#and cyrusk is well... hes cyrusk

[clockworkreapers]

WELL THAT WAS FAST

Eyo webcomic update! Just a quick one with new introductions to some old friends... haha puns aaaa they are gonna kill each other eventually. Behold the hot people (subjective)

[azathothxd]

Some Cyrusk (+ a surprise and a confession 👀)

1. CYRUSK IN THAT ONE DRESS RAGAHHAHAHAHA 👹!! This is an extra detailed one. I suck at shading 😭. This one is free to draw in your style (as well as any other of my artworks), as long as you credit me, don't trace and don't feed it to AI (I will feed you to the vicious man-eating wolves with rabies if you feed any of my art to AI. Seriously, when I see you, it is ON SIGHT). You can trace my art as long as you don't post it anywhere. Only trace my art for learning purposes.

2. But I'm a Cheerleader. I've never seen this movie before 😭. I first saw the original poster for the movie when I saw a promotion thingy for the YouTuber Evasive's (I watch some of their videos, one of their videos gave me the unfortunate introduction to Sia's autism movie 😭😭😭) movie night thingy. This was the movie they were watching and I got inspired 😭. My handwriting sucks so it says "But I'm a Hitman". From what fanart I've seen of the original movie, there's lesbians and I'm a lesbian (actually I'm bi but I prefer women).

Here's the confession now... I'M SO DOWN BAD FOR MAJELL!! The most beautiful woman in Aleph Null istg. Like bark bark or whatever

Here's the surprise now: I made another webcomic... Let me explain!!

This time, the webcomic is actually in the Aleph Null universe (very close to it). It's about my lil self-insert OC that's Cyrusk Belgor's moirail. Cyrusk basically leaves for the job of the main plot I guess 😭. Obviously without telling my lil shit OC cause she's a heavy sleeper and stuff. So she spends the whole webcomic trying to find Cyrusk while participating in a national poker championship thingy. Cybele is gonna be in it kinda as a minor supporting role that'll only be there for a few moments. Cyrusk will be there in flashbacks and at the very end. And Sauron's gonna have a cameo at the very end and Helstm will probably be mentioned. Falmea will be mentioned as well cause she's the main character's ex-kismesis (they forgot about each other. The OC X Canon lore is getting juicy.). The rest of the characters are my characters. Also we got purple evil Cyrusk girl as a shitty manipulative placeholder moirail yay. It only has 11 pages so far and it's labeled as shitpost but it'll get good I promise!! Also it isn't canon to the canon of Aleph Null. Here it is:

Another confession: HELP I DON'T UNDERSTAND CYRUSK'S CHARACTER AT ALL (prolly cause he's not my character). I have a deathly fear of mischaracterizing that guy or any character I don't understand (accidentally) 😭. I should understand his character but I really don't 😭😭😭... I just need help with dialogue and mannerisms for me tho.

Anyways, sorry for the long post 😭 Well earned and deserved credit for Cyrusk's existence goes to @clockworkreapers (seriously, how do I write Cyrusk correctly 😭😭😭 It's like asking a substitute teacher for help)

[shuskas-story-book]

Just like this

‘

Art/Sauron/Cyrusk all belong to @clockworkreapers​!!!

This story is a fusion of two songs to try and get a good mix of both of the characters personalities.  Saurons song was ‘One last time’ by Jaymes Young and Cy’s song is ‘just like this’ by the chainsmokers/coldplay 

This is my half of an art trade with one of the best artists I have the honor of calling a friend and I hope that I’ve done them, and her, justice with this story. 

PLEASE NOTE Sauron is a MUTE character and is thinking all of his parts. As such I have them in ITALLICS  to help discern their parts of a conversation

please enjoy~ and Thank you so much to Clock once again for allowing me the honor of writing about these lovable dorks!!!!!

