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lune-de-miel-au-paradis · 8 months

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OC Nina Cerasus deep dive part 2.

Meet my OC from my Star-crossed story. (She is a young woman living in her early twenties on Naboo. The time period is before the Phantom Menace.) I already made a short list about her. This is a little more deeper and collected. I hope you enjoy knowing her and like her as much as I do. Sorry for any mistype or bad English this is not my first language. I made a mood board about how I imagine her, the pictures are from Pinterest.

have they / would they dye their hair? she is a natural dark chocolate brunette, maybe she would add some colorful highlights

do they maintain eye contact when talking? definitely

what is their tell for lying? a small movement, she picks her right pinky finger.

do they have an accent? she speaks in Nabooan dialect, also, she has a raspy seductive voice. People often ask her if she has a sore throat. Sometimes she sounds out of breath because of her illness.

what languages do they speak? basic, binari (droid), kenari,

what kind of music do they listen to? alternative/ acoustic/classic piano, also I think she would like Lana del Rey, Hozier and Mitski

describe them in one word. What could happen to make them the opposite? Abandoned. / Stay by.

do they have any ghosts? yes, her mom died, her dad left, and Maul broke her heart

what is their worst fear? left alone, die alone, being forgotten

what is a secret they do not tell anyone? she has a few:

That her relationship was with Maul (in my Star-crossed fic)

She was there when her mom died.

She was the one who unveiled her fathers frauds and thefts and sent him to jail. It's her revenge.

what motto do they live by? Ad astra per aspera. - Through hardships to the stars.

if they were a famous figure, who would they be? she was inspired by many characters from movies or books, also from my own life, but if I have to say some concrete examples it would be Amal Clooney's and Dakota Johnson's dressing style, a lot of inpo comes from Ellie Saab and Zuhair Murad gowns. And Sofia Bush's voice.

Also she got her name from my highscool bff called Nina. (She passed away a few years ago sadly due to a car accident.) So it's like a memorial thing to name my oc of her. A few of her personality traits, her freckles and silly moments also given to my character that remind me of my friend. And the green eyes my oc has is coming from me.

personality: the constant fear of being abandoned, having trust issues and the feeling of never being good enough. And she is trying to be the best version of herself by working hard and passionately. She fears to show out her real emotions or build connections, especially romantic ones.

what great moment shaped them to be who they are? Have they lived through the moment yet?

discovering her heart disease

when her mom got sick her dad left them and made his own family

Maul choose revenge over her and left in the Phantom Menace, she thinks he just left and used her, she never knew he was the sith assassin till my Heavenbound fic

her grandma’s first accident, then her hospital rest time

Wolffe’s love changed her, healed her and made her trust him and believe in love

what is their fatal flaw? fear of abandonment and trust issues makes her make bad decisions

how do they feel about jewelry? painted nails? she likes celestial themed or rare, personalized dainty jewelry

she gets her nails done soft almond shapes, and always decorated with stars and moons and use sparkly nail polish

what kind of art are they? astrophile as a hobby, art deco as a style, romanticism as paintings and mythological in sculptures and a femme fatale archetype in movies/novels

do they play a sport? weekly pilates lessons and dancing in clubs

do they have a speech impairment? how would that translate across paper? she is well spoken, and intelligent. Also her voice is raspy but in a seductive way.

what could you do to betray their trust? lying

what makes them smile? acts of kindness and gentleness, paying attention to her little things, also the starry sky, and her loved ones

if you had to choose something to make them go all john wick, who would it be? to protect her loved ones

do they swear? in what language? yes in basic mostly

how comfortable do they feel around strangers? she tries to seem calm and collected being in charge of the conversation, but she usually assesses and judges their gestures and researches their back intentions

are they extraverted or introverted? introverted

do they stand straight? what is their posture like? straight and hard like a ballerina's posture

what is their sleep schedule like? when she has time after work on mini power naps on rare occasions, she’s more insomniac workaholic

would they consciously invade someone else's body space? even a stranger's? always holds a decent distance, except when she flirts

how do they feel about contact with other people? do they flinch? she doesn’t like touchy people and only hugs her loved ones

are they the first to hug? never (exception if when she hugs Maul)

what would make them kill / stop them from killing? her morals, she wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose and she avoids physical harm

how do they smile? do they have dimples? yes she has smaller dimples, and in her apples and on her chin, and it makes her diastema visible

what about their teeth -- braces? sharp teeth? dentures? yellow teeth? what about spots? hers are white and straight but she has diastema (a big space between her two front teeth)

how do they get others' attention? clear their throat? punch them? clears her throat,

do they talk with their hands? sometimes

what is their final goal? building her home, having a family and feeling safe

how would they describe happiness? being with the people she can trust and love, under the bright starry night admiring the comets

what is their biggest conflict? it doesn't need to be big for everyone else, only for them.

she needs to learn to let others in and be open for love

it’s hard for her to understand that Wolffe is loves her and doesn’t have the intention to leave her

also letting go Maul, she never knew who he truly was and her ideal about him got shattered in my Heavenbound fic, she had a hard time learning the truth letting her feelings go and having a closure, after she meets him on Mandalore

how do they react to death? seel super sad, and isolate herself

do they cry? how do they cry ? in silent tears, or sobbing and screaming in pain, but she is not a crybaby. she suppresses it and have “episodes” of panic attacks she refers to as“inner storms”

how do they react when someone else is crying? can they comfort a stranger? she tries to give some sort of solution or comfort, she is empathetic

how are they around pets? are they allergic to any? she is allergic to tooka cats, she loves wolves

following up, do they have allergies? to some pollens, and tooka cats

do they take off their shoes going into a stranger's house? would they offer to do the dishes? she offers to help cleaning up

do they call strangers by their first name or title? she is a professional lawyer so she calls people on their title/ titled name or accost

how do they show fear? trying to hide it? shaking? etc. she tries to hide it and acting calm and collected, try to show out her fearlessness, her voice is tremble and she shake's lightly

what is their impact on other characters? she usually gives the impression of a beautiful, clever, well spoken intelligent women who is very elusive and cunning

how could any of these change by the end of the story? we can see her softened up and warm hearted true self in the end of Heavenbound, she heals her traumas from Starcrossed, lets go of her past and builds her own family. She learns to trust and she dies while she is defending others.

Taglist: @hellhound5925 @cloneloverrrrr @stardustbee @the-chains-are-the-easy-part @firstofficerwiggles

let me know if you would like to be added!

#meet my oc #nina nerasus #oc nina cerasus #nika's writing #star-crossed the fic #maul and nina #if you have questions i am so happy to answear them #character deep dive #OC info dump #OC info #my oc nina cerasus #my oc #maul x nina #heavenbound the fic

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midnightcreator12 · 9 months

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The Portal Home is Built with Roadblock - Chapter 27 - Welcome Home, It's Changed Since You Left

AO3 Link

Chula is back in her original reality. She had been expecting things to be different but...not this different.

Chula had prepared herself for a number of things upon her return.

Maybe the Republic had won. Maybe the Separatist had won. Maybe the war was still in full force and she really would have to kidnap Astra and the battalion. Maybe the Clone War ended and a new one had started up.

Dozens upon dozens of possible things could be waiting for her. So, naturally, the moment she got a good signal on the other side of the gateway she pulled up the holonet and started catching up.

And was completely unprepared for what she found.

She stared in horror at the first article she’d found in relation to the war’s end. And bold, flickering blue text stared back at her.

JEDI DECLARED TRAITORS TO THE REPUBLIC.

And that…that could not be right. There was no way that was what had ended the war. She could see a few Jedi turning on the Republic, a name or two even came to mind, but…all of them? The faces of the entire damned war, Kenobi and Skywalker? The high counsel?

Astra?

No, definitely not her, not in a hundred years. Astra, for as much as Chula loved her, had a blind faith in the Republic that would never let her betray it.

And even if she did…the article said that the clones had had orders to open fire on any and all Jedi and she knew not one person in the two-forty-fourth would ever turn their weapons on Astra.

And the more she poked around, the worse it got.

There were kill on site orders for any and all Jedi, Canoculer Papatine had declared himself the Emperor of the Republic and subsequently changed it into ‘The Empire’. The Clone War was over but small conflicts were all over the place, people protesting against the Empire's new rules and regulations.

And subsequently being labeled terrorists that needed to be taken care of by the Imperial forces.

Her blood ran cold when she spotted a small press release on ‘The Siege of Lasan’.

There was so little actually written about what had happened but if it was anything like what the Empire had done to the Jedi…what they were still doing to the Jedi.

Chula closed out everything, heart pounding in her ears and breath coming in small, panicked gasps. She knew, deep in the back of her mind, that she needed to calm down but that first headline was blaring at the forefront of her mind, crowding out any other thoughts except for one.

What the hell had happened over the last six years?

—------------

Lasan was a beautiful planet.

The surface jumped between searing heat and pleasant warmth almost year round, covered in grasslands and forests and towering mountains. The cities and villages were always teeming with life and color, Lasat’s trading, working, laughing, living.

It was Chula’s second home, especially after the New Mandalorians won the Clan War. It was where she’d reforged herself after her Buir died, where she heard stories of her mother. Where both her parents had been cremated and their ashes scattered.

It was a warm but fierce world, in both its environment and in its people.

Now it was dead.

Chula stood where the capital had once been, the crown jewel of Lasan. The towering trees and buildings, the markets, the homes, the royal family’s fortress of a palace…gone. Reduced to nothing but ash.

Chula had been expecting a lot of things upon her return but this…this had never once crossed her mind.

Because she’d never imagined the Empire.

She’d never thought that the Jedi would be wiped out, the Clone’s largely dubbed obsolete, for the Force-damned Chancellor of the Republic to turn out to be a power hungry dictator who had the entire Inner Rim wrapped around his finger and was slowly suffocating everything else.

She still couldn’t fully wrap her mind around it, despite all the articles and reports she’d managed to dig up on the public holonet, even after seeing just how far this new government's ruthlessness would go.

She stood on the crumbling remains of the castle entry, body feeling numb but also wanting to explode with….something.

Anger, sorrow, rage, grief, dozens of feelings all fighting for which was the most important one.

It all bubbled out of her mouth in a loud, screeching roar, filled with agony for the people that had once lived on Lasan. Her scream echoed back from the empty, desolate streets before slowly fading away, unheard by anyone but her own ears. Tears streamed down Chula's face as she started storming her way up to the remains of the fortress.

The surface structure may be gone but she prayed to every deity she knew that the surface had been the only thing the Empire had been interested in.

Years of not being on planet and the lack of walls to guide her made her search difficult but she eventually found where the armory had once been. There weren’t any weapons or armor left, likely all picked over by the Empire and by scavengers looking to sell the now unreplicatable weapons.

The thought made another enraged roar burst out of her mouth.

She redirected the anger, the hurt, the pain, she used it to help drive her in her task. She clawed and dug through the remains of stone and metal and wood, vision blurred by dust and tears as she uncovered what remained of the flooring. She felt along the cracked and broken boards, searching until her claws finally scrapped what she’d been looking for.

A lesser known aspect of Lasats was their habit of squirreling away the most prized items among their people. Secret cupboards, hidden chambers, hidden away from outsiders in order to protect what was most valued to their people.

And very few items were more valued among the Lasat than the Honor Guards Bo-Rifles.

Chula strained as she pried the hidden entrance open, the hinges groaning in protest as she forced them to move. The heavy durasteel finally gave up its fight, slamming to the ground with a loud crash, letting light filter down into the underground chamber.

Chula had never been so thankful to step into a room clogged with dust and cobwebs. Because it meant no one had been down there in years.

The chamber wasn’t very large but it didn’t need to be. When collapsed, Bo-Rifles didn’t take up much room and very few were stowed away under the armory. Tradition dictated that if a Bo-Rifle was not won in a Boosahn Keeraw it was to be stored away until it could be passed to an Honor Guard decedent who had claimed the same title. And it was not uncommon for children of Honor Guard members to follow in their parents footsteps. Thus, less than a dozen Bo-Riles were in limbo.

Chula had never even entertained the idea of being an Honor Guard, so she had never expected to hold her mothers weapon in her lifetime.

Any other circumstance, she wouldn’t have. Lasan may not have been her first home but she respected it’s traditions and customs.

But circumstances had changed more than they ever had before and she wasn’t going to leave it here to rot with the remains of Lasan. Or for a lucky scavenger to dig up.

Each rifle was contained in a box and each box had the names of their former wielders engraved on the front. Chula’s fingertips skimmed over the names, some vaguely familiar but most completely unknown to her.

Except one.

Mara Tane.

Chula removed the simple wooden box reverently, running her palm over the top to remove the layer of dust before opening it.

Despite the grim surrounding it, the inside of the box remained pristine, safely holding the hybrid of wood and metal that made up Mara Tane’s Bo-Rifle.

Chula had never seen it before. The weapon had been placed in storage when Chula had still been an infant. She only knew about it because of Garazeb.

She hoped he’d made it out of the massacre…somehow.

Chula inhaled, choking down another cry as she shut the box and resealed the hidden chamber, even replacing some of the rubble to hide it.

She could justify taking her mother’s Bo-Rifle but she couldn’t bring the rest. Hopefully, no one would disturb them. Or a Lasat with the proper authority would come move them to another location or pass them to a new Honor Guard.

The sun beat down on Chula’s back as she trudged back to the Tortuga, rifle case clutched to her chest as her thoughts and heart rate finally started to calm.

She didn’t want to stay, she wanted to go home and cry until she was numb, curl up with Leo and his brother and let the sound of their breathing sooth her aching chest.

But she had to make sure she didn’t leave anyone behind. Because once she left this reality, she was never coming back.

There wasn’t anything left for her in this galaxy.

—-----------

It would take time to find somewhere she could discreetly get into a secure records database.

And in the inbetween, she looked up her other homeworld.

What she found made her feel sick and enraged all over again.

Because apparently, Death Watch had been largely dissipated during the transition from the Republic to the Empire and at some point, Clan Saxon had moved into the power vacuum created. Gar Saxon had plenty of interviews where he very publicly supported the Empire, and since Saxon was the most powerful clan on Mandalore now, she definitely couldn’t risk going anywhere near that system.

