#but on the other hand he may become a forest ranger

[yvnaology]

𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 ! [ ☆ ft. ayato & tighnari.

SUMMARY. where you initiate a kiss, only to move away and leave your boyfriend confused, amused or even distraught ☆

FEATURING. ayato & tighnari ☆

CW. lowercase intended. pet name (mentioned in ayato’s), really fluffy like so so fluffy like—I’ll shut up now 🥲, KISSES. you being a lil shit /lh,, bc why not??? possibly ooc ayato??? idk bestie I tried 💗

AUTHOR’S NOTES. writing this was sm fun & them > I love them so much it’s driving me CRAZY. wrote this in the span of two days time to disappear again (/lh /hj) pls i love the idea of tighnari pouting he’s so cute <33 ayato has been haunting me bc I didn’t pull for him he’s everywhere might as well write for him.

☆ K. AYATO — PILLAR OF FORTITUDE !

when it comes to ayato, you’re not quite sure what to expect, or even how he’ll react. you suspect that he may just find out about your little scheme before you even get the chance to do it, considering how he excelled in reading others.

you weren’t exactly the best actor—so if you decided to act upset with him, he’d end up finding out easily. but even if he did find out, it wouldn’t defeat the purpose of initiating a kiss and backing out at the last second, you’d still get a reaction.

you opened the door to his office slowly, attempting to not make any noise. his eyes wandered to your own, his lips curved into a small smile as he beckoned for you to enter.

“how’d you know I was there? I thought I was being quiet.” you inquired, mentally debating if you should just go on with your challenge before he has a chance of discovering your plan.

ayato merely smiled at you while extending his hand, intertwining fingers when your hand landed on top of his. “you’re usually at my door around this time, i simply thought that today was no different.” you often showed up at his door every day at around the same time, gifting him with affection, or a meal — unless he’s made it clear that he needs to be alone the entire day. then you’d usually leave the items by the door along with little notes.

he’s picked up on your pattern, and he’s very grateful for it as well. he squeezes your hand, once, twice, three times. you squeeze his hand four times, it’s that times like this don’t need any words. you let go of his hand and walk towards him, wrapping your arms around his neck as you stared into his purple-colored eyes. you actually wanted to kiss him, but you knew what you had to do.

you leaned in until your breath fanned on his lips, you both inched closer to the point where your lips were only a few centimeters apart—and then you dramatically backed away, your arms still around his neck.

he looks at you with a raised eyebrow. “aren’t you forgetting something, darling?” you couldn’t help but giggle at the endearment. he gently grabs your face and pulls you towards him, your lips connecting instantly as a wave of euphoria overpowers all else.

fleeting kisses that you both shared, with you smiling and giggling into them, ayato wanted to use every second he had, because eventually, he would have to go back to his work.

☆ TIGHNARI — VIRIDESCENT VIGIL !

tighnari’s day had been filled with chaos, idiots who seem to not be able to read the word “don’t” in front of any sentence that’s located inside of the avidya forest guidebook, children who have no sense of danger that nearly got themselves injured by fungi, it was absolutely EXHAUSTING.

the number of times he’s had to raise his voice in a single day–was this a plot by the forest rangers to shut him up for a while? he knows that he’s being a bit silly, but who could blame him? the ignorant adults, the carefree children, he knew what he had signed up for the moment he decided to become a forest ranger, but days like this make him feel slightly regretful.

with a frown, he continued to take notes on an unfamiliar species of plant he came across on his stroll. if only you were there to see how miserable he was, maybe you wouldn’t have decided to do the offensive. when you finally did see him, he seemed tired. you knew that this was going to annoy him and possibly put him in a bad mood but you swore to yourself that you’d make it up to him.

tighnari seemed to have noticed you have an inner battle with yourself, his chin resting on the palm of his hand as he looked at you expectantly. Normally, whenever you felt troubled you would always go to tighnari. whether it be for advice or even just a shred of comfort, plus the fact that he was so blunt and honest with you made his words seem ten times more impactful. 

he waited for you to come to him, preparing himself as he still had a lot of exhaustion built up. the last thing he wanted was to fall asleep while you were ranting. you stared at him for what seemed like an eternity until you noticed his droopy ears and the sheer tiredness in his eyes. “are you going to tell me what’s wrong or are you just going to keep staring at me?” his voice made it evident that he was tired as well, but it was also unintentionally laced with annoyance. now you were somewhat scared of his reaction to what you were about to do. 

you sat down in the chair beside him, bringing your hand to his face. “you seem tired, are you sure you want to listen to me complaining?” you asked, hoping that he was tired enough to fall asleep before you had a chance to lean in. he furrowed his eyebrows at you, a frown appearing on his face. “not tired enough, apparently.” you chuckled at his response.

you felt bad for what you were about to say, but you didn’t want to keep him up for much longer. “it’s nothing, really. i’d feel better if you gave me a kiss though.” you said this half-jokingly. tighnari reacted by flicking your forehead, “do you think i have enough energy to go over to you just to give you a kiss?” you pouted at his answer, knowing that this was the cue to pull off your little stunt. you went over to him yourself, leaning in before moving away to sit on your shared bed – containing your giggles with every ounce of strength you had left.

tighnari rolled his eyes at you before crossing his arms. “haha, very funny. now come over here and do it for real.” you wanted to squeal at how adorable he looked, his eyebrows still furrowed while his lips formed a small pout, he really didn’t have any energy left. and of course, how could you deny such a request? you cupped his face before pressing a quick kiss to his lips, eyes widening when his head fell on your shoulder.

[harmonysanreads]

Sumeru hexagon brainrot because I've been rewatching the recent event scenes but also expanding on the one thing of darling being a commentator as well!

I'm thinking of darling freaking out watching the boys trying to hurt each other and especially after Kaveh deals with the diadem they rush towards him and begin fawning over him super worried about him being hurt. (Subtle side glare to wanderer as well for being real rough on the poor boy's side. That ameno blast got him good!)

And Kaveh is so dramatic he'd definitely play it up some more to bask in the undivided attention. And then him learning of what exactly happened to his dad? Darling gets a drunk Kaveh at her doorstep in the middle of the night and ends up caring for him more.

Of course as a thank you Kaveh invites her for a meal (and pays for it! Thanks to Cyno buying the card). Instead of inviting them to the meal with Cyno and Tighnari because he'd be able to have darling to himself. (But we know how resourceful those other boys are and they may or may not have found out and crashed the date).

[ au masterlist ]

If Kaveh had a mora for everytime his advances faced subjugation, he'd have... a lot of mora.

At this point, he can't say he's surprised at the turn of events. If anything, it's Kaveh's failure for not expecting it and taking necessary precautions. Oh well, he just wanted to share a nice meal with you! Was that so much to ask for??

Apparently.

“[Name], I told you, you should've left him outside last night instead of inviting him over. See the look he's giving me!” the hatted boy Kaveh's seen hanging by your person more often than not side eyes him, “whispering” not so discreetly but very purposefully by your ear, a hand raised in mock cover and all the shebang. Kaveh's left eye twitches as he struggles to keep the amiable smile on his face, hands curling into fists beneath the table as his eyes meet coy blue ones.

“I think Hat Guy here has a point, you look unnecessarily agitated, Kaveh.” chimes in a certain scholar seated on your right, Tighnari and Cyno take an eager sip of their drinks at the sight.

Kaveh's carefully maintained countenance almost shatters at the comment, but a look at your face has him halt at the last second, he promised to keep himself in check, he reminds himself. The sheer audacity of these kids! Crashing on his moment and then blaming him for getting annoyed?

“Well, why do you think I am as agitated as I look?” the architect points a fork towards the Scribe from across the table.

“Simple, because you cannot keep your emotions in check.”

“That's it, I've had—”

“Enough, you two.”

Kaveh freezes in his position as your words still the chatters. Yet, the tension in the air only becomes more tangible as five pairs of eyes await your next course of action.

You gently remove the hatted boy's arm from yours (ignoring his reluctance to let go), shifting to address each of the men, “Kaveh has a valid point for being irritated, after all, you four did barge in uninvited. But we're not strangers, so there shouldn't be an issue for us to cooperate and make the most of this meal. Right, Kaveh?”

The addressed architect sits back down with a huff, acquiescing with a heated ‘fine’ after some deliberation. With your declaration, everyone relaxes in various degrees. It's not until Tighnari quips up does the silence break, “[Name] is right, you know. We're all friends, do we really need permission to join each other?”

The ex-harbinger notices the General Mahamatra look at the Forest Ranger by the corner of his eye, the impish tone of Tighnari's words is just noticeable enough for everyone to catch but not to comment on, how interesting.

“Well, it wouldn't hurt to let your friends know beforehand, either, right?” the architect shots back.

Cyno takes over unexpectedly, “Of course not. But I'm with Tighnari on this, friends trust each other enough to let down boundaries. It's not like we have any other intention except wanting to spend time with each other, so what is there to get worked up for?”

“There is a reason to get worked up because I was on a da—”

Kaveh chokes back his words midway, the air suddenly feeling electric. He dares not look, he doesn't need to, for he can feel the men's eyes piercing through his soul at the slip up.

“You were on a da...?” Tighnari urges and despite not following, you find yourself holding your breath.

“I was on a, on a.. da.. da..dat—”

Kaveh makes the mistake of looking right and the sight of a pulsating anemo vision has him gulp.

“—dessert! I was on my dessert! Oh goodness, this thing is delicious! Why would you all interrupt me enjoying it? Hahaha.”

The electricity dissipates without a trace, the air suddenly much easier to breath in. You're left there blinking, not really grasping the point of that exchange as Kaveh gobbles up a random sweet treat to affirm his words. Cyno and Tighnari exchange triumphant glances and Alhaitham goes back to his book, Hat Guy leans back in his seat and Kaveh heaves a sigh of relief.

What a close call.

[mayuichi]

“That... is the silliest thing I have ever heard of you.„

Tighnari x Reader No warning!

note: i wrote it last night but bc of a bug it posted only the very beginning and didn't saved, so i had to rewrite it after crying A LOT.

Official art from Hoyoverse!

Cuddling in his very little home, you feel his tail brush against your arm in a loving way. You can't help but smile.

You can't spend too much time together, but you know when he tells you he'll make some time for you, he definitely will. He loves you so dearly, he can't imagine his life without you.

Yet today, you managed to make him cuddle with you while working. How ? Well, what a stupid question! You're his beloved partner, he can't resist you.

You both sit on his bed, he moved the coffee table in front of it. Writing on a paper carefully, he keeps an arm around your waist and let you press your head against his shoulder. His ears move every so often.

Listening to the pen against the paper, you stare at his notes. You could see some animals name written on, but everything else make you confuse. You look up at him, tilting your head in a way to ask what is that supposed to be. “What's that?„

He gives you a rapid glance, chuckling under his breath. “Well, that's... A report I'm working on.„ you glare at him, rolling your eyes just then. “I know that, idiot.„

He doesn't try to hide his amusement, his tail gently wagging from left to right and occasionally caressing your arm. “What is it exactly ?„

He suddenly becomes much more serious than you expected him to be. “That.. Is a report of every animals and their state in the forest.„ thinking you'd understand properly why, he sighs when he sees your confused expression.

“Since winter is coming fast, some animals like birds leave for more warm environment, while some others choose to hibernate. All that because food is becoming rare in the cold. And they do so before coming back or waking up once the weather warms up.„ he explains as easily as possible, keeping his loving gaze to you.

You hum in response, “So... You're the one in charge to check on them?„ he nods. “As the Chief Officer, I am the more capable of it. The other Forest Rangers are good too, of course, but... They do not know the forest as well as I. So to avoid any issue, I took that responsibility.„

“Yes, I see you haven't read the book I have lend you a few weeks ago.„ he seems disappointed. He had lend you a book to read about the Avidya Forest, everything to know about it. And you couldn't help but feel embarrassed to have been caught so easily by your own curiosity.