((minor spelling errors now corrected))

Two shadows could be seen passing through the abandoned part of the old town, soft whispers heard as one seems to be reading the other's thoughts. The darkness didn’t bother the two males, in fact it was comfortable for the two as they worked themselves into a long forgotten  apartment building. With the comfortable closeness they had, even with the muted troll carrying a couple bags of goodies they had a good clip to their pace. “Come on Sauron, we're almost to the top'' The leader said softly, a chuckle in his throat as his rust companion rolled his eyes.  

Yea yea I know we are Cy. We've come up here how many times now? Sauron thought to his companion, smiling a bit as Cyrusk laughed at him. “I know I know. And you know how much I love coming up here!” He hummed in return, opening the door to the roof and taking a deep breath as he stepped back out into the cold night air. 

The two were now far above the abandoned streets of the ghost town and able to really see the stars that twinkled in the sky above them. Sauron gave a soft sigh and closed his eyes for a moment before moving over and settling himself on the edge of the roof  with his feet hanging off the edge.  This feels nice. A good breeze, no neons blinding us to the stars… “No one to bother us as we just watch the sky till daylight” Cyrusk finished for his mate, a sweet smile on his lips. The rust blood looked up and let an unfamiliar quirk of a smile to grace its way over his features. 

You know, Ive been reading a lot of old books in my spare time recently. All about the old legends and myths like that of Achilles and his gold and Heracles and the gifts he received  “yea? I personally would rather read about Spider-Man’s control and Batman training with his lusus” Cy rambled in response, making a few joking jabs at Sauron's shoulder with a happy smile. The rust just rolled his eyes and let out a silent little sigh.

Cyrusk was about the only person he ever smiled for nowadays, and in all honesty that’s sort of how Sauron liked it. He hated to really show his soft side to those around him and Cy? Cy was a special case that was just for him. A special person that he could properly trust with his red quadrant. 

Of course I’ll never see myself on any lists like this, My caste doesn't really show up in the history books after all  Sauron thought to the other, shaking his head and jumping a bit as Cyrusk reached out and  carefully cupped his lover’s  cheek. “Hey…..Where do you want to go?” he asked, leaving the mute completely flabbergasted  what?

“Where do you want to go Sauron. How much do you really want to risk?” he continued to ask, his eye  lidding half way as he offered a sadly sweet smile. “Because I’m not really looking for anyone with superhero gifts. No superhero. Just us” he said sweetly, Sauron tilting his head and offering a small pout in return 

No blissful fairy-tale?.....Because in all honesty I don't want that either….I just want someone I can turn to when I’m depressed again and…..someone I can kiss when I’m feeling happy.. Cyrusk smiled and nodded, leaning in to press a soft little kiss to Sauron’s head. “I want something exactly like that Mr. Yetzar” he chuckled, getting a raspy little groan as the rust rolled his eyes, and honestly his head as well at the sappy little piece of sass beside him. 

They sat there and Cy eventually got Sauron to smile again with his shenanigans, the two of them drinking and smoking through the next few hours as the sun began to rise. With it being a weekend for them, the couple had planned on just staying in the abandoned apartments to wait out the burning rays of their world’s sun. Cyrusk managed to pass out long before his lover and it allowed Sauron to relax a bit….not have to guard himself and worry about what thoughts were running through his mind that could have accidentally been ‘seen’ by Cy’s ability. 

The rust sighed and sat up from the pallet they had managed to set up so he could turn his eyes over to the window that was covered up with black curtains to block out the light of day. You know Cy...I’m fading… and it's much, much too fast for me… God, I could drop off the face of the planet right now and… Cy’s voice rang in his head from earlier  “I want something just like this Sauron. Just the two of us here on this rooftop. Nothing special, just us and a couple good drinks” 

I’m fading much too fast for you...you deserve so much more than my love. The rust looked back to his lover and took a chance to reach out and lightly caress the bronze blood’s cheek with a sad little smile. I’m waiting for it to pass… When I’m with you I don't feel like I'm about to fade away into nothingness, that I'm going to just slip away. He admitted to himself. The heat of Sauron’s fingers caused Cyrusk to groan softly and shift to his side, prompting Sauron to finally lay back down against his lover. These days were always so long, always full of sleeplessness for the rust….but with the warmth of another beside him that he trusted he was able to fall into a mostly restful sleep.

