#endless coda

[akatsukiky]

Hello I’m tasting a lack of Endless Coda-verse fics.

I’m unironically so invested in this April Fools universe, I almost (ALMOST) want an anime of it over Element. I want to consume any media of it and watch Eichi’s direct body count skyrocket in a world where he’s allowed to kill people at his own leisure. I want real, physical consequences to everyone’s words and actions and for the station to look like Danganronpa.

That said, I’m back on my shit, I come bearing a fic idea that I’ll never write. As ever, feel free to take it and use it as you please.

Warnings: Endless Coda story spoilers, leans into immoral villain Eichi, death death death death, manipulation and the like, the dove isn’t dead but it might need a bandaid.

I’m thinking more War Era w the Eccentrics since Shu mentioned 5 Eccentrics, leaning into the first anime’s version of Eichi’s obsession.

Setting likely another older space station, the Yumenosaki if you would. Doubles as an idol academy and a mecha pilot academy.

It follows the War closely at first what w the abysmal condition of the school and student body. Rei is in charge-ish and the clubs still exist, the DreFes fighting hasn’t become popular yet.

Officially the only mecha are one per established group for their leaders (Ryuuseitai’s Madara and Valkyrie’s Shu), the council leader (Rei), and personal ones for individual’s with the money to spend on it (Hokuto, Subaru, Ritsu, Kanata, Eichi, etc).

Once the Eccentrics are established by Eichi, Wataru and Natsume both receive their own mecha. Then, once units are being formed (ex-fine, Knights, AKATSUKI) they supply/are supplied mecha per member.

Eichi’s body count just skyrockets from the get-go. The mecha fight DreFes let him get away with outright murder + the s//c/d/ rates caused by the stress he puts on the students. Look at him, the little go-getter- murdering his way to martyrdom /ref.

And obv there’s the cloning thing. And the implanted memories into the clones. Technically that overrules Eichi being ill but he would have had to be dying at least a little bit when it was discovered.

The plot gets funny once the Eccentrics are formed, pov probably always one of them w smaller chapters for people affected by the war (Nagisa, Hiyori, Tsumugi Aoba, Hokuto, Mika, etc).

The bullying and social isolation all still happen but it’s decidedly worse in Coda-verse since killing and maiming is okay apparently. What happens is that, just like with THAT Valkyrie performance, some if fine’s fans go the extra mile to try and decommission the Eccentrics entirely through attacking them. Eichi never lets it get far and always arranges for something to interrupt so that the targeted Eccentric is always just hurt enough that they can push through it and appear as amazing as ever.

The Valkyrie loss goes more or less the same. It wasn’t a DreFes so there wasn’t any fighting, the audio gets cut, and Shu has his mental breakdown.

Rei’s incidents also are the same, he gets sent to other space station academies to fix issues that people ask him to help with.

Eventually one of these attempts get a little too far w Kanata, happening a little while after Shu’s public humiliation. Someone tries drowning him (the endless puka puka) and nothing stops them this time, thankfully someone else finds Kanata in time to resuscitate him. It can be Mama, Kaoru, or Souma, they’re all valid options for this.

The next time the older Eccentrics meet after that incident, they decide that now is the time to squirrel Natsume away for his own sake. Unfortunately, that means that the number of targets lowered from five to three (occasionally two) and the bullying just gets that much worse.

Eventually comes time for Wataru and Hokuto versus fine (and this is where things get really canon divergent-y). Because that one is a DreFes, they will be fighting in mecha for a 2 v 4. Obviously the odds are against them.

Beforehand, Wataru does say goodbye to the Eccentrics because, just like normal, he knows he can’t win- both because he literally cannot as it’s a losing fight and because that’s what the script calls for, a dramatic climax for the ages. First is Kanata, then Rei and Natsume (the scene in which Natsume tries to give Wataru a different script to save himself). He doesn’t, however, get to say goodbye to Shu who was locked inside of his room.

What’s happening with Shu is one of Eichi’s schemes. I haven’t thought of the reasoning, maybe Shu had recovered himself just enough to still slander Eichi and he decided that just won’t do. So, capitalizing off the fact that Shu has been taking to hiding in his room and locking the door, Eichi has someone (a fan, maybe Tsumugi Aoba, or Eichi himself) lock it from the outside w admin codes so he can’t get out. After all, what could be more crushing than watching your friend get executed right in front of you with no escape?

This is going by a HC I have for DreFes in general both in and out of Coda-verse in which (at Yumenosaki) you can’t change a screen connected to the school’s internet off from the current on-going DreFes. More specific to Coda-verse but I imagine there are cameras in the cockpits of the mecha, just like the obligatory shots of the pilots screaming when something pokes the mecha (I’ve never understood this, the robot’s leg got cut off not yours).

So, with Shu locked in his room and incapable of finding any comfort and with Natsume + Rei watching the fight firsthand (god knows where Kanata is), the DreFes begins. It’s a losing fight for Wataru from the get-go, even moreso because he’s going out of his way to protect Hokuto as needed. Eventually, Eichi or Tsumugi Aoba manage to damage Wataru’s mecha enough that it can’t move, making them the victors of the DreFes. Most of the feeds take an intermission break at this point except for Shu’s.

See, while Eichi’s plot to break Shu more was working to plan, his idea to make to make sure that the feed showed him every moment of the execution did backfire somewhat. Whether or not Shu knows it, he’s the only one to witness Wataru being removed from his mecha unconscious (or dead) after losing before it can be returned to the docking bay for him to be taken to medical if needed.

If he did die inside the mecha, I assume that the usual camera feed automatically cuts off if there’s damage to the cockpit that would harm the pilot since it would ruin the image of Yumenosaki.

So, since Wataru isn’t in the cockpit anymore when the people in docking bay try to get him to come out, they assume as first he’s a sore loser (because blah blah blah slander the Eccentrics), then (while fine’s live is going on) they finally think to check on him in the case he’s unconscious, and obviously when they open the cockpit he’s not there anymore. They assume he ran away.

From there, fine has their final performance and disbands. The Eccentrics are going through it.

Eichi only announces that Wataru passed away the following day due to a gas leak in his Mecca’s cockpit caused by a fuel line rupturing during the DreFes. Natsume is inconsolable and that’s important because of his eventual reconciliation with Tsumugi Aoba.

When Tsumugi attempts to apologize to Natsume and all that (the burning stuff behind the school scene I think), he mentions he can’t forgive someone who helped kill Wataru. Tsumugi drops the bomb that Wataru isn’t dead and is generally confused as to why Natsume thought that he would be. According to Tsumugi, he’s seen Wataru in the council room a few times since the DreFes.

Natsume gets the other Eccentrics (including Shu), much to their dismay that he has left hiding when the tensions have yet to settle. They’re a lot more understanding once he tells them about what Tsumugi has said. They decide to go straight to the council room to confront Eichi and ‘rescue’ Wataru.

They’re both there when the Eccentrics reach them. Wataru is happy to see them but not happy in the sense one would be to see a rescuer and more in the way of seeing a friend. He’s acting like nothing had happened out of the DreFes and a lot more familiar with Eichi than he was before (more like main !-era interactions). The Eccentrics get the sense that something is wrong but Eichi assures them that this is exactly what Wataru had wanted (which he affirms). When asked about telling everyone that Wataru had died, he explains that Wataru was hurt badly and had requested he be disappeared from the stage for a little while to recuperate. (He doesn’t look injured though)

I can’t be bothered to write more but eventually after the Eccentrics leave that little meeting, they splinter more. At some point one of them decides that they can’t just hide by Wataru acting so unusually even for him, they end up finding proof that Wataru was taken out of his mecha, they eventually find more clues to connect the dots, find out that Wataru had died during the DreFes but was replaced by a successful clone of him who lacks the precise memories of the DreFes itself and the animosity it should feel for Eichi, and all the Eccentrics die when they go to confront Eichi. Epilogue is one of them waking up from ‘hibernation,’ implying that they’ve been cloned themselves.

[kalmeria]

[windypuddle]

happyele really went happy april fools! niki fucking dies

[saddest-wettest-beast-tournament]

was colors arise submitted? (←can't get over the Universe) or were any of the april fools songs submitted? LOL

Colors Arise wasn't submitted, but there was 1 submission for one of the April Fools Songs!

[fiona-fififi]

Quiet

Rating: G

Fandom: 9-1-1 

Pairing: (pre-relationship) Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz

Summary: Christopher leaves, and everything is endless quiet.

Notes: angst with a hopeful ending, hurt/comfort, 911 spoilers, canon compliant to 7x10, episode coda, Buckley Diaz family, pre-relationship buddie

—

Ao3 Link

—

It's late when his phone rings. The screen displaying Eddie's name and a photo of a smile Buck feels like he barely remembers.

