#i dont blindly follow anyone or especially people of politics

[qoldwater]

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[amazingorangedangantrash]

Excuse me Orange. I have seen the posts of Makoto interacting with class 77 and as much as I would love to hear about it I'm really curious about how a relationship with class 79 and Makoto would be. More specifically Makoto and Kokichi.

Yes this is because I can't get the fic "Rosemary" out of my head. In summary, Makoto loses his memories and becomes a counsellor at a school in Germany after meeting Rantaro and adopts Kokichi. Besties Rantaro and Makoto with the disaster child that is Kokichi.

Hello anon! Thank you ever so much for being so polite and patient with me :). This post has been a long time coming, and people have requested it ever since I made those class 77 headcanons. I put it off partly because I was worried I wouldn't do the V3 characterisation justice. I based a lot of this off the wiki info, so I highly encourage anyone to add their thoughts or counter if they think of something different!

(Also since pre-game personalities are basically non-existent outside of headcanons, this is based off their killing game personas)

Makoto is excited to greet another school year, and some underclassmen along with it! With all the... interesting characters (turned friends) he's encountered in both his own and the above year, he can only wonder what the new students will be like...

Kaede- out of all the protagonists, I'd say Kaede shares the most similarities with Makoto, moreso than his own sister. These two would definitely get along and make a great tag team- watch out Hope's Peak, because these two will have befriended you before you know it! Makoto definitely admires Kaede's straightforwardness and her optimistic nature. They act as great support for each other if tag teaming another person/persons, as Kaede is bolder then Makoto, whilst Makoto acts well as a medium. They're both extremely loyal, arguably to a fault. Both Kaede and Makoto have lied in a class trial to protective their friend (a detective each time too, lmao). Apparently she also lied for his sake in the demo, which is sweet. I feel like they'd connect well over their mutual optimism and kind hearts. I think Makoto would convince Kaede to step out of her comfort zone- socially, she's very bold, but she strays away from activities that could affect her piano playing (by hurting her fingers) and can waste away a lot of time in the practice room. She misses out on a lot of potentially fun activities that way. On an outing with some others, she accidentally cuts her finger, and whilst Makoto apologises and tells her she was right to be cautious, she waves him aside. Despite being unable to play the piano for a few days, she fills her time with other activities and it actually... doesn't bother her so much. As an 'ordinary person', Makoto helps a lot of talented students by opening their eyes to seeing that their identity doesn't revolve around their talents. In return, Kaede offers to teach Makoto whilst he spends time with her in the practice room. Whilst piano is her favourite, she knows how to play other instruments, and teaches Makoto the violin (maybe you think he'd play a different instrument but violins are my favourite so I'm going with that-). They even practice together, and whilst Kaede still practices nearly every day, she finds that it can actually be even more fun with company.

Shuichi- ah yes, yet another detective. Makoto was initially surprised that they'd accepted another Ultimate Detective, since there's normally only one ultimate at a time in the school (aside from Luck, which is decided each year with a raffle or draw or whatever). It's revealed that Shuichi is actually undergoing part of a new tutoring programme, in order to increase the number of people with talents especially useful to society. He's to be tutored by his upperclassman... *drumroll* Kyoko! Being close with Kyoko and with Kaede, Makoto sees a lot of Shuichi and befriends him too. He helps out with Shuichi's lack of confidence and feelings of inadequacy. Unlike Makoto, Shuichi has an obvious role model that he both aspires to and compares himself against. Unlike Kyoko, Shuichi is much more connected to and feels responsible for the people his detective work condemns. Whereas Kyoko is confident in her goal to obtain the truth, in totally neutrality, Shuichi is hesitant about it, unable to feel unbiased and take a neutral stand. Makoto convinces him this is a good thing, that feeling guilt is normal and is a sign of being a passionate and sympathetic soul. Shuichi doesn't have to be the kind of detective Kyoko is- sometimes that kind of compassionate and caring person is exactly the mindset people want. He also reassures Shuichi that as painful as the truth is, uncovering it means being able to eventually move on, and embrace hope. (He also tells Kyoko to maybe be a bit more... /welcoming/ in their lessons, and eventually Kyoko grows quite fond of her student, discovering a fondess for teaching she didn't know she had).

They're both very humble and polite, and whilst Makoto isn't reserved, he can be very passive. I think the two would appreciate having more of a calm relationship, typical of a 'normal' friendship that is often er- 'lacking' at Hope's Peak. With Kaede's help, Shuichi would open up to Makoto and others over time. I personally headcanon Shuichi to have an anxiety disorder and depressive bouts, so I think someone like Makoto would be a great support friend, for him to go to when he needs company and comfort, someone to listen and to understand, and vice versa to an extent. I like to imagine Makoto, Shuichi and Kaede often spend time together (with Hajime too protag gang ftw). Shuichi likes to study in the music room with them. He's already good at research, but the music actually helps him... enjoy it more. (Maybe he takes up an instrument too, to give him a hobby to focus on, hmm).

Kokichi- Kokichi Ouma. Kokichi Ouma... what do I even say? Trying to wrap my head around his character is like trying to clear the death road of despair in your first try. Still, I'll try my best!

I've seen a headcanon before (i dont remember by who, if you know lmk and I'll credit them) that Makoto via his unpredictable luck would be immune to Kokichi's pranks, and I think that'd set up a pretty good basis for their introduction. I think if Kokichi and Makoto had to describe the other in one word, it would be... "frustrating". At first glance, they're practically opposites- someone like Kokichi, who seems to breathe lies instead of air, and a person like Makoto, who's so honest and open it's almost stupid. Makoto doesn't like how Kokichi lies so much, even if it means people hating him. He almost seems to WANT people to hate him (I think he said once that honest people scare him more than strangers). Makoto has a tendency to break down even the most difficult characters (coughcoguuh class 78 coughcofuh), and that both scares but intrigues Kokichi. Makoto couldn't hate him if he tried (literally the only person he ever even /disliked/ was Junko. Not /hate/, but just /dislike/? Really???), and it frustrates Kokichi that Makoto is so willing to trust him and put faith in him. Makoto isn't blindly optimistic either, he genuinely believes in people, and I think Kokichi would feel envious towards being able to trust so... freely. Part of Kokichi's childish and carefee personality and his perchance for lies is the manifestation of his desire for freedom. If no-one knows what he's thinking, if no one can guess his moves, if no one can use emotions or weaknesses against him, and he can do whatever he wants, isn't that freedom? Except it isn't. By not letting his guard down and being honest with people, in a way, Kokichi's lies have left him trapped, unable to open up out of a fear of vulnerability. Whilst Kokichi would be initially suspicious of Makoto, maybe even distrustful of or uncomfortable around his personality, I think having such a grounded, honest individual whom he can /rely/ on would be... comforting. Kokichi would warm up to him, and see that with Makoto, what you see is what you get. He's above all else, a /genuine/ person, though certainly not an ordinary one, and Kokichi learns to respect and even admire that. Kokichi intentionally pushes people away to avoid expressing vulnerability, by being intentionally unlikeable, but even so I think he's lonely. Pushing away others isn't out of a true desire to be alone (it never is), but a defense mechanism. That tactic wouldn't work on Makoto, and so Makoto could become someone who Kokichi not only considers a friend, but who wholeheartedly returns the sentiment.