There wasn’t much beyond that but Chula knew Mandalorians, especially the ones left in the wake of the Clan War. And she would bet the Tortuga that all the smaller Clans were too busy fighting among themselves to form any kind of rebellion against Clan Saxon or the Empire occupation.

Chula inhaled sharply and closed the net browser. Public databases could only give her so much, she needed to find an outpost that she could easily get in and out of.

—----------------

She found an outpost station, far in the Outer Rim, with very few guards. Taking them down quickly and quietly wasn’t a problem, but she did bare her teeth under her helmet when she saw the armor they wore. It was clearly a new version of the clone armor, probably rolled out right after the war ended.

Not one of these skanah's deserved to wear it.

She’d admit slicing wasn’t her strongest suit but…well, very few were brave enough or foolish enough to deny a six and a half foot Mandalorian towering over them and demanding to be let into the system.

The database the trooper had access to was limited but…there was almost nothing. It confused Chula, how little information there was about pretty much anything pre-Empire. Most of it was almost exactly like the public Nets, only adding some names and places, but largely, it was all surface level placations and all detailed reports were made after something called Order Sixty-Six.

The only somewhat useful thing she managed to dig up was a database on Jedi that had not been accounted for after Order Sixty-Six.

But there was no mention of Astra or the two-forty-fourth battalion in it.

Chula growled and slammed her hands into the console, hard enough to leave a large dent and make the screen go dark, before storming away.

Looked like she was relying on word of mouth to figure out what had happened to her clan.

—----------------

Chula must be distracted, that was the only reasonable explanation she could come up with when a blaster clicked right behind her and she was actually surprised by it.

Someone had managed to sneak up behind her on a Lothal sidestreet and she’d been too wrapped up in her own head to notice.

Damn, she was getting old. Or she’d gotten used to how much safer the turtle’s dimensions were.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve wearing that armor,” the owner of the blaster growled.

And…oh, that was why Chula hadn’t heard her coming.

Very few people could sneak up on her, even few were still alive to do it twice. And she was so, so happy to hear one of those few after so long. Right when she had been starting to feel hopeless again.

She inhaled shakily, trying to keep her voice steady as she answered, “Why would you care?”

“Just because you slapped a new paint job on it doesn’t make it yours,” the woman snarled, voice much more gravely than Chula remembered but undoubtedly the same person. “That armor belongs to Clan Verd.”

“So it does,” Chula turned, slowly raising her hands to remove her helmet.

Seena Ader, in her full mercenary kit, face bare, the scar along her cheek a few shades more faded, stared at Chula in shock, all the color draining from under her dusty blue fur, “What…what the hells?”

“Gotta say, didn’t know you cared so much about the sanctity of my armor.”

“What…how…”

Chula tilted her head as Seena spluttered, jaw opening and shutting with nothing of substance coming out. It was almost funny to watch and Chula couldn’t help but cheekily ask, “Do you need a minute Miss. Ader?”

“Do I need a minute?!” Finally, Seena seemed to find her voice. Very loudly. “Do I need-? You kriffing asshole! I thought you kriffing died! Where the kriff have you been?”

“Oh, now that’s a story,” Chula let out a shaky huff, leaning back until she hit a sun-warmed stone building. “How much do you know about the Yaotl guy we were chasing down?”

Seena shrugged, “I may have…dug into him a little after you…from what I found, he was a nutcase.”

“Well, that nutcase's theories on multi-dimensional travel actually had some merit. I’ve been stuck in an alternate reality for the last six years.”

Seena blinked.

Her mouth went through another cycle of opening and shutting.

Chula waited.

Finally, Seena shook her head and mirrored Chula’s leaning position on the opposite building of the sidestreet, “The weird part of that is that I actually believe you.”

“I’ll prove it later,” Chula straightened. “Right now, we need to get Astra. I’ve been diggin’ for intel on where she and the kids are but I haven’t found anythin’. And I know all that osik about treason and the Clones turnin’ on the Jedi is propaganda nonsense from Palpatine. We both know the two-four-four wouldn’t do that in a million years but I can’t…why are you looking at me like that?”

Seena’s expression had become pinched and when Chula pointed it out, she quickly looked down. Her arms moved up to cross over her chest, “Verd….the two-forty-fourth disappeared during the Clone War.”

The good cheer building in Chula was gone in an instant, snuffed out like a candle, “...what?”

“The Paragon disappeared a little over a year before the Clone War ended, same time you did. And the Empire has erased pretty much every record from before that damn order went out. Palpatine has been scrubbing anything that doesn’t feed into the image he’s trying to build of himself and that includes Jedi who actually gave a damn like Astra. But…by gods, I’m almost glad their gone, Astra would have hated all of this mess. There are small rebellions here and there but….have you seen what happened on Lasan? That’s…that pretty standard whenever anyone gets too noisy for Palpatine's liking.”

She had, she had seen Lasan and she didn’t want to think about that or Mandalore or anything except Astra and her kids, because they disappeared…

They disappeared…

“When did you say the Paragon disappeared?”

“The same time you did,” Seena shrugged. “Only report I could dig up was some kind of massive energy spike in that area but it was out in the middle of no-mans-space so the only thing they had to work of was random sensors floating around and The Paragons-”

“Forget about that, we gotta move!” Chula sprung forward, grabbing Seena’s wrist and tugging her back towards the main streets.

“Wait, wait, Verd,” Seena tugged, nowhere close to stopping Chula but managing to slow her down. “What in the hells are you all excited about?”

“I got launched into another dimension because Yaotl’s ship basically opened a wormhole in space and time and dragged the ship in. And right before everything went dark, The Paragon had dropped out of hyperspace, I remember getting a communication from Astra before I hit my head which means the Paragon got pulled in too!”

“Do you have any idea how insane you sound right now? I just told you, the entire ship vanished-”

“And so did I,” Chula stopped, turning to face Seena. “I disappeared into another reality but I made it. I shabbin’ lived for six years in another reality. And I have seen so much and I’ve learned so much and I met these kids, brilliant kids, amazing kids, who helped me get here and they can help us find the rest of our clan and we can finally…we can finally have an actual home.”

Seena’s eyes narrowed again, head tilting.

Chula pressed on, emotions spinning wildly in her blood again and making her babble, “We have a multiverse to pick from. We can stop doin’ all of this, fightin’ other peoples wars, running for our lives every damn second. There was barely anythin’ keeping us here and now we can just…just leave it all. You won’t have to run from you father anymore-”

“Oh, I took care of that ages ago.”

Chula paused, ears flicking forward, “Pardon?”

“Yeeeah, that’s also a story. Short version, dear ol’ dad caught up with me, tried to have me executed in the same way he murdered Tarsi. Turns out, being a merc for most of my life and training with you worked well for not getting ripped apart by starving beasts and I burned his precious little fortress to the ground with him in it.”

Chula blinked.

Than huffed a laugh, releasing Seena’s arm to clap her shoulder, “You’ve been busy.”

“Had to,” Seena muttered. “I was the only one of us left.”

“Not for long,” Chula started moving again, slower now so that they could walk side by side. “Trust me, we’re gonna go back to Donnie and we’ll start a plan to look for Astra and the battalion. We’re goin’ to find them and…and things will be perfect for once.”

“Well, you’ve certainly become more optimistic in your sabbatical.”

“Yeah, well, like I said, I met some amazing kids. I think you’ll get along great with them.”

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Translations:

Skanah's - Fuckers (very hated person(s))

Kriff - Fuck

Osik - shit

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.....guess who's writing a third arc for this series?

Also, new Boss Bitch, check out Seena's Profile here!

#tmnt #rottmnt #lone hunter and turtle #star wars #tmnt au #fanfic

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illarian-rambling · 7 months

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🍓🍌 and 🥥 for the food ask game? :3

🥥Coconut - Which one of your characters is most exotic, in the terms of their culture/customs/habits are different from your own?

Izjik is probably culturally the most different from me because I've done the most worldbuilding on selkie culture. Halawemavar (her branch of selkies) have no notion of parenthood. They raise their children communally, relying on everyone in the enclave to do their part. Additionally, they have no concept of marriage. Some partners are monogamous, some are polygamous, but they have no words for either of these terms, it's just "Oh yeah, Ralueigh and Kizjra don't like dating around with other people, but that Aumazi, Ikjo, and Dzeām are open." They share property in the way only a small group of <150 people can. This is why Izjik is so good at making connections with surface folk; they read her cultural inclinations as random generosity. This is also why she was so quick to take Twenari in. All halawemavar are conditioned to care for any unattended child they see as if that child were their own flesh and blood. Izjik stands apart from not only my culture, but most of the cultures of Illaros.

🍓Strawberry - What was the first thing that you remember coming up with about this Wip? Was it a feeling? A character?

Keeping on the Honor's Outcasts train, the first thing I came up with was the Trench. The second thing I came up with was the concept of a character whose only special power was that she could kill immortals. The third thing was the idea that this character needed and friend, and wouldn't it be funny to have a mute, aroace, siren man fill that role? As for Mortal God, it sprung from a game of dnd when I needed a suitably terrifying villain and decided to make two npcs with some serious beef with her. The first thing I came up with for Astra was her accent, because I always love an npc with a silly accent. Mashal sprang fully formed from his backstory.

🍌Banana - Give me your most mentally deranged character and list off their mental issues (Optional: How they got them/why they have them)

Most mentally deranged is Azhur by a mile. Azhur is Twenari’s father and though he was probably a pretty normal guy for the majority of his life, when Twenari finds him, he's been trapped alone in a demiplane of his own making for ten years. The demiplane he made for his young son who died before construction could be completed. He talks constantly in an effort to drown out the auditory hallucinations he gets in the form of the voice of his dead son berating him. He forgets other people are real sometimes and occasionally gets trapped in certain tics. When he gets out of the demiplane and is around other people again, he starts doing a bit better, but recovery will take time. Ten years of complete isolation in a hellscape of your own making wears on the sanity, it seems.

Thanks for the asks!

#writing #writerscommunity #writblr #my ocs #author

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rphelperblog · 2 years

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Kingdom of the Wicked Book Quote rp meme- part one

“Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go.”

“love and hate are both rooted in passion- strange how that line becomes blurred over time.”

“Tell me you hate me, that I am your worst enemy. Better yet, tell me you don't want to kiss me.”

“acta non verba; actions, not words”

“A woman with a little power was terrifying to some.”

“Bravery might be the absence of fear in most cases, but it also seemed a little like acting foolishly for a good cause.”

“Life often deals you a hand you didn't choose. It's how you end up playing it to your advantage that counts.”

“The stars are out and they’re falling like feathers”

“I wanted to kiss him. Possibly break a bottle and stab him first. But then definitely kiss him.”

“As a witch, I really needed to stop thinking some creatures were mere myths and legends.”

“I believe I’m powerful, therefore I am.”

“There was something about him that came across as lethally angelic. But if he ever had a halo, it was broken now.”

“Magic was life and life was made by making love and feeling good and our bodies constantly tried to remind us to live.”

“Every tall tale was rooted in truth.”

“I will not appear weak for you to maintain strength.”

“A true leader delegates. Just as your're doing now. Never doubt your courage.”

“Life often deals you a hand you didn’t choose.”

“For the living embodiment of sin, you aren't very sinful.”

“I always knew you. And always will. Your soul calls to mine. It’s a feeling of coming home. Of peace. No magic can duplicate it.”

“Stories make everything possible.”

“Every tall tale was rooted in truth.”

“Fear made monsters of men.”

“Assumptions are the death of truth.”

“Why is it whenever a man throws a tantrum a woman is blamed for his poor behavior?”

“Astra inclinant, sed non obligant; The stars incline us, they do not bind us”

“Real life certainly wasn't anything close to a romance novel, but there was still a small part of the old me left that hoped for a happy ending”

“What if I'm the villain? One who's so vicious, so terrible, I was punished to forget?”

“A phoenix rises from the ashes for a reason. Your world must be destroyed for you to rise anew. And rise you shall. Just as they feared you would.”

“I do not wish to taint my body with the foulness of human food,"

"But desserts are acceptable.”

“Your pride didn't appear in that bone circle the night you spilled blood and summoned me. It was your wrath. Your fury.”

“Forging a bond made from love is as dangerous as those made through hate.”

“At times my simmering rage was the only indication I was alive.”

“Man had a funny way of blaming the devil for things he didn’t like.”

“It was strange that we were called evil when humans were the ones who enjoyed watching us burn.”

“His annoyance joined mine in unholy matrimony.”

“Why do villains always wear black?”

“Of course. There is nothing more dangerous than a woman who owns who she is and apologizes to no one.”

“Love and hate are both rooted in passion.”

“Find forgiveness and acceptance in your heart, or darkness will seep in and destroy you.”

“You are not his intended.You are mine.”

“I hoped the kingdom of the wicked was ready for a vengeful queen.”

“One day you might beg me to kiss you.”

“Names have power. Titles are a show of power.”

“Never forget: forging a bond made from love is as dangerous as those made though hate.”

“Live long enough to hate me for this”

“Young women died. Life resumed. Such was the way of the world, at least according to men.”

“He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”

“In the end, the monster we feared didn’t come from Hell. He came from privilege.”

“Only you can decide how to move forward”

“Someone’s cocky.”

“Instead of being ruled by fear, I could become fearless.”

“I am your favorite sin.”

“The stars incline us; they do not bind us.“

“Your heart will conquer darkness. Trust in that.”

“You always have the power of choice, even when those choices seem limited. Never forget that.”

“Others would always be out there, trying to knock me down, to tell me who I was or who they thought I should be. People carved words into weapons often, but they only had power if I listened to them instead of trusting in myself.”

“One day you'll call me Death.For now, Wrath will do.”

A good book was its own brand of magic, one I could safely indulge in without fear of getting caught by those who hunted. I loved escaping from reality, especially during times of trouble. Stories made everything possible.”

“Fate may deal it's hand, try encouraging our path or intervene, but we are ultimately free to choose our own destiny. Never doubt that.”

