#lil bit of/hint of:

[lotusfartstwice]

Just my unfinished gem au. Here, Lee is a topaz but he’s off color and not the “ideal” shape. And it was just gonna be about him figuring things out and being like a slice of life-y feel. A lil bit of sakulee sprinkled in. But I lost gas along the waaaay. Anyway, enjoy. 🥴

==

Topaz emerges, ready to take on their duties as a quartz soldier.

They’re stopped immediately by those in charge of the kindergarten.

They’re a topaz but their color isn’t the right shade. They were supposed to be yellow not green. Then there’s their form. It’s all wrong. They aren't tall and broad like the other topaz soldiers. They’re skinny and lithe like a pearl.

Those in charge deliberate and they’re given limb enhancers then sent off to guard an older territory off planet.

Topaz doesn’t complain because they have purpose.

There are no life forms left and the planet is all but used up of its resources but they are dutiful. Time goes by and all is quiet until it isn’t.

A ship crashes nearby and they are taken by surprise. They’ve been guarding this territory for quite some time and have lifted their spear at shadows. Would they have to fight off enemies? They move to investigate and see that it’s a ship from Homeworld.

The ship opens and their eyes marvel at the most radiant gem they’ve ever laid eyes on.

They’re not sure what kind of gem she is but her pink hue and perfect cut on her forehead has them convinced she must be someone important.

They stand back, unsure of what to do or say.

“Hey there,” she greets. “I’m Bixprite.”

They bow. “Topaz Facet-36N4L Cut-9RL.”

Bixprite blinks. “Topaz is enough.” She turns away to look over her ship with a sigh.

“Can I assist you?”

Bixprite looks surprised. “You want to help me?”

Topaz nods, wanting nothing more.

The two work together to repair the ship and it isn’t long until it’s ready to take off again.

“Come with me,” the Bixprite says.

Her eyes are beautiful, they don’t realize that they’re not meant to be green, to them she is perfect.

They hesitate. They had a duty to uphold here. They enjoyed the company of the other gem but leaving with her wasn’t what they were made to do. They are not meant to deviate from their purpose. She can because she is above them. She was made for important things, they’re sure of that.

“I don’t want to be alone,” she says. “I enjoy your company, Topaz.”

They glance around them. The planet is desolate and they have not gotten a check up from their kindergarten in years. They feel a slight pang of sadness. They had been forgotten much like this territory.

“I know it’s hard,” Bixprite says, her eyes soft as she watches them struggle. “I had a difficult time leaving my court.”

They stare in amazement. “You left?”

She nods. “It’s exciting, Topaz! I think you’ll like it and where I want to go there’s other gems like us! Off colors and-and gems deemed defective all prospering!”

Off color.

Defective.

Yes, they had heard those words before being sent to their post. The other topaz didn’t look at them kindly, not like Bixprite. The peridots in charge hardly glanced at them.

“Yes, I will go with you." They say with ease.

Bixprite smiles and Topaz feels their doubts melt away.

--

They arrive on earth and there are other gems waiting to greet them.

They haven’t been in the company of so many gems! All colors, shapes and cuts were together! Topaz was amazed.

Bixprite giggled. “I told you so!”

Topaz grins.

--

Years pass and the two of them take to life on earth like a duck to water (an earth saying that Topaz enjoys!). Ducks were cute and when placed on water they simply belonged. That was the two of them in a nutshell (another saying he enjoyed!).

Yes, he, being around humans, Topaz decided he liked that pronoun.

Bixprite took a human name: Sakura.

He thought it suited her.

Sakura, for years, was trying to get him to adopt a name as well. He was open to it; he just wasn’t sure what name to take. She had given him a book of names and oh, stars there was a lot to look through! Humans were fascinating.

Speaking of humans! He adopted some! Well, maybe it was the other way around. An older woman he had helped many times at the marketplace. She was always so kind to him. He liked walking with her and talking with her. She liked parting wisdom with him.