Makoto isn't sure what to think of Kokichi at first. He's heard so much about this terrifying new student, an overlord of a secret underground organisation with roots all over the globe... and yet the first time they meet Kokichi is trying to drop a bucket of custard on him. I don't think Makoto would like how Kokichi lies so much- especially about things like killing people or sending them away to never be seen again. It upsets him how Kokichi can joke about it, and how he seems to enjoy toying with people's feelings. When Makoto has a goal, he'll follow it through to the end, so when he's determined to break through Kokichi's walls... well, it's not easy at first. He's also willing to keep Kokichi company and give him attention and hear him out, which Kokichi admittedly likes. Whilst Makoto isn't a pushover, he's also not going to threaten Kokichi or retaliate with mean words, he genuinely listens and entertains Kokichi even though he knows Kokichi is messing with him, which is.. really nice, actually. Even if he tries he can't really shake Makoto that much (pls after all the other -weirdos- people he's met?). Like oh-? They have to duel to the death with yu-gi-oh cards? It's lucky Makoto brought his stack with him! Kokichi orders him to play tea party with him? He loved playing it with Komaru when she was younger and was sad when she stopped! Kokichi tricks him into eating a really gross weird food? How did you know that was a family favourite! Kokichi is fond of Makoto, and is desperate to keep Makoto's attention on him, whilst at the same time not wanting to reveal his true feelings, leading to plenty of complicated situations. Eventually they reach a breaking point (i love drama ok) and whilst Makoto doesn't lash out at him, exactly, he admits that maybe it's best he leaves Kokichi alone, believing that maybe Kokichi truly is content to be the way he is. It's this event that causes Kokichi to realise that Makoto really is someone he'd rather not hurt- that he doesn't just 'like' him but truly cares for him. From then on he tries to dial it down a bit, and Makoto comes to understand how Kokichi's lying and 'cruelty' stems from a place of insecurity and fear of trust. He promises to be a person Kokichi can trust, to show him that vulnerability doesn't have to mean gettint hurt. Whenever the two are around each other all kind of wacky hijinks are bound to ensure, really. Kokichi loves having someone around to not only give him attention, but want to as well, and Makoto enjoys how Kokichi is willing to spend time with and entertain him, pushing him and supporting him in ways that he didn't realise initially. They both find the other extremely interesting, and their encounters usually lead to significant changes in their relationship and mindsets.

I like to imagine they'd spend time playing games and fanboying together- Kokichi adores video games, and it always poses a challenge going against Makoto's luck, which is great for someone competitive as he is. Kokichi also seems a fan of the shounen genre, and 'basic' Makoto is the only other person in the school aside from Hifumi and Tsumugi to even watch anime so you know those two nerds geek out constantly. Kokichi likes to play other kinds of games with Makoto too- and they really like word games- especially two truths one lie. Makoto is... suprisingly good at it. He's pretty poetic, and his genuineness makes it hard to disbelieve him. Which makes it all the more fun when going against Kokichi!

Rantaro- how would these two describe each other in 5 words? "A breath of fresh air". They're both some of the "normal-est" in the school tbh. It's really great for both of them to have someone to do normal teen stuff with. They love going shopping together, hanging out at cafes and arcades. They actually meet when looking for a birthday present for their sister(s). They both reach for the same one before apologising and insisting the other have it. Rantaro insists Makoto take it, since, well, it's not like /his/ sister would get it anytime soon... confused, Makoto asks why and somehow Rantaro ends up confessing the whole thing about his sisters' disappearances, and how he always buys a present for each of their birthdays, waiting for the day when he can give them to them in person. (Pls why does this always end up with makoto counselling the students akdhsjsj-). Makoto could definitely sympathise, having a younger sister of his own. I think they'd bond over that "older brother" role they share, and Makoto would definitely help alleviate some of Rantaro's guilt. I like to imagine that Makoto, whilst being a 'typical teenage boy', also has a lot of feminine interests that he might be a bit insecure about. I love the idea of Rantaro encouraging him to embrace that (guy has like 12 sisters, he gave up feeling shy about makeup, nail polish, jewellery and dressing up in tiaras years ago). Rantaro is the first person to paint Makoto's nails and he loves it so much-!!! They go out for boba together and wear matching green nail polish pls its awesome. Rantaro also tells Makoto stories from when he was travelling and its also amazing- Makoto loves hearing all about it, and Rantaro is actually an incredible storyteller. Though Rantaro initially adventured to find his sister(s), he remembers why he loved travelling in the first place, and he's able to look back fondly on those memories that used to be clouded with the despair of his sisters' disappearance. They even go on vacation together to a tropical island at some point (maybe with friends). I'd like to say Makoto's luck might even lead to them finding one of the sisters, but maybe that's a bit too coincidental ahaha.

Miu- hmm. I think Makoto would be a little put off at first by her vulgarity and very openly sexual and crude behaviour. It's not that he dislikes her, he just isn't really sure... how to react around her? Her and Kaede don't get along, and Makoto often finds himself playing peacemaker when he stumbles upon their arguments. To his surprise, though, she seems to actually... like it when they fight? In fact- she seems to like it when people give her the time of day at all, really. Maybe she's just... lonely? And well, she can be a bit... um- /obnoxious/, but she can't be that bad! Making him go to see her weird (weird) inventions, that must be her way of reaching out and trying to spend time with him, right?

And then she starts calling him "Ma-crap-to", "Naegidiot", "Makusoto", and "Na-unchi"

nevermind she sucks

Makoto, with his saintly patience, would probably end up getting closer to her similar how Shuichi does in his FTEs. (I'll be honest there's not much difference I can think of akdjsjjssksj-)

Kaito- Kaito! Who doesn't love Kaito. It's no secret Kaito thinks himself the centre of the Universe (insert space joke here haha)- he's the protagonist of his own life, and luckily for him, Makoto fits quite nicely into the sidekick role. Both of them are passionate, with big hearts and strong spirits. Kaito is really good at seeing through people too- (idk how accurate this is but apparently in the wiki it says he sees that Nagito isn't interested in his talent or him as a person so much as him as a symbol). Whilst Makoto obviously has a lot of respect and admiration for all the talented students, I feel like it's a lot more... genuine? In a way that he can appreciate the person behind the talent, more than the talent itself. Kaito is someone who likes to inspire people and I think this would resonate with him. I think the two could seriously get along! They're both hopeless (haha) romantics and stupidly optimistic lmao. Kaito can be a little hotheaded at times, so I also like the idea that Makoto could calm him down, or at least reel him in a bit. He's stubborn when it comes to... um.. certain types of people (kokichi) so maybe Makoto could open his mind a bit.

Maki: MAKI ROLLLL. Ok I'm sure she'd probably have to hide her talent until it all came out at some point. I think Makoto is someone who's very against killing (even Junko he believed there was a better way for), so whilst he wouldn't agree with her talent, I think he wouldn't hold it against Maki, especially because he's very good at separating person from talent. Makoto is very understanding, and I think that like with Kaito, he would try to befriend her and open her up. He'd probably feel bad for her, not knowing what a "normal" life was like, so he'd try his best to do that. I think Maki in turn would appreciate that, and slowly get to know him like she did with Kaito and Shuichi. (She also likes complaining to him about Kaito lmao).

(he also takes her out for sushi so she can see for herself what a harumaki is LOL)

I'm sorry anon, this is as far as I could go aksnjjssj. When I feel up to it I'll try and make a part 2 to this, but I hope this is good for now?

(Also that fic sounds awesome and I'll definitely have to read it at some point)

[stuntgirlatthevampiremansion]

Hey! Re:about the election in PR. My friend is from PPD and she was telling me that actually even they didnt have delegates, especially for the "votos adelantados", so literally the PNP went alone to gather those votes, but not only that. That because they have access to people who are registered under other parties (PIP,PPD, MCV, and PD) what those PNPs were doing was going to those houses that asked for voting in advance with wrong colored sharpies so their votes where invalid and then also choosing to go to indecisive houses/votes alone(basically only the PNP delegates). That's why even though Lugaro, Charlie and Dalmau won some colleges , Pierluisi got the lead at the end.

Also, I know all of this can be frustrating but not all hope is lost! Some amazing things were shown in this election. The legislation composition is so mixed that there is no clear mayority now! Maria de Lourdes literally won by a land slide the popular vote! The first write-in mayor won in Guanica (and he had been denied to run under parties because of his sexual orientation)!!!! The fact that 49% of people actually said No in the plebisite?!?!?! Also what is happening in San Juan with Natal seeming like the winner (our capital was won by a new and emerging Party! ?!?!?!) And how many people volunteered for the recount!?!?! I think also all 5 parties ended up being registered so it doesnt look like its going to be a one time thing but like a new norm in our politics. Change is happening, but political change doesn't happen overnight.

I know it can feel hopeless and soo frustrating. If yoy were too young to vote on these elections, you prob wont be for the next one and you are probably gonna fight for change when you vote. And then if you want, you can even volunteer to be a delegate to ensure votes dont get stolen in your particular collegue. Don't give up, use the spite to motivate you. I promise that its not all lost and as someone that studied Politics on a post graduate level I can genuinely say the strides of change are happening we just gotta keep pushing forward.