“Perhaps we’ve finally found your Achilles’ heel, your majesty.”

“It’s a game of scopa, not a battle between life and death. Are you always this dramatic?”

“Pretend there's no curse. No magical betrothal. Or romantic urges created by our bond. Would you choose me? To reign beside you. To be your queen. Your friend. Your confidant. Your lover... If I am still yours, I would tell you that you are mine. That I am choosing you as my husband. There is no one I'd rather confront my demons with, no soul I'd travel through Hell with. And no one else I want standing beside me.”

“This was not the kind of prince written about in fairy tales. There was no golden crown sitting atop his dark head, or promises of safety waiting in his sculpted, tattooed arms. He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”

“I don’t know how you’ve fooled humanity for so long, but it’s as Envy said. You are the most skilled liar of all. Samael.”

#open to all #open to anyone #open rp #ask meme #rp meme #open meme #open to anybody #roleplay meme #ask prompt #memes #kingdom of the wicked #quote roleplay meme #book quote meme #book rp #book rp meme #open starter

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sl-walker · 2 years

Text

@unspeakablehorror

If you want to know more about the Mirror Scott -- whose main story arc is one of the tightest plotted tales I’ve ever told, and who I cannot define for the reader and make no effort to -- here is his story. The first one is the main arc, the other stories (not all yet posted on AO3) is the side arc. You only really need to read the main arc, though, to get the plot; the side arc stories are the more-- emotional side of things, albeit rarely only his emotions.

If you want to know the regular universe Scotty, his is here (and likewise is not all over on Ao3 yet).

Then, on top of that, the Multiverse I is on Ad Astra’s forums, but you have to be a member. This post comes from almost at the very end. And this version of the Mirror Scott is actually an AU branched off the one in the link above, but-- close enough. LOL!

Anyway, here’s the post anyway, even sans context:

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” - Edith Wharton

"We have about ten hours," Hank said, over the intercom. Up on the bridge, with T'Vel, they were hurriedly networking panels in order to make up for the lack of people to man them. Once the sub was away, everyone turned to work, and into their own thoughts.

Scotty didn't bother acknowledging the statement, just let it sink into his thoughts, which were appropriately somewhere between grim and determined. Behind the main phaser array, he and his Mirror were busy trying to add every last little tiny watt of power they could to the Shikra's primary weapons. Next would come the torpedoes, as well as Shand and Torres's nuclear insanity, and then finally they would do what they could to bolster the shields.

Work had always been something that Scotty turned to when life was falling apart. He wasn't sure, though, if this was one of those times.

Berat's kind words had both unsettled him -- he had long since put that one conversation out of his mind and thought Berat had done the same, so having that family brought up had shaken him up -- and had resonated deeply. Not for the words of wishing Scotty of wishing him age and peace, both things he was never sure he'd find in full but appreciated Berat wishing him, but those reminding him exactly how much he was--

Rocky as their relationship had sometimes been, he would miss the Cardassian engineer. And did now, really. He'd miss Stan, too, for as little as they had interacted. Hell, he missed all of them -- the ones gone now below, the ones gone before to death or back to their own universes.

It was strange, sometimes, how people could become a part of your mental landscape. Strange how they could become familiar and even sometimes comfortable.

Now, Scotty's world was a good bit smaller and had a number of empty spots in it. He could not call them friends, nor would he presume to, but he was keenly aware of their absence.

And all too aware of a silent knowledge that he'd never see them again.

Dying in the line of duty wasn't something that scared him so much. God knew, he had faced it enough times. If anything, he took a grim refuge in the fact that if he did go out, he would hopefully go out fighting, and he would make damn sure that the universe he had been defying would not level its final blow without him having exhausted every possible resource he had to survive. Scotty was never suicidal like that, no matter how easy it was to think he was when he flung himself head-long into deadly situations -- he never went into them thinking of glory, or heroics. He went into them because he had to, because it was his duty. Because it was the right thing to do. And when he did, he went in knowing that when he accomplished his goal, he would then fight for his own survival just as fiercely.

He was all too well aware that there was no glory to be found in death. That once you snuffed out something unique in the universe, nothing could replace it; that no matter how well a person died, it was no replacement for that empty place they left behind.

He looked down at his penlight, rubbing his thumb over the only word etched on it. A moment of admitted self-reflection, and sorrow. He wasn't sure who the sorrow was for, or where it came from, except that it came from someplace deep. He wasn't sure if it was for himself, or for the empty places surrounding him now, or for the empty places that would be left behind here, and there.

A movement caught his peripheral vision, and he picked his head up to look over at the Mirror, who was apparently done with the coupling down the way he'd been working on.

Scotty still wasn't sure what to even think of this other him, this black-clad assassin who could kill without so much as a flicker of horror at his own actions. But despite that, even though it wasn't entirely willing, he empathized. When the Mirror moved, he could feel it himself; when the Mirror worked, he could feel what it would be, down to the very nerves themselves, as his hands danced through wires and over circuits or gripped a tool. He knew the Mirror heard like he can hear; could tap whatever sense it was that allowed them both to work in almost identical motions despite such vastly different lives.

It wasn't in a literal way, but it was certainly real enough.

And despite not knowing what to make of this twin, whose face never betrayed him, Scotty found the strangest sense of comfort in being around someone who could not really frighten him, not even when performing an action he himself could never perform.

The Mirror regarded him with that same cool, inscrutable look now, as he sat with his light and a moment out of these ten hours made for self-reflection and sorrow. Scotty knew that whatever good-byes the Mirror had made, he made long ago, long before this.

Then that expression softened slightly, and the Mirror sat down next to him and put their shoulders together. A primal, primitive gesture of solidarity and comfort; something universal in a language that both of them could understand, even if neither could ever say it aloud.

Scotty didn't take it for anything less or more than what it was. Just nodded slightly to himself.

And in unison, they both reached forward to get back to work together.

#scotty #arc of the wolf #(adjacent)#mirror universe #(also adjacent)

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inventors-fair · 8 months

Text

A story of returns : Commentary

Thanks everyone for sending a design! Let's take a closer look to all cards you sent!

@wildcardgamez I like the connection of the effect and the bold, bossy flavor text. However, I wouldn't mind if this card was a bit cheaper and worked for a color pair instead of the possibility of all ten. I got the feeling that people would like to squeeze the value out of this but realistically this is very difficult to pull off.

@wifeswarmacademy I love the concept of this card but I have some doubt about the execution. The "blink part" of the card seems a bit extra, and if you wanna copy an opponent's creature, they may get some value in the process with an extra etb trigger.

@tavi-en-astra here we have probably the boldest design of the contest, but while I feel the core of the design is exciting and worth exploring more (use the remaining loyalty of a pw for a spell), the cost and the abilities you get don't seem like a good pay- off. Also when a two colored card offers choices, it's typical that these options lean towards a color but here it lacks a distinct red ability. Returning anything from the graveyard is something that green can do, so here red feels that it's here for the flavor alone.

@stupidstupidratcreatures Here we wave a very tricky card. It has a green effect but the flavor could work in an urban set like Ravnica, New Caperna or Fiora. It could even be a hybrid spell. The only thing that prevent me from putting this among the runer ups was the fact that as it's currently written, you can choose two cards with the same name and so you get exactly what you want. Also, it's customary that cards that return other cards exile themselves to avoid weird loops.

@sparkyyoungupstart Super happy you went for an Orzhov flavored card, because return also means profit in an economists vocabulary. However, the power level of this card is insane, I can see it as a sorcery but an enchantment that repeats this effect every turn is too much.

@real-aspen-hours A solid boros design here. I like that it is both relevant early game due to haste, and it also has late game potential, since you will probably be able to use the attack trigger and perform some artifact shenanigans.

@railway-covidae An interesting and flavorful design! In my mind it feels as if the rescuer is saving an agent and they catch up on the road, and that is translated into the surveil bonus of the card. My two objections here is the fact that it can bounce opponent's creatures, so there's not actual rescuing but removing, and it ties to the next objection that this maybe too good for a common card, given that it has flash.

@nine-effing-hells a two faced card that tells an interesting story. After some mysterious abductions, we get to discover the vessel! Like I mentioned above, busy cards like that shouldn't be common, but rarity rarely crosses a designer's mind when they try to come up with a cool card. So rarity aside, this is a very solid card that can even win you games in a slow and steady blue deck. I would prefer it if the back side had a flavor text or a minor ability instead of a death trigger one. Given that this card is elusive and it is tied to bouncing creatures, I doubt the death trigger will be very relevant.

@mudthing Solid contingency plan card for black and with a dark snarky flavor text to seal the deal. We have a lot of single target cards like this in official mtg but not a mass effect! Congrats for doing it first haha!

@misterstingyjack Squad is a neat twist on the replicate mechanic, and Squadron Phoenix is a good card to introduce someone to the mechanic. The wording on the damage trigger left me a bit puzzled though. Why does a token exclusively gets to revive the original? Reading the card from the viewpoint of a (spoiled) player, if my phoenix dies on turn 4 and I play another one on turn 5 then attack with it on turn 6, shouldn't I get the other phoenix back?

@jestingmaniac Fated return sells really well the concept of return and the impact it may have on a story! I would position it higher if it played a bit better so it matches the flavor but overall it's a great card and I love everything that involves time counters!

@izzet-always-r-versus-u Solid reanimation spell here, good use of the corpse counter and the new creature being just a mindless walking thing with no abilities is as Zombie as you can get!

@i-am-the-one-who-wololoes The old card frame ties well with the feeling of nostalgia this card radiates. On to the actual ability, it's cute that you can manipulate where lands are with retrace and all, but overall it feels like a very specific card.

@hypexion double keyword is a big flex here! While there's not story to be told here, this card is super solid and it solves the issue other oblivion ring variant cards have. By replicating itself it means that you can exile a lot of creatures and the opponent will have to free them one by one and not just with one removal. Looking at you Quarantine Field!

@hiygamer Super strong equipment, whose two downsides don't matter all that much. The boost is simply too good to not attack, and the bounce can give you some value, plus returning the attacking creature to your hand and replaying it means that you can have it as blocker! This baby is going to be pick n1 in drafts!

@helloijustreadyourpost Another sweet equipment! It is balanced all around and it can be a great mana sink late game! I love the mechanical flavor here, that the ressurected creature can't live without the equipment!

@cthulhusaurusrex One line of text can mean so much in Magic. I;m not sure if the wording here is functional but if does it's absolutely brutal. You can play this when you are ahead in a war of attrition or when you have a hand full of dark rituals etc, so you play it along with a small creature and you simply win the game because your opponent can even play lands! Truly evil!

@chungus-supreme And finallt, here I believe we have a rare example of a card being overcosted. Since the end effect is determined by your opponent, and it involves an attacking creature to boot, I can see this card at 2 mana, or even one if it weren't for the color pie. I'm genuinely surprised we don't have a card with this name yet!

#mtg #magic the gathering #custom magic card #inventor's fair #commentary

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talinexa · 5 years

Text

Odd Goings-On - One-Shot

So... this was a random idea I had... LOL XD

“Isa!” Lea shouted, running forward across the roof of the Radiant Garden castle. The blue-haired boy’s face was cut up and bleeding, green eyes unfocused and staring up at the sky as he was lying on the ground. The silver-haired man leaning over Isa was smirking as a light emerged from Isa’s chest and glowed and spun for a moment, before shooting off into the sky.

Lea fell onto his knees on Isa’s other side, grabbing his friend’s arm in both hands, searching Isa’s blank stare for some sign of life before turning to the man. “What did you do to him?!” he demanded, glaring at Xehanort with tears running down his face.

Xehanort reached out and placed his hand on Lea’s chest. “Worry not. The pain will disappear,” he said.

Lea gasped as an overwhelming pain and darkness crashed through him. His vision went fuzzy and he blacked out.

He came to moments later, still lying on the floor of the castle’s roof.

The first thing he was aware of was someone shaking his shoulders. “Lea! Lea, wake up!” the familiar voice was one he’d know anywhere. His head was light and his eyes weren’t focusing, but he knew that wasn’t Isa speaking to him. Under his hand he could feel Isa’s arm.

“Astra... get out of here... now...” he groaned. He knew that he should have felt worried for her, but he didn’t. He didn’t feel... anything. No concern for Isa’s condition. No fear for what would happen to Astra should she stay.

He was empty. An empty chasm where his heart once was yawning open inside him.

The sensation left a profound ache in his chest.

“Astra... go...”

“No! I’m not leaving you! Isa’s bleeding. He’s awake but unresponsive and you were unconscious when I found you!” Long blue-gray hair—longer than but similarly colored to Ienzo’s—swam into focus as his vision improved.

“Xe... Xehanort... did this...” Lea muttered.

“What?” Astra breathed, sounding astounded. “What did he do?”

“Removed... our... hearts. You... need... to leave.” Clarity was returning to his mind. “Before you suffer the same fate. Go.” He sat up. Astra’s silvery-gray eyes were full of fear and concern. He grabbed her shoulders. “Get out of the castle. Get out of Radiant Garden if you can! Now!”

“Lea I can’t leave you!”

“You’ll find that boy is no longer Lea,” a deep voice said from behind. Astra and Lea whirled. It was Xehanort—but something was different. He had the same empty look that Lea felt. “He will now be known as Axel.”

“Why?” Astra demanded, putting herself between Lea and Xehanort.

“Astra, no,” Lea tried, a hand on her shoulder attempting to push her out of the way and failing. He was still groggy from his heart being torn from his body.

Xehanort chuckled. “You were always Ansem’s boldest pupil. Perhaps you should join our cause as well. Your will is strong.”

“Give them back their hearts, Xehanort!” Astra ordered.

“I cannot. Their hearts have been separated from their bodies. Only by their death can they be made whole again. And you don’t want that, do you?” He smirked. “And I am no longer Xehanort. I am... Xemnas.”

Astra took a step back, holding Lea’s wrist in one hand protectively. “Take me with you,” she said.

“Astra no!” Lea pleaded. “Get out of here!”

“I told you once before, Lea. You and Isa are the family I’ve found for myself. After my and Ienzo’s parents disappeared, this castle’s been all we’ve known. And if Xemnas is taking you away from here, I’m coming too.”

