#aether: stop looking at me with them big ol eyes

[forlorn-crows]

Aether Fucking and Creampieing Rain Upside Down on a hotel bed, rain getting overstimulated and Covered in cum, Aether overfilling him?

transmasc rain has entered the chat

as im sure you saw, this ask sent me into shock when i first read it. its just so...hnnng

this one's for @gayrickgrimes as well. big ole kisses

Rain’s brain is fuzzy. He’s lost track of how many times he’s came since Aether pinned him against the hotel door of their shared room for the night.

The first, they didn’t even make it to the bed, the mix of adrenaline and heavy petting cresting over on Aether’s hand, Rain panting into his shoulder. The second by Aether’s mouth, licking and sucking on his throbbing clit, his fingers woven tightly in Aether’s hair. The third, fourth, fifth, in quick succession again by Aether’s fingers, curling perfectly on that spot just inside his cunt. Thighs trembling, slick rushing over the digits, claws digging into the cheap hotel sheets.

At one point he came riding Aether’s juicy thigh, but he doesn’t remember what number that was. The pace was maddening, bordering pain and pleasure, and they both just couldn’t get enough of each other.

That had to be hours ago. It just had to be. Rain’s brain might as well be melting out of his ears at this point. And it may just, considering how Aether has him hanging over the foot of the bed, half of his torso dangling freely as he fucks into his soaking heat. He’s floaty, high on the bloodrush and overstimulation. Vaguely, he registers his own voice chanting Aether’s name like a mantra, a prayer for sweet release.

“Fuck, raincloud, so beautiful like this,” Aether rasps. “Like a fallen angel.” And he supposes he looks fairly blasphemous, arms hanging limp and gangly next to his ears, inner thighs and pubic mound covered with shiny slick, dark love bites peppering his neck and chest, flat flushed plane of his stomach coated in stripes and little pearls of Aether’s cum, eyes rolled back and dark hair tumbling in soft waves around his horns.

Rain can’t let out anything more than a soft yeah, moaning at the obscene sound of Aether repeatedly pulling all the way out, just to sink all the way back down. Each time, he can feel a slow drool of slick around the edge of his entrance, no doubt coating Aether’s cock from base to tip.

“So wet,” he muses, staring at the strand of slick connecting from the head of his cock to Rain’s cunt.

“Please,” Rain whines, hating the numbness he gets when Aether stops to admire him. His hands float to grip at the comforter bunched at the foot of the bed, desperate to wrap his long legs around Aether’s waist and just keep him there.

Aether slides in again, thrusting shallowly before fucking him in earnest once more, the sound of skin slapping skin echoing across the thin walls. Rain’s teetering on the edge for the hundredth time, clit throbbing and stomach spasming. He digs his heels in Aether’s back, keeping him right where he needs him.

“Want you to cum one last time for me, Rainy,” Aether purrs, pulling Rain down by the hipbones to grind deep on his cock. He’s so full, pleasure stretched gossamer thin, he doesn’t know if he can take it anymore. He doesn’t care how loud he’s whining, how he’s begging and clawing at the blankets. Aether presses the pad of his thumb feather-light against the head of Rain’s clit, swiping slowly upward and—

Before he can process the shockwave the flick sends through him, he’s cumming; thighs squeezing at Aether’s sides, hot fluid gushing over his cock and stomach, breath completely stolen from his lungs.

“Oh Lucifer, yes Rainy, fuck fuck fuck.” Aether’s not too far behind, cumming with a grunt, filling Rain with all he has left. It’s just enough to overflow, milky fluid mingling with fresh slick as it dribbles out and onto the wet patch already soaking into the bed. They hang suspended in the moment before the exhaustion inevitably crashes around them.

When it does, Aether pulls Rain back onto the bed and gathers the completely boneless water ghoul in his arms. He whispers praises into Rain’s sweaty hair, pressing his palms softly into his cool back. Grounding. Calming. Eventually, they’ll unfurl to clean off the sweat, the cum, the slick. But for now, Rain’s content to melt into his lover's arms, wholly satiated.

[peadles]

fight fight fight kiss kiss

[intangibly-here]

i miss you (more than anything)

zhongli x gn!reader

- scenario; 2.4k words - modern!au - fluff - jealousy

————————————————————

zhongli isn’t one for jealousy— usually.

title from mitski - francis forever.

requested by anon.

————————————————————

“an excellent choice, sir.”

again with the nicknames... 

slender fingers pick up a considerably stylized box, the smooth white a stark contrast to dark, glove-adorned palms. zhongli turns the box over in his hands, inspecting the various fine print explanations splayed along the edges of the plastic. now this is...

BANG!

clink. 

zhongli barely stifles a flinch at the sound of the door slamming, hinges squeaking and metal lock clicking into place with a whirlwind of motion. amber eyes flick up to the doorway, then back down to the polished counter.

five minutes late.

he sets the ice cube he’s handling into a wine glass after a brief pause, beginning to fashion up a flute of apple cider vinegar. the pattering of lively footsteps against tiled flooring rapidly grows nearer, clattering to a halt directly across the bar from where he stands. 

“hey there, mister zhongli! looking just about as boring as ever!”

hu tao plops into the cushioned chair, swiveling back and forth on the seat and leaning forward to watch him pour the concoction.

(it’s designated for customers of course— though that’s only usually. she happens to claim, to his exasperation, that she has “owner privileges”; whatever that could possibly mean when the place itself is meant to serve the needs of customers: that would include the spacing and chairs they may potentially desire when they enter the premises. unfortunately, he’s given up on understanding on her whims.)

from his position across the counter, zhongli absentmindedly spies the edge of a bright-red butterfly wing from underneath her outfit’s loose, flowing sleeves, the simple pendant string looped twice around her wrist. 

swallowtail. 

it’s the name (”like the butterfly, zhongli! the butterfly!”) of the establishment he’s currently employed at and is “run” by the granddaughter of a distant relative (though the bar is legally owned by said relative’s family). due to his— well, rather particular (per say) spending habits and a lack of mindfulness regarding the matter of what they liked to call savings (why would there be a need for these “savings”? he’d like to protest he’s traversed life well enough without them), he’d been pushed into putting the multitude of experience from past jobs into this one. 

and well, here he is now. 

chop. chop. 

two evenly-sliced apple slices tip over from against the blade of the knife and onto the wooden cutting board. fetching a sprig of mint from the small potted plant just below the rack of knives (growing lights and shelving did wonders in the spontaneous lighting of the nightclub), zhongli finished decorating the non-alcoholic drink of choice for the pseudo-proprietress. who knew what havoc she’d cheerfully throw herself into, archons forbid, if it were liquor. she’s already enough of a handful as it is. 

he sighs in resignation and slides the beverage over. the ice tinkles in the glass confines. he does have a favor to ask today after all. hu tao gives the drink a sniff, then puffs her cheeks in mock anger. 

“no alcohol? booooo, you’re such a rock.”

she takes a generous sip anyway. 

“so, what did you call me here for? not very zhongli-like for you to ask something of lil’ ol’ me. archons, have you been replaced?” 

she squints at him judgingly, then raises an eyebrow when he hesitates to answer.

“doesn’t look that way, old man.”

zhongli can feel the beginnings of a headache forming between his brows. he waves his hand dismissingly as if flicking away her babbling nonsense. 

“i have a favor to ask of you.”

“oh-ho?”

hu tao smirks playfully and pushes the half-finished drink aside, craning her neck forward. 

“what can i do for our esteemed mister zhongli, hm? hehe.”

zhongli clenches his fist under the edge of the woodwork in an effort to calm his raging annoyance. 

(it doesn’t help.)

he should just ask, shouldn’t he..?

“..i’ve been pondering this for a number of days now, but nothing quite appropriate for the occasion has happened to come to mind... do you happen to have any gift ideas for...”

he looks to the side to avoid eye contact and trails off, but hu tao immediately gets the memo. 

“ohhh..” her smile only grows wider, “this is for your daaaate—”

zhongli’s face flushes the slightest tinge of rosy pink and he hisses a sharp “shush!” through gritted teeth. and here he had thought she couldn’t get on his nerves beyond how she’d already acted thus far... 

the cheshire grin on her face still continues to climb. 

“well, you’ve definitely asked the right person! how about...”

some new polaroid film? is what she had proposed.

“it’s not some fancy-schmancy anniversary gift, no? just a date! a date! don’t worry yourself so much over it— no, don’t look at me like that. if you called me over to ask about it, you’re deeeefinitely losing hair over this— okay, okay, i got it! don’t kick me out! old man... sheesh. why don’t you get some more polaroid film and wrap it up all nice? useful and an excuse to take more pictures together! i know, i know, i’m a genius— mmph!”

he can still hear her voice bouncing around in his head (”can’t believe you’re getting rid of your boss, mister zhongli! didn’t take you for the rebellious type—”). zhongli brings his hand up to his temple and breathes out another sigh. it’s not like her idea was a terrible one; if anything, it were a wonderfully exquisite proposal— not that he would tell her. 

“i’d like to purchase this, if you would.”

he hands the box over to the shopkeep, who scans the package and rings up the bill. indiscreetly, he feels up the pocket of his jacket. thank the archons he remembered his wallet today. it would certainly be embarrassing to put this particular item on your tab. 

“sure thing, mister zhongli. i’m assuming this is a gift,” they eye him knowingly, “so would you like it wrapped up?” 

deja vu, his brain mutters, this is very much deja vu. he shuts it up promptly. 

“not this time, but you have my sincerest thanks for the offer. i’d like to wrap it myself.” he can feel his (generally..) expressionless face flaring up the faintest hint of pink and berates his mind once more. only when it comes to you...

acquiring the purchased item, zhongli dips his head in acknowledgement as he heads out. the plants hanging from baskets strung along the ceiling sway their leaves to and fro, nearly catching a wayward lock of his hair. he smooths the stray strand back.

“thank you once again, aether. let lumine know they can drop by for some tea again whenever they’d like for me, please.”

the bell hanging over the doorway tinkles when he pushes it open, and the bustle of the busy harbor seeps into the tranquility of the shop. aether nods and waves a hand at him in return, resting an arm on the cash register. 

“come again.”

-

while he’d imagined many ways your planned outing could play out, this was certainly not one of them. 

he’s approaching the meeting spot you two had decided on (right in front of the flowering quince tree near the park; its blooms resemble those of simpler, smaller silk flowers, and it happens to be quite the scenic location to wait) when he spies not only your stature, but another figure residing right besides you. 

who...?

as he steps closer, he can hear your laughter, the kind that he knows bubbles out of your chest and escapes your lips unconsciously. your amusement isn’t lost on your companion apparently, because they smirk teasingly, letting out a full-blown laugh of their own. 

