#The Black Wings of Icarus (Part 1)

[dtccompendium]

Episode 203: The Black Wings of Icarus (Part 1)

Mouri takes Ran and Conan to an inn in the mountains for two reasons. One: So that he can try their local beer. And Two: So that he can watch a Yoko Okino special that’s only being broadcast in that area. Apparently the only employees of the inn are the manager, the chef, and the two creepy twin maids from the cursed caterpillar knife mask mansion. Things quickly go sour when Cheese-san arrives. She’s an ugly actress with a bad attitude. She runs around being mean to everybody, including her husband, and says that she hates the mountains, and the soup, and pretty much everything else. When everyone stares at her like she’s a freak, she says she bets they wish she wasn’t there, and screams, “Fine, I’ll just go die!” Shockingly, she doesn’t die that night. The following morning, her husband and her manager go fishing while the hotel manager, the chef, Ran, and Conan all go to the plateau. A rare butterfly dies on the inn manager's shirt. When they get home, Cheese-san is found hanged in her bedroom.

Best Quotes:

Conan: “The soup is really tasty.”

Cheese-san: “I’ve never had soup as bad as this! Are you really a chef?”

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 5

And here we arrive at the second post today. I'm just trying to move through my backlog so that I'm down to my preferred three ahead. Glitters is at the rut, so only a chapter or two left to write, so that's almost done. Soulmates is to filling the gaps in the "In Media Res" scene and is nearing its end, too. Which means with any luck, I'll be down to just three WIP at the end of the month: Moonlight, Boy w/a Bat, and this one.

In this chapter, we have Eddie being a menace and giving Steve and Robin the fright of their lives. And because my Steddie never take anything slow, they kiss about it.

Pt 1 Pt 2 Pt 3 Pt 4

@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

****

The last spot on The Fallen’s American tour was Pasadena just to flip Dustin’s shit now that he was in Hawkin’s, Eddie was sure.

Eddie bought nose bleed seats because he didn’t want to throw Steve off of his playing. The last thing he wanted was to embarrass him and take the spotlight off their music.

He tucked his signature locks under a hat, removed his face piercings, and made sure all his tattoos were covered. He wore an Abbadon hoodie over his regular clothes and got into place in his seat.

He watched the whole show with great enthusiasm, banging along to his favorite songs.

Eddie was most of the way through the show when the twelve year old boy next to him clocked him for who he really is.

He put his finger up to his lips and winked. The boy nodded solemnly and he turned back to spectacle in front of them, like he hadn’t seen the frontman for the biggest metal band in the world sitting in the nose bleed seats for The Fallen.

Eddie lucked out on that one. Boys that age were of two schools of thought regarding secrets, either everyone knew or no one did. He stumbled on the latter.

Thank god!

He really didn’t want this to blow up on him before he got a chance to surprise Steve.

The concert was even more amazing than the one in Indy and Eddie’s skin was just thrumming with excitement as he paid off a member of stadium staff to send the flowers to the dressing room.

They let him wait in the wings without telling anyone who he was. He wasn’t sure how long it would take for Steve to get his flowers. But he wasn’t bored. He watched the roadies and techs scramble about breaking down the set pieces.

He saw two of them carrying Astraeus’s wings and they were even cooler close up. He could that they weren’t just glittery blue, but actual galaxies and constellations.

He was about to ask if he could touch them when a woman in a stylish, black pant suit and sunglasses came storming over to him in a panic.

“Eddie Munson?” she hissed. “Come with me, now!”

Eddie grinned. “Right with you, darlin’.”

He followed her all the way to the dressing room, hands in his back pockets and a skip in his step.

****

Steve was tired. Fuck he was so tired. He scrubbed his face trying to get the sweat off.

The dressing room was heavily guarded so that he could get out his getup to shower and get the patina of being on stage off of his skin.

He would get back into Abbadon before he walked out, but he just needed to be him for a moment.

He stepped out of the shower and looked around at the gifts from fans. The management had put in the ones they thought he would want to see the most.

In the pile was the most striking blue roses he had ever seen. They were almost a midnight blue. His favorite color and his favorite flower. He walked over to them slowly as he dried himself off with the towel.

There was a simple note.

“I know your secret, sweetheart.

But don’t worry, it’s safe with me.”

Steve’s hand shook as he read the note over and over again. He made a dive for his phone, towel forgotten on the floor.

He sent off a quick text to Robin.

-Find Eddie Munson, now!

He got a message back with just one word.

-How!

He replied.

-He’s here

Steve dressed and then sat down on the sofa, settling in to wait. Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door and he put the mask up to his face while the door was open, intending to lower it again. But seeing Eddie standing there with a feral grin on his face.

He wavered, unsure.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Eddie said, his grin never leaving his face. “Did you like the flowers?”

The woman looked back and forth between them in confusion. “What’s going on?”

Eddie turned to her. “You see, Robin, I figured out that Stevie here is the lead singer of an up and coming metal band. And that you two have been keeping secrets.”

Steve dropped the mask in shock, revealing his face. “How?”

Robin took off her sunglasses. “Who told? Who the fuck do I have to sue?”

Eddie smirked. “No one.”

“You’re trying to tell me,” she said with a scoff, “that Mr Double Super Senior figured out something that had been so closely guarded for the last couple of years?”

“Yup!”

Steve stood up and threw the mask on the sofa. He walked carefully over to the man he closely regarded as his best friend, the high heels of his costume clicking on the wood floor.

“How’d you do it, Eds?” he whispered when he got close enough. “How did you figure it out before the press, before our friends who are literal geniuses, before my own fucking parents?”

Eddie lifted up Steve’s jaw up with his fingers and then tapped on the two moles on the side of his neck. The ones Eddie always thought of as love bites.

“My moles?” Steve asked, unsure.

“I noticed them when I went to the concert with Dustin in Indy,” Eddie said softly. “That’s how I knew it was you.”

“Have you got some obsession with moles or something?” Robin sneered.

He shook his head. “Just Stevie.”

Steve gasped. “Oh.”

“Oh,” Robin repeated. “I’m still going to have to make you sign an NDA. I’m sorry. I know you won’t tell, but I have to be sure.”

Eddie nodded. “Send it to my lawyers.”

She nodded and slipped out of the door, barely opening it wide enough for her to exit. She put the glasses back on and decided she needed a drink. A big one. Maybe three.

****

“Sit down, sweetheart,” Eddie cooed. “I know how exhausting shows can be and you did it in high heels.”

Steve let out a watery chuckle but did as he was told.

“I never thought that someone would figure it out,” he said shakily. “I’m so scared right now.”

Eddie wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. “Oh, Stevie. I didn’t think it would frighten you, otherwise I would have just kept my mouth shut.”

Steve looked him in the eyes. “I’m not frightened of you or that you would tell. It’s just that old adage of if you want to keep a secret between two people–”

“You kill one,” Eddie finished grimly. “I know, baby.”

After a few months of silence Steve whispered, “So you’re obsessed with me?”

Eddie burst out laughing. “Yeah. Have been for years.”

“How long?” Steve asked biting his lip and playing with the sleeve of his hooded coat. He looked away not sure he really wanted the answer. Was this new, because he was in a metal band? Was it recent, with Steve not being as readily available as he was before?

“Since high school.”

Steve’s head snapped up and he looked at up at him in awe. “Holy shit, Eds, that’s forever.”

A soft, fond smile spread out over Eddie’s face, his dimples deepening to sharp lines on his cheeks.

It was Steve’s favorite smile of his. And one he was learning might just be for him and him alone.

“Yeah, yeah,” Eddie breathed, “I know.”

They were so close, their breath mingled together, their noses brushed and Steve’s eyelashes fanned out, almost touching Eddie’s cheek.

Steve let out a gasp and Eddie closed the distance. Their lips met and Steve would swear for years to come that there were god damned fireworks. There had to be. Nothing and no one had ever felt like this. It was warm and soft and hot and sexy and bright and dark all at once. Every nerve ending lit up where just their lips touched.

And then Eddie cupped the back of his head and whatever thoughts that were in Steve’s head flew out the window. Every fear, every anxiety, every doubt went running for the hills. All he needed in this very moment was Eddie.

Until the end of time.

“Wow,” Eddie breathed when he finally managed to pull away.

Steve could only agree. “Um...can you meet me at my hotel?”

Eddie licked his lips. He wanted to take Stevie apart right then right there. But it would put Steve in danger of being discovered.

And that could not happen.

Now that he knew Steve’s secret, now that Steve was letting him in. Like all the way in, he would do anything to protect him.

“Yeah, baby,” he agreed. “I’ll meet you there. Message Celeste,” he winked, “and let her know to sneak me in.”

Steve relaxed that final increment. He kissed him fiercely. “Thanks for understanding, Eds. I love you so much.”

Eddie blushed, shoving a strand of hair into his mouth to hide his face. “Ah, sweetheart. There’s nothing to thank me for. I’d burn the world down for you if you asked.”

Steve kissed him again. “I think it’s best if I go out first and then message you when the coast is clear.”

Eddie nodded.

He was still in disguise. Only four people knew who he was. The kid, Robin and Steve, and the dude he paid to get the flowers in Steve’s dressing room.

Which Eddie would send his own team of lawyers to make sure the man didn’t so much as breathe the wrong direction.

He would then, of course meet with “Celeste” and “Abbadon” to construct the perfect cover story for Steve being on the tour with Corroded Coffin. Provided Steve said yes.

Twenty minutes later, Eddie emerged from the dressing room to see only a couple of roadies still milling around.

He blinked at one of them for a moment, but then the guy disappeared around a corner and he couldn’t be sure.

He would swear later it looked like Simon Olsen. Steve’s friend. But that couldn’t be right? Couldn’t it?

He shook himself off. He had a hotel to get to and paparazzi to dodge.

Eddie slipped into his old middle school persona. The one from before he moved in with his uncle, Wayne. The one where he could shrink in on himself.

Become... not invisible, per se. Not important enough to be worth a look at.

He removed the hoodie and handed it to fan lingering outside. He roughed up his hair, untied the shoelaces on his boots, rubbed dirt on his knees and hands.

Once his new disguise was in place, he shambled down the street and people moved right through him as if he wasn’t there.

Eddie had to fight down a grin. People were eaten up with curiosity on how he could avoid getting papped no matter where he went. And this right here was his secret. Appear homeless and no one would give a damn.

He got into position and texted ‘Celeste’ he had arrived. He took the time to smooth out his hair and stretch out his spine. Walking hunched over like that hurt as he kicked and screamed into his late twenties. Something he never thought he would reach.

He texted Jeff to let him know he wouldn’t be back to night and settled in to wait.

Soon enough he was led up through the back way and then into Steve’s hotel room.

As soon as the door closed, Steve was on him.

“Are you okay? Did anyone see you?” And then, “Why are you so dirty?”

Eddie burst out laughing. “Just a little thing I learned from dear ole dad about walking about unseen. So just let me clean up a bit and I’m all yours.”

Steve bit his lip and nodded nervously.

Eddie chuckled. “Unless you wanted to join me in the shower?” he said over his shoulder.

Steve perked right up and followed Eddie into the en suite bathroom, kicking the door closed with a grin.

****

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

Tag List: @papergrenade @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @danili666 @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @val-from-lawrence @goodolefashionedloverboi @i-must-potato @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @vecnuthy @irregular-child @yikes-a-bee @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @y4r3luv @dragonmama76 @scheodingers-muppet @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman @eyehartart @dawners @thespaceantwhowrites @tinyplanet95 @iamthehybrid @croatoan-like-its-hot

[queer-reader-07]

5 times i almost cried and 1 time i did

(this is about hozier) (and also my religious trauma)

1. De Selby (Part 1)

"At last, when all of the world is asleep

You take in the blackness of air

The likes of a darkness so deep

That God, at the start, couldn’t bear"

De Selby (Part 1) is one of those songs that feels sad more than I know it's sad, largely because I've never bothered to look up the translations for the Irish lyrics. I also knew that this was almost definitely the song Hozier would open with, seeing as it would flow directly into Part 2. It was kind of a tonal whiplash moment, but in a good way.

What I wasn't expecting was for the Irish lyrics to be translated on screen during the concert, and let me tell you, that shit hit deep in my soul.

"Bhfuilis soranna sorcha [You’re all bright ease]

Ach tagais ’nós na hoíche [But you come on like night]

Trína chéile [Entangled]

Le chéile, claochlaithe [Together, transformed]

Bhfuilis soranna sorcha [You’re all bright ease]

Ach tagais ’nós na hoíche [But you come on like night]

Is claochlú an ealaín [Art is a transformation]

Is ealaín dubh í [It is a dark art]"

I can't quite place it, but there is something lovely in being compared to the night. The kind of night that God had to rid the world of at the start of creation. The kind of darkness that you know deep down isn't all that scary.