A desperate pain squeezes at his chest, and Buck thinks he might die for the return of that smile, even though he knows he'll never be able to bring it back on his own.

He answers. Stays quiet for long moments. Then, “Eddie?" he murmurs, and it's a careful plea. One full of misguided hope that it might be something good for once. Knows that’s wishful thinking.

Eddie doesn't answer. Long moments pass with nothing but the sound of his breathing to keep Buck company in the cold of his empty bed.

“It's quiet.”

Eddie's voice finally breaks the silence. It's barely a whisper, but it's broken in ways that slice open every old wound Buck had thought was beginning to heal, and suddenly he's flashing back to Christopher’s cries for help and to the ruined walls of Eddie's bedroom and to the way he'd thought, for too many fearful moments, that he'd find a body instead of the broken gaze of his best friend.

“Eddie?” He asks, a careful, quiet thing of his own. All his vulnerability betraying him as he begs for Eddie to be okay, even when he knows better.

“It's quiet like—like the middle of the night, when he's fast asleep. Except—” Buck hears the break in Eddie's voice, the way the pain he'd been trying to hold back had flooded all at once, leaving his voice so choked it's near unrecognizable, “—except he's just not here.”

Buck swallows hard against the emotion that threatens to spill over in his own voice, tosses the blankets off himself and finds his feet in one smooth motion he's not sure how he manages with the shake of his hands. “Eddie, I'm coming over,” he chokes out with the kind of conviction only Buck can manage through the tears that threaten.

“No,” Eddie begs on the other end of the line. And it's a harsh and broken thing—wet with tears but hard with anger Eddie's trying to use to mask it. “No. I told you, I don't want you here."

Buck has to bite his lip to keep the whimper of pain from dripping out around his own conviction. Holds his breath until it clears and then hangs up the phone without another word. It feels cruel, to cut Eddie off like that, but he won't argue. 

He'll break down the goddamn door again if he has to.

—

The moment he's in the car, he finds himself taking a deep breath, hands gripping too tight to the wheel as he debates his next move.

He knows he should go. Or maybe stay.

But either way, he knows he needs to make a decision and he knows that decision will always be to go to Eddie.

But there's one more thing he needs to try before he can.

He's calling Christopher before he's even processed the thought. It's late, and he shouldn't, but the line is ringing before he can manage to stop himself, and then Christopher's picking up, sounding somewhere between groggy and irritated, and Buck knows he shouldn't have called. Still can't bring himself to regret it.

“Is everyone alive?” Christopher asks first, through a yawn, and he's trying to hide it, but Buck can hear the legitimate worry there, and a pang of guilt hits him as he cringes in response.

“Yeah! Yeah, bud, of course everyone's alive,” he promises, all false cheer and forced smiles he hopes makes his tone sound just a little more convincing.

Christopher sighs, and Buck can hear him shuffling around a bit. Thinks maybe he's sitting up for what he's worried is going to be an argument. “Then why are you calling, Buck?”

And, okay, that tone cuts deeper than anything Buck's heard from Christopher in the past. He finds himself fiddling idly with his car keys, trying to keep his hands busy as he tries to choose his next words carefully.

He's quiet so long, Christopher has to reset him with an irritated “Buck.”

“Right, uh,” Buck begins, squeezing his eyes shut and scrubbing a hand over his face. “Buddy, your dad's not doing well.”

“No."

“Christopher,” Buck pleads, voice betraying all his frustration and pain because he understands, he does—he knows why Chris is angry and why he's not ready to talk. But he also knows how much Eddie is hurting and how little of it had actually been Eddie's fault. And it doesn't change the hurt it caused, but Buck needs Christopher and Eddie to be okay, and right now, he's not sure Eddie's going to be. “Look, I know you don't want to talk to him. And I know it's unfair of me to ask. But Christopher, he needs to at least hear from you. Just. you don't even have to call. Just—just text him. Tell him you love him.”

“Buck—"

“Please, Chris.” 

Christopher's silent for long moments. They stretch through the darkness. So long Buck thinks he's hung up the phone. In the end, though, a tiny voice breaks the silence—one full of a softness Buck hasn't heard in far too long. “Are you with him?”

Buck sucks in a shaky breath. Guilt flooding him at the question. “I'm going to him now.”

Buck thinks he hears Christopher breathe a sigh of relief. “Okay,” he says, sure in a way Buck knows neither of them feel. “Stay with him?”

Buck swallows hard. Fights back the tears. “Until you come home,” he promises.

And he means every word.

It's quiet for long moments again. Buck swears he can hear Christopher thinking. “I do still love him, you know,” Christopher promises. And there's that guilt that just keeps circling between the three of them.

Buck feels a sad smile tilt his lips. “I know you do, Chris. He knows, too. But I think he needs to hear it right now. From you.”

Quiet again. Buck thinks for a moment he's pushed too hard.

“I gotta go,” Christopher says, then. Sad, but sure, and Buck feels like his heart has been crushed. “Bye, Buck.”

“Bye, bud,” Buck chokes out. He thinks Christopher's already gone before he says it.

Tears cling to the corners of his eyes as he wills himself not to let them fall. Doesn't want to put anymore hurt on Eddie when he gets there. Tries to prepare himself for all the pain he knows he'll always take on to support the weight of Eddie's own because he knows he can't add to it now.

So with a heavy heart and a little extra hurt, Buck turns the key in the Jeep's ignition, buckles himself in, and wipes harshly at the tears blurring his eyes. 

Eddie needs him, and he won't wait another moment.

Before he can go, though, his phone dings with a text message, and when he checks it, it's Christopher. 

Tell dad I love him.

When Buck sees it, a harsh breath of relief catches in his throat, and a couple of stray tears manage to sneak out the corners of his eyes as he huffs a laugh devoid of any real humor.

Still, there's relief there. A huge, heavy weight lifting just the slightest as he snaps a screenshot and sends it to Eddie with a message that reads I'll be home in 20. Leave the door unlocked.  

And then he waits.

Stares at the phone in his hand, even when he knows he should already be on his way. But he doesn't have to wait long.

It's only seconds before the word okay comes through, bright as daylight. An invitation and a surrender Buck won't take for granted.

Instead, he swallows the sob that threatens to choke him and points himself in the direction of home.

—

[hippolotamus]

another installment of what I'm calling the cleopatra series. this time from Eddie's POV because I got in my Buddie feels. part 1 here 💙

late for the love of my life | 7x06 Coda | 912 words | G

“Hey, how was it?” Marisol wraps her arms around his waist, giving him a peck on the lips. 

Eddie barely suppresses the urge to flinch and turn away. Which is maybe a tad dramatic, except for the way it isn’t. Because the past 24 hours have held more than a few revelations. None of which Eddie is ready to share. 

Despite the layers of clothing between them, his skin tingles and crawls where she touches him. If he didn’t have years of experience being exposed to fluids, substances and people he didn’t want anywhere near him, he thinks he would have wrenched away from her by now. No, he definitely would have. But he’s a professional at hiding his personal reactions, both on and off the job. 

Yes, he’s made progress in therapy, but the instincts to hide himself, to put up walls and masks, are still easily activated. Handy for moments like now, when he can’t escape his girlfriend. Or when he has to smile big for the crowd and pretend the perpetual feelings for his best friend don’t exist when said best friend barrels back into the room all lovestruck and covered in soot from his boyfriend. 

“It was good. Really nice, actually.” That much is true. Because it was. Honestly, the whole hospital room chic was perfectly Maddie and Chim. 

“Nice?” She asks in a teasing tone, squeezing tighter and clinging to his torso like a koala. 

His breathing is acceptably even but the urge to peel her off, to tell her that she should probably go home because his heart rate is skyrocketing, his fingers and toes are tingling, and he’s beginning to feel claustrophobic is anything but. His built in panic mode suspects there isn’t enough Jell-o in the universe to undo this. Again, dramatic, but he thinks he’s within his rights to think so right now. 

“Yeah, I-” He pinches the bridge of his nose, squeezes his eyes shut and inhales as deeply as he can manage. “Y’know, I’m, uh, still feeling a little worse for wear from last night. I should-” He doesn’t even finish the sentence, just points vaguely in the direction of his bedroom. 

Marisol’s relaxed ‘welcome home’ look turns concerned as she furrows her brow and holds the back of her hand to his forehead. “Are you okay? Do you want me to stay? I should probably stay over in case you need–” 

“Really,” he interjects, backing out of her hold, “I’ll be fine. Just need to sleep it off, I think. You should go. Home. To your place.” Smooth, Diaz. “I mean, because I’ll probably be restless, y’know?”