When he introduced himself as Topaz she laughed. “You were named after a shiny rock? Goodness! Me too."

A jasper. He tries to imagine a tall, imposing quartz soldier in her place. It's humorous.

He tried explaining the nature of his existence but Granny Lee wouldn’t hear of it.

“Ghosts and demons exist but I stop at aliens, Rock.”

Who was he to argue with Granny Lee?

He spent lots of time with her. She referred to him as 'Rock' and while other gems would not appreciate it he found himself liking it.

He was not tall or broad like a typical Topaz. He was slight compared to those guards. No one would confuse him among a sea of Topaz but if he were lost and others were looking for him…

"Rock Lee! There you are!" Granny waved at him before joining his side.

"Rock Lee?"

"Your name, you're part of my family after all."

[t-4-twissy]

The Master regenerating into Missy and wearing skirts and doing makeup and using her "feminine wiles" (her words not mine lol) to do evil with her silly little Mary Poppins aesthetic vs the Doctor regenerating into 13 and just. Continuing to wear pants and eat dirt. I love them both so much

[munsons-mutiny]

One of my favorite trope for Steddie is Steve hunting down Eddie when the kids join Hellfire and giving him a long list of dos and donts.

At first Eddie thinks he’s just being a prick, and worried he’s going to turn the nerds into freaks like him. Especially when he says not to mention drugs in front of Dustin.

But then he starts pulling out lists of monsters that can’t be in campaigns. And like what??? Why can’t he use demagorgons? They were gonna be in the next combat! He’s tempted to ignore the warnings, in fact he’s all set to, but something about Steve’s face when he was laying it all out haunts him. Something so deadly serious about it. So first he decides to test the waters to see if he’s full of shit.

When the session starts, he makes a throwaway comment, “you’re acting like there’s a mindflayer around the corner.”

All the kids freeze but Wheeler especially looks like he’s going to be sick. He even grabs at the bracelet around his wrist. The one he always said his best friend made him before he moved.

Eddie curses himself for even trying to test it out after that, and immediately bullshits the whole session so he can scrap any hint of demogorgans from the campaign.

After that session he drives straight to Harringtons house and demands they go over all the things he can’t include again, in detail, while he takes notes.

He doesn’t know what’s going on with these freshmen, but he knows trauma when he sees it and well he’d gotten attached to the gremlins.

When he leaves that night, he thinks Steve is looking at him with approval. Like he trusts him with their well-being now.

[tiredyaoi]

lookin good!!

bonus

ford says it looks good but he just cant wait to take it off of stan! fake ass compliment smh

[fisheito]

found a baby yaku amidst the Sketchbook-glitch-corruption wreckage..... wondering if he flipped skin tones between black and red and everything in between until he saw his to-be-grandparents (and started mimicking THEIR skin tone....... )

[valhallavalgrace]

Favorite and least favorite activities, if you’re willing to share?

Also, did you learn anything about what’s going on with the new guy down the hall? Sure, you were supposed to stay out of it, but you’ve got to at least be a little curious, right?

LEO: *quiet guilty thoughts because he can't ask about if Loki is like Loki in the movies* *pretending to know anything about Norse mythology*

MAGNUS: *overthinking about Uncle Randolf and the Loki symbols* *forgetting that Norse demigods aren't the only demigods bc they still haven't talked about his Greek cousin*

prev ask

[beanghostprincess]

I really loved your hc about Sanji meeting Yassop and Usopp meeting Zeff and I start to think about like-

What about this with Zosan, Lusan and Lawsan?? This will be SO funny and perfect-

Just hear me: (and yes, this will be with our queen Trans!Fem Sanji)

Mihawk and Zoro going to a dinner with Sanji and Zeff because both want to know their child partner

Shanks going to Baratie 'cause Luffy insisted, and Sanji going too just to say a 'hello!' to her father and properly give the notice she's dating her captain (Luffy forgot to tell this to Shanks and he just discover he was knowing the father of his son's girlfriend when they already are in Baratie)

Law going because Sanji wanted him to know Zeff, and even hating to interact too much, he acepts because he knows how much this mean to her

And like, how you think they will react about the thing of Zeff eating his own FUCKING leg??