*********************************

“You know Sauron, last night's conversation kinda niggled at the back of my mind all night…. And it reminds me that I read a few older comics recently you know?” Cyrusk hummed as the two of them were settled right back on the rooftop with a fresh bag of drinks and snacks. “ and even though they were just comics you could really recognize the testaments they told and what legends and myths they actually followed” he rambled, Sauron rolling his eyes a bit and taking a deep drag of his cigarette as he continued to listen. 

“They went through this one arc where the moon was eclipsing and superman had to fully unroll a costume to change into instead of just having it ready under his normal suit! It was so interesting to see that differential!” he hummed, eyes turning up to their moons with a smile. You know I'm not the kind of person who really reads comics right? Cyrusk sighed and shook his head a bit with a pout “you realize that I don't care about that right? We ramble back and forth and that’s just our way of showing our love right?” he asked, head tilting to the side lightly as he reached out to move some hair out of Sauron’s face. 

The rust was spooked a bit at the sudden hand in his face but relaxed a bit as he turned a tired little look to the other. He took a deep breath and put out the end of his cigarette before pulling his legs back off the ledge of the roof and facing the bronze with an oddly forward motion of reaching out to cup Cy’s cheek

Cyrusk....we only have one more night before I have to leave on an assignment for a while…..Can I just….feel your skin against mine for the day?..... Before I have to say goodbye? He asked curiously, a tilt to his head Or just…. I don't know…. I feel like I can't breathe tonight. I want to breathe one last time, I want to be able to feel your breath  against my skin, share your breath again…..before I have to go on my assignment. Cyrusk just listened in confusion before melting at his matesprit’s words. He leaned into the touch and kissed Sauron's palm with a sweet smile “of course…..Where do you wanna go for this? Do you want to lay down and cuddle? Do you want to take a risk and go on a joyride with a busted drone?” he asked, trying to offer Sauron something that wasn't just wallowing in the despair and anxiety he could see settling in his love's eyes. “You know I'm not looking for anyone with special gifts or a high position in life so even if we just sit here it’s all I could ever ask for” he hummed, shifting over to press his thigh to the rust’s gently.

“You don't have to make our lives some kind of fairy-tale, you just need to stay here and stay alive so I have someone to turn to… and someone I can miss when they’re out on assignments” Cy chuckled softly, leaning in and pressing a kiss to Sauron’s cheek gently as the rust wrapped his arms around the others waist in a tight hug. 

I feel like my world’s been losing its light Cy… “well then let it loose light. I’ll be here with a flashlight and a candle for when the batteries die” he hummed, pulling Sauron in for a tight hug “I want to stay just like this…..”

*********************************

The day had passed once more, leaving the two with precious few hours to spend together like this. Sauron woke up first of course, not really having been able to sleep through the day and just listening to Cyrusk snoring seemed to help the day before. He sighed and closed his eyes as he allowed himself to have a moment of peace. His arms wrapped around the bronze as he buried his face in that fluff of hair that always seemed to hide that eye that he loved to see. 

I have to leave soon…..pack my bags and get on the train....this is a cold, cruel world we live in huh Cy?  He thought to himself, sighing and staring off at the far wall as he just let himself sit in the relative silence of their embrace. 

“Hey Sauron? Where’d you wanna go if we could just risk it all and leave right here and now?”