You are absolutely right. A lot of good things were acomplished this election and it shows that there is change happening in people’s minds and hearts. An overwhelming amount of new and young voters went out and people all around the island are working for real change. Its incredible that maria de lourdes won and i am very happy about that and about all of the other good hardworking people who got in. The legislation is so mixed which is a very good thing. Certainly we have had many smaller victories that are very important and worth celebrating.

This cycle just feels different. People seem to be more vigilant and engaged to keep politicians honest and im confident that we’ll come together again to get anyone out should the need arise. The fact that so many people are volunteering to defend the votes in san juan shows that we are willing to work harder than ever before for change.

It is still incredibly frustrating how the PNP keeps cheating and lying their way up and not getting held acountable. There are so many fucked up things that they have done this election cycle because they are desperate for votes. I can cound off at least five fucked up things they are doing concerning the elections off the top of my head. Theyve been bribing people and lying for so long and we cant be certain that justice will be brought even if investigations happen. It is extremely angering and frustrating to see them play with our democracy right in out faces and not bein able to stop if. But i think its even more frustrating that people are still willing to follow them blindly but thats a whole different thing.

Thanks so much for taking the time to send this message.

[rosykims]

A-Z HEADCANONS // DUNCAN THEIRIN

i was tagged by @nordxz thanks so much tash !! i'm gonna answer this for duncan, my babey and the next gen son of alistair and ella cousland 😊😚😘

i snappped while answering these and accidentally wrote 6 pages and almost 4k words so uh. loooooong infodump ahead.

Alignment: What would be their D&D alignment? How might it come into play?

duncan very easily falls into the lawful neutral category, like i dont rly need to give his alignment too much thought unlike with some of my other ocs. duncan is.....hmm. hes a very KIND person, generous and selfless, and tries his best to make people happy, but i wouldn’t necessarily say he's good, considering a lot his issues lie with his inability to act, or stand up to others. he’s guilty of very blindly following the law, or other people's ideas of what's right, and he doesn't really feel confident enough to rely on his own conscience for most things. so i'd say while he tries to do the right thing and act within the law, sometimes he goes against his own values out of fear or confusion or, simply out of ignorance, since he was born into a life of privilege and can't always distinguish what's right and what’s believed ykno

Beverage: What do they most like to drink, and why?

duncan shares a weird trait with both his brother and sister where they all just inexplicably ?? don't like alcohol at all. so stuff like wine and liquors is off the table. he absolutely LOVES tea though. u know that one scene in scott pilgrim where the gal is going thru her list of like 72 teas? thats him 100%. it's his lifeblood at this point, he has SO much of it and a perk of being the heir to a monarchy means he's got a lot of foreign merchant acquaintances, so he tends to order in different blends from all over. he's a chronic insomniac, and he uses it as a crutch to get through the days some times. modern!duncan still loves tea but obviously has a stronger love for coffee, since its far more effective!

Co-Habitat: Do they live with anyone? What’s “need to know” before moving in?

duncan currently lives in the residential dorms of the college of enchanters, while he's sort of aimlessly studying a bunch of subjects he's already mostly adept at. firstly, duncan is VERY sick lol, he was conceived while ella and alistair still hadn't found the cure for the joining, and essentially he inherited both of their darkspawn taint so 🙂🙂🙂 thats always a good time. so anyone who lives with him needs to prepare for 1) him being sick obviously,, throwing up, coughing up blood, looking like a corpse virtually 23 hours of the day lol. and obviously the fear that one day he might actually die. but also 2) he suffers from grey warden nightmares for the same reasons, hence the insomnia. he can go a concerning number of days without sleeping and usually only takes strategic cat naps when he needs to, but obviously he has his limits. it's very rare that he goes a full night without waking up in a cold sweat due to nightmares so. we stan one depressed king ! oh he also is Incapable of locking the door to his apartment. he always forgets and hes too tired to care about people stealing his stuff fkdkdjdjd he would probably make more of an effort if he had someone living with him, but old habits die hard so !!!!!!

Decor: What kind of home do they keep? Are there any defining details?

honestly , duncan's house is very devoid of clutter or personal items in general, which is sad. he definitely would have a lot of decor if he could, but since his current housing is only temporary while he's in orlais, he doesn't really want to get... comfortable ykno. other than that, duncan's home is always kept impeccably neat and clean, for two reasons. firstly, growing up in denerim's palace really engrained into his head the importance of keeping up appearances, so its sort of a subconscious ritual of his at this point. but i think more importantly its because of all the nights when he cant sleep, so during the night with nothing to keep him from dwelling on his thoughts or nightmares, he really needs the distraction, and cleaning gives him something to do. duncan really needs to feel like he's doing something, like he's managing, like he's able to achieve something so cleaning is just one little way of taking ownership of his life.

Escape: What do they do to de-stress? How successful is it?

nsfw warning but uhhh..... he has a LOT of sex basically dkdkdksk u wouldn’t know it by looking at him tho ! bc hes very polite and nervous and kinda shy?? but hes also charming and obviously attractive so he doesnt really lack for interested parties. mainly he just sticks to one night stands, with no strings attached, and it helps him take his mind off things when hes exhausted or its late at night and hes afraid to go to sleep. otherwise he also has had some friends with benefits but usually his personal life is too complicated for a serious relationship. aside from that, he also reads a LOT, writes too – when he has the time/energy – and obviously cuddling sessions with his cat, moira dkdkdk

Fluff: What hits their soft spot? Does anything turn them into emotional goo?

so ik above i said that duncan doesnt do serious relationships but thats,, not through any will of his own. he LOVES love and is a complete hopeless romantic , but unfortunately for a number of reasons he's just very unlucky at love ! 😔 so having an emotional, intimate connection with someone that isnt just sex is super healing for him, since he's not used to it at all. being with nadaia is such a positive thing for him, just knowing that his feelings are reciprocated and that he's valued and wanted.

Grudge: How bad does an insult go over? Do they hold a grudge long?

i think it depends on who its directed at !! duncan usually ignores any insults directed at him because he's grown up being so scrutinized by the public and for the most part, fereldens are very weary of him so he hears A LOT. most of criticisms about him he just.. automatically accepts as fact and really buys into them, bc he has such low self esteem. but as for other people, and ESPECIALLY loved ones thats a very different story!! he's not exactly the type to start throwing punches if anyone says a bad word against someone he cares about, but he WILL personally see to it in his own sneaky way that they get whats coming to them dkdkkdjd usually he'll either find a way to expose their dirty laundry, embarrass them in public, prevent a promotion, something like that lol. this goes double if the insult is directed at nadaia or his family.

Hobby: What’s something they do for fun that might be surprising?

ive already mentioned that he's an avid reader and he likes to write occasionally, but he's also a talented musician! He can play harp and lute, and has a beautiful singing voice ! tho he never EVER sings in public and u have to be like,, a ride or die for him to even consider singing in front of u.

Insomnia: What’s their sleeping schedule like? Snorer? Sound sleeper?

well like i said he's an insomniac so sleep rly is a vague, barely recognised concept to him at the point dksksksk he also experiences sleep paralysis during especially bad nightmares, honestly he rly hit the misery jackpot and i feel so bad like hes indisputably my most tormented oc 🙃🙃🙃 so yea hehe doesnt really thrash around during nightmares but he sweats A LOT and sometimes talks in his sleep. during sleep paraylsis obviouslyy he goes COMPLETELY rigid and still which is terrifying for everyone involved lol. on the rare occasion that he is able to sleep he is out like a light lol he would sleep for 17 hours if he could. in saying that because he is also a Strategic Napper he is usually comfortable falling asleep ANYWHERE, because hes so tired comfort really isnt a concern lol.