2. Francesca

"Do you think I'd give up

That this might've shook the love from me

Or that I was on the brink?

How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily?"

This song to me doesn't resonate because of a love story I lost. When I listen to this song I think of the younger version of me, of that scared little girl I would fight God to protect, of how I would quite literally go through hell for her. She's not me anymore, but I hold her so deeply and lovingly in my heart. I would risk damnation for her.

"It was too soon

When that part of you was ripped away

A grip taking hold

Like a cancer that grows

Each piece of your body that it takes"

Being trans is weird sometimes. It can feel like a rejection of who I used to be. Like I've killed a piece of me. But I also know that I dug her grave and gave her a place to rest and I will find her again one day and rest with her because I am at my core someone who loves deeply and wildly and without abandon.

"If I could hold you for a minute

Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah

I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)

Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)

Like you and I (like you and I)"

Maybe it's not about risking damnation for the ones you love. Maybe it's about realizing that your love is deep and feral and strong in a way that even the divinity of heaven cannot find space for it. Maybe it's about taking your love to the place you've been told it can't exist and proving the world wrong as you love loudly and without fear.

3. I, Carrion (Icarian)

Icarus fan club in the house 🗣️🗣️

The introduction to this song was something akin to 'when Icarus falls and ends up in the afterlife he cannot believe that he truly fell because he felt such ecstasy when he was flying. This song imagines that feeling in the context of a love story.'

"If the wind turns, if I hit a squall

Allow the ground to find its brutal way to me"

I can't help but imagine this song in the context of a fallen angel. I know it's about Icarus, this one is not one of the songs that pulls from Christianity (and the many stories based on the faith), but I wonder how well it must fit the story of an angel falling from Heaven. How well it must fit the story of the people like me who have left the Church but cannot quite bring ourselves to admit it.

"Once I had wondered what was holdin' up the ground

But I can see that all along, love, it was you all the way down

[...]

I do not have wings, love, I never will

Soarin' over a world you are carryin'"

To love someone and trust someone so deeply that you cannot believe they could have let you fall. The narrator's world is held up by their love because their love is all that could possibly matter. And if that doesn't bring you near tears I don't know what will.

"If I should fall, on that day

I only pray, don't fall away from me"

4. From Eden

"Babe

There's something broken about this

But I might be hoping about this

Oh, what a sin

[...]

Innocence died screaming, honey, ask me I should know

I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door"

I didn't leave your holiness so that I could run away to be held in a love you don't accept. I left your holiness so I could watch love unfold. I left your holiness for the chance to wait for a love you wouldn't accept. A love that you wouldn't let in.

This song will always resonate with me as a queer person who's fallen out of religion. I don't know that there's more that I can say on this one. It's a special song to me, one that rings deep in my soul, but not one I have many words for.

Maybe it's just that the mere idea of a love not fit for God's holiest place is more worth my time than staying in that holy place. That it might be a better use of this life to wait and watch and hope than to stay in the comfort of so called divinity.

5. Take Me to Church

"Every Sunday’s gettin’ more bleak

A fresh poison each week

We were born sick, you heard them say it"

Are you really a queer kid who grew up catholic if this song doesn't mean something to you in a deep and profound way? Hearing this song live was, for lack of a better word, a religious experience. To be in an amphitheater full of people who know all the lyrics, for us all to be screaming these lyrics together, to be experiencing that live, how could it not change my life?

"Somethin’ meaty for the main course

That’s a fine lookin’ high horse

What you got in the stable?"

It is a harrowing experience as a catholic kid to slowly realize how fucked the church is. How vile they have acted, how much abuse they have perpetuated. It's traumatizing in a way to learn the not so hidden truths of the church but be told that "it's different now" or that "the church is still good because God is good." "Why should I have to listen to the people who cause so much harm?" I ask myself as I walk into church and take my same place in the pews that I take every Sunday. To know is one thing, but to accept and internalize is another entirely. And it's fucking hard to accept how fucked the church is when you're that deep in it.

"I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife"

The one and only time I went to confession I was 7 years old. Sit with that. Sit with how absolutely fucking disgusting it is to have children confess their sins to a man they don't know.

"Oh, good God, let me give you my life"

The One Time I Cried: Unknown/Nth

"You know the distance never made a difference to me

I swam a lake of fire, I'd have walked across the floor of any sea"

This song will always make me think of my relationship with religion and the church. Of how I fought so hard to maintain my faith only for it to fall apart because it didn't have room for who I grew up to be.

"It ain't the being alone (sha-la-la)

It ain't the empty home, baby (sha-la-la)

You know I'm good on my own (sha-la-la), sha-la-la, baby

You know, it's more the being unknown

So much of the living, love, is the being unknown"

I think it's funny how I spent so much of my life in a Church. For years I was there every Sunday for Mass with my family and every Wednesday with my classmates and bi weekly for youth group or catechism or confirmation classes. But was I ever me in those spaces? Did those spaces ever hold space for who I was? For knowing who I was?

"Do you know, I could break beneath the weight

Of the goodness, love, I still carry for you?

That I'd walk so far just to take

The injury of finally knowing you"

This is the bit that broke me. This is the part that had tears falling from my eyes as I watched Hozier sing it live. I have fond memories of Church just as much as I have trauma from what it put me through emotionally & psychologically. I think it would really and truly hurt to go back in any meaningful way. No, I know it would hurt. And yet I still wonder if it would be worth it in some cruel and twisted way.

"And there are some people, love, who are better unknown"

[roppongi-division]

"It's only when we fall that we learn whether or not we can spread our wings and fly." - Flemeth

Introduction

Zakari Hiroya is the third and final member of the Roppongi Division rap battle team, Private Party. He is known far and wide by his MC name, Icarus. After losing his mother at birth and his father due to an unfortunate accident, Zakari was adopted at the age of 15 by Kai and Mireya Quinlan, who took him in and raised him as their own son. He now works exclusively at his family's nightclub, testing his luck by putting his life on the line every night performing dangerous, yet highly satisfying stunts.

A man in his early 20s, Zakari is an attractive Japanese youth. He has faded black hair that is spiky and wavy at the same time, along with his bangs on the side of his head, with a few falling into his light brown eyes. He stands at 5'10" and weighs 170 lb.

Attire wise, he tends to dress plainly. He wears a black t-shirt, which is often hidden underneath his large gray short sleeved hoodie with a moon and stars theme to it. He has on a pair of black jeans and a pair of black and red sneakers with white socks. Finally, he has a silver ball earring in both of his earlobes, and a pair of light brown circular sunglasses like his dad.

Name Meaning

Zakari - A name of various origins. In Japanese, it is the foreign version of the name 'Zachary'. The western meaning of the name Zachary is "God remembers". The closest matching Kanji name based on this meaning is 慈念 (Jinen). It is pronounced "Ji-nen". The Kanji characters mean "mercy" and "thought".

Hiroya - From Japanese 大 (hiro) meaning "big, great" or 博 (hiro) meaning "command, esteem" and 也 (ya) meaning "to be, also and too".

Aliases:

"The Daredevil"

Son/Zakari - Kai/Mireya

Zai - His friends

Lover/Crazy Kid - Lucille Takara

Biographical Info

Gender - Male

Age - 22

Birthday - December 5th

Ethnicity - Japanese

Hair Color - Grayish-Black

Eye Color - Light Brown

Height - 177 cm (5'10")

Weight - 77 kg (170 lb.)

Star Sign - Sagittarius

Piercings - Has two silver ball earrings in both of his earlobes.

Markings - He has a tattoo of Kangiten, the Japanese god of gambling covering the majority of his back.

Family -

Mother (Deceased)

Father (Deceased)

Adoptive Mother

Adoptive Father

Voiced By - PUNPEE (Rapping)

Fun Facts

MC Name - Icarus

Occupation - Part-time High School Student/Extreme Stuntman

Position - Third Member

Favorite Food - Sashimi

Least Favorite Food - Mushrooms

Likes - Putting his life on the line, risky endeavors, parkour, heights, acrobatics, cute girls, gambling, games of chance, his insurmountable good luck, his family, Roppongi, the nightlife, being underestimated, the sky, the legend of Icarus, birds, and gambling terms.

Dislikes - Being inside a vehicle, racecars, lies, people thinking he's suicidal, thinking about his father, lectures, being on the ground, bad fortune, whiners, the idiom about 'flying too close to the sun' and cowards.

Hypnosis Microphone

Zakari's Microphone is a silver microphone on a stand. Behind the windscreen of the mic are a pair of wings, similar to the ones that Icarus worn when he flew across the sky with his father.

His Speaker takes the form of a pair of white dice, often used for board games or gambling. The speakers are hidden in the '1' section on both dice.

His ability, Luck of the Draw, is somewhat similar to Dice's, in that his ability depends on what is the number displayed when he rolls his speaker. What is known is that if he happens to role a 'snake eyes', something bad usually happens to him as a result.

Zakari's rap themes revolve around taking chances and doing what you want to do in order to get ahead. He raps that you can't be afraid to take risks, even if they are dangerous and that you should do what you want and have to do in order to win. He frequently makes references to birds in his rhymes, and that we need to learn to 'spread our wings and take the leap'. He also, not surprisingly, makes many references to gambling.

Personality

Zakari, not surprisingly, is a guy who firmly believes in the concept of luck, whether it is given or made by your own hands. He attributes that a person's (mis)fortunes are attuned to their luck, whether it is good or bad. This way of thinking doesn't exactly make him popular among certain people, but he doesn't care, since he knows most people wouldn't understand.

Under the belief that he was born under a lucky star, Zakari loves to put this to the test. As an extreme risk taker and an impressive acrobat, he loves to do things or perform tricks that you'd have to be insane to try. Whether it's scaling a building on the outside without a harness, climbing up a very tall pole to do a selfie shot, or even trying to escape an underwater tank that is filled with dangerous sea creatures. While you'd think this would deter most people, Zakari, on the other hand, loves the risks involved.

A normal person would think that Zakari has a death wish doing insane stunts like this. And the truth is, you're not far off from the truth. While he frequently tells people (mainly Kai and Mireya) that he's not suicidal, the truth is, Zakari's stunts, as well as his constant need for adrenaline and risks, are actually an unhealthy coping mechanism he has for trying to get over his father's death. While he is not purposely trying to kill himself, he does admit that he likes to see just how far his lucky star will take him before he does finally "kick the bucket".

Despite this, Zakari is a good person; though he may not care much for himself, he cares very much for others. After his father died, he thought long and hard why his lucky star didn't protect him. He eventually realized that while his lucky star protects him, it doesn't protect those around him. It's for this reason he goes above and beyond to protect those close to him, especially his adopted parents who took him in when he was just a helpless teen. Though he knows they can't replace his biological parents, he loves them as if they actually were.

Speaking of his parents, despite not being related to them, he has taken traits from both his parents. Like his father, Zakari is known to be brutally honest and blunt. He dislikes lies and fabrications and will always tell the truth, regardless of whether its hurtful or not. Like his mother, he is naturally a leader, taking charge when no one else will. Like her, however, he also tends to be a bit grandiose, having a larger-than-life attitude, which can often irritate others.

A true lover of freedom, Zakari enjoys being outside, because he feels as if the entire world is his playground. One aspect that most people notice about Zakari from the beginning is that he loves being close to the sky because it is so vast. He admires and reveres birds because they have the ability to go wherever they want with their wings. It's for this reason he also admires and respects the legend of Icarus and hopes to emulate him someday.

Background

*Coming soon*

Trivia

Not surprisingly, he is good friends with Dice Arisugawa of Shibuya Division, with the two often hanging out and going to casinos together.

His favorite brand of cigarettes is Marlboro Light 100s.

He is involved in a not-so secret relationship with Lucille "Lucky Lucy" Takara of the Kito-gumi. The two met after Zakari saved Dice from some of Lucille's goons. Long story short, the two became intrigued with each other after several games of cards. It's unknown who asked who out first, but the two are now happily a secret couple.

Despite being a very gifted and notorious gambler, Zakari, ironically, is absolutely terrible when it comes to money. He has often been lectured by his parents for spending money that he hasn't earned yet, and for not saving it for emergencies.

After witnessing the accident that took his father's life, he now has amaxophobia, a fear of driving or getting inside a vehicle.

He has a hatred for Anika Kiyozaki of Akihabara, holding her responsible as the one who took his father's life due to her reckless style of driving.

[serenanymph]

wip intro - beast

A single feather drifts from within the boy's bloodied cloak to the ground, floating, dancing on the wind. Pitch black, stained red, exactly like the ones Crys had seen earlier on the trail. Silence. The world holds its breath, both of them staring at that feather on the ground, a single second stretching out into eternity. “Oh,” the boy says weakly. “Shit.”

