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goodqueenaly · 3 years

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I’m really curious to see how much whatever “The She-Wolves of Winterfell” (which I’m just gonna call “The She-Wolves of Winterfell” for the purposes of simplicity but I know that won’t be its final title) parallels what might be coming up for our Starklings in TWOW.

There is not much known about the plot of “The She-Wolves of Winterfell” at this point. However, there are a few key details that can be extrapolated from GRRM’s statements. This will be a story about “a group of formidable Stark wives, widows, mothers, and grandmothers that [GRRM] dubbed ‘the She-Wolves’”. These Stark women will consist of, perhaps, “five Lady Starks running Winterfell ... with four of them widows of a bunch of fairly recent former Lord Starks, and the current Lady Stark, whose 30-something husband is fading fast from a wound taken from fighting the Ironborn”. These so-called ‘She-Wolves’ won’t be a united front, though, as the story will specifically show “a lot of Stark widows struggling for power, with the current lord dieing [sic] from a wound taken against some Ironborn”, along with “10 children, from various Starks members”.

So what I’m imagining at this point is that “The She-Wolves of Winterfell” will begin with Dunk and Egg showing up at Winterfell to take service with the Starks against the ironborn. This is, after all, was Dunk and Egg’s plan at the end of “The Sworn Sword” and into “The Mystery Knight”, and while it was put on pause while they attended the Whitewalls tourney, during the course of the story Dunk still reaffirmed their intent to head north; as he explained to Kyle and the disguised Bloodraven, “Lord Beron Stark is gathering swords to drive the krakens from his shores for good”. However, given the indication from GRRM’s statements that Beron Stark will have already been wounded, possibly fatally, by the ironborn, I think Dunk and Egg are going to show up to Winterfell to find that, instead of Lord Beron marshaling an army to fight the ironborn, Beron is dying, and various Stark factions are using the lack of a strong male leader (and indeed, that leader’s possibly upcoming death) to open up questions about the succession; fighting the ironborn has been put on indefinite pause while the ladies debate who should be controlling Winterfell, and if there is any talk of the war against Dagon, it might be only in the context of what any faction’s representative should do against Dagon’s army - should he/she sit the high seat of Winterfell, of course (e.g. “if I/my son were in charge we would do x”).

I could see Dunk and Egg being totally caught off guard at this development. They came to swear their swords (or, at least, Dunk’s sword) to Winterfell - but who would they even be swearing to, when nobody can agree who exactly represents Winterfell? Even if I’m not sure who specifically the She-Wolves will be, I can imagine the different factions trying to convince Dunk and Egg to support them, especially if Egg’s royal status is no longer a secret (as “The Mystery Knight” ended with Egg wearing his father’s ring openly instead of stuffing it in his boot); this was Prince Maekar’s son, along with a man who by Egg’s cover story was Maekar’s agent in foiling the conspiracy at Whitewalls (even if Dunk himself had to explain to Bloodraven that that was far from the “true truth”), so their arrival at Winterfell could only mean official royal support for whichever faction they endorsed. Lorra Royce might be arguing for her and Beron’s eldest son Donnor; Myriame Manderly and/or Robyn Ryswell might be fighting for regency rights as a recent widow but face bias and blame - “if you had only had a son we would never be in this position” sort of thing - with Myriame perhaps even getting pushback about her heritage - “it was a mistake for Rodwell to marry you, the Manderlys are no true northmen” (also I’m calling it right now, Robyn Ryswell is going to be like her modern-day relation Barbrey Dustin née Ryswell - a smart, ambitious, older childless widow); Alys Karstark might be hoping that her son Beron makes a recovery and so put the Stark dynasty back on course; Wylla Fenn might suggest that her bastard son Lonnel, as the son of a Stark lord with noble northern lineage on both sides, should have the right to rule; Serena Stark might argue that as the legitimate (and presumably at that point only surviving, given Elio Garcia’s comment that Robyn Ryswell was Jonnel’s second wife) child of Cregan’s heir Rickon, she and her daughters should be considered the rightful heirs to Winterfell; Cregan’s daughters (especially the youngest, Lyanna) and/or Beron’s sister Arsa might take Serena’s argument but apply it to themselves, arguing for their own right to sit Winterfell.

So I’m imagining Dunk and Egg think they have to come up with a way to reconcile all of these factions. I can’t begin to speculate on the whole plot, but I would not be surprised at all if part of their argument is that the Starks have, pun fully intended, bigger squids to fry than debating the rulership of Winterfell. While the Starks of Winterfell argue among themselves about who should be its lord, the Greyjoys under Dagon are turning the northern coasts into their playground for pillage. While the crown under Aerys I had admittedly left the Starks high and dry (again, pun intended) against Dagon by refusing to give aid, now the Starks are hurting themselves instead; this intra-Stark conflict is proving a major distraction, undermining the ability and indeed responsibility of the Starks to respond to the Greyjoy crisis. Perhaps Egg will tell the quarreling Starks that if they can settle on a single candidate, he will have his father lead royal troops to help the Starks defeat Dagon once and for all (as we know from Victarion that while Dagon “bearded the lion in his den and tied the direwolf's tail in knots ... even [he] could not defeat the dragons” - but if they refuse and continue their private war among themselves, he would have his father assert the crown’s control over Winterfell and the North directly. (Indeed, if this story takes place after “The Village Hero”, then I’m curious whether Dunk and Egg would use the recent Pennytree affair, as I think it will go down in that story, to reiterate the point - the crown can take away your lands if you won’t do your part to maintain the king’s peace, we’ve done it before and we will do it again.) Again, I’m not sure what the exact story would be - it’s not like there is a suggestion Donnor Stark did not succeed his dad, after all - but I like the idea that this will let both Dunk and Egg stretch their political muscles, solving a crisis through diplomacy rather than force.

