#but we shall see when that happens

[caindiis]

nothing more devastating than coming back to the tag of your fav and seeing the most recent post is still your own

[inhuman-obey-me]

Babe, Wake Up. New OM World Lore Just Dropped!

So. Nightbringer Lesson 22.

(spoilers, obviously)

The Father of Demons

While cleaning the library, MC finds a book -- one that has the same lines narrated by Solomon in the Prologue video. The book, like the video, ends abruptly at "the demon's name was..." as the rest of the book is gone, pages torn out.

The brothers wonder what the name could be, and Mammon insists it must be Nightbringer, to which Asmodeus agrees. Then, we find out that Satan learned some interesting information from a Celestial Realm book.

So the Celestial Realm also knows of Nightbringer -- but as "the father of demons", thought to be the very first demon born in the world. They go on to say Nightbringer has been known by other names as well, but otherwise, there isn't a whole lot more information on him. Okay, Simeon, please go home real quick and see if you can get this book in undamaged form for us.

That certainly brings a whole new weight to Nightbringer's identity, if he is indeed supposed to be the first demon ever to exist. So far, the game has been heavily hinting that Nightbringer is a version of Barbatos, and this new information would seemingly match up with one of the chats in OG where Barbatos mentions he was never a child, as well as the stories Asmodeus mentions of Barbatos being strong enough to be Demon King himself.

However, the identity of the child, as well as what Nightbringer's actual goals are with MC, is still to be revealed, and this doesn't help to actually clarify any of those questions yet.

The Secret of the Little D.'s

Another major thing we learned is about the Little D.'s -- and that is that they are technically fairies or spirits that came from a tree that the Fairy King used to tend, back when the Fairy King ruled the Devildom. The game goes on to explain that this makes them technically actually fairies or spirits, though the Little D.'s call themselves demons, so their true nature is a mystery -- especially since they are also sometimes born when a new demon is born into the world, but not always!

Interestingly, Barbatos also phrases it as those demons being chosen, so though it's extremely rare, it is seemingly not random, though we don't know exactly why or how.

New demons being born into the world also includes when fallen angels turn, it seems, since the extremely rare occurrence of these spirits being born alongside demons happened with all seven of the brothers after their fall.

So it's not that the main Little D.'s are just lesser demons of each particular sin, but that they are direct spirit counterparts to the demon brothers -- one for each of them, one for each sin.

Which brings us to ...

The Seven Sins

We've always known the seven brothers as the Avatars of the Seven Deadly Sins, but an interesting bit of information we learned in this lesson is that the brothers didn't know why they were given these particular titles, or if Pride, Greed, Envy, etc. were even known as the Seven Deadly Sins at the time the titles were given to them.

Beelzebub refers to them as "keywords", and we again establish it was the Demon King who gave these titles to the brothers. Diavolo says that if his father decided to give these titles to them, they must be important.

We know that the brothers were already exhibiting signs of their assigned "sin" even when they were angels, but as shown by Mammon's behavior in the past two lessons, the full force of each sin hasn't taken over all of them just yet. In fact, Mammon's greed has come out in a dangerous, powerful way as he becomes more of a demon.

It remains to be seen what, if any, relevance this has with MC losing their connection to the OG boys, but we know how they've changed by OG Season 1, where they fully embrace their sins.

We'll just have to wait and see!

[rustytrident]

seeing all these mixed opinions ab nightbringer and here i am giggling and kicking my feet cause we get to rizz up the demons all over again

[luck-of-the-drawings]

FOR A BEAT OF HEART, THE BREATH IS SHOT. AND WITHIN A BREATH, THE HEART IS CAUGHT. THE PIPES ARE BURSTING, UNDER GREAT STRESS, BOLTS TORN ASUNDER, MAKING A MESS. A FINAL COUGH, A FINAL RETCH, A GOREY SLOUGH, CLAIMED BY WRETCH.

[julnites]

For Miku Minutes: How about Frog Miku? :3c

oh yeah sure here you go (+ actual take on frog miku)

[its-flame-art]

“what?”

“you’re George Goof!”

“yeah. who are you?”

[tblsomedoodles]

Donnieverse wip b/c i'm really excited about this next bit and cannot wait for it to be done : )

(EDIT: i just realized that Donnieverse turn a year old on the 17. which was a surprise. I did not expect for it to become something this big from the one ask about what the Dee and Donnie would think about Webs's coat. so thank you!)