“oh, zhongli, over here!”

your voice snaps him out of his meandering thoughts, and he stops fiddling with his earring (when did he start doing that?), continuing forward from where he’d paused in his observations of this newcomer. something starts to bloom in his chest, small and bittersweet. he’s not sure what to make of it. 

following your beckoning, zhongli finally makes his way to your side, mentally taking note of your.. friend? he doesn’t remember you mentioning anyone like this before though. surely he would remember your friends, no? 

his earring sways in the wind, white tassel fluttering cheerfully. 

“zhongli, this is my friend kaeya. i met him when i made that trip to mondstadt awhile back, remember that? oh, and kaeya, this is my boyfriend zhongli.”

(the little dragon curled up in his heart preens at your introduction of him, small and sweet.) 

ice blue meets molten gold when zhongli’s eyes dart up to make eye contact with this stranger. they squint at him, assessing, then dip into the makings of a playful twinkle. a hand reaches out for a handshake, which he returns in equal measure. interesting...

“he got a little lost touring liyue and i happened to see him here in the park. small world, huh? i know it was our day love, but do you mind if we take him around for today?”

zhongli smiles appeasingly, gentle and assuring as always. he can recognize the slightly nervous look on your face, one that’s a stark contrast to how energetic you’d looked just a few minutes ago. if kaeya’s company makes you happy and you’d like to take him around, then who is he to refuse your request? you two will have more time to spend with just the two of you later, he reasons with himself. accompanying your friend, and in turn his acquaintance, is nothing big.

(and no, it’s certainly not you calling him love that makes him cave.)

“of course we can.”

tugging at the string of his eyepatch, kaeya swiftly ties his hair back and adjusts the collar of his shirt. “so, where to first?”

zhongli takes your hand in his, squeezing softly. you squeeze back.

getting along together should come just fine.

-

he takes it back. 

he takes it all back. 

he’d accepted it at first because, well, this was your friend. he shouldn’t be controlling who you interact with nor who befriended you - that’s not up to him. it shouldn’t ever be. however—  with every passing moment that kaeya inched closer to you, taking up the entirety of your attention and bringing that bright, bright grin to your face—

(this was supposed to be your date. just the two of you. he hasn’t seen you in a month; surely he can feel a bit selfish, right?)

the three of you turn the corner to an intricately-themed restaurant and pause, where even zhongli looks appreciatively at the beautifully grown bamboo stalks lining the edges of its front walls. 

“wanmin restaurant,” kaeya reads, craning his neck up to gaze at the signboard. bold red calligraphy is sprawled across the rough-cut wood. “awfully simple name for such a stunning place, isn’t it?”

if he weren’t stewing in a pot of conflicted emotions, zhongli would surely inform him of how carefully selected this title was, how it represented more than just a name, how it hid at least several decades worth of effort and teachings— but as it is, he (really, of all people) has no patience for that at the moment. 

first tugging on the hem of your outfit, zhongli then takes you by the elbow and hastily leads you forward to the glass doors of the establishment. he grasps your hand in his as usual, but something must be off, because you twitch a little and look at him curiously. 

he turns his head away, lips pursed just the slightest.

“let us dine here for the time being. it is an appropriate time and place, after all.”

the sun shines brightly in the clear sky as if illuminating his words.

kaeya raises an eyebrow, singular eye looking on inquisitively and arms crossed, then moves further ahead of you both once more. the corner of his mouth dips in a clear show of mirth. bowing with one arm held at the waist, one not unalike a formality from a server, he looks straight into zhongli’s eyes and holds the door open for entrance. 

“that sounds like an excellent idea. well, if you would.”

-

“thanks for the tour around you two.”

kaeya hums his thanks with a cheerful lilt to his voice as you all stand under the porchlight of zhongli’s house. 

(it’s not the largest abode, but it’s cozy and sweet, and it’s definitely enough for the both of you whenever you decide to stay over. tonight is one of those nights, and they may as well become more frequent after the trip you took abroad.) 

his car keys reflect the glow of the bulb, swinging around his finger in loops. they clink noisily, metal against metal, and he grabs them all at once, halfway through another turn. in his car sits a box of treasure-themed artifacts, likely old and had found its way into your hands somehow. zhongli knows you’d been meaning to give them to someone, but he hadn’t known it were kaeya— either way, the artifacts that’d been laying on his shelves for weeks were now handed off. 

ruffling your hair, kaeya pulls you in for a brief hug; although zhongli can feel the bitter pang in his chest, he stays where he stands, keeps it still and small. he can wait. 

that said, the moment kaeya drives off, he’s hauling you into the house and curling up on the couch, pulling you onto his lap and tugging you into his arms. the long thought over gift sits patiently on the counter. it’s waited the entirety of today; it can wait another. 

right now, he needs you. 

your body sinks against his, relaxing from the lively, though exhausting, day. slumped against his chest, he burrows his head in the crook of your shoulder and cuddles you, nuzzling into your neck. finally, you’re home. home with him. 

it’s warm...

“..it was our day...”

you shift your head at his mumbling, lifting his chin to presumably look at his expression. your attention is his now. not kaeya’s. not anyone else’s. just his. 

(his eyes are soft and droopy, smudged red making them look especially mellow in the dim lighting, and lips pushed into the slightest pout. he knows what you’re seeing when you gaze at him fondly, and you can almost see the puppy eyes he sports. how unusual of him.)  

“someone’s a little jealous here, hmmm?” 

you drag out the syllables teasingly, and from lips that are pressing kisses against your skin, he responds a little muffled—

“perhaps.”

[blackypanther9]

Part 27 - Past 1

No one's POV....

You both went into the castle, as you arrived back. You and Loki started a race against each other to Frigga’s chamber, like the old times. You both laughed and tried to cheat. You won the race closely. You both catched your breath again, before, you knocked at the door.

"Come in.", Frigga’s voice said softly.

You opened the door slowly. Frigga turned around and smiled as she saw you both.

"Destiny ! Loki ! I am glad you are alright ! What do you need ?", she asked you.

"I wanted to ask if Loki can join us with the meditation... He needs to learn that.", you answered.

"You completed your lessons...", she said confused.

"I didn't. I know you and Odin try to hide something... You heard my name before... Did I... did I lived once before ?"

Frigga stared at you. She sighed and nodded.

"You were alive 2 times before. And I see that you don't remember anything.", she said.

"I would like to continue my lessons with you and Loki and... meditate so much and deep, until I have at least one flashback. Please Frigga. Help me.", you begged.

She looked at you both then sighed and nodded.

"Sit down on my bed. We start.", she told.

"Does Loki need magic for this ?", you asked.

"No. I will use the magic with you. Loki doesn't need his own."

"Okay..."

"You know how it works."

You nodded. Loki sat on your right and Frigga on your left. You took Friggas hand and Lokis.

"Close your eyes Loki and think about nothing. Let yourself fall into the darkness, it will show light, once you landed.", you instructed.

He did as you told him and Frigga and you closed your own eyes. Everything went black.

Your POV....

'Darkness....that's the first and last thing I saw and knew. It was dark and I felt cold. Where am I ?'

I heard myself.

"Did you hear that too ?", Loki asked.

"Yes I did.", Frigga said.

"Me too.", I told them.

I heard muffled voices. They slowly became clearer.

"....every time.", I heard someone say.

"Of course I can ! It wouldn't be fun, if I can't do mischievous things around here. It's my nature.", I heard myself.

"Dest...Some day the Allfather will throw you into the dungeons, if you don't stop..."

"Jackson... I know what I am doing and besides... he wouldn't do that, because I am the best General here. A little of Mischief won't kill them."

I saw images now. I saw myself and a very young man talking to each other.

"I hope the Dark Elves will keep the truce now...", Jackson said.

"I hope so too."

"It was a good strategy to kill them and save us. We and the Allfather should have listened to you..."

"It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes. Besides I was actually just a guard, King Bor did everything right."

"We still feel bad... we could have avoided it..."

"Like I said, King Bor and the rest of you did everything right. You can't just trust some newbie guard, who only caused Mischief in the castle. It was fine. I needed to prove myself, to be worthy your trust, even if I am one for Mischief."

The man smiled.

"When I am out of this level and I become a guard, then I wanna be like you. You aren't just my friend, you are like a sister to me sometimes."

"But now you still are just a Newbie ! And that means you follow my orders, care for my horse and polish my armor. And now I tell you something..."

"What ?"

"Polish my helmet and you are free to go for the rest of the day, Jackson.", I told him.

"Oh man... I just did it the day before yesterday !"

"Welp ! Polish it again ! It is dirty like hell knows ! I had a fight today. Be glad I don't let you polish the rest of my armor. Now...shoo, shoo, Newbie ! Make my helmet shiny !"

He walked off, mumbling something, but he was smiling.

The pictures changed and I was in Jotunheim. I saw a little Frost Giant and then somebody with Loki’s helmet on. Playing with the little one.

"C'mon ! You can do better ! And now...Show me all you got, my bull !", the Frost Giant boy said excited.

"As you wish, prince Laufey.", I heard myself say.

My past me ran at him and he dodged my horns.

"Ole !", he yelled happily.

My past me laughed.

"You are so funny sometimes.", I said.

"Says the one who has horns like a goat !", he laughed.

"Hey ! This helmet is special to me !", I defended myself.

"I know ! I know ! Whoever can wear your helmet too, is your future. Your lover forever. He is the chosen one, who you will give your love and heart to. The person to share secrets and knowledge with.", Laufey sighed.

"What's wrong little one ?"

"I wish I was that person..."

"Oh Laufey ! I am too old for you. You are 5 years old and I am 404. That would never work.", I laughed.

He giggled too. Then he stopped.

"What about the Dark Elves ? Are they planning a war again ?"

"I don't know, Laufey. We didn't hear anything."

Another images appeared. I laid on my bed and rested. Suddenly the door flew open.

"General Destiny !", Jackson screamed.

"What is it now ?", I asked bored.

"The Dark Elves are planning something big ! Malekith wants to destroy us in 3 days !! He has a weapon called the Aether !"

"What ?! In 3 days is the Convergence !"

"What do we do ?!"

"Take these 3 days to train, nonstop ! We need to be prepared for it ! GO, GO, GO !!"

He nodded and ran out.

The pictures changed again. We were in war against the Dark Elves.

"Destiny, what shall we do ?", Bor asked.

"I...I don't really know... I am not sure what the Aether can do and Malekith has planned... All I know is that we can't show mercy. We will kill every Dark Elf, who comes near us.", I answered.