“I can sleep on the cou-”

“No,” he says more forcefully than intended. He should be grateful she wants to stay and take care of him. He should. He is. But not the couch. Not… Buck’s bed. His place. Their place.

“Oh.” She takes a step back and he should probably feel worse about the way she looks so dejected. “I, um, I understand. Talk tomorrow?”

“Yeah, talk tomorrow.” 

Tomorrow when I’ve had a chance to reset. When the twin alcohol and love hangovers have hopefully, finally died off. When I’m not seeing an endless mental projection reel of reminders like Or, y’know, you could have mine. Then why are you in hospital jail? Stay with me, Buck. Him choking on blood. You saved him. Abby. His fiancee is Abby. Showoff. My blood on him. Hey, Buck. You think you’re expendable. They’re all dead. I, uh, misunderstood the assignment. Three minutes and seventeen seconds. She sees me. It was a date. 

The front door clicks in the latch and he immediately turns the deadbolt, noting how his pulse drops to a debatably more normal range. He wants to settle on the couch, under the covers in his bed, both and neither all at the same time. In the end he migrates to the kitchen, which really shouldn’t surprise him. 

He runs his fingers over the backs of the chairs, circling around until he’s standing between the table and main counter. Am I one of the things that makes you sad? So now am I allowed to ask how you are? But you do eventually - you process it? 

Eddie turns toward the fridge, drawn to Shannon’s photo. He plucks it from under the magnet, running his thumb over the glossy print. 

“Can never quite get my timing down, can I?” He huffs out a wet chuckle. “God, I wish you were here right now. I could really use someone to talk to.” 

If it wasn’t after midnight he would probably drive himself to the cemetery to sit on the stone bench. To talk to someone that can’t talk back but would nonetheless tell him what an idiot he is. To unfairly water her grave with tears shed because he always thinks he has more time. You might have noticed I almost died. Again. And then I thought, this is it. This is the last day of my life. We’re all going to die alone. That’s what she said to me and Hen. 

Truthfully he’s not sure who he’s thinking of more — Shannon or Buck — as he slides to the floor, still clutching her picture, beginning to sob and shake as the words I love you so much flash like a neon reminder of his poor timing. Does it really matter? Because either way he’s missed his chance. 

But I guess it’s your mess now. 

Part 3 (Buck's POV)

[ailendolin]

I know MotA isn't perfect and has its issues but personally, I think the biggest missed opportunity was not having an episode from Ken Lemmons and the ground crew's POV.

Episode 6 of Band of Brothers - Bastogne - is rightfully one of the standout episodes of that series because of the different perspective it provides, and Masters of the Air could have achieved the same thing if it had focused on the ground crew for one episode. While we got glimpses of the effects the war had on them (most notably in Parts 5 and 6), imagine how much more of an impact it would have had if the miniseries had actually taken the time to really show us the trauma they experienced - the endless, exhausting hours of fixing the planes, the anxious waiting for the crews to come back, the quiet breakdowns when they don't, the earth-shattering guilt because maybe it's their fault, maybe they messed up somehow, the emotional distancing from the replacement crews so it won't hurt as much when they'll inevitably get shot down as well. And then the overwhelming relief when someone presumed MIA or KIA makes it back - like Quinn, or Rosie after he gets shot down over France. The slow realisation that there is hope, after all, that not all is lost, that sometimes, miracles do happen. Finding the strength to smile again.

I think MotA would have benefited hugely from an episode like that. And while I'm grateful they chose to devote time to the ground crews at all, I just think they could have done more - should have, really, given that they didn't even include Lemmons in the "What happened after the war" coda at the end.

[pellaaearien]

Another Word for Ache | Dream/Hob | 111K | Mature | COMPLETE | Ch. 17: Epilogue (3K)

Hunger as a Metaphor for Love, Dream of the Endless Needs a Hug, Hob Gadling wants to give him one, Non-sexual Intimacy, Episode Codas, Surrealism, Dream POV, Slow Burn, Not Actually Unrequited Love (They’re Just Idiots), or: it’s okay to have dreams about your platonic best friend so long as he never finds out about them

For years I had memorized facts about stones and I did not want to be a thing that wants. But I woke up grateful to any misplaced God that brought me to you. I know now what the staggering beast in my chest is capable of when it meets an equally strange and gentle beast. Everything I wished for is true, and I was right to wish. - "It was a thing I knew for certain", by Clementine von Radics

[Read on Ao3]

Thanks to all those who read this over and reassured me, and thanks as always to @mandolinearts for the fabulous banner!

[dabiconcordia]

Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In The House

The neighbors' dog will not stop barking. He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark that he barks every time they leave the house. They must switch him on on their way out. The neighbors' dog will not stop barking. I close all the windows in the house and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast but I can still hear him muffled under the music, barking, barking, barking, and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra, his head raised confidently as if Beethoven had included a part for barking dog. When the record finally ends he is still barking, sitting there in the oboe section barking, his eyes fixed on the conductor who is entreating him with his baton while the other musicians listen in respectful silence to the famous barking dog solo, that endless coda that first established Beethoven as an innovative genius. by Billy Collins

[fillingthescrapbook]

Let's Talk About: Mentopolis and Case Closed

This is arguably the best Dimension 20 finale of 2023… so far. Sure, Dungeons and Drag Queens gave us one heck of an emotional ending that was elevated by Jujubee's personal stakes in the story. The Ravening War was a fun romp through time that delivered cinematic-quality twists, plot developments, and tension-filled moments in the finale. And Neverafter's finale was more scary serious and needed a lot of processing.

Mentopolis though… With the mix of catharsis and a table of players that really focused their talents on the fun of role-playing… This finale was just so enjoyable. It gave me everything I didn't even know I wanted.

And the whole episode was truly bonkers. The fight, the player decisions… Danielle/Anastasia Tension glugging down some room-temperature vodka after a wild chase, Hank/The Fix setting the mood with some genre-appropriate steam, and Freddie/Dan Fucks making the ultimate in-character choice of distracting the enemy with his diamond-hard balls.

Trapp rolled the most cursed Nat 1 from Dimension 20 history--and still survived! Siobhan found the best coda for the whole adventure.

And Alex… Alex has done something no other Dimension 20 player has ever done for me: they made me cry for four episodes straight. Maybe five. I'll have to go back to what I said in previous talk-abouts. But Alex was very masterful with how they delivered their emotional gut-punches. As well as the physical ones Conrad delivered.

Hank didn't want to get left behind either. His final scene with the reunion? Magnificent. And the "did you know" speech in the fight that wasn't meant to be menacing but still managed to scare the shit out of everyone (including myself who is watching months and months after they finished wrapping)? Inspiring.

I need to see Alex, Hank, and Freddie in future Dimension 20 seasons. I would love for them to be together, but I would love it even more if we see them interact with other Dimension 20 cast members and/or newcomers. I want Hank to come back in a season with Murph and Emily. I want Alex on a season with Aabria as the game master, and maybe with Oscar Montoya as a fellow player. And Freddie… Freddie, I feel, could fit in with any table composition. I want to see his chaos with Zac and Lou's though. Or Zac and Ally's.

And I want Danielle partnering with Siobhan again. Maybe in another Good Society-run season by Aabria. Maybe in a different system run by Jasmine Bhullar. I feel like we only got the tip of the possible shenanigans we could've gotten from the two… Thinking about it now, what if Murph guest DMs a side quest season with Danielle, Siobhan, and Emily?! The possible combinations are endless.

While I fantasize about possible casts for future seasons of Dimension 20, I leave you with a few gems I will treasure from the finale of Mentopolis:

"The greatest pleasure is punching your boss."

"Mr. Fix? Duck!"

And "57. My favorite number."

See y'all next time. In the stars. In the soup. In the dome.

[mindhowyougo]

it's interesting, because outside of thursday's single line in home about treating her right -- born from a misunderstanding that morse had taken her out to the nightclub -- these two never* really talk about whatever is going on with morse & joan. even after the bank robbery, and joan leaving, and morse tracking her down first, if they have words on it, it's not for the audience to hear. evasion of this conversation flies in the face of every similar setup on television re: the protective cop father (also supposed father-figure). is thursday not curious? does the idea of morse in the family ever cross his mind (and we know, surely it does, with the endless invitations to the house and family events). so why does thursday never say anything about it. not his business, you might say, but as he says later in the series after they've been estranged and made up: she's his little girl.

but also i'm thinking of the slow, wounded encounter at the end of coda, with thursday disheveled and morse wordlessly following him inside. morse's presence is not questioned; in fact, there's an almost devastated acknowledgement that passes between them in that moment. thursday never asks what happens between his daughter and morse, and this silence is reflected oddly in the moments shared between the two when they are alone. you never tried it on, joan says to morse in lazaretto, and it hits hard precisely because it's some of the closest they've come to explicitly naming the potential between them. but in typical Them-form, it's expressed as an absence; a lack, and in typical morse form he responds: it can turn out how you want it to, which sounds emotionally available but is still ultimately a bit passive, isn't it? he's waiting for her to find the words, define them. but she's thursday's girl; maybe she shares his inability.