[jessamine-rose]

*lovingly tackles Aine*

Read my Yandere! Pierro longfics first ♪( ´▽｀)

Last week, my beloved mutual @ainescribe surprised me with Savior! Darling fan art and AHAI9232@2-!/! CRYING SCREAMING I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS ART AND WORSHIP YOUR VERSION OF SAVIOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BLESSING ME WITH YOUR ART—

*clears throat* Anyway, now that I finally have the time to properly sit down and comment on the fan art, I’ll do just that. Feedback will be in the tags and it will be unhinged. Once again, thank you so much to Aine for drawing this <3

[starredhowell]

me posting this two days ago as ppl begged for amazingphil upload… and now ik i was right for this hearing that dan edited the tour trailer in the hospital and the aussie leak happened before phil was supposed to leave and they had to rush to announce everything as phil was IN THE BED. like i need everyone to really think for a sec. we can have our little in jokes about yearning for an upload or something but ppl do be tagging them and everything while begging and i hope this rlly puts into perspective that we NEVER really know whats going on and should not be harrassing them for uploads 😭😭😭

[fidgetspringer]

We're going over the wiring the old owner did on the bike, which is very neatly colour coded, but my stepdad is also VERY colour blind, so far it's going a lot like this:

Stepdad: "So this red wire-"

Me: "That one's green but go on."

Him: "So this green wire-"

-

Him: "This one's orange, right?"

Me: "That's the brown one."

-

Him: *Pointedly holding up wire*

Me: "Red."

So at least i'm being somewhat useful.

[astrology-bf]

FFXIV Write 2024 | Day 6 "Halcyon"

Master Post | My AO3 | Challenge Info

~ 3k words | Mature | Gen | CW: Semi-Graphic Violence, Death, Heavy Angst, Mild Stormblood Spoilers

(Set after the Scions are called to the First, but before the showdown with Elidibus)

The gunblade shook in Marius’ hand as he did his best to keep his knees from giving out from under him, his nerve rattled by pain from the arrow wound on his left side… but more so the sight before him and his squadmates.

That the eikon-slayer appeared to be a simple man was beyond terrifying.

“Forward!” The centurion’s command cracked through the tension like a whip.

Marius hesitated; as did the other men. One even dared to verbalize his hesitation. 

“But-”  

The remainder of the protest went unvoiced as the centurion looked sharply at the culprit; that was enough of a reminder of the penalty for disobedience. 

“That is an order.” he stated, with firm finality. 

“You should probably listen to them.” The eikon-slayer’s voice was clear, but slightly husky at the edges with quiet weariness. He had his eyes fixed on the centurion, but hadn’t moved an ilm since they’d caught sight of him.

The centurion tightened his grip on his own weapon. He hesitated for a moment, then brandished it towards the enemy.

“You are outnumbered, savage,” he said. “Give up.”

The eikon-slayer raised his staff, holding it vertically with the end a mere fulm from the ash-stained earth. 

“Last warning.”  he said.

Again, there was a beat of hesitation. Then, with an audible intake of breath beneath his helmet, the centurion raised his gunblade. 

Marius took a step back.

“For Garlemald!” 

The cry was met with wordless shouts as all the men save Marius advanced; weapons raised, putting all thoughts of fearful tales aside as they began their charge to what they tried to convince themselves was a lone man. Easy enough prey.

A quiet breath left the eikon-slayer’s lips, and Marius’ blood turned cold as he saw the Hyur’s expression take on a serenity which was more frightening than anger.

His staff came down, the end striking the earth with a light crack.

There was a flash of pale-blue aether, and all heat was evacuated from the air within an instant: a snap of cold which caused the metal plates of the Garleans’ armor to start warping, buckling, digging into flesh or popping off and leaving it defenseless… not that it mattered, given that the flesh was now more ice than meat. 

After a few moments, the aether faded. Marius stood frozen as he gazed in horror at the frozen statues which had once been fellow soldiers. The corpse of the centurion keeled over, and shattered when it struck the ground. 

The eikon-slayer watched it fall, and then his eyes flicked up to Marius.

There was a clatter as the gunblade fell from Marius’ hand. His knees gave way, and he gasped at the stab of pain in his left side from the sharp motion. Through trembling, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“...Please…” he begged.

The eikon-slayer’s chin rose up as he eyed Marius carefully. He said nothing, and the serene expression on his face had faded into bitter weariness. His staff lowered, and he began walking towards the kneeling soldier - weaving around the frozen statues of his former squadmates, so he didn’t disturb them. 

Marius’ shaking grew more violent as the eikon-slayer neared him, and his breathing came in panicked gasps.

“Please…” he said. His mind was screaming at him to pick up his weapon, or at least try to run, but pain and fear held him locked tight. “Forgive me, please… Please don’t kill me…” 

A quiet sob escaped him as the eikon-slayer came to a halt merely a yalm away. He stared at him, still and silent, his staff in hand even if pointed away from him. 