Jaded: Do they buy into the “happily ever after” ideal? What’s their standard?

no he doesn't unfortunately 😔 or at least i should say he doesn't believe in it for himself - he's pretty convinced that he won't live til 30 and he's existing on borrowed time as it is, so he hasn't really put a lot of thought into his own happiness or the pursuit of his own goals because he doesn't believe he'll be around to see them realized

Kin: What’s their role among their relations? Do they consider others family?

duncan is the firstborn son of king!alistair and ella cousland, my canon warden. he's also the eldest brother to roslyn and bryce theirin. he's also, obviously , the half brother of keiran, tho none of the theirin kids are aware of that oof. his role, officially, is to become king when his parents eventually pass. its NOT something he wants, due to being so sick and unsure of himself. despite what his parents tell him, he doesnt believe he will make a good king and is really terrified of the notion in general, i guess a little like alistair was in dao. duncan kinda,,, avoids his duties, to the point where he literally LEAVES to live and study in orlais. he still does what he needs to do, keeps in correspondence with people he needs to, but its all bare minimum stuff because hes just. so afraid of it lol. he has a mostly good relationship with his family, despite that – theres some resentment between him and his sister, rose, but thats a whole entire story we dont have time for dkdkskdk

Law: What do they think about abiding rules? Are they selective about it?

like i said before he's pretty adherent to the rules and laws of society tho i do see that as more of a flaw than anything. he doesnt really feel comfortable stepping outside the norm and tends to accept that other people know best ! even if he disagrees he's usually too unsure of himself to speak up. that does change quite a bit once he and nadaia grow closer, since SHE is big on bending ridiculous or unjust rules, but he's always gonna be a bit of a follower i think 😒

Magic: In a magic series or not, are they accepting, or is each instance a shock?

he's accepting!! he's a mage so it would be wild of him if he didnt lmao. during his childhood/adolesence he was kinda harsh on himself and had a lot of internalized guilt for being a mage, bc this was obviously still fresh after the mage rebellions. he resented his own abilities and just wanted to be normal, but that was also him projecting a lot of his other problems as well. he had amazing teachers who helped him come to terms with his abilities, and the best of all was my inquisitor, ashara, who is kind of like a very distant, scary aunt who always had a soft spot for him. she helped him – and alistair and ella – RIGHT after they discovered he was a mage, and she was really the biggest role model in his life when it came to magic. duncan has always looked up to her skill and control and confidence, and tried very hard to match that.

Network: Are they connected to the people? How much do they reach out to others?

duncan has an ARMY of acquaintances and connections due to his family, but doesn't really have a lot of people he considers his close friends. he's super friendly and he gets along with most people, but like ive said before serious relationships including friendships are always a bit complicated for him bc of who he is as a person lol. as for reaching out, he's a very independent, introverted person and so he tends not to seek out other people unless he's close to them or has no other choice. he's very self conscious about being a burden on people or being to “needy" so he holds himself back and sometimes comes across as a little cold.

Offspring: What kind of parent would they be? Would they prefer one, or multiple?

he.... probably can't physically have kids unfortunately due to his condition, and as a result he's never really wanted to think too much about it, or imagine a scenario that he believes he cant have. but if it WERE a possibility, or if he felt stable in his own life enough to adopt, he'd probably be comfortable with just one child to completely spoil. he would be such a good father, albiet maybe not the coolest dad ddkdkdks i think nadaia would be the one who got up to the crazy shenanigans and let her child get away with everything, and duncan would be more of the nurturing, responsible one. he'd be a MASTER at telling bedtime stories, would kick ass at homework assistance, and would sing his kid to sleep every single night (until they got too old for it obviously). ooooo im so IMMENSELY emo abt this au now that i think about it

Pistol: Is this character skilled with a weapon? What’s their opinion of violence?

duncan is a very non-violent person, but he does believe that sometimes violence is necessary and will BE violent if he needs to – only in self defence scenarios though. he's an adept mage, and very skilled with a staff, but he isn't a fighter, really – more of a defensive, protective figure.

Question: How often do they feel doubt? What topics are they defensive about?

oh the doubt is constant with him 🙃🙃 he has a lot of deep routed dread about his own morality and whether or not he's a good person or if the maker will accept him when he dies. he's andrastian but TERRIFIED of the notion that its all actually real, bc then he doesnt know where that leaves him. he has this weird existential dichotomy where he doesnt know if hes closer resembling a grey warden or a darkspawn bc of his tainted blood. he also doubts his abilities and his magic bc he's afraid that the taint just,, makes him inherently a corrupted thing. he doubts himself on a more basic level with like, being a good brother, a good son, a good king when the time comes. he wants to be a good student and partner but sometimes his health makes him feel like he cant, and it weighs on him so heavily, almost all the time. basically he needs a hug so badly its not funny 😔😔😔

Reminder: How are they at remembering daily needs? What falls through the cracks?

uhh its very selective !!! for the most part he's very good at taking care of himself, mostly because he NEEDS to otherwise his health gets out of control, but sometimes he tends to prioritize one set of needs above another,, which usually means not sleeping (the most common), forgetting to eat, not letting his loved ones know when he's having a poor health day which usually results in him getting really sick and nobody is around to help him. he also forgets to do certain things like lock up his house, buy foodstuffs, reply to peoples letters n stuff like that.

Sing: Do they like music? Do they listen often/sing/hum/play songs in their head?

yes and yes !! duncan loves music altho its a very personal and private thing for him. he's pretty naturally gifted with music and gets it from ella, who taught him a lot of what he knows. he has a gorgeous singing voice (i kinda hc something similar to dan smith’s vocals from bastille!) that he rarely uses bc he only ever sings when he's alone or if he's forced to by a nosy loved one or something lol

Touch: How do they handle contact? Is their personal bubble big?

duncan doesn't mind being touched !!! in fact in most situations he welcomes it, as long as its like,,, appropriate and not some random stranger obviously. he grew up with ella and alistair who obviously are VERY affectionate people so he loves giving and receiving hugs from friends and he doesnt flinch or feel weird about just? random natural touches or anything. his ~love language~ is also physical touch so he LIVES for cuddling with nadaia and holding hands and anything like that. however !!! his little sister rose HATES being touched by virtually anybody and in any capacity, so he's very aware that not everybody is okay with touch, and is always careful and considerate of other peoples boundaries. he usually waits for the other person to make the first move, or simply asks them first !

Upcoming: How much do they think of the future? Do they make long-term plans?

he doesn't at all 😔 i mentioned this before but he doesn't see himself living very long, and its really impacted his outlook on life. he is afraid to commit to a lot of things, even if its something he really, truly wants, because he doesn't want to get his hopes up for things. it also keeps him from forging positive relationships. a lot of it has to do with him just being overly polite, but he refuses to make the first move with anything, or communicate what HE wants out of something. for example, his relationship with nadaia could have progressed so much faster if he had just,,, told her what he wanted. she had to make a lot of the first moves in the relationship because he just,, doesnt know how to take chances i guess !!! we love a Deeply Flawed king

Vice: What bad habits do they have? Is there something they would be ashamed of?

Some harmless ones are ; him talking to his cat constantly dkdskd also he has very poor time management skills so he's almost always a few minutes late, forgetting to lock his stuff up, and slouching, probably !!! some more serious ones would be like,, having sex with strangers as a coping mechanism lol, not speaking his mind and instead just letting himself be a doormat, also INTENSE avoidance of his problems (moving away to orlais for 9 years to avoid his fear of being king for example 🙃) tho i guess they fall under the same category oof.

Wardrobe: What’s their fashion style? Do they have any staple pieces?

duncan dresses nice, for the most part !!! again, it's mostly to do with growing up in court and having to keep up appearances, but also hes just. a nice bisexual boy who wants to take care of himself ykno, and that includes hygiene/clothing/grooming etc ! he's maybe a bit TOO reserved tho, he mostly wears dark colours like blacks, greys and brows, but hes been known to wears reds/blues/whites as well, and there’s a lot of subtle yet beautiful details on his more formal attire that might go unnoticed by a casual eye. a lot of his clothes are specifically tailored but he's also fond of big oversized sweaters for when hes just hanging out ! he's got a not great relationship with his body lol so he usually dresses very conservatively, with long sleeves and pants and usually more than one layer, but hes also a thot so !!! pants be TIGHT dksksksks

X-Ray: How’s their health? Any problem areas? Do they take care of themselves?