GENRE: YA high fantasy

POV: third person, multiple, present tense

STATUS: book 1 on hold (final draft), book 2 ongoing (first draft)

FEATURES:

found family and large casts

queer characters of various flavors + background romance

sarcastic one + ray of sunshine one

chill lesbian + disaster lesbian

undead creatures!!! cool magic!!! shapeshifting!!!

a Journey

discrimination, eventual rebellion, lots of blowing stuff up

telling each other to practice self-care while not practicing self-care

and a protagonist who doesn't really fit the 'hero' or 'chosen one' role

SYNOPSIS:

There are monsters in the woods.

Beasts have been at war with humans for centuries. The children of Katas himself, they are shapeshifters, magic wielders, and the source of the Witchrisen that has been plaguing Kosei since time immemorial.

For Crys Averwell, a human boy from a backwater village, there has never been any reason to doubt the old legends. However, when he stumbles across a wounded crow-boy in the woods whose wings have been brutally hacked off, everything he knows is thrown into question.

On the flip side, Icarus Kal-Nira is wingless, weaponless, and stranded miles and miles away from home, with no way to get back. If he wants to survive, he's going to have to trust Crys.

Quite unfortunately, that's the easy part - because when the entire world hates Beasts, a single ally won't be enough to grant an edge. And as time goes on and threats increase, it's only going to get harder for Crys to hide Icarus's existence from his village...

POV CHARACTERS

Crys Averwell - 16, human, archer. sharp tongue and even sharper wit. walking personification of "I'm fine", needs sleep and therapy but is getting neither because I keep putting him in Situations

Icarus "Ink" Kal-Nira - 17, Beast (Crow), dual-wielder. ray of sunshine and genuinely the nicest person to ever exist. giant golden retriever energy. Trying His Best

Dahlia Reistveil - 17, human, daughter of a tavern-owner. Crys's childhood friend. often seen as the Mature One, but underneath all that she has a boatload of her own Issues

Beatriz Das-Reille - 16, Beast (Crow), Icarus's sort-of-but-not-really-little-sister. fast flier, wields a rapier, and is made up of only anxiety and more anxiety.

taglist (lmk if you want to be +/-): @sapphos-scientist

feel free to browse through the gen tag in which I reblog everything from inspiration to resources, and occasionally actually post something! I'll probably make a proper long page later on and sort out the tagging system, but until then you just get this.

[original-character-championship]

Bracket G Round 1

Poll 24

Ursa & Marie & Madeline (@lumarys) vs. Icarus (@andromedaexists)

431. Ursa & Marie & Madeline (@lumarys)

she/her (all)

LESBIAN POLYCULE

Ursa is a testament to the fact that cringe is dead. She is all my favorite tropes stuffed into a dress and I love her. She's a star princess. She has mommy issues. She is one of the most powerful sorceresses ever seen and can shapeshift. She is absolutely clueless about everything on Earth and having a hell of a time figuring things out. She managed to score two girlfriends within, like, four months of being on Earth. Absolute perfection. Fled to Earth because her mother was Up To Shit, and has been very confused for the past eighteen months. If she weren't slightly immortal she would definitely be dead by now. Luckily she found a trans vampire to help her...hmm...

Marie is the trans vampire in question. She was turned in 1993 at 26 and to her, grunge never died. She still wears the same leather/flannel. Tries her hardest to be chill, but like. She's in charge of wrangling Ursa and Madeline. They are going to give her grey hairs (even if she's a vampire, and like, can't get them). Also thank god she doesn't have to pay for food, why is rent so expensive. All of her jobs for the past fifteen years have been at least sort of sketchy. Her current job might be a front for some kind of fey mob, but they don't ask questions if she shows up with her mouth covered in blood, so she doesn't ask questions if she finds a dismembered deer in a random storage closet. (Besides, it's a free snack.) Kind of wishes she could get away with slacking like Madeline, though.

AND MADELINE. Madeline is a mermaid that lives in Lake Michigan, which is an unexpected hub of merpeople civilization. She's a royal guard, but doesn't care. She has had multiple two-hour-long naps while on duty and no has noticed or cared.  But as part of being a guard she gets a cool spear, which is neat. Madeline is a big fan of Causing Problems on Purpose. Whenever she's on land to spend time with Ursa and/or Marie she causes at LEAST one Problem. Also a Slightly Fucked Up Mermaid. Claws...huge teeth...scales...she keeps all of these when she shifts (she's not very magically inclined but a lot of merpeople can do it too). Kind of inconvenient but she looks cool as hell.

Individually, they barely function, except maybe Marie. Together? They still barely function. But they have fun doing it, which has to count for something.

Ursa: Has a mostly-but-obviously-not-human looking ""default"" form, which includes wings (one feathered and one dragon, because like I said, she's a testament to how cringe is dead), antlers (stick-thin with glowy, pointy things on each tine), a tail (scaly but with plenty of feathers), giant elf ears, and random feathers and scales (the feathers are golden-ish and the scales are very very dark purple). Her hair is very long, fluffy, and black (technically it's a deep purple but it looks almost black). Her human form does look almost entirely human, though, except for her eyes, which are still purple, and her blood, which glows. She really likes to wear dresses, but is especially fond of an enormous sheepskin coat that she...borrowed...from Marie.

Marie: Pretty average, except for her fangs (which are very long and poke over her bottom lip unless she holds her mouth in a very specific and slightly uncomfortable way), slightly pointed ears, and reddish eyes. Likes to keep her hairy very short. In terms of fashion: grunge, almost entirely, but with hint of punk. Ripped jeans (not purchased that way, though), flannel or leather jacket, oldish Doc Martens.

Madeline: Very big, just like, in general. Part muscle, part fat. Her scales are sorta pinkish-orangish, same as her hair (which is very long and perpetually damp), and all over her body-forearms, shoulders, and face. She's also got tons of fins everywhere, including a pair in place of ears, and webbed fingers. Plus, claws and big teeth/fangs.

432. Icarus (@andromedaexists)

he/they             

Listen, Icarus should win because he's a sopping wet pathetic man. This man gets adopted by every slightly older character he comes across because you just look at him and know that he can't take care of himself. This mans is also highly trained in combat and will kick some ass while looking hot about it just to turn around and fucking burn his bowl of cereal

6'1″, fair skin, wavy red hair that goes just past his ears (he wears it up in a slutty little ponytail), gray eyes, athletic build (he's a fighter and a dancer). It's rare to find him in anything other than an oversized hoodie and booty shorts, but sometimes he does dress up.

[collagedotorg]

Collage Masterpost Part 2

This part of the list covers everything other than Riordanverse collages, which can be found in part 1.

Musicals/Musicians

Epic: The Musical

Epic general collage

Polites

The Circe Saga

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

The Lightning Thief musical collage

Annabeth Chase (Musical Edition)

Miscellaneous Musicals

Gelphie from Wicked

Enjoltaire from Les Misérables

Musicians

Bears in Trees

AJR

Chappell Roan

General Mythology

Circe

Medusa

Nyx

Iris

Nemesis

Nike

Hestia

Persephone

Psyche

Helen of Troy

Cassandra of Troy

Orpheus and Eurydice

Icarus

Mount Olympus

The Greek Pantheon

Miscellaneous Book/TV Collages

Alex & Henry from RWRB

Check and Mate

Kaz x Jesper from Six of Crows

Jude Duarte from The Folk of the Air

Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing

Penelope Featherington from Bridgerton

Francesca Bridgerton from Bridgerton

Kate Sharma from Bridgerton

Princess Yue from Avatar the Last Airbender

Hester Shaw from Mortal Engines

Anne of Green Gables

Lockwood & Co

Beth Greene from The Walking Dead

Lestat de Lioncourt from Interview With the Vampire

Jaskier x Yennefer from The Witcher

Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

House of the Dragon

Team Black

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Daemon Targaryen

Rhaenys Targaryen

Aemma Arryn

Team Green

Alicent Hightower

Aegon II Targaryen

Aemond Targaryen

Ser Criston Cole

Helaena Targaryen

Alys Rivers

Taylor Swift Eras

Speak Now TV

Folklore

Evermore

Midnights

The Tortured Poets Department

The Eras Tour

The Eras Tour but Blurry

Miscellaneous Collages

Lovecore

Royaltycore

70s

Marie Antoinette

Cal Kestis

[ascent-descent-bracket]

Finalised bracket: Round 1 begins 13th March 11am GMT - ASK BOX IS OPEN FOR PROPAGANDA

note: Angels and Demons from religion will not be pictured

Round 1 Participants

Angels:

Sahaquiel (Evangelion) vs Gaghiel (Evangelion)

Emi Yusa/Emilia Justina (The Devil Is a Part-Timer) vs Angel (Devilish Hairdresser)

Vash (Trigun) vs Noelle (Deltarune)

Erika(s) (Welcome To Nightvale) vs Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)

Michael (Tanakh) vs Seraphim (Book of Isaiah)

Shealtiel (Your Wings and Mine) vs Uriel (When the Angels Left the Old Country)

Angewomon (Digimon) vs Lucewomon (Digimon)

Kronk's Shoulder Angel (Emperor's New Groove) vs Gabriel (SPN)

Demons:

Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer) vs Homura Akemi (Madoka Magica)

Chara (Undertale) vs Courtney (Dead End)

Calcifer (Howl's Moving Castle) vs Betelgeuse (Betelgeuse, i am NOT risking summoning him nope not today)

Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist) vs Akira Fudou (Devilman Crybaby)

Niklaus Hendrix (JRWI) vs Up and Adam (Camp Here & There)

The Devil (Cuphead) vs Devil (Devilish Hairdresser)

Damian Lavey (Monster Prom) vs Tom Lucitor (SVTFOE)

Kronk's Shoulder Devil (Emperor's New Groove) vs Sauron (Lord of the Rings)

LIST OF SEEDS UNDER CUT

Angels:

Ryo Asuka (Devilman Crybaby)

Madoka Kaname (Madoka Magica)

Castiel (Supernatural)

Aziraphale (Good Omens)

Exandoroth (JRWI)

Uriel (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint)

Pit (Kid Icarus)

Panty Anarchy (Panty & Stocking with Garterbel)

Demons:

Power (CSM)

Angel Devil (CSM)

Crowley (Good Omens)

Sebastian (Black Butler)

Blitzø (Helluva Boss)

Lucifer (The Bible)

Marceline (Adventure Time)

Jevil (Deltarune)

[snowboyclarkov]

Personality Comparison For No Reason

My personality typing, as stated in my profile description, is ISTJ 5w4. It may actually be INTP 5w4, though I'm not truly sure between the two. Using that, and other methods, this is an extensive list of characters from different series whose personalities I am closest to, based on their cognitive functions, enneagram and general similar behaviours between themselves and myself. Pictures of each one will be below the list.

Since I made this, a second has been done after analysing Beyblade Burst some more and deciding that my personality is more akin to Gwyn Reynolds instead of Naoki Minamo, and to Brooklyn Masefield instead of Garland Siebald. That same adjustment has been made to this post as well.

Crowscare -> Ingram

Cookie Run -> Frost Queen Cookie

Cuphead -> Chinook Pilot Saluki

Doki Doki Literature Club! -> Yuri

Grand Theft Auto -> Eddie Toh

The Grand Tour -> James May

Inazuma Eleven -> Fuusuke Suzuno

Beyblade -> Brooklyn Masefield

Katawa Shoujo -> Rin Tezuka

Beyblade Burst -> Gwyn Reynolds

Made In Abyss -> Ozen

Monster Girl Encyclopedia -> Soldier Beetle

Mix Ore -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Fire Emblem -> Idunn

Undertale -> Woshua

Gakuen Babysitters -> Keigo Saikawa

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure -> Leone Abbacchio

Touhou Project -> Ran Yakumo

Ace Attorney -> Sorin Sprocket

Beyblade: Metal Saga -> Faust

The Loud House -> Maggie

Jelly Jamm -> Ongo

Rosario + Vampire -> Mizore Shirayuki

Corpse Party -> Naho Saenoki

Danganronpa -> Mukuro Ikusaba

Sonic The Hedgehog -> Sage Robotnik

Land of the Lustrous -> Rutile

Dragon Ball -> Jimmy Firecracker

Inazuma Eleven: Ares -> Yuuichirou Mansaku

Initial D -> Satoshi Omiya

Shimoneta -> Hyouka Fuwa

Pirates of the Caribbean -> Murtogg

Pokémon -> Calem

Kid Icarus -> Poseidon

Monster Girl Quest -> Gnome

Yandere Simulator -> Horo Goramu

Joshiraku -> Gankyou Kuurubiyuutei

Monogatari -> Sodachi Oikura

Professor Layton -> Ridelle Mystere

Game of Thrones -> Archmaester Ebrose

The Binding of Isaac -> Apollyon

Date A Live -> Yuzuru Yamai

Star Fox -> General Pepper

Zero Escape -> Sigma Klim

Super Smash Bros. -> Galeem

Puyo Puyo -> Legamünt

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX -> Ryo Marufuji

Ninjago -> Milton Dyer

Bakugan -> Fabia Sheen

Codename: Kids Next Door -> Nigel Uno

Glitch -> E. Gadd

Kirby -> Claycia

Saw -> Daniel Matthews

Dead Rising -> Carl Schliff

Omori -> Sunny

The Amazing World of Gumball -> Clipboard Men

Monster Musume -> Lala

Paper Mario -> Professor Toad

Trauma Center -> Victor Niguel

Driver -> Bishop

Nagasarete Airanto -> Chikage

Inspector Morse -> Endeavour Morse

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective -> Jowd

God of War -> Helios

Saiko no Sutoka -> Akira

Cells At Work! -> NT4201

Total Drama -> MK

Hetalia -> Iceland

Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil -> Ronaldo

Hotel Dusk -> Kevin Woodward

Papers, Please -> M. Vonel

Oggy & the Cockroaches -> Marky

It's Not Me, It's My Basement -> Embry Oliver

Chainsaw Man -> Asa Mitaka

Inazuma Eleven GO -> Alpha

Azur Lane -> Admiral Graf Spee

Heaven's Lost Property -> Nymph

My Hero Academia -> Yui Kodai (Rule)

--------------------------------------------------

Bonus: My main OC's MHA variant, basic details

Occupation = U.A. Student

Hero Name = Mysurarni (formerly a neutral/arc main antagonist a la Pax Forsythe, currently part of Class 1-A) | Alternatively known as Absolute Zero

Appearance = See the bottom of the post, can turn hands into ice claws, hair gains gem-like appearance a la Land of the Lustrous when quirk is in effect, also a biological hermaphrodite

Quirk = Snow Sage [Yuki-onna physiology/powers, has cold-powered artillery that is part of their body and can be vanished at any time for convenience.]