Sauron turned his eyes down to Cy’s sleeping face and smiled a bit to himself as he listened to his memories. No pleading could turn back time for us to redo this weekend….. I’m glad I spent it with you Cyrusk… You mean the world to me, even if I don't tell you or show you as often as you deserve. You tell me you aren’t looking for someone that has super powers or a lot of money but…. I do want to at least bring your life a bit of joy from time to time

Sauron hadn't noticed Cyrusk waking up, having zoned out as he thought and got settled with his chin on the other’s head again. The bronze smiled a bit and nuzzled up into Sauron's touch, accidentally causing the rust to jump and pulling a sleepy little chuckle out of the bronze’s chest. “You don't gotta be so dour…. You just gotta be someone I can turn back to and kiss when ‘m happy” he hummed softly, Sauron smiling sadly. 

Good evening Cyrusk….. He thought in return, honestly happy to just be there for once. Cy….is it ok that I can feel your skin against mine? He asked softly, head tilting lightly as the bronze in his arms stretched a bit he got a nod in return and relaxed again with a rumbly little hum in his chest that wouldn't really have a sound anymore. I’m safe….I have someone to kiss before I have to say goodbye again….. I can breathe again tonight…..as long as I have you in my arms I can always pull through and breathe so much easier than if i was on my own he thought to the other, getting a sweet smile in return

“And you know what? I want nothing more than this right here. I want you to be right here, happy, safe, and feeling like you are free as a bird” he hummed sweetly, the alarms on Sauron’s phone starting to go off to warn them of their time together dwindling. The rust glared at his phone as though it had told him he was unlovable and reached over to smack the screen so it would shut up. 

“Hey Sauron?.....Can we share one last cig before you go?...give you a chance to calm down again before the walk home?” he asked softly, sitting up with a soft groan and another stretch to pop his back. Sauron nodded and stretched out now that his lover was sitting up instead of being curled into a singular position against his chest. 

Yea…. I’d enjoy one last chance to take a deep breath of you so I don't curl up and die on the ride to the next town over. Cy frowned “How about lets don't? I’d like you to come back so I can hug you and tell you how much I missed you while you were gone!” he huffed, poking his love in the side and getting an almost squeak out of the lanky male.  Sauron pouted and glared at the other with a huff as he sat up and crossed his legs before getting a good look at his lover and giving a small little smile. You know what Cy….My world might be losing light but….I think it’s just so you can burn a little brighter…..

 I love you

“I love you too”

[clockworkreapers]

Yo!! I've got a lil' question that you've probably answered before. I was wondering why Cy has 2 god tiers? Like is it just because he can, for shits n' giggles, or for a narrative reason? (I've been going over this in my head for weeks now dear god)

OH no there is an actual reason- make of the explanation what you will. To me it at least makes some sense, this will be long but I love to break it all down (its also a bit sad!) So... Cyrusk is odd. His personality, the way he interacts with people, the way he solves problems, the things that are key to who he is all point towards him being a Lord. The Lord of Mind is his godtier, thats the one at his core. However he is the Knight of Mind in like 99.99999999% something of the sessions that are played. The Knight is also still him but it prioritizes the protector parts over the controller parts both of which are part of what makes him him. He is both sides but one is not allowed to exist... unless under certain circumstances.

(handful of his dif iterations for sburb) The problem with being a Lord in a group sburb game though is that they are way overpowered, and he doesnt have a Muse to balance him out either. Sburb is-if nothing else-a world bending game that adapts and changes to its players but its also an enigma, its kinda alive in its own right. In a group sburb game the conditions are not set to have a Lordling in its session cuz they are supposed to play solo in dead sessions like the Cal's session. Now Cyrusk can play solo BUT theres a very specific way for him to even get to the point where he can. The sad part is it needs to be when everyone else in his session is dead and conditions are now set to enter into a dead session, one built for a Lordling. To do this he needs to find his denizen Janus. Thing about Janus is it has two faces and one is always asleep at least its always asleep when he can only be the Knight.