Okay, this is really funny- The chaos. Just imagine the chaos. Gonna try to put my thoughts into words (<- Literally a fucking writer. I'm just tired today don't blame me).

Please assume the OP world here is exactly the same but Mihawk and Shanks actually raised Zoro and Luffy. Somehow. Don't ask me how. They see them as their fathers. Zeff and Sanji's story is still the same because they're canonically family lmao. And also Transfem!Sanji as you said btw bc I love my princess.

─┉┈◈Zosan◈┈┉

The thing about Mihawk and Zoro going to a dinner with them is that Zoro and Sanji would try to behave but they would end up arguing in front of them anyway because that's just how they are and Mihawk and Zeff would end up talking alone about them tbh. Zeff offers Mihawk one of his best wines and Mihawk is- Well, you already know how Mihawk is. Their conversation is pretty polite but they keep drinking while the other two are in the background fighting for some meaningless bullshit like: "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET HERE FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO, STUPID MOSSHEAD" / "OKAY SO IT'S MY FAULT THAT THE SEA IS VERY ROUGH TODAY AND THE SHIP ALMOST SINKS" / "LIAR!! I'M SURE YOU JUST GOT LOST".

And it's uhhh chaotic. But there's passion and Sanji is mad because she cares about him meeting Zeff and Zoro is frustrated but actually trying to calm down. Zeff and Mihawk are very fond of tough love and passionate couples so these two fighting just means they have strong feelings for each other. However, they end up making up and sitting down with their fathers while they tell anecdotes and try to get to know each other better. Mihawk and Zeff are intimidating af and I'm like 100% sure that Zoro would be scared of Zeff at some point bc he would look at him with that look of "If you hurt my daughter I'm killing you" and Zoro is, for once in his life, scared of a cook. Then that silly topic of "Oh, yes, I ate my own leg to save this little shit of a daughter from starving to death" comes up.

Zoro almost chokes on his food and Mihawk stares at Zeff for a while, looks down at his leg, squints his eyes at him and says: It certainly is a really admirable doing. And just out of mere curiosity, was it good-

Zeff: A little bit of seasoning and less pain would've helped

Sanji: DAD, WHAT THE FUCK

Zoro: Curly, you didn't tell me your dad was cool

Sanji: OH, YES, EXCUSE ME MOSSHEAD FOR NOT TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT MY DAD EATING HIS OWN FUCKING LEG

Mihawk: I say admirable doing because you just met her, right? I would not have done something like this for this bastard right here

Zoro: Thanks, dad

Mihawk: You're welcome I let you and Princess stay with me, don't push it

Sanji: Who's Princess?

Zoro: My sister

Sanji: YOU HAVE A SISTER?

Mihawk: Zoro, you didn't tell your girlfriend about Perona?

Zoro: I forgot

Sanji: I'm going to murder you

And basically, long story short, the night ends pretty well to Sanji's surprise. Mihawk is very nice and polite to her even if he looks pretty dark and edgy, and Sanji can't believe that man raised an idiot like her boyfriend. Then we have Zeff, who shakes Zoro's hand so hard it hurts and whispers in his ear all the atrocities he would do to him if he hurt his precious princess. Things that won't happen, of course. That's why that 'would' is there. But still, he tells him anyway. Just in case.

─┉┈◈Lusan◈┈┉

When Luffy tells Shanks to go to the Baratie together, he doesn't hesitate to say yes because who would refuse to go there? What kind of pirate would he be? Sanji is already there because she decided to go a bit earlier, so Shanks instantly assumes he's just going to have lunch with his son in a very nice place and see Zeff again after a long time. When they get to the Baratie and see that Sanji is there too, Shanks assumes Sanji just stopped by too. A coincidence. He already knows that's Zeff's daughter, btw.