Extra = Capable of combining quirk and learned skill to perform Touhou-style danmaku based on formulae & equations.

More Extra = Black light powers (similar to Glory Regnar's powers, taught by mother who has a quirk that grants 4 disembodied wings that are said to be impervious [they aren't] and light-based powers. Galeem as a quirk, basically.)

Costume = Imagine the spirit/avatar of Greatest Raphael/Glory Regnar as clothing/armour minus the head, tail and shimenawa parts (Colour scheme switched to white, lavender purple, dark purple, black, teal, ice-blue & ice-white.)] Alternate outfits exist too, because I'm indecisive. Outfits made from special material, protective but soft and flexible.

They call their moves 'Genesis Crown', etc. as opposed to 'Glory Crown' seen in the Beyblade Burst series.

Naturally maintains a chilled air around their body constantly to prevent overheating, sometimes faint cold air is made visible surrounding the space directly around their body. Does best in cold environments especially those filled with ice and/or snow.

*What the outfit would be based on: da3d992e9ba23709a6cfc78dcf8d39 b959d086e59b47a9eec8d597566617 08e07cb1f7c8df62cc2f1a93031eb3 670964123039ae7bc75b881fc1c648

**Appearance (Extra): Light grey skin, nigh-impervious exoskeleton covering entire body, 6 legs (2 fore + 4 normal), ice-based wings inside carapace, ship-esque cold-powered artillery When Quirk in Effect = Pupils turn roughly the same colour as irises (light gold), ice claws, hair turns lavender purple and gains a gem-esque appearance a la Land of the Lustrous, can turn arms into any item desired (all made of pure ice) Basically the entire body = File:Soldier_Beetle_0 Thanks to studies together with mother, capable of causing exoskeleton to fade away and lower half of body to change to normal legs for convenience, similar to the artillery mutation.

***The artillery looks just like the sort that Admiral Graf Spee has. AGS used as basis due to personality and colour scheme reasons. The red is exchanged for lavender and the black primarily for ice-white.

****Things like swords, chainsaws and other quirks have no effect if they strike the exoskeleton. Unless the attacking force is heat-based, in which case it very much can as long as the heat in question is further above normal body temperature than Clarkov's coldness is below 10C.

[bleachanimefan1]

Dragon Ball Legends Part 35

Lord Slug Part 1,

Piccolo was meditating at a waterfall. Piccolo tried to push Nail out of his thoughts as he tried to talk to Piccolo.

"So, it's been a while since you seen Ocarin. Don't you think you should check on her?"

"She's fine." Piccolo spoke.

"Yeah, but, she's pregnant. With the first ever Namekian hybrid. And you haven't really talked to her about it. What is she going to think if you don't talk to her." 

"If she has any problems, she'll come to me when she wants to." 

"And what's your take on all this?" Nail asked him.

"I still can't believe that this is actually happening, and we got the androids to deal with in the future. I know nothing about raising a baby. I didn't even know my own father before he died. What if I make the same mistakes he did?"

"Well, you did alright with Goku's kid, Gohan, was it? He practically looks up to you." Nail spoke. Piccolo made a small smile.

 As Piccolo was deep in thought, he barely noticed Gohan flying over to him with his pet dragon, Icarus.

"Hey Piccolo! It's me, Gohan!" Gohan shouted. "I'm glad I found you! You're not going to believe this, Piccolo, guess what. Watch, Icarus, can dance!" Gohan began whistling while his flying dragon danced along with him. Piccolo tried to concentrate, but the whistling only just got louder and louder.

"Stop it, Gohan..." Piccolo groaned. Gohan continued, whistling not hearing Piccolo. "Gohan! Stop!" Piccolo shouted. Gohan's eyes widened and he and Icarus stopped whistling and dancing. "Don't ever do that again."

"I'm sorry, Piccolo, I didn't mean to disturb you. We really have been practicing." Gohan said, sadly.

"Don't beat yourself up, kid. It's not that-" Piccolo's eyes widened when he felt a strong energy signature coming. It was coming from outer space, heading directly towards Earth. On the Lookout, Kami could feel the energy as well. Kami stood on the edge of the Lookout, sensing the strange presence that was coming towards Earth. Ocarin came out, seeing Kami looking up at the sky with Mr. Popo and walked over to them. A large flying ship began to descend down into the Earth's atmosphere.

Goku and Krillin were right in front of it was the ship was coming down on them.

"Alright, we're not trying to destroy this thing, just change its course." Goku explained.

"Alright, I got it. It is risky though. It would be a lot easier to blow the whole thing up." Krillin suggested.

"Yeah, I know, but try to put yourself in their shoes." Gohan said.

"I was afraid you would say that." Krillin muttered.

Goku and Krillin unleashed their Kamehameha blasting them straight at the flying ship. The beams connecting making it bigger and flew at the ship but bounced off.

Goku and Krillin's eyes widen in shock and the ship started to head down to land. Goku and Krillin were blown away by the rush of air and got scattered from each other. The ship flew away from Earth and suddenly it exploded and large debris began to rain down as it fell from the sky. A part of the ship landed on the ground, creating a large crater. Long legs extended out, baring into the ground. The door opened as it fell down, and several men dressed in black and white armor uniform with white mirrored helmets stepped out. There were many people gathered around, seeing them, wondering who they were. The aliens began to march towards them.

"Attention, we hereby claim this planet. From this moment on it belongs to Lord Slug. Anyone who resist will be exterminated." One of the aliens spoke. Gohan, Bulma, Chichi, and Oolong broke through the laughing crowd to see the invaders.

Inside the ship, a large figure was sitting in a chair like throne surrounded by a few henchmen. A small green alien, another alien with green skin and wings and a taller man with long blond hair a pale blue skin. The tall alien had a hooded cape draped over his head, wearing the same mirrored helmets, had green wrinkled skin with a scar on his left eye, orange scarf, black shoulder blades with brown medallion straps on it and a yellow undercoat underneath.

"On my mark, Fire!" One of the aliens shouted at the crowd. The people screamed and scattered, trying to get away while Bulma, Chichi, Gohan and Oolong stayed behind. Gohan charged at the army and Chichi tried to call him back. The aliens fired at Gohan and Gohan dodged the blasts, smacking them away. He leaped into the air and kicked one of the aliens in the face, shattering their mirror helmet. Then started to fight more as they tried to grab Gohan. Inside the ship, Gohan was being watched on the monitors. The tall alien eyes widen in shock when he saw the four-star dragon ball on the top of Gohan's hat. "It can't be..." The alien quickly teleported to get a closer look and laughed darkly.

Chichi charged to help Gohan, telling him to duck. Gohan quickly ducked down when several of the men fired blasts at him. Chichi jumped over Gohan and kicked two of the men down. But one of the aliens quickly appeared in front of Chichi and punched her in the stomach, knocking her unconscious.

"Mom!" Gohan cried out and quickly caught her and set her down gently. The aliens fired at Gohan and Gohan quickly grabbed his mom to move out of the way. Gohan's hat fell off from his head and the four star ball rolled on the ground.

"My, my, people are so careless with their valuables nowadays." The tall alien smirked, evilly and picked up Gohan's hat and pried the four star ball out. "How does he know about the Dragon Balls!?" Gohan gritted his teeth, glaring at him, wondering who this man was.

"Hey you, big guy! You're the boss, aren't you!? Well, we have a bone to pick with you!" Bulma shouted, while holding Oolong in front of her to shield her.

"No, no! We don't! Don't listen to her! She doesn't know what-"

"Shut up, Oolong!" Bulma hissed. "You got some nerve landing here and shooting up our planet! Your guests here, you know? What kind of way is that to act!"

"Our master Lord Slug has commandeered this planet. You are his guests now. Follows him and you shall leave or end up as countless others who had tried to resist him and died."

"You can't-"

"Of course we can you fool! You're in denial. Just stay out of our way. You're out of your league here. You're playing with the big boys now."

"You don't scare me! What do you want with our planet anyway, you geek!" Bulma shouted.

"It's simple. We're going to Terra freeze it and convert it into our own personal star cruiser."

The leader laughed while looking at the four star ball. "You wouldn't happen to know where the rest of these are, would you?"

"How do you about the-"

"I'm a Nomad, my dear. I've been to Namek before. Nice place. Now where are they!" He demanded Bulma.

"Look, gramps, it'll take you a lifetime to try and find the Dragon balls with a radar!"

"Bulma!" Gohan exclaimed. Bulma quickly covered her mouth. The tall alien laughed and smirked.

"I love secrets. Come here, dear. Allow me to read your mind." He raised his hand and Bulma was suddenly pulled towards him. The alien grabbed Bulma by her head as he started to prod her mind. Bulma cried out and struggled to get out of his grip but couldn't.

"Bulma!" Gohan cried out and rushed to help her. But several henchmen lunged at Gohan and one of them kicked Gohan in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Gohan!" Bulma shouted.

"Relax. This won't hurt a bit." The alien continued to read Bulma's mind, searching for the locations of the Dragon balls. Bulma fell to the ground. He grabbed Bulma's pouch, containing the radar and handed it to his henchmen. "There are six more dragon balls, just like this one. I want you to use this device to find them! You have one hour!" The henchmen's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? O-One hour!?" He argued. The tall alien stopped in his tracks and slowly turned towards him, narrowing his eyes.

"Matcha!" One of the henchmen shouted.

"I'm sorry! I'll find them!" He quickly bowed.

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 3

Hello! If you haven't seen it yet, I've got a set schedule for what story posts on what days now (as seen here) and this one as well as Well Met By Moonlight, Batshit Soulmates, and Never Hold Back Your Step... will still be posting just on rotation until I can finish some of my WIPs. (I may be stretching myself a bit thin having six going at the same time.)

In this one we have the concert. Eddie stumbles on something big and doesn't know how to deal with it all. And Uncle Wayne is bestest as always.

@emly03 @redfreckledwolf @itsall-taken @rozzieroos @mira-jadeamethyst

Part 1 Part 2

****

The day of the concert dawned abhorrently cheerful and bright. Not a cloud in the sky or any accidents that would prevent Eddie from having to take Dustin to this event. He wouldn’t deign to call it a concert. He had heard the album and seen their posters, but he refused to wander over to YouTube and watch videos of their concerts, interviews, their music videos.

He didn’t want to be even more disappointed that they were all flash and no substance then he was sure he was going to be for the next two hours.

Dustin rolled his eyes when Eddie parked in the huge concert parking lot.

“You’re just salty because I like them as much as I like Corroded Coffin,” he huffed getting out the car. “You have to concede that Abaddon’s vocals are killer.”

Eddie scoffed. “Do not. I haven’t heard them live. Way too many artists use autotune too much these days.”

“You sound like that meme,” he sneered, “‘Old Man Yells at Cloud’.”

Eddie swatted at him playfully. “Am not.” Dustin raised his eyebrow skeptically and he threw his arms in the air. “I’m not. I am a very serious musician, Dusty. The last thing metal needs is some band that can’t write or even play their own instruments. This isn’t pop.”

“You are such an asshole,” he said and turned toward the entrance, leaving Eddie to jog to catch up with him.