His dedication is so heartwarming to you. He could be as cold as ever when teaching someone a lesson, yet he's so loving towards you. He couldn't just scold you, right ? That.. Is the whole reason why you want to have fun a little.

“So... Why don't you hibernate ?„ you grin, holding your laugh in as he tilts his head, his tail slowing down a little. “You know.. Since you're a fennec fox...„

His tail abruptely comes to a stop, and he shoots you a death stare. Letting his pen fall, he pushes you down on the bed, forcing you under him as he pins your hands above your head with one of his. The other slides up your side to your neck, just to take a grip of your chin in between his thumb and index.

“That... is the silliest thing I have ever heard of you. I may be a fennec fox, but only partially.„ he leans dangerously closer, straddling your waist. “And for your information... Fennec foxes do not hibernate.„

You could swear you saw a smirk adorning his face for a split second, but it was too short to be sure. He brings you in a feverish yet passionate kiss, demanding and forcing entry to your mouth to claim ownership over it.

His hand at your chin caresses your cheek, while the other keeps you down. Finally breaking a way, you're left panting. He sits up once again, taking his pen. His tail flaps once more against the mattress, and his ears flicker at each sound.

He delights in your whimpers, knowing he left you wanting more. But he clearly doesn't plan to give you anything. You hurry to sit up and tug at his shirt, whining how much you want more.

But he's quick to shut you up by kissing you once more. “If you let me finish my work, I promise to satisfy all your needs tonight.„ your eyes sparkle with hope. “Promise promise?„

He chuckles quietly, carefully placing his free hand above yours. "Promise promise, yes, even if I find it silly." but what he finds even sillier is the way you suddenly behave obediently.

Carefully and slowly, he cups your chin with his hands, his pen slightly glinding across your skin. “Plus, don't you remember too ? Fennec foxes have only a mate for life. And mine, it's you.„

/ᐠ - ˕ •マ Ⳋ mayuichi's property. do not repost, copy or translate without permission.

[xaphrin]

Midnight Promises Broken at Dawn

It's Halloween! (just barely) and this is part of the colab I was working on with @inverted-typo. We decided to go with an Eros and Psyche theme.

There's so much more that's set to come out, because (of course) it got way out of control. I am aiming for the next part in two weeks, and I will post it to AO3.

Thank you so much for everything, and for being patient!

---

Damian felt the tug of someone breaking the seal that lined the wilderness of his estate. It was like a spider web thread snapping in the back of his mind, the delicate fiber straining until it broke and hung limp and loose against someone’s skin.  

Curious. 

The seal was designed to create a barrier along his sacred land so that wandering humans would have the sudden urge to panic and flee in the opposite direction. Anyone who managed to break through was either very powerful or very stupid. Or, maybe even a little desperate. After all, desperation bred fools. 

He glanced up from the sketch he’d been working on and stared out the window into the dark gray of a blizzard at twilight, a mild annoyance creasing his brow. Damian may have been the grandson of a god, and have some minor powers of his own, but even he couldn't command the weather when it was like this. 

Unfortunately, whoever had broken through his barrier would be allowed to remain close to his land until the storm calmed down.

Damian frowned and let go of a heavy sigh, glaring at nothing in particular. What an annoyance.

-

Raven could at least say that she had been given some small graces, even tiny ones. She had managed to harvest a few late mushrooms and set up additional traps in the woods farther from her cabin. It would have been better to have the traps be a bit closer to where she was currently taking shelter, but the storm had moved in faster than she anticipated, leaving her food sources scarce, and her choices even moreso.  

The wind whipped overhead, shaking snow loose from the trees and scattering it over her shoulders. The noise was somehow both ear-deafening and eerily quiet. It shook her bones, but somehow never made a real sound.  

With a curse staining her lips, she picked her way back along the path she created, making her way back to the dilapidated cabin she was taking shelter in. Her feet couldn’t move her fast enough. She felt strange being on this land, as if she wasn’t supposed to be here. It felt like a tug in her chest, a panicked feeling that made her breath short and her body shiver hard. But necessity drove her this far away from the cabin, and her options were growing more and more limited. 

"Someday," she muttered to herself, brushing snow-wet hair from her eyes, "I am going to learn to live with others. In a society. With people." 

It seemed more like an empty promise than a real one, and it was one she made at least three times a week. It had been well over a year since her bastard of a father had thankfully died, but his heavy shadow remained on her shoulders - oppressive and domineering. Her world should have opened up and grown larger with possibilities and friends, but the fingers of his crazed fear sank too deep into her own mind. And if she was honest with herself, she doubted she would ever be free of them. 

For the protection of the world, you must remain alone. You are a stain here, Raven. Nothing better than a whore of Babylon. 

Fuck him. Cursing his grave (wherever it was), she kicked at a rotting stump and made her way back to the abandoned forest ranger cabin that had become her temporary home. It didn't have much in the way of modern comforts, but at least it had a hand pump for water outside, and an outhouse. After some of the places she had stayed with her father, four walls around her while she did her business was practically palatial in comparison. 

Raven made her way through the snow, following the marks she had left in the trees to show the path. The storm continued to rage around her, growing more and more violent and bitterly cold with each minute. Even the shelter of thick, ancient pines couldn’t shield her forever. She pulled her worn coat tighter around her, and eventually found her way back to the cabin. 

When she stepped over the threshold, the pitch black of night had fallen, and the storm eased marginally. Small blessings, even if they were a little late. 

Walking carefully over the packed dirt floor, Raven stoked the coals still smoldering in the fireplace, and sank down into the ragged remains of an armchair by the hearth. She looked through her ever thinning supplies until she located her last can of soup. Sighing, she tucked it near the coals of the fire, warming what was left of her food. She wasn't sure when she'd be able to go on a supply run into town, and she didn't feel great about the traps she set today, so she was going to have to make this last as long as she could. 

Raven pulled herself close to the fire and tucked her thin blanket around her legs, feeling every muscle in her body ache with exertion. She was weary, and not just from the daily struggle of trying to survive. She was weary of being so utterly alone and isolated. Her father, in spite of all his bullshit, was at least some small amount of company. After he died, she had no one.

Her chest grew tight, and grief filled her until it was so heavy she wasn’t sure if she could bear the weight. A cold tear spilled over her cheek and she wiped it away with her sleeve. She wasn’t sad for his loss, but was sad that she had no one to turn to - no one to help her move forward in the world. She was, for all intents and purposes, alone. 

Raven watched the coals' red glow fade, her mind drifting in and out of consciousness as she slipped into a half-sleep, where her dreams seemed far too real. 

"A human. How pathetic."

Raven grit her teeth against the insult. She might have been a pathetic human, but she would survive out of spite, and that was a threat. 

Her head rocked to the side, staring into the dark shadows of the half-rotted cabin. Hearing phantom voices and seeing unexpected things became a usual occurrence after being alone for so long, but this voice sounded different than it ever had before. "You're not any better…" She paused, trying to think of something to call this new hallucination. “…you ass.”

Very clever.   

The was a soft grunt, proving that it was obviously not insulted by her weak name calling. The shadows moved like smoke, staying tight to the deepest part of the darkness. Raven felt something staring at her, as if trying to understand what she was. She turned her head and stared into the rafters, hearing the creak and groan of the roof under the weight of snow. 

“What are you doing out here?”

“It’s public land. I am public.” She closed her eyes, trying to let herself fall deeper into sleep, but the shadows kept talking, much to her annoyance. Sometimes she wished her phantoms would just shut up.  

“Not all of it is public land. You stepped past those boundaries.” 

“Oh, please.” Raven snorted. “Will some absurdly rich recluse really know if I trap a few hares on their thousands of acres of unused land?” 

The shadows responded with a strange breathy noise, as if it wasn’t sure whether or not she made a valid point. 

“See?” Raven let her point seep into her tone. “Even you agree.”

There was another long pause, and the darkness spoke again. “Perhaps there is a reason to keep you off the land.”

“To make sure that their investment of land holdings is properly protected?”

“Hm.” The shadows moved like ink in water, spreading out against the walls as the coals’ light dimmed even farther. Finally it moved closer to her. “You seem to think you know a lot for someone who lives in a stolen hovel on public land.”

“Circumstances don’t always dictate the totality of a person.” 

The shadows didn’t seem to know what to make of that comment, and stayed silent. Raven closed her eyes and let her body sink into the remains of the armchair, wrapping the threadbare blankets tighter around her. She shifted onto her side and faced the fading heat of the coals. The world grew heavy and dark, and Raven felt her body finally succumb to exhaustion, as she slipped into a dark, empty dreamless sleep.  

But, she swore she heard one last word from her half-dream of shadows along the wall… 

“Curious.”

-

She haunted his thoughts and that infuriated him more than anything. 

This ragged slip of a human, who squatted in abandoned cabins and had the gall to tease him. Him. The grandson of a god, and a demigod in his own right.

And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wondered if the traps she set remained bare, if she had managed to find food or warmth, and even if her firewood was dry enough. It was unbearable. Every moment he wasn’t completely focused on something else, she entered his thoughts.

Against his better judgment, Damian found himself visiting her again a few nights later, unable to stay away. He thought that if he saw her again, he might be less enamored by her - at least, that was what he kept telling himself. 

She was interesting, even if he didn’t admit it out loud. There was something about the way she spoke to him that piqued his curiosity. It was as if she thought he was an echo or a dream, and not real in any sense of the word. He had spent most of his long life being surrounded by those who worshiped his grandfather, and while Damian appreciated the reverence and kowtowing, it felt almost refreshing to have someone treat him… normal. 

Almost.

She should still have some verneration for him. He was technically still a god. 

When Damian slipped into the shadows of the abandoned cabin, he found her floating in that space between awake and sleep where things seemed almost real. Her eyes lifted to the dark corner where he stood, trying to discern his shape from between the shadows. 

“You came back.” Her voice was a slow drawling sound that slid over his skin like a spell. “I thought you’d disappeared. It’s been a few days since you’ve haunted me.”

Part of him wished he hadn’t returned here, and he had forgotten all about the trespasser on his land. But, here he was, watching a strange woman sleep on a rotting armchair. “You’re still here…” He trailed off, leaving the question unspoken in the air. 

“Raven,” she muttered with an annoyed sigh. “I would have thought you would have at least known my name since you insist on following me around and invading my inner peace.” There was a long pause and he thought she had fallen asleep. Finally, her words slipped from behind her lips. “I’m here because I have nowhere else to go.” 

He blinked and continued to watch her, letting her words settle. There was a story there he wanted to know, but he wasn’t sure if he should pry. Prying meant that there was a part of him that cared about her, and he didn’t. But… perhaps he was a little curious. 

“You have no home?”

“Even if I did, it would not be a place I would go back to." Raven sighed, as if this conversation was exhausting her. “And, if I can't find strength in myself, then who else could I possibly find strength in?”

Damian was about to say something brave and gallant, but he stopped himself. He was not the type of person to offer platitudes and words of encouragement, and he certainly wasn't the type of person to offer help in any sense of the word. He liked his solitude and his privacy, and the only reason he was here was because this human was upsetting his perfectly manicured life. 

Still… 

“Seems to be a lonely life.”

“It is.” She gave a dry laugh, her blunt answer cutting through the weight of the room. There was a sorrow that clung to her, and a longing for something more than she had now. “After all, I'm talking to the shadows on the wall about my lack of home.”

He wondered if she would believe him if he said he was real, but chose to keep silent instead. 

“You should go away, you’re keeping me from my well deserved sleep. You’re like an annoying fly buzzing around my head.” She gave a halfhearted wave, as if shooing him away, before she turned her face to the warmth of the fire. Her breath deepened, and Damian stood there for a long while, watching this curious human sleep. 

There was an odd, uncomfortable stirring in his chest, as though his heart was waking up after a long, deep sleep. 