(art by cheshireArtist) The asleep face wakes when a Lordling has the availability to be in play and its the one that gives him the Lord's "Ultimate Choice". Either he can die here, be with everyone else and be at peace... OR he can live and take a shot at a new session and maybe see everyone again. Its not a scratch its not turning back time its entering into the session thats built for the Lord. Once Cyrusk enters a new session as a solo player its that dead session where he plays as a Lordling. If he goes through with it and wins he will become a fully realized Lord of Mind. And theres the thing... yeah he doesnt get a new universe but he gets something that can be even better~

But thats for another time. Just know a Lord of Mind Cyrusk is game breaking.

[clockworkreapers]

I was reading Aleph Null yesterday and stumbled across ur page shortly after, and I have a question,

In the current situation in the comic, are Crysuk and Sauron officially matesprits or just crushing? Because they don’t kiss or call each other matesprits in the comic but when I see them on your page they are described as matesprits

That’s because they aren’t yet! The comic happens in their past maybe a sweep or so in the past. This is essentially how they met each other and how all my characters got to know each other. I can’t say much on specifics but all of my main 6 know each other in the future.

As for the boys at this point in their lives in the comic they are hardly anything but coworkers. Cy is probably a bit more interested in Sauron as just bace level hey we get along I like your company and I can’t put up with anyone besides Majell at the moment. Sauron evidently is a bit of an oblivious idiot when it comes to relationships. It will be spoken about later as to why but both of them have some unresolved personal issues in that area. That will need some time to get to though, for now they have only known each other for around 2 weeks their time (Alternian weeks in AN are like 16 days) and they have quite a bit more time to get to know each other better and a lot more to go through to have room for an actual relationship.

[clockworkreapers]

hii i was rereading aleph null and i noticed when sauron and cyrusk went on the mission and sauron was in cyberspace the ai appeared, he acted really weird later on and i just wanted to ask if the ai "posessed"/controlled him? since i noticed that the ai has blue eyes and saurons eyes had some blue in them, i just thought that it maybe hinted that the ai was doing so, it was just my theory but i really wanted to ask about it since im curious ^_^

Well I do like a lil visual storytelling and foreshadowing not everything is always said aloud and even what is said by some characters can be more on the vague side at times. It will come back around I assure you.

I will say hey I love my scifi and cyberpunk media all the way back to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and of course Neuromancer. What your theory is leading to is also a real trope in a lot of scifi media called a wetwear body… so it is a thing that’s pretty prevalent in the genre the comic is a part of…

[clockworkreapers]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what are the etymologies of your trolls' names?

Note I made these lil dudes when I was 13 originally it’s been a decade lol (also there used to be 7 when I first made them but we don’t talk about that 7th troll they are pretty much void)

So basic all of their cores originally from when I was 13 were the w101 classes that’s like the seed they sprouted from. Life death myth storm fire and ice, you can sorta still tell what each of them are actually either way if you didn’t well here’s your oc lore lol

In order:

Sauron’s core is death, necromancy and guess who is a very popular necromancer in pop culture? Ding ding ding it’s Sauron form LOTR.

Falmea is fire literally just took the name of the pyromancer professor npc Dalia Falmea.

Cyrusk same deal I just put a k at the end his core is also myth btw conjuration

Cybele has the core of life and theurgy and Cybele/ kybele is a nature, earth and motherhood godess which entangles with the whole life thing

Majell is a bit of an odd one but she is ice, thaumaturgy and her name comes from a saint- saint Majella to be specific (Thaumaturgy is preforming miracles thus saints there’s your through line)

Helstm has the storm class as his lil core in the games it’s also divination, that teacher npc is named Halston, easy- also really weird thing he ended up being my space player and uh… the storm school npc is a frog coincidence???

As for all their last names they were originally based on the 7 deadly sins cuz I am sooooo original, still are in not changing them just take out 1 of the 7 cuz the balance class character is missing here anyways.

[clockworkreapers]

How will the main 6 be in a universe where the hemospectrum got swapped (rust become the highest while fuchsia the lowest)?

Hmm Iv done a blood swap before where I flip their blood colors but haven’t ever actually thought about a full social spectrum flip. Also I have a lot of questions on how that would work population wise is- like now are rusts are more rare and live longer and are more durable and fuchsias are abundant and live a short amount of time and are weak?