Eddie sighed and put his arm around Dustin’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I am being an asshole. I turned into the person I swore I would never be. Those shit for brains critics that hated Corroded Coffin when we first got on the scene. And that was wrong of me.”

Dustin sighed, too. “I just want you to like them too. They are so good if you’d just give them a chance.”

Eddie breathed out through his nose. “Yeah. I can at least give them that.”

They got to their seats and Eddie was a little impressed at Claudia Henderson’s Ticket Master foo. They weren’t front row, but they were only a couple of rows back so you could actually see the stage without having to strain their necks and smack dab in the center of the row.

Dustin would have the best time. And now it was up to Eddie not ruin it for the kid. Because yes, he was still a kid as far as Eddie was concerned. Twenty-one was so fucking young. That was how old most of the band was when they got their record deal, after all. They weren’t prepared for what came next, that’s for sure.

They got settled into their seats and Eddie watched as the rest of the crowd shuffled in. They were all about Dustin’s age with very few exceptions in either direction.

There seemed to be a color theme going on with the girls in the audience though. They were grouped in clumps of red, black, blue, or white. Which made sense if each band member stuck to a certain color palette.

Well he was about to find out, he supposed.

The lights dimmed. The crowd quieted down. The spotlight lit up the drumkit first. And Eddie knew that Gareth would be drooling over it. It was all black with black metal fittings. The kit seemed to collect light almost like a blackhole.

Then from the ceiling, a man dressed all in black being lowered onto the stage with large black raven wings on his back. He wore a black hooded coat over what, Eddie couldn’t tell. It was all black. The shirt, the pants, the boots. Even his mask was all black with even the eyes appearing closed. His feet touched the ground and the crowd went wild.

“Azrael!” the announcer called out.

Azrael settled on the throne and picked up black drum sticks.He counted time above his head and played a wicked solo to the adoring crowd’s absolute delight.

Dustin jumped up and down, screaming.

The spotlight moved to the right side of stage and the next band member descended from the ceiling. Large bat wings adorned his back and he was dressed in red leather fetish gear. Complete with tight leather pants that looked painted on and a matching harness highlighting his bare chest, peeking out from the red leather hooded coat.

His guitar was fucking gorgeous, though. A Warlock, much like Eddie’s own. It was custom painted red with black flames licking up the neck.

Eddie rolled his eyes, but it seemed he was the only one who thought the whole thing was over the top judging from the screams from the girls in the audience.

He didn’t just land gently on the stage like the drummer did, oh no. He fucking stomped onto the stage with a howl.

His wings, like the drummer’s ascended back into the rafters as the announcer shouted, “Asmodeus!”

And then Eddie really did roll his eyes. The demon of lust. Of course he was.

But seconds later Eddie’s jaw dropped to the floor as the man wailed on his guitar driving the crowd further into the frenzy.

Once he finished his solo the crowd quieted again and he could see why. Because just then, descending on gossamer wings that shimmered like starlight, was their bassist.

Everything about him was midnight blue and shimmering like the night. His mask was the face of the moon. He had his own hooded coat, but it was like the night sky, with some kind of crystal or gem sewn in to make the coat glimmer like stars.

His bass was something that Brian would have sold his own mother for and they were as thick as thieves. Eddie didn’t know much about basses considering his sweetheart was an electric guitar, but he could tell it wasn’t expensive but was perfect for his style. A style he showed off with gusto to the audience’s obvious delight.

“Astraeus!” the announcer cried.

Eddie decided that this one was his favorite. It played up the whole mysterious thing without the over the top flash of the guitarist or the sheer void of the drummer.

The audience hushed as the three members of the band began to play what was clearly the lead singer’s entrance music.

And holy fuck was Eddie screwed. This man was descending like a fucking angel sent from God, Jesus pose and all.

He was all in white with an opaque lace mask that had his mouth and chin cut out for him to sing. That surprised Eddie somewhat. He figured that the guy would have his whole face covered like everyone else in the band and that he could lip sync.

But nope. Apparently no one in this band did anything by halves.

The lead singer was wearing a sheer mesh crop top under the hooded floor length coats the whole band was wearing. Only his was white with a silk powder blue lining.

Eddie winced in sympathy. They must get boiling under the lights with those things on.

A few feet from the stage floor there was an explosive pop! And the feathers from his wings flew out into the crowd who was now screaming as if their life depended on the sheer volume coming out them. He looked over at Dustin who was no different.

When Eddie could see the stage again, this angel’s wings were now skeletal and gothic.

He landed in front of microphone whose stand had been decorated with a scarf in each of of the band members’ signature colors.

“Abbadon!” the announcer yelled for the final time.

And Eddie was in love. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Dustin must have seen his expression because he was suddenly tugging on Eddie’s arm and screaming, “I told you!!”

“Indy!” Abbadon growled, grabbing the mic. “Thank you so much for having us! Let’s get this started.”

Then he began to sing and yeah, Eddie knew that the guy had charm, but this was a whole new level of epic. He was enthralled.

He didn’t utter a fucking word for several songs. But then it happened. Eddie couldn’t believe it. He hurried to snap a picture to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

But there it was it in living color. He turned to Dustin to see if he saw it too, but the kid was too busy screaming and jumping up and down.

Eddie’s jaw fell.

That couldn’t be right, couldn’t it? That Dustin didn’t know? Eddie looked back up on stage and a lot of the puzzle pieces started slotting in place. His heart sank a little.

He shook his head to clear it of dark thoughts. He didn’t know the reason for any of this and leaping to conclusions would only get a shit ton of people hurt. Especially the boy next to him.

Eddie let the music wash over him. Let the magic of metal soothe his soul. Soon he was jumping up and down and headbanging with the rest of the crowd. Right hand flashing the devil’s horns, left hand out to steady himself he let himself enjoy the band’s stage presence.

****

To say that Eddie’s mind was fucking blown would be an understatement. He pestered Dustin all the way home with rapid fire questions. Where did the band tour last time? What was their schedule this time? Was it a six month tour or an eighteen month tour last time?

Dustin answered each question with growing excitement, thinking that Eddie had finally grown to love this band as much as he had.

Eddie on the other hand felt a growing sense of dread. Well... maybe dread was the wrong word. It was certainly a sinking feeling. One he really had to exam closely.

At least he could honestly say that he fell in love with the music before he found out his little secret.

And fuck what a secret it was.

He dropped Dustin off at home and drove out to the ranch that he had gifted to Wayne when Corroded Coffin first made it big. It was a beautiful, sprawled out home surrounded by acres of land and Eddie loved it even more than Wayne did.

Eddie stumbled through the door and was surprised to see Wayne drinking hot chocolate and reading a sports magazine in his expensive recliner. And yet, at the same time, not really that surprised.

“You do realize I’m no longer that fucked up kid with anger issues,” Eddie huffed on his way to the kitchen to grab a beer, “that were almost as bad as the troubles with the law, right?”

Wayne chuckled. “Maybe so. But you’re still my boy and I’ll keep worrying about you until the day I die.”

Eddie popped open the can of beer and sat down on the sofa. He leaned his head back on the back cushion with a heavy sigh.

Wayne raised an eyebrow. “What’s stewing around in that head of yours?”

Eddie slowly raised his head. “What would you do if you accidentally found out something about a friend that they were keeping from everyone they knew?”

Wayne set down his magazine. “That would depend on the secret. Is it hurting anyone?”

“Is what hurting anyone?” Eddie asked. “The secret?” Wayne nodded and Eddie frowned, really thinking about it.

“Maybe some feelings,” he said after a moment. “But it’s not dangerous like they committed a crime or anything. It’s not even about their sexuality.”

Wayne hummed thoughtfully. “And is it a big secret or a little one?”

Again Eddie was forced to think hard about what that meant. “I guess it depends on the person, but in my eyes it’s pretty big.”

The elder Munson nodded. “Do you feel hurt by this secret?”

“Yeah, yeah. I guess I do.” He bowed his head and let out a shuddering breath.

“Is there a reason you think he wouldn’t have told you?” Wayne pressed.

“Of course no–” Eddie stopped as his brain caught up to his mouth. “Shit.”

Wayne raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Eddie admitted shyly. “There’s a pretty good reason why he wouldn’t have told me. And now I feel like the shit friend.”

Wayne stood up and pulled Eddie into a big hug. “Maybe so, but you have the time to course correct and show this friend that you are worthy of his secret.”

Eddie nodded. “Thanks, Uncle Wayne,” he mumbled into Wayne’s neck.

“I’m just glad I could help.”

****

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

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[zaph1337]

Monster Hunter Rating 26: Rathalos, the King of the Skies

Well, we’re finally here. I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda worried that I won’t be able to do this monster justice. The only experience I have with it isn’t even a Monster Hunter game, and I don’t know how much I can count on the wiki not having any headcanons that a lot of MH fans would disagree with. Still, it’s gotta be done. The King of the Skies, the Charizard of Monster Hunter, the Flying Wyvern--ladies, gents, and enbies, please give a warm welcome to Rathalos!

(How it appears in Monster Hunter 1)

(How it appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)

(How it appears in Monster Hunter Rise)

Appearance: Rathalos may appear to be a standard wyvern, but it has a few neat touches. First, it has a black flame pattern on its wings, which is admittedly something I did notice until I saw the Rise render. Its tail is also interesting, as it ends with a wide, thorny tip that kind of reminds me of an armadillo lizard; in fact, Rathalos reminds me of an armadillo lizard in general, mostly thanks to its spiny scales. Okay, obviously armadillo lizards don’t have wings, have four legs, and aren’t 70 feet long, but the scales are similar! Rathalos also has a black, beak-like nose that you’d be forgiven for thinking of as an actual beak, as well as what appear to be pointy ears.

Sure, Rathalos may be pretty basic in spite of everything I just said, but that’s kind of the point. It’s meant to be easily recognizable and iconic, so not deviating too far from what a normal wyvern looks like helps with that. It’s still distinct and powerful-looking, though, which makes it a perfect mascot for the series. 8/10.

Behavior: Rathalos have a pretty wide range of habitats, but I guess that’s mostly because not even nature will tell them where they can and can’t be. They’re basically at the top of the food chain, and the only things that pose a threat to them are monsters that are just as feared as they are (and hunters, of course), and even then, Rathalos never go down without a fight. Well, okay, that’s if they get in a fight with those monsters; they’re not stupid enough to actively aggress anything that they recognize as a clear threat unless they feel like they have to. They do get more aggressive during mating season, though, and after they mate, they’ll fly over their territories in search of threats, which they will go after like a honey badger breaking into a beehive. Rathalos stalk their prey from above before making their move, and after they kill it, they’ll take it somewhere to eat where scavengers and other large monsters aren’t likely to find it and try to steal a meal.

And...that’s it. Look, I know these games aren’t going to make monster behavior and lore as complex as real animals are, so it’s natural that they’d focus on how dangerous a monster is above all else, especially in Rathalos’ case, but monsters like Plesioth and Basarios/Gravios had more to them than their hunting habits and reputation, so you’d think that the same treatment would be given to the series mascot. There is a reason why there’s not much said about Rathalos, though, but you’ll have to wait until the next review to hear about it (no I’m not good at subtle foreshadowing, how could you tell?). Until then, I’m giving Rathalos a 6/10.

Abilities: I can actually speak from experience here since I’ve fought Rathalos before...in SSBU. Look, you take what you can get. If the title “King of the Skies” didn’t clue you in, Rathalos are very good fliers, and they’re just as dangerous in the air as they are on the ground. This is thanks to their multiple flame sacs, which allow them to spit out fireballs with explosive force, and their poisonous claws, which they utilize with divebombs. Speaking of which, they can simply rush at you from the air or on the ground, combining their strength and weight with their speed to knock you on your butt. They also use their tail “club” (it doesn’t really look like one, but that’s what the wiki calls it) as a blunt beating object, or they can just bite you if they want to be simple.

Rathalos don’t exactly do anything crazy, but the poison claws are interesting, and it uses all of its abilities to great effect anyways. 7/10.