His lips twitched in annoyance, and he glanced around the small cabin, taking stock of what she owned. It was so little, that it seemed as though she had simply walked out of a place one day with whatever she could carry on her back. A few clothes, a threadbare blanket, a backpack that had certainly seen better days, and…

His eyes rested on several beat up paperback books poking through the holes of her bag. That seemed like an odd choice, having books when she seemed to have such limited resources in the first place. Damian turned that observation around in his head for a moment, unsure of what to make of it.

Ultimately, it didn't matter. Mortals were of little concern to him.

Raven included. 

Ignoring that strange flutter in his chest, he slipped back into the shadows and disappeared from the cabin.

[fictoculus]

౨ৎ general hcs...

send a request!┊masterlist┊taglist applications

FEAT... tighnari

♪ as pretty as bouquets and floral gifts may be, tighnari isn't the type to purposefully destroy even the smallest piece of life. therefore, you would never receive freshly cut flowers. instead, he would gift you potted plants, or pressed petals which he had found fallen on the forest floor.

♪ in the rare occasion you do recieve a flower in it's entirety as a gift, he would most likely have found it already plucked and damaged in some way or another and dried it to make sure it lasts. if he could do nothing to aid the growth and stability of the flower, he could at least preserve it's beauty.

♪ you often find him buried in his books, barely blinking as he makes sure to take in every word; his posture seeming uncomfortable, his facial expression seeming... intense. only when he feels your hands on his shoulders does he finally loosen up, leaning into your touch and resting the book face down on his knee. only you could relax him enough for him to completely unwind, leaving his train of thought behind as his mind is filled with you...

♪ tied to tighnari's satchel is a small, drawstring pouch, in which he keeps any trinkets or objects that remind him of you; whether it be a stone that looks like your eyes, a leaf that's veins spell out your initials, or a wedding ring in the making...

♪ when he does ask the "big question", he proposes to you not with a ring that cost him thousands, but instead with a ring he had painstakingly put together since the day the two of you shared your first kiss. it would be a silver ring, the band twisting and wrapping around itself to form a beautiful entanglement. the two ends of the bend would meet to hold the center piece. contrasting with tradition, it would not technically be a gem, but instead a piece of resin carved meticulously into a somewhat natural shape and filled with things significant in your relationship. a petal from the first bouquet you gave him can be seen, as well as a splinter of wood that broke of his bow when he first introduced you to the art of archery.

♪ everyday, after he returns home from his adventures outside of gandharva ville, it's become almost routine for you to carefully comb through his tail; picking out all the leaves and branches from the trees he'd climbed or the bushes he's pushed through. you'd ask him how his day went, what new discoveries he'd made, updates on withering zones; he'd ask you how your day went, what you had for lunch, whether or not the rangers behaved when you were teaching them archery (tighnari thought it was far more logical for you to teach them in the safety of gandharva ville rather than he, outside and in the face of danger). only once you were satisfied did the two of you move into the shower, helping eachother get to tough-to-reach areas and making sure to wash the ranger's hair, his arms sore from wielding his bow all day.

♪ does tighnari want children? no, no he does not. he firmly believes in the quiet life, and young kids are the opposite of quiet. besides, you already have collei, the rookie ranger you haven't formally adopted, but there is an unspoken, domestic bond between her and the pair of you.

♪ this man loves to take you out for picnics, it's starting to seem like a little obsession of his. he'd always head out early to scout the area, clearing out any nearby monsters and moving any fallen sticks or branches which could be uncomfortable to sit on. somehow, he never fails to make every single time perfect. just the two of you, lying together and bathing in the warm sunlight, surrounded by countless species of flora and fauna, feeding each other food; just... being in love. you couldn't ask for a moment more beautiful.

thanks for reading ♡ want to read more? my requests are OPEN, so please feel free to let me know what you'd like me to write next!

© FICTOCULUS 2023; please do not steal, translate, or repost my works as your own

[idyllic-affections]

What if Kaveh's child became a talented sculptor/painter like in their teens? Say like 15 or so? Idk. That second part got me thinking so much abt them just tugging Kaveh by the arm to their next project like "OMG YOURE GONNA LOVE THIS ONE IM SO PROUD OF IT SPGUEJGEJLVWLHELHEJ"

artistic inclination.

summary. what if kaveh's child was artistically inclined?

trigger & content warnings. none applicable.

tropes, pairings, fic length, & other notes. fluff. adoptive dad!kaveh & reader. 0.5k words. they/them pronouns used for reader. this post is an expansion of what if kaveh adopted a child? author's thoughts. GOD YOURE SO RIGHT ANON I LOVE THIS IDEA ITS SO CUTE..... guys. i BEG of you. please send me asks like this. i adore when this happens. getting asks about any of my ongoing series is an absolute delight. requests are always always always welcome, but this kind of ask? this kind of ask is my favorite type fr <3

kaveh's kid does absolutely end up being good with their hands, whether that's because of the time they spent with the forest rangers or simply because they lean in favor of artistic hobbies, and kaveh himself? he is overjoyed. the fact that [name], his [name], seems to have some inherent inclination towards the arts... archons. he loves that about them. it's like they were always meant to be his child.

he loves that his kid's first instinct is to run to him when they have a sort of creative breakthrough. he loves that their first instinct is to tug him by the arm and show him what they've made, even if there's still wet paint or clay on their hands because really, it's just a shirt. it can be washed. stains are just stains. he honestly understands on a very personal level; he gets paint all over himself, too. things happen.

it's worth it in the end, because he just loves them so dearly. their joy is his joy. their sorrow is his sorrow. their feelings are his. he resonates so deeply with the emotions of everyone around him, so you had better believe that his empathy increases tenfold for his own kid. he feels their feelings as if they were his own.

he understands their joy beyond the influence of his empathy, though. as an artist himself... he's so unbelievably honored that their first instinct is to share their work with him.

art is like a little window inside the artist's mind. the things they create give their father a deeper understanding of who they are, how they think, how they feel, why they think and feel that way. an artist sharing their work is an earnest display of vulnerability.

kaveh is so enamored with the way they are so willing, so eager to be vulnerable with him in such a sensitive way, especially in their teen years. he's heard a lot of things about raising teens; teens are supposed to be... difficult, aren't they? however, [name] just isn't difficult in the slightest.

...

well, children tend to be a reflection of the parent(s) they are raised by. [name] can be sassy and sarcastic, courtesy of tighnari and alhaitham's influence, but... they aren't difficult. they are kind and emotionally aware and warm and gentle.

overall, kaveh and his little co-parenting friend group did very well raising [name].

"baba, come look! i finished that project i was telling you about. it took me a while, but i finally did it!"

this happens multiple times on many different occasions, but kaveh's reaction never becomes any less enthusiastic. it doesn't matter what may be occupying his mind at that moment. he treasures their openness and could never so much as imagine disregarding their joy in moments like that. he always replies with a smile, wiping away a little bit of semi-wet paint that somehow ended up on their cheek.

kaveh only ends up smearing it more, but the gesture is sweet and appreciated nonetheless.

"ah, really?! i'm so proud of you. i know it can be hard sometimes. let me see what you've made this time."

please consider reblogging, it helps me out quite a lot!

[toraashi]

feeling your pulse (ft. tighnari, gn!reader) 1.3k words

notes from tori: kinda shitty and has a bad ending. i love him so much though, and i’m currently writing an extremely long fic with him in it for halloween!! sorry for being so absent, hopefully this makes up for it!

His hand wound around your wrist like a bracelet, holding your twitching fingers still as he prodded at the wound on your forearm, frowning at the jagged gash that bled down your flesh. 

Tighnari was gentle, but there was something harsh in the way he smeared a personally engineered disinfectant across the injury, the pads of his fingers calloused. The breeze blew against your sweat dabbled neck, and you shivered. 

“Don’t move, please.” He commanded, “You’ve caused enough harm as it is. How many times do I have to tell you to be more careful?” An exasperation soaked his words in a way that sank guilt into the pits of your stomach. 

“It’s not like I did anything crazy.” You murmured bashfully, training your eyes on the way he rolled out a string of taupe bandages, the contrast striking against his copper skin. Tighnari sighed, looping the fabric around your arm a few times before speaking once more. 

“There’s a reason why it’s a common mistake and a reason why we have rules in place to prevent things like this from happening.” He scolded, ripping the bandage from the roll, tightening the vice grip it had around your limb. “A quick side-trip to an area where rishboland tigers are known to nest — unaccompanied, mind you — may seem unassuming, but if Collei hadn’t managed to find you, you’d no doubt be a carcass by now.” You winced as he tucked the frayed edges of the wrapping in with the rest, dragging his eyes from your hand to your face. You couldn’t bear to meet his gaze. “Must I remind you that you don’t have a vision? Not only that, but you’re still a trainee! The rule is—”

“I know, I know. Trainees can only patrol with an expedition team or a master forest ranger, but Tighnari, you were busy, and—” 

Your explanation held no weight, and you could practically feel the chagrin rolling off of the man in waves. Bearing the brunt of his frustration was almost worse than becoming tiger food (Tighnari would insist that you weren’t going to be food, it would’ve been a territorial attack—), and you wished more than anything that you could push his perpetual look of disdain into that quaint smile he always seemed to wear around you.

A weighted silence humidified the air, and each breath you took seemed to get heavier and heavier before it crushed you, and you finally mumbled an apology, staring holes into his patiently resting hands.

“M’sorry.”

His fingers stilled, and a knot formed in your chest as they moved to cradle your arm once more, his thumb sliding over the inside of your wrist, the other folding around your fingers. Finally, finally you found it in you to flick your eyes up to his, the vibrant greens melting into a warm brown that loosened the anxiety beneath your ribs. His lips were turned down disapprovingly and you watched his eyebrow twitch before relaxing, his dark lashes fluttering against his cheekbones. 

“Gah, You know I can’t be mad at you for long,” He relented (somewhat perturbed by the influence you had on him), and pursed his lips momentarily before relaxing, training his soft gaze on your form. “But promise me you’ll be more careful. I can’t be sending you out if I don’t have full faith that you’ll follow the procedures we have in place.” Swallowing thickly, you let your head bounce affirmatively, ignoring the accelerating thump of your pulse just beneath his fingertips. 

“I promise. I’m sorry for worrying you.” You expressed, your tongue heavy in your mouth, throat dry under his speculative eyes. 

“There you go. Now, how are you feeling? Is the wrapping too tight? I can loosen it just a smidge for you if it’d be more comfortable, but it’s better if it’s taut.” His fussing warmed your cheeks, and you shook your head, the pit of guilt sprouting and growing around your body. 

“It’s not uncomfortable. Thank you for helping me again.” The melancholy swamping your voice did not go unnoticed by the forest ranger, and for a moment, he quieted, the sound of  the wind rustling through the trees filling the hut. 

Whatever expression he was wearing was impossible to read. His ears twitched, the dangling earring tinkling, his eyes hardened, then softened, and his nose wrinkled for just a moment before he inhaled, struggling to find whatever words were on the tip of his tongue. 

“Are you worried that I’m disappointed in you?” He finally settled on asking, and you sucked your bottom lip between your teeth, chewing anxiously. Perhaps you were. Was it so wrong to crave validation from him? The ache in your chest told you there was more to your longing. 

“A little.” You admitted, blinking. A haze fell over your vision as you pondered his question, his visage blurring into a watercolor of green and browns. The scholar had exceptionally high expectations for his forest rangers, and although originally you’d brushed past his strict demeanor, months spent in his company flipped your opinion on its head. You were snapped from your thoughts at the brush of his hand against your cheekbone, vision refocusing as you tuned in to his doting head tilt, his ears sagging just a bit as he watched you, something sweet laden carefully behind his eyes.  

“I don’t think disappointed would be the correct word. Exasperated, perhaps. Concerned.” His tone was colored with a coo, a sugary fondness trailing like an aftertaste, the brush of his thumb against your skin raising bashful goosebumps you were sure he could feel. “You’re too reckless.” This reprimand felt plush, soft like a pillow; you wanted to fall into his care. 