"I protect your back, if you protect mine, General Dust.", Jackson told.

My past me smiled at him and nodded.

"It's a deal then.", we both said.

"Well...let's make this work.", Bor said.

And with that we all ran into the Dark Elves. We killed and got killed. It was a bloodbath. I saw Malekith and the keeper of the Aether. I saw 4 of our man.

"Hey you ! You 4 ! Get up there and make Malekith busy ! Don't die ! Go, Go, GO !!!", I told them.

They nodded and made their way there. I looked around and saw Jackson in trouble. I threw a dagger in this Dark Elf and Jackson turned around. He saw the Dark Elf and then looked at me.

"Thanks !", he yelled.

"Keep fighting !", I yelled back.

He did as I told and I ran up to Bor.

"My King ! Tell Heimdall, our Gatekeeper, that he needs to look through my eyes, the whole time. As soon as he sees a chance to get the Aether... he opens the Bifrost and teleports the Aether away as fast as he can ! It's our only chance !", I said.

"He knows !", he said after 10 seconds.

I nodded and teleported away. The guards were there, keeping Malekith and 3 other Dark Elves busy. I stayed in the shadows and as Malekith killed the last guard the Bifrost opened. Malekith ran to it, but I jumped out and fought against him, until the Aether was gone. He was finished. I looked around and saw Jackson in bad trouble. Behind and in front of him were Dark Elves, ready to stab him down to the same time. I teleported there and pushed him away, just in time,  as they moved their swords in light speed, inside me. I let out an energy blast and killed them, after that I broke down.

"Destiny !", Jackson yelled shocked.

"I am...fine....", I said.

"Here let me pull them out !", he came closer and wanted to start.

"No ! I will bleed out then ! Let them inside me. Maybe I can make it to the healing wing and survive."

He backed away.

"Okay..."

I slowly stood up and walked away. Bor wanted me on a horse, but I would have fallen asleep, without moving myself and would have never awoken again. We all made it into the castle, after that I fell down to the ground and into the darkness.

"DESTINY !!", was all I heard muffled.

The pictures changed again. I was in a big room with a few corpses.

My past me sat up and looked at itself. I looked the same. I looked around and saw my old dead, too damaged, body. I had a new one and snickered. I stood up and turned invisible. I went down some corridors and stopped at a door, opened it and went through it. On a bed sat Jackson with the helmet of Loki. He cried and polished it. I flew behind his figure and almost touched his shoulder. I looked over it, turned myself visible and smiled. I whispered in his ear...

"Why are you crying my friend ?"

"D-Destiny is d-dead... It's all my fault ! I should have watched out more !"

"My friend... I am right here. I am alive and healthy. No need to cry."

He turned around and saw me. He put the helmet on the bed and threw his arms around me. He hugged my tightly.

"You are alive ! You are real ! I can't believe it !", he said happily.

"Yeah...well let's annoy the others and tell them the bad news, that I still am alive. Guess nobody would have missed me much...", I told and chuckled.

"Bullcrap ! They all shared tears as they knew that you won't awaken ever again. Even King Bor and Prince Odin. He hoped you would survive."

I pulled out a picture of him, Frigga, Bor and me. I smiled.

"And I thought he hated me, because I always tricked and annoyed him first."

"No. He even wanted to keep your dead body in honor. He didn't want it to burn away or something."

"Still Odin I see.", I giggled.

"Let's cause us a little, painless Mischief. What do you think ? In the end they are all in the throne room.", I said.

He groaned playfully.

"You and your stupid natural Mischief part.", he said.

I laughed and we started. Some weapons were now at somebody elses room, some food was stolen and laid somewhere else. Some armor got destroyed or stolen. And in the end we all laughed, as they found out in the throne room, that it was me and I am still alive.

The pictures changed another time....

Part 28

Masterlist with all Chapters of this Story click here !

[nadana-vhet]

Prompt 25: Wish

Rating: General Audiences Summary: Alphinaud and Alisaie surprise N’adana on her birthday while they’re stationed at the House of the Fierce. Bonus: some good ol’ N’adana and Alisaie blinding pining for each other and being too dumb to see it.

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

“N’adana!” The miqo’te heard a familiar voice call, glancing her head up from polishing her sword to see Alphinaud and Alisaie approaching.

They were both acting awfully suspicious in the way they ran up, all eager-eyed and excited.

It was late in the afternoon by now, probably close to dinnertime, she assumed. N’adana could only tell the time by the gaping hole in the ceiling of the House of the Fierce, letting them know that the sun was going to set soon – the sunset that would signify the end of her seventeenth nameday, spent uneventfully gathering supplies while the more intelligent ones in the resistance devised the plan to retake Doma Castle.

“Hm?” she asked them with a raised brow, watching pointedly as they tried to hide their smiles. Alisaie, notably, was disheveled and sweaty, as if she had just come from a bout of training.

“We just wanted to invite you to eat dinner with us.” Alphinaud tried to reply smoothly, but N’adana could already tell they were up to something. The way they hurriedly leaned forward to help her up was enough – they wouldn’t be this eager to simply make sure she was fed.

N’adana followed them without complaint, leaving her sword propped up against the stone wall of the cavernous hideout. They passed the aetheryte and slipped inside one of the doors carved into the stone, which led to a candle-lit room where the resistance kept all their foodstuffs and basic kitchen supplies.

Except today, the room was enchanted with a spell that caused small, aetheric bubbles to hang from the ceiling and faintly light the room. Alphinad’s carbuncle sat curled up on a mismatched chair at the single wooden table, which was set with an array of a modest dinner. There was bread and soup and a hearty chunk of meat on each plate, and in the center there was… a cake?

“Happy Nameday!” both of the twins exclaimed, stepping forward and wrapping N’adana in a hug that made her begin to well up with tears.

“You didn’t have to do this, you two! This is s-so nice, you didn’t…” Alisaie and Alphinaud chuckled as they pulled away from their friend, watching her as she wiped away her tears in embarrassment.

“Don’t be silly, of course we did.” Alphinaud assured her, walking over to the table and picking his carbuncle off the chair before sitting down and placing it directly back into his lap. He gestured for her to take a seat, to which Alisaie pushed her into before sitting in the chair across from her brother. “We shall treat you to a lovely birthday dinner, and then you can open your gifts.”

The three of them ate eagerly, the twins having labored over the food for hours and N’adana having forgotten to eat for much of the day (save for some breakfast she swiped before heading out for the day). N’adana thanked them no less than ten times in the bell it took them to finish, taking their time between bites to laugh and joke and simply enjoy each other’s company. By the time they had finished, N’adana pushed the war and the oncoming assault and her responsibilities from her mind entirely, if only just for a little bit.

Once they all seemed adequately satisfied with dinner, Alisaie leaned forward across the table to pick up the knife that was already sitting next to the cake. “Your first gift for tonight is this cake!” She smiled widely at N’adana, though there was a part of her gaze that made it seem like she didn’t feel it was good enough. It was a simply made cake, unfrosted and shaped like a bowl (likely how she cooked it over the fire), but impressively fluffy and moist looking.

Where had she found a candle like that, N’adana wondered.

Alisaie lit the candle, and thankfully the two omitted the traditional embarrassing bout of singing before telling her to make a wish.

“I wish…” N’adana hummed, closing her eyes and thinking hard for a moment. She could wish for freedom for Doma, or a successful siege of the castle, or even to see her mother or the other Scions, but there was one thing that came to her mind and fell from her lips before she even realized she had said it. It was her nameday, and she could be as selfish with her wish as she damn well pleased.

“I wish that the two of you will be my friends for many years to come. Even if we succeed in our goals and by some miracle don’t need to be around each other out of necessity, I hope that we’ll still spend just as much time together, and be just as close.”

Now it was Alphinaud’s turn to tear up, though he quickly wiped them away and reassured N’adana that they would do everything in their power to make sure that happened.

Another tender moment passed between the trio before Alisaie stood and leaned forward towards the cake. “It was hard to get together the supplies to make one, but I managed! I hope it tastes okay.” Alisaie smiled sheepishly before plucking the candle from the top.

“Shut up! The fact that you even managed to make me a cake in a barely-stocked resistance kitchen is… is-“

Alphinaud smiled between the both of them before raising a knowing brow at Alisaie, “Like I said earlier, ‘tis impressive, Alisaie.”

The elezen deflected the praise from both of them as she cut three slices, ranging from large to small (naturally, she gave N’adana the largest one, as was nameday custom). Alisaie took the smallest, nervously trying a bite of her own creation before crinkling her nose. “Damn, I think I could have added more sugar… maybe an extra egg.”

N’adana shook her head furiously, “No, stop that! This is, I’m not even kidding you, the best cake I’ve ever had.”

Alisaie snorted, “This is not better than that cake they served us the last time we were in Ishgard!”

“It absolutely is, because you made it for me!” N’adana shot back, sticking out her tongue before taking another large, satisfied bite from the cake.

Alisaie grumbled to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks, hoping the dim lighting from the aether-bubbles enough to hide it.

Alphinaud, ever the lifesaver, pulled out a rolled piece of parchment to distract N’adana while Alisaie tried to get over her embarrassment. It was tied with one of his blue ribbons, likely a stray found at the bottom of his pack to make the gift slightly more presentable.

N’adana untied the ribbon and opened the scroll to reveal what was inside, bursting into tears once more at the content she was presented.

“Is it bad? I didn’t work on it very long, it’s not my best work, but-“

“T-this is so s-sweet!” N’adana stared down at the drawing Alphinaud had made for her, trying her hardest to keep it out of the way of her tears. It was the three of them, smiling together in a way that made it feel as if she could simply look at it and hear their laughs feel their presence, even when they weren’t next to her. A drawing of her, perfectly rendered, with her arms wrapped around her two favorite twins. “I… I don’t know what to say, the two of you doing this for me and taking the time out of your day-“

Alphinaud breathed a sigh of relief, “I am full glad you like it. I know you liked to peak over my shoulder while we were traveling in Dravania, so I thought it would be a suitable gift.”

“It’s perfect – both of you, thank you.” N’adana sniffled, gingerly putting the drawing down so that she could wipe her eyes and nose of happy tears – something she hadn’t experienced in moons, at the very least.

“You have said your thanks quite enough tonight,” Alphinaud smiled affectionately at his dear friend, heart swelling at the sight of her so carefree and happy, “now I believe it is time to finish the rest of your gift, hm?” He gestured towards the rest of the cake on her plate, to which she eagerly nodded and finished wholeheartedly.

She was on her third piece of cake when she clocked out, leaning back in her chair and groaning in satisfaction.