Equipment: As expected, Rathalos weapons look pretty freaking cool. Here’s a Sword and Shield from the first MH called the Red Saber:

That sword looks RAD. It looks like a sword in the middle of the forging process that also happens to be made of lava, which is a concept that wouldn’t make any sense if you never saw this. The shield is also really cool, as it looks both tough and like it would cause some serious pain if you bashed something with it. Next is an Insect Glaive from MHRise called the Rathmaul:

I usually don’t like to use Rise weapons in these reviews since the renders are pretty small, but I had to rep my main weapon class, okay? Now, as for the Rathmaul itself, I like how the butt-end looks like a Rathalos’ tail, though I don’t know what the green part is. The blade of the glaive also looks cool; it doesn’t quite have the same pizzazz the Red Saber had, but it still looks really hot to the touch. Finally, here’s the weird-looking weapon of the review, the Rathalos Dual Blades from MHO:

Let’s skip the Hot Topic jokes and just agree that this is a really cool concept. From what I can remember, none of the monsters I’ve talked about so far have had Dual Blades that looked like claws, which is surprising to me. These also appeal to the Kid Icarus: Uprising fanboy in me, so that’s another plus. Now for the armor, I’ve got a couple armor sets from Monster Hunter Tri (yes, I know it’s the worst game in the series, but the wiki didn’t have any other renders I liked). Here’s the Blademaster armor:

If this looks familiar to you, it’s because SSB4 and SSBU both have DLC Mii Costumes based off of this armor. You may have also noticed that it looks freaking awesome. It’s regal, dangerous, and intimidating, just like the monster it’s based off of. As for the Gunner armor:

It’s still cool, but less so. Not enough spikes, plus the men’s helmet on the Blademaster set looks much better than the one here. Still, the set looks cool for both men and women, just like the Blademaster set does. The Rathalos equipment just looks powerful, and that’s exactly what your reward for killing such a powerful monster multiple times should look like. It’s almost demonic, which is interesting, since Rathalos itself doesn’t look that way (as far as dragons go, I mean. I’m aware that there are some people who think dragons in general are demonic). I can only imagine how enthralled people who started out with the first MH as kids were when they saw the kinda stuff they could make with Rathalos parts, especially since the monsters that you fought before it pale in comparison in basically every way. 8/10.

Final Thoughts and Tally: Well, of course Rathalos would get an above-average score! It’s the Main Monster, the one that’s been in every single MH game! You think it would have such staying power if it wasn’t impressive? I only hope I was able to adequately show off just why it’s the King. 7/10.

[autumn-foxfire]

There are some theories/meta posts suggesting that Hawks still has yet to fall (bc Icarus metaphor) and I'm honestly worried that he's going to die because of that one line in the fan translation. Do you think that fits the narrative? I feel Horikoshi made him to be a very grey character: between most of the heroes and the UA kids in terms of youth, between black and white in terms of morality, and so on. I'm hoping that Hawks becomes part of the change instead and acts (1/?)

acts as one of the people inciting change, especially now that he's free. The newest chapter also feels like there are a lot of parallels with Shouto, so I'm hoping they work together! It just wouldn't sit well with me if Hawks ends up building no support system and dying for it when he too has been a victim of the issues in hero society. ;w; Even though the story will probably get darker, I don't feel like Hori is trying to write something apocalyptic and grimdark, you know? (2/??)

Overall, I'm really interested in what you think, especially since you were one of the few people who believed that Hawks would keep his wings when most of the fandom assumed that he would lose them for "character growth"! (and this newest chapter pulled through on that since it seems like he'll get his wings back with the whole "with fierce determination, hawks will fly again" line!) Sorry for the long and rambling message;; (3/3)

I’ve always viewed Hawks as a hopeful character unlike most and have never subscribed to the Icarus theory (Dabi = Icarus for life). Hawks is much similar to a phoenix (and thank you @tozhan for that connection because this chapter has shown us that it’s plenty more accurate imo).

There’s still a possibility that Hawks can die but I think he shares that chance with almost all the side characters (if that makes sense), however if he does end up dying in the future, it won’t be without building up a support system and inciting change in others before he does. 

Shouto and Hawks working together is something I’ve been wanting to happen for a long, long time now and have been hopeful it would happen since we saw Hawks have a deeper connection with Dabi then we realised (in the sense that they’re narrative foils) and then we had that chapter of Shouto looking star struck at Hawks signalling at least respect for him. It’s all coming together so nicely with Hawks this chapter saying he’s going to support Endeavor (and most likely the Todoroki family by extension).

I think some people are too quick to treat BNHA like it’s a really dark reality when in fact it’s a pretty hopeful manga from what we’ve seen despite it dipping it’s toe in some darker subjects. It’s why I never really believed the doom and gloom attitude towards Hawks or viewed him as a tragic character just because of his tragic past, I feel like it would be so unsatisfying for a character like him who has always suffered so much to have an unhappy ending and think he deserves something lighter and more hopeful.

It’s also why I had such hope for his wings. We knew that other characters would end up getting their quirks back and losing them didn’t act as character development with the exception of All Might (who we knew would lose his forever), so why would Hawks be any different (especially when his wings wasn’t the only way he could get freedom). If anything it was his act of killing Twice that is his character development and will impact his choices moving forward (and it has as we have seen in the leaks).

I’m going to remain optimistic for Hawks moving forward because the outlook hasn’t failed me yet and I believe Hawks deserves the more hopeful ending after everything he’s been though.

[peachebunnys]

Pain, with love VII

Pairing: Horacio Carrillo x reader

Summary: Arranged marriages are tough, but add that with having a drug lord on the loose? Horacio Carrillo can only imagine what’s coming for him. 

Warning: Mentions of kidnapping, mild torture, non-canon compliance, bad writing

a/n: this isn’t going well for Horacio, isn’t it? lowkey was inspired by artificial love (exo)

5.1k words

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Chapter 7;

The morning was quiet, just what Horacio had grown accustomed to. The sun had yet to rise, and the only source of light in the streets were the gentle warm glow from the streetlights, illuminating only parts of the empty driveway. The air stilled, with no movement outside on the roads. Many would find the atmosphere eerie, but Horacio knew that it’d be the only peace he’d have for a long time. 

He sits by the edge of the bed, casting a quick glance to your sleeping body, watching how the pale moonlight shines on you. With only the sound of the fan and your snores to listen to, Horacio started breathing deeply and slowly - a habit he’d do before leaving for work. It helped ease his stress and worries, and as he looked back at you, he couldn’t help but feel a sharp pang in his heart. 

He peers at you again, this time while twisting the ring on his finger, playing with the small jewelry as he marveled at how beautiful you were. He lets out a soft sigh, thinking back to what he had said the previous night and how you had immediately crashed your lips against him. The confession, the very confession that would’ve made him absolutely delighted, now plagued his mind, brewing more insecurity and guilt. 

You do deserve better, he thinks, but you don’t think so. 

He gets up slowly, walking over to your side to adjust the blankets that now threaten to fall off the bed. He gently tucks you in and watches as you shift to get more comfortable, smiling slightly with the motion. He reached out to you, and for the first time without hesitation, he brushed the hairs out of your face and leaned in to plant a kiss on your forehead. 

You were starting to stir, and Horacio took that as his cue to leave, clutching his peaked cap in his hand as he walked out the bedroom door. The house was dark, save for the light that came from the streetlamps that was barely lighting up the living room. The portraits of the both of you now hung on the painted walls, proudly staring back at him as he walked past the kitchen towards the main door. 

Even with the poor visibility, he stopped and stared, observing the way you so happily clutched his arm for the photo. He was dressed similar to how he was now - in his colonel uniform and peaked cap, standing proud as ever next to your smaller frame. He’d admit, the two of you did look like the picture perfect couple, and he found himself wishing that was true. 

If only he could be the man you needed him to be.

He walked closer to the portrait, brushing his fingers gently over the canvas material, ghosting just above your face. You have the prettiest smile in the world, he thinks, and he’d do anything just for you to smile at him like that everyday. 

But you already do. 

Horacio wears his peaked cap, glancing at his reflection on the wedding photo next to the large portrait. He stares at the picture, and then back at his reflection, feeling the insecurity once again bubble in his chest. 

He’s fallen in love with you, that much he knew, but he just didn’t think you felt the same. She doesn't love me, it’s just artificial love. Sure, you did confess your feelings to him, but he didn’t quite believe it - how could a woman like you, fall in love with a devil like him? A man whose hands were stained, deep red and unremovable. He was a sinner, damned and lost, undeserving of your pure love. 

Your kiss felt like salvation - a saving grace from falling, yet so hot it seared his lips. He felt like icarus, with wings made of wax melting with your touch. He wouldn’t last, that much he knew, and it wouldn’t be long till he loses himself in your love and support for him. 

He knows he doesn’t deserve you, a presence so innocent - like an angel sent down for him. But if you’ll have him, if you’ll have him no matter what he says, he’d fall to your feet, heeding to your every request for the rest of your lives. He’d do anything for you, and that’s what Horacio found frightening. Never has he felt so strongly towards someone, a love so strong he could barely contain it within.

He adjusts his peaked cap firmly on his head, carrying the light briefcase towards the door, silent in thought as he thinks back to you. 

Love was frightening, but Horacio was willing to lose himself for you, with you. 

His footsteps were rhythmic thuds against the marbled floor, boots heavy with every step he took. The sound echoed throughout the hallway, bouncing off the walls that the two of you beautifully decorated just weeks prior. He stood before the main door, patting down his uniform to check all his items before he walked out the house. Too deep in thought, he misses the sound of the bedroom door opening, the creaking from the hinges coming as a long drawn out sound. 

“Horacio?”

He hears it, your gentle sleep-laced voice, calling out to him in the dead of the night. Your voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it rang in his ears, making his heart beat faster. 

“You’re leaving already?”

He stops his movements, hand resting on the door knob as he continues looking forward. He doesn’t answer, not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t want to face what would come next. 

He feels your palm rest against his arm, with the other moving towards his cheek. Your touch was soft, guiding his face to look back at you. You were still in your sleep clothes, eyes threatening to close with each passing moment. 

He must have accidentally woken you up, resulting in you finding yourself alone in bed. The feeling that surfaced in you - pain and fear, had only made you rush out the room, in hopes you’d be able to catch him before he left.

Your eyes were fixed on him, watching him intently as you cracked a small smile, “have you packed everything you need?”

His breath hitches, eyeing as you moved your palm down his arm and towards his sleeves. He lets out a non-committal grunt, an agreement to your question that you’ve just asked. He looks down at you, surveying you with curiosity as you hold out his hand to adjust the cuffs around his wrists. He had forgotten to fasten the button properly, so it seems, and you’ve managed to notice it despite the poor lighting in the corridor. You very carefully pushed the buttons through the holes, adjusting it just enough for him to look neat and comfortable. 

The two of you stare at the cuffs silently, watching the police emblem reflect the streetlights from outside. Horacio watches the conflict in your eyes, struggling to make a decision he knew nothing of. 

You took a short breath, muttering a soft ‘fuck it’ before tip-toeing to kiss Horacio’s cheek, feeling the softness of his shaved skin against your lips. You moved your arms around his strong torso, laying your head gently against his chest - like how you regularly found yourself falling asleep to over the past month, with the exception of last night. 

“Promise me you’ll be safe?”

You expected it, his arms around yours as he kisses you, his unbroken promises coming out as hushed whispers while he presses his lips on the crown of your head. And now you found yourself wishing that had happened. Instead he gently holds your shoulders, nudging them back in an attempt to remove you from the hug. His eyes once again flooded with pain as he looked at you, nodding silently at you before reaching for the door knob again. 

“I promise.”

The door closes behind him, the loud thud solidifying the fact that whatever had happened last night, your abrupt kiss and confession, was only one-sided. 

You wiped the tears that threatened to fall, eyes glassy as you thought back to whatever had happened the previous night. Your steps were light and slow, walking back to your room in shame as you realised you’ve pushed Horacio further away from you - when all you wanted was to be in his arms again.

Love was frightening, you think, and how you wished he would love you back. 

--

The rest of the day felt like hell to Horacio, with Javier and Steve working with him closely to track down more of Pablo’s labs. They had tried various methods to weed out the information from the men arrested during the raid, only for their frustration to grow after learning that their loyalty ran deeper than the fear of death. 

Gatcha, for the most part of the interrogation, had provided the team with false information, laughing every time they had come up empty. Despite the lack of power he currently had, he enjoyed the sight of the exhausted Search Bloc men coming back with no new leads, taunting every one of them each time they failed. This, in turn, made Horacio’s anger grow, deciding to take it upon himself to do the interrogation instead.

How much can you make a man bleed?

The room’s lights flickered, the air becoming much cooler as Horacio looked through the heavy leather bag he had brought in. The colour of the bag was starting to fade, becoming a dull brown that pales in comparison to the table it was on. Horacio neatly lines up the tools from the carrier, admiring the way the light shined on their metallic material. 

He drags a chair forward, sitting before the drug lord while observing him with slight amusement. He holds up a knife, no longer than the size of his palm, with a handle that was pure black. The tip of the weapon reflected off the harsh white lights, creating a glistening effect. 

The drug lord wheezes, tilting his head back as he let out a guttural laugh. 

“You really think that’s going to scare me? You assholes can’t make me flinch even if you tried.”

Horacio hums in response, staring at the shorter man in silence. Gatcha was firmly planted to his seat, hands tied behind so tight that Horacio knew he’d have several nasty rope burns once this was done. That was if Gatcha would be alive to feel it.