Djdjdksksndjddjkekdidksjs OKAY WELL if u have read this far than obviously u kno the answer to this question. if ur just skimming tho first of all ur valid ! second of all duncan is VERY sick. he was conceived when ella and alistair where still searching for the joining cur, so basically he inherited the darkspawn taint x 2 and nearly died a bunch of times as a baby/young child. obviously idk how the cure storyline is gonna resolve but my hc is that bc the darkspawn taint is something he was BORN with, not just something that happened to him via ritual, his body is much more impacted by it so even if they are able to find a cure, it wouldnt work THAT well and his health would still suffer bc of the prolonged damage. so physically, he deals with a LOT – intense migraines, insomnia, nausea, fatigue, problems with breathing and fevers and stuff. obviously mentally hes.... not doing great either, tho he’s trying his best. sometimes his insomnia gets so bad he starts hallucinating visions from his darkspawn nightmares, and sometimes he just feel paranoid in general that he's actually an Evil Darkspawn and hes just somehow managed to convince everyone hes a normal person – sort of a weird blend of imposter syndrome and body dysmorphia its. complicated. anyway he has very low self esteem and tends to think hes a huge inconvenience to everybody, and when he was a teenager he went thru a period where he was very suicidal, and ANGRY and afraid 😔 he’s doing better though, now that he has learnt how to manage most of his symptoms and he's not suffering in denerim court. nadaia is also a huge help, though he tries not to become too heavily reliant on her, since he's had bad experiences with depending too much on other people.

Yack: What’s their favorite thing to talk about? What do they go on about?

skskdkdk im already crying hehe 🙂 duncan is so introverted and self conscious of being “Too Much" for other people so he tends to keep his thoughts/interests to himself and stick w just. boring small tall or non invasive questions relating to the other person. BUT if u show an interest and he trusts u then oh boy. hes an absolute dork. he loves talking about magic and having really intense conversations abt the technical sides of it (he and dorian would get along SO well) but he also loves history !!!! before he began studying at the college of enchanters he received multiple ??? qualifications?? (idk if thats the right term but u kno) from the university of orlais, one of them being orlesian and ferelden history. also anything to do with the grey wardens, the blights and darkspawn for personal reasons obviously. He's a VERY good storyteller so he somehow finds a way to make even the dryest topics seem very compelling and Cool – varric would be proud !! he finds the orlesian Great Game fascinating, and he enjoys sharing wild anecdotes about the things he's seen asshole nobles get up to. thats always thrilling skdksksk ALSO. He has a secret interest in necromancy and the mortalitasi (its only a secret bc hes the heir and that wouldnt look ... great lol ) but he only ever really talks about that with nadaia, who finds that stuff almost as interesting as he does. also, finally, he loves talking about nadaia 😊😊😊😊 hes the type of guy who will always namedrop “my girlfriend" into any conversation, loves telling people about her accomplishments and how Cool she is ..... he loves her a Lot is what im getting at sksksks

Zodiac: What’s their astro sign? Does it fit? What would you pick, if it’s unknown?

duncan is a pisces babey like his mother !!! tho he could also be a virgo but,,, i think for now pisces works better for him. he's very smart and introspective and creative, but he has some issues with critical thoughts, avoidance and melancholy like ive mentioned. also pisces is a water element so i guess that makes even more sense, since hes an ice mage 👌👌👌

okay !!! im done !!! i cant believe i wrote all that but i guess if u didnt know abt duncan before, u absolutely do now dksksks im so sorry to anyone who actually read thru all of this, u really are braver than the troops

[jangsaverem]

I  believe I have come to the conclusion that if you are majorly on one side the political spectrum or the either you will simply refuse to actually accept that your choice is just awful. I wanted to believe that President Trump would do fine. That he was just a raving rich guy who got a shot at the presidency and will wing it as it goes. But I was wrong. The choices he has made for heads of departments are generally deplorable. They seem to lack basic experience in the roles they are being placed into as if he simply grabbed some people whose names he knew and pulled their new roles in the white house from a hat. his likely supreme choice has stated that Roe V Wade was a tragedy. His climate guy believes that climate change by humans is a hoax. Course, so does his very likely supreme choice. This isnt real. it cant be. he coincidentally only banned immigration from, again coincidentally, Muslim dominated countries. And I get what he was going for...but you cant just ignore the countries you have worked with in this massive ban if you claim to be doing it for the right reasons. he doesn't, at least I dont believe he does, have any idea how the ACA works (and doesn't) and simply knows that he was told it has to go so he’ll do it. And as I have become painfully aware of, those who voted for him who hated “Obamacare” simply hated it because it was called Obamacare...instead of Romneycare or Simply the ACA. And now those same people, and more, will follow him no matter what. but enough about him directly. how, even after this debacle of a electoral branch, can the typical supporter still not see where things are going blatently wrong? I don't believe everyone is a bigot or a racist or any bullshit related to that. I cant believe that. But I see people I know who have no semblance of questioning towards the things their party/their presidential choice is doing. I didn't agree with everything Obama did, though honestly most made sense in a presidential or for the country way. it was the involvement with some things he need not have. but its like the folks I am seeing, say on the facebook, are just blindly agreeing with what President Trump is up to simply because he was their vote...or worse...simply because he was the Republican of this election. That is insanity. Though maybe its more. Maybe its deeper...or less deep. Maybe they dont actually know what the president should be doing or what is or is not constitutional. And thats at least expected. I dont expect every, or even most people would have any idea what is and what isn't really “ok” (I sure dont) but come on, some things need to be observed as “wrong” too even if its the guy you went for. There has to be something that clicks in your head to consider the needs of the many outweigh those of the few...but it never does.

But, what really gets my goat...is when I have to interact with diehards on either side (of course right now its the far right NOT the alt right) its painful because they will speak about this man like hes a “god” like his shit dont stink and whatever he signs is platinum. How. How can you consider everything this man has done to be fantastic because he has done possible ONE thing that you support and have latched on to that ONE (or two) things that he is working on because it benefits you (or maybe it doesn't even benefit you...you just dont seem to understand why it doesn't but think it does) they just have to know that this choice is the choice they are supposed to pick because they were told this is the side they have always picked...or because one family member hates the OTHER choice and you just have begun to accept that their more dominant choice is the correct one. I will say this though. because its only fair to shit on myself as well, but, this was the only election (I have gotten to be involved in 3 presidential ones) where there was no doubt that my choice could have been, honestly, anyone other than Donald Trump. ( I did choose Clinton as the alternative since Bernie got cheated out of a real chance but there was a nice fair chunk that was awful about her too...but I would take a chunk WITH EXPERIENCE that I dont care for over a Man with NO experience and just awful, though honest, speeches).

in closing if I were a manager worth anything to my company why in blazes would I hire someone with no experience for the position because they speak straight? Especially when they speak straight against people in my company? Spoiler...I wouldn't. End Note: Holy shit...Pence? HOW did that pass quality control?

[huggpheonix]