He offered you far more leniency than you likely deserved. 

“That’s arguably worse,” You huffed, the words puffing out relentingly as you leaned into his touch, the fullness of your cheek molding to the curve of his palm. His finger twitched against your skin, and you allowed your eyes to flutter closed, zoning in entirely on the shakiness of his breath, the warmth of his skin, the sound of a hum rumbling from his throat. 

“A guilty conscience would do you some good,” He murmured, the practicality of his statement overshadowed by the tender lining of the syllables. Scoffing, you let his words float in the space between you, the soft bustle of forest rangers filingl the silence of the hut with contentedness. 

Your brow twitched as a bird chirped, and his pinky brushed against the underside of your jaw, your heartbeat catching with the motion. 

“Your pulse is racing,” He commented, and you couldn’t decide if the observation was oblivious or otherwise. Parting your lips, you raised your eyelids just enough to catch the wide, curious gaze of Tighnari. He was leaned in suspiciously close, enough that his breath wafted against your chin. Chills raced down your spine; how could they not? 

He was beautiful: the vibrant greens of his eyes just bright enough to stand out amidst the vivacious forest, just bright enough to snag your heart on a string and draw it closer and closer. 

Your lashes bristled and you leered nearer, simmering at the sound of his breath catching in his throat, his entire countenance falling still, taking in your motions carefully. 

“Tighnari?” It came out light, a near plea, and the atmosphere shifted, the particles in the room expanding and contracting with your shaky breaths. 

“Yes?” Inquisitive.

“Honestly… I’m sort of happy you were worried for me,” You confessed, finally blinking up to gaze at him, his eyes half-lidded, following yours as they wandered to his gently parted lips. “It makes me feel like you care about me, and it’s a nice feeling.” Tighnari seemed to chew on your words, swirling them around on his tongue and swallowing them for what they were before he offered his response.

Patting your cheek, he pulled back slightly, gaze slightly skittish as it avoided yours, cheeks puffed out bashfully, but the determined curve of his lips warned you of his words. 

“I guess that means you haven’t learned your lesson then. Would two weeks of clearing the road be sufficient punishment? Or shall I give you more?”

[dogfight-if]

Demo TBA

Fantasy/Romance

Windwood is an interactive fiction game following you as you go on a quest to prevent the end of the world. You play as the youngest of a minor noble family in the fae city of Premxine.

Surrounded by the forest of Windwood, the city is covered, hidden from the human kingdoms. After an attack, you flee the city and forest with three companions to warn the king of a threat.Face to face with your own mortality, you must put a stop to that which poses a danger to the world as you know it. Do what you will, but know that failure will result in an untimely death.

With a long time best friend, a loyal protector, a fierce beast, a prince, princess, noblewoman, a priestess, an angel, a fae hunter, and even an ex-friend turned dark lord, there’s no shortage of romance.

Features

Play as male, female, or somewhere in the non-binary range. Cis, trans, or intersex.

Customize your character to the max with extra unnatural features.

Romance or befriend one of 10 characters, including the dark lord you must defeat.

Uncover the secrets of the gods- or god.

Discover the garden of Eden.

Develop skills in fighting, politics, intelligence, leadership, or stealth.

Choose from 8 different hobbies to pursue.

Dabble in magic, wield a sword, or both if you’re an overachiever.

Get betrayed. Twice.

Survive life threatening injuries.

Find out what you really are.

Romance Options

The Best Friend

Marian Moller (M. he/him)

“As long as i’m here you’ll be safe, i promise,”

Marian, the best friend and prince of Premxine. Marian Moller is fiercely loyal and stubborn, having always been there for you no matter what. To everyone else he’s brash and irresponsible, but you know that’s not the case.

At 5’7, Marian has short, curly pink hair and yellow eyes. He has tan skin, sharp teeth, and has often been said to have an almost childlike face. Marian also has long, pointed ears with feathers framing them.

The Dark Lord

Ness Lodima (M. he/they)

“What have we become? I never wanted this to happen,”

The estranged childhood friend turned evil dark lord. Previously a softhearted optimist, what Ness had been put through changed him. When you knew him as a child he was training to be a druid, but it seems his plans have changed.

5’9, long wavy blond hair with matching yellow eyes, fair skin spotted with freckles. His ears may not be as pointed as any other fae, but they are pointed nonetheless.

The Angel

Foster (M. he/him)

“God never saved me, never helped me when I needed it most, so why should I believe?”

The angel that doesn’t believe in god with repressed memories of heaven. Foster is the holy statue at the church of Andermyne. Short in both height and temper, it’s easy to rile him up, but maybe a more gentle approach is what you need. Foster is key in your plans to stop the end, but can he be convinced to help?

Foster has short fluffy black hair, olive skin with a smattering of scars, and dark brown eyes. Foster stands at 5’2 with a wingspan twice that length. Over his right eye is a large scar that resembles stone cracking.

The Prince

Casimir Kozanaft (M. he/him)

“I do what i must, and if that’s getting rid of you, so be it,”

As the human prince of Afturella, Casimir has a reputation to uphold. With all eyes on him, he can’t afford a slip-up. Taking care of his younger sister Sonja and younger brother Myla, Casimir has his hands full. As independent as ever, Casimir is fully capable of taking charge.

Casimir is 5’8 with shoulder length auburn hair he keeps tied back. He has soft hazel eyes and tan skin with a mole under his left eye. Casimir is commonly said to look pretty, almost like a girl.

The Ranger

Amihan (M. he/they)

“You don’t have to worry about a thing, i’ve got you”

Your protector, the sylph ranger. Amihan’s only goal is to keep you and your group alive, even if it’s at the expense of their own life. With a martyr complex and no regard for human life, Amihan makes a great bodyguard, not so much a great friend.

6’4, smooth brown skin, curly white hair and silver eyes, Amihan is often described as imposing, towering over most. Over his left eye Amihan has a black sylph tattoo, spiraling over.

The Beast

Freyja (F. she/they)

“Don’t touch me, don’t go near me, don’t even look at me,”

Freyja is a wild thing. Living in the Windwood forest, she’s been isolated for so long. She rejects humanity, fighting against all she sees until there is only peace. Hostile and aggressive, Freyja sees nothing in you, but can you change their mind? All she is may just be a damaged soul.

Freyja is 5’5, with long, curly chestnut hair and fierce yellow eyes. If you catch her smiling you’ll see sharp canines. She has light brown skin, spotted with white freckles. Leaves and twigs tangled in her hair around tall antlers. Freyja has ash speared across her eyes and covering her hands.

The Princess

Sonja Kozanaft (F. she/her)

“You don’t know me, stop acting like you do,”

A stone faced, cold hearted woman who only cares about herself. Sonja is closed off and aloof, not wanting to open her heart up. Sonja doesn’t trust easily and her default response to anything is disbelief. Sonja seems like an ice queen, but is there more to it?

5’6, Sonja looks as royal as she is. Sonja has long wavy blonde hair, spotless fair skin, and blue eyes.

The Huntress

Maeryn (F. she/her)

“Such a shame you’re fae, i would’ve loved to have you as my partner,”

Maeryn is what most would call ruthless or crazy. So much blood is on her hands but she’s proud of the fact. Her words can be sharp, but they can also be sweet. You never truly know what’s on her mind, hard to read and conniving. Once she likes someone, she sticks to them, ever so loyal. Is there a motive behind her actions?

The tallest out of the bunch, Maeryn stands at 6’6. She has long blonde locs, violet eyes, and brown skin.

The Priestess

Lumina Durren (F. she/they)

“May Andermyne bless your kind soul,”

Lumina is a kindhearted priestess in the church of Andermyne. Everything she does is gentle- the way her hands clasp together in prayer, even when she lifts a book she treats it with the care you would give an animal. The caretaker of the church’s orphanage, they teach the kids that have nobody left to turn to. But in good, there is always evil.

Lumina is 5’3, with long curly ginger hair, two front strands blonde. She has green eyes and pale skin. With her priestess outfit you can see a four pointed star tattoo on her collarbone.

The Noble

Eliana Derlot (F. she/her)

“Don’t say that, I gave you what you wanted, didn't I?”

Lady of House Derlot, Eliana knows her way around the intricacies of the court. Used to facades and snakes, Eliana has a hard time believing things said, yet values honesty at the same time. The young Lady knows what she wants and how to get it, making her a valuable addition.

Eliana is 5’7, with long wavy brown hair and tanned skin. She has sea green eyes with a mole under her left.

[quaranmine]

Letters from the Lookout #3 - Losing, Looking, Finding, Losing

(HC Firewatch AU snippets, 1,397 words)

Grian receives an unexpected phone call a month before he's set to start his new job as a fire lookout. CW: death/body but no worse than anything I've done to you in the main story

April 5, 1989

Grian arrives home around 6 PM, feeling worn and ragged at every edge. He closes the apartment door behind him and just leans against it, head tipped back and eyes closed, for a moment. It is quiet, except for the sounds of cars on the street below. He’s exhausted and he has to do it all again tomorrow. 

He can’t wait to get out of here. The desire vibrates at the core of his being, extending out to all his limbs. He wants to pace until he wears a line in his living room rug. He wants to pack. He wants to pore over maps and make plans. 

He doesn’t want to go to work. Not tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after. He’s so sick of it that the very idea turns his stomach. He hates the job, he hates his assignments, he hates his coworkers, he hates the commute, and he hates his boss.

But mostly he hates how utterly pointless it all is. He’s itching to leave. He’ll be out of here in just a few weeks, bound for the enigmatic forests of the Shoshone. He starts his new life training as a fire lookout on May 1st. He’s got the tentative job offer in hand and everything! Only his background check is pending, and he knows there’s no dirt to uncover there. 

And he can’t hand in his resignation now, because he’s got to at least receive one more stupid paycheck. It’s such a shame he has to eat to live. He’d skip that part if he could. 

Then suddenly the moment passes. Life goes on. He leans down and quickly unties his shoes. He casts them aside at the door with only the barest consideration that they don’t become a tripping hazard later. He sets his bag on the coffee table, careful to not crush the papers that litter the table underneath it. 

He turns to the kitchen. He doesn’t want to cook, and he isn’t hungry right now, so he’ll probably just make himself a sandwich later tonight. He steps toward the kitchen to go wash his hands, but he notices something else that arrests his progress first. 

There’s a light at the answering machine, meaning someone called him while he was at work. Few people other than telemarketers call him these days. Nor do they all know to leave a message. He sighs, lifts the phone to his ear, and presses play on the tape. 

He freezes when the man on the other end starts talking. 

“Hello, this is Walter Holt from the Shoshone National Forest Supervisor’s Office,” the man says. He continues, “I’m calling to give you a brief update about your friend’s case. I informed his family as well today.”

Grian subconsciously leans forward, into the words. 

It can’t be good news. After a while, you get the sense for this kind of thing. A hundred little things might be off, from facial expression to body language. But now, over the phone, it’s simply tone. 

“We received a report yesterday from a person who was scouting land for a mining claim around Forest Road 448. They thought they had found human remains. Our rangers were able to verify this report this morning.”

Grian closes his eyes as the room spins out from underneath him.

“I’m calling to let you know that this is something we are investigating in connection with your friend’s case. As you know, his vehicle was found at the Cloud Lake Trailhead off of road 448 and he was last seen in the area. We have not made a positive ID yet on the body. I will call to inform you of the results. If you have questions, please call me back at…”

There’s another message that has been left for him. He hits play on that one too, without even thinking about it. Desperation creeps over him.  

Maybe it’ll be good news. Maybe they’ve called back to say actually, sorry, we made a mistake! Maybe it was all in a day’s work, solved and debunked before Grian even returned home from his job. 

It’s not—but it isn’t bad news, either. It’s just more of the same. Mumbo’s mum called to tell him about the same thing. She’s always been good about that after a few key incidents where the Forest Service seemingly intentionally left Grian off the contact list. (He’s not family and some people only apparently want to contact the family.) 