[miamochi-writes]

Like Crazy (Million Knives x Plant!Reader)

Summary: Knives doesn’t need to dream, yet when he does one day, he sees someone captivate him. Just who is this person?

A/n: Not a request, but I got inspired to write this after hearing a certain song. IYKYK. Enjoy! :) Here is the link to Like Crazy Part 2 !

It was another grueling day for Knives as he meticulously thought of how to get Vash to come back to him. Another day of dealing with pesky humans who were willing to follow the genius plant. Another day of putting up with Con’rad and his inhumane experiments. Another day of putting up with Legato’s blind devotion to the older plant. Knives was surrounded by many people who were willing to be used and play a part in his plan, even if it costs their life. All of this, yet they brought no joy to him. If anything, they were mentally draining with their incessant “yes-man” behavior. Knives grew weary and wondered if he would ever find someone who was actually worth keeping around without any strings attached.

He walked to his piano and started playing unforgettable melodies that filled the room. Knives knew how to play the most intricate songs that were intended for duets, all by himself. The grown plant was a skilled pianist, yet he yearned for his brother who would play with him when they were younger. Even though he knew emotions were for the weak, Knives longed for that moment to be with someone he enjoyed being with once more. He then finished playing the coda of his song that echoed the room that gave goosebumps to anyone who heard it. Knives took a deep breath out and closed his eyes. He let his mind ruminate on past memories from when he was a child to feelings of determination on achieving his new paradise. Anything and everything that he did was for the better of plants. Yet, his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a strange melody. 

This melody was far different from his as it evoked a more nuanced pathos. Despite the melancholic sound, it was still hypnotizing. Knives opened his eyes to see that he wasn’t in the piano room anymore, but rather a lush green meadow filled with all kinds of flora. The blonde was utterly confused as he refused to believe what he saw was real. Then the melody grew louder as Knives followed it with his blades ready to attack. Further down, the flora revealed a black grand piano with a small figure in white that was the source behind the melody.

“Who are you and what is this?” Knives questioned as he kept his guard up. The person stopped playing and looked back slightly. Knives couldn’t make out the face as their hair hid any facial features.

“It’s been awhile since I had a visitor in my dream,” they spoke.

“Don’t be ridiculous, this can’t be a dream,” Knives argued as he knew himself well enough he didn’t dream. He readied his blades to attack, but the other person raised their hand away from the piano. In an instant, his blades vanished. Knives furrowed his brows at this strange occurrence and looked back at the person.

“Like I said, this is a dream. There’s not a bad thing here tonight,” the person explained. They then turned their head back to the piano and gestured Knives to come forward.

“I promise I’ll answer your questions if you come closer. I can’t harm you anyway,” they added. 

Knives grunted in frustration as he hated not having the upper hand in this situation. If anything, people always came to him no matter what.

“And why should I follow what a human tells me to?” he continued to resist.

“Who said I was a human?” the person asked as they continued to play the piano again. Only this time, their skin glowed with a familiar pattern that Knives recognized. It was the same pattern of the glyphs all plants had.

“You’re a plant? An independent one?” Knives questioned.

“Ever since I could remember, now come closer,” the person beckoned as they kept playing the same melody.

Without thinking, Knives walked slowly to the other plant as his mind was filled with endless questions. How was it possible that there was another independent plant that he didn’t know about? Were there more? What powers did they hold? If this is a dream, how were they communicating like this? 

He stood on the right side of the person and got a closer look. Their face looked tired, but their eyes held a certain drive as they focused on the piano and its keys. The melody would build up and then drop and repeat over again. 

“I’m Y/n, I’m the only independent plant in Ship 8. I don’t know the exact location since I’m always confined in the same rooms. As for my powers, I can control water to a certain extent. The scientists keep testing me everyday, until I’m tired. So I dream a lot. Dreams are the one place I can escape from reality where no one can hurt me,” they explained while finishing the last few keys that resonated within the environment.

“So you too are trapped with humans,” Knives pointed out as they nodded. Just hearing it fueled his burning resentment towards the very species that keep taking and abusing plants. 

“Do you play?” Y/n asked as Knives raised an eyebrow. The person scooted to the left of the seat and stared at him once more.

“I heard another melody while I was playing. I was wondering if that was you,” Y/n continued as Knives took the right portion of the seat. He then began pressing on the piano keys that emitted the melody he played earlier. Midway, he heard an accompaniment of deeper notes. Knives looked and saw that Y/n was playing along with him as they flashed him a small smile.

“It’s not everyday I meet another piano player,” Y/n commented. Knives was slightly annoyed and looked back to focus on his playing. Although, he didn’t find himself yearning for that missing emptiness. He felt a bit of joy as another plant was playing with him in tune and complimenting his notes. Finally, you both played the final pieces of the song. Once Knives looked up, he noticed the meadow was fading and heard Y/n sigh.

“And just when it was getting good,” Y/n commented.

“What’s happening?” he asked.

“The dream is ending. One of us is waking up unfortunately,” they explained as the piano was starting to fade.

“Will I see you again?” Knives asked. 

“Dream again and you’ll find me...,” Y/n replied.

“Knives, my name is Knives,” he answered.

“Find me Knives, and play the piano with me again,” they added before fading away.

Knives opened his eyes to see that he was back in his familiar piano room. He looked and there was no one else besides him. 

‘Was it really a dream? Why did it feel real? Was there actually another independent plant out there?’ he asked himself. Then came a knock from Professor Con’rad asking for a moment of his time to update him on a few things. Knives let out a frustrated exhale and left the room mentally preparing himself to be with humans once more.

~*~

Throughout the day, Knives had to deal with more of the professor’s experiments to create a different species that wasn’t fully human or plant. Furthermore, Knives went on about his plan for paradise with Legato. Legato was a devout follower, but he never challenged his tangents. Just another yes man like the others. Was it too much to ask for an honest and interesting conversation?

Once Knives had alone time, he went back to the piano room and played briefly. His mind still couldn’t forget last night about the other plant. 

‘Dream again and you’ll find me’

Those words plagued his mind as he debated on actually dreaming. He let out a sigh and folded his arms across his chest. Then he laid his head on top of his arms and closed his eyes. Knives couldn’t believe what he was doing. After a few minutes of seeing nothing but darkness, Knives was ready to believe it was all a fluke. He opened his eyes once more to see the same meadow from last night. It was exactly how he remembered it as he looked around. Then came the familiar melodic tune nearby. Knives walked to the source to find the grand piano and Y/n playing it once more.

“You came back,” Y/n called out as they stopped midway and turned around to face him.

“Is this really a dream?” he asked.

“Yes, because you’re here now Knives,” they replied with a small smile. Y/n then scooted to the left of their seat again as he sat beside them.

“Tell me, how was your day?” Y/n asked as they started playing a simple melody this time.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked.

“Because, I already told you what I do everyday. I want to know what you do. It’s not every day I get to meet or talk with another independent plant,” they explained. Knives let out a quick exhale as he began to collect his thoughts. He told Y/n about how he was working on his ultimate plan, his followers, and how he could tolerate the humans he dealt with.

“Hm, this Legato guy sounds obsessed with you,” Y/n commented.

“He is, but my my patience with him runs thin sometimes. He has his uses and works from afar, so I keep him around. But he never challenges me on discussions. It becomes mundane the minute he agrees with me” Knives explained.

“If I were him, I would have given feedback on your plan. I mean why not send someone from your team to infiltrate at different cities? Maybe they can find a way to earn your brother’s trust and keep tabs on him for you instead of just always trying to hunt him down immediately?” Y/n pointed out.

“Hmm, you know I never thought about it that way,” Knives replied.

“Plus, if your men don’t follow your orders you can always dispose of them. One less human to bother you,” they added in as Knives smirked.

“I like the way you think Y/n,” he complimented while looking at them.

“Nice to know someone values my honest input,” Y/n smirked back.

“How was your day?” Knives asked as he started to play this time.