“I have another gift for you, too,” Alisaie seemed to suddenly remember, digging into her pocket momentarily before pulling her hand back out, balled into a fist before she opened it to N’adana, revealing a necklace made of sturdy leather. There was a single red gemstone attached to it, wrapped in a gold wire, and hooked onto the leather with a matching clasp. “I found it at the market in Kugane. I knew your birthday was coming up soon, and it reminded me of you...” She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

It was certainly a big deal, at least to N’adana.

N’adana reached out and took the necklace from Alisaie’s hand, hesitating for what was probably a moment too long before grasping it and holding it closer to her face. It was entirely her style – simple, practical, and most importantly – it reminded her of Alisaie. “If you want me to stop thanking both of you, then you best stop being the most absolutely perfect, most thoughtful friends on all of Hydaelyn.” N’adana smiled at the both of them before clasping the necklace around her throat.

[thewritewolf]

In Due Time Chapter 21: Fireworks

Marinette and Adrien get ready for Alya’s New Year’s Party

@marichatmay

Enjoy!

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“Hey, listen up, everybody!” Plagg yelled as he entered the room in front of Adrien. “The kid is going to a party! And no,” the kwami quickly added as a few others tried to ask questions all at once, “it’s not one that rotten ol’ Gabe is making him go to!”

Adrien entered the living room to cheers and applause from all the kwamis under his care. The only thing stopping him from rolling his eyes were his own nerves. Soon, many of them were zooming and swirling around him as he walked through the room, checking and double checking his attire.

“What’s the matter, bucko?” Stompp said, a frown gracing her face. “I’d thought you’d be chompin’ at the bit to go wild outside your papa’s watch.”

“I am, but…” Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “The only one I’ve actually hung out with in person has been Marinette. And most of the time, that wasn’t Adrien exactly.”

“Kid, it’s just a mask. I don’t see what the big deal is. Plus,” Plagg said with a teasing grin, “I know you’re looking forward to seeing Tikki’s kid today. Hm…?”

Adrien gently pushed Plagg aside when he leaned close into his face, but Adrien refused to meet his eye. The cat kwami snickered as he floated away. Adrien might like Marinette, but he had no idea if she felt the same way or if he could even afford the luxury of having a girlfriend right now. Necessity had forced romance out of his life a long time ago.

“Besides Marinette,” Adrien said, trying to get back on topic, “I don’t know anyone there. I’m meeting all these people for the first time!” He put a comb through his hair for the third time that night. “What if I just end up lurking next to the food table and being a downer to the rest of them?”

“I’m confused,” Mullo said, scrunching up their nose. “Haven’t you been talking with them using the aether for a while?”

“The device he usssesss is called the internet, Mullo,” Sass corrected gently. “Not the aether.”

“Still. Does the Guardian not already know these other humans?”

“I mean… yes, I suppose,” Adrien conceded. “But-”

“Not buts, kid,” Plagg said definitively. “You’re going to go out there and have a great time instead of slacking here with these guys. Do you understand me?”

“Oooh, the time for another year has already come?” Orikko clucked happily, dancing in midair. “I’m so happy to hear I haven’t missed it!”

“Don’t worry, Orikko, I set an alarm to let you know when midnight hits,” Adrien said as he scratched beside the rooster kwami’s beak.

“Speaking of not worrying, that same thing but to you, kid.” Plagg was tugging at his sleeve. “C’mon, let’s go. Sass has got it handled here.”

Adrien glanced at the snake kwami, who nodded. “Pleassse enjoy yourssself, Massster.”

“Trust yourself!” Mullo said, floating up to Adrien’s face height. “I am sure they will love you just as much as we do!”

“See?” Plagg motioned a paw toward Mullo. “Now come on, I don’t want you to sit here until you give yourself cold feet. And I’m not about to let you pass up the opportunity to hang out with people born in the same geological era as you!”

“You’re right.” Adrien took a deep breath and let himself get a little excited. “Come on, Plagg, let’s go.”

“‘Course I’m right,” Plagg muttered as he flew into Adrien’s coat pocket. “When am I ever not right?”

The sun had already set by the time Adrien had gotten into his car, but there was still plenty of time before the main event of the night. It was a long drive to the part of Paris where Alya lived, long enough to let Adrien think about how time had changed him. Eight years ago he would’ve jumped at the chance to go to a party and make friends.

But having one thing after another ripped out from underneath him had changed his perspective. Being stopped from going to public school. The many parties thrown by coworkers his father had prevented him from seeing. Not to mention all the stuff he’d been forced to bail on because of an akuma attack. Isolation thanks to his family and his duties had done well to keep him from having friends.

But tonight… maybe tonight would be different. The old embers of optimism burned bright inside him, despite what the years had done to extinguish them.

He found a place to park his car and walked up to the apartment. His hands were stuffed into his pockets to ward off the chill and he was still lost in his thoughts by the time he arrived at the front door. His hand touched the door knob at the same time as someone else.

Startled, he looked to see who he had bumped into only to get lost in big, blue eyes.

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

“Marinette, I promise you look fine,” Tikki said patiently as her chosen ran a brush through her hair nervously. Tikki smirked. “I’m sure Adrien will love what you’re wearing.”

Marinette fumbled her brush, dropping it. “Don’t just say that!”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not getting dressed up just for him!”

“Oh?” Tikki said innocently. Far too innocently. “Are you expecting Chat Noir to make an appearance too?”

A blush spread across Marinette’s face as she groaned. “Don’t even joke about that. I don’t know what I’d do if both Adrien and Chat Noir were both at the party.”

“I wouldn’t be too worried about that if I were you,” Tikki said with a knowing smile. She floated off of the desk where she was sitting and toward Marinette. “You know, this might be a good chance to spend some quality time with Adrien, if that’s what you want.”

“To be honest? I don’t know what exactly I want.” Marinette sighed and sat down, smoothing her skirt as she did so. “It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about someone, so to have it happen with two people almost at the same time…”

“Did you not have any crushes growing up? I’ve heard that’s pretty common for young humans.”

“I mean, some I guess. Definitely nothing that I’ve acted on. And before you ask, yes I have dated. But never anything serious.”

“But you want something serious with one of them?”

“Yes? Maybe? I don’t know,” Marinette said, burying her face in her hands and groaning. “I don’t like to rush into things, but… I haven’t felt a connection like this before.” She waved her hands around. “And now I’ve got two of them!”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out! I’ve had a lot of chosen, but never one as clever as you.” Tikki landed on Marinette’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me about your friend’s party? To help get your mind off it.”

“Well…” Marinette said, calming down now that she was switching tracks in her mind. She grabbed her purse, which Tikki rushed into. “Alya got a taste for throwing parties back in university, so they’ve gotten pretty big sometimes. Like the Halloween one where I met Chat - she was selling tickets to that through the Cat Chat.”

Marinette left her apartment, closing the door behind her. She didn’t live that far from Alya’s place, one of many reasons she lived here in the first place. A few minutes of walking and she’d be there.

Tikki frowned. “Are there going to be a lot of people at this one too?”

“No, no,” Marinette said, waving her hand dismissively. “The New Year’s party is usually pretty small. There are usually about ten of us, mostly her and Nino’s friends. It’s nice.”

“So what do you do there?”

Marinette shrugged. “Same thing most people do at parties, I guess. Play games, drink, dance, talk. Although New Year’s is a little special because her apartment has a great view of the fireworks show the city does.”

“Wow! That does sound fun!”

“Right? Anyway, I’m also pretty nervous because Adrien said he’d try to make it. Nino and Alya have been dying to meet him, but…”

“But?”

“Well, they tend to worry too much about me. Which makes me worried that they’ll scare him away by trying to get us together.” She entered the building through the backway, a little shortcut she’d learned over the past couple years.

“Hm…” Tikki hummed, a ghost of a smile at her lips. “That’s definitely a dilemma. Be a shame if they got the two of you to really hit it off with each other.”

“Tikki,” Marinette whined as the door to Alya’s apartment came into view.

“I’m just teasing, Marinette. But still, it wouldn’t be too bad, right?”

Before Marinette could respond, her hand touched the doorknob at the same time someone else’s did. She jumped and was about to apologize when she looked up into bright green eyes.

Both of them stood staring at each other for much longer than Marinette would care to admit. This was the first time they’d seen one another since when they had first met at the fashion show, even if they’d talked plenty of times online.

Eventually, Adrien rubbed the back of his neck and said, “Hey-”

Naturally he was cut off when the door flew open, Alya standing on the other side. Now, Marinette had known her friend long enough to notice the tell-tale signs of being tipsy and right now Alya checked off all those boxes. Clearly either Marinette and Adrien were the last ones to arrive, or Alya had gotten a head start on the night’s festivities.

That likely contributed to how Alya grabbed them both by the arms and practically dragged them inside, although Marinette wouldn’t put it past her to do that even stone cold sober.

“Come on you two, stop standing outside the door like a couple of weirdos,” she said, laughing. She turned her head toward another part of the apartment and raised her voice. “Hey, babe! Your buddy is here! Come on and meet him!”

Nino poked his head from around the corner, where Marinette knew their living room and therefore game consoles were, and saw his face split into a grin when he spotted Adrien.

“DUDE!” He rushed forward and gently punched Adrien’s arm. “I can’t believe I finally get to meet you! Come on, let me show ya around my crib. It might not be what you’re used to, but me casa es tu casa!”

Nino chuckled and threw an arm around a confused Adrien’s shoulders. Adrien glanced back at her and gave her a slightly worried smile and a wave before he disappeared.

“So,” Alya said, dragging Marinette’s attention back to her. She was looking awfully focused despite the handful of drinks Marinette knew she must have already had. “Let’s talk about you and blondie, hm?

Marinette groaned. It was going to be a long party.