She sounds like she’s been crying again. He’ll have to call her back in the morning when the waking hours of their time zones line up. If he calls her now he’ll wake her up. Well, it’s more likely he wouldn’t wake her up at all right now, even in the middle of the night. He knows she barely sleeps. But he politely pretends to accept the lie that she is coping better than she actually is. God knows he’s the same.  

Grian sets down the receiver with a tightly controlled movement. 

Then he buries his face in his hands and tries not to hyperventilate. 

This isn’t real. It can’t be. He can’t let it be. His best friend, actually dead. Gone. Never coming home. 

And he’s, what—hearing about this from a phone call? 

This can’t be a real thing that’s happening to him. Mumbo always pulls through. Mumbo is always there for Grian. Why wasn’t Grian there for him? Why did this happen?

He should have been there. He should have gone with Mumbo. He should have reported him missing the very second Mumbo was late to check-in, and not given him a few hours’ grace period. He shouldn’t have agreed to let the search crew suspend their efforts after three weeks; he should have pushed them, he should have fought them, he should have thrown a fit and gotten Mumbo found. He should have quit his job. He should’ve stayed in Wyoming all summer instead of coming back to Denver when the official search was over. What did he think he was going to accomplish by going there now, one year later?

He should have done everything differently. Maybe if he did, he would have his best friend standing in the kitchen next to him right now. 

The only option is that it simply isn’t real. And if it isn’t real, then he can’t stop all of his efforts just because of a phone call. 

They don’t know it’s Mumbo. The man on the phone told him there wasn’t an ID on the body yet, which means it could be anyone. It might not be him. 

But if it isn’t Mumbo…then that means he’s still out there. Alone. Cold. Starving. 

Grian feels no relief at the idea that Mumbo might still be out there. Nor does he feel any relief at the idea this person who’s been found might be him. This is it, all the time. There’s no good option. Every single option that exists is just endless, wrenching, agony. 

If Mumbo is dead, then everything is just unthinkable. If he’s alive, then he’s probably suffering. Grian just wants the limbo to end so he doesn’t have to be here, thinking about it, but—not like this. Not like this. Not with a phone call and an unidentified body. 

In just a moment, a flicker of anger passes through his mind. He grabs the nearest thing he can see on the counter—a napkin holder—then turns and throws it into the floor as hard as he can. It bounces once, and breaks. He stares at it for a moment, and then whirls around and kicks the kitchen chair as hard as he can. It clatters to the ground. He pants. 

“Why me?” he says out loud to an empty room.

A few days later, he receives another phone call from the Forest Service. It wasn’t Mumbo, they tell him. The forensics team dated the remains to be far too old to be Mumbo’s, they say. They still don’t know who it is. The bones had been out there for years. Mumbo has only been missing for nine months. 

Grian doesn’t breathe a sigh of relief. He already knew it wasn’t going to be true. He just practices packing his backpack, and counts down the days until he leaves this city behind to find Mumbo for real.

[soloavengers]

Arisen & Pawn Info

Using @arisenreborn’s template, this was fun to fill out.

♛ THE ARISEN:

NAME: Sylvas AGE: 20 RACE: Human PRONOUNS: He/him ALIGNMENT: Chaotic good PREFERRED VOCATION: Mystic spearhand FAVORED GIFTS: Cloaks, curatives, anything interesting FAMILY: Deceased parents. (But Winterheart, really)

POSITIVE TRAITS: He’s helpful and kind, perhaps he has difficulty saying no when someone asks for help or a favor. It doesn’t mean he’s dependable, but he ALWAYS tries his very best. Ready to jump into the fray of any battle if someone needs a hand, like wandering pawns. He’s gentle, compassionate and easy to talk to. Very excitable, curious and energetic (would remind one of a Simple pawn). He’s friendly, in his own way.

NEGATIVE TRAITS: Overconfident and reckless, you’d often see him rushing into a fight by throwing himself in the middle of a group of enemies (much to Winnie’s dismay and careful planning). He doesn’t see the fault in himself when it comes to such flaws, even when he’s disheartened after a bad battle caused by these actions, while Winterheart gently scolds him. He can be too blunt and impulsive when interacting with people, breaking social norms despite how hard he tries not to. Easily distracted, too curious it gets him in awful situations. He’s awful at talking about his own feelings.

LIKES: Animals, adventuring, monster culling, heights, treasure, Winterheart’s paintings, forests and camping. The color green. Regentkin Sven.

DISLIKES: Rattlers. (& Disappointing others. The overwhelming uncertainty of what his future holds. The odd feeling he gets after defeating a drake. The empty feeling in his chest intensifies every day. Why?)

What was their life like before becoming Arisen?

His veteran father moved himself and little Syl out of their village in northern Vermund to a cottage in a forest nearby for a ranger job, after his mother’s death. He raised Sylvas and trained him in the use of melee weapons and archery, taught him hunting for sport and (after a certain age,) hunting monsters. He nursed a wolf pup with pale fur to health, she was their protector and Syl’s best friend growing up. He never allowed Syl to explore the forest without her. Monsters became more and more frequent as the dragon’s coming neared. He lost his father little over a year prior to becoming the Arisen, grief drove him away from the forest like it drove his father away from the village. He recovered his love for nature, exploring and battling monsters after losing his memories.

How do they handle being Arisen, and the responsibilities that come with it?

After remembering the events in Melve, he couldn’t deny it and grew quite interested in the Dragon and his connection to it (and the drakes). In a somewhat innocent way, he always longed to have some sort of connection to a beast, so he may be glorifying it. The responsibility, the charge… He doesn’t understand it, but suppose if he does what people he trusts want of him (to become Sovran), and leads the pawns well he’s doing alright. Surely this path will lead to getting his heart back. 

What are their thoughts on Pawns in general?

Syl grew up with Very little human contact outside of his father, making him shy and awkward when people visit. However he knew pawns, as there were times his father hired sellsword pawns to help with monster hunting. He found them easier to interact with than humans for some reason. Later, it’s the presence of his pawns that helped him come out of his shell. As they're less like the pawns he knew growing up and more like humans, that are still oddly easier to talk to. He’d always tell them he’s lucky to have them, and tends to rehire pawns he likes quite a lot.

What's their relationship like with their main Pawn?

He loves Winterheart, she’s become his family like Winterheart the wolf was. He’d often grumble and say she isn’t “a fun sort” for caring about silly things like strategy and planning, but he realizes that her strictness keeps him alive. He cares for her beyond words. A partner like her is what he needs to keep going, to put it simply. He tries his best to take her input before a fight despite that comment, and her opinion before a decision, and tries harder to keep to it. 

Do they have any interest in being Sovran? What are their opinions on the politics of the world in general?

Not at first, but early enough into the journey he remembered how he felt like he lost his life even before the Dragon, and he grew to accept that his path as the Arisen will lead to a new life as Sovran. He grew to understand that it’s a necessity and not simply a privilege he didn’t ask for, as well as feeling himself grow more and more responsible. Captain Brant and Sven’s help gives him a lot of confidence, and there’s little he wouldn’t do to make them proud. During his travels he began writing a journal to keep track of things he plans to take action against or in favor of as Sovran. He tries his best to understand the politics of the world, and he has gathered many historical books (though reading them is another matter.) So, suppose he does have interest, if only for the sake of Vermund and having something to live for. And, well… he can’t be worse than a false Sovran puppet of a tyrant, can he?

Who are their love interest(s) and/or closest friends?

His closest friend is his loyal pawn. He got better at making friends by way of helping, and when a couple of his new friendships seemed to develop into something more, he’d feel he isn’t good enough. Yet, oddly he didn’t feel that way with Sven, perhaps because he cannot be with him even if he wanted to. His feelings are known and returned, but it’s no more than little visits to the castle for quiet talks. Sven might have gone to his dwelling once or twice, as the rumor goes.

What drew them to their preferred vocation? Do they have history with it? 

His father trained him with regular spears, along with swords and bows. So before meeting Sigurd he preferred to be a fighter or an archer. Then learning the skills of a mystic spearhand he found, is a thrill. It’s the amount of magic he’s comfortable using, and it’s a weapon he was already a little familiar with. And despite Sigurd being a mystery, he feels kinship with the man and wishes to make him proud.

Do they have any hobbies? Any way of relaxing between all that monster-slaying and traveling?

Monster slaying and travel is his joy, but yes, he likes carving wood. He gifts them to friends and hired pawns, often a carving of their favorite animal or monster. He enjoys collecting little things that catch his eyes, and experimenting with ingredients more than necessary.

♟︎ THE PAWN:

NAME: Winterheart AGE: ??? RACE: Half-elf PRONOUNS: She/her ALIGNMENT: Neutral good PREFERRED VOCATION: Warrior FAVORED GIFTS: Flowers, swords, paint, and anything Syl gives her. INCLINATION: Calm.

POSITIVE TRAITS: She’s caring and gentle, she seems to always know the best thing to do or say when someone (especially her Arisen) is struggling in almost any situation. She’s observant and quick to act in battles, would rather she didn’t have to have to be, if only all their battles were carefully planned.

NEGATIVE TRAITS: Passive aggressive when in a bad mood. Overprotective of Sylvas even outside of battles, her opinion of a person would change entirely if they as much as made him frown, no matter the context. Too quiet (according to Syl). Too careful (also according to Syl). Overexerts herself often in fights, be it in defense of the Arisen and their companions or as she tries to take most foes down so they wouldn’t have to. 

LIKES: Her Gryphic Victory greatsword, beautiful sights, Vernworth, children, days spent in towns and villages, well planned battles. The lightest pink color. Ser Ulrika.

DISLIKES: Bandits. Syl’s inability to learn not to rush headfirst into battle. The emptiness of her past. Plans getting ignored, strategies overlooked. Raspberries. Rainy weather.

What was their life like prior to being summoned by their Arisen?

Long ago Winterheart was formed by an Arisen that didn’t live long enough for them to be well connected, she hardly remembers them. She wandered the rift and has done her duties in different worlds, often for humans as a sellsword. She was summoned for Sylvas for her similarity to the wolf his father had adopted, whose detachment to a pack was akin to her detachment to her Arisen. As well as her calm yet overprotective personality. In short, her past was a stretch of longing for what she finally has. 

What is their opinion on the Arisen? How do they view their relationship?

She’s very fond of Syl, she thinks the world of him, for all his flaws. Winnie thinks that as long as he has her, he will make it (really, there are no doubts anymore… only fear. Lots of fear.) It took her a while to accept that she was summoned, chosen again, and longer to believe that it might just last. At first she was bitter when she saw how reckless her Arisen is, believing this long awaited gift will be taken from her because he’s young and fearless, then she realized it doesn’t have to be that way if she protects him well. She helps him stay alive and he helps her feel alive, that’s how she views it.

Is there anything about the Arisen they find troublesome? Be it a small quirk or bad habit? (Or are they obviously flawless?)

Uhh. 

What is their specialization and is there any story behind how they cultivated that skill set? 

Chirurgeon. It was simply learned, and she’s glad of it. It’s what Syl needs most, even outside of battles (is it so hard to estimate a fall, or how hot the water is?) It’s a comfort for her to be specialized in healing, there were times where Sylvas didn’t notice he was poisoned!

Do they have any thoughts on the politics of the world and their place in it as a Pawn - or how Pawns are treated? 

It does put her down at times, and she would like to see anyone who’s wrongfully controlling pawns Dead. But she’s in the world to do her duty, politics don’t matter next to it. She’s however pleased her Arisen is doing something about it, and she’s there to help when she can.

Does their journey with the Arisen change them in any significant way and how? 