But then Luffy does that thing he always does, running towards someone he loves and hugging them tightly with his legs wrapped around them. And Shanks is just like "Oh, well, that's his usual behavior and he's just greeting his cook" but then they kiss and it's uh, confusing. So Shanks asks what's going on and Sanji is all like "Please, don't tell me you didn't mention this to Shanks" and Luffy just shrugs, turns around, and says "Dad, I'm dating Sanji!" then looks at his cook again smiling and Sanji sighs: "And you obviously didn't tell him this was supposed to be a thing so our dads could talk-"

Shanks: Fuck, am I meeting your dad now? Like, actually meeting him as your boyfriend's dad? That's not- Hey, Anchor, you did not mention this.

Luffy: I'm sorry! But Zeff is reaaaaally amazing!

Shanks: I am well aware that he's amazing but you need to warn me first about this stuff.

Luffy: What? It's just dad stuff-

Shanks: I AM NOT GOOD AT DAD STUFF

Then Zeff appears and Shanks tries to act like a normal father for once (he can't. He fails. It doesn't work) and they actually end up having a pretty calm and fun dinner once he relaxes, remembering that Zeff has always been cool. Luffy is extremely clingy with Sanji, a thing that Shanks already knew but never guessed it was because of them dating. And now that he sees it from a different perspective, it is clear that they're in love, even if Sanji won't stop trying to push the kid away because he's obsessed with sitting close to her and eating food from her hands and things like that. Little shit has a more stable love life than him. That's depressing.

Their laughter and joyful voices fill the whole empty restaurant and Shanks and Zeff are already a bit drunk while Sanji is dragged by Luffy to sit on his lap. And it would be embarrassing but it's not like their dads are looking at them, too caught up in their own anecdotes and stories.

Then Shanks asks how Zeff met Sanji because he knows that's not his biological daughter. He remembers Zeff telling him about his little princess years ago when Sanji was still at the Baratie and Shanks stopped by to eat with his crew. And of course, Zeff explains what happened. Their shared dream and everything. Luffy isn't really listening because he already knows the story and is too focused on his girlfriend right now. Zeff tells them about the leg thing, and Shanks starts laughing so, so fucking loud and hysterically:

Shanks: I DID THAT TOO

Zeff: You did what, too?

Shanks: Don't you notice something missing? Perhaps on the left side of my torso? There hanging? Well- Nothing hanging, actually

Zeff: You did not-

Shanks: I did not, but I lost this useless thingy saving this bastard right here

Sanji: You said you're not good at dad stuff but that's a pretty dad thing to do, huh?

Shanks: I guess so, yeah. We have more things than I thought in common, Red Leg!

Luffy: Except for cooking. Your cooking is awful.

Shanks: My cooking is amazing, Anchor, thank you very much.

Luffy: THAT'S NOT TRUE! YOU ONLY HEATED UP WHAT MAKINO MADE FOR ME

Shanks: But I did a good job!

Anyway, they surprisingly have a very nice and warm meal together without Shanks or Luffy being as chaotic as Sanji thought they'd be. When they're heading out, Zeff just pats Luffy on the shoulder and tells him to take care of his princess and appreciate her food or else he'll make him clean the dishes again but this time for years, quite literally speaking. Shanks sees the couple holding hands when they get out of the restaurant, the redhead staying behind for a second to speak to Zeff. But Shanks is already at that point of drunkness where he starts having a breakdown and he's like "Why does my kid have a girlfriend and my husband left me?????? This is so unfair. They love each other so much, Red Leg, look at them!!!!!!!" and Zeff is like "They're young and stupid too, but they'll grow up. You still haven't. Please get out of my restaurant before you make my onions cry."