Marius closed his eyes, and thought of his family. He had no gods to pray to, after all.

“You’re injured.” 

Marius froze. His eyes opened, and he looked up to see the eikon-slayer was looking at his left side, where the hauberk had been punctured and the hasty patch applied, given they lacked a Medicus. 

“...What?” he asked. His voice was nearly a whisper, and all fear had turned to sheer confusion.

The eikon-slayer gestured at his injury. “What happened to you?” he asked.

The Garlean soldier swallowed, blinking furiously. “...An arrow.” he answered, instinctively.

His enemy gave a slow nod. “Do you want me to take a look at it?” He gestured at his injury again, keeping his staff lowered and pointed away from Marius.

Again, Marius blinked. He shook his head. “I don’t understand.” 

“I can heal it for you, if you’d like.”

A breath left the Garlean soldier’s lips under his helmet, and his eyes went to the frozen corpses of his former comrades; people he all knew by name, and now were dead by the hand of the same man offering healing. “...You’re insane.”  

“Aye. Probably.” The eikon-slayer said, nodding in agreement. 

Marius began to shake again.

His enemy then gave a shrug. “Offer’s open, but if not you can head back. Not going to kill an unarmed man.” he said, gesturing and causing his own weapon to vanish as a show of faith. 

The only sound that passed between them for a long few moments was Marius’ labored breathing, set against the backdrop of distant artillery and thunder; an endless drumbeat of a march to war upon the Ghimlyt Dark.

Marius swallowed again. His shaking started easing, and as his terror faded the discomfort of the injury made itself known again.

“Would it hurt?” he asked, hesitantly.

The eikon-slayer shook his head. “No,” he answered. “Might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but I’ve been told I’ve got a gentle hand.” Then he paused, looking off to the side and giving a bitter sigh. “For healing, at least.” he added, mournfully.

Another silence lingered in the air before Marius gave a slow nod of agreement. “...All right.” 

His enemy moved forward and knelt down next to him, the red-accented white of his short jacket standing out amidst the ash, dirt, and blackened plating of dead soldiers and wrecked magitek. He was careful not to move too suddenly, but even then the poor Garlean couldn’t help but flinch as his enemy began healing him.

True to his word, there was no pain: more of a hot pressure that soon faded like a burn run under water. The tightness where the skin was punctured loosened as the magick knit the tissues back together, keeping them cleansed of any infection. 

Marius had been healed by magic before, but admitted that the eikon-slayer had a gentle hand. He even started humming, quietly, stirring thoughts of home in Garlemald when Marius was laid up with a childhood cold and being attended to.

It was strangely soothing, considering the circumstances.

“What’s your name?” The eikon-slayer asked. His eyes had remained fixed on Marius’ injury since he’d begun.

“...Marius.”

“Nice to meet you, Marius. I’m Ifan.” The eikon-slayer - Ifan, rather - glanced up at Marius’ eyepieces and gave a small nod.

Marius swallowed, brown eyes peering at Ifan’s blue from underneath his helm. “The eikon-slayer.” he said, out of pure instinct. 

Ifan snorted. “Just ‘Ifan’ is fine.” He shook his head, and went on healing.

The Garlean bit his lower lip and looked away. His fingers still trembled where his hands sat idly. 

“You are not like the tales.” he said, at length.

“What do the tales say about me?” Ifan asked, with a note of mirthless amusement.

Marius’ breath caught in his throat, and his chin lowered. “I would not wish to anger you.”

“Odd thing to say, coming from a soldier trying to conquer my homeland.” Ifan said, after humming inscrutably. His tone was strange; more like a performance of being teasing, going through the motions with no substance in it. After a brief pause, Ifan glanced up at Marius again. 

“You know what they say about Garleans?” he asked.

Marius shook his head slowly.

Ifan paused as if in hesitation, or perhaps putting more focus into the healing. “They say that you can’t use magic because you don’t have souls,” he began. “That you’re not human, just beasts which look and speak like us. Worse than Amalj’aa, or Sahagin, because at least they don’t try to lure you in by looking like you.” 

The Garlean’s brown knitted and his lips parted beneath his helmet, but he blinked in shock as Ifan gave a derisive snort.

“Fuckarse rubbish,” Ifan swore. “Who comes up with shite like that, anyway?” He shook his head, and went on healing.

Marius let out a small scoff, not sure why he found the notion of the eikon-slayer having a foul mouth somewhat amusing. “You do not believe it?” he asked, peering at Ifan.