Oc rae adventures

Ive never had a problem with casting my screwball brother out of my sight. Its no big secret he wSnt very popular with anyone except his friends. My brothers name was jeroge, and he was 13. 13 and very odd. Very.. Violent, Not violent in a way that endangered everyone. But in a very rugged way. He was very skinny and had styled his hair to be messy and multicolored. All he wore were band t shirts noo ne had ever heard of or maybe even liked. Im talking about him in a past tense because hes gone missing, we cannot find him. And.. Im running out of all the hope i can carry. As if i started with a huge armful, and now its just this twiggy tree. Ive decided to tell you this because anonymity is what makes mysteries great. You share your story and some people couldnt care leas, but others.. Others, they make sure to scrape every little detail they can get their hands on. Im Vincent, Im 20 years old. Its been 3 years since my rother went missing. And i miss his nerdy embrace. I miss him. It used to be that i searched for him everynigjt. I mean, every single night. I just couldnt fall asleep without going and looking for him. My mom... She.. Shes.. Not taking it too well.. Ever since Kevin came over with another woman and gave my mom cheap vodka and whiskey. Shes been laying around trying to avoid my gaze. I must remind her too much of Jeorge. We looked just alike. I make sure i got rid of the vodka and whiskey. And i put a balnket ariund my mom. I kiss her head lightly and fill up a glass with water. "Mom.. You.. You.. You need to take your pill.." She sits up and again looks down, I wait till she says nothing and slink away. Kevin.. Kevin really was a sick joke. I havent seen dad in all my life. That kind of makes me sad. I remember once him being there when Jeroge had almost died. Hed been fooling around with the medication in moms cabinet. The doctors had to pump his stomach and then he had to have surgery on his kidney. The chances were slim but jeroge had made it.  He spent weeks after that recovering.  I cant remeber his name. I look to my left and glance at the tree house next to me, Rae wiped the sweat furiously off of her forehead and upper lip and glared at Marasada. "Im not getting any better!" She growled.  "In never garanteed youd get better, i said i would help you with your skills.. Obviously your skills arent any good, at all." "It fucking helps if you have metal plates protecting you, the only raid ive been on, i didnt pick up anything worth shit." She said angrily. "You watch your tone with me." Marasada warned steppping her boundaries further into RAe's space. Rae narrowed her eyes at the tall dark beautiful girl. "Or what." She demanded. Marasada only folded her arms. "Yeah, because wether you like me or not, you NEED this help. You need extra group members because your last raid, was a fail." She said without hesitation.  Marasada only pushed Rae up against the tree. "Listen, your ego must be bigger and better than your skills, you havent hauled your weight at all.. Its your fucking job to get your own armor. I dont need ANYTHING from you. Youre a replacement, a faulty. Im just being polite. Maybe the reason youre not getting better is because, you refuse to let go of that fake image in your mind." Marasada finished flipping her hair over her shoulder. Rae pushed her forward. "I hate you." She said and then tip toed to kiss her roughly. Marasada pulled away and pinched her cheeks together.  "I hate you more," she growled. She met her lips in a lust filled kiss and bit her lips. Rae groaned and gripped her forearms angrily. Leaving nail marks. Marasada left her lip bleeding. "Follow me. We will talk after." She demanded. She didnt give Rae any time to protest or to wipe the blood from her lips. She was honestly feeling helpless. How had that escalated so quickly? Was she weak? Marasada basically threw Rae into her tent and Rae hit the ground with force. She felt it in her hip, the one with her missing leg. She moaned. "You like it rough?" Marasada asked. "Not... Particularly..." Rae said apologetically. "Me neither." She said jokingly. She leaned over Rae and they made out for a couple minutes before Marasada slipped Rae's shorts off. Rae's breath hitched in her throat and all she heard was a shhh... Rae furrowed her eyebrows at the immediate intense feeling. She let out a whimper and the leader just giggled. Rae had never felt like this ever... She was enjoying this.. "Release all your tension.. Okay? It will make it feel better.." She suggested. "How?" Rae stammered out. Marasada stopped for a moment, just sort of teasing her. Playing with her. "Well... Rough play can really help somebody out. If you use proper safe words its alright. Its using your body's senses to gain pleasure. We can continue to spar after this, youll see improvement." She said matter of factly. Rae groaned falling onto her back. Marasada went back to her work. Afterwards Rae was outside. After that incredible time she had had, the leader had wanted her outside. In all honesty, she liked being bossed around by her. She liked her determination. "Okay, come at me with all you have." She whispered. Rae didnt need to be told twice. She sprinted forwards and went in for a kick to the stomach. Marasada dodged it and made a hit for Rae's exposed back. She landed squarely in her shoulder blade leaving a sharp pain. Rae winced and backed up hastily. "Dont leave your back exposed, ever." She warned. Rae nodded frantically. She rolled her shoulders and ran in again. Marasada managed to dodge and counter all Rae's hits. Meanwhile talking through it. It made rae mad. "Dont just come in and hit blindly, aim your hits, look at your opponents weaknesses, use it against them. Analyze their character. One cant win if the other is left to the full advantage." Rae was hit in the leg and she was down on the ground in a second. She grunted in pain and looked up at marasada, for any apology. "Like that." She said. She turned her back and began to walk away. Rae was up before she could even turn around. Marasada caught both of her fists. She kissed Rae, biting her lips and drawing blood. Rae tore away. "Take that as a warning. It is disgraceful to attack an unarmed opponent. Especially when their backs are turned."  Rae's eyes sparkled with tears. "You look tired little wolf... Want a break?" She asked. Rae smeared the blood on her cheeks. "Fuck you," she spat. "Bad language is encouraged." Marasada teased engaging in her defensive stance. Rae rushed her with all her force and slammed the metal plated hand. Rae was holding her twisted wrist. "Fuck.." She groaned. "Thats a real shame.. Go see the healer. Come to me, when youre ready to listen and learn." She finished. Rae had limped her way, in quiet and mournful shame. She had just lost another battle! To the same infuriating girl... The know it all... Rae had managed her way through the tent doors and to her dismay, angekis came to her aid. "Rae! W-what happened?" She asked, concerned. Rae gave a small pained chuckled and with her help sat down on the stool. "I was training... In the outskirts of the fields.." She lied. Angekis furrowed her eyebrows. "You know, the fields are very dangerous, right? You need to go with a squad. Next time, you just give ME the word, and Ill go with you." She said carefully taking off Rae's shirt. Rae sat there letting Angekis's eyes roam her body for marks. She gasped. "These are brutal.. What attacked you?" She asked while she grabbed a bucket and filled it with water. Rae considered the question greatly. "A joklis, not terribly challenging.. Makes for a hell of a fight, though." She said weakly. Angekis gently and gingerly cleansed the wounds and bruises. Rae brought her hand to her lips and bit down on her hand. After she had finished, she felt a soothing tide wash over her. She closed her eyes. In her minds eyes she saw angekis trying to devoid any emotion at all, failing only slightly. Sparkling grey and green washed around the wounds. As she finished Rae sat up. When she stood she wobbled. Great. Her leg was fucked up. Angekis held her hands behind her back. "Rae, please.. Tell me anything.. Im here, always." She said. Rae nodded solemnly. She smiled. "Thank you.. For everything, Angekis." Rae limped out of there and sighed, thanks to marasada she now had only two hours of rest before their next raid. Knowing how she ran things, they would be leaving people for dead... And for some odd reason... Somewhere deep inside her, she didnt want that to happen.  She limped all the way to the nearest shop and rapped with her knuckles. Eyes peeked out from the crevice between the boards and then the door creaked open. "Sorry to disturb your rest.. But my leg is messed up.. Can you help me?" She whispered and then the candles were lit. They revealed a dark skinned beauty with jade green eyes and blood red lips. She looked rae over once and then turned her back. Rae gulped. "I will help you.. On one condition.." She said circling her table and then placing her hand down on it. Rae pulled at her ragged shirt collar. "You tell me your name." She suggested thoughtfully, all intensity melting away as if she was a lifelong friend. Her eyes lit up and were now a bright green, her luscious red lips turning into a quirky grin. She wore a form fitting purple shirt which ended just below the ribs and showed her tattoes. The tattoos connected to a banner that hung around her hips, underneath was a skirt and fishnet tights. She again smiled awkwardly... All the girls here were beautiful. "R-Rae.." She managed to scrape out. The girl nodded and then motioned for her to sit on the table. Rae stepped carefully over and onto the table. The girl's radiant eyes scanned her leg in quick succession, before she pulled away. "What caused damage like this?" She inquired. Making light conversation while she moved around gathering tools. Rae watched her intently, finally sort of relaxing. This girl did not mean her harm.. "A joklis.. A wild joklis.. Not a very skilled one, but, im a rookie." She said scratching at her small scar beside her eyebrow. The girl returned with a