─┉┈◈Lawsan◈┈┉

Law doesn't want to meet Zeff, that much is clear. He is not good at meeting new people and even less meeting father figures because God knows he doesn't have a good memory of how his relationship with his dad ended (Rip Cora-san, we miss you). But he goes anyway because Sanji keeps insisting and saying that it's important to her, and of course, Law can't say no to her. Well, actually Sanji just tells him that if he comes with her to the Baratie, she'll wear the Soba-Mask suit (Stealth Black or whatever, Sanji refuses to say those words so-) again for him some time and Law accepts almost instantly. Fucking simp.

So they go to the Baratie and Law is dressed in a white shirt and actual, proper, and almost elegant clothes because Bepo said he needed to do it in order to give a good impression, and Law, deep down, just wants Sanji to be happy. And if getting along with her dad will do it, having to deal with this torture for a few hours is worth it.

Sanji keeps telling him not to worry about Zeff because, even if it's a big step in their relationship, her dad is just a bit scary but a good guy, after all. He will like Law once he knows how much he cares about her too! But Law isn't worried about that, he just fucking sucks at social interactions. Free the introvert from having to socialize, please, he just wants to stay with his girlfriend alone and cuddle and infodump about silly little things and comics. This is highly bad for his mental health (getting out and talking to people).

But, well, turns out Zeff is actually a great guy. Even though at first he looks at his daughter intensely and says: "Why the ex shichibukai of all people? This guy looks depressed too. Have you eaten, kid? You look like a starving man. He looks like a starving man, sweetheart. You're not dating an emo bastard who does not eat" and ends up having an argument with Sanji... He's fun to be around, once he settles for feeding Law everything he can cook. And Law isn't complaining but decides not to mention how much he hates bread because he feels that sentence will end up with him dead on the floor.

However, Sanji is the one mentioning that after a while of seeing Law forcing himself to eat bread, rolling her eyes and taking it from his hands to eat it herself. And Zeff is just like "You should've said so earlier, son! Just eat whatever you like. I feed people for them to enjoy the food, goddamnit!" and Law can only nod and keep eating.

And they actually end up getting along when they start talking more and more. Law starts actually laughing and smiling a little bit and Zeff pats him in the back from time to time whenever he mentions stuff he has done with his powers. Zeff just finds that hilarious. And Sanji is happy they're getting along, but extremely embarrassed when Zeff starts talking about her childhood (Law is enjoying every second of this). Then the topic of how Zeff met Sanji is brought up, and Sanji doesn't really want Law to hear it because she didn't tell him about the leg thing. And when he finds out, he's just...

Law: You didn't tell me your dad did that for you

Sanji: It's not something I like to explain, y'know? I kind of feel guilty to this day

Zeff: You're such a cry baby, Eggplant. I already told her countless times I chose to do that and it ended up saving us both! What's the problem?

Sanji: Shut up, old man, you don't get it!

Law: I do get it. The- Uh- Feeling guilty about your dad sacrificing himself. Without Cora-san... I wouldn't be here.

Zeff: Well, kid, I don't know what your father did, but be grateful instead of feeling guilty. I'm sure he's a nice man if he raised somebody who loves my girl this much.

Law: He was a good man, yes. The best. And- I- I do love her. A lot.

Sanji has a moment where she almost cries, but she doesn't!! (She does. She goes to the bathroom and cries).

When they have to go back to the ship, Zeff stops Law and says:

Zeff: You might need to eat more, that much is clear, kid. But you take care of her and that's good enough for me.

Law: Thank yo-

Zeff: But you also strike me as someone who would die for her and even though I do appreciate the effort because I would do the same, don't die on her, got it? And eat more. Eat what she makes, actually. And you also should check if you're celiac.

Law: I'm a doctor. I know I'm not-

Zeff: Then stop bitching around and eat bread like a man, for fuck's sake.

And, you know, Zeff might be a bit intimidating but he is, after all, a good man just like Cora was.

[dragons-and-princes]

Let Buck and Eddie have their toxic gay era just like everybody else.