It got her out of the shell losing her former Arisen and wandering had shoved her in. She’s a lot more confident in her abilities and place, and in Sylvas as well. Winterheart is aware of more… integral changes, and while they make her feel alive, she instead feels dreadful when she notices Syl changing. But it’s the way of the Arisen and Pawn relationship, it’s out of her hands. She tries to remind him of who he is and what he loves most when it looks like his mind and soul is elsewhere.

Is there a reason they chose their preferred vocation? 

It was the vocation she used during her travels before Sylvas summoned her as an archer. In a distant past she was a mage, though she doesn’t remember having had enough time to perfect her skills as a mage. She misses being a warrior whenever she isn’t.

Do they have any hobbies or preferred past-times?

She likes painting scenery! Often while camping, she loses sleep just to stay up painting their surroundings on paper. When traveling with other Arisen, she likes for them to keep a painting. However if their world is so different, she would take one for Syl.

[flohamilton]

Hi can you please write a robin x reader modern summer camp au where Robin and reader are secretly dating please

( the older kids are counselors and the younger kids are campers.)

Or

Can you write a Robin x reader where reader rejected Robin a couple of years ago. ( because of popularity she always liked Robin and she still does.) Reader got involved in the vecna mess and ends up dying. But before she dies she tells Robin she still likes her. The gang is able to get reader to a hospital in time but ends up forgetting about the confession. Does Robin bring it up again or does she let it go?

Thanks if you can:)

robin x fem reader pure fluff + reader x entire group platonic fluff

word count: 3.3k

category: fluff

this is such a CUTE idea AHHHH!! i LOVED writing this so much.

You weren’t sure how your friends had roped you into this, but here you are sat on a stiff log bench, spraying your legs with stinky bug repellent, trying to figure out how you were going to entertain these crazy kids for the next three weeks with nothing but the great outdoors at your disposal. You supposed you had done it as a favor really. Robin and Steve had been recruited by Nancy and Jonathan, who had been recruited by Joyce and Hopper. The first official Hawkins Summer Camp was about to commence and Joyce wanted as many counselors as she could find in anticipation for a large turn out of campers.

When Robin approached you one day as you were browsing in Family Video, you couldn’t resist saying yes. Hell, if Robin asked you to scale the Washington Monument with only your shoelaces you would say yes. You would do anything for her. At some point your friendship had crossed a boundary into something more, and with the fear of actually coming out looming over you, Robin never needed to hear it from you and vise versa. You understood each other and you were both well aware of the feelings you harbored toward each other.

You had officially been dating for six months now, and it had been the best six months of your life. With the mostly conservative viewpoints radiating from Hawkins residents, you both favored the idea of keeping your relationship subtle, a secret if you will. The only other person who truly knew the extent of your relationship was Steve. He was Robin’s best friend and because of that he was slowly becoming your best friend as well. You were so thankful that Robin had a friend who understood her, and accepted her without hate or judgement. You knew that most people, yourself included, were not so lucky. It’s not that other people around you didn’t suspect that you and Robin were extra close, you were sure that Eddie or Nancy or Jonathan noticed the close proximity you would spend with Robin, lingering looks whenever you saw each other, lingering touches when you thought no one was looking. No one questioned it, and you opted to not explain it.

So here you were at the first official Hawkins Summer Camp.

Organized entirely by Joyce Byers, who would be serving as president of the camp. She had somehow roped Jim Hopper into being the forest ranger, forcing him to swear under oath that he would protect the kids from any rouge raccoons or squirrels and whatever else would pose a threat to your camp ground. You were currently set up on the outskirts of Hawkins in the middle of the woods at a campground that had been long forgotten. After a month of restoration and cleaning, the camp was ready to go and you were ready to welcome your campers.

Robin and Steve stood by you as a few cars lined up, ready to drop their kids off at the three week-long-camp. “I know that you two may be rookies, but I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Steve said, puffing his chest out and resting his hands on his hips, mentally gearing up to be the best camp counselor Hawkins has ever seen.

“I have no doubts that your babysitting skills will perfectly transfer over to camp counselor-ing, ole Stevo,” Robin said sarcastically, earning a chuckle from you and a heavy eye roll from Steve.

“You act as if the campers haven’t already been babysat by you for the past three years,” you said.

“Ladies!” Steve said, exasperated, “Let me live! I am excited, please let me have this moment.”

“Right Steve,” you said, walking to where you spotted the Byers family approaching you along with Hopper and El. “Take it all in buddy,” You said patting his chest.

//

“Well, I guess you guys are the only campers we have,” Hopper said dryly, looking at the seven kids sat criss cross on the ground in front of him and then back at Joyce who was nodding reassuringly. “I was going to have your counselors introduce themselves, but you already know all them… What the heck, counselors get up here and come talk to the kids.”

You, Robin and your five friends stood in front of the kids now, they all looked at you with scowls, unimpressed and slightly menacing. “Why don’t each of you still introduce yourselves and tell everyone what activity you will be specializing in,” Joyce said as all of the counselors got lined up.

First in line was Nancy. “Uh hi, I literally have known all of you for years, but I’m Nancy,” she said with a small wave. “I’m one of your camp counselors and together each day we will be shooting archery!” Everyone followed Nancy’s lead. Jonathan was going to be teaching the kids how to survive in the wilderness (think tying knots, starting fires, finding fresh water). Argyle was working with the kids to identify different types of plants and help them create their own ecosphere in a jar. Eddie would be doing music lessons over a campfire each night. Steve would be in charge of all water related activities and serving as lifeguard. Robin would be in charge of the theater lessons and the play, which all of the kids would put on at the end of camp. Next it was your turn to step forward.

“Hey guys, you already know me, but I’m y/n and for the next three weeks we will be doing arts and crafts together! I can’t wait to work with you guys and see what masterpieces you create.”

The kids looked at you somewhat unenthusiastically, with the exception of Will who had a gleam in his eyes.

“Before we go to dinner, we are going to start the night off with the most epic obstacle-course- water-balloon-fight-relay-race any of you have ever seen!” Steve said excitedly.

You and Robin walked closely together as Steve led you and the campers to his elaborately set up obstacle course. You saw a large bucket filled to the brim with water balloons along with a row of tires to jump through, a few baseball bats to spin around on, eggs to balance on spoons, hula hoops.

Steve explained that the object of the game would be to beat your opponent through the course and safely deliver an egg on a spoon to your relay partner all while being pelted with water balloons by spectators. The second relay partner would then complete the second half of the course and whichever team completed the course first would win.

“Alright, everyone get into teams of two,” Steve said.

Your instantly met with Robin’s.

“Want to be my partner?” She questioned quietly.

“Of course,” you said.

And so it was decided that you would go first. You were up against Nancy who was partnered with Jonathan. First up you had to spin around on a bat for thirty seconds. Thoroughly dizzy you stumbled your way over to the row of tires that you had to hop through.

“C’mon y/n!” Robin shouted from where she was waiting at the end of the relay. “You got this!”

You huffed out a breath of frustration as Max chucked a water ballon directly at your head, wetting your hair down in front of your eyes. Pushing your hair aside, you looked up at Robin with a smile, thankful to have her cheering you on.

You had barely gotten through the tire race before Nancy and now hurriedly stepped into the hula hoop where you would have to keep the hoop on your hips for exactly one minute.

It was a close one, but at the last second Nancy lost control of her hula hoop and you miraculously beat her. All that was left to do was put your egg on the spoon and deliver it to Robin. You slowly walked in a straight line to where Robin was waiting to collect the egg, dodging a water balloon heading straight toward you from Mike, ducking carefully as to not drop your precious cargo. Finally after what felt like an eternity, you made it to Robin handing her the egg, while Nancy was still only halfway to Jonathan.

“Okay Robin go!” You shouted excitedly, jumping up and down at your victory. Robin made her way to the second half of the course where she would go up against Jonathan to complete a ring toss, balance beam (you worried for her on that one) and a slip and slide, in which the winner would slide into victory. You jogged down to the end of the course now, at the end of the slip and slide to wait for Robin. You watched with anticipation as Robin and Jonathan went head to head on the ring toss, lucky Robin had won and was moving on to the balance beam. She was making her way very slowly and cautiously and you had to laugh. The girl had never had a day of coordination in her life and you had to give her credit for trying. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from her, taking in her natural beauty and her bright smile She laughed at herself and her balance issues. Just then your attention was averted as Lucas sent a water balloon right to the back of Robin’s head, making her lose her balance and fall to the ground.

“It’s okay Rob,” You shouted to her in encouragement, “You still have time to win this!”

Somehow against all odds, Will launched a water balloon to Jonathan, making him lose his balance too, falling to the ground just as Robin got back onto the beam.

“Go Robin!” You screamed, as other counselors and campers cheered along with you.

“Robin! Robin! Robin!” You all chanted as she hurriedly (but carefully) made her way to the end of the balance beam. She took off running to the slip and slide, diving head first and sliding to where you were waiting at the end. You must have been standing a bit too close though, because with Robin's momentum and maybe her lack of coordination, as she stood up she collided directly into you, forcing you to topple over and fall to the ground with Robin falling on top of you, barely able to feel the weight of her pressing into your body.

For a moment you just stared at each other, looking deeply into one another’s eyes. You both understood that if no one was around nothing would stop you from crashing your lips onto hers, fully taking in all of her body on top of yours. However you couldn’t do that. Not with Jonathan sliding down the slip and slide behind you, not with Steve rushing over to hand Robin a huge trophy, not with all of the campers and other counselors rushing toward you both. For a moment your soul crushed, your bones feeling like they were breaking, not from the weight of Robin on top of you, but from not being able to kiss your girlfriend in front of all of these people. You looked at Robin again, a different look now in both of your eyes now. She quickly got off of you offering her hand to you to help you up. You took her hand as she pulled you up to a standing position and you held her hand for an extra second longer than you should have, looking at her and giving her hand tight squeeze.

“I’m so proud of you,” you said somberly, almost wanting to cry.

“Thanks, y/n,” Robin said, letting both of your hands fall to your sides now. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Steve handed Robin her trophy and presented you with one of your own while Jonathan ran to go grab his camera, returning to snap a quick photo of you guys. You knew once that photo was developed you were gonna treasure it forever.

“Alright who’s next?” Steve questioned as Max and El stepped up to go against Dustin and Lucas.

You watched with admiration, water balloons in hand ready to pelt the kids as they cheerfully completed the course. You stood next to Robin now, probably closer than your should have but you didn’t care.

The relay race went on for a while longer, but you hardly noticed, just happy to be in the presence of your sweet, sweet girlfriend, in the middle of the woods somewhere Hawkins, Indiana. Maybe you couldn’t be exactly who you wanted to be in front of everyone. But you and Robin were each others’ and that was all that mattered to you. That was all that you could ask for, just to be with her.

With everyone at least somewhat air dried now, the obstacle course had been completed and Steve was in all of his glory, happy that everyone participated in his activity. Even Joyce and Hopper, much to Hopper’s dismay.

“C’mon guys,” you said, rounding up all of the kids, glancing up at Robin adoringly. “It’s time for dinner.”

//

In the dining hall you formed a line and grabbing a tray you were met with none other than Murray Bauman the camp’s appointed chef who insisted the first meal of the night be his famous dish “Mommy Murray’s Risotto.”

“I’ll have the risotto, please,” Steve said, stepping up to stepping up to Murray with his tray to be served.

“Ah ah ah, I have prepared no such thing as mere “risotto” please address the dish by its proper name,” Murray demanded.

“Holy shit, there’s no way you actually want us to call it that,” Robin said, standing behind you, shooting you a quick glance, her radiant smile tugging at your heart strings.

“If you can’t respect me and my dishes then I cannot respect your hunger. Repeat after me: Mommy. Murray’s. Risotto.” Murray said slowing, motioning to Steve to say it with him.

“Uh okay… M-mommy Murray’s Risotto, there are you happy?”

“Very,” Murray said, scooping a large helping of the coveted risotto onto Steve’s tray.

“Thanks… asshole,” Steve walked away, saying the last part under his breath.