Where I think this could be really interesting (besides on its own, obviously) is how that might loosely parallel what we could see with the Stark kids coming back to Winterfell in TWOW. I firmly believe that all the surviving Starks are going to return to Winterfell in TWOW, but perhaps more importantly (and certainly so for this discussion), there are at least a few factions now, and maybe even more in the future, which are aiming to seat certain Starks in Winterfell’s high seat - all without knowing about the other factions or their plans. As was the case in the time of Beron’s possibly fatal wound, there is a surplus of potential Stark heirs at the moment; likewise, as might have been the case in Beron’s time, there is no perfect, uniformly agreed upon candidate for Stark rule. Jon Snow, like Lonnel Snow before him (hey, their names even rhyme!), was the (at least so it’s supposed, for Jon) bastard son of a Stark lord, with some argument to rule Winterfell - from at least his nobly born mother in Lonnel’s case, from the legitimization witnessed by Maege Mormont and Galbart Glover in Jon’s. (I don’t think it’s at all coincidental that Lonnel’s mother is a Fenn - that is, a crannogwoman - given that it’s a crannogman, Howland Reed, who is probably currently sheltering Maege and Galbart and who knows the truth of Jon’s parentage.) Sansa and Arya are legitimate, but female in a world and specifically in a dynasty which has not only never had a ruling woman but has specifically skipped over female heiresses, as in the case of Serena and Sansa, daughters of Rickon. (Again, is it coincidental that these were two sisters, one of whom was even named “Sansa”?) Bran and Rickon may have no specific parallels in “The She-Wolves of Winterfell” (other than, as legitimate sons of the former Stark lord, they would be in the same position as Donnor and his brothers), but they might likewise be debated as potential heirs - Bran for being disabled in a highly ableist society, Rickon for being very young and subject to a long, potentially troublesome regency (and perhaps any bias against Myriame Manderly might echo bias against Rickon’s chief supporter, Wyman Manderly).

I don’t think the Starklings themselves will fight each other for Winterfell, to be clear; I think they’ll just be happy to see and be with each other again after long and harrowing experiences for them all. However, I could see where we might have this same sort of factional quarreling, with the Stark kids themselves perhaps stepping into Dunk’s and Egg’s roles. After all, it’s very possible that as this debate is going on, news is going to come of Euron in the south and/or the Others beyond the Wall (the latter of which both Jon and Bran have good reason to know and warn about); this parallel may be especially potent with Euron (who may in turn empower the Others by bringing down the Wall), given that Euron is the most serious ironborn threat since his own great-grandfather Dagon, and is trying to outdo Dagon in his apocalyptic ambition for world domination. So the Stark kids might tell the quarreling factions around them that their energies need to be put not into deciding which one of them gets Winterfell but in preparing to fight the greatest enemy of humanity and, in fact, all living things.

#asoiaf meta #tales of dunk and egg #the she wolves of winterfell #speculation #house stark #twow

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galaxy98 · 4 years

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Trial of the Mariner Part 2

Here’s the other half of my outline of the redemption AU.

Also, here’s a link to part 1 of my post: https://simkim704.tumblr.com/post/625293476349788160/trial-of-the-mariner

While SkekGra, UrGoh, and Rek’yr do their part in helping the Mariner, it’s the elder Shaman that does most of the work. He’s described to have blue colored robes, long hair, an old raspy voice, and a pair of eyes that are pure white (blind). Some Dousan would say that his blindless is a strength, since he’s able to see things that not even the clan could see. But what makes him even more mysterious is his background, which is nothing at all. The Dousan only knew him for his profession, not from the years he’s spent living in the Wellspring. In fact, it seemed like he was expecting SkekSa to come here at some point, as if his true purpose was to help her in her journey.

This AU plays on the spiritualism of the franchise. We saw how certain characters use dreamfasting as way of communicating and well just about anything that the Gelfling could put their minds to. Aughra has a third eye that makes her see multiple timelines. The Dousan see death as a way of life and never a thing to fear about. A vision is what prompted SkekGra to unite with his other half. With that said, the Shaman’s way of helping SkekSa is giving her permission to spend 3 days in the Wellspring and then every night, he’ll give her 3 visions. This is achieved by eating an Urdrupe berry and holding their hands together. SkekGra, UrGoh, and Rek’yr take part in the process, but they can’t interfere with what goes on the vision. Only SkekSa could interact from what’s within. For the rest of those 3 days, SkekSa spends most of her time rehabilitating herself from the injuries she sustained and even catching up with the Heretic. What’s interesting is that when she arrived at the Wellspring, the Dousan only stared at her at she walked by. When she asked Rek’yr about this, he replied, “Your scars tell a story.” It’s as if they can see the mental and physical pain she endured.