Xemnas smirked. “How I hoped you’d come willingly,” he said.

Darkness swept out of him and slammed into Astra.

“NO!” Lea shouted. She fell back, dazed, right into his arms. “Astra! Astra why would you—?”

The light glowed around her edges and emerged from her chest before shooting into the sky.

“Stand down, Axel. She will be alright. She will the same as you are now,” Xehanort—no, Xemnas—droned. “And now you won’t have to leave her behind.”

Xemnas swept a hand across the area in front of where Astra was slumped in Lea—Axel’s—arms. Her name appeared in glowing, floating letters. A flick of Xemnas’ wrist sent them spinning around her while she gazed on blankly, gray eyes empty of everything they once held.

They slammed to a stop in the wrong order, a golden X branded into them. “Number Nine, Staxar. Cosmic Channel. Welcome to Organization Thirteen.” Xemnas turned, and called over his shoulder, “Axel. Bring Saïx and Staxar to the courtyard when they’ve recovered.” With that, he stepped down the stairs and vanished into the shadows of the darkened castle.

Axel lowered Astra—Staxar—to the floor next to Isa. Saïx. “You idiot,” he whispered to her. “Why would you do that?”

“He... already... took... Ienzo. You, him, and Isa are... everything... to me. Can’t... lose you.” She reached out with one hand and took Saïx’s, her other hand reaching up to brush Axel’s face. “It’s... gonna be... okay.”

*****

“Hey Saïx?” I called, peering through doorways in the castle, looking for Saïx. “Saaaïïïx?! Where are yooou?”

“Staxar!”

“Oh! Hey Axel. You seen Saïx?”

“He was in the meeting room last I checked. Talking with Xemnas.”

“Oh. I’ll wait for him then,” I said.

“Staxar?”

“Yeah Axel?”

“What are you looking for Saïx for?”

“Oh. Just need to talk to him about my mission yesterday. I think I forgot to put something in my report. And I don’t know where he put it so I can update it.”

“Boring. You’re such a Goody-Goody.”

I paused and blinked. “I... would disagree with you. I... have never made many attempts at being a goody two shoes. I’m just trying to do one thing that’ll keep Saïx from nagging me about being forgetful like he does with Demyx.”

Axel snorted. “Fair enough. Okay. Yeah just wait for him to get done. He’ll probably head to his room. Wait for him there.”

“I will. Thanks Axel.”

I headed for Saïx’s bedroom, and waited outside it for all of five minutes before getting dragged by Demyx to the commons area to hang out—and do a duet. I was, apparently, the only member of the Organization who enjoyed singing. Or was, at least, willing to sing with Demyx when he played his sitar.

We hung out in the commons for a few songs, me singing and Demyx playing. How Demyx got anything done I still had no idea. I swear he never did any work.

“Hey Staxar?” Demyx asked. “What were you hangin’ around Saïx’s room for anyway?”

“I wanted to talk to him about my mission report from yesterday. I think I forgot to put something in it,” I answered honestly.

“You actually fill those out?”

“Don’t you?”

“Not well.”

“No wonder Saïx is always on your case.”

Demyx shrugged and retuned to the sitar. “It’s not like he’s ever gonna do more than talk.”

I snorted. “If you say so. But don’t come crying to me when he beans you upside the head.”

That made Demyx laugh.

There was a lull in conversation during which Demyx plucked at his strings. “Hey. Maybe we should run away and become a performing duo,” he suggested. The sarcasm wasn’t lost on me. I snorted.

“Nah. I can’t leave Zexion and Axel and Saïx behind.”

“Thaaat’s right! I keep forgetting Zexion is your brother. I mean yeah you look alike but you don’t act alike at all.”

“He was always more reserved than I was,” I said, twisting some of my hair around my fingers. “I had to be louder because I had to take care of him. Even after I met Is—Saïx and Axel.”

“Right. Well, at least let me be in charge of the music at your wedding when you and Saïx get married, mkay?” Demyx remarked.

I dropped my hair. “What?!” I demanded.

He looked confused, brushing a loose clump of hair back up into place. “What? Isn’t that why you’re so attached to that stick in the mud?”

“No!”

“Really? I always thought you were in love with him.”

“I am not in love with Saïx!” I exclaimed, voice going squeaky. “I can’t feel anything, remember?!”

“Huh. Oh yeah.” Demyx threw his arms behind his head casually. “Forgot about that. You two just act like an old married couple.”

“Shut your face, Demyx,” I snapped, pushing myself to my feet. “Saïx and I were friends in the old life. Only friends. We were too young when we lost our hearts for anything else.”

“You were, what? Fifteen? Sixteen? That’s plenty old enough to have a crush on somebody.”

“Demyx, are you trying to goad me into beating your face in?”

“No. Just bringing up something you and Saïx refuse to acknowledge.”

“If I did have a heart and could feel, I would say ‘I hate you.’ Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really do have to attend to business.” I moved to leave the commons area.

“Just don’t forget to lock the door!” Demyx called.

I whirled, daggers appearing in my hands. “DEMYX!”

He was gone, the last vestige of a dark corridor closing. I ground my teeth and let my daggers vanish. That idiot’s teasing was going to get him killed. Probably by me but maybe by Saïx if he caught wind of it.

I rolled my eyes and went back through the halls to Saïx’s room. It was slightly ajar and the light was on. He’d returned from his meeting with Xemnas apparently. “Saïx?” I called, knocking on the frame and pushing the door open. “I was wondering if you would let me edit my mission report from yester—OH GOSH SORRY!” I clapped one hand over my eyes.

Saïx was standing at his window without any sort of shirt on. He had on his uniform trousers but that was it. His blue hair was lying, damp, down his back, looking like he’d just finished combing through it.

“I did knock!” I squeaked, trying not to peek between my fingers.

“Yes. I heard you. Are you feeling embarrassed?” Saïx asked.

“No,” I said. “I don’t feel anything. But it’s rude and indecent of me to—”

“Staxar. Enough. What were you here for?”

I cleared my throat. “I think I forgot some details in my mission report from yesterday,” I said. “I was wondering if I could make sure and edit it.”

“Of course,” Saïx said. He crossed to his desk—he was like the only member of the Organization who had a desk in his room—and pulled open one of the drawers. It was full of files. He rifled through it and then handed me my report.

“Thanks. I’ll bring it right—”

He offered me a pen. “Just go through it here,” he said, cutting me off.

I cleared my throat and accepted the pen before leaning over his desk to glance through it and make sure I had everything in it. I tried really hard not to peek at Saïx while I looked through my report but it was kinda hard not to as he still hadn’t put a shirt on. I had known him for most of my life at this point and had never once seen him without one apart from right now.

He and Axel were built similarly—with Axel being slightly skinnier—but Saïx had more bulk. His muscles were the lean-and-wiry kind while still being whipcord strong. Because how else was he supposed to wield that giant claymore? He wasn’t as obviously-bulky as Lexaeus and Xaldin but he had definition.

If I still had a heart I’d probably be uncomfortable.

I chewed my lip hard and focused on my work. There were a few details I’d left out that I quickly added back in. When I was done I handed the papers back to Saïx. “Done. Thanks.”

“Of course. I appreciate your endeavors to be accurate.”

“Yeah. Uh... thanks. No problem.” I nodded and moved to leave.

“Staxar?” Saïx asked.

“Hmm?” I didn’t trust myself to turn around because I’d probably be too distracted to meet his eye, so I faced the door.

“I heard you and Demyx talking.”

“He was just joking around. You know how he is,” I said, gaze focused on the door.

Saïx’s hand rested on my shoulder. “Staxar we were children when we joined the Organization.”

“Teenagers,” I corrected. “Treated like children and expected to act like adults. Saïx...” I shook my head. “Never mind. Demyx was just being a punk.” I slipped out from under his hand on my shoulder.

“Should his harassment of you continue I could have him reprimanded—or even punished should it come to that.”

“It’s not harassment and it’s not a big deal.”

“Staxar, we were friends. It’s among the duties of a friend to—”

“Okay. Two things. One: we are friends, Saïx. Present-tense,” I interrupted. “And two: you don’t do nice things for your friends out of duty or obligation. You do it because they’re your friends and you want to. Anyway. You really don’t have to play favorites. I’m fine and I can handle Demyx on my own. But thanks.” I gave him a brief smile over my shoulder before rushing out of his room.

I ran to Axel’s and knocked on his door. He opened it after a second. “What’s up? You find Saïx?”

“Worse. I just walked in on Saïx shirtless with his hair wet like he’d just gotten out of the shower. I have never done anything more awkward in my entire life and I’m not even able to feel embarrassed!”

Axel started laughing, pulling me into his room and shutting the door. “Staxar, you are a treasure to be around. Your strange misadventures are a never-ending source of entertainment for me.” He leaned against the wall and folded his arms. “How’s that crush on Isa from when we were teenagers now, hmm?”

“I did not have a crush on Saïx,” I snapped.

“No, not Saïx. Isa. He’s... changed in the past couple years. Not that you’d notice. He doesn’t act like Saïx around you. He acts like Isa around you. And only you.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. Ever notice how sharp he is in meetings?”

“A little.”

“Yeah. That’s Saïx. But you only ever see Isa when you’re alone with him.”

“Is he playing favorites?”

“I think he had a crush on you when we were teenagers,” Axel remarked. “And the part of him that remembers that treats you special. Because there is a part of him that remembers being able to feel...”

“Axel... If it’s just me... is he Saïx with you too?”

“Oh yeah. But it’s okay. I’m used to him in every mood.”

Someone knocked on the door. “Axel? Have you seen Staxar?” a familiar voice called.

“I’m in here chatting, Zexion!” I shouted back.

The door opened.

“Sure just come on in,” Axel muttered sarcastically. My brother ignored him.

“Staxar, I would like a word.”

“Sure thing,” I said. “See ya, Axel. Thanks for the chat.”

“Any time.” He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. I dodged out of his room.

Zexion had opened a corridor and gestured for me to go through it.

“Oh. A private conversation, eh?” I said with a smile, ducking through it. My brother’s blue eyes blinked but he said nothing, following after me quickly.

We emerged in Traverse Town. It was after dark and the streets were mostly empty. “Staxar,” Zexion started. “What are your real feelings for Saïx?”

“Don’t have any,” I said. “I’m supposed to love you because you’re my brother but I just don’t. You know we can’t. Our hearts were cast off when we joined the Organization.”

“You sacrificed your heart to come with Isa, Lea, and I. Without a second thought. Why would you do such a thing?”

“The three of you were all I had. You had Master Ansem and Vexen and Lexaeus and Xaldin keeping their eye on you but because I was older and female they assumed I was responsible enough to take care of myself. I rarely saw any of them. Just you, Lea, and Isa.”

“But... you did have feelings for Saïx didn’t you? In the old life?”

“Yes. I did. But it’s... fuzzy to say the least. I remember being aware of how deeply I loved all three of you one second, and the next second everything was gone and I was empty. I remember Axel shouting my name. And my feelings for Isa... I still look at him and remember them. But I don’t feel them anymore.”

“Didn’t you once whisper to Lea that you wanted to marry Isa?”

“Someone like Isa,” I corrected. “Someone less exuberant than Lea but slightly more verbal than you.” We found a park bench and sat down. “Getting you to talk was like pulling teeth.”

“I’m aware. I was a shy child.”

“I know, Zexion. When our parents disappeared... before we were taken into Master Ansem’s care, you and I wandered the streets of Radiant Garden on our own. You were maybe two at the time. You wouldn’t remember it now. I think the experience of the two of us on our own scared you out of talking for a long time.” I wrapped my arms around him. He’d already grown taller than me and he was thirteen. “And I’ve always felt guilty for failing you there.”

“Astra,” Zexion said, brushing his bangs behind his ear in order to look me in the face fully. He only ever did so for me. I hadn’t heard anyone call me my real name in a long time. “You did not fail me. Everything we went through brought us to where we are now. You’ve always done your best to take care of me and you’re the only blood family I have. I’ve always admired your bravery and your strength.” He wrapped his arms around me in turn. “And if it makes you feel any better, I approve of you and Saïx.”

My mouth dropped open. “Zexion!” I protested. “There’s nothing to approve of! There’s nothing there!”

“Everyone in the Organization knows that’s a lie.”

“I...”

“He liked you too, you know,” Zexion said. “But he’d never admit it out loud.”

I snorted. “That sounds like Saïx. But how would you know?”

“I overheard him telling Lea in the castle a few days before we gave up our hearts.”

I sighed. “Well, unfortunately, the situation we’re in now doesn’t really allow for anything to happen.”

“If you say so.” Zexion opened another corridor around himself and vanished.

I sighed and followed him through my own corridor back to the Organization’s castle. I appreciated that Zexion opened up to me—because as Ienzo he hadn’t much—but I was getting really tired of the teasing. Demyx and Axel I could understand. They were playful by nature. But Zexion? It was almost bizarre to have my quiet, intellectual baby brother poking fun at a five-year-old crush on Saïx that I was currently incapable of feeling.

Back at the castle, I went to my own room and got ready to get some sleep.

Once I showered, I stood at my window, looking at our Kingdom Hearts, with my wet hair hanging to my waist, standing only in my sleeping clothes and bare feet.

Knock-knock-knock!

“Who is it?” I called out of habit, despite being able to identify most of the Organization’s members by their knock alone.

“Me,” Saïx’s voice said.

I pulled my black coat on over my nightdress. “Oh boy here we go,” I whispered before pulling the door open. “To what do I owe the visit?”

“May I come in?”

Ignoring the warning bells going off in my mind labelled Awkward Situation Alert!!!, I opened the door wider. “Sure,” I said, letting him enter and backing up. He shut the door behind him, quiet and polite.

Saïx folded his arms. “I spoke to Demyx,” he said.

“Isa, I told you, you didn’t have—”

“He sought me out.”

“I doubt it was to apologize.”

“Demyx? No.” Saïx shook his head. “He sought me out and told me it was about time you and I were honest with ourselves.”

“That punk,” I muttered.