[ravenclawshermione]

New Chapter Up - Love is a Promise

The relief that washed over me when Dick and Calla got home was a physical thing, stronger than I’d anticipated. I was still occupied with helping the Birds, but I paused just long enough for them to both give me a quick kiss before letting me get back to work. It didn’t escape my notice that Calla had very clearly been crying, but she also looked slightly less anxious than she had before, so I was optimistic. 

When they returned to my peripheral view a few minutes later, they’d changed out of their suits and into pjs. Dick was in sleep pants and a tight sleeveless shirt, and Calla was wearing an old Black Canary shirt that was just long enough that I wasn’t sure if she was wearing anything else. They should really be trying to sleep, but I didn't exactly have any room to speak. 

I forced myself to focus on the mission, and not my partners who were busy cooking something and trying to be quiet. Still, it was impossible not to notice how much more in sync they were than how they’d been the past two weeks. I was glad. I had hated watching her push him away. 

The tantalizing scent of java chip cookies filled the room, and I shot Calla a warm smile as she set a small plate of them down next to me. 

“I'm almost done,” I mouthed, taking one. 

They were heavenly, the perfect little energy boost to get me through the last bits of the heist. When the girls were safely on their way home, I let out a big sigh and got to work closing everything out. Finally, it was time to see what Dick and Calla had learned. 

They were waiting on the couch for me, a big plate with the rest of the cookies sitting on the coffee table. Dick had Calla half in his lap, and I moved to sit on the other side of her. 

“So, how did it go? What did he say?”

“Not great,” Calla said, at the same time that Dick replied with, “It went well.”

Calla gave a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes, and Dick kissed the top of her head. 

“Alec isn’t on Ivy’s side, and he thinks that Calla can stop her,” he explained. 

“Yes, well, he’s also not going to help. And it’s a very big maybe on if I actually can stop her,” Calla added. 

“A maybe is better than you thought you had before,” I said, cuddling closer to her, “And even if he’s not helping, it's good to know he’s not going to be an issue.”

She gave another heavy sigh, but took my hand, “You two are incorrigible, you know that? Ridiculously optimistic.”

“Yeah, but you love it,” Dick teased. 

“I love you,” she said, giving him a quick kiss before leaning over to give me one as well, “I accept the optimism as a fair trade.”

“So, since you’re accepting our optimism, what’s the plan?”

[killertoons]

Working on some more imp wally but the real question....

Is should it be the cute?

Or the s p o o k y?

[synthshenanigans]

I can't be normal about something can I?

Yet another art of @socialc1imb's au that took too damn long to draw (think ibis said it was like 2 days worth of time save me (i still dont know how to do backgrounds and back lighting hel p))

[tw blood and spoilers for Skys au ig?]

(This art is quite long so I know tumblr is gonna crunch the HELL outta this thing. So if it looks like hella pixelly, tappin on it should make it look better lol)

Some cropped versions below of parts I really liked! (mainly ya boi Apollo lol)

[torchstelechos]

I mean this with out most respect to the game and the creator, but I think In Stars and Time should be played by the Game Grumps

[marimeeko]

As a multishipper I'm thinking about something. As a BKDK fan, I am, I guess preparing for a possibility?

I had a thought with this last chapter, and how this battle is literally about to end. That we are indeed at the very end of the line.

And I am thinking of the "Do your best, Izuku" theme and how everyone started chiming in on it, how it has become basically the closing motif to the battle. And how Tenya brought up the OG, ochako, who said the "Deku" seemed to her like "Do your best", and of course, ochako is seen saying the same.

So my thought is, if Hori is going for a Izu Ocha ending, this might be how it comes about.

(I am not saying it's one hundred percent satisfying, bc once again, Izuku has shown virtually no interest in her beyond friendship, and the relationship, to me, is still thematically and developmentally, one sided.)

So I don't know if hori is going to go with the idea that "do your best" bringing the relationship of Izu Ocha to the forefront after kicking it to the side for so long...but I guess I can see the thematic possibility he MAY be going for if that is the case.