The 3 visions are mainly represented by 3 dead Maudras: Mayrin, Fara, and Laesid. The last one is very crucial to the process. Why Maurdras? It’s because they symbolize her obligation. Even if she’s not familiar with the ins and outs of being a Maudra, SkekSa is well aware of their status.

While the Maudras represent their respective visions, there are extras. In vision #1, Tavra and Mira are involved because they are Vapran. Vision #2 includes Shoni and Ordon because they’re Rian’s parents and this vision is about him, specifically. The last vision includes the Sifan that died under SkekSa’s watch and the Sifan castle guards that were drained of their essence.

At the end of each vision, one of the 3 Maudras would ask SkekSa a question: What do you desire, what do you hate, and what do you prevent. We’ll get to this later.

The first vision begins with SkekSa entering into the royal throne room. How she got there was by exiting the hut of the Shaman. Mayrin appears before her, sitting down at a table and asked her if she care for a cup of Ta. The Mariner was in shock. It had a been a long time since they’ve seen each other. Not wanting to keep her waiting, SkekSa decided to take it upon the Vapran’s offer. Mayrin talked about her experience as the All-Maudra and how much of an impact it left on others. SkekSa couldn’t understand why she was telling her all this. According to the royal Vapran, they seem to have a lot in common. They were supposed to be leaders, they had to live up to their role as leaders, and they saw how rewarding it was to receive love and validation from being said leaders. But the biggest similarity is that they secretly struggle with imposter syndrome. Though for the Mariner, she started to experience it after the Sog incident. Even when Mayrin was talking about these similarities, the vision started showing flashbacks to when they first started out, their instances of benevolence, and their moments of weakness. It even show how Mayrin died in the first place. SkekSa couldn’t believe it. She didn’t think that SkekVar would do something like this given his past experience as ambassador, but to see that the Ritual Master was complacent in all this, just gives her more of a reason why she never wanted be involve in any Skeksis business. To her, backstabbing is the entire core of her kin, even if she wished that she was the exception. It also doesn’t help that the two sisters never told SkekSa about the extent to how she died. Not wanting to overburden her, Mayrin explained to her that her death had motivated her friends, daughters, and the entire clan to fight back. She’s also not the only Vapran that died. Tavra and Mira appeared, and they both provided their case. Tavra’s death may have been the reason why Seladon and Brea are closer than ever before. Mira’s death led to the Gelfling recognizing her as victim #0 and it also kicked off the chain of events that would wind up leading to the creation of the resistance. Thinking about the rebellion only made SkekSa angry. After everything she did for them, it only ended with betrayal, after betrayal, after betrayal. And yet, seeing all those flashbacks only made her realize just how much she misses being the Mariner. All it did was make her even more upset. While she didn’t outright say it, Mira wishes that she could tell her about Rian. However, it only seemed appropriate to leave that for the next vision. After that, Tavra and Mira left.

Before SkekSa could leave her vision, Mayrin asks her about what she desired the most. The vision’s environment started to change to what SkekSa sees fit. They are now in a forest with a pathway that leads to a hut in a open field. SkekSa couldn’t make out what she saw, but as they get closer, they saw a little Gelfling child, a Sifan from the looks of it, playing outside with a wooden sword and even had the Mariner’s hat on their head. What’s going on is that the childling was re-enacting the adventures that SkekSa had. Then, the door opened and a voice could be heard, telling the childling that it’s time for dinner. She didn’t catch it at first, but it almost sounded just like her. As they looked through the window, not only was the childling sitting at the table, but there was an older version of SkekSa and UrSan sitting there as well. This version of SkekSa had a silver streak of hair, a pair of glasses, and rather shabby clothes compared to what she wore before. UrSan, on the other hand, didn’t have any distinctive features except for her dimmed pupils. Possibly a complication from SkekSa losing a part of her eyesight. The Mariner couldn’t help but watch outside the window as they happily eat their meal together. Slowly, everything outside the hut disappears around them. SkekSa puts her forehead and hand against the glass and closed her eyes as the tears run down her face. Mayrin commented by saying how she never knew that the Mariner wanted a family. SkekSa didn’t know what to think of this revelation. The Skeksis never understood the concept of family. They only understood brotherhood. In a way, UrSan and the Sifan were her family. The vision ends.