Ifan shook his head. “Even if I didn’t have Garlean friends, I was raised to see the value in difference and diversity. My mentor was Dalmascan.” he explained.

“Truly?”  

“Aye,” Ifan said, nodding again. “He loved his country just as much as you probably love yours, and he did his best to share that love with me. Tried to keep what Dalmasca stood for alive, through me… a dream of harmony.” 

He started frowning, then, as his gaze slid off towards the side. He took in the sight of the battlefield where the pair knelt, listened to the distant din of endless fighting, and tried to remember what the sun looked like.

Ifan clicked his teeth, shook his head, and went on healing.

“Your turn, Marius,” he said. “What do they say about me in Garlemald?”

Marius wetted his lips, and looked off to the side to avoid Ifan’s gaze; even the helmet seemed no real cover from those dark blue eyes. 

“Some say that you’re an eikon.” Marius answered.

Ifan blinked, seeming surprised. “Oh? Of which god?” he asked.

“Your death deity.” Marius said.

“Nald’thal, hm?” The eikon-slayer let out a whistle, then nodded with an impressed pursing of his lips. “High praise, if a bit blasphemous. Summoned by the Sultanate, no doubt?”

Marius returned a nod.

Ifan took in a breath, glancing up thoughtfully, then looked back at the Garlean soldier’s helmet for a moment. “Why him, specifically?” he asked.

Marius sucked on his tongue. The pain in his left side was fully gone, so it was easier to think; Ifan hadn’t made a move to harm him, so he was owed some candor at the very least. “They say you raise the dead to eat the living, and burn your enemies alive in hellsfire. Some even, uh…” He swallowed, tone growing reluctant.

“Hm?” Ifan coaxed. “Go on.”

“...Some frighten their children with you.” Marius answered, at length. “‘Behave yourself, or Kaleid the Black will come devour you in the night’. That manner of thing.”

The healing stopped. Ifan’s lips parted, then his gaze lowered as his face took on an expression which was nothing short of miserable.

Marius could swear the eikon-slayer looked like he was about to cry. 

“...That so?” Ifan said, after a long and sad silence. The magic resumed, and Ifan’s expression hardened. 

“Suppose I earned it,” he remarked. “It’s true enough.” 

“...What?”

Ifan gave Marius no answer, at least not until he finished healing him. The magic faded for a final time, and the Garlean would have marveled at the way he felt near good-as-new were he not slipping back into a state of fear.

“You’ve heard the name Rhitahtyn sas Arvina before, no doubt.” Ifan asked, standing upright. He offered Marius his hand, keeping it out until he finally worked up the courage to accept it. 

The Garlean grunted lightly as he pulled himself up to his feet, as did Ifan. The difference in their height was stark; Marius was pureblooded, and Ifan below average for a Midlander. “Of course. Who hasn’t? You slew him, at-”

“Cape Westwind.” Ifan supplied. He stared up at Marius’ helmet, hands kept at his side and his expression grim. “I was angry. It was ripping me apart inside. So I took it out on him, and anyone who tried to get in the way.”

Marius swallowed. Though afraid, his curiosity proved itself stronger. “What did you do?” he asked.

“You don’t want to know.” Ifan answered, quietly.

Marius’ lips twitched at the warning, but he still insisted. “Tell me.” 

The eikon-slayer stared up at him intently, giving him near a full minute to renege. When Marius didn’t, Ifan took in a breath and answered in a quiet, and guilty tone.

“When his men tried to interfere, I raised their dead comrades as ashkin and set them loose,” Ifan said. “Then I held back with Rhitahtyn when I set off that flare inside his armor, so it didn’t kill him right away. He suffered.” Despite his words, the eikon-slayer’s face was completely impassive.

Marius stared back at him, lips parted and his eyebrows fallen at the ends. He hadn’t any answer.

Ifan didn’t let the ugly silence linger, however, and glanced off to the side again. 

“Why are you here, Marius?” he asked.

“...For Garlemald.” Marius answered, hesitantly and at length.

The eikon-slayer looked back at his helm again, as if able to peer behind the metal at his eyes. “And what is Garlemald, to you?”

Marius went quiet for a moment as he gave Ifan’s question thought. “It’s my home. Our home. A place we earned, against all odds.” He swallowed, voice gaining confidence at the reminder. “We owe her everything. This is her command.” he said, and finished with a nod.

Ifan’s face twisted disgustedly. “This?” he asked, gesturing around. Then he paused, closed his eyes, and scoffed humorlessly. “...Not that I’m any better. The Alliance tells me who to kill, and I do it. For Eorzea.” he said, nodding at Marius.

Marius blinked. “You do not wish to be here?” he asked.