[librarianswithattitude]

Rock Biter

By Tui Scanlan

They look Like Big Strong hands Don’t they? But for some They are eerily reminiscent Of drunken stepfathers who didn’t listen Abusive lovers Who didn’t ask permission Of bullies Who never got to see the gold within ’Cause they were too busy fracking the aether out of Innocents These Bronze Hands Give people flashbacks of Brass Knuckles Tall, dark, and sinister Skip across their eyelids Wary of their trinkets These hands Look like they would snatch their children out of the night Fright In the eyes of a stranger Is hard to chisel away So I choose to dispel the myths and preconceived notions Not all giants from the ocean are created violent Some of us Dream of violin solos While fumbling with a lack of nimble Sometimes These Big, Strong hands Are too small to cradle all these broken dreams I hold them too close, I suppose The pitter-patter of shattered hopes on tattered heart-strings Are a practiced tune These fingers sing Sometimes They make me a target So many Napoléons Want their volley to knock the nose off the sphinx So I meandered to the metamorphosis of these metacarpals into mandible munchers and it made me malignant They look Like big ol’ meat mashers don’t they These boulders Used to reduce mountains into molehills But though they Once Were Warriors These old soldiers gather moss now They’ve seen enough violence for two lifetimes and have since retired They beg forgiveness For sinning against their brothers And taking up arms against them Nobody ever asks me what I see ’Cause to me They look like blame the big kid For defending himself against the antagonistic little shit with the chip on his shoulder They look like These big digits won’t fit fingertip thimble kisses They look like high-roller scapegoats And tactile regret I know What they look like But they are Grandpa’s fissures filled with pride in combing my hair They’re Grandma’s amethyst veins helping me cross cracked pavement They’re dad’s throwing discus My Uncle’s shooting hoops My brothers playing music Regardless of what they look like My hands are Large And Powerful From a long line of love With no time for the presumptions Of Mice and Men My hands Were trained by Earth mothers Who let ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i roll thunder ’cross the valleys and echo from the Cliffs My granite palms Are diamonds in the rough Smooth enough to wipe away little streams from Northern Springs And put pressure on cuts To stop rivulets from leaking My hands Massage Caress Intertwine And Heal Move nimbly with knot work They tremble and quake They help me stand up straight My hands can stand the heat So that even while it’s still molten They will help shape The golden heart Within the next Mountain

[oops-prow-did-it-again]

Pokémon Retold: Ultra Sun - Chapter 13 (Alone Together)

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Child of Unova on AO3

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Heeey look I'm alive, though I'm gonna go dark for those 2 weeks after tomorrow, I'm sorryy

In other news, if you read my Black and Black 2 stories, you'll maybe remember that there was a dude named Taven in them. As I mentioned before, Taven is actually an OC from a friend of mine, ClumsyReaper. They've been writing out Taven's story in more detail over on Archive of Our Own under the title 'Child of Unova,' though their penname is also ClumsyReaper over there. Feel free to give it a read! Taven's story seems like it's going to take a more nuanced look on Pokemon White's version of events by focusing on worldbuilding more so than the events of the game, such as how the gym leaders and League function.

Saying that to say, my version of Taven is set in a different universe from his version - so you'll notice some key differences between them if you do check it out. You'll also notice some other cool parallels between his world and mine, too, such as the existence of certain characters. Anyway, it's not that long and you should check it out :)

——————

Back at the entrance of Verdant Cavern, Elio had no idea what he was looking at. The Gumshoos, still rippling with that vibrant, strobing light, was growling and spitting at two people dressed in stuff that made them look like they belonged in an ancient episode of Star Trek. One was an older man based on the sound of his voice, while the other looked like a girl perhaps even younger than Selene, based on her squeakier tone and petite frame. Both, however, didn't seem to know what to do about the Gumshoos. Just as Elio had skidded to a halt in front of them, the man had sent forth a Furfrou, but chattered to his colleague as if he had no idea what to do with it. Just as Elio intended to ask them what they thought they were doing, the man focused his attention on him. "You, young man," he uttered bluntly, "do you know where a woman named Lillie Rae Aether is located in this cavern? We do not wish to intrude and would rather avoid confrontation with this creature." He flicked his wrist at the Gumshoos.

"Al-ol-a!" his colleague beamed, giving him a jerky, robotic Alolan wave. "That's it, right?"

"Zossie!" the older man snapped at her.

"Sorry, Dulse!" Zossie unflinchingly sang, totally unfazed by the bite in his voice, following by a giggle.

As if losing its patience, the Gumshoos hissed and took a decisive step forward, snapping its teeth mere centimeters away from the Furfrou's nose. The pokémon yelped and its claws clattered against the stone as it dove behind Dulse and Zossie cowardly, shivering.

"Aw, it's okay!" Zossie comforted the pokémon right away, bending to her knees to pet its head. "You can fight when you want to!"

"No, it can't!" Dulse exasperatedly growled. "We need it to fight now, Zossie. Can you get it up?"

Elio narrowed his eyes at them both. They wanted Lillie, but what for? Lillie always seemed so on edge, and he had been told that some bad people wanted to get ahold of her and her odd little pokémon, Nebby… Well, these people certainly seemed unlike anyone else he'd met on Alola so far, and he didn't recognize those outfits from anywhere else, either. Thinking fast, knowing he couldn't hope to potentially fight the furious Gumshoos alongside Selene and Hau after if he tired Macho out dealing with Dulse and Zossie and their Furfrou, Elio took a deep breath and pulled his Rotom Dex from his pocket. Unlike Selene's, his didn't immediately wriggle out of his grasp and start chattering away. Given their circumstances, he couldn't blame it, and he was glad, too; his plan to disorient and send the duo packing relied on his Rotom Dex's subservience.

"Hey, fellas!" Elio drawled as he theatrically threw his hands wide. "You two don't look like you're from around here! Lillie's not here right now, but I'll be sure to leave her a message! Who should I leave the name in? Tweedle-Dee, or Tweedle-Dumb? Anyway," he flamboyantly grinned and slid closer to them, daring to wrap an arm around Dulse's shoulders. Flicking through the options on the Rotom Dex's screen until he located the camera, he snapped a picture of him and the odd man in the same photograph. He wanted some form of evidence to show… er… somebody, if these people were dangerous to Lillie in some way. He actually didn't know what he intended to do with the picture, but it was an almost instinctive reaction, to photographically document something so out of place. Still, his voice maintained that jeering tone and he joked, "Look at that, now you have a souvenir! Give me an email to send it to, why don't ya? But you'll need to do it outside." Elio jabbed a thumb in the Gumshoos' direction. As if to emphasize Elio's point, it snarled obnoxiously loudly. "See, Big, Yellow, and Fluffy doesn't like visitors that aren't challengers, and you guys aren't that, and that's not cool, so…"

Dulse abruptly slapped Elio away, clearly fed up with his odd behavior, and huffed disdainfully. "I do not understand anything you are talking about. We are not here for the trial, or the Gumshoos, or you, or photographs. We are looking for Lillie Rae Aether and her Cosmog. We must return it to containment to prevent disasters from befalling your world and ours."

"Though, we're kinda bad at battles," Zossie chimed in almost ashamedly from behind her partner, still stroking the Furfrou's head. Her voice had much more inflection and personality to it than Dulse's. "See, we don't do that where we come from! So… we kinda don't know how they work, heh!"

"Man, you're fun at parties, huh?" Elio mused to Dulse's face, then gawked at Zossie when she spoke. What the hell are either of them talking about? Where on Earth do people not battle pokémon…? Shit, can I move there? "Where the hell are you two from, anyway? Did Holon lose a couple spies?" he taunted. Actually, that would be kind of awesome if they turned out to be Holoni spies…

"Elio, wait!"

Casting a quick look over his shoulder, Elio saw Selene jog to a stop, her Rowlet hovering around her head. He noticed then that Hau was watching from a distance in the shadows of cavern, his brown eyes as wide as saucers, and shoulders hunched. He seemed to be trying to keep as still and quiet as possible. He supposed it had worked, since Elio hadn't noticed him before then. Waving a hand at his sister dismissively, Elio said, "Stay back, I got this. Just showin' our two new friends here some hospitality!" I don't know who or what they are. For real, Selene, stay outta this, he thought with a fleeting flash of sobering severity.

"Is that Furfrou not going to fight?" Dulse questioned Zossie, his voice dropping an octave.

She shuffled uncertainly as she stood back up. "No, I don't think so…"

"Well—"

Dulse was abruptly cut off by the Gumshoos lunging at him, snapping its teeth around his helmet. Its teeth slid off the sleek metal with a show of sparks, but it still knocked him off balance, tilted his helmet at a strange angle, and panicked his Furfrou. The pokémon whimpered and then tore out of the cavern. Seemingly without a second thought, Zossie yelped something incoherent and darted after it, and Elio jolted when he thought he saw her vanish before she finished fleeing the cave. Under Selene, Elio, and Hau's gawking, Dulse huffily brushed his suit off. "Fine, we will leave for now, for we must secure that pokémon and Zossie," he said, "but understand this. Cosmog has more abilities than you or most others in Alola understand. Until we convince you to let us return it to containment, you must understand that it cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Aether Foundation was providing a secure environment to house the Beast. By keeping it away, you are endangering this world and the next. Am I clear?"

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Elio asked breathlessly, feeling as if everything Dulse was saying went in one ear and out the other. Before Dulse had a chance to reiterate what he had said (and somehow, Elio felt as if the second round of exposition wouldn't have been any clearer), the Gumshoos snapped its teeth at him again. This time, Dulse managed to dodge the bite, and he stiffly ran after where Zossie had gone then, out of sight before long.

"I'm going out after them to check on Lillie," Elio said immediately, only to have the Gumshoos whirl around and hiss at him. He vaguely heard Hau and Selene snap at him to get back, but he felt frozen as he realized just how close to that beastly Totem Gumshoos he was. Its jagged fangs that had scraped and dug into Dulse's helmet were uncomfortably close, and even more alarmingly, his mind had blanked. His legs felt like lead and he couldn't… move… Suddenly, Macho courageously leapt from the ground at the Gumshoos' face, lashing claws furiously over its nose again and again as it hissed. Selene's Rowlet then dove at its head in a cloak of vines and leaves, while Hau's Popplio blew a bubble that, once it popped next to the Gumshoos, let out a blast of noise that made the Gumshoos backpedal away from the assault. Once it regained its composure, it snapped its fangs over Selene's Rowlet, temporarily stunning the little pokémon as it struggled out of its grasp and back into the air.

"This battle's not over," Selene puffed at her brother as she fell into step next to him. With a curt, reassuring nod, she called, "Rowlet, you've got this! C'mon!"

"We battle Gumshoos," Hau determinedly added as he flanked Elio on the other side, "then find Lillie. Ae!"

"But…" Elio let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"Elio, it'll be okay," Selene reassured him with a gentle smile. "I'm sure Lillie's fine… C'mon, let's beat this thing!"

Taking a shaky breath and trying to steel his nerves, Elio found that he could move his feet again. "Alright," he breathed, tucking his Rotom Dex back into a pocket. Ahead of the three of them, their starters readied for their next strike, Macho arching its back, Selene's Rowlet hovering in the air in front of her (though it was faltering slightly in exhaustion), Hau's Popplio clapping its flippers together, all the while, the Totem Gumshoos panted tiredly. Noticing that gave Elio the burst of confidence he felt he needed and for once… he found himself not really thinking about the nastiness of battle. The adrenaline and emotions coursing through him in that moment seemed to banish whatever misgivings he had about the process all at once, and he ordered Macho to perform another Ember. Somehow, with Selene and Hau at his side and their pokémon aligned in front of him, he felt more… alive.