“Staxar...” he trailed off. I stared at him for a moment. The thing about being a Nobody was we didn’t feel anything. No shame. No remorse. No happiness either. No love. The love I once felt had been stripped and hollowed out of me a long time ago.

But... for some reason... I could feel that love. Fluttering in my chest like a large moth.

“Ye... yeah?” I asked quietly.

“I believe... for all his faults... Demyx may be right this time,” Saïx said quietly.

Shut up and kiss me, you big idiot, I thought, but didn’t dare say aloud. “You... you think?” I said instead.

“I do.”

I lifted my head. “Then kiss me.”

That earned me a smile. “I’m the one who gives the orders around here.”

“Not with this.”

Saïx’s hands found my shoulders and pulled me closer. He was a lot taller than me despite being the same age, so he had to lean down to reach me.

When our lips met, it felt like everything crashed down around me. Nothing else mattered. My chest was on fire and my knees grew weak. I never wanted it to end.

Five years of being a Nobody—of having no heart or emotions—made the experience overwhelming. A rush of feeling rushed over me like an ocean wave.

I probed at the kiss slightly, testing Saïx’s boundaries.

I was surprised when he went along without resisting me or chastising that I was going too far. But he did.

Caught up in a riptide of reckless passion, I shoved him back against the wall of my bedroom. He responded by holding me closer, hands finding the zipper of my coat and pulling it down to reveal my night dress.

He tasted like hundreds of missed opportunities.

I don’t know how long the kiss lasted, but it wasn’t nearly long enough.

Saïx pulled away, closing his eyes and turning his face away from me. “No,” he said. “We... I can’t,” he muttered.

“Saïx...” I didn’t want to apologize—because what was I supposed to apologize for?—but I didn’t know what else to do.

But, before I could say anything, he swept out of my room, the door hissing shut. I was alone, my coat sliding off my shoulders. I let it fall to the ground and collapsed onto my bed.

“What was I thinking?!” I muttered.

*****

“Quite the display, Saïx,” a voice remarked as Saïx strode down the corridors towards his bedroom. “I mean, I didn’t see it, but I heard it.” Xigbar chuckled, falling into step beside Saïx—who rolled his eyes. “You two’ve had it bad for each other since Ansem took her and her baby brother in.”

“Need I remind you that, as Nobodies, we don’t have hearts or emotions. Any feelings I once held for Staxar are long gone.”

Xigbar scoffed. “As if,” he retorted. “I can see right through you, kid.”

“I am no longer a child, Xigbar.”

“Whatever you say.”

Saïx turned into his bedroom and slid the door shut in Xigbar’s face.

After so much passion had filled him moments ago, fear was taking its place. Fear of the love and passion he’d felt. Fear of what the kiss would mean for Staxar’s and his safety in the Organization.

*****

Saïx stopped talking to me after that outside of assigning me to missions and ordering me around. Axel insisted everything would be fine—I just needed to give Saïx some time—but the more time passed, the less Saix spoke to me. And the less hope I had that Axel’s words would come true. I’d lost Isa five years ago. And it looked like I was losing Saïx too.

Empty and confused, I couldn’t figure out what to do. I wanted to confront him but I didn’t want to demean him in front of the other Organization members. He had a lot of responsibilities for being Number Seven.

“It’s okay. It’ll blow over,” Axel reassured me when we were paired together for a recon mission.

“What if it doesn’t?” I retorted.

“It will. Saïx—Isa—he’s just not used to... any of that. Even when we were kids. Remember? He was always pretty reserved. Just give him a chance to come around.”

And I tried. Good light I tried to give Saïx a chance to come around.

It wasn’t my fault that he didn’t. I acted the same as I always did—friendly and cheery—both around him and everyone else. And he still wouldn’t talk to me except to give me orders.

“This is driving me mad,” I complained to Zexion after a few weeks. “Saïx won’t even talk to me anymore!”

“Perhaps you overwhelmed him.”

“It’s not that kind of avoidance! This is the mean kind.” I sat down with a huff and looked around. “Where are we, anyway?”

“Agrabah.”

“No wonder I feel like I’m going to melt.”

“Would you rather go to Atlantica?”

“Yes.”

Zexion snorted. “Let’s not. Please.”

I shrugged. “Okay.”

“Staxar, I have a suggestion.”

“And what’s that?”

“Focus on your work for now. Let Saïx figure himself out and just work for now.”

I took a deep breath. “Yeah alright. Okay, Zexion.”

So that was what I did. Threw myself headlong into my work. I pushed myself to my limits and then kept pushing. It turned into a welcome distraction from the suffocating pressure of knowing that something about the kiss pushed Saïx away from me when I’d kind of hoped it would bring us closer together.

“Hey, uh, Staxar? Maybe you should slow down a little,” Axel remarked one day about a week later.

“I can’t. Because the second I do, all I think about is Saïx and what happened.”

“What exactly did happen?”

I recounted the story again, not really expecting Axel to listen—

But got cut off by a large monster swooping overhead.

“Whoa. That thing’s... enormous,” I said. I summoned my daggers and looked at Axel. “Come on! Let’s take it down!” I took off after it, hurling myself headlong into danger.

“Stax, I don’t think that’s a good idea—STAXAR!” Axel shouted.

*****

Many Years Later...

*****

“Y’know, I wasn’t always Number Nine,” Demyx said to Roxas, strumming away at his sitar. “I started at Number Ten.”

“What happened to the original Number Nine?” Roxas asked.

Axel glanced up from his chakrams where he was sharpening them. “She destroyed herself,” he said. “Everyone underneath her moved up a number and Larxene was recruited in her place.”

“Who was she?”

Axel shuffled uncomfortably. “Her name was Staxar. She was... Zexion’s older sister. She and Saïx were close. She was my friend too. She joined the Organization so she could stay with us—Saïx, Zexion, and me.”

“What made her unique?”

“She had an incredible cosmic ability. She could channel the energy of the stars,” Axel said.

“Why did she... destroy herself?” Roxas asked.

“Something bad happened,” Axel answered evasively. “It’s a... long story for another time.”

“Oh. Will you tell it to me?”

Axel scratched the back of his head. “One day.”

#Odd Goings On #Saïx #Saïx Imagine #Kingdom Hearts #KH #Kingdom Hearts Imagine #KH Imagine #good thing Astra died first #she would have killed Axel instantly for disposing of Zexion #highkey I almost included that #but then it fit better to have Astra die first #Tal writes

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sabo-has-my-heart · 2 years

Note

Holy shit, bro! I just thought of a very very VERY angsty idea for a fic! What if Ace and reader where dating and on a date, the two ran into Ace's ex-high school sweetheart? And then he grew interested on her again?? And then he starts to neglect reader and pushes her away?? WHAT IF THEY BROKE UP, THE READER BEING THE ONE TO END THEIR TOXIC RELATIONSHIP?? But wait, there's more! After a few days, what if Ace started to realized what he had done so he apologized to his ex-high school sweetheart and then went to reader's apartment but instead of the reader, a new tenant was living there? What do you think would happen next?? :0

Btw, keep up the good work, Astra! Love 'ya! 😘

So I was reading this request and thought, what better time to write angst than when I’m depressed? hahaha….HAHAHAHA….HAHAHAHAHAHAHA….. Sorry, please forgive the insane laughter, that happens sometimes when I’m depressed, I don’t know why.

TW: mentions of past self-harm and self-destructive behaviors, mentions of previously toxic relationships

word count: 1k

Running a hand through his hair, Ace sighed, shoulders slumped forward as he sat on the park bench. He just had to run into his ex, that was what started it all, it was all… it was all his fault. The thought, the truth behind it, thrust another dagger through his heart. What had he done? Why had he become so interested in her all of the sudden? Why had he pushed you away? Why had it taken him days after you left him for him to realize how much you meant to him? He’d spent so much time with you, even after showing interest in his ex again, you’d tried to reason with him, talk to him, you’d stayed with him for as long as you could trying to work things out. So why hadn’t he realized it then? Now… Now, he was so lost. He’d left his ex again once it had dawned on him what he’d done, what he’d lost; he’d gone to apologize, beg for your forgiveness, plead for a second chance, or even just for you not to hate him, but he was too late. You were gone and he didn’t know where. Someone else had apparently moved into your old apartment. The apartment had been switched so quickly that at first he thought that maybe you had a cousin or something covering for you until he looked into the apartment to see all new furniture. Not something that would happen if it was just a family member covering for you or taking care of your place while you were gone. Again and again, his heart was pierced and assaulted by his memories of you, of what he’d lost, of the last things he’d said to you. He’d spent so much of his life thinking he was trash because of his father, hating himself because of what others thought about him. You’d told him over and over again that he was amazing, that they were wrong, that he wasn’t what they called him. But now he felt like everything they’d said was true, not because of Roger, not because of his blood, but because of what he’d done to you. No, he wasn’t just trash, trash was too good for what he’d done to you. Sabo, Marco, Thatch, Izo, Luffy, so many people had told him that he was being a little too hard on himself, sure what he did was stupid and wrong, but they all agreed that he was beating himself up a little too much, but he didn’t see it. You’d been the best thing to ever happen to him, you’d… you’d been his angel and he’d thrown that away. Looking down at the brand new lighter in his hand, he quickly flicked it on, staring at the flame. You’d stopped him from his self-destructive habits, but in the moment they felt so tempting. Would you feel saddened that he wanted to go back to that? Would you even care anymore? Did he even deserve your concern? Flick, flick, flick, the fire died and came back over and over again, each time it called to him. He didn’t even notice his tears at first, not until his vision blurred and he could no longer properly see the flames. At one point, he would have cared about sobbing in the middle of the park, but without you by his side, without the light of his life, nothing mattered anymore, not the people who stared, not what they thought of a random guy sobbing loudly in public, not his barely contained wails, nothing mattered because he had no way of even seeing your beautiful face again.

“Ace?” a voice called softly, barely heard over the pained sounds he made. Looking up, Ace thought he was hallucinating for a moment. Was it really you? Could you really be standing in front of him? A concerned look in your eyes?

“Y-Y/n? I… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I fucked up. I don’t deserve you, I hurt you, I ignored you, I… fuck, I’m so sorry. I wish… I wish I hadn’t been so fucking stupid, I… I understand that you can’t forgive me, but I just… please, please know that I’m so, so sorry, that I… that I’ll never find someone as amazing as you, that whoever you date next, they're the luckiest person in the universe, that you deserve so much better than I was.” Ace said between sobs. You laid a tentative hand on his shoulder, the young man stiffening slightly at the contact. Your touch felt so good, but at the same time, did he deserve it? He heard you take a deep breath, the same kind of breath you took when you were trying to calm your own emotions.

“You really hurt me Ace. The things you said, the things you did. Sorry… sorry doesn’t just make those things go away.” you said, trying to hold back your own tears, “But I… Some things deserve second chances, forgiveness, and maybe even being able to be proven. I can’t take you back, not after everything you did, but maybe, just maybe, we can be friends again.” you offered, surprising the boy. Staring up at you wide-eyed, Ace couldn’t even find his voice to agree, instead just nodding. The painful throbbing in his heart lessened, you weren’t forgiving him, you weren’t letting him off the hook or just jumping back into his arms, but you were giving him a chance to show you how sorry he was, how much he realized that he fucked up. You were offering him a chance to be a part of your life, even if he wasn’t your life anymore. It was a chance that he wouldn’t waste, he’d start off slow, just as friends, no, not even as full friends, he’d start from the very beginning, like the day he first met you, anything to be able to have you exist in his life again, to have you, to have his sun, in his life again.

haha, being numb from depression means that I didn't cry! I did tear up a small amount, but normally I would have had to pause in my writing to stop the tears. I hope you enjoy the pain as much as I... uh... I hope you enjoy the pain!

#one piece ace #portgas d. ace #fire fist ace #ace x reader #angst #one piece angst #hurt/comfort #portgas d ace x reader #fire fist ace x reader

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flooficandii · 3 years

Note

what do u think ab an au where the vp takes in kids with radiant abilities to train them as the "future" of valorant

this idea's kinda scuffed af bc idk much ab the lore actually i'm still confused ab kingdom n earth but i just want an excuse to see the agents babysitting chaotic kids with powers LMAOAoadjdj

IM NOT GONNA LIE THAT WOULD SOUND SUPER CUTE LMAO RADIANT BABY DAYCARE,,,, also this is a perfect excuse to put my headcanons about which of the agents are the best with kids

parents. like, literal parents dude

brimstone. he is the first immediate thing that comes to mind when i think of parenting. i mean look at the way he talks to the rest of the agents, you can't tell me he won't do well with kids

CYPHER!!! bro cypher would LOVE kids,,,,i hc he was really excited to be a dad but nora kinda died with his unborn baby so,, yknow he has that yearning feeling and he kinda projects that nature onto the younguns. he may be super secretive and shifty but you can tell he cares for them and would love to have children running around the base

sage!! sage radiates this energy of warmth and comfort and security, you'll always feel safe with her so she'd be wonderful with children :]] she won't hesitate to be strict if needed though so just make sure to stay on her good side unless,,, "YOUR HOMEWORK IS NOT OVER!!!"

reyna. surprisingly. although she isn't as much a parent as the rest of them, she wILL break someone's arm for a kid. she may be very murderous but kids might be her soft spot (glances vaguely at her little sister)

tbh i see her as the kind of caretaker that'll let her kid do awful things lmao

"miss reyna can i say a curse word ple a se ,,,"

"of course, cariño."