Gatcha had opened his mouth to speak, and Horacio could already feel his eyes roll at whatever the man was about to say. Without warning, he surged forward towards Gatcha, the chair that he once sat on now carelessly knocked onto the ground. The punch was swift, aimed directly at the drug lord’s nose for maximum damage. What Horacio didn’t know though, was that his force was so strong it had led to Gatcha falling backwards, blood pooling at his lips and nostrils. 

The thick red fluid dripped down the man’s chin, staining his teeth that were now bared at him. 

“You fucker, how dare you put your hands on me!”

Horacio crouches next to the man, balling his fists in the collars of Gatcha’s cotton shirt, “listen up motherfucker, I think you’ll soon find out that I dare to do pretty much everything, and that includes killing you if you don’t give us the information on the fucking labs.”

Horacio lets go of the collars, allowing Gatcha to once again drop against the hard cold floors. He fishes out his knife and places it under the other man’s chin, slowly dragging it down his throat, careful not to break the skin. 

“I can do this all-” Gatcha spits his blood on Horacio’s face, the fluid splattering on his cheeks, “fucking day.”

Horacio purses his lips together, forming a thin line as he nodded at the other man’s statement. He stands up from his crouched position, looking down at Gatcha who was still stuck to his seat, occasionally groaning from the pain inflicted. Horacio signals for his men to tend to Gatcha, carrying his seat back up while he admires the whole array of tools to use at his disposal.

“You’re in luck Gatcha,” Horacio walks back to the man with a larger blade, digging the tip just slightly into Gatcha’s thigh, “I can do this all fucking day too.” 

The hours went by torturously slow for Gatcha, and now he sat across Horacio again covered in more cuts and broken bones than before. His breathing was laboured and he looked at Horacio through swollen eyelids, mouth in a downward snarl while he bared his teeth once again. 

Horacio had managed to make the man break, getting the information they had needed after forcefully dunking his head into a container of cold water. Gatcha was starting to cough up blood, gasping for air with choked breaths as he rattled out the locations of the hidden labs. Horacio had called in a unit to check the reliability of the information, only to be pleased when they had relayed in the message of it being true. 

The colonel walked over to the table again, recklessly dumping back his tools into the worn out leather bag, smirking at the fact that they were one step closer to catching Pablo Escobar. They still had a long way to go, but this was the first step of driving Pablo into a corner, to make him helpless and powerless enough to take him down. 

“I’ll kill you- you son of a bitch, I’ll fucking end your life once I get out of here.”

Horacio softly hums, continuing to clean the torture tools and dumping them back into his leather carrier. He examined each and every tool to ensure its cleanliness before placing them back, paying no mind to Gatcha’s mindless anger. 

“You have a wife don’t you?”

The question had caught him off-guard, sending a chill down his spine. Horacio’s back had straightened, tensing at Gatcha’s words. He holds the knife tightly in his hand, fearing what the drug lord would say next. 

“She’s beautiful, I’ll admit. Such a pity to be married to such a violent man like you.” 

No, he’s just baiting you Horacio.

“Wouldn’t it be horrible if something happened to her?”

He’s trying to make you crack.

“Listen here you insolent bastard,” Horacio rushes over to Gatcha, spitting on his face before gripping his chin roughly, forcing him to stare at Horacio’s cold unfeeling eyes.

“Your empty threats mean nothing to me, especially when you’re stuck in this fucking basement. Your men are all dead, or have you conveniently forgotten that as well?”

Horacio pushes Gatcha’s head back, resting his foot on the gap between the other man’s legs. 

“You can’t fucking do shit to either me or my wife, so why don’t you shut the fuck up or-,” Horacio’s picks up the clean blade and holds it close to Gatcha’s crotch, digging the tip slightly into his pants,”I’ll fucking cut your balls off, bitch.”

Horacio swiftly kicks the chair, allowing Gatcha to fall backwards with his hands still tied behind the seat. Unable to move from his current position, Gatcha lets out a loud howl, aggressively shaking in place to sit back up. 

“You’re going to regret it,” Gatcha spits out blood on the nearby cement floor, laughing as his teeth stains red again, “you’re going to fucking regret it.”

Horacio walks out the basement, carrying the tools in his hand. His boots hit the hard cement floor, heavy footsteps echoing the room as the man that was sprawled on the floor continues moaning in pain. His hands and clothes stain red, chest heaving as the anger in him brewed. 

He stomps back to his office, the blinds rattling as he slams the door shut behind him. His hands were balled once more and he walked over to his bottle of scotch to pour himself a drink. The strong scent of the alcohol and the burn that came with downing the drink at one go did help in relieving his anger, but there was just something about what had happened in that basement that just didn’t sit right with him. 

Horacio slumps back into his office chair, thinking back to what Gatcha had threatened a few moments prior. The words repeated in his head, and with each passing minute, he grew more worried for your safety. 

But Gatcha was here, in police custody, where he wouldn’t be able to escape. 

His men too were few in numbers, a result of the raid on the safehouse that had killed the majority of them. Mindless threats, Horacio thought, a means to make him crack and make a mistake. 

He refused to ponder over the drug lord’s words anymore, opting to create new plans with Javier and Steve instead. The three of them had then started to work tirelessly, carefully crafting a ploy that would surely blindside Pablo and his men. They were at it for countless hours, too focused on work to notice that the sun had already set. They had only noticed the passing of time when Steve’s phone was starting to burn up, with Connie calling him every once in a while to check up on him. 

The blond had finally suggested they took a break, calling it a day before answering the phone call from his wife. Javier had left soon after, reminding Horacio to return home soon too, thanking him for the good work he had done for the day. 

Horacio barely nodded, struggling to keep away his things as the exhaustion started to plague his entire body. The office was now quiet, with the only source of light in the building coming from his room. All the other men had either gone home or for their night deployment, leaving Horacio alone in this huge police station. 

Horacio rubs his weary eyes, drinking from his flask occasionally to ease the stress that was piling on him. The skies were finally dark, hinting the end of another day. He looks up at the clock that stares back at him, realising that it was already half past eight. 

He thinks back to you, wondering what you were doing at this very moment. 

Had you eaten dinner? Were you waiting for him? Had you already gone to bed? 

He struggled to concentrate on the documents in front of him, mind wandering back to you. 

Always you. 

His radio is alive again, with some of his men updating their status and position, scattered around the streets of Bogota as the annual night festival commenced. 

Horacio remembered you briefly mentioning it, that you’ve been meaning to go for this festival for a while now. You had asked him in passing though, wondering if he would consider going with you. Horacio realised he never actually gave you a proper answer, the conversation between the two of you now playing clearly in his mind. 

In that moment, a week ago, when you had asked if he was interested in following you for the festival, he was simply too caught up in the way you were speaking so sweetly, that he had forgotten to reply. That memory now burned in his mind, and he cringes slightly at how hopelessly in love he has been with you. 

You had always brought up sides of him he never knew existed, and as he held you in his arms at night, he could only think of the indescribable emotion you constantly made him feel. What was it?

Love? 

Passion? 

Happiness? 

It was different, being with you. The life he’s ever known before was filled with anger, blood and tears - ones that would constantly colour his nightmares. Every time he looks up at you, he expects your disgust for the man he’s become - the battle hardened, stone cold man that was incapable of love. With hands stained red, he remembers, I will only bring you harm.

Instead he sees you, your kind eyes and bright smile, staring back at him as if he had gifted you with the moon and the stars. And that, he thought, was enough to bring down the walls he had so carefully built up over the years. What was it about you, that had him begging for more? 

Was it the fact that you relished in his presence? 

Or was it the fact that you made him feel like he was worthy of love? 

Horacio packs his items, shoving them into his briefcase without a second thought. He cleans up his table and decides to call it a night, looking out to the beautiful cloudy sky before finally leaving the office. The weather in Bogota was unpredictable, with more rain than sun. Horacio could feel the slight drizzle as he walked out the office, boots stomping in puddles as he quickened his pace to his vehicle.

He had a lot to amend between the two of you, realising that whatever he had done the night before was simply cowardice. He should’ve held you close to him, returning the affection you had so proudly confessed. Instead he had walked away like a fool, with a tail between his legs, leaving you to sleep alone in a bed far too large for you. 

And for what? Because he was afraid? Because he felt like he didn’t deserve you? This was pathetic, and he knew that. The sounds of wet granite under his boots crunched, rain slowly drenching the ground before him. He jingled the keys in his hand, finally mustering the determination to make things right. He knew what he had to do - to walk through the door of your shared home and hold you; kissing away the pain of yesterday with another promise. 

A promise to never hurt you ever again.

He had to make things right, knowing that he couldn’t afford to lose you. You were the light in his life, finally opening his eyes to the simple joys- one which he wasn’t prepared to lose. He couldn’t let you slip through his fingers, not when you meant the world to him.

He enters his car quickly, deciding to head back as soon as he could - to keep you company on this uneventful night. He had a long day, and despite the events that had transpired just hours ago, all he wanted to do was to fall asleep with you - realising that with you, he could finally be free of the shackles he called work. As he started up the vehicle, his radio called out to him, this time with a faintly recognizable voice lacing with worry. 

“Colonel Carrillo,”

Horacio cocks his eyebrow at the lifeless object, driving out of the driveway and onto the road. The weather was no different than that night the Search Bloc had conducted the raid, with the skies becoming gloomier as Horacio drove further into the heart of the city. 

“What is it?”

He was surprised, to say the least, as to why the Centra Spike agent would be calling him at this time of the night. Horacio found himself caught at a traffic light, and as he looked around, he assumed that the traffic situation would only get worse the further he drove into the city. The streets were alive with the endless amount of cars that were on the road, and Horacio assumes it's due to the night festival that was commencing not too far off. His eyebrows furrowed as he continued to listen to the agent’s rambling over the radio, hearing the transmission get shaky as he drove through the crowds of people and cars. 

“Colonel, we’ve just intercepted a transmission from one of Gatcha’s men, they’re planning on holding a hostage situation. Details unknown, we’re still trying to look into it. ”

“What?”

Gatcha’s men?

A hostage situation?

The information simply didn’t make sense to him - how could Gatcha’s men hold a hostage situation, when they were so few in numbers? 

Were there more that Horacio had missed out? Were there ones that escaped the raid? 

The questions plagued his mind, and he was growing more frustrated with each passing moment. The relentless honking from nearby cars was doing nothing to ease the stress that was getting to him, and being stuck in traffic did nothing to help either.

Who, or why were they doing this? Horacio couldn’t think of anyone in particular whom Gatcha would want to get his hands on, coming up empty with each person he could think of. It couldn’t possibly be a politician or an enemy, seeing that he didn’t have the power to do such a bold crime like this. 

So who could it be...?

Horacio lets out a loud groan, leaning back against his car seat to look at the rear view mirror. The traffic was only increasing, and the music from the nearby festival pounded in his ears. This is going to be a long night, he thinks, and he purses his lips in annoyance, recognizing the fact that he was going to return home to you fast asleep. 

So much for making amends.

“Where is this transmission coming from?” 

Silence. 

The streets were shining, the streetlight reflecting its glow of the wet ground, sparkling as Horacio drove through the densely filled roads. There was a light pitter-patter on the hood of the car as the rain and leaves from nearby trees hit the front lightly. The radio’s static noises filled the vehicle, and with each passing moment that Horacio got no reply from, the noise only seemed to ring louder in his ears. 

Frustrated, he picks up the radio, slamming his fingers on the buttons while demanding an answer from his men, “agent, I asked where is this transmission coming from?”

“Colonel Carrillo... It looks like-”

“Hurry up and tell me damn it!”

“25th street, the call transmission came from 25th street!”

Horacio felt his heart stop, forcefully stepping on the brakes as he gripped the steering wheel harder. The force was enough to lunge him forward, his firm chest crashing into the dashboard in a rough manner. The wind in his lungs had been knocked out, and his eyes widened as he processed the information. 

It couldn't be, it couldn’t be right?

That was where he lived. 

They had came after you.

Beads of sweat were forming on his temple, and Horacio could feel the heat of the car suffocate him. It felt like a punch to the gut which had caught him off-guard. Red light, orange light, green light. The colours flashed on his dashboard, colouring the interior of the car with the bright traffic lights. As soon as the cars started moving, Horacio could feel his heart rate spike, fingers trembling in the slightest and he prepared himself to get home to you.

Horacio had stomped on the accelerator as soon as the lights turned, speeding through the packed streets of Bogota with a complete disregard for traffic rules. He narrowly misses every single vehicle, driving recklessly in the rain as he raced against time to get to you. The rain was pouring harder now, the visibility getting poorer as the minutes went by. 

He had put you in danger. 

Gatcha’s voice filled his head once again, the words he had thought to be false now painting a gruesome picture. 

Red, 

white, 

screams of fright. 

The image of you bleeding out made Horacio grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles turning a ghostly colour as he continued driving through the compact streets. 