“More tests, and they keep getting more tedious too. So it’s nice that I can finally relax here with you while you play,” they told him. Knives kept playing once more as he started growing comfortable around the other plant. He wished he could have met Y/n sooner so they could engage with them in more thought provoking topics. Before he could finish, the dream was fading again.

“At least it was a little longer this time,” Y/n commented as Knives saw the piano disappearing once more.

“Hopefully the next one is longer,” Knives spoke as the other plant smiled.

“Find me again Knives. I’ll be waiting for you,” they said before fading away.

Knives opened his eyes to find himself in the piano room again, but this time with a smile on his face.

~*~ 

Knives made it a routine to lock himself in the piano room once he was done with his daily tasks of fortifying his plans and dealing with his men. He would immediately dream to spend more time with Y/n as they patiently waited for him at the same grand piano by the beautiful meadow in their dreams. The blonde was becoming more fond of the other plant the more they talked and played together. The missing void within Knives was slowly being filled up with each dream they met up in. He admired the way they played, how honest they were, their smile, the way they touched shoulders or how their fingertips brushed over each other slightly when hitting the piano keys. Even when Y/n made slight jabs at him whether it be teasing or nudges, Knives would pout at first, but a slight blush unbeknownst to him would creep on his cheeks. This was Knives highlight of his day that no one could interfere with.

~*~

It had been about 3 weeks of consecutive dreaming for Knives. He was looking forward to chatting and playing with Y/n once more as he got himself comfortable. He closed his eyes and waited as usual. When he opened his eyes, Knives felt something was off. He saw that he was still in his piano room. He closed his eyes again, thinking maybe it was the excitement that kept him up. He waited for an extra ten minutes. When he opened his eyes, Knives was shocked that he was still in the place.

‘What was going on? Why wasn’t it working?’

After several more failed attempts, Knives gave up. He was beyond confused and frustrated. Why of all nights was it not working? Did something happen to Y/n? Was it too good to be true that he found solace in another plant?

Knives slammed the door open from his piano room and walked away heated. None of his men dared to ask what was wrong or else they were faced with his sinister blades.

~*~

Knives tried to dream again after 4 days of being met with disappointment of seeing the same piano room. He took out his frustration on his lower followers as he was back to the same tiresome routine before meeting Y/n, if they were even real at this point. On the fifth day, Knives was on the brink of snapping until he went to the piano room and played vigorously on the black keys. The melody was vivacious and carried over loudly with each note played. Knives violently pressed on the final chords of the song as the tune resonated eerily. He then closed his eyes. He can’t let his emotions get the better of him. He did a quick breathing exercise to calm himself down. Once he was ready, he opened his eyes but was startled to see a familiar place.

The lush meadow was back. Knives was dreaming again. The blonde was confused as to why it decided to appear once more. He then looked around, straining to hear the sound of the piano. Then a faint tune drifted in the air as Knives hastily ran to the source. He had so many questions, his emotions were bubbling up, and he needed to talk to Y/n about their absence. Finally the grand piano came into view, and saw the once familiar figure who used to greet him. As Knives got closer, he noticed Y/n was slouching over. 

“Y/n, what happened the past few days? Why wasn’t I-” before he could finish, Knives stopped himself as he saw how sullen their face was. Their eyes were void of any radiance that they once held in their previous meetups. Then his eyes landed on their body and how it looked much more frail and limp than ever.

“Knives, it really is you...welcome back. I’m sorry I made you wait,” Y/n weakly said as their hand reached out to him.

“Y/n, what happened to you? Who did this?!” Knives asked as he grabbed their shoulders.

“The scientists did more tests on me. They put me in a room that made it hard to sleep with these bright lights. They wanted to test how long I could go without sleep. They kept pushing me to endure so much pain. I had to go past my limits with each test they gave me. It hurt that I couldn’t rest at all. I got lost in those agonizing lights. I thought I was going out of my mind until they finally stopped. I’m so sorry Knives,” they choked out as Knives then balled his fists up. He was seething with rage with how they treated Y/n. 

“If I find the people who did this to you, I’ll show them no mercy. I’m sick of these humans abusing us plants,” Knives sneered. Then Y/n reached their hands out to hold his fists. Knives looked at them as Y/n slowly began to rub small delicate circles on their skin.

“Thank you Knives, but until then I want to cherish this moment. I missed hearing you play. Please, play for me. I want to have a good night with you after being away for so long,” they pleaded. Knives eyes softened at their words as he unfurled his hands to hold theirs. He then sat down on the seat and started playing his favorite song on the piano. After playing a few chords, Knives felt something on his shoulder. It was Y/n laying their head on them with a small smile plastered on their face.

“Sorry, don’t mind me. I missed hearing this song. I would hum it to comfort me during the tests they gave me,” they commented. Knives heart and stomach dropped at those very words. He hated seeing them in this state. This was not how he wanted to reunite with them. Usually, he hated anyone showing weakness, but for Y/n, they were the exception. Knives kept playing as his heart out with every key stroke and chord until the coda. 

“That was your best performance yet Knives,” Y/n spoke as they clapped with what little energy they had left. Knives looked at them once more and felt his body move before he could think. He held on to Y/n’s left arm and pulled them closer to his side. 

“I’d play for you anytime. It’s not everyday you meet another piano player,” he commented.

“Oh, before I forget, I learned a new song for you,” Y/n chimed. They put their hands on the piano keys and started playing a soft melody. Instead of the same melancholic and entrancing piece from before, Y/n played a more heartfelt and blissful tune. The melody carried over with a crescendo of sweet and uplifting chords. Then it transitioned to a sweet adagio of melodic notes that warmed Knives as they finished with a harmonious chord. The man couldn’t help but clap as a genuine smiled crept on his face.

“That was beautiful Y/n,” he lauded.

“I wanted to learn this piece. It describes how much I enjoy being with you in these dreams,” they replied. Before any of them could speak further, the meadow was slowly fading once more.

“No! Don’t wake me up! They’re going to break me again. I want to stay in this dream with you!” Y/n pleaded. Knives then panicked as he tightly embraced Y/n.

“Listen to me Y/n, I’m going to do whatever it takes to find you. But I also need your help on finding hints on where you’re located. You must stay strong until then,” he informed. 

“Okay, I’ll do my best to find clues for you. Just don’t give up finding me. Until then, please wait for me in our dreams! You give me the strength to continue Knives!” Y/n pleaded as they hugged back not letting go.

Knives opened his eyes to see he was back in his piano room. His arms were reaching out, but they were empty. He then gritted his teeth, and stepped out from his room with a new sense of determination. Once he reached Legato and a few of his followers he declared these words:

“I want you to look for this specific ship for a person that matches this description. I want every place to be searched thoroughly and no stone left unturned. Failure to comply will result in grave consequences. I want updates at all times starting now!”

Knives can’t fail now. This time, he will save those who are closest to him and take revenge on those who wronged them.

[aevumisles]

As the aether stirs . . . adventure approaches .

A new dawn rises beyond the horizon, but even as the morning stillness waxes and wanes, the aether stirs evermore. Throughout the night, a four-toned whistle cuts through the quiet like a spectre, and the Echoes find themselves in the thrall of something much larger than themselves….

Escape from Sonare Isle.

The following will detail a general overview of the new isle, the recommended Campaign plotlines for Echoes to partake in for the month of August, the Isle's creatures, key NPCs, and a general FAQ.

The full information on Sonare Isle can be accessed at the SONARE ISLE page, or by navigating to the Isle through the Aevum Isles Map.

QUESTLINE.

Overcome the Ambitus and Escape from Sonare Isle. The Echoes find themselves either lured or mysteriously transported to a completely new Isle. There, they will face various mental trials in an unreliable, shifting landscape, and come face to face with members of the Aevum Realm's leading crime syndicate: Omerta Nostra.

SIDE-QUESTS:

Find and rescue Sandy Tylersen. A student of Arcanus University has been reported missing. Her last known location was inside the abandoned Sonata Train Station in Downtown Arcanus.

Locate and retrieve the stolen watch for the Arcanus Museum. A priceless artifact was stolen from the Arcanus Museum by three unknown thieves. Their only calling card is crescent moon with a dot in its center...

Investigate Omerta Nostra, and its four guilds at Rubato Square. Sonare Isle seems to be run by a crime syndicate called Omerta Nostra. While information on the true shadow organization is limited, the Echoes can find information on four of its most active branches.

Escape from a Coda. (prerequisite: Blipping, or following an Ambitus.) Deep inside a pocket of warped space-time, an Echo must face various trials related to their deepest desire or greatest fear, and escape the seemingly endless corridors of a Coda tower.

Discover the identity of the Omerta Nostra leader... Keep an eye out on @aevumdaily for more information!