Once again, I am hoping it's not a blatant thing, if anything I'd like no pairing to be outright "canon". Realistically I think that may be the case. Simply bc izu ocha just doesn't have enough reciprocity behind it and, bakudeku...well, obviously is highly unlikely due to the nature of Shonen/cultural precedence by very reason of it being Queer.

I am just thinking about the whole thing and it may be where Izu Ocha enters the Chat again.

As always I am letting Hori cook, and tempering expectations. I don't dislike Izu Ocha so I won't be terribly bummed out, I just wish there was a little more developed into it(namely, on izukus side)

As I always disclaim, it's Horis story to tell, and I am here to read it, and I'm not stopping now.

[orphiicheartd]

Thinking abt how some octopus species eat their mates after mating,,,,thinking abt the tweels constantly joking abt eating Azul-

[blackjackkent]

Balthazar's instructions were perfectly clear - if they are to get hold of the Nightsong (whether for his purposes or their own), the Sharran forces in the way must be dealt with. They must reach the center of the temple where the relic is hidden.

"To reach the center, we must pass the trials," Shadowheart says. Her voice sounds a little faint with wonder. "The trials of the Justiciar. It... I never thought..." A pause. She swallows. "I'm ready. Let me take the lead, and I will not fail - not my goddess nor you."

Rakha nods slowly. She certainly has little faith in her own ability to pass Sharran trials on her own; if anyone is to take the lead here it should certainly be Shadowheart. Her own interest is entirely in what lies beyond the trials, though - the relic, the Nightsong. The relic will facilitate her vengeance on Ketheric Thorm; everything else is an afterthought.

-----

The entrance to the first trial is surrounded by the dead bodies of several of Balthazar's ghouls. The scent of their blood still lingers in the air. On one of the bodies is a note scrawled in ragged blocky letters:

"Pay CLOSE ATTENTION. Seek the means to access THE RELIC. Search in THE LIBRARY. Do not deviate. Do not fail. RETURN PROMPTLY."

"Do you think maybe he wasn't specific enough?" Wyll says dryly in an undertone, eliciting a soft snort from Rakha.

The trial itself lies behind the nearby door; the room is labeled "Soft-Step Trial", and a plaque on the floor by the entrance reads: "Her Most Vaunted Treasure."

Rakha stands out of the way and watches as Shadowheart approaches the ceremonial bowl at the center of the room. With a few quick movements, the half-elf pulls a dagger from her belt and slices it across her palm, sending several drops of bright red blood into the dish.

Rakha hisses out a low breath as the fresh-blood scent hits her. For a moment she has to squeeze her eyes shut and focus on wrestling the beast in her head back down.

"Lady Shar values those that can remain unseen and can still obtain what they want," Shadowheart explains quietly as she stows the knife. "Stealth is a virtue derived from her very essence."

And Rakha opens her eyes in time to see Shadowheart seem to melt into the shadows, disappearing through the doors of the trial which were opened by her blood offering.

-----

Wyll whistles idly under his breath. "Impressive," he murmurs. "Haven't seen her do that one before."

"We are rarely in a position to make use of stealth," Lae'zel says, deadpan dry, shooting a look at Rakha. A pause, and then she rolls her eyes, fidgeting with the sword at her back. "This 'gauntlet' is a waste of time," she adds irritably. "Is there no way by which we might simply break down the door that hides the center of this place?"

"If this place is as fundamental to the Sharrans as Shadowheart says," answers Wyll, "I doubt they've left any chinks open for idle wandering." A pause. "Besides... this is something Shadowheart wants, I suppose."

"Yes," Rakha says matter-of-factly.

"Chk," Lae'zel mutters. "What has Shar given her but the wound on her hand?"

Wyll raises an eyebrow at her. "Is that concern for her that I hear, Lae'zel?"

A long, long pause. Lae'zel shrugs, not quite meeting his eyes. "I have watched my goddess turn upon me and prove no goddess at all. I do not recommend the experience."

[omarfor-orchestra]

I wish I had therapy this week I have things to discuss