"FUCK!!!!"

okay at it/awkward but trying

omen. omen isn't sure how to interact with children,,,, like, i headcanon he scares them away a lot

if one of them happens to be NOT scared?? *immediately imprints*

i think the most he'd do while watching over children is just sit there with his knitting needles and grunt Menacingly whenever they start causing trouble

viper. viper also scares kids away, understandably so, but she does have this maternal nature despite her scary aura (exhibit a: duality)

i headcanon she actually dislikes children and tries to avoid them as much as possible but will be incREDIBLY protective if they're threatened

yoru. he finds kids annoying. but if he were put in a situation where he HAD to keep an eye on them he'd probably try

just a little bit

as a treat

he'll call them brats or something lmAO what a bitch

unless one of them calls him cool and feeds his ego

then yeah he'll love them lol

imagine yoru going into his rift and picking the kid up to make it look like they're flying

a parent? maybe not, it's really not something on his list of ideals. but a big brother figure? sure! it means he gets to bully tease children to his heart’s content

sova. sova is okay at babysitting. he’s very quiet though so the kids usually get bored with him

he’s quick to straighten them up if they’re misbehaving

maybe he’ll tell fairy tales about the mountains or something

*deep thick russian voice* “When I was still living with my babushka in the frigid mountains of the North,”

babysitters at most

jett. jett seems like the cool babysitter who lets you do anything and everything lmao,, stay up past your bedtime?? sure thing. snacks before dinner?? hell yeah. you want her to show you her cool spinny wind trick?? of course!!

raze! raze gives off the vibes of the girl next door who everyone in the neighborhood knows and loves. she probably hung out with the kids in her town a lot and would draw with them, make music with them, etc. very big sister vibes 10/10 just don't let her have explosives around them

ASTRA!!! astra astra astra i bet she’d be the type to give piggy back rides and make little stardust confetti to wow them with!! she’ll sing songs and read stories and maybe do little puppet shows for them

skye would do great with kids! she’s strong enough to catch up to them during vigorous games of tag and she’d let them pet her tiger

her animals love the kids too

imagine taz lying on his back as they pet his belly and hawko perching on top of their heads

haha! *slowly pulls them away from the children*

breach. i dont know about you guys but if you left him with a kid he would lose them in like 1.5 minutes

“what? they’re tiny, you think i’d notice?”

bro he is such a fucking bully he’d punt a kid across a football field

i guess he’d let them sit on his giant bionic shoulders but thats it

phoenix.

says he has it under control

does NOT have it under control

“alright, fam! leave it to me, i can handle some younguns-”

*burns down the entire hq after trying to show them a trick*

killjoy. bro she would use them for her experiments without batting an eye

“KILLJOY WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE KIDS”

“testing the sensor range of my turret!! :DD relax, it won’t hurt them- they’re wearing helmets!”

“KILLJOY THEY’RE WRAPPED IN BUBBLE WRAP I DON’T THINK THAT’S HUMANE”

kay/o.

i dunno man i don’t think he’d even know what to do with kids

also he might accidentally break their spine if they wanted a hug lmao

he won’t hurt them on purpose but this is just,,,a safety measure

k would do great with kids though :]] big friendly guy

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topazy · 3 years

Text

Inside, outside

Pairings: 10k/reader

Warnings: swearing, blood, and uncomfortable situations

Charter: 1:07

“Good morning, people. Welcome to the third day of the sixth month of the year 03 A.Z. If you’re listening to this it means you’re still alive. So congratulations. Or condolences. You know, whatever. If you’re noticing more despair in my voice than usual today, it’s because we lost someone special. I know, we lose people all the time. Getting your face chewed off by a Z is more common than making it to your next birthday. But this guy… this one’s worth mentioning.”

You wiped away a stray tear, knowing who Citizen Z was talking about.

“Charles Garnett, first Sergeant, army national guard reservist, was an honest to god man, an actual good guy. He fought for other people, not just for his own survival. And he did something that’s pretty much impossible these days. He gave people hope. Remember hope? Remember thinking that we might actually come out ok on the other side of this thing? Yeah. That. Sergeant Garnett died trying to give us a reason to hope. And for that… sergeant Charles Garnett on behalf of a grateful nation, or whatever the hell we are now, we salute you.”

You leaned your head back against the window. You were surprised at how upset Citizen Z sounded. You didn’t realise how much he’d care if one of your group died. You’d always just assumed you were all just numbers to him.

“Dang it!” Doc hissed.

Smoke started to come out of the front of the truck, causing it to stop. You watched as him and Mack spoke about what was wrong with it and if it was fixable.

You jumped, feeling a warm breath on the side of your face. “You don’t have a clue what they are talking about, do you?” 10k mused.

“No… learning to drive was next on my list of things to do, but then the Z’s came.”

He smiled at you, “I’ll teach you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you jokingly shoved his arm. “Just like how you pitch a tent out of only wood, and what fruits are safe to eat.”

10k opened his mouth, but Murphy cut him off. “How the hell did you not learn how to drive?”

“Money,” you shrugged. “I didn't have a lot.”

“So,” he snorted. “Old man, not make himself useful and teach you?”

When you didn’t answer his question, he sulked off to find out what was going on.

“Keep the damn music down, Astra! We can hardly hear ourselves think down here!”

“Hey, you okay?”

You looked up to see 10k looking at you with a worried expression on his face. “Uhh… yeah, why?”

He rubbed his thumb gently over the back of your hand, “you zoned out again. Is this because you haven't slept in nights?”

“Ohh, it was nothing. I’m just tired,” you gave him a reassuring smile.

“Break it up, love birds,” Addy said as she walked towards you. “We are going ahead to scout the area, looking for any other vehicles.”

“Okay…” you knew by the look on your sister's face that something was wrong, and your theory was confirmed when she pulled you in for a tight hug. “Stay alive okay? And don’t leave these guys at any point, and keep a weapon close at all times.”

She was in her protective big sister mode. “I’ll be fine, stay safe.”

—

You ‘assisted’ 10k in taping up the leaking radiator, but it was pointless without any water in it, so everyone had to pour the last of their drinking water in for it to work.

Once the truck was working again, 10k volunteered to drive it, and then decided to admit he had never properly learned how to drive either. You leaned forward so your face was in the front, “how the hell were you going to teach me if nobody taught you?”

“I’m a fast learner,” he smirked.

When you leaned back in your seat, Doc mouthed, ‘I’ll teach you both.’

Chuckling, you shook your head. Doc would likely regret saying that later.

—

After following Murphy's directions, 10k drove up to a community that sold guns and liquor. It was concerning that ‘liquor’ seemed to be the only word that would get Warren out of the truck.

Doc knew the man charging people entry, so your group entered for free. You walked behind him slowly, taking in what was going on around you.

“Well, if it ain’t little Y/N Carver, how are you doing, girl?”

“Skeezy,” you smiled politely.

He was one of the many sketchy people Doc used to trade with regularly. Unlike Doc, you and Addy would avoid Skeezy. He was always drugged out of his mind. How he made it this long was either a miracle, or sheer dumb luck.

“My brother thought you died when the camp was down,” he said, stepping closer to you. “Your sister?”

God, he almost smelt as bad as a Z. “We both made it out safe.”

“Good, good,” he said, placing his arm around your shoulder. “Wanna know how I knew you weren’t dead? I ain’t ever seen a dead person with an ass like yours.”

You shoved his hand off of you, which caused him to let out a loud chuckle. Pig. As you walked away, you grimaced when Skeezy smacked your ass. You and Cassandra shared a look. You both knew it was pointless to say anything. Men like him just want a reaction. When you looked at 10k, you noticed him gripping his gun tightly.

“Leave it,” you mumbled, standing beside him.

Skeezy was an asshole, but your group needed their help, and that was more important.

—

While Warren attempted to drink herself into oblivion, 10k entered a shooting contest, and Murphy did his usual disappearing act, so you decided to look around, and see if you could find anything useful.

You were ‘borrowing’ an empty backpack that was left lying around outside, and filled it with things you found. You didn’t find anything useful until you started looking at abandoned cars. A half-empty first aid kit, a chocolate bar, and a pack of batteries were like gold dust.

Standing up, you let out a gasp when Skeezy appeared in front of you. “What are you doing out here on your own? Aren’t you afraid a big bad Z will get ya?”

“No,” you responded calmly.

You started to walk away slowly, and felt his eyes tracing you. It makes you feel dirty. He was probably a sleaze ball before the apocalypse began.

You stopped beside an old caravan and went to look inside when Skeezy reappeared and put an arm on either side of your head. Damn it. You thought he’d gone back inside. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Nothing,” he smiled, showing his dirty teeth. “We’re just having fun.”

“I will scream if you don’t move!” You snapped.

“Shhh,” he cooed, placing a dirty finger to your lips.

Fear set in as you tried to push him back, but he wouldn’t move. You glanced over his shoulder, then quickly looked back at him. “Do you have a death wish?”

Skeezy didn’t answer with words, instead he leaned in to try and kiss you. Repulsed, you swung your head forward into his nose, causing him to stumble back. Murphy hit him on the head with a rock, causing him to drop to the ground with a thud.

You both knelt down to look at him. Murphy shrugged, “he’s not dead.”

“I never thought I’d be genuinely happy to see you... thank you.”

He said nothing, but quickly took off when he heard voices approaching. You froze on the stop, not sure which way to go, but when Skeezy let out a groan, you took off in the direction you saw Murphy go.

You stopped running to catch your breath when you reached the car park, but it was empty. Hearing a snarling noise, you spun round to see a legless Z crawling in your direction. Pulling out your knife, you sank it into the deadman’s skull before backing up.

You climbed onto the roof of a van to get a better view and readied your bow and arrow. You might not have been able to see your people, but you could see a lot of Z’s heading your way.

—

“Astra!”

“Hey! I’m over here!” You called out.

You had accidentally cut your thigh while throwing a knife at a Z that was trying to climb up onto the roof of the van beside you. Your blood must have been attracting them because you had suddenly become surrounded by Z’s, and with a warning alarm blaring, it was impossible for anyone to hear you. And you didn’t have nearly enough arrows to secure a path for you to get down.

Your group wasn’t far from where you were stuck. You called out again while watching 10k run towards them.

You watched in horror as Z grabbed him from behind and he struggled to fight him off. You couldn’t let this happen, not again. You lined up your aim and prayed it missed 10k.

When the arrow landed in the Z, you let out a sigh of relief, before screaming as the van began to shake.

Following gunshots, you heard, “Astra jump!”

While 10k, Cassandra, and Warren shot at the Z's, Doc had driven up beside the van. Gulping, you jumped into the back of the truck and let out a yelp.

“Thanks guys,” you sat up. “I thought I was a goner.”

“Twice in one day, I should get a knighthood,” Murphy said smugly.

You rolled your eyes at his comment as 10k brushed strands of hair out of your face. “What happened to your forehead and your leg?”

You were still so dazed by what had just happened that you hadn’t noticed 10k had pulled his sleeve over his hand, and was now pressing it over your bleeding thigh.

“Nothing to worry about, just me attracting trouble,” you said quietly. “Did you win?”

“Yeah, but I gave the prize to a family that needed it more.”

You kissed him on the cheek, making him blush. 10k might have been a badass zombie killer, but Thomas is a sweetheart. “That was really kind of you.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”

You shrugged, “don’t be. We all found each other again, and that’s what matters.”

“Now that you two are done,” Warren said sternly. “Astra, do you mind telling me why this fool keeps saying he’s saved you twice in one day?”

You smiled when you heard Warren was back to her usual feistiness. “You remember that guy, Skeezy?”

Murphy cleared his throat, “I’ll be telling it. Don’t want you to miss out on any of the good bits.”

You sighed and leaned into 10K as Murphy told his version of events. Truthfully, you didn’t care what he said. All you cared about was that everyone was safe.

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astra-stellaris-a · 3 years

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@fallesto // with Shinjuro ── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──

“My mother disinherited me.. many times over.” Astra admitted. “You wondered why I could stick my hands in the flames so easily--and why I did not flinch a single time. I had experience with another type of burn. They say that lightning scars are supposed to disappear with time.. but mine hasn’t quite yet. It’s been..decades now.”

And the gloves--the ones that she refused to remove during their training, are discarded and the gauzy robe she wears is pulled up--spanning from the tip of her middle finger on her right arm to the crease of her shoulder is a scar--shaped like lightning, winding up and around. Rather beautiful, all things considered. “But they also say that scars.. given by people remain until there is no more animosity, even in death.”

“I was the heir to both of my families. My mother’s family was matrilineal and she held resentment for me to begin with-- for stealing her place. The nail in the coffin was.. I was abducted when I was seven. By her elder twin brothers. They wanted to sell me to a wealthy family in Osaka as a child bride,” she said. “I fought back and because I knew about them and what they were planning on doing. They decided that the best course of action was to kill me.”

“It was storming--I think there was a typhoon off the coast-- and they chased me onto the roof. They’d just installed lightning rods in preparation of--all of it. And I happened to touch it at the right time. I had my hand on his face and my other hand was on the rod. And Raijin himself struck us.”

“Both of them died. The first died instantly. The other died to the fire the sparks created. My arm was absolutely mangled. I was lucky that my grandmother was a doctor. A good doctor, at that.”

“And since then she has hated me. She lied to my father about my killing them. She told him that it was premeditated. That I went with them with the intention of killing them and that ultimately I was an evil person. He--also, disinherited me. At the time, even though they were living apart--he believed his wife.”

“When I was twelve we had an argument and my brother sided with me. She threw us both out in the middle of the night and my brother convinced me to go to my father and tell him everything. On the way there, we were attacked by a demon.”

“I felt no fear. I faced the demon myself and sent my brother ahead. I was alright with dying--if my brother lived. All he had to do was get to our father’s home. They were demon slayers. The demon had his hands around my neck when my father struck it down.” Her eyes fell.

“And-- my brother told my father and he believed him. He came back for me. My father was an honorable man. A good man--I’d never seen him cry before. But that night he did. He begged my forgiveness and I gave it to him. Soon after, he confronted my mother and she admitted it to him. He asked my grandmother and she told the same story my brother did. My mother--is a demon in human’s skin. She has never apologized. She never will. And I’ve made peace with that. That is why my mother is not here--that’s why she wasn’t at his funeral. Because her hate has overcome what love she was able to create.”

“And that’s why I cannot judge you. Because I have committed the ultimate sin, Shinjuro. Even though I’ve tried to make up for it by saving people, I still cannot clean the human blood off my hands. I still can’t clean my soul from my actions--accidental or not.”