Vision #2 begins with SkekSa appearing in Stone-in-the-Wood, the center of the Stonewood clan. While the Mariner knew of many Sifan that came from this clan, she didn’t understand why this has anything to do with her. Maudra Fara appeared by exiting out of her throne room. She asks SkekSa about her request. She gave Fara the run down about what’s going on and that she needed to figure out how to stop the Skeksis. Fara denied her request saying that the Skeksis are benovolent rulers and that the Mariner was not well. She didn’t understand why she wasn’t listening to her, but she tried again. She still got the same response, except this time, the Stonewood Maudra suggests that SkekSa should be taken back to the castle to see what’s wrong with her. SkekSa started to lose her patience and told Fara that there’s no time for this nonsense. Fara orders the guards to reprimand her. The Mariner didn’t have a weapon with her and combined with the trauma she experience from being outnumbered by the Gelfling, she cowered in fear and closed her eyes. However, she opened her eyes back up to see that the guards had disappeared into thin air. Fara says, “Now you know how Rian felt.” Finally, it clicked her. The point that Fara was trying to make is that things aren’t always what they seem and that placing her anger onto them only makes things worse. She wishes she could do that, but that would mean having to forgive herself from the pain THEY caused. And that was something that she never wanted to forget. The pain reminded her of who she is. A lonely parasite with no value of being in a place like Thra. The only way that Fara was going to convince her is to guide her through the throne door that teleports to the inside of the Skeksis castle. There they were right where Rian was, looking down at the laboratory. This was right around the time when Mira, the Vapran from SkekSa’s previous vision, was about to be drained. This is the first time the she got to see the draining up close. She wanted to look away but she had to follow what Fara said. She had to feel what Rian felt. That means having to endure every painful moment. Every. Last. Moment. After the draining, they go through each door, one of them leading to another memory of past events. SkekSa got to see things from Rian’s perspective, especially his interrogation at Stone-In-The-Wood. She then saw another fellow Skeksis that she hadn’t seen in a long time. It was the Hunter. SkekSa never thought about him that much, but seeing him go completely feral, scared her. Could she end up just like him? Either way, she witnessed the death of another parental figure, Ordon, at the hands of the Skeksis. Once it hit the point to where Rian had nothing, she would get to see just how much he gained after all that and how it was that kind of worth that made him the leader of the entire rebellion. One certain event that caught her eye was their first battle against the Skeksis. She saw how the Gelfling trained themselves to become capable fighters. SkekSa knows that they aren’t weak, but it dumbfounded her that they were able to have this much preparation time. If the Sifan can do all of that, then maybe she wasn’t needed after all. But then again, she came to them for help, not the other way around. As the battle plays out, the Hunter appears again, this time, attempting to deliver the final blow to Rian. Up to this point, SkekSa began to have second thoughts about the Gelfling. It’s possible that she may have had him all wrong. She wanted to stop SkekMal, but this was just a vision. Then, it happened. The Hunter disintegrated. Given how her and UrSan seem to share the same scars on their bodies, SkekSa came to the conclusion that was the Hunter’s half that killed him. Once the battle was over, SkekSa and Fara followed Rian who was trying to find Deet. When they got there, they saw how much pain he was in by having to see the corrupted Grottan walking away from him, possibly for safety reasons. Even after all that, Rian had to deal with loss, after loss, after loss. Just like her. Out of nowhere, Ordon and Shoni appeared. Calmly, they plea to her to not take her anger out on their son for it’s not his fault. SkekSa replies with, “I know.” The vision’s environment changes again and it turned into a forest. Right in front of SkekSa, she saw Rian sitting in front of the fire. A symbolic representation of him trying to keep the flames of resistance “alive.” Rian’s parents told the Mariner to go to him. There, she sat across from him. Up close, SkekSa could see the tears on his face. She saw just how much stress it can be on a Gelfling, having to hold everything together for the greater good. It almost reminded her of how hard she had to hold onto the Sifan, as if she was worried about them outgrowing her. In fact, there’s no telling if she knew all along that this was going to be the end result between them. Then, she felt something strange happening to her. When she looked at her hands, they were becoming more Gelfling-like. As the rest of her body started to change, she looked up to see that Rian disappeared. Skeksa felt something on her head and when she tried to put it off, it was only a strand of black hair. Stonewood to be exact. Then, it all became clear. She finally knew how it felt to be like him. She reverted back to normal and Rian’s parents left.

Fara then asked the Mariner, “What do you hate the most?” Like before, the environment changes to an unknown location. It was a path that led to a metallic half-oval shaped door. The door opens by itself as they got closer to it. There, they saw a figure on their knees, along with the shackles around their hands and neck, holding them down. SkekSa knew that it was obviously her, but she didn’t think it was gonna be this bad. This SkekSa had her head down, possibly a sign of deafeat, and apparently had a ton of scars all over her body. It was so much compared to the scars she had up to the Sog incident. When SkekSa looked closely at the neck shackle, she gasped. It was the Drenchen symbol. Fara looked at her and wonder if this is what she hated. Does SkekSa hate being viewed as the enemy? For the Mariner, after having to deal with all that other stuff with Rian, she knew that she couldn’t lie her way out of this one. It was all true. She already made herself into the menace of the Gefling, specifically the Drenchen. She knew that if she step foot in Sog again, this could be the end result. The vision ends.