“Hey, I heard that! Do not disrespect me or my Mommy Murray’s Risotto ever again!”

You and Robin giggled as you got your food and made your way to the counselor’s table where Steve, Eddie, Argyle, Jonathan and Nancy were already sitting. You sighed contently, digging into your food, feeling ravenously hungry from the day of checking in the kids and getting them moved in and giving your all in the water balloon obstacle course. Say what you want about Murray but he knew how to make a mean risotto.

Robin sat next to you, discretely tapping your foot with her own from under the table. A secret little message from her that you understood as her way of saying that she was right there, happy to be with you, even if it was in secret.

“Hey Rob,” Steve said, glancing at Robin from where he was sitting and talking to Nancy Jonathan, Argyle and Eddie, “tell everyone about the time that you had to perform the Heimlich on me after I choked on that grape at work!”

The group laughed enthusiastically as Robin animatedly explained how she narrowly saved Steve’s life from the grape he chocked on one day while on their lunch break at Family Video. Robin’s arms moved haphazardly as she retold the story, she looked so goofy and sweet and you couldn’t help to just take all of her beauty in. She was so special to you, even in these silly moments where she used her lighthearted and sarcastic jokes. You often grew sentimental at the fact that you got to be in a relationship with her. A secret relationship yes, but a relationship nonetheless.

You then refocused your attention back on the entire group. “Right, y/n?” you heard Robin asked.

“What?” You questioned, realizing you had zoned out of the conversation.

“I said that after that day I saved Steve’s life, y/n over here told me I should be the one doing all of the babysitting not Steve.”

“Ah yes, that is true and I did mean it, Robin is a superstar with the kids and a bonus! She knows how to perform the Heimlich,” you said, making eye contact with Robin. She looked back at you hard now, her blue eyes piercing your soul. Her foot tapped on yours again, this time little three taps I love you.

You tapped her foot back three times. //

Back in your cabins, you Nancy and Robin shared the “girls only” cabin, while Steve, Eddie, Jonathan and Argyle shared the other cabin. Hopper was sure to give you an hour long lecture about sneaking out to meet up with the boys along with a long list of “Don’t’s.”

Don’t sneak out. Don’t kiss each other. Don’t sneak into the cabin of the opposite gender. And absolutely do not hook up with each other. Luckily for you, you and Robin were already in the same cabin. Along with Nancy. It’s not like you were going to try anything with Nancy right there in the same room as you and Robin, but once she was fast asleep, your quietly crept over to Robin’s cot-like bed.

“Excuse me ma’am, are you in need of a cuddle?” You asked, scooting yourself under the covers with to Robin, her arms opening and pulling you in.

“Oh yes, that’s exactly what I needed, how did you know?” Robin said, taking you into her arms and holding you close to her, your head resting on her chest, listening to the soft sound of her heart beating.

“I just knew. What can I say,” you joked, “I’m psychic.”

You and Robin spent the next few hours just in each other’s presence, neither of you talking, but not sleeping either. You didn’t want to wake up Nancy with the sound of your voices. You enjoyed this quiet, seemingly normal time with Robin more than anything else in the world. It was rare you got to be alone in each other’s spaces, being who you truly are together. There was no faking, no pretending. Just you and your girlfriend, Robin.

You spoke suddenly, but in the most quiet whisper. “You’re my girlfriend.”

“Uh yeah, I would hope so, or it would be really awkward if I did this,” Robin whispered to you, placing a soft, delicate kiss onto your lips. “I wouldn’t do that to just anyone, ya know.”

“I know. I’m just happy you’re mine. Even if we have to hide forever, I’d do it for you. I would do anything for you.”

“I would do anything for you too,” Robin paused, looking at you intently, deep emotion spreading across her face. “I love you, ya know.”

Your heart filled with warmth at the confession. “I know. I love you too.”

[yostresswritinggirl]

Somehow out of spite for the hate being sent towards the archon quest, Tighnari x Nilou headcanons popped up to me while not sleeping last night so I wanted to share: (because I'm sad too that they didn't interact)

Contains spoilers for 3.2 archon quest

- When Cyno, Collei, and Tighnari had their own feast, Tighnari would ask how the celebration went which prompts Cyno to talk about Nilou. This, in turn, has Collei rambling because she saw Nilou's performances before.

- Tighnari, however, would scold Cyno (and Alhaitham by extension since he made the plan) for endangering an innocent dancer by haphazardly getting her involved in the plan.

- Collei, on the other hand, is a bit sad that she didn't get to see Nilou's performance during the feast. Cyno took note of this and conveyed a message next time he saw Nilou.

- Cyno informs Nilou of a certain fan from the forest, as well as talking about Tighnari who fought with them for the rebellion but was too injured and busy to join them back in the feast.

- Having heard that, Nilou thought of making an impromptu show just like she did back in Jnagarbha Day as thank you for the work of the forest rangers, something to make them happy what with all the troubles they have now. Cyno agrees.

- Nilou brought over a huge plate of Tahchin from the Bazaar as a peace offering and Cyno asked permission from Tighnari about the performance when the rangers have free time. Tighnari agreed for Collei and only asked for the music to not be loud.

- Everyone enjoyed the performance and impromptu feast (it was harvest day), especially the theatre fans that never get enough free time to visit the Bazaar. Even the sages who are there for punishment were lenient.

- Tighnari thanked Nilou for boosting morale and for her contributions to Sumeru, urging her to follow the path of her dreams no matter the standpoint of the Akademiya, just like he does. Nilou thanks him for taking care of the forest, to take care of himself, and that she's willing to assist them anyway she can.

- Since then, they have been frequently crossing paths, usually through simple greetings and waves whenever Tighnari visits Sumeru City.

- One time, he heard from Cyno, the Bazaar or Nilou herself that she frequently goes to the desert to practice. Tighnari scolds her for the recklessness of it, saying that the desert is still too dangerous, especially at night!

- "But the oasis is the perfect place for me to practice my dances." "There are far better and safer places in the forest that would suit you, surrounded with beautiful flora. Come, let me show you." Impromptu forest tour!

- Tighnari is so meticulous of the ponds, lakes, and rivers that Nilou could practice in instead. Like how this place isn't infested by dangerous mobs, or this one has a great view of the night sky, oh oh this one is surrounded with flowers and plants like a stage.

- Nilou may not exactly understand some of the jargons he used when he becomes passionate in teaching, but the places are really pretty! Tighnari even made a map and was about to give it to her, but then pulled back,

"If you're going to practice in the forest, make sure to inform me of your whereabouts first. Preferably in advanced, but if I'm not at Ghandarva Ville, make sure to at least alert one of the rangers. Everyone in the forest is our responsibility."

"I'll be sure to alert you ahead of time, Master Tighnari!"

"You - I - you are not my student, Miss Nilou. You can call me by name."

"Then if that's the case, I would appreciate it if you simply call me Nilou, we're friends now!"

- No but after hearing how scared she was of mushrooms after she ate one when she was a child, Tighnari did end up taking her as a mushroom student so she knows better. He even made a whole ass booklet of every possible mushroom found for her to carry with her.

- Somehow she ends up finding new ones.

- Nilou only eats mushroom meals that Tighnari cooks because she's the only one he trusts enough to not kill her with them. They do taste bland sometimes but hey, she can repair it for herself, at least.

- Tighnari also started developing a sweet tooth after Nilou kept bringing sweets to Ghandarva for Collei, especially her Padisarah Pudding. Speaking of, whenever he's on patrol, he makes sure to pick some padisarahs for Nilou as either a simple gift or for cooking.

- Nilou also was granted access to Pardis Dhyai as another dancing spot due to Tighnari's influence. He doesn't know why exactly, but he felt that she fits into the place perfectly.

- It's not rare for Nilou to visit Ghandarva Ville carrying a huge crate filled with freebies from the Bazaar. Although it did scare Tighnari to see the dancer carry such a huge and heavy item while maneuvering through vines, moss and slopes.

- Thankfully her sense of balance and strength kept her safe, but Tighnari is still baffled that she carried all of that from Sumeru City. Cloth, food and ingredients, toys, extra items she thinks would benefit the forest rangers.

- While Tighnari lectures/gushes about plants when Nilou has the focus for it, Nilou in turn helps Tighnari with his stress and emotions, through her body movement therapy she created as well as encouraging words. While the problem is still there, he would at least smile back as she suggested.

- Both of them are curious about each other's horns and ears, Tighnari on the story and structure of the horn, would look baffled when Nilou pretty much just popped off the headdress for him to look at it closely. He wants to wear it - but there's a lot of bits here and there that might hurt or get caught by his ears.

- Nilou always gets distracted by his ears and tails, more obvious than everyone he had met (Collei wasn't kidding when she said the dancer was a bit absent-minded) and he can't help but tease her every time he catches her.

- Unlike the others tho, she would blush, become shy but always, always be honest about her feelings. He likes that in response to the other ones who says sorry and run away, or tries to hide instead of confront him.

- But my goodness when he let her touch his ears, it was so heavenly he had to stop himself from purring. "Have you met Gata from the cafe? You both have such soft ears!" And then he realized his doom, he just handed himself so carelessly to the expert.

- Lastly, when he finds out that Nilou is practicing in the forest, he'll seek out the place once he's free and tap the forest ranger that was her guide for the day, switching places so that he can be the one to watch the exclusive show after a long day.

The moment I saw her voiceline about mushrooms, even before she got released, I already knew I'm down bad for this rare pair, i love my wives, my babygirls

[dailycharacteroption]

Forester (Hunter Archetype)

(art by Aleksander Karcz on Artstation)

The hunter class is, as we have established in past entries, a class that very much revolves around the animal companion and synergizing with both. It definitely makes you take a second look whenever an archetype gets rid of the companion in favor of other gimmicks and abilities, which a handful of them do.

Today’s subject is one such archetype, being a hunter that is more in tune with nature and their surroundings than they are with the creatures that live within, though of course they still place high value upon such natural creatures.

Despite the name, a “forester” is not limited to forest terrain. More accurately, they are hunters devoted to the various terrains they watch over. In other words, this archetype is all about the ranger favored terrains plus a few other abilities to replace those normally associated with animal companions and such.

The natural world itself is full of many wonders, so I imagine that these hunters in particular have a deep appreciation for aspects both amazing and mundane within the regions they make their home. Regardless, in their home element, few can match them.

Since they don’t have a companion, these hunters keep all of their animal foci powers for themselves, gaining multiple at once.

Their primarily ability, however, is to train to work and fight in their favored terrains with ease, growing their list as they master each.

They also put the training they would normally use to fight alongside their companion towards more flexible forms of combat training.

Additionally, they put their teamwork training towards aiding those they fight with rather than their companion.

Going solo means taking care of yourself, so these hunters train their agility to help avoid dangerous blasts. Later on, this improves further.

That focus on survivability also means they master the art of camouflage to hide from foes and prey, blending in with their favored terrains.

Additionally, in an emergency they can quickly bring a recently slain ally back to life using the same energies they would normally use to revive a companion.

Finally, they become so good at hiding in their favored terrains that they can disappear even when being watched.

This archetype is a fun way to do a companion-less hunter, with favored terrains are a natural replacement. Definitely pick your spells to complement a solo fighting style, especially when they are thematic to your choice of favored terrains, but also prepare for the eventuality of having to fight outside of it.

You might have noticed that many of their replacement abilities are literally modified versions of abilities the hunter normally gets, but geared towards helping other party members. Some might disdain and archetypes like it for the implication that classes are a “part of the world” in the same way, showing the seams of this being a “game”. Others might not be bothered, so your mileage may vary.

Fleeing execution decades ago, the renegade hobgoblin Ozhan has lived the life of a hermit ever since, becoming one with the mountain above and the forest below. He shows no mercy to hobgoblins wearing military colors, but might be convinced to aid those who need a guide.