Ifan looked at Marius as if he was joking. “No.” he said, tone growing aggrieved, “I want to be with my friends, with a man I love, studying magic and having adventures. I don’t want to be stuck in the hells killing people and having children be scared of me.” Then his face twisted, and Marius felt himself frown at just how vulnerable the eikon-slayer looked.

 “I’m worried about what it’s doing to me, Marius.” Ifan said carelessly and honestly. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve forgotten that I used to have a life before this.”

The Garlean gave no answer. Instead, he looked at the ground at the uncomfortable reminder of an all too familiar feeling.

“...Suppose it doesn’t make a difference, does it?” Ifan said, giving a sigh. “I chose the job, I need to see it through.”

“Job?” Marius asked, looking back up.

“Aye.” Ifan nodded. “The job.” He gave no further explanation.

Strangely, Marius found himself thankful that the eikon-slayer didn’t tell him what ‘the job’ entailed. The way he said it sounded like a death sentence, to the Garlean’s ears.

The pair stared at each other, silent once again. Marius’ breathing had now eased, but the sounds of warfare in the distance went on ceaselessly. 

Marius wet his lips. “...What will you do, now?” he asked.

Ifan hummed to himself briefly. “My orders were to clear the area. It’s clear. So I’ll probably go have a drink, find a man, take a nap, and wait for my next set of orders.” His tone was flat, as was his face, and the words were very practiced. Then he looked back at Marius again. “What about you?”

The Garlean had to take a good minute to give it some thought. That he was alive at all was nothing short of a miracle, at least based on the knowledge the Garlean Empire had of Kaleid the Black; or rather, the image of him that was useful to the Emperor. A merciful adventurer who liked playing with magic wasn’t someone who inspired fear and rage, which were the tools of conquest.

“They would not believe me if I told them you spared me,” Marius answered. “They will likely think I deserted, if I return alone.”

Ifan nodded. “What’s the penalty?” he asked, though he seemed to have a decent guess as to the answer.

Marius swallowed. “...Death.” he said, quietly.

Ifan’s lips pursed. He looked away again, thinking, then let out a long breath and nodded to himself. 

“I have a bit of gil. Should be enough to get you somewhere safe, for now.” He reached into his jacket and withdrew a small pouch from a space which seemed too small for it, before stepping forward and offering the coin to Marius. “Go be with your family, if you have any.” 

Marius reached up after another pause; not to take the pouch, but rather to remove his helm so he could look the eikon-slayer in the eye. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead around his third eye, and his pale face was flushed with lingering exertion, but his expression was a mask of sad and fearful gratitude. He let the helm fall where it landed with a final thud, before Marius accepted Ifan’s mercy. 

“...Thank you.” He said, and took the coin from Ifan before holding on to it carefully; his life depended on it, after all. 

Though could likely take his leave, Marius instead kept looking down at Ifan’s face. His lips twisted. “Have you any family?” he asked, unable to disguise the pity.

Ifan shook his head. “Not blooded, but…” His gaze lowered as his face took on a distant cast. “...most of them are gone, now. And I don’t want the other people I care about to see me like this.” The eikon-slayer then looked back up at Marius, and tilted his head apologetically. 

Marius didn’t know what to say. But he felt he should say something, so he did.

“I am sorry, Ifan.” he uttered, clutching at the coin pouch Ifan had given him.

Ifan stared at him in silence, and then gave him a faint, sad, but still thankful half-smile.

“Thanks, Marius.” He said. Then he nodded, and took a few steps back before he turned to leave. “...Good luck with your second chance.”

[twicethetrouble]

Chapter 8 is up! It's short and more like a transition buffer chapter, but it's here!

[rkn001]

proceeds to beat everyone up on artfight

the following is a list of all of the ocs and their owners in the respective order of the pics above:

kirin master for riley (@nijimarii)

taiga woman for cris (@tinyreploid)

glitchy for twilight (@twilight-dawn)

mail man for reddy (@rederick-ignis)

gold man and rodeo man for korn (@zeibei)

stunt man for @wonderful-magician

moon woman for willow (@willows-rambles)

[toestalucia]

i think of this anytime i think of yurius but having the eternals visit levin was so fun. like. initially i was all haha ok? but the yurius & seox convo hello..................i see why they did this......

[reading-writing-dying]

Very sad that even though I finished writing it 4 days ago, my next chapter of my hotguy/cuteguy fic may not be out by tomorrow/if it is it will be very late my time because it still has not been edited and new apartment doesn't have wifi yet

[bmpmp3]

trying out a new type of watercolour paper so dave gets to be my guinea pig