The final vision begins with SkekSa opening her eyes to find herself in a white void. She wondered why this is somehow different from the last two visions she had. Then, she heard a “hello” from behind her and when she turned to see who it was, she almost fell on her back. It was Laesid, the Drenchen Maudra. The Gelfling that SkekSa killed. The Mariner tried to get up and run away, but Laesid reappeared in front of her. She told SkekSa that she’s a fool for thinking she could just avoid her. Because wherever she goes, she’ll be able to find her. In a very angry tone, she asks what Laesid wanted from her. Laesid wanted to knock some sense into her and bluntly tells her everything that she needed to hear. From how she led the Sifan astray, how she ended up betraying their trust, how she lived a lie, how she depended too much on the sea for guidance ,how she stayed away from Thra in order to keep herself away from her problems and how, combine with all of this, she can’t run away for who she was. Who she used to be. Who she can’t be anymore. SkekSa kept herself silent the whole time during Laesid’s tangent, but that last point ended up catching her attention. What did she mean by, “who she was?” But before SkekSa could say anything, Laesid went on about the consequences that came from being dead. The bad....and the good. The bad came from how she won’t see Bellanji again, how she’ll never have the chance to witness the fall of the Skeksis empire, and how she’ll never see Naia become the next Drenchen Maudra. Having to think about the twins made her angry. All that effort to stay out of Skeksis business and Naia and Guirjin had to drag her into all this. Even if she eventually stopped wishing any suffering on Rian, she certaintly would’ve done it with those two. But then she remembered something that Fara told her previously. About how things were going to get worse because of her misplaced anger onto THEM. She wasn’t just talking about Rian. Because of that, SkekSa had to keep listening to Laesid. She then went on to talk about the good that came from her death. She was able to think clearly from all the outside forces in her life and that she might have a way to get through to SkekSa. She asked her if she knew anything about UrSan. The Mariner was silent. UrSan was the one Mystic that came into her life and she seemed to be the only one to challenge her whenever she makes a decision. Yet, despite everything, they used to have this sort of “special” attachment that couldn’t keep them apart. Used to. SkekSa and Laesid teleport to a beach, the same one that she saw from a vision when she was in the castle, to when she was stuck in the tree, and to when she was the Circle of the Suns. It fits the same description too: stilled water with no waves to be seen. Laesid wanted her to look closely at the ocean and she saw the Swimmer standing on the rock. Is this it? Was that the only thing that the vision was trying to tell her? SkekSa tried to get to UrSan, but the water quickly pulled back. It happened everytime she move forward. She tried running, but then the sand around her started to form into solid ground and then eventually a cliff. Laesid then tells SkekSa that everytime they fight, they drift apart. SkekSa wished that she could say to her and apologize for the all the times she refused to listen. The Drenchen Maudra said to her that UrSan is not the only one she has to apologize to. When she turned her back around, she finds herself in front of every Sifan that died under her watch. Even the Sifan guards that were drained of their essence, were there as well. SkekSa remembered all of those faces, all the times they had together, and how they now have a sad look on their faces. Seeing all of them brought her down to her knees and she hungs her head in shame. Laesid steps closer to the Mariner and puts her hand on her heart. The same spot where the Gelfling imprint is. Slowly, she raises her head up. Laesid then says to SkekSa, “I forgive you.” SkekSa tries to deny it, but Laesid still said she forgave her. She denies it again. Same response. This went on for a few times and SkekSa had enough. She shouted, “YOU CAN’T FORGIVE SOMEBODY WHO KILLED YOU!” But then Laesid replied with, “Then why is my hand still on your heart....SaSan?” SkekSa’s eyes opened wide. That name. She never heard that name in all her life and yet, all of those memories started coming back to her. She couldn’t do anything but cry her heart out. She never wanted any of this. She thought that being divided would mean that she could be with the Sifan forever. She wanted to be with the clan that saw her for who she was. They were the only clan that loved her. With that gone, along with her Mystic half, who does she have that can love her the same way they did? She want it all back. All of the dead Sifan disappeared.

Laesid asks her, “What do you prevent the most?” So on and so fourth, the environment changes. It changed to something that SkekSa never expected. They were at the same tree that trapped her a few weeks ago. But the difference is that the tree isn’t cut opened. Instead, it opened up by itself, freeing this version of the Mariner from its bonds. When she got up, she tried to get her bearings straight and find her way out of Sog. However, when she got to the village, something was very different about the area. Everything is covered with vines, along with broken doors and windows. It’s as if this version of Sog is abandoned. Once she exited the location, it seems like everything else in Thra is abandoned as well. Especially the castle. SkekSa figured what the vision was trying to tell her. The thing she wanted to prevent the most is being forgotten. This is the source of all her problems. This is why she held onto the Sifan so much. This is why she never wanted to go back to Thra. This is why she never wanted to give up being the Mariner. She’s afraid. Afraid of what would happen to her, UrSan, and the rest of the Gelfling. Having to see the Skeksis abused their power and then use their citizens as the means for immortality, just made her worst fears come true.

Before the last vision ends, they reappeared back to the cliff. Silently, SkekSa and Laesid stared at each other. “You’re drowning, SkekSa.” These were the last words she said to her before a piece of the cliff broke off, causing her to fall. When she opened her eyes after the fall, she finds herself standing above the water. She notice that the cliff is nowhere to be seen and the rock that UrSan was standing on is gone. She is all alone. By herself. Then, SkekSa felt something grabbing her pants. It was an arm. Not just any arm, a Skeksis arm. When that happened, multiple arms started popping out of the water. They all grabbed onto her clothes. For a fraction of second, she figured out that those were the arms of the court, and they were dragging her down with them. SkekSa panicked, and tried to shout out for help. But no one was there to rescue. Slowly but surely, her body is fully into the water. The arms disappear, but the Mariner didn’t have the urge to swim back up. What Laesid said was all true. She is drowning. And maybe she’s better off that way. However, a glowing figure above her appeared. The figure had a deep blue color on their hair and gray colored skin. They even had 4 arms to count. It was UrSan, and she was coming down to rescue her. Once they came back to the shore, the Mariner opened up her eyes to see the Swimmer’s face up close for the first time in a while. The only thing UrSan did was smile. SkekSa, on the other hand, had a different reaction. Tears started to fall down her face. She missed her so much. Without saying a word, they both put their foreheads together and close their eyes. The Mariner silently wept. Everything disappears around them and the vision ends.