With that, another Disarming Voice from Popper, and Leafage from Selene's Rowlet, the Gumshoos' ethereal glow shuddered and then faded altogether as it collapsed to its stomach. There was a long stretch of silence where the three of them panted breathlessly as their pokémon retreated to their sides before it seemed to set in that they had beaten the Totem Gumshoos. Once Elio reached the conclusion that they had, though, he uncharacteristically hollered in excitement and lunged forward, snatching his Litten in his arms and giving something of a twirl. "Macho, man, we did it! Haha!"

"Congratulations!" Captain Ilima's voice carried from somewhere else in the cave, making the three of them quizzically look up and around, until Elio spotted him step out from behind his fallen Gumshoos. He recalled the pokémon to an Ultra Ball, tucking it away, and then calmly strode over to them with something wedged beneath his left arm. When he drew nearer, Elio realized 'it' was actually several silvery crystals, similar to the ones Kahuna Hala had hewn into the odd bracelet he and Selene now wore. He cocked his head at the crystals as Captain Ilima distributed them amongst the three of them.

"Normally," Ilima sighed, "you'd have picked these up from the altar itself deeper in the cavern, but… I see Gumshoos had to come help you deal with some intruders to the Verdant Cavern… I'll admit, I didn't get to see them before they left, but there is still someone in this cavern that shouldn't be." With that, he briskly marched past Elio, Selene, and Hau, over to a fallen log that acted as a natural bridge between two raised plateaus of stone. Ducking below it deftly, he briefly vanished from sight, before recoiling so fast he nearly hit his head on the log. "Lillie!" he puffed, brushing himself off as he stood to his full height. He exasperatedly put a palm to his forehead. "Come out of there, now, please… It's just me, Captain Ilima."

"Lillie?" Elio echoed, unceremoniously setting Macho to the ground and scrambling to Ilima's side, so relieved to find she was inside and not out there with the two strange people. "You're in there?"

"Are they gone?"

"Yeah, of course," Elio snorted. "Ran with their tail tucked between their legs!" Thinking himself clever, he smirked. "Oh, and the Furfrou ran off too, I guess."

Slowly, Lillie crept out from beneath the fallen log, her eyes pressed to thin slits as she glared at Captain Ilima. Before either she or the Captain could say anything, though, Elio excitedly bounced from foot to foot and beamed. He was far more eager to see her than he wanted to admit (not that he was doing a good job of hiding his exuberant reaction). "Lillie! You're alright! Uh, but…" He frowned and cocked his head. "Who were those people? What were they rambling about with Nebby…?"

"They're bad people who want to help do bad things to Nebby," Lillie answered standoffishly, still scowling at Captain Ilima. Preemptively, she bared her teeth at him and snapped, "Before you say anything, I had to go in here because I had no choice. They blocked my escape out of the entrance, so I came in here. I wasn't about to get caught to avoid making your pokémon mad."

"I never said anything about your reasoning for entering not being strong enough," Ilima asserted pointedly. "It's alright, Lillie. There's no need for you to be so combative. I'm… not going to tell anyone." He shuffled his feet and briefly looked at the ground as he said that. "You other three, let me show you how to use the Normal-type Z-moves—"

"Those two people are after her, and like, want to steal her pokémon by the sounds of it," Elio cut him off crossly, "aren't we gonna do something about that? Like, report them, or…?" You guys have got to take pokémon thievery seriously, at least! That's the least you guys could do! Now that he knew Lillie was out of harm's way, his mind had come to the natural conclusion that he never wanted anything like that to happen again. Lillie did not deserve to live in fear.

Captain Ilima blinked at him. "Report them to… who? I was going to warn Kahuna Hala about them after I learned more from you three about them, but… Do you mean anything else?" Without waiting for Elio to incredulously inform him of what he meant, Ilima's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh! You mean to police, or some other institution like that… I remember that from when I was in Kalos…" He frowned and scuffed a shoe against the stony floor. "I can inform them, but I'm not sure what they would do… Especially since nothing actually happened… Admittedly, the most they would do should they find the people would be to suggest they don't do that…"

It was Selene's turn to chime in. She shook her head in disbelief. "What do you mean? You guys have police, right?"

"From my understanding, we did before…" Captain Ilima sounded so uncomfortable. "I mean, a very long time ago… But over time, the Tapus felt as if they were undermining their authority, and that if they thought people were doing anything wrong, they would intervene… At least, that is how the Kahunas of the time interpreted it. Police exist, but they're not as you know them in other regions, I don't think. We have general guidelines to allow people to live peacefully, and most do follow them," Ilima stressed, "but… nothing nearly as stringent as I have heard Kanto can be. My apologies, I know that is likely quite jarring…" Clearing his throat as if what he had said was big deal, he continued, "Anyway, we should leave the Cavern. I can walk with you three to the Center and help you get checked in for the evening, I know it's getting a little late. There's a café in there if you are hungry, and tomorrow—"

"No, no, stop," Elio waved his hands in front of Ilima to pause him. Swallowing hard, he quavered, "So, you're telling me that police just kind of don't exist here? The Tapus are seen as the law? So, if they had attacked Lillie, or—" Elio's heart suddenly felt like it lurched into his throat. Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad haven't been answering their phones, Mom left that weird note in Galarish for some reason, the door… Meowth… The thin veil of lies he had told himself to reassure himself that his parents were fine felt like it had been torn away violently and his mouth was so, so dry…

"Welcome to Alola, Torchic," Lillie bitterly snorted at him as she brushed past the group, tightly clutching her bag to her side. "I'm with Ilima, though. Let's get out of here, and into the Center for the evening—"

"Mom and Dad are missing," Selene abruptly whispered. When Elio looked at her, she was as white as a sheet. "They left… a weird note… I thought they just…" Trailing off, she gave Elio a frightened, wide-eyed stare. Wordlessly, they both seemed to exchange the same questions: So, where are they really? Who wrote the note? After a moment, Selene stomped her foot and snapped at Ilima, "I just thought after the other day that your police weren't that great, not that you didn't have any real police! What on Earth?"

"Your parents are… missing?" Captain Ilima echoed, concernedly scanning Selene and then Elio with those washed-out eyes. He, too, paled. "What do you mean…?"

Lillie seemed to stop in her tracks at Selene's words. She turned on her heel, her face softer than before, her grip on her bag loose. In fact, her entire posture had slacked. Hau skirted the group until he was next to Lillie, looking equally as sympathetic as he exchanged a knowing look with her.

All their reactions did was serve to scare Elio even further. Shooting Ilima, Hau, and even Lillie distrusting looks, he snatched Selene by her wrist and hissed at her in Kantonian, "Come on, let's go. To the Center. I want us to be alone for a little while." Although she briefly resisted out of shock when he first grabbed her, she soon relented and hurried after him, Macho and her Rowlet following closely. Yet, before they had a chance to scramble out of the cave, Hau dove in front of them and waved his hands wildly at them.

"Wait, please!" he begged. Desperately, he tilted his head and sighed, "I know feeling… Lillie know, too. Let help. Let us help."

"Let you help how?" Elio spat savagely, feeling all his contempt for Hau boil to the surface again. He wasn't feeling so tolerant anymore. The tense understanding they had come to back at the Trainers' School was long gone. "How can you help?"

Hau glanced to Selene as if asking for help, but she only looked down and away from him. At first, he looked taken aback by her reaction, but then… he stiffened his jaw and glowered at Elio. "Alone does not help," he stubbornly growled, straining to stand on his tiptoes to get as close to in Elio's face as he could get. "Do not alone. No."

"Hau's right," Lillie mumbled as she quietly stepped into place next to him. She pressed a hand to Hau's shoulder and he visibly relaxed. With a sorrowful look up to Elio that looked so different from her usual contemptuous glare, she smiled sadly. "Your parents… seemed really nice when I was coming to get you guys… And the way you're clearly upset…" She took a shuddery breath and blinked. "Look, if anything's happened to them, or not and we're just all overreacting, I don't care. I want to help…" Begrudgingly, she muttered, "Also, I guess you did technically help me today… So, there's that, I guess… And Selene did the other day, too…"

"Alola have problem, ae. But never go alone," Hau asserted with uncharacteristic confidence. With a lopsided, easygoing smile that seemed more familiar, he bent down to pick Popper up off the ground. "We find out. Together. Ae!"

"Hau and Lillie have good points," Captain Ilima smoothly articulated as he also moved over to them. "Let me help get you four checked into the Pokémon Center. Whatever's going on with your parents, I want to help in whatever way I can…" He paused and bit his lower lip. "Even though I'm not sure if I'll be that much help after tomorrow… I still want to try."

Panicking by then, Elio swallowed against a mouth of what felt like cotton, unable to process whatever Ilima could have meant by that. He had no idea what to do. It suddenly felt so difficult to trust these people. There was so much about Alola that didn't make sense already, not to mention how it had just been spelled out for him that their parents were most likely not okay, in any capacity, and yet… Who else did they have? He had Selene, yes, but would he be enough to protect her? Lillie, Hau, and Ilima might have been intimidating in that moment, but they knew things about Alola neither he or Selene did… It became painfully clear to him, even though he couldn't quite think in words, just how much he relied on his parents and their family. The idea of suddenly not having either of their parents to help them was abjectly terrifying.

Before he could reach his conclusion, Selene answered for him. "Thank you… All of you…" She wormed her way out of Elio's vice-grip, and her shoulders sagged wearily. "Some… some help would be nice…" Her voice breaking a little, she admitted, "I don't understand this place, but all I know now is that my parents could be in trouble, and if you guys want to help… Please. I'm begging you to please help us, because we aren't going to know what we're doing here."

Elio looked down at the floor. At last, he gruffly whispered, "She's right…"

"We all together," Hau repeated himself firmly. "Follow Captain Ilima. To Center. Talk there more, ae?"

"Sounds good to me, Hau," Selene sniffled a little.

As they fanned out of Verdant Cavern, Elio felt a tidal wave of guilt wash over him, for not having the answers for what to do in this situation, for being so scared when he felt he should have known what to do. He felt like the biggest Magikarp out of water, ever, and he hated that not only he would have to rely on these people he was finding increasingly difficult to trust, but his sister would, too. He didn't mind risking himself in any capacity, but he wished he could have, at the very least, found a way to guarantee her safety… But if Mom and Dad had something happen to them in their very homes without anyone noticing, and if Alola didn't really even have police, how safe could either of them really be? Why had Lillie and Hau exhibited such a surprising change in personality upon learning they were worried their parents were missing?

