinations, paranoia, intoxication, etc. Either that or a dragon who regurgitates what seem like harmless rocks but are actually explosives.

This change to Heather’s character would also give her a stronger connection to Fishlegs. They would have a shared interest to bond over, and it would be a more believable entry to their romance. This could also strengthen her friendship with Hiccup as well and then all three of them could nerd out together. Yay!

I was looking at the original alchemist character in SoD before Heather replaced her (Katrin the Curious). She was an eccentric, whimsical girl who didn’t fit in with the Vikings around her. She was really just concerned with science and the natural world. Pulling inspiration from her would once again, make Heather the perfect candidate for a science special interest squad with Hiccup and Fishlegs. I think it’s possible to find a middle ground between the angry, fierce Heather of RTTE and the original alchemist character: maybe someone who’s withdrawn and sullen as a defence mechanism, but who opens up and becomes enthusiastic about her nerdy interests when she feels safe. (Do you love Alchemist Heather yet? I sure do.)

This version of Heather could have items and materials she kept hidden during the raid on her village as well as things she’s scavenged, traded for, or stolen in extreme cases. Eventually she could borrow or be gifted items by Hiccup and Fishlegs when she rebuilds her relationship with the dragon riders.

Her outfit could be somewhat similar to her white Viking-ified lab coat in SoD. Although I would like it to be more tattered and patched up—maybe open a little at the top or bottom so we can see some of her tunic underneath. I think alchemist Heather in a long, tattered coat with goggles would be an awesome look. It really appeals to my old steampunk character design obsession from about a decade ago. And why not throw in some fingerless gloves? I’d get rid of the pauldrons though, since she won’t be planning to fight at close range. Maybe a vest and bracers made from dragon scales as a form of personal protective equipment? On the other hand, she could wear generic fantasy outfit (or even a slightly different version of her outfit in RoB) with some alchemist elements. We have a lot of options here.

Finally, I think there would be a great contrast between Dagur’s brute strength and Heather’s intellect coming out in her contraptions and alchemy. I’m sensing something very Vi and Jinx about this (from Arcane). And on a side note—Heather being unhinged by lighting things on fire, exploding things, and maybe melting people with acid...yeah, I think that would just make Ruffnut’s crush on her multiply by a thousand.

Heather in School of Dragons:

She looks so cute!

Katrin the Curious:

Love the long hair girl, but that’s gotta be so dangerous in the lab. Being a Viking may be an occupational hazard, but being a scientist doesn’t have to be.

Here are some ideas for what Alchemist Heather’s outfits could be like in RTTE:

Art by Anna Klimova – I really like this because it already has some Norse elements like the apron dress and tortoise shell brooches.

If we’re going with the lab coat, I’m thinking something like this (from Marrakshi Life) but much more faded and maybe with some scorch marks around the edges. It would definitely give her a Doctor Who look.

Read Part 4 Here