Okay...so given how the vision portion took up almost half this post, I decided on making a part 3. It would be about the stuff that happened outside the Wellspring, a little background to how the Gelfling were able to get to SkekSa, and UrSan’s perspective. Technically, it’s going to be 4 parts with the last one being more of an optional choice. It just a little behind the scenes of this AU’s creation. As I said before, tell me what you think by replying down below. I would greatly appreciate your comments. I would definitely appreciate seeing fan art of this AU. I mean hey, my 20th birthday is tomorrow on Monday. If you do make any fan art, tag me and I’ll reblog it to my Tumblr page.

#the dark crystal #the dark crytsal: age of resistance #tdc:aor #skeksa

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oreozfox · 5 years

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Headcanon Time

(aka I NEED more content of Jen and Kira as new parents)

So I feel like one of the things Jen lacks education about is babies.

Like, of course he knows what a baby is. But, like, where does a baby come from, exactly?

He asks Kira about it a few times, and she is able to explain to him where a baby comes from, but the concept of pregnancy is still an unexplored mystery to him.

Until SURPRISE! Kira's pregnant.

And she is like, the epitome of chill about it. Like, of course she's excited, but she knew it'd happen eventually.

Jen's really really happy. And also really really scared and confused. For the entire pregnancy. "Jen, that's normal" is all Kira gets done saying anymore. Jen's either asking questions or "don't do that light chore Kira just sit down and rest". But it's hard to be annoyed when Jen looks so darn fascinated by all this. It's kind of endearing.

Then, the fated day comes when Kira goes into labor. She's still chill, but only as chill as she can be while giving birth to a childling. Ydra helps with the delivery. Jen looks like he's going to pass out the entire time.

"Jen, it's okay, it's almost over." Kira says. Ydra is this close to kicking Jen out of the room because the mother having to comfort the father during delivery is where she draws the line.

Then, the childling is born. Kira takes it all in stride. She quickly figures out how to hold and rock the childling to make it feel safe and calm it down.

And Jen is just. Bawling his eyes out

He's an emotional new dad okay?

Kira asks Jen if he wants to hold their baby. He's scared to at first, but eventually gives it a try.

Once he does, he's so mesmerized that he only puts the childling down when Ydra chides him for hogging the childling to himself. Kira doesn't mind.

The baby likes it when Kira sings and when Jen plays the firca. The baby loves it even more when they do it at the same time.

And Jen can't wait to teach the childling everything the Mystics taught him, and to tell the story of how he and Kira met and healed the crystal.

#dark crystal #jen #kira #jen x kira #jen and kira #jira #the dark Crystal #headcanon #my post

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felassanis · 4 years

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More Sifa headcanons:

1. Their accents vary, seeing as the Sifa are consistent of different Clans they have no set acent. However, the ‘original Sifa’, best known for their red, curly hair tend to have thick accents that would sound like a mix of Welsh and Scottish to us.

2. Right, Sifa are proper stoners. Not all of them, but most. It’s something that passes the time on long voyages and they offer many safe herbs and plants that allow Gelfling to feel some form of euphoria. It’s frowned upon by other Clans, but the Sifa don’t care. Particularly experienced Sifans like Elders can visit the dreamspace sometimes and just like Lucid dreaming can control certain elements. Like, conjure feasts that could rival the SkekSis’s or conjure a dead lover and so forth. It’s rare, so very rare but it has been known to happen.

3. Have some of the most colourful curse words and this especially pleases me because Elder Cadia says ‘Bugger’ which alludes that canonically they curse like the British. I also feel like the Sifa are a lot more relaxed with their language and don’t put much stock in sounding literate. A Childling could swear and it would probably just make them laugh.

4. I can image the Sifa hosting their own holidays on the ships. So, maybe six ships might get together in the middle of the ocean, close enough that they can hoist planks across them; allowing the Sifa to cross over on mutiple ships to which all crews will get together. They’ll decorate the masts with lanters and banners, they’ll set up hundreds of tables and chairs and as soon as the band starts playing music it’ll be three days of partying, laughing, dancing and so on before the ships part ways again.

5. These holidays could probably be just a celebration of Clans coming together, celebrating culture in order to remind the Sifa that they are lot of cultures all intertwined together to form one. It could be a celebration for the sea, a kind of festival that thanks the ocean for being calm and carrying them safely, and to wish themselves another trine of more bountiful waters. Or...the Sifa just simultaneously want to get drunk.

6. There are cases where the Sifa can banish Gelfling if they do something wrong. But the crime must be very heinous and detrimental for them to even consider banishing anyone. So it’s very rare this ever happens, it might have happened a couple of times throughout Sifa history. They’re a liberal clan, so pissing them off can be very hard.

7. If this occurs, that Gelfling cannot step one foot on Sifa ships, they are to be avoided by other Sifa and they can never rejoin the Sifa unless they do something extreme to prove their honest character.