saw, nails, and a hammer, and just gave her a knowing look. Before her eyes flicked back to what she was doing. Rae's on the otherhand were widening. The girl giggled and took out the saw first. "Relax.. It will be fine. Ive done this lots." She reassured before closing in. She was inches away from Rae's leg and rae was wondering why she didnt just forcefully do shit. It was like she was actually respectful to her boundaries. She searched Rae's dark pools before rae gave a tiny nod. The girl gingerly unclasped the leg and said a spell in quick tongue before removing it. Rae glanced away and all over the room. "This is your place?" She asked as she moved her head to get a good look in. The floor was all hardwood and was covered by a huge old fashioned rug, similar to that of the girl's banner. The table she sat on was placed on the corner right beside the opening to a darkened kitchen. A desk was in the middle of the room and on it were candles and maps and tools and the works. It was definitely homey, and had that feel to it. "The one and only, yes." She said and sighed a little, her eyes sad. For some reason Rae was sorry for the girl in front of her, and as she turned back, she was wondering why the girl wasnt making a clanging noise as she brought down the hammer again and again. Rae raised her eyebrows. The girl wiped her sweat away, and looked up again. "Ah... Its a silencing spell. It lets me work on all my projects without messing up, or waking anyone." She informed Rae. Rae nodded and brought her hands to her lap. She snuck a glance at her amputated leg and then turned away in disgust, how had she managed to get a leg cut off? Why was she the weak link.. The girl in front of her only gave her a sympathetic smile and put the hammer down. "Hey... Having an injury, it does not mean you are not strong... It merely means, that you tried your hardest and needed someone to help you. Youre that new person right?" She said all at once. Before returning her gaze to the leg in her hands. "Y-y w-well, i guess so... I dont remember much about my ending up here, but i know that i must have been attacked.. By something strong." She muttered. "Yes. It managed to get your whole leg! Im glad it didnt hit an artery." She said and then stopped her sawing. "You know, i was the one that made your leg. I tried to make it as efficient as one could, but.. I guess its maybe not the best.." "Are you kidding? It feels just like my old leg." She said and then softened her eyes. The girl blushed a little before continuing the straightening of the leg. "Well in any case... Im glad to have you here with us.. There. All done." She said as she gave it a once over and then clasped it back onto her thigh. Rae stood up with the help of the girl and then took a few steps to test it. In her first try she collapsed and the girl caught her. She helped her on the second try and soon Rae could walk normally.  She turned to the girl and stuck out her hand awkwardly. The girls gaze softened and they shook hands. "Thank you.. For everything... But i didnt get your name." She said as they held that firm grip. "Astrin. Astrin Lekinley." She said and Rae nodded. At the door she waved to Astrin. And Astrin whispered to visit again sometime. Rae held her bleeding nose and swiped at her bleeding lip clumsily. She was shuffling quietly as she could back to the healing tent and she prayed that angekis not find her again, because she wasnt sure she could come up with a good answer. To her relief Angekis has left early and another healer patched her up, making light convo. He said to take care and she waved back to him.  Astrin sat on the stone and beckoned her over. She was perched with a bucket of potatoes, just peeling them. When rae hit her with a puzzled look she just giggled.  "These are for the fancy dinner we will all be enjoying tomorrow, in all the rookies honor, we do it for everyone. And its a good time to socialize." She explained. Rae smiled and sat down beside her. "Oh my god... What happened?" She asked concern in her voice as she dropped her knife and potato into the bucket. At the same time Rae thought she would drop the knife and she reached over clumsily so they both ended up with their hands on each other. Astrin's were on Rae's face and Rae's were on her hands. They both blushed and Rae flinched and took their hands away hurriedly. Rae smiled a lot at the little incident, and Astrin picked up the bucket again, She cleared her throat. "Im so sorry... I shouldntve... Really... That was so uncool.." She said. Rae shook her head furiously. "Astrin. Its okay." She said. Astrin smiled when she said her name. "Youve.. You got a piece of equipment, i see. Some shoulder pads, beads and... Oh! A piece of metal? I can work on a breastplate for you." She said happily. Rae looked at the poorly formed metal around her stomach and then agreed. "Would you?" "Metal is a specialty of mine, you know." She teased lightly and smiled softly. Rae's eyes lidded a little and they talked. About everything, their lives before the group.. Although they sometimes skipped over some parts. Rae didnt mention her dad and Astrin never mentioned parents. Rae helped Astrin peel potatoes until the sun came up. Astrin spotted it and then clasped a hand to her mouth. "We have been speaking since night.. We need to go to bed and then be on time for dinner.." She said worriedly. Rae only shrugged and picked up the bucket. "I can take that Rae.. Its no trouble, youre hurt..." She said gasping a little more when the light brought new bruises and cuts into focus."what happened..?" She asked taking the bucket against Rae's protests. "You need rest.. Im serious... Come to my place. You can crash there, i bet your tent is all cold." Astrin said warmly and gestering her to come. Rae followed Astrin and they both lay down on the floor, with Astrin having found blankets and pillows. They awoke later on to the rapping of knuckles on Astrin's door. Astrin groggily stood and walked to the door. She opened it and in stepped Marasada. She wore a cold look on her face at the sight of Rae. "I expected youd be in your tent. But i assumed wrong. Have you forgotten? We have a raid and a hunt today," she said and with that tossed Rae's fisher helmet at her. Rae caught it clumsily and put it down while she clasped her leg on. She was dressed from last night and then threw on her helmet. "I didnt forget. Why would i?" She asked as she walked out swiftly behind Marasada with a last look at Astrin. The girl only smiled warmly. Marasada spun around when she knew astrin was t there anymore. "What were you doing in there, huh?" "What is it to you? We arent together. Did it occur to you that i might have a sleepover here? No." She said satisfied. "Look. I like Astrin. Shes cool. But you stay away from her from now on. You made a commitment to me." Marasada spat out bitterly. Rae bit her lip angrily and crossed her arms. "Good." Marasada said shakily. They walked to the armorey and got Rae some handmedowns and a small metal dagger. (Rae wears white shorts, white tank top, bandages around her arms and leg, a metal leg from the thigh down and has a small dagger for safety at first. She is handed a fisher helmet to cover her for the meantime. Next she will recover metal sheets, clay beads and shoulder pads. Then she will gain meatl strips, better shoulder pads and a nice shirt. Then a jacket and pants, and gold bracelets. Finally she'll gain a purple head bandanna from Astrin.) Rae wiped sweat away from her forehead and bit her lip with anxiety. They were overhead a small lost group of refugees, who looked very sick and hurt. They wouldnt put up much of a fight. Rae hated this. She detested this with all her heart. It made her sick. Marasada made a bird call to her fellow raiders, there were five in total, and they descended upon them. Marasada jumped onto a helpless man and knocked him out. The baby in the small group let out a frightened wail as one of their gang members tied him up. Rae stood there frozen while all of them grabbed some of their meager supplies. Marasada tossed some shoulder pads, a shirt off the rack and a metal strip. She then raised her knife ready to kill when Rae tackled her. "What th fuck are you doing?!" Marasada screamed at her and struck her with all her force, leaving Rae with a bruised cheek that was split. She rolled off her. "Dont kill him! Please! Let him live... Please..!" She sobbed bringing a hand to her cheek and staunching the bleeding. Marasada's eyes and nose flared. She spat at the ground where Rae lay and stood wobbly. Drenays an older woman, furrowed her eyebrows. "Why did you striker her with so much force? We should spare these people, as she says. Shes a rookie. Marasada. A fucking rookie," she said forcifully. Marasada looked with disdain onto Drenays and then took a shuddering breath. "Youre right." She grumbled. Drenays look with satisfaction and then knocked the baby boy out. Rae winced and her cheek hurt even more. Derynises helped Rae to her feet and Marasada pushed past her, too mad to speak. "You all right? Took quite a hit there. You know, its not best to be on her bad side..." And with that her sleeve rolled up and revealed deep scars. Rae gulped and then tried for sarcasm. "So ive heard.." But it came out shaky and hurt. Derynises patted Rae's shoulder and helped her attach the shoulder pads and the nice shirt. "You dont have to feel bad for these refugees... It may seem harsh.. But.. Well. Im not sure i could help your conscience. Dont listen to me. Theres a feast in your guys's honour. All the rookies." She said tying up the shoulder pads tightly. Rae nodded grimly and bit her lip. "Derynises, Rae. We need to leave." A girl named kyndley, called following the already ahead group. "Come." She said warmly, and they walked. When they got back Marasada marched off to tell people what to do and Sile'a trailed along with her. Derynises advised Rae to see the healers and then ran off to her friends. Kyndley nodded at Rae and then left as well. Rae smeared some blood on her lips and neck to make it look less bad and then trudged off into the healer tent