He did this to you.

He had put you in danger. 

His face paled, jaw clenched tightly as he found his hands trembling just a bit. The sweat that formed just above his eyebrow now trickled down his temple, damping his military green uniform collar. The sweat was cool, a stark contrast to his face that was burning with anger.  

How could he be so careless?

How could he have been so blindsided by the potential threats Gatcha had promised?

Horacio tries his best to steady his breathing, only to find himself panting and more nervous than he’s ever been. The wind from outside howls, and Horacio felt like an ominous threat had hung above him. It was a nightmare that he could only wish he could wake up from.  

You’re going to be okay, he repeats to himself, I’m going to make sure you’ll be safe.

He chants the words to himself, desperately clinging on to every bit of hope he could get. He couldn’t believe it, it just couldn’t be you. The ringing in his ears got louder, and Horacio could feel his body tense at the thought of what they’d do to you. These men were despicable, and they would stop at nothing to prove a message. 

Blood. Bruises. Cuts. Broken. 

The images yet again flashed in his mind, and he could feel himself breaking. It simply didn’t make sense. There had to be something wrong with the transmissions, how could someone as powerless as the man locked up, still have a hold over him? 

Horacio thinks back to the intel he had received, carefully dissecting the message word for word. “...One of Gatcha’s men… planning on holding a hostage situation.”

It’s just Gatcha’s men, right?

Gatcha was still cooped up in that pathetic excuse of a jail cell, probably laughing at the unfortunate event that Horacio was currently facing. A plan that Horacio was so very sure was orchestrated by him. His blood boiled, and Horacio knew that as soon as this was over, Gatcha would be a dead man for ever thinking he could lay his finger on you. 

Without Gatcha to worry about, he had a shot of bringing you back safely, which was Horacio’s biggest priority as of now. Gatcha’s men were like soldier ants, many in numbers but brainless without their leader. That man was like a demon, and Horacio could feel the hairs on his skin stand as he thought of how dangerous it would’ve been for you if he was there.

For all he knew, you could’ve been dead by now.

The static echoed through the car again, breaking the earlier silence that Horacio felt was starting to suffocate him. The air was hot and heavy, drenching Horacio with sweat as he continued driving through the night. 

“Colonel Carrillo, we might have another problem.”

His breath hitched, the air once again stilling as he waited for the bad news. And just as he thought it couldn’t get any worse, the howling of the wind grew louder. 

“Gatcha has broken out of prison.”

[druid-for-hire]

new Hadestown au, ICARUS!ORPHEUS, wherein orpheus is not the world’s greatest musician but rather the world’s greatest inventor/mechanic/tinkerer. his creations are wondrous and beautiful and a miracle. Orpheus his mission is to create something that will repair the world--take what’s broken, make it whole.

Orpheus is still very much an artist--only his art in this AU is visual instead of auditory. and he’s still poor! not everything he makes is immediately useful for survival and y’know, hardly anyone has the money to buy things, and he has a propensity to just. give things away, especially the smaller trinkets he makes. and they take a Long Time to make. so he still works at hermes’ bar

SO!!!

this orpheus is body pain solidarity KDSKFJH

he has a fucked up back from all the heavy lifting he does around the workshop, being hunched over while he works on stuff, and being stuck in weird positions for extended periods of time when he’s working on machines and whatever, especially the bigger ones

also he’s got a wrist brace

he has a set of gear he wears a lot especially when he’s in his workshop

1) his wing pack! he built it himself and he’s proud. the pack was also made to help with his back problems. he doesn’t wear his mechanic gear when he’s working at the bar, but sometimes he’ll leave the wings on because back hurty. also, following w icarus, the wings are kept smooth & together and waterproofed w wax, kinda like a gloss. he reapplies every so often

2) his goggles! every part about the design is impractical (the red lenses and the beak) but i like them. they protect his eyes from flying bits and sparks and sawdust etc. when he’s working and wind when he’s flying

3) his boots! they’re sturdy workin’ boots, and have a talon function to clasp onto and lift things up. especially useful for moving bigger things around the workshop, up to higher levels and what have you, and he gets to flit around the whole space with minimal usage of ladders. (yes, they’re inspired by Vulture’s boots from Spider-Man: Homecoming)

(ALSO. the model of his wings are white crow wings, bc of the myth of Coronis)

because in greek mythology, crows started out white and had beautiful voices and the reason they turned black and got croaky calls is because a crow had to tell Apollo that his lover, Coronis, left him to marry a mortal 

and Apollo got so upset he burned the crow and then burned Coronis to death, or burned the crow and then turned Coronis into a crow, depending on the version

(thanks to @princessponies81 for helping me figure this bit out)

so there are some... parallels here

also, IIRC crow wings are elliptical-type wings, meaning they’re good for a lot of control and maneuverability in tight spaces. good for the workshop

also he makes automata too! he has this little mockingbird to help him around the workshop. lots of calls for lots of signals, like how a car will have diff beep signals for low gas or parking brake on or door left open or key left in etc... little bird can measure and alert for lots of things

he’s also less noodle-y than canon orpheus because of how much he uses his arms and legs doing lifting, work, and flying

he’s not like. Built or anything. but hes got some strength to him

he doesn’t just make really good machines either; he’s absolutely as skilled in fine, delicate things as much as the big pieces—he sees the details himself, has to make it himself, he’s as skilled in silversmithy or goldsmithy as he is in mechanics, and i imagine he has skills in metallurgy too. maybe even a bit of glassblowing? just for piece assembly. all his pieces will fit most perfectly if he makes them himself

things like the Silver Swan automaton (i’d link a video but external links are illegal on tumblr)

also... i don’t know if they manage to get married this time, but they at least get the wedding bands

lover, tell me, if you can--who’s gonna make the wedding bands?

@supercantaloupe: the river gonna give us the wedding bands -- he draws the mineral, the stones from the silt, and crafts them himself

SO, he charms eurydice with one (or many) of his dazzling creations that also have usages in practicality and survival

as is the youzhe, she leaves when he gets to obsessive with working on something, holed up in his workshop instead of like. Surviving the winter

they last longer into the winter this time though because again, he does have a couple of machines good for tiding over the winter and surviving, and eurydice can operate them. but he’s too caught up with creating something to fix the world to repair them when they break down

when he leaves, he leaves his mockingbird to take care of his workshop while he’s gone. make sure there’s not leaks or fires, etc., keep everything in working order

the trip to hadestown still takes a long time, but less time than in canon, given that orpheus gets there on a pair of wings, though he gets grounded plenty of times due to bad weather. plus, his wings aren’t really meant for long-distance

so in the end the time still matches up; the events underground still happen on the onset of proper spring

he sails over the wall of the Styx on his wings, but it’s a feat easier said than done; it really is high and wide, just... hundreds of feet tall, and i headcanon that the “wall” is in fact seven layers of fortification because some myths say the River Styx wraps around the underworld seven times

and he is not a high altitude flier

uhhhhhhhhh blah blah something something ... i’m not clear on all the details but here are a few things:

orpheus gets the shit kicked out of him in Papers as usual and the fates hold his wings over him instead of his guitar

i have no idea how If It’s True goes

SOMEWHERE there’s Hey Little Songbird II (thank you to @supercantaloupe​ for authoring this idea);

it's Hades to Orpheus this time. Ironic, as he sings and flies, a real songbird.

and orpheus, that inspired inventor, that mechanic, that engineer, blessed by Hephaestus himself, being tempted to stay. It's a marvel of engineering, those factories. But they're rough around the edges, dirty, inefficient, unrefined. Imagine all the work he could do. Imagine how grand it would be, with just his help. And imagine how much fun it would be to fix it all!

but since he's fallen in love - and lost her once already - he has to pause and think. it's too good to be true, isn't it? Is it true? Can he really stay here forever, with parts and tools and endless projects worthy of his skill and attention - at least, without her?

ok back to me writing stuffs

there is no Epic I / Epic II / Epic III; the titles are now Trial I / Trial II / Trial III, like trial runs of prototypes, and on the third one it has a double meaning as a trial of judgement

Trial III goes as such:

(and thank you to @ferretteeth for this)

Hades orders him to build.  An impressive invention in turn for his life – a chance he gives only because his wife is smitten with interest. 

Orpheus gets three days and no more, and when he is finally ordered to come before the throne of basalt and steel he brings his invention. And Hades gives a curt, mocking laugh, because all Orpheus has in his hands is a simple box of bronze, cheap and adorably human. 

 He almost orders for Orpheus' death the moment he sees it, but then the boy lifts the lid and reveals a mechanical flower. Petals made out of metal rusted rosy, nectar of flecks of fool's gold. 

Delicate and beautiful; extremely finely spun, as if the metal were only woven fibers. It is as soft as any silk.

"Where did you get that," the king snaps in a hurry. "How did you know–" 

And then, with the twist of a key, the invention reveals to be a music box and long lost chords fill the Underworld.

(i originally had the idea that he builds a planetarium that replicates the summer above, a caught snippet of the thing that hades could never make on a large scale. a beautiful thing with flowers that blossomed and played the old song as hades brushed his hands across them, sun above. but i figured it’s probably more in line with the sensibilities of Hadestown if orpheus had created something less... grand)

so eurydice and orpheus are granted their chance to leave.

i’m not sure what the test is, because he’s got to fly out with eurydice clutched in his talons, and i want him to be as much a victim of his doubt as in canon

but he has to follow this flight path with absolute perfection, down to the flap. you fly too high, the flames of hadestown will catch him. he flies too low, the flames of hadestown will catch her.

i think, in his paranoia, he flies too high, and his wings catch fire

his wings are on fire--his arms are strapped in to them. he’s burning up. he’s burning.

he’s slowing down in his ascent. in a moment, he knows that if they’re going to make it, it’ll only be one of them, and... he’s not going to drop eurydice. he can’t do that to her.

when his wings can no longer climb, he throws her the final distance to the surface. she turns around and reaches desperately for him, but he’s too far away.

he falls. a comet.

he breaks.

the fact is, he dies

but he dies in hadestown. so now he’s just... well, one, no chance of going back aboveground. two, now he’s... sitting at the bottom of that long climb, broken and in pain, surrounded by the charred skeleton of his wings, broken and burned feathers, drips of melted oil and wax, and blood

he’s... there for a long time, just suffering, before someone comes to see if they made it out, and finds him at the bottom

hades sees this as an opportunity to bring him back, let him heal, and put him onto projects, perhaps “to get your mind off of it all,” but. orpheus doesn’t want to work. he doesn’t want to do anything

thanks to supercanteloupe again for co-authoring this section:

Hades says he'll squander his god given talents to just sit around all day but Orpheus won't listen

hades has just zero fucking clue how to deal with a depressed human

"have I not given him all he could want, metal, tools, a workbench? Bed, bread, fire? Strength in his bones? And yet he refuses still? The boy must be mad," he cries, angry

@s-aint-elmo: "i got a new mechanist" 

“you ruined a perfectly good talented young man is what you did. look at him, he's got depression"

persephone herself is a mess (less so after Trial III) but she has at least some sense—she is more in touch with mortals than him, spending time with them up on the surface and throwing revels, but also greeting those who lost their lovers/sisters/brothers/mothers/fathers in the winter before

persephone encouraging orpheus to build, not for her sake or for Hades', but for his own. little flowers, little birds, wind up toys and music boxes. something to keep him going

s-aint-elmo: she brings him pressed flowers from the surface, little trinkets, tokens of the green. orpheus only lets the first few wilt and rot at the corner of his table.

flowers bloom until they rot and fall apart

it's a sad, painful reminder

he eventually has the resolve to rebuild his wing pack—better this time, because really, he feels crippled without them after living w em for so long

edit: (and the feathers are black, a la the crow myth)

when hades first sees him like, passing by w wings on his back, he turns to persephone like “what have you been saying to him?” “only what he needs to hear, husband”

he has a great fear of actually getting off the ground at first, though

he’ll perch at the edge of a rooftop, but... doesn’t move. it’s a leap of faith he doesn’t feel like he can take

he always saw air as just a medium to move through, that it would support him, as easy as swimming

now he sees straight through it to the ground

he has burn scars across the entire back of his arms, hands, and fingers

it’s a reminder every time he gets to working

rough patchy skin. calloused fingers from work

big sigh

eurydice goes home.

there is the empty shell of his workshop. his many machines and trinkets and tools and his hundreds of unfinisheds and thousands of scraps of plans, and… his bird left to care for the shop after god knows how many weeks or months.

it flies down and greets her, some string of whistles and beeps she only half understands. then it asks for orpheus

she tells it that he fell; he’s not coming back, it’s too late

the bird sticks by her from there on out, the last “living” remnant of her lover, besides his shell of a workshop

ok i haven’t thought farther than this, please have fun with this au i think it’s a new favorite alongside Unswayed AU & Apartments AU