How Do Echoes Get to Sonare Isle?

For the duration of Omerta Nostra, there are TWO ways to get to Sonare Isle: by choice, or by force.

BY FORCE:

The primary way to get to Omerta Nostra is to find oneself awakening onboard the elusive ghost train right as the train docks at the station. How you managed to get onboard at all is seemingly a mystery… but you are not alone. Other Echo, and even other Aercon have also found themselves waking up onboard the train without their knowledge. The last thing they remember is falling asleep in their own beds.

You have either been kidnapped, or have slept-walked on board to exercise this premise.

BY CHOICE

The particularly curious Echo may find their own way onto the Ghost Train at any time of day. This Echo may be in hot pursuit of the missing person's case of miss. Sandy Tylersen, or attempting to track down the stolen watch for the arcanus museum. 

Both options will lead this echo to sonata station deep within Downtown Arcanus. It has been largely abandoned, and seemingly has been for a long time. But, with some sleuthing in the area (and perhaps taking a visit to the archives), Echoes will find the clues necessary to descend to the correct floor for boarding.

(for more information, please see the FAQ at the bottom of the event post.)

What Can an Echo Do While in Sonare Isle?

Echoes can explore the city, pursue one of the two available quests on @aevumdaily , collect information on the four Guilds, interact with Guild Members as they conduct various crimes, and generally pursue a way out of the Isle.

All of this while combatting their Ambitus, which will slowly form into a corporeal state for as long as the Echoes remain in Sonare Isle. Just as Arcanus Isle is a sandbox for Echoes to be placed in for interactions, so too is Sonare Isle — only this Isle is tailored towards crime, psychological horror, and action-adventure.

An Isle overview (including NPCs, key locations, and details on the "Ambitus" continues below.)

How Do Echoes "Escape" Sonare Isle?

Firstly: an Echo cannot blip their way out of Sonare Isle. (see: "Codas" in the Isle Overview.) There are two ways an Echo can escape Sonare Isle and return to Arcanus Isle.

RIDING ON A SONATA RAY.

This is the most common way an Echo will find a way out of Sonare Isle, as the second and third ways (known as "Medleys") are more elusive. The Sonata Rays (described in the overview) can be seen floating through the sky and across the Forte Seas outside of the dome. They can be tamed temporarily, in which case the Sonata Ray will allow the Echo to ride on its back before it dives into the Forte Seas, allowing the plunge to be survivable.

The Sonata Ray will assist the Echo in breaching through to the surface of the other side of the Forte Seas, which will have the Echo emerging in the Lunar Seas.

PASSING THROUGH A MEDLEY.

Medleys require more investigation on part of the Echoes, and are not reliable exits. There are two known medleys that exist, but both are scattered at random throughout Pizzicato Road, which itself is constantly shifting.

CRESCENT MEDLEY - Tucked neatly inside an unobtrusive, easily missed alleyway is a door with a large crescent moon acting as the door’s stained glass window. Stepping through, the Echo will find themselves holding the doorknob of a tall, grand glass entryway. They would be stepping through a door inside the grand central station of MOONLIGHT LANDING.

JEWEL MEDLEY -  A old, arched doorway. The air that filters through its open door smells distinctly of rock and sea salt. Passing through this doorway will lead an Echo inside the TEMPLE RUINS in Arcus Cove. The will have to navigate upwards through dilapidated rooms and corridors to exit the ruins.

Once an Echo has passed through a Medley, they cannot return to Sonare Isle except through Sonata Station and the Ghost Train.

Do all Muses have to Participate?

No! Campaigns, like their Blue Moon counterparts, are optional. But they are a fun introduction to new set pieces to Aevum Isle's setting.

Is there a Participation Bonus?

Yes! Aevum Isles awards 500 Emblems for participation in Campaigns. They can also be counted for rank ups requirements.

Isle Overview.

Set in an eternal twilight beneath a giant, dome-shaped ward, Sonare Isle is primarily known for Ritardando City – a haven for the nefarious minded in all of Aevum. Most Aercon who have made Sonare Isle their home sport music-related names. There is a thick undercurrent of distrust anywhere an Echo goes, especially towards the outskirts of the city, where petty crime, thievery and backstabbing runs rampant. Curiously, the closer one gets to the city center (landmarked by a giant Echo Tree), the less crime there is. Almost as if this sprawling band of criminals is held together by an superseding power.

BELL CLOUDS.

Every four days, clouds gather across the sky, flickering with multicolored lightning. On the fourth day, the cloud's thunder begins to peal, but it sounds like a large church bell. It will strike three times in warning. Once the fourth toll strikes, a silver rain will fall, known as Bell Rain for its small bell-like chimes as the droplets hit the ground.

The Bell Rain has a supernatural quality to it: allowing Echoes to scry across the Aevum Realm so long as the puddles remain in a silver state. They can only see so far as a five by five foot radius. Once the water turns bronze, it can no longer be used until the next Bell Clouds form.

REQUIESPER CREEK.

While of the Bell Rain is collected by man-made structures, there is one naturally forming deposit of Bell Rain known as Requiesper Creek. At the bottom of the creek is a special water-weed nicknamed Bluegrass, despite its copper-like appearance from above the water.

Requiesper Creek can be used as a large scrying pond when the water is silver, as it exhibits the same properties as other collections of Bell Rain. Bluegrass can also be collected and pulverized into dust, which is used as an ingredient in an alchemical solution called an Esper Potion. Only the Alchemists of Sonare Isle know the full recipe to create an Esper Potion, but it can be used to mitigate the Isle's adverse mental effects, including resetting the growth of an Ambitus. (see "Ambitus" below.)

CREATURES.

The following creatures are native Sonare Isle and will be updated into the Aevum Compendium after the campaign. Full information can be found on the Sonare Isle Map Page.

NEOBOP TERRIERS - Found all across Sonare Isle. Wandering dogs with an unprecedented ability to find all fixed points across Sonare Isle, and navigate Pizzicato Road. They are friendly and can guide an Echo from one part of Sonare Isle to another...provided they are given a treat beforehand.

SONATA RAYS - A large, ghostly creature found outside of the dome. They are mostly reminiscent of manta rays, and produce a haunting rendition of the Whitacre Express whistle. Leaving the perimeter of the dome will cause an Echo to suffer an intense migraine that will Blip them into a CODA. With the right immunity (see: "requeseper creek" and "leaving sonare isle"), Sonata Rays can be temporarily coaxed to allow and Echo to ride on its back through the depths of the Forte Seas.

STARCCATOS - Found all across Sonare Isle. A small, canary-like bird that produces a white noise chirp. They can mimic the most recently spoken words of any intelligent creature that has passed them by, and can recite these words to an Echo when given the name of the creature in question. Their chirping sounds like a old radio, and the static is indicative of the target's health.

WARP RAVENS - Found in CODAS. A dark bird with four pairs of wings and a third eye in the middle of its forehead. They are drawn to Echoes, but unless they are gifted something of significance to an Echo, they will watch from afar instead of assisting. The Warp Ravens can produce large purple portals at will with their call, and this is their primary way of navigation through a Coda.

The Ambitus.

Staying in the Bell Rain for long periods of time will produce adverse side effects on Echoes. Known as Ambitus, an Echo will slowly begin to find what that the reality around them is not what first appeared. What may at first be a silhouette may simply be the shadow of a nearby lamppost. The voice of a beloved friend may morph into the sound of one's greatest enemy...

An Ambitus is the manifestation of an Echo's darkest fears and/or greatest desires. They only grow in frequency and strength and over time, slowly reaching a corporeal state and seeping into the Echo's waking world.

The longer an Echo stays in Sonare Isle after being touched by Bell Rain will suffer these hallucinations indefinitely until they escape the Isle altogether.

Ambitus have three phases. The first two range from harmless tricks of the mind to mirages that instigate the Echo.

An Ambitus' third phase develops under multiple circumstances. These are as follows: the Echo repeatedly comes in contact with Bell Rain. The Echo remains in Sonare Isle for upwards of 3+ days. Any combination of the above two.

Once the Ambitus becomes Corporeal, it can either cause physical damage, or effectively tempt the Echo to remain in Sonare Isle forever.

Ambitus are typically unique to the individual Echo, and are invisible to any other eye. (Including true sight.)

Ambitus are restricted to Sonare Isle and do not seep into any other Aevum Isles.

For the sake of RP, castmates have an innate exception to this rule, but these exceptions are rare in-universe.

Castmates with an Ambitus spawning from the same source material.

Castmates who share in the same fear or desire.