He felt like he had traveled across space and time and landed in an entirely different world. Alola was a far, far cry from Kanto's heavily guarded streets and strict security measures, where the idea of little to no policing would have been laughed at like the funniest joke anyone had told in the last millennium. As he cagily glanced to the horizon and took in the beautiful, picturesque landscape, Elio curled his lip.

A picture could tell a thousand words, and he was starting to realize that Alola's picture had a true, sinister exposure beneath its delightful contrasts and vibrant colors.

[flamboyant-king]

Hello, have the scripts for comics I wanted to make when I first started using Lewn, got L!Azura, Taku got brave bow+, and Joji ‘retired.’ But, you know, my hands can only draw so much.

So this is context for comics and relations at the moment, in case yall are lost since I didn’t DRAW THESE.

--Jeorge meets Lewyn--

(Game context: During a grand conquest, my units were dying left and right because of poor placement. Lewyn was trapped behind a wall so he would only defeat the units that spawned right in front of it. Jeorge got closest to the fortress, but he couldn’t kill the Corrin standing there in one hit. So I used his turn to break down the wall and Lewyn hath been released.)

Jeorge: [running towards the fort] Where the Hel is everyone.

[aims at Corrin]

Jeorge: Damn. [Stops in front of a wall] Her defense is too high.

[melody playing from behind the wall]

Jeorge: ...Lewyn?

Lewyn: How are you, Jeorge?

Jeorge: Have you been hiding there this whole time?

Lewyn: I can’t believe you think that lowly of me.

Lewyn: The area you’re standing in is empty because of me.

Jeorge: [patting the wall] Well, I need more than one area cleared by you.

[one brick pushed out and the wall crumbles]

Lewyn: Now, why did you go and do that...

Jeorge: [pointing behind to Corrin] Get rid of her, please. 

Lewyn: Only because you asked so nicely~

[meanwhile]

--New Bow--

(Game context: I gave Taku brave bow because... Idk seemed like a good idea. he’s like not fast at all but I was giving him a lot of bows)

Gordin: KOUHAI! TAKUMI KOUHAI!

Takumi: I told you not to call me that.

Gordin: Then what do I call you?

Takumi: MY NAME.

Gordin: Okay! I have gift for you, from senpai to Takumi!

Takumi: Brave bow?

Gordin: You said that you’re fighting for two. That means twice as many arrows!

Takumi: Oh...thanks. I’ve never really used this before.

Gordin: [GASP] THAT MEANS I HAVE TO TEACH YOU!

Takumi: No, you do--

Gordin: I AM YOUR SENSEI, YOU ARE MY STUDENT! 

Takumi: He’s not listening...

--New Training--

Gordin: [pacing about] This is all so sudden. From senpai to sensei in a blink of an eye. 

[turns around]

Gordin: Since you know all the things Mr. Jeorge has taught me, that means I have to teach you my own methods!

Takumi: Yippee?

Gordin: [rubbing chin] The leaf thing is outdated. That means I must make a new curriculum.

Gordin: Shoot through here. [okay hand]

Takumi: What?

Gordin: It’s just like a target except with the risk of injury.

Takumi: I’m not doing that.

Gordin: Do you have confidence in your aim!

Takumi: I do but the risks are to--

Gordin: DO IT!

[shoots arrow right into gordin’s palm]

Gordin: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Takumi: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Gordin and Takumi screaming in the background]

Niles: [behind a tree] Ah, so Jeorge was actually a babysitter...

--The Real Doubler--

Lucius: What are you two doing? You’re lucky Leon came and got me!

Leon: If I didn’t get you, Niles would have just let them stand there screaming for hours.

Niles: And I would be laughing for all those hours.

Gordin: [sobbing] I’m sorry Takumi, I’m a terrible teacher. How can I teach without my good hand!?

Takumi: Eh...you were just excited to help me. I really appreciate you giving me your bow. Maybe we can train together when you’re all better.

Takumi: As equals, not student and...sensei.

Gordin: That sounds nice. But if I can’t teach you won’t be able to shoot double the arrows.

Kravice: [offscreen] That’s where you’re wrong!

Kravice: [on Legendary Azura’s ride] Sup guys, guess who finally learned the importance of dancers!

[a day, maybe, later]

--Aether Keep Rearrangement--

(Game context: Aether Keep editing is fun, just nothing but traps.)

Lewyn: Hello, Jeorge, enjoying your “break?”

Jeorge: Barely. I still hold the job as representative, so I still have to deliver messages to other realms, assist in gauntlets, and defend this place from invaders.

Lewyn: At least it’s cozy up here. [counting on his fingers] Got an inn, a park, places to shop, hot springs, and a library. What’s really missing is somewhere to eat.

Jeorge: It’s far from relaxing. The set up of this place changes constantly. Not to mention the traps.

Lewyn: What tra-- [Lewyn promptly falling through a trap door]

Jeorge: Lewyn!

--

Lewyn: [freaking out] WHY IS THAT THERE!? WHY IS THAT JUST THERE!?

Jeorge: Blame Kravice. He says it’s ‘fun.’

Kravice: [offscreen] I actually said ‘funny.’ 

Kravice: [on Azura’s ride] I get a lot of great snap shots with all my set ups.

Kravice: [turning around the tacticians tablet revealing a photo of Lewyn on top of Jeorge] Who do you think would benefit more from this? Anna or Nina?

Lewyn & Jeorge: >:^\

[A week or so later]

--Quadrupler--

[four arrows in the target]

Gordin: And in one swift motion you’ve shot 4 arrows into your foe’s back!

Takumi: I honestly thought my hands would be too small to hold all the arrows.

Gordin: If I can do it, so can you! [jazz hands]

Kravice: [offscreen] Taku!

Kravice: [Azura safely lands her horsey] I need you to come with me!

Takumi: You...need me for something?

Kravice: I’m gonna nab me another Michalis, so I need some fliers

Takumi: But we learned last time that arrows have no effect on him.

Kravice: [sparkle] That’s why we have Azura.

--XD--

[in the skies]

Ryoma: Takumi, you’ll have to take care of Michalis.

Takumi: But why? You’re more suited for this.

Ryoma: Look around you, Takumi, this is the only viable option.

[cuts to Michalis covered in arrows with hp bar at exactly half] 

Takumi: Even with Azura’s boost and all these arrows, I barely got him to half HP

Azura: <:^) Cheer up, okay. [gives taku another turn]

Takumi: [zoom in on stats] :0

Takumi: [turns to azura] XD

Azura: ....Okay, maybe tone it down a bit. [that finger pinch thing]

(game context: I have a video of a damaged taku getting danced by azura and it’s just exactly this)

--New Rep--

[Krav barging through the front doors, triumphant]

Kravice: Oh baby! I can’t believe my strategy actually worked! Good job out there, Taku!

Takumi: I...I gotta go! [runs away, redfaced]

Kravice: Compliments really do drive him crazy...

Alfonse: Kravice, I have urgent news.

Kravice: Okay? What is it.

Alfonse: Jeorge is stepping down as our representative.

Kravice: WHAT! BUT WHY!

Alfonse: He said...he’s tired of you.

Kravice: ...ouch...

Alfonse: We need a new representative. Someone who can bring up morale and encompasses the spirit of our castle!

--Camus’s Tit--

Kravice: [pacing the tactic’s room] I started learning to strategize for him and now he’s bailing like that!

Alfonse: I don’t think your tactics are the only reason. 

Kravice: I’ve done nothing but give him the worlds!

Alfonse: Well you’ve also killed him over two hundred times and fatally injured him twice that much

Kravice: But that’s less frequent now that I’m strategizing!

Alfonse: To be honest, Jeorge tolerated you much longer than I could’ve under your orders.

Kravice: What are you trying to say, Al.

Alfonse: You are...you...should really consider finding a new representative.

Kravice: Fucking! Camus’s Tit!

(context: That was my ingame name for a bit pshs)

--

[nowaki’s castle]

Nowaki: Hello--

Camus: [one(1) boob exposed] I have come with greetings from afar.

Nowaki: [slowly closes door]

--

(watching from afar)

Alfonse: I don’t think--

Kravice: Why do you take things so literally! 

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

I didn’t write a script for these next parts but here’s what was gonna happen:

Sentimental stuff, Jeorge passes the torch of representative to Taku, Krav approves, big ol ModFam moment and Party.

Month or so later, Jeorge starts getting bored just relaxing in the Aether keep and wants to travel still. He finds out he’s going to be in a gauntlet, and since Taku is representative at the moment, he’s the one to assist Jeorge in the gauntlet. You all know what happened with the gauntlet. <3

Jeorge comes back out of retirement but only for guantlets and just scouting worlds. He has an attachment to gauntlets pssh. Taku vows to protect him from getting hurt. They agree to be equals and protect each other when Jeorge decides to join battle.

For now, Jeorge chills in the Aether Keep with the Reserves (Lucius, BK, Lewn, L!Azura, etc) aka: units I use when I have to because they’re actually kind of built. Although, I’m using Lewn more and more because of his stupid infinite.

That’s how the plot/timeline is going so far. I have so much story to tell but agh my hands, but I hope these scripts are good enough context for why character focus and groupings are shifting and stuff.

[sea-and-storm]

LFRP (CRYSTAL)  ||  KJRN FYTHE*

* Exact name & other details may change pending release of naming conventions.

[ BASIC INFORMATION ]

[FULL NAME]   Kjrn Fythe.

[PRONOUNCED]   Kee-ehrn Faiythe (rhymes with lithe).

[ALIASES]   None at present. At least, none to which she’ll answer. 

[GENDER]   Female.

[AGE]  Somewhere in her 80s-90s, but appears approx. early to mid-thirties.

[NAMEDAY]   21st Sun of the Fourth Umbral Moon (8/21).

[RACE]   Rava Viera

[RELIGION]   Questioning, non-practicing.

[LANGUAGES]   Common, Dalmascan.

[ACCENT]   Icelandic, by real world standards.

[HANDEDNESS]   Ambidextrous.

[ APPEARANCE ]

[HAIR]   A long and wildly voluminous mess of deep, rich burgundy, usually swept up into a long ponytail or left to trail down her back. Very soft, very shiny, and clearly tended to with much care and love. Touch at your own risk.

[EYES]   Pale gold.

[COMPLEXION]   Medium tan with coppery undertones.