Many do not think of the underground, be it natural caverns, a dungeon, or even a sewer system beneath the city as an ecosystem, but they are in their own way. As such, certain “Deepers” train themselves to understand that environment, befriending creatures such as otyughs that most would consider monstrous.

A war under the moon is coming for two werewolf clans, the Bloody Moons, who embrace their bestial  nature, and the Ghost Wolves, who temper their monstrous side into a weapon against evil, have come to blows. Ilmac and his family are caught in the middle as a forest caretaker from the Moons who married a Ghost Wolf warrior during more peaceful times.

[imaginedreamwrite]

Oh Monster Monday! Yay! 🐺🐺

I have a thought for werwolves Curtis and Winter Soldier!Bucky. Curtis is a born werewolf and Bucky was turned so he doesn't know all the ins and outs of werewolves. The pair are mated together and act as rangers for Lord Steve Roger's land. All was well; a well paying job, privacy in the woods, territory to hunt freely...

Until one winter night when Bucky happened upon reader, injured, bleeding and unconscious. She was barely clinging to life and Bucky felt deep instinctual need to help her. He didn't know why he was desperate to help her... until Curtis explained it to him that reader was his true mate... much like she was his.

His warm breath was a visible cloud as he huffed and stepped over a fallen log, his palm pressed against the roughened trunk while he scoured the south half of their property. They were on the edge of the thick and wild forest, the deep and heady woods that most ordinary humans were scared to come across or enter, they were on the very cusp of the land that belonged to the Lord of the land acting as rangers to protect the villagers from any bandits or other creatures who dared threaten them. It was Curtis and Bucky, the two werewolves who were respectively born and changed into the beasts, on the edge of the wood with the given task to keep a watchful eye.

They were given freedom to hunt and run in their animalistic forms without worrying about humans opinions of the two while also being given a healthy pay that compensated them for their time and any injuries that may have occurred while they were scouting. It was this task that the two werewolves, and also mates, had found some solace in.

Curtis was undoubtedly protective of Bucky in much of the same way as he was protective of Curtis, the two were mates and had been bonded for a while now. However as close as they were, Curtis had known that Bucky had another mate out in the world, it was natural for the man who was unnaturally turned into the beats to have two mates.

It wasn’t a matter of if Bucky had found his other mate, but when. Curtis knew it was coming, he could feel it deep within himself, and knowing that he had to share his mate was not as egregious as he had imagined, though there was anticipation and uncertainty that heralded around having a third in their home.

“It’s cold out.” The words fell from Bucky’s lips just as Curtis had stepped over the same fallen log, following his mate through the woods.

Bucky had been a soldier, he had been a brute known as The Winter Soldier, a mercenary who was working for a twisted and vile man. Once his usefulness was expunged, Bucky had been thrown to rabid and feral werewolves who were meant to kill him. They were meant to end him and they thought they succeeded, but Bucky was strong. He had not only survived the attack, but he had become one of the beasts himself.

Curtis found him when he had stumbled halfway through the woods recognizing Bucky as his mate, just as Curtis had acknowledged that there would be a third.

“It’s too quiet, it’s eery.” Bucky had glanced back at Curtis, watching him approach with a steady hand on his weapon and the other carrying a lamp. “Someone’s out there.”

“You can hear it?” Bucky questioned Curtis, turning back to look at the darkening haze that fell over the forest. “You can hear something?”

“Whines,” Curtis’ stride became quickened and he had passed Bucky with haste, drawing his mate after him as he picked up the pace and started darting through the woods, “to the left!”

Bucky had followed, he had gone crashing through the woods before he came to a river that should have been frozen on the surface, however the broken chunks of ice and water flowing beneath had told him otherwise. He had moved without hesitating, sliding down the embankment to stop at the frozen edge, his hands bracing against the bottom, his eyes sweeping across the person who was laying on the edge, far enough from the crack to be stabilized and not fall back in.

“Bucky, she’s dying.” Curtis had followed him down the embankment on another path, carefully and tactically encroaching toward the woman. “If we don’t get her back, she’ll die.”

Bucky watched Curtis remove her from the ice, he had watched almost as if it was happening in slow motion, the way that Curtis had held her in his arms. He balanced her gently and carefully, glancing back up at the embankment. He had studied it for a moment, gauging the best way to proceed and then he had grit this teeth, his jaw clenching.

“Curtis-“ Bucky stepped carefully, coming closer to the two as a haze settled over him. It was a cognitive reaction to seeing the woman who seemed frail compared to the two beasts between her, an innate feeling of something falling into place that left him without the ability to breathe.

“She’s your mate,” Curtis had explained, shifting her in his arms, “you are mine, and she is yours.”

“Curtis-“

“We have each other, and now we have her. We are a triad.” Curtis looked down at her, his lips twitching. “But we won’t be if we don’t get her back. She will die, and you will never recover.”

[clockworkstarlight]

YOUR DND OCS...... NOW!

GRAHH! I STILL ONLY HAVE THEIR CONCEPTS FOR NOW BUT I NEED TO DRAW EM SOON.. I ALSO HAVE THREE THAT IM ACTUALLY USING FOR TABLES IM PLAYING SO ILL INCLUDE THESE THREE IN HERE TOO...

GET READY FOR A LOT OF TEXT First things first, the actual oc ones! the ones i just made for fun and not actual use in an adventure! i've shown you them before :D most of these dont have names decided yet! - A warforged monk, a robotic lady made for a cloistered monastery life, acting as a teacher for new monks and a practice bot. After the destruction of her monastery, she has been forced to live in the outside world, her only goal being to spread her teachings. She is the "voice of reason" of her group, seeming too logical at times, especially because of her robotic nature. Her strongest flaw is that she does not see alignment in her students, so her teachings may be used for evil or good, and she couldn't care less about the uses. - A thri-kreen barbarian. Coming from a humble life, the man has become a hero of his town and respected after taking down a monster threatening the lives of the others of his kin. Despite having a certain kind-hearted nature, both to the innocent and those of his party, he is still a tough beetle to crack, having a somewhat rough personality when it comes to threats and such dangers. Uses a maul (two-handed battle hammer) as his main weapon, using his bigger set of arms to wield it. Sometimes carries his teammates on his bigger arms as well.(hehe hi beetle boy. beetle guy.) - A plasmoid druid. Born to the woods, they live a reclusive life in the wilderness with quite a soft interest for creatures that are around them, slowly becoming closer and developing a guardian bond with animals from the terrain they were bound to. It is quite the curious plasmoid, a small slime with the wish to know more about its surroundings, even being filled with leaves, sticks and flowers to the point of those blossoming through their slimy surface. Surprisingly, it doesn't remember its origins, other than it's wandering past before becoming an adventurer with their current party. Somewhat knowing, yet naive. It's contradicting in nature.

- An owlin ranger. A boy born to a family of corrupt aristocrats, his parents extorting those in need and using what they gained to shower their family in riches, his parents treating him as a golden child. Due to his family's bad reputation, the owlin himself was seen by part of the population as someone as bad as his parents, and that was the last thing he wished to be perceived as. He aimed to be a hero, but his origins prevented him from taking such a path in his life, in a way that almost would lead him to a breaking point. One night, he finally managed to escape his chains, finding refuge in the darkness of the forests nearby and making his living out of hunting the beasts that lurk in the shadows. His family still searches for him out there, but he knows they'll never know who he is now. His persona seems a little bit overconfident, but displays signs of humility, taking his inspirations from heroic adventurers he heard in stories. The boy is.. not really used to socializing and physical touch due to his affinity to the darkness, but he tries his best.

- A fairy cleric. A devout acolyte of the fey deities, she had been assigned to the research of her own religion, seeing old fragments of ancient texts and deciphering their messages. She deeply believed and worshiped Titania, the Queen of Fey and Summer, till the day she received an important notice: she would be called for a meeting that would decide her fate in the church. The fairy excitedly awaited such a day, and such a day came, but in a way she did not expect. She was called upon a manifestation of Titania herself, and such mighty light shocked her weak brain. Despite being so knowledgeable, she could not handle the pure appearance of her goddess, and it made her lose her sanity, to the point she had run away mid ceremony, laughter mixed in with desperate cries for forgiveness coming from the faerie. She now lives as a somewhat insane cleric, living in constant euphoria and happiness, not considering it a curse nor a blessing, but rather questioning why she is the one fated to suffer with such insanity.

- A kalashtar fighter. An avid anthropologist studying demonic races, she wouldn't consider herself an adventurer until a sudden calling for adventure from the plane of dreams and after hearing a story of adventure coming from a tiefling. After those events, she has made herself quite proficient with bladed weapons in order to be a sufficient member of a party, taking advice from her own studies and fighting styles coming from temples she studied for when young, and after that sailing off towards the unknown. She has quite a nerdy personality mixed with seriousness, though asking her about cultural details of certain races may lead to unexpected ramblings from the kalashtar woman. Mostly interested in the religious and historical aspects of those she studies, but doesn't consider herself much of a scholar or a specialist for either of those topics. A somewhat honorable fighter.

For my actual in-use characters we got: - Octopus mermaid death cleric, a young woman forced to pray to gods of destruction due to her own fear and paranoia of her city being destroyed again.

- Astral elf wizard named Alcyoneus. Previously a high ranking magician, she was locked in a prison unjustly after being accused of the murder of her entire family's court, she being the only survivor to tell the true story, yet with no one to believe her.

- A tiefling sorceress with Beelzebub ancestries named Urtica. Lead by her ancestor (Beelzebub himself, she calls him "Father" though) living as a voice that only she can hear to a new land, the bug-like lady has lead quite the shaken-up life, tricking others with her human form and looking for money related deals.

those last three have drawn looks but i will post them separetly! SORRY IF THIS GOT TOO LONG I GOT TOO EXCITED ...

[warsrage]

i haven’t cursed anyone in years . ( @ aragorn lolll )

THE RANGER STANDS NEARLY MOTIONLESS BEFORE HER, EXPERIENCED HAND BALANCED CAREFULLY ON THE POMMEL OF HIS LONGSWORD. something about her very presence seems to bring the forest to its knees ; even the birds in the trees have gone strangely silent and aragorn cannot decipher whether it's meant as a sign of respect or fear. he, too, holds his breath along with the woods, along with the world. the hunter in him requires but a moment to know that he stands in the presence of a great and terrible power, one that he may be unable to contend with. with every fell step comes an opportunity to prove wrong the prophecies passed down the lineage he never asked for. estel, they'd called him in the house of elrond. hope. but such power - such ancient magic - as is contained in her very aura would likely pay no mind to the burden of purpose.

there is a fatigue that accompanies purpose, even in the practice of avoiding it, a practice in which strider has engaged for years of his improbably long life. since childhood, the same questions have haunted him : what makes a king? is it strictly the misfortune of one's lineage? can any man rule a kingdom by name alone? what wisdom is there in that? or shall kings be crowned by deed? and if so, by what measure could aragorn, son of arathorn, even be found worthy? in the wilds, it matters not ; the remaining vestiges of the dúnedain care far more for the novelty of survival than the reunification of arnor to its southern brother. here in the wilds, he is as much lone wolf as he is chieftain, as near to a beast as any king. truth be told, he prefers it that way. always, a voice in his ear reminds him that he cannot outrun time - but even so, he disguises himself, leans into monikers as others offer them, omits the truth of his birth as often as he can manage.

❝ how many years, I wonder? ❞ he answers cautiously, chin tilted upward as he surveys her, wondering if his eyes betray him or if the air around her truly shimmers. stories and warnings plague these woods, superstitions which have become commonplace in such areas of the world. ( even he himself must be the subject of one or two by now. ) if she is in fact a creature to ignite such fear in the common folk, then surely there is sense in hiding away here. but what makes a witch? is it much the same as being deemed a king? ❝ enough to make any difference to you? even to me? ❞ the ranger tilts his head just slightly, examining her far more with curiosity than fear. ❝ what brings you so far into the wilds, my lady? ❞ are you hunted, or are you the hunter?