Echoes who are not castmates can see another Echo's Ambitus with the following rules applied:

The Echo who is attempting to see the Ambitus must drink an Esper Potion (see requesper creek.)

Echoes who are not castmates CAN see another's Ambitus when inside a CODA (see "coda" below.) even if they have not yet ingested an Esper Potion.

The Ambitus exhibits the following characteristics once corporeal:

The Ambitus is still invisible to anyone who has not drank an Esper Potion, is not a castmate. It can only be seen and interacted with by its progenitor Echo.

They are seemingly lifelike when viewed from afar, at a glance, or without close scrutiny.

Under further inspection, the Ambitus seems to be a mix of bronze Bell Rain, shadows, and mist. This is especially true if the Ambitus is attacked, and the Echo makes contact with it. The Ambitus can heal any wounds and damage inflicted upon it by stitching itself together.

The Ambitus can 'teleport' around, leaving behind clouds of bronze and black smoke behind it. When provoked, and aggressive towards an Echo, it takes on more of a smoke-like appearance.

The Ambitus can be directed, manipulated, and enhanced by antagonistic Echoes once they have reached their corporeal forms.

Key Locations.

Allegretto Circle - A fixed point in Sonare Isle. Allegretto Circle is the first location every Echo will find themselves familiar with in Sonare Isle, as it is home to the Ghost Train's boarding station. The train passes through every so often when it is not seen winding through the buildings of the city, but it cannot be reboarded.

Pizzicato Road - A road that never seems to stay in one place. It is constantly shifting around, but can be used to travel from Allegretto Circle to Ragtime Way and Rubato Square, so long as an Echo has the help of a Neobop Terrier.

Ragtime Way - The residential sector of Sonare Isle. Home to various small-time criminals of all creeds, Ragtime Way encompasses a bulk of the city. Ne'er do wells who want to lay low from the Arcanus eye retreat to Ragtime Way, and the entire complex teems with criminal activity. Echoes can find temporary lodging, supplies and food here. However, Echoes should be wary, because Sonaren Aercon will attempt to swindle Echoes out of their hard earned keys.

Rubato Square - A fixed point in Sonare Isle. Rubato Square is landmarked by a giant echo tree that eclipses a majority of the Isle's city center. The square is shared by four guilds of far-reaching crime syndicate called Omerta Nostra.

NOCTURNE GUILD

The Omerta Nostra thieves guild. Anything marked with a fermata symbol belongs to the Nocturne Guild, including a large black tent found at south-west of Rubato Square. The guild has tenuous amicability between its members, and primarily consists of the most accomplished thieves across the Isles. They are led by a man named Libretto Fortismo.

SMORZANDO GUILD

The Omerta Nostra mercenaries guild. Anything marked with a double sharp symbol belongs to the Smorzando Guild. Their tavern-like hall can be found at the north-east of Rubato Square. There is a profound feeling of camaraderie amongst its members, but also a distinct carelessness towards violence. They are led by a burly man named Tre'bel Cleft. (He goes by Cleft.), though Fanaleans refer to him as The White Wolf.

ETUDE GUILD

The Omerta Nostra alchemist's guild. Anything marked with an alto clef symbol belongs to the Etude Guild. Their towering complex of labs and study halls can be found at the south-east of Rubato Square. The Etude Guild has an air of suffocating competition and distaste amongst its members. A "dog eat dog" mentality as each member strives to prove themselves the most capable and clever mind in the guild. They are led by a sharp woman named Adagio Vivaldi.

DAL SEGNO GUILD

The Omerta Nostra principle guild. They own anything marked with the dal segno symbol. Their building, a sleek, modern embassy building, largely goes unused by its members, who are extremely elusive. Members of Dal Segno are most often identified by their dark clothes hemmed with bright purple and marked by a silver dal segno symbol. These clothes are typically reminiscent of train worker uniforms. The two most commonly spotted Dal Segno members are Octavia Fife and Rondo Viol.

The Codas.

Codas are pockets of warped space-time that fluctuate between past, present, and future. They are peppered all across Sonare Isle. Codas are always contained spaces, like buildings of any size or closed arenas, but they are most commonly within large, spiraling towers that, despite the dome's presence, seem to rise forever.

These spaces can be passed by at random. They are eerie, causing an unsettling level of discomfort simply by passing one by. They can only be entered when in direct pursuit of an Ambitus, but can be exited freely if an Echo does not venture too far inside.

If an Echo dies in Sonare Isle and its surrounding territories (including the Forte Seas), they will find themselves Blipped into a Coda instead of Terminus Tower. If an Echo dies in any fashion while inside of a Coda, the Echo will return to the beginning of the Coda, and need to retrace their steps and overcome new obstacles from start to finish.

The only way to exit a Coda is to concentrate on the outside world, oftentimes in the form of a goal or an emotional tether. (e.g., a friend, a family member, a place, etc.)

The Echo must concentrate entirely on this goal and/or tether while traversing through the Coda, which will warp and shift around them in an effort to keep the Echo trapped inside.

Full information on the Codas can be found at the Sonare Isle Map Page.

Notable NPCs.

The following NPCs are available for use within member threads. Given the nature of Sonare Isle, these NPCs can be used as antagonistic forces, temporary allies, rivals, and so on according to mun discretion.

Usage of NPCs is highly encouraged. If members would like clarification on an NPC's personality or personal knowledge, all questions can be directed to the Aevum Isles Masterlist Blog.

SONAREN AERCON.

Beat - A young orphan boy (14) who can always be found with his trusty camera. He knows information about almost everything interesting going on around Sonare Isle, but will always demand a form of payment - in food (especially desserts) or in keys - for his knowledge. Beat has no qualms spreading rumours along with his information, and is an uncannily good pickpocket. Beat knows the names of the all Guild leaders, and especially looks up to Libretto Fortismo. and has pictures of the two Dal Segno Members. He does now know their names.

Tremelo - A tall, lanky, grey-haired teenager (17) who looks after Beat and Polka. He is rough around the edges and defends his small trio with a handcrafted iron sword, and a not-always-working hex rune from Polka. When it comes to looking after himself, Polka and Beat, Tremelo can be convinced to provide Echoes with help just as easily as he can be paid by the Smorzando Guild to get in any Echo's way. Tremelo knows how to navigate Sonare Isle's various warping paths and fixed points. He can offer advice about Neobop Terriers and Starccatos, and may warn Echoes not to go near Codas.

Polka - A blonde-haired teenage girl (16) who can be most often found alongside Tremelo. While Polka is largely soft-spoken and distracted, do not be mistaken by her docile demeanor. She wields a red parasol enchanted with a shields rune, and carries various splash potions that can hurt her enemies. When she is alone, she is gathering ingredients at the edge of Requiesper Creek, or catching vials of Bell Rain. She can provide Echoes with information on the Ambitus, including its name, effects, and whether or not the Echo is in immediate danger. She does have a sense for who is developing an Ambitus and who is not.

OMERTA NOSTRA

Libretto Fortismo - The leader of the Nocturne Guild. He can be found in the Guild's tent or in the Guild's hall, which is a giant building further south-east in Ragtime Way. Libretto is a cunning man who seems amicable on the surface... and is until provoked. Unlike Cleft and Adagio, Libretto will not be outright hostile towards an Echo upon first-meeting, and values diplomatic tactics, including striking deals. Be warned, though: Libretto will often strike deals with Nocturne's half undecided, leaving the Echo to "owe him a future favor". Libretto has a favorable relationship with both Cleft and Adagio Vivaldi.

Tre'bel Cleft - The leader of the Smorzando Guild. Also known as the White Wolf, Cleft can most often be found in the Guild Hall, located right in Rubato Square. Cleft is boisterous and loud, and takes pride in his unchallenged might as a leader. He is a violent individual, especially when challenged, threatened or otherwise provoked. The Guild is mostly known for enacting cruel punishments on its own members, and members of other guilds for not falling in line with Dal Segno's orders. Cleft has a largely hostile relationship with Adagio Vivaldi, and a neutral relationship with Libretto Fortismo. The Guild is notably short on Esper Potions, which are locked inside the guild's vault.

Adagio Vivaldi - The leader of the Etude Guild. Newly elected into the position of power, Adagio Vivaldi is stern, ambitious, and is incredibly persuasive. She has connections all across Sonare Isle and Arcanus Isle, and knows how to play her cards to get what she wants. She is an expert marksman with an enchanted pistol... so that also helps. She pulls the ears of the members of the Etude Guild to keep an uneasy truce from top to bottom. Adagio has an outright hostile opinion of Tre'bel Cleft, specifically, and makes dealings with the Smorzando Guild harder to maintain as a result. She is highly competitive with Libretto Fortismo, but is more willing to work with him.