where an anxious and worried Angekis tended to her. "Rae! Oh my wood... What did this to you?" She asked dipping a wet cloth in some orange liquid. "A hubriy, we ran into one on our hunt... We caught quite a bit." She said dejectedly staring at the ground. "Rae... That looks an awful lot like a nail mark.." She said but didnt continue. Angekis finished healing her up and then patted her knee. "Tell me anything.." She pleaded. "Sure thing." Rae said with gritted teeth. She needed Astrin. "What the fuck happened?! Rae!!" She said and then examined the wound. "Hubriy..." She mumbled half heartedly. Astrin furrowed her eyebrows and her beautiful eyes swarmed with passion. "I.. I dont want to pressure you, Rae... but feel free to talk to me anytime.. Please?" She said. Rae nodded and they both sat in silence. Finally, Astrin took a deep breath and said something about Rae's new equipment. "Youve got new shoulder pads.. And a shirt.. And oh! A metal sheet. Come and follow me." She said and they both left towards Astrin's cozy home. When they got there she began to slave over the metal as they both talked. They talked about everything. "Thank you so much, Astrin. I couldnt have done any of this without you.." She said looking down at her shoes. "Rae... Im merely a metal worker. It is what i do. Have i told you my welding apprenticeship story?" "No, but i would like to hear--" "What are you doing here?! I thought i told you to get working? For Blists sake, Rae, youre just as bad as my other recruits. Go! Come with me!" She yelled hoisting Rae up by her bad arm.  She let out a cry of pain and the arm seemed to bruise a little more "Agh! Im sorry! Im Sorry! Please! I didnt hear you, when you said that.." Marasada glared at Astrin and Astrin stood up. "Why are you grabbing her with such force? Huh? She will come! Let her go!" She said and Marasada seemed to realise her forceful hands. She let go and spat at the floor. "You come to me. You hear? Astrin, isnt going to defend your bad behaviour anymore." She said and with that she stalked out. Rae collapsed onto the floor in a heap of shuddering sobs and shaking shoulders. She covered her mouth and held her arm. Astrin kneeled gently beside Rae and Rae hugged her furiously. "Its... Its going to be alright... Rae... I will come and help you prepare yourself for the dinner tonight." Rae stopped shaking a little and calmed herself. "What about your.. Y-your helping times." "It will be alright. I think." She said and helped Rae stand and helped her to the healer tent. "Rae! Again? Blists.. Come and sit.." She said and they both helped her into her seat. Angekis considered Astrin for a moment and gave her a hug. Astrin responded with a friendly pat on the shoulders and Angekis began working on Rae. "I.. Im not going to ask... Im just going.. Just going to address your bruises." "Thanks, to both of you." "No need to thank me. It is a duty of mine, and you are a friend." Said Angekis. Rae closed her eyes. That night Marasada beat a whole world into Rae. She slapped her and kicked her hips and shoulders. She showed almost no mercy. Rae managed to block only a few of them and even broke through her defence once.. But Marasada finally kicked out Rae's leg and Rae collapsed. Her nose bleeding profusely she was about to give in. Marasada kicked Rae's stomach and Rae pleaded for her to stop. She was done.  Marasada wiped sweat away and skulked off. Rae's vision was fuzzy and hazed, she saw things double. She lay in a ball for a couple hours just passed out. Her leg was out again and her nose was still bleeding. A dozen bruises and cuts were embedded in her shoulders, arms and leg. Her face was swesty and dirty and gross and she needed a healer and a bath... But.. She was so tired. Finally she awoke to a small humming and she was laying on a bed. She sat up so quickly she knocked heads with Astrin. Rae tensed up on herself and immediately broke into apologies. "Shhh... " she chuckled softly, but it was strained. Rae saw the worry in her eyes and she just lay back down, ashamed. It twisted in her gut, the shame. Astrin only wiped the cuts and bruises gently and bandaged some up. Afterwards Rae lay fully covered and helped out. Astrin was working on her leg and making sure it was properly aligned. Rae attempted tos it up so as not to ashame herself further. "Rae... I know... I know who... I know who it is.. Now." She spoke rough and faintly, like the words were hard to hear. Rae squeezed her eyes shut and then winced, as her cheek was still badly cut open. "P-p-pleSe... As--astrin.. Ple-please dont .. Say it..." She rasped. She had finally managed to sit up but wobbled a lot. Astrin stood up quickly and held Rae gently, tenderly, gingerly. Rae looked up her eyes filled with tears. She kissed Astrin very slowly. Astrin pulled away quickly. "I.. I.. You.. Youre not even... Youre not fully aware of what youre doing. Im sorry.." She said softly. "Astr--astrin.. Please.. I-im sorry.. I shouldnt have..." Astrin only smiled sadly and took a seat next to Rae's cot. "I havent told you my welding story, have i?" Astrin said. "No.. No.. Y-y-yo-you... Di-didnt.." She said grateful, to astrin, that they werent treading on bad memories. "I was very young, when i was born into the clan of innovators and builders. So you can imagine, the effect it had on me, an impressionable child. I decided naively that i wanted to be a welder, or forgist, as my mother had been. Now, my mother was a very hardworking woman, but she was in her own world, you know? She didnt have time for her daughter.. Ill get back to that.." She said and got up to make tea for both of them. "Now, the forgist clan was a tight knit group of refugees who had banded together, sort of like this one... Like the gogruel gang... They took to the dessert sands and set up a plathora of tents.." She said and her eyes got misty and faraway. "Working in the dead sun and baked sands was unlike any other experience ive ever had... My family was the refugees.. So it didnt matter that my mother never paid attention to me.. At least i know that now. As i was little i worked my self to my limits to get through my school apprenticeship, unbeknownst to myself, i was actually trying to get my mothers attention." She sniffed a little. "Anyways.." She shook her head. "I had my friends and my mentor, whom i loved dearly.. Sahianna, Mahour, kafalla, gengifer, and helenkis." "Helenkis, worked with me tirelessly to make sure my dream of becoming a welder came true. I wanted to make my ideas come true, and i viewed this as the only way to do so. It was when i was 10 that my mother took her profession to new lengths and heights. She soon decided to relocate us... She woke me up and told me to pack my things.. But i wouldnt budge. My family was where i had grown up." "She scoffed and left. I never saw her again, to this day.. I dont know where she went.. And it eats me alive.. I need to know.. Did she accomplish herself?" Tears flowed down her face and Rae took her hand from the cot. Astrin scrunched her eyes up and cried into Raes stomach. "I loved my family.. I loved my mother.. It was like two separate worlds.. I couldnt be apart of either... On one hand i had people who really loved me, you know?.." She couldnt continue for a moemnt. "But you loved your mother too. And you couldnt let her go." Astrin gulped and nodded. She wiped her tears away and continued. "Noticeably helenkis and my friends noticed my unusual quietness.. Helenkis and i saw each other for the last time that night. I had to trail my mother. I had to follow my dreams. I had to do something.. Had to find out if she loved me.. Welder.." "I remember so distinctly.. She kissed my forehead.. I touched her shoulder.. Then i turned away. She had a family to be there for. My friends came with me. They came with me.. They came with me.." "I found a shop in a small village and worked on becoming a welder." She said and stopped. "What about your friends?" "Dead and gone.. As far as i know.. We were separated.. In a town raid.." She said with anguish, covering her mouth. "I could.. I coild.. I could never do it.. I couldnt weld after that.. I just.. I just fucking couldnt.. The lady who had originally taken me in, let me go. She pitied me.. I had to find another way.. I wondered for many miles before, coming along this death trap. Ive been here ever since." Rae hugged Astrin for a long time after that. Astrin pulled away a little and looked Rae full in the eyes. They both moved further in and kissed tentatviely. Testing the waters... Rae then began to go a little deeper and moved her hands. Astrin pulled away again and looked down. "Are you sure about this?... You... You.. Need so much more.." She whispered. Rae only went in for more kissing. It turned into a whole lot more than that. The next morning Rae woke up to the sweet smell of sage and perhaps sweetgrass coming in through the window. The sun shone through in beams through the plywood and paper. Astrin was hugged up against Rae and Rae grinned. They were both undressed and they were both a mess, but they were more together now then they had ever been. It brought a fuzzy warm feeling flooding through Rae. But she shuddered... She would have to go again today.. With Marasada.. Who couldnt control her upsurges of anger. She sat up groggily and winced. Her whole body ached and also buzzed. Astrin lay fast asleep. Rae smirked and made to stand. Well at least astrin's floor was clean.  "Rae? Are you..." She said sitting up. She giggled and got up to help her up.  "Morning, beautiful." Rae gushed kissing Astrin. Astrin pushed lightly on Rae and she sat down. "Come on, youve got to get out before Marasada marches in here." Astrin said not smiling anymore. Rae grimaced and slipped on her regular white shirt and slid on her clay beads. She clasped the gold bracelets and Astrin reattached her metal leg. Rae stood wobbily at first and then slid on her new pants. Astrin pulled Rae close. "My rae of sun." She mumbled and kissed her. Understand keys and krates Gaang sitting down and eating as teenagers sort of Assassins creed conner and achilles sitting down for lunch