#fallesto #❛there’s broken silence by thunder crashing in the dark❜―「astra replies」#❛of one mind we unite to write a code❜―「rp」#❛in the end everything collides & my childhood spat back out the monster that you see❜―「kimetsu no yaiba」#//under the cut for length #//and you certainly don't have to match length with this one

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karanna1 · 4 years

Text

AU - Lena Luthor Saves Krypton

Lena is somehow sent back in time and finds herself on Krypton 30 years before the planet explodes. Kara doesn’t exist yet. Krypton has no idea what’s about to happen to them.

Lena realizes that with her knowledge of what’s to come and intellect to devise a solution, she can do two things. One, she can save an entire species from near extinction. Two, she can save Kara from ever having to experience the pain of losing her family, her home, and being abandoned. Kara could live a happy life and never know the burden of Supergirl or being the last daughter of Krypton.

So instead of trying to find a way back to Earth, back to her own time, she settles into life on Krypton, becomes fluent in Kryptonese, and sets about with a spectacularly single-minded focus of changing the future - to save this dying world (and Kara).

She succeeds...mostly. They can’t fix the damage that’s already been done to the planet. Their sun will die and destroy Krypton still, but with Lena’s help they’re able to locate a barren planet in another system that has a white star. It’s brand new, strong, and will live for untold trillions of years (provided Kryptonians didn’t try to harness its power again).

They terraform the planet and create “New Krypton” using the dome concept that Zor-El invented fused with Coluan bottling technology. All Kryptonians are instantly transported to their new home that’s identical to the old one save for one difference - the white sun grants them god-like powers that are beyond what Lena ever saw Kara and Clark capable of on Earth. Kryptonians are overwhelmed en masse by these powers. Some go power mad and attempt coups and form radical sects. Others realize the gift they’ve been given and, with Lena’s guidance, Kryptonian society develops under a new mission - to travel the galaxy and offer help to all those in need. Not just offering knowledge and technology this time, but themselves with their newfound powers.

Lena keeps her distance from the House of El as much as she can. It’s nearly impossible considering their standing with the Kryptonian High Council. Lena has to work very closely with the Council. Jor-El and his brother, Zor-El, are brilliant scientists and statesmen. Alura In-Ze is a rising star in the judicial system. Her marriage to Zor-El, second born son of the House of El, caused quite a few waves, but when Lara Lor-Van, a brilliant biologist and prominent noble of the House of Van, agrees to marry Jor-El, it’s all anyone can talk about. All 4 of them live very public lives due to their professions, their positions on the High Council, and their nobility.

They’re ever so fascinated by Lena Luthor, the human from Earth that appeared one day to save their entire planet. Their savior. The one their people have named “The New Dawn”. Lena wants nothing to do with the House of El. It’s too much. She can’t bear to be so close to Kara’s family without Kara. It feels wrong. Unfortunately, with how much Lena tries to avoid them, the 4 nobles think they’ve done something to offend her, and constantly attempt ways to make amends. It only makes Lena’s life that much more difficult.

But she still knows the exact date and time that Kara Zor-El steps into existence. Later, she will know the moment Kal-El is born (mostly because Lara’s natural birth is all anyone can talk about).

Lena meets Kara on New Krypton entirely by accident one day when Zor-El brings his brilliant young daughter, a prodigy in the Science Guild, to see Krypton’s finest laboratory entirely unannounced. The same laboratory that Lena founded and runs. She’s stricken, having tried to avoid this moment for as long as she could, knowing that eventually she’d have to see Kara as child, which would spell the end of every fanciful dream or slightest hope she had of a chance that someday she would find Kara, her best friend, again. Seeing the reality both warms her heart and breaks it all the same. This bouncing bundle of joy and inquisitiveness has the same blinding smile, in all its purity, with that same head of golden hair.

“You’re THE Lena Luthor?”

She kneels before her so they’re at eye level. “I suppose I am. And you’re THE Kara Zor-El?”

The ten year old gasps. “You know who I am?”

“Of course. I know all the important people. And you are a very important person, Kara.”

“I am?”

Zor-El interjects. “I’ve told Lena all about you, my dear. I’m sure she’s grown tired of my endless babbling about my wonderful daughter and her keen scientific mind.”

“Not at all,” Lena replies a bit flatly and tries to tune him out as she focuses on the young girl who will one day be a most extraordinary woman. “Do you enjoy the Science Guild, Kara?”

“Yes! I love to learn new things. As many things as I can! Sometimes father asks me to work with him in his laboratory at home and I help him with his projects!”

“That does sound like fun. I enjoy creating things as well.”

“You’re the most brilliant bio-engineer on Krypton! I’ve read all about you! You saved us.”

Lena shies away from the praise and instead fumbles her way forward, uncomfortable under the scrutiny of Zor-El, whom she’d never given the time of day until he walked in with his daughter.

“Tell me, Kara, do you like other subjects besides science?”

Kara fidgets, a little confused. “Well, I don’t...they don’t give you much time for other subjects. I-I do try to read about other things like art and history when I have free time, but I’m not really allowed—“

“She’s a hard worker and a wonderful student,” Zor-El interrupts again.

Lena ignores him. “Do you enjoy writing, Kara?”

“Writing?”

“Creation comes in many forms. I enjoy being able to create things with my hands. Machines. Technology. Things to help people. Science is my passion, but there are many other ways to help people. Ways that I’m not very good at, but others are. Writing takes a curious mind, creativity, and a way with words. I believe you might have a gift for that.”

“A gift for words?” Her little brow crinkles as she considers it.

Lena nods. “A writer can do a great many things that a scientist cannot. They are equally as powerful and important. What matters is doing what you love most, what inspires you most. You’re going to do great things one day, Kara. Maybe with the Science Guild, maybe with something else... The future is limitless for you.”

“You really think I could be that important someday?”

“You already are.” Lena smiles and breathes deeply. “Do you know what your name means where I come from?”

She shakes her head. “I have read about Earth. It’s very far away and my Aunt Astra says their civilization is primitive and filled with savages. They have my name there too?”

“Daughter, do not speak—“

Lena waves off Zor-El’s warning without looking at him.

“That’s not an unfair assessment of Earth compared to Krypton, but I do believe humanity would surprise a great many Kryptonians, including your Aunt. In my native language, Kara means ‘beloved friend’.”

Kara beams in a way that is so achingly familiar. It’s like an echo in Lena’s memory. Not exact, not complete, but the beginning of what it will become.

“I like that. Does that mean I’m your friend?”

Lena feels it in that moment. The melting warmth simultaneous with the absolute shattering of what was left of her heart.

“I will always be your friend, darling. Always.”

Kara leaves with her father and Lena’s coworkers are concerned when she goes off planet for an impromptu holiday without notice. She returns two months later and picks up as if she never left.

It’s around that time that one of the people she’s befriended in her years on Krypton remarks at how ageless she seems for a human that supposedly has a short life span. It sparks Lena’s curiosity. Indeed, it’s been nearly 30 years since she traveled back in time and found herself on a new planet. Yet you’d be hard pressed to find a single physical difference. Kryptonians aged slowly under a red star, and even slower still under the white star, but Lena was human. Her body wasn’t designed to accommodate solar radiation the way Kryptonians did. She was over 50 years old now, yet she still didn’t look a day over 28.

More years pass and New Krypton thrives. The galaxy is brought together through New Krypton’s diplomacy and thousands of planets and species are united under a banner of peace. There are always dissenters, but happiness and prosperity is widespread. Lena finds joy in friendships and attempts romantic relationships, but nothing ever really takes. Still, she’s content. She misses Earth, of course, and hopes to return one day before she dies, whenever that will be, but she’s found peace in knowing that she is able to be the one thing she’s always wanted - a force for good.

She’s at dinner with coworkers one night when Lara and Jor-El spot her. She sighs and straightens, preparing for their next attempt to get in her good graces.

“Do they never desist?” One of them mutters next to her ear. “Surely they’re intelligent enough to know when they’re not wanted?”

“Don’t be unkind, but help me keep it short if it goes on too long.”

“Lena! It’s wonderful to see you,” Lara says.

“You as well. How are you?”

“Very well, thank you.”

Lena’s table has gone conspicuously, and therefore awkwardly, silent.

Lara and Jor-El look around at the group uncomfortably.

“We were wondering...well, our niece is being inducted to the—“

“The Science Council as First Order,” Lena finishes for her. “Yes, I’m aware. It’s a great honor. I’m sure the House of El is quite proud.”

“Indeed we are,” Jor-El jumps in. “She’s a most remarkable young woman and we couldn’t be prouder of who she’s become.”

“We are holding a celebration to mark the occasion and were wondering if you might honor us by attending? It will be quite the event.” Lara does a slight eyeroll. “Jor is insisting on all the fantastical things.”

Jor-El nods enthusiastically. “My brother isn’t one for celebrations so I’ve taken up the mantle. Kara deserves all the praise she’s earned with her hard work and dedication.”

“You’ll have to forgive my mate’s enthusiasm. He’s quite invested in Kara since she can share his passion for his life’s work while our son is—“

“Disgustingly hopeless,” Jor-El grumbles.

“Oh?” She raises an eyebrow. “A great disappointment he’s been then?”

“Goodness no!” Lara shakes her head and shoots a warning look at her husband. “Kal is a fine boy. Just...a little lost.”

“Perhaps he is simply in need of a different path than the one his father has in mind,” Lena finds the words tumbling out of her mouth without thinking twice. The couple stares at her agape, but she continues without care. “I can certainly sympathize with the need to step out of the shadow of a family’s overbearing legacy.” She sighs. “While I thank you for considering me, it’s simply not possible with my days usually booked from dawn to dusk. Besides, parties have never been altogether pleasant endeavors for me.”

The disappointment on their faces isn’t what changes her mind. It’s that as soon as she says the words, she regrets it. She’s, of course, kept up with Kara’s doings and was concerned when she heard about the recent move in the Science Guild. Was journalism just a secondary passion since she couldn’t truly use her mind on Earth the way she could on Krypton? Or was this a woman just following in her family’s footsteps because she believed it was the right thing to do? Lena hadn’t seen or spoken to Kara in 16 years. Not since the day Zor-El brought her to the lab.

In the end, it’s Lena’s concern and curiosity for Kara’s well being that wins out. Though she very well knows that the woman that existed in another life, on another planet, is not the woman who lives here now on New Krypton. Even if she shared the same name and the same face...maybe even the same bright eyes and sunny smile. Even then.

“Send me the invitation. I’ll see what I can do,” Lena says, to the surprise of everyone at her table, including the two standing next to it.

They nod, stunned but pleased, and say their goodbyes quickly, walking away.

Lena’s coworkers all turn to her in surprise, but she refuses to answer their questions and excuses herself early for the evening.

She doesn’t show for the celebration. She torments herself for a week coming up to it and can’t bring herself to go. The fear of the past and her memories being trod upon are too strong. But somehow she finds herself in the Starling Grove anyway, just as it comes to an end. The evening is late and guests slowly make their exit after the long day of partying. Lena practically sneaks in, staying in shadows, not knowing what she hopes to find or what she could see that would make all her fears come true.

Is it any wonder that fate would intervene? That there would be no circumstance in which Lena could fly so close to the sun and not be touched?

“If avoiding people is your specialty, you’re very skilled at it.”

It’s almost terrifying to hear her voice again. It’s a different language being spoken, but the voice is the same. As if it’d been snatched from the deepest recesses of Lena’s memories, of a different life and a different world, and brought to the present in flesh and blood with a bolt of lightning.

She turns and it’s Kara smiling at her. Not the sunny smile. The soft, tender, reassuring one. The one that she used to share with Lena when she had one of her harder days. Kara was no longer the small and precocious child she met all those years ago, the one that she could almost convince herself was a complete stranger and that there was no connection between the child and the woman she knew. But that was gone now. The Kara standing before her was the same one she’d left behind on Earth. The one she’d given up in order to save her. The one who walked into her office so many years ago, trailing behind her cousin, and Lena knew she was done for.

Her eyes were so blue as she looked at her...bluer than Lena remembered and it seemed so impossible. Perhaps it wasn’t real. Perhaps she was dreaming. But she wasn’t...was she?

“My skills must be rusty since you were able to catch me.”

Kara put a finger to her smiling lips. “Shh. Finding people is one of my untold gifts.”

“I imagine you have a lot of those.”

Kara looks pleasantly flustered and she stammers over her words in a way that Lena knows so well that the sound of it squeezes her heart in a vise like grip.

She’s not the same person. She’s not your Kara. Your Kara doesn’t exist anymore. Over and over she repeats this in her head.

“Wait...” Kara finally collects herself and peers at Lena more closely. “You’re-you’re Lena Luthor! My Uncle said you might be here, but I never thought...”

“On my home world, they like to say it’s fashionable to be late. However, tonight was just a tad bit too far. I...I simply wanted to stop by and wish you well. A-and to congratulate you on your achievement.”

Did she manage to say that with any passing conviction?

“Thank you. That means a great deal coming from someone like you.”

“Are you happy?” She blurts before her good sense can kick in. “This life...does it make you happy?”

Kara looks at her oddly for a long moment, clearly thrown, but not put off. Lena doesn’t know what else to say that could fix her blunder.

“Yes,” she says, a serene smile creeps across her face. “I’m very happy. I love my family and my friends. I enjoy my work. I hope to have a family of my own one day, but I don’t mind waiting for the right person. Everyone always wants to rush me into something, telling me that I shouldn’t be alone, but I don’t mind it. When it’s right, I know that it will be worth the wait.”

Lena’s heart stutters and freezes. “I-I’m glad to hear that. Truly. I shouldn’t take up anymore of your time though. I’m sure you have somewhere to be and it’s late so I really should be going anyway.”

“Oh! Um. Yes, of course.” She looks disappointed, but Lena can’t think about that. “Thank you for being here.”

Her legs feel as though they’re weighted with cement as she walks away. Her mind screams at her to run, but her body doesn’t seem to get the message. She doesn’t want to leave Kara’s side. Not like this. Not after she’s found her again.

But it’s not her. Not really.

“My Lady?”

She turns around at once. Kara stands there, fiddling with her hands, her head tilted to the side.

“Apologies. I-I remember reading that you never liked that title. You prefer...what was it...” She closes her eyes as she searches for it. “Oh!” Her eyes fly open again. “Miss Luthor. I should have addressed you as ‘Miss Luthor’, yes?”