Octavia Fife - A member of Dal Segno. As one of the elite members of Omerta Nostra, Octavia comes off as pompous and above-it-all, oftentimes looking down on the three guild members. She has a silver walking cane with a Warp Raven as its handle, and wears a half-length cape with the dal segno symbol on its back. She spends most of her time mitigating tensions between the Etude and Smorzando Guild. Octavia has a great reverence for the Omerta Nostra leader, and considers him as ranking above the Echoes. She may wax philosophical about Omerta Nostra's dealings in way of "illusions of order", "mysteries without solutions", and other poetic ways to say "there is no order without chaos".

Rondo Viol - A member of Dal Segno. While Rondo Viol is one of the elite, he carries himself with a outright casual air. This extends down to his clothes, which are reminiscent of a railroad fire police uniform. He can be spotted more frequently than Octavia Fife, and generally deals with operations in Ragtime Way. Rondo Viol has an interest in the codas and Bell Clouds, and maintains structures that collect Bell Rain in large quantities across the Isle. Like Octavia, he speaks highly of his mysterious leader — implying that he is not to be trifled with, and may or may not have an invested interest in the Echoes.

FAQ:

CAN I ROLEPLAY MY CHARACTER DISCOVERING THE GHOST TRAIN?

Yes!

Your character is free to sleuth through Sonata Station to your heart's content. While the appropriate clues have been posted on the Aevum Daily blog, there is A GUIDE for members who would like to use this as a rp plot for a campaign thread.

DOES MY CHARACTER HAVE TO ENGAGE WITH THE GHOST TRAIN?

To gain access into Sonare Isle, yes. The train is the only way into the new territory.

However: your character finding or waking up on the ghost train as part of a thread is not mandatory, and you can start all of your campaign threads already in the isle with whichever method they got there.

WILL THERE BE UPDATES ON THE SANDY QUEST AND THE WATCH QUEST?

Yes!

Keep an eye on @aevumdaily for updates on the Sandy Quest, the Watch Quest, and various overarching plotlines for the duration of the Campaign.

CAN I COME UP WITH MY OWN NPCS?

Yes! This is highly encouraged throughout all of Aevum Isles.

NPCs native to Sonare Isle will fall into one of three categories: a low-ranking member of one of the three guilds (Dal Segno is not included), a thief who lives in Ragtime Way, or an Arcanus Aercon who has stumbled into Sonare Isle and needs help to escape.

CAN I USE THE OMERTA NOSTRA MEMBERS IN THREADS?

Yes!

You can use the ALL named NPCs in threads. Remember that although there is no "wrong way" to play an NPC, they do have defined personalities. Those are defined above.

WHAT ABOUT THE OMERTA NOSTRA LEADER?

...Spoilers! :)

For now, the Omerta Nostra Leader can be eluded to and spotted in threads. This includes threads taking place outside of Sonare Isle, now that the Campaign has launched!

He won't interact with Echoes face to face, but a perceptive Echo may be able to spot glimpses of him watching from afar. If an Echo were to follow him, he would disappear around a corner with no trace, disappear down a dead-end alley, or enter through doors with nothing behind them.

He is tall, dark-skinned, and always appears when an Echo is under duress with every intention of watching events unfold.

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION BUT IT’S NOT ON HERE.

Please let us know by asking your question in the Aevum Isles Masterlist’s Ask Box! 

Questions sent elsewhere (such as the Aevum Isles FAQ discord channel) will not be accepted, and instead Staff will ask to transfer your question to the Masterlist at this time.

You can find the Aevum Isles Event FAQ tag (HERE), the Aevum Worldbuilding FAQ tag (HERE), and the general FAQ tag (HERE).

[xanthippe74]

The mood this year, as this header photo demonstrates, was Le Tired. Just physically and emotionally slogging along. Brain stuck on perpetual static. A pull-the-covers-over-my-head sort of year. I read a few books, watched a lot of shows, found new songs to listen to on repeat, and spent way too much time futzing around on Tumblr.

But that's not what this post is about! This is to remind myself that I did accomplish writer-ly things this year, even if it didn't feel like it sometimes. So here's my 2023 Fandom Year in Review:

Drarry

🐈 A Dreadful Invasion (of the Feline Persuasion) rated G | 6K words

Most of the time, it’s easy for Harry to forget that Draco Malfoy is his next-door neighbour—until the night Malfoy seemingly goes round the twist in his back garden. Of course Harry has to investigate. A birthday gift for @caroll-in.

🍷 Under the Table rated T, 4K words

A string of nearly-insufferable dinner parties has made Draco acquainted with Harry Potter’s completely insufferable, social-climbing boyfriend. But tonight it seems like Potter’s finally had enough, and Draco’s more than happy to watch it all play out from across the table.

Microfics: Different  |  Thalassophile  |  Role play  | Careless |  Mama’s Gun  |  Raven  |  You Should Probably Leave  |  Afraid of the Dark  |  Eerie

WIP progress: I added about 25K to my Drarry retelling of Howl's Moving Castle. The working title is "Skybound" and it will be about 55 to 60K words when complete (by spring 2024, god help me!). Featuring: lots of banter, secret identities, adventures and misadventures in a floating house, a plucky house-elf, and (of course) a fire demon who wants to make a bargain.

9-1-1 fics, HP recs, and 2023 highlights under the cut!

9-1-1/Buddie

🌧��� It pours, man it pours rated T | 11K words

An endless rainstorm. A head-on collision on a dark canyon road. Eddie and Buck find themselves stranded with a woman in labor after they’re cut off from the rest of the 118 by a flash flood. With the fate of their team unknown, can they weather the night ahead—and mend the rift Buck caused by trying to kiss his best friend?

💣 A Few Good Pranks rated T | 4K words

The firefighters of the 118 decide to give Bobby a turn at pranking them after seeing how disappointed he was to be left out. And since two heads are better than one, why not three? Or four? If only they could figure out who's pranking and who isn't, and who the intended victim is. It's all in good fun, though—as long as everyone is too distracted to notice that Buck and Eddie keep sneaking off alone.

❤️‍🩹Let It Be Me rated T | 1.8K words

After another Buckley Family reunion-turned-disaster, Buck makes a decision about his parents. Of course the 118 has his back. Or, Bobby employs some LAFD equipment to help Buck out—and tell him something he needs to hear.

Episode codas/fix-it ficlets: 1x01 | 1x03 | 2x01 | 2x03 | 6x10 | 6x11 | 6x12 | 6x13 | 6x15

WIP progress: First chapter of a season 3/canon divergence Buddie fic. Featuring: angst with a happy ending, a secret marriage of convenience, and pandemic bed sharing.

HP Rec List

I was inspired by this post to rec twelve favorite fan works from 2023 in twelve days in December. It actually took fourteen days, but I did it!

💖 12 Favorites from 2023 💖

(after posting those twelve, of course I thought of a few more faves that I missed. I'll try to share them soon!)

2023 Highlights

I'm so very grateful for the wonderful, funny, imaginative people here who shared their creative works, the memes that made them laugh, photos of their pets, gif sets of shows I didn't know I needed to watch, and insights into the characters we love. You all got me through the year, honestly.

I had a good time doodling some Halloween treats for Inbox Trick-or-Treating. I hope it will become an annual Tumblr event! Thanks to the folks who rang my doorbell that night and the other blogs who gave out treats.

I truly treasured every kudos, comment, and rec I received this year. I was also very fortunate to receive a few special gifts:

🎙️ EllaMcSmellBella recorded a Podfic of "Spooked in Salem," my Drarry 'Round the World fic.

🎙️ Spades/bumblingbees recorded a Podfic of "Crimson Neon."

📕 @cheriecherishchen wrote a lovely rec for "Vortex" and designed gorgeous book covers for that fic and its sequel, "Riptide."

✏️ @saijordison drew this incredible piece of art for "Riptide."

And finally, if you read all the way to the end of this post, I'm grateful for YOU. 😁

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and an excellent 2024!

[the-winnowing-wind]

Strange Behavior || Zoro/Sanji H/C Ficlet

OPLA denied us Sanji stitching Zoro up, but we can still have endless fic renditions of them cleaning one another up (and flirting/bantering) after the final fight!!!

Summary:

Some aching part of the gentleness makes Zoro want to scream. Just rip the bandage off, he thinks. Just stop touching me, he thinks. I can take care of it myself. He thinks.

“Were you alone a long time?” Sanji’s voice interrupts the voices inside his head. “Before this?”

Zoro cracks open his eyes but says nothing.

---

Or, an OPLA finale coda. After the final battle, there's a little wound tending and a little bit of something else.