Just questions with the social swap but I’m going to say everything swaps then including all the biological stuff besides like mental powers and shit that relate to blood.

Sauron: he’d be royal and part of a very small circle right? So he’d have a lot of power and probably be a lot more emotional and softer since he’s allowed to be and people care about his well-being. Less afraid of the world around him but still enough for his anxieties to creep in when it’s “how do people view me, am I doing a good job.” He really wouldn’t have had as much bad luck growing up or in his adult life cuz the consequences for his actions would be so much lighter, less scars less mistrust of other trolls, less damage to his psyche. He’d still have his mental issues though, having depression and anxiety because your brain chemicals are fucky wont change if your social status does.

Falmea: see if she had none of the experiences and saw none of the shit she did growing up as one of the lowest social classes she would be so different. She’s still be brash and loud and very hot headed because that’s just her personality but the violence and the anger she harbors wouldent be there cuz she doesn’t need to fight to survive she doesn’t need to be the tough badass bitch that will fuck you up if you cross her. She’s probably be also way more oblivious to how the world works cuz well her life is going fine, she’s be the energetic entertaining outgoing loud friend at parties who can do whatever she wants.

Cyrusk: he would very likely stay military for the rest of his life get up in the ranks maybe even become one of the top ranks and get most of his time off just directing and organizing other trolls. He’d be pretty damn happy, higher social class im guessing he’d get more help for his disabilities so he’d get a much better prosthetic for his leg and his eye and left ear so he wouldn’t be half blind and def. He’d be a lot more comfy but maybe a bit more prone to indulgence and parties cuz he’s still an extrovert who really likes company.

Cybele: well she’s olive so she won’t much change being just bumped up like the equivalent of jade I guess? Hey maybe that means she can finally be a nurse! She’d absolutely love to be able to help people more, no matter how dirty the job is or how long helping people is always very rewarding to her the amount of work doesn’t matter. Both other than that I don’t think she would change at all.

Majell: she would be higher low class right? She’s probably be a bit less proper and a lot more aware of social issues cuz as much as Majell tries to understand and is part of that ecosystem she usually has a lot more power even then and can be a bit oblivious. If it’s flipped however yeah she is going to get that first hand experience, she’d likely try to push against it more strongly be more outspoken, more actively trying to make a difference in the system.

Helstm: He would be a lot different his core personality would still be there he’s still be a bit standoffish hed be a lot more “willing” to listen to people and do what he’s told cuz he’s have less grounds to just do what he wants. He’d be a lot more grown up personality wise because he would need to mature faster. I feel like because of that he’d have a much higher work ethic and probably be even more of a natural macgyver because he won’t have access to the expensive stuff. Without all his money and anything to his name or social status.

[clockworkreapers]

Hey Clock! I'm curious, how did you decide which blood color each character would become? Was that a hard decision?

Oh yeah that,well I did make them quite a long time ago but they all tie back into their cornerstones! Everyone who has talked to me about my characters before knows I based each of them off of a theme. 

Sauron is death so in my head he needed to be rust,closest to death, and a really deep red rust at that,close to black but obviously not black cuz that would cause problems. 

Falmea comes from fire so when I think of fire I think bright red so she has a pretty bright red for her (not candy mind you she's just a bit brighter than normal rust). 

Cyrusk is based on myths and legends so I went with the color of those ancient greek clay pots that have all the myths and legends painted on them. That's why he has a more reddish orange than the canon bronze. 

Cybele is life and of course life is most associated with the color green! So I gave her a nice warm leaf green olive.

Majell being ice was the opposite to falmea but in mood more over literal opposite and ice and snow and the cold has always been attached to a light blue, and that's what she was given. 

Helstm was based off strm and the sea which was a dead ringer for a seadweller and thus he ended up with violet blood.

you may be able to see a few references in their names and designes just by knowing what their cornerstones are now.