The ‘Miss’ was heavily accented and sounded nothing like how she used to say it, but it still tore Lena apart.

“I never forgot what you said.”

The voice in Lena’s head screams again for her to run, but instead she draws closer. She needs to hear it.

Her Kara.

No, it’s not her.

“What did I say?”

“I was a little girl. My father brought me to your lab to show me around.”

“I remember.”

Don’t let her do this. Don’t let her pull you in again. You can’t. For both of your sakes, you can’t.

“You talked about different ways of creating. Of passion. It’s silly, I know, and I’m sure you say it to all the children who read about you in school and have a serious case of hero worship, but...you told me I was important.”

“You are.”

It’s a reflex. She can’t help it.

“And you said that I had a gift for words. I never understood why you would say that. How you could know...”

Lena chuckles awkwardly. “Looks like I was off the mark since you’ve just joined the Science Council.”

“But you weren’t.”

Lena’s breath hitches.

“I’ve never told anyone else this...”

Kara steps closer, sharing a secret that Lena doesn’t know she deserves to hear. She wonders if she still knows how to breathe with Kara being this close after so long...so many years gone...

“I started writing that day. That very night I went home and I tried it. I never stopped. I’ve never been happier than when I’m writing. Imagining stories or just writing my thoughts, putting memories into words, keeping a record of each day and what I’ve done, who I’ve seen, what my first thought is in the morning and my last thought at night. All of it.”

Kara was so close. She could smell her. Nothing like what she remembered. It was something altogether new and still...still... Lena’s heart beat so loudly, she was sure every Kryptonian within miles was wondering what that raucous drumming noise was. What must Kara think? Surely she could hear it. Lena was embarrassing herself.

“You inspired me.”

Lena doesn’t know how she manages it, but she somehow strings together coherent words.

“But you continued to pursue...”

“The Science Guild, yes. I’m very good there. It comes easily. It makes my family proud.”

“It’s not your passion though.”

Kara shakes her head gently.

“What stops you?”

“Well, what if I’m not really good at writing after all? I’ve never told anyone about it. I’ve never let them read anything... What if I make a terrible mistake and humiliate myself and my family?”

“Following your heart isn’t a mistake.”

“That’s not a very Kryptonian sentiment.”

“No, but it is a human one.” Lena sighs. “I tried so hard, for so long, not to listen to mine. But it won out every time. Despite all the pain it brought me...I remind myself that it’s what brought me here. To this planet. To this time. To do good. To be good. Following your heart is the most terrifying notion, but in my experience, it has also led me to the greatest moments of joy and love that I’ve ever known.”

Kara stares at her in wonderment. Her long blonde locks flow over her shoulders. Her dress is white and flowing, almost luminescent under the glow of the evening flowers blooming in the garden. It became quickly apparent how very alone they were, the last guests and servers from the party were gone. The torches were still lit, but it was their own world.

Wasn’t it always?

It’s not her.

“I don’t think I could be as brave as you.”

“You have always been brave and I know that you are capable of the most extraordinary amount of courage...courage and boundless hope. You are the one who inspires me, Kara. You always have.”

“Me?” She replies in the softest utterance. “But I haven’t done anything nearly as incredible as you.”

“The kind of person you are is far more important than any sum of career achievements. Don’t let fear make you hide in the shadows, Kara. Step into the sun. You’ve always belonged there.”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“When will you step out of the shadows, Miss Luthor?”

A voice calls for Kara in the distance. It’s jarring and breaks the spell that seemed to lock them together in time suspended.

They step away, now acutely aware of how close they’d been this whole time.

Kara blushes and opens her mouth to say something, but Lena can’t bear to hear it.

“Goodnight, Kara Zor-El. I hope you enjoyed your party.”

Another voice joins the first. Two people are calling for her now. Kara seems frustrated and turns back, yelling to them that she’d be there soon.

She turns back. “I—“

But Lena’s gone.

She leaves New Krypton again. Journeys to other planets under the guise of a holiday and scientific exploration. She wonders if now is the time to return to Earth. She can’t even call it home anymore, but it’s home...isn’t it? 45 years could be enough to make New Krypton home and maybe it was. Maybe it was more of a home than Earth. But New Krypton had spectres walking among the living. Lena’s past had caught up to her here as well. She was no longer alone. Would Earth be any better with a reminder at every street corner? A certain smell. A park bench. A pair of glasses. Food. All of the food on Earth. She would never truly escape there either. It has to be a different planet. Not New Krypton, not Earth, something else entirely.

She searches across galaxies for it. Finally, one appeals to her. She can see herself settling down there. She can make a new life for herself...again. She returns to Krypton with determination. She resigns from her position, ignores the High Council’s pleas, ignores their more pointed demands, and even their attempted orders when it appeared that nothing else was working. She packs her things and bids farewell to her friends. They’ll visit now and again, but soon she won’t be seeing them at all. It doesn’t bother her all that much. She’d find replacements eventually. No one had ever been like... Well, she’d never let anyone get close enough to try.

She was walking out of her building for the last time, her luggage already sent ahead, and was headed to the transport when she heard her voice again on the wind, calling her name. Of course she would hear her now. This was exactly why she needed to leave this place. The sooner the better to end this torment.

The transport doors were nearly closed when a hand shot between them. The metal alloys were crushed in a powerful grip and the doors were jerkily pried open again.

Kara stood in front of her. Her hair windswept, almost what it used to look like when she would fly to Lena at breaking speed to rescue her. Did she fly here? Was she really here?

“Kara?”

“Lena, don’t go.”

“What are y—?”

“That’s government property!” someone shouts at Kara from further away.

A Kelex zooms in beside her. “And you were flying within city limits which is strictly prohibited. Unfortunately, Lady Kara, this means we must place you under arrest.”

A patrolman, the one who shouted, walks up behind Kara, nodding his head in agreement.

“Arrest?” She rolls her eyes at the Kelex and turns to the patrolman. “The doors were an accident and sorry about the flying thing. I’ll pay the fines. I doubt Alura In-Ze will take kindly to you dragging someone in for petty infarctions, let alone that someone being her daughter.”

Lena finds herself walking out of the transport, entirely of her own volition, and watches it leave without her. Kara is arguing with the patrolman over what her fines should be, but suddenly Lena feels someone take her hand. She looks down and sees that indeed there is another hand holding hers. She drags her gaze up to find those blue eyes again. A ghost. A spectre. Everything she was trying to escape.

“I’m sorry to just...burst in on you like this. But you’ve been gone for months and I only just heard that you’d come back, planning to leave New Krypton for good. I didn’t...”

“You didn’t what?”

“I don’t know.” Her brow furrows in frustration. “I didn’t plan this. I just...when I heard, I felt like I had to stop you.”

Lena pulls her hand away and crosses her arms. She needs to get ahold of herself. This was all so out of control.

“Why?”

Kara is just as bewildered as she is. “Well, I...I’m not sure. But we’ve only just started.”

“What?”

“Don’t you feel it? I know you must.”

She swallows thickly. “Kara, I...”

“I think there’s a lot you haven’t told me. A lot that I hope you will tell me. You promised me once that you would always be my friend. Please, Lena. We both know that this...it’s not supposed to end here.”

“When is it supposed to end?”

“I hope not for very long time.”

“I’ve lived a lifetime already.”

Kara grins. “Then what’s one more? Should be easy if you’ve already done it.”

Lena shakes her head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Somehow I do...and I don’t. I know it’s strange. I know what I sound like. But I think you understand. Don’t you?”

“Kara...”

“Are you hungry?” She interrupts. “I’m famished. The flying thing is really fun, but I always get so hungry after. How about it?”

“I’m supposed to be boarding a ship in 20 minutes.”

“We can eat fast!”

“I know you can eat fast, that’s not the point,” she mutters. “I have to go.”

“But you see? You say things like that. Like it’s normal to just know these things about me, but it’s not. How do you know? We’ve only met twice and both times it feels as though you know everything about me.”

“Everything?” She scoffs. “No. Never.”

“Well, the important things anyway.”

Lena falters.

“Please? Just...for a little while? There’s always another ship if you really must go.”

No.

No, I’ve been through this before. I saved you. I saved your people. You’re happy. I don’t belong here. I’ve never belonged. This is your world. I don’t belong anywhere. I did what was right. I helped people. I still help people. But I won’t do this again.

“I’m pretty sure you know that a Kryptonian can tell when you’re lying. The white star brought us untold abilities. And the longer I’ve lived here, under this new sun, I’ve discovered more abilities. Would you like to know about them?”

Lena can only stare.

“If I’m close enough...and I concentrate hard enough...I can feel what you’re feeling. It’s not mind reading exactly, but something deeper. I can feel you right now.” She swallows hard. “What have I done to cause you such pain, Lena? I never thought that... If you have to go, I won’t stop you. I just thought...” She sighs defeatedly. “I don’t know what I thought. But it wasn’t this. It wasn’t pain. Or anger. Or betrayal.”

Lena’s eyes widen at the same time as Kara’s. She seemed to realize it only as she spoke the word aloud.

“Betrayal?” Kara whispers, half to herself. “I don’t understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand.”

“You’re lying.”

“Stop it.”

“I can’t! Tell me what’s happening. How can you be so angry with me, but also feel...like this...when we don’t even know each other?”

“But we do.”

At last she admits it.

In the quietest whisper.

“We did. Once. In another life.”

Kara nods slowly. “Where?”

“On Earth.”

“I’ve never been to Earth.”

“Not in this time. But in another...you were Earth’s Champion. Our Protector. The Paragon of Hope.”

“As you are the Protector of Krypton? Our Salvation. The New Dawn.”

Lena shrinks uncomfortably under the titles.

“Will you tell me more?”

“You believe me?”

“Of course I do. You’re Lena Luthor. Also, with my powers I can sense you’re telling the truth, so...” She shrugs lightly at that, a sheepish smile.

“Right. Well, I admit I’m still a bit resentful that after everything I’ve been through, I still didn’t get even a hint of those powers.”

Kara takes her hand again, tentatively this time. She probably thinks Lena will pull away.

She doesn’t.

“There’s been a rumor for ages that you’re immortal. Are you saying that’s not true? From what I’ve read, humans have a shorter life span than us. Your species only live about 85 years or so.”

“I’ve heard the rumor and, yes, the average human lifespan is shorter than a Kryptonian’s.”

“You look pretty darn good for your age if you’re preparing to join Rao in a few cycles.”

Lena has to laugh. She lets Kara lead her away from the platform and down to the street. They walk hand in hand.

“So you’re not immortal?”

“It remains to be seen.”

“Then maybe our white sun did give you a hint of something after all.”

“Maybe. I have yet to ascertain the cause.”

“I could help you with your study, should you choose to explore it further.”

“You want to study me?”

Kara blushes. “I...I didn’t mean it like that. I only meant—“

“I know what you meant.”

Silence falls between them.

“You’re still holding my hand.”

“You’re still letting me.”

“It’s strange.” She stares. “You’re different. You’re so different than you were before, a completely different person, but somehow...when I look at you, you’re exactly who you’ve always been.”

“Are you different now too?”

“Yes.” She shrugs. “I think so anyway.”

“But we’ve still found each other. That means something.”

“Are you sure you want to hear this? You might be angry with me. I...I made choices that changed your life. A great number of lives.”

“I want to hear everything. But even if I do get angry, I won’t leave. I promise.”

Lena starts at that. How could she know exactly—? The realization hits her.

“My fears...you feel them right now, don’t you?”

Kara nods. “I won’t betray you, Lena. Whatever mistakes I’ve made before...in that other life...I won’t make them again.”

“You’ll make other mistakes.”

“Of course!” She laughs. “I’m gifted, but hardly perfect. You’ll make mistakes too, even if you are the Great New Dawn.”

“Two prodigies...” Lena raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know how people stand us. We must be insufferable to be around.”

“I can’t be held accountable for the jealousy of others.”

Lena chuckles. “Good to know you’re as competitive as ever.”

“And you? Are you competitive as well?”

“On occasion...when it comes to the right things.”

Kara grins. “Tell me more about Earth.”

“Earth or...you on Earth?”

“Both. Or just one. Whatever you like. We have all the time we need. We’ll get to it eventually.”

“Kara?”

“Yes?”

“What do you want?”

“You.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just do.”

“You’re not afraid?”

“Of losing you? Yes, I’m afraid. I thought I did when you left me in the Grove that night.”

“It’s different this time though.”

“Different how?”

“You were afraid before. O-on Earth. So you lied to me. Hid things from me. You were afraid I’d reject you.”

“So I lost you anyway?”

“For a while.”

“I know who I am and I want to share all of that with you. I’m afraid I’ll lose you if I don’t. Do you think that means I learned my lesson with a second chance?”

“Even though you don’t remember the first?”

Kara tilts her head thoughtfully. “Are you familiar with the theological concept of reincarnation?”

Lena nods.

“Many species and cultures detail it differently, but the belief that a soul does not reside in an afterlife fascinates me. The idea that one could instead be reborn and is destined to learn new lessons with each life that it failed to learn in the last. Maybe we found a way to do that without needing to die at all.”

“Are you sure you’re the First Order of the Science Council? Because that sounds an awful lot like preaching I’ve heard from the Religious Guild. You’re in the wrong profession.”

Kara rolls her eyes. “If anything, I should have joined the Artisans. But it’s too late for that.”

Lena’s quiet for a moment. They’re walking along streets she’s never seen before and doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter.

“I think I’m learning...” she says softly, “that it’s never too late. If you want something enough, it’s never too late.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Lena looks around. “Do you know where you’re going?”

“No, I thought you did.”

“No. I guess we’re lost then.”

Kara shrugs with a charming, sunny smile that lights her whole face. It’s the one that Lena hasn’t seen in over 40 years and it takes her breath away.

“Oh well.” Kara squeezes Lena’s hand happily. “I suppose we’ll find our way together.”

#supergirl #supercorp #supercorp fanfic #supercorp fic #supercorp fanfiction #dont read this #im sorry #it was a rambling stream of conscious moment

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