8. Most of the time, when somone is banished from the Sifa they usually just return to thier original clan. So, a Sifa who left the Drenchen to sail the seas or who looked Drenchen would just go back to the Great Smerf. However, for an original Sifa, this can be tricky as red hair is greatly tied to this clan so they can’t blend in with the other Gelfling races. Therefore, finding somewhere else to settle can be very hard given that the Clans don’t trust the Sifa and of course, the clans can be racist.

9. I can imagine absolutely vast expanses of tents whenever the Sifa land. Sometimes they only leave their ship when trading, but as we have seen with Onica and Elder Cadia, Sifa pitch tents and I can imagine a sprawling city of tents in long fields.

10. Incense, they definitely use incense and it smells amazing.

11. Also those pipes from Lord of the Rings? Sifa use them, they can blow amazing rings with them. They’re exceptionally long and often intricately carved with beautiful designs.

12. So, I don’t actually know how Thra’s society reacts to two Gelfling from different clans falling in love; but I think it’s frowned upon. With the Sifa, they don’t mind it. However, if it’s a Sifa with someone from a different clan, they’re very strict about the other Gelfling becoming Sifan. They see it as losing family otherwise. Moreover, Sifa are kinda of alluring to other Gelfling. They’re mysterious, with an air of adventure and freedom and they don’t conform to rules like most other Gelfling. We all love a bad boy afterall. Despite the horror stories older Gelflings tell about the Sifa, the younger ones who yearn for excitement find the Sifa very attractive. (Especially Vaprans) and so most marriages like this will wind up with the outsider joining the Sifa. There’s a lot of romance novellas about Sifa love interests, just think about those really cheesy romance novels about a fair, noble maiden who gets whisked away by handsome pirates. That is probably why Vaprans are more attracted to Sifa than they care to admit.

13. They’re canonically the most superstious, paranoid little shits in Thra. Stomp on the ship thrice for good luck. the good ol don’t step on the ship with your left foot or risk bad luck. Don’t look outside your window past midnight or a sea creature might gobble you up. Bow your head when you hear of someone’s death otherwise your next. Break a mirror and you’ve got bad fortune for ten trine the whole ordeal.

14. Literally, break and mirror and you can’t be on one of their ships for ten trine DO NOT BREAK MIRRORS.

15. A lot of Gelfling think the Sifa carry disease. This is not true. The Sifa are very capable of curing ailments and preventing them with rituals and potions and cleaning their ships. They may not take a bath as much as they should, but no other Gelfling carries that ocean-filled, beachy smell.

16. I feel like a cool thing, even if impossible, would be that the Sifa have a special ability when it comes to Tattoos. They can echant certain tattoos so that went tracing their fingers over them the tattoos actually move and come to life. Think about photographs in Harry Potter. The tattoos move like Gifs lol so a tattoo of a tree might shake like wind is blowing or they might have a depiction of the ocean where waves rise and fall....

17. Speaking of tattoos, the older Sifa will says you should only ever get one if it means something but those same Sifa as well as younger ones probably have really dumb tattoos like Fizzgigs on their ankles that bark when traced or an ex-lover’s name scratched out about five times.

18. Avid readers. They need something to pass the time! So I feel like a lot of ships have designated libraries which are strictly controlled and kept tidy. Cera-Na has a grand library where Sifa can borrow books lol, but they must return them.

19. Every Sifa is handy with harpoons and spears. It’s why a lot of them go to the Castle of the Crystal because they’re talented fighters with spears. You will not outrun a Sifa if they are carrying a spear...watch out. They have deadly aim.

20. The men are hairy. Very hairy.

21. While they cannot breath underwater like the Drenchen due to not being amphibious, the Sifa can hold their breath for a long ass time. From 1 to 6 hours. This is due to evolution conforming to the Sifa delving underwater a lot in search of shells, gems or treasure.

22. They trace constellations and use the stars to navigate the seas. The main cabin is always fitted with a beautiful map tracing the stars and they all have names.

23. As we have seen. Gelfling can sing to the creatures of Thra; and in Seladon’s case she can beckon them. I see Sifa singing their hearty songs and many sea creatures swimming up the service to listen. They’ll splash and swim along the ship and occasionally allow the Sifa to stroke them. This singing can be handy when in the rare cases a Ship wrecks, and the creatures of the sea with help survivors to land when they hear one sing.

24. When the Darkening occurs, the Sifa mention that portions of the sea light up in this violet hue, with the waves lined in black and seemingly being filled with lightning. As if the waters had swallowed a thunderous cloud and was stuffed with sparks. Sifa avoid this area, as a lot of sea creatures once thought peaceful have randomly attacked ships.

25. While Thra sings in the ocean as well, the Sifa don’t want to forget about the lands of Thra. So, to stay intune with nature they have plants all over their cabins, kind of like gardens spanning across the ship. Just imagine potted plants, strings of ivy winding all over archways and walls, hanging plants next to swinging hammocks so a Sifa can smell their beloved home...

#The Dark Crystal #the dark crystal age of resistance #Sifa #Sifa headcanons #TDC #TDC: AOR #TDCAOR

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ask-skekok-the-scroll-keeper · 4 years

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Have you ever had a fictional crush? P.s: Your secret admirer

“Nyoohoohoo! Oh a fictional crush~ What self-respecting author hasn’t had one? And before one is to say that they haven’t, come now let’s not lie. ( I know quite a few things about liars. ) When you expose yourself to as much literature as I have; which considering your rather short lifespans you most likely won’t. There will be some special characters that pop up that really captivate you.”