[HEIGHT]   6′2″ (before ears)  -  7′0″ (with ears)

[BUILD]   A sturdy fighter's build. Whilst not wholly bereft of curvature, she's far from soft or delicate. Instead she bears the distinct musculature and build of someone who has poured many hours over many years into training their body for the rigors of battle.

[POSTURE]   In the public’s eye, upright and confident. Behind closed doors or in the company of those she trusts, her posture is more often than not that of someone tired and with much phantom weight bearing down upon them.

[SCARS]   She bears a number of general scars, mostly bestial in nature, across her body from the nature of the work she does delving into ruins and lairs. However, the most notable are the multitude of burn scars that cover a good portion of her body. They start at her right temple, mercifully skirting around the outer corner of her eye and proceeding downward over her cheek, jaw, neck, shoulder, the entire length of her arm, both hands up to the wrist, and down her side and back until coming to a rough stop around her hip. Save for her face, she usually tries to keep the rest of the scars covered from prying eyes.

[MANNER OF DRESS]   Nothing overly ostentatious, nor overly drab. You’re just as likely to find her in her working gear as opposed to street clothes, though. She seems just as, if not more comfortable in them. 

[JEWELRY]   Her ears are pierced thrice each, with three golden studs in each ear. Under her gloves on her left hand, she wears a simple golden band on her ring finger. There seems to be something inscribed on it, but the lettering is worn from age and she doesn’t often let anyone close enough to read it.

[ COMBAT SKILL ]

[COMBAT CLASS]   Gunblader & Markswoman.

[MELEE PROFICIENCY]   None  |  Low  |  Intermediate  |  High  |  Masterful

[RANGED PROFICIENCY]   None  |  Low  |  Intermediate  |  High  |  Masterful

[MAGICAL PROFICIENCY]   None  |  Low  |  Intermediate  |  High  |  Masterful

[HEALING PROFICIENCY]   None  |  Low  |  Intermediate  |  High  |  Masterful

[ATTRIBUTES] - - -  STRENGTH:   16 (+3) - - -  DEXTERITY:    15 (+2) - - -  CONSTITUTION:   16 (+3) - - -  INTELLIGENCE:   10 (+0) - - -  WISDOM:   9 (-1) - - -  CHARISMA:   10 (+0)

[WEAPONRY]  Salvaged and refitted Garlean-make gunblade & six-shot revolver.

[ARMOR]  Changes depending upon the circumstances. Varies from light leathers to heavier plate and chain, depending on the job.

[COMBAT STRENGTHS]   Fights well against beasts & Garleans, within open spaces. Excellent teamwork, fights well in a group setting. Highly protective of teammates.

[COMBAT WEAKNESSES]  Struggles against spoken races (except Imperials) and within tight spaces. Certain scenarios may trigger PTSD flashbacks mid-combat. Particularly sensitive to magical effects cast upon her;  too much aetheric exposure, even of the positive variety, may trigger a brief berserk state until the excess aether is expended and exhaustion takes over.

[ EARLY YEARS ]

[HOMELAND]   A forest village near the outskirts of Dalmasca.

[PARENTS]   Mjra Fythe (mother)  -  Father Unknown.

[SIBLINGS]   Aela Fythe (older sister)  -  Arla Fythe (younger sister)

[CLAN ROLE]   Huntress, tracker.

[CLAN STATUS]   Self-ostracized.

[REASON(S) FOR LEAVING]   Kjrn decided that she couldn’t see herself living her whole life in the Wood. Joined by her close friend and fellow huntress, Pria Atoel, she left for the city of Dalmasca to start a new life in the larger world.

[ LATER YEARS ]

[PAST RESIDENCE]   Dalmasca.

[PAST OCCUPATION]   Resistance fighter, magitek salvager.

[PAST AFFILIATION]   Dalmascan Resistance.

[PAST FINANCIAL STATUS]   Moderate, comfortable.

[PAST SOCIAL STATUS]   Respected.

[PAST RELATIONSHIPS]   Pria Atoel, wife - deceased.

[PAST FRIENDSHIPS]  A number of friends and allies from the Resistance, as well as other Dalmascan citizens. (Open to background connections!)

[REASON(S) FOR LEAVING]   Left Dalmasca and set herself to wandering aimlessly after a fire that stole both home and family from her.

[ PRESENT DAY ]

[RESIDENCE]   Wherever her weary feet wander. These days, it’s mostly Eorzea or an occasional jaunt to the Far East.

[OCCUPATION]   Treasure Hunter & Merchant of Myriad Miscellanea.

[AFFILIATIONS]   None actively, but still sympathetic to the Dalmascan Resistance and occasionally will send a bit of extra coin their way through some old contacts.

[FINANCIAL STATUS]   Varies. Sometimes well-off, sometimes dirt poor. Depends largely on how successful her treasure-hunting jaunts go.

[SOCIAL STATUS]   Hasn’t really stuck around in one place long enough in recent history to establish any roots nor reputation. Just another adventurer to most.

[RELATIONSHIP STATUS]   Widowed, shows little interest in courting anyone.

[PRESENT FRIENDSHIPS]   Keeps in touch with a few people from her Resistance days, but not many that she could call a close friend. (Open to connections!)

[VICES]   Occasionally numbs her pains with drink, smoke, and sex. She’s tried certain drugs before and while not entirely opposed to them, her sometimes light coinpurse usually keeps her from forming any sort of lasting habit.

[ ROMANCE & SEX ]

[GENDER IDENTITY]   Cisgender Female.

[ROMANTIC ORIENTATION]  Demi-homoromantic.

[EMOTIONAL ROLE]   Submissive  |  Dominant  |  Switch  |  Unsure

[RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES]  ��Her biggest tendency is to just not get herself into a relationship. But if she were to do so, it would be a difficult thing to uphold given her tendency to doubt herself and her anxiety over the thought of loss.

[LOVE LANGUAGE]  Kjrn isn’t much of a verbal lover. She’ll drop an ‘I love you’ every now and then, but her love shines through more in her actions. Her love language speaks in things like gentle, careful caresses and thoughtful gifts.

[SEXUAL ORIENTATION]   Homosexual.

[SEXUAL ROLE]   Submissive  |  Dominant  |  Switch  |  Unsure

[LIBIDO]   Surprisingly average, given how often she finds herself in the company of ladies of the evening. Truthfully, she just prefers not to sleep in a cold and lonely bed, and sex without emotional attachments is safer and less painful than otherwise.

[ATTRACTED TO]   Confidence. Kindness. Thoughtfulness. Gentleness. 

[TURN OFFS]   Arrogance. Selfishness. Cruelty. Indecisiveness. Shyness. 

[ PERSONALITY TRAITS ]

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between / Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Traditional / In Between / Modern

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

[ HOOKS ] 

TREASURE HUNTER Kjrn presently makes her living by delving into ruins, tombs, and other such places most folk have no business wandering into in search of anything she might turn a profit on. But such expeditions are dangerous, and usually she’ll either put together a small team herself or seek out a job that’s hiring apt hands. Got a job in need of a sturdy fighter with a big ol’ sword? She’s your viera! (As a note, I would also potentially be interested in finding an RP FC with this sort of theme! If you’re part of one of these FCs or even just know of one that might tick said box, let me know and I’ll gladly check it out!)

MERCHANT OF MYRIAD MISCELLANEA Naturally, after a victorious venture in dungeoneering, Kjrn will usually come out of it with a number of items in need of off-loading. She has a particular eye for anything shiny and beautiful like gems and jewelry, but she’s also been known to come back with anything from weapons to magical items to sell to whomsoever is inclined to pay good coin.

DALMASCAN RESISTANCE AFFILIATE Kjrn and her wife, Pria, were once fairly respected members of the Resistance, fighting the Imperials and salvaging magitek to refit and use against them when all was said and done. However, after the former’s passing, Kjrn stepped down from her active position in the Resistance to take on a more auxiliary role by helping support it financially. She still maintains connections to the Resistance to this day, and some still haven’t given up the hope that she might eventually return to the fight.

HATRED OF EMPTY BEDS Since the loss of her wife, Kjrn has come to absolutely abhor sleeping alone. Yet those wounds are still fresh in her mind despite the decades that have passed, and relationships are always fraught with the peril of loss. And so, Kjrn has become something of a frequent flyer when it comes to the services of ladies of the evening as a coping measure against the loneliness she feels. (That said, I am NOT looking for ERP-heavy / ERP-only connections. In fact, I usually prefer for ERP to come up as little as possible unless it serves a purpose in a narrative or if I just plain feel like stretching those rarely-used literary muscles now and again. So connections of this sort would mostly be of the before and/or after the act variety, and could even possibly be entirely bereft of any actual sexual RP.)

[ OOC ]

[CALL ME]   Jali, Ghoa, Kjrn.. Just don’t call me weird pet names, basically!

[I AM..]   A 27-year-old woman who works a full time job and plays multiple tabletop games as well as playing FFXIV, so my schedule can be kinda all over the place. I also love cats and really bad puns and writing drabbles that make people’s hearts hurt.

[AVAILABILITY]  Most weekday evenings from 5PM - 10PM Central. Weekends, pretty much whenever. Not available most Wednesdays, and some Thursdays/Saturdays due to various D&D games! Also please note that Kjrn is an alt character. Meaning I won’t be available for RP on her 24/7! Please be sure you’re okay with this before reaching out!

[IN-GAME NAME]  TBD. My cheap ass is waiting on naming conventions!

[SERVER]  Balmung (Crystal), but willing to world-visit for RP!

[PREFERRED RP METHODS]   Discord has quickly become my #1 RP platform because I can post even when I’m busy with something else or when I’m having a slow day at work. I can also do in-game RP, usually so long as we work out a day/time in advance! Sometimes I can do impromptu RP requests, but not often!

[HARD NO’S]  

RP of any sort with real-life minors. Sorry, I just don’t feel comfortable writing with anyone under eighteen! 

Characters that are minors ICly are tentatively fine, but I will absolutely not RP any romantic, sexual, mature, dark, or otherwise questionable themes with such a character;  and likewise, I will not RP with anyone whose minor character engages in this sort of RP with others, either.

Fetishistic characters, i.e. “f*ta”, “tr*p”, etc. Actual transgender, agender, genderfluid, etc. characters are 100% fine, but if your character is written not as a fleshed out person but as thinly veiled ERP-bait, I’m not interested.

OOC Romance or possessiveness or clinginess. Just... don’t. I don’t want to date you. I don’t want to sext with you. I don’t want to be up your butt 24/7, and I sure as hell don’t want you up mine. RP partners with reasonable personal space boundaries only need apply, please!