One of such, is from a story from Ages past... The character of which I fancied was a Nymph. A kind of plant maiden if you will. Lovely beautiful creatures who are eternally youthful and full of life! She was a gentle sort. Flowers grew all across her body to the point where one would wonder just how far it would go? The story was called “The Tale of Aiseelah”

The story follows a young nymph (aptly named Aiseelah) who had been driven out from her homeland due to an ice demon destroying and eating her people. Narrowly escaping her home she is forced to find a new one. Which is especially hard on her as she had lost a great number of her loved ones to the beast. On the way she meets many unique characters. Gallant Paladins, Merry Wanderers, fellow victims of the Demon’s grasp, and all sorts of mysterious otherworldly forces… As well as fearsome beasts of all shapes and sizes! As the story progresses unlikely friendships form. Until we have a whole party of unique and diverse characters!

She eventually makes a new home for herself, a beautiful grotto hidden away where no one can harm her ever again, but remembers the cries of help from her fellow nymphs so she returns to her original home with hopes that she can save her world! Sadly apon Aisheela’s return, she has now found that her once beautiful home is now a barren tundra filled with death. At this point the story takes on a dark, desolate feeling. Like the reader themselves is freezing to death.

But there is a glimmer of hope, as some of the people she had met along the way unite together to purge the demon away from their home and then as the story comes to a close- AHAHAAHA! Oh it’s such a wonderful read! No good in spoiling an ending to such a rousing tale.

I admire Aiseelah for her tenacity and wit. She is not easy to give up hope, and she often finds help in the most unlikely of places. Her positive outlook makes her easy to approach and easy for both adults and childlings to relate to. The Darker themes as the book progresses resonating with the more mature audience such as myself.

Although, looking back on it I may have changed my mind on who my favorite character is… So there’s this anti hero who hates Aiseela with a burning passion. Her name is Ouros. She’s a muscular woman with a mysterious past and a vengeance against someone. You see she has these really sharp teeth and these stunning yellow eyes and immense amounts of strength and a pack of— Heeheehee I think I’ll stop now. I’m already beet red as it is! Oh my!

The scroll-keeper fans himself overeggageratedly with one of his poofier ink quills

You lot are all asking me questions all the time so I assume it’s only fair I ask you back. Who is your fictional crush? Come now I know you have one~

#Oooh A secret admirer~ I’m taken of course but I appreciate the sentiment 💛#If it’s who I think it is wash your face and take a bath. You need to take better care of yourself!#The Tale of Aiseelah #Fictional crushes #SkekOk

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seafoamsidhe · 4 years

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today we have a really important noble from another kingdom visiting caer flamingo, so the whole court was rushing around trying to make things perfect, except for queen morganna who was completely chill. i asked her what was up and she was like “oh please, i’ve known that boy since he was a childling” but then i met him and he looks older than her?? mysterious

#waterspout;

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sunstar-of-the-north · 5 years

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Distant Shores: Chapter 2

Liliah stared at Ekoi in disbelief. “Wait, are you saying THAT’S our final crew member?!” Ekoi blinked at her and then laughed loudly. “N-No Captain! That’s just her ship!” Liliah frowned in a mixture of confusion and frustration. “You mean to tell me that monster is someone’s ship?” He nodded. “Yes. Don’t you recognize it Liliah?” She motioned to the creature while stating, “I think I would recognize something like that!”

Ekoi stroked his chin in thought. “Not that you mention it, you probably haven’t seen it. The last time she visited your mother was only a few months pregnant.” The woman sighed as she pinched the upper ridge of her nose. “Who is this she you keep referring to?”

As if the gelfling was heard, the beast’s left side started to twitch. Liliah had to muster every nerve to not vomit when she noticed the pathways that led into its arteries. The captain was too distracted by the pulsating flesh to notice the figure slipping out of the creature and onto a waiting boat. It wasn’t until the boat got closer did Liliah acknowledged it and its cargo. It was being pulled by a fish she never had seen before, large and bright lights decorating its spikey back. What caught Liliah’s attention was what the fish towed behind it. The figure was tall, much taller than any gelfling she knew. It wore an elaborate black hat similar to Dolen’s, complete with a large, blue plume pinned to the side. Its crimson red brocade was fluttering in the breeze, revealing a white undershirt, an embroidered red vest, and pitch black pants.

Liliah finally knew who the mysterious being was. She only read and heard about her but never witnessed her glory until now. She was filled with awe and fear.

“Lord SkekSa, the Mariner,” she said in a barely audible whisper.

Liliah should be thrilled to meet such a legend in person, but something about SkekSa’s appearance didn’t feel right. Before she had time to speak with Ekoi, the skeksis lord was already near the dock. Liliah rushed—nearly flew—to her aid, faded blue dress trailing behind her. Three of her band helped the Mariner out of her dingy, heavy leather boots making a loud thunk against the wooden platform. The trio bowed deeply to her as they backed away. Liliah was standing behind her, legs and hands shaking. She couldn’t help but stare at the long black mane and purple feathers flowing from the skeksis’ head.

The lord finally turned to Liliah, muzzle decked with silver piercings. Ekoi caught up to Liliah at this point and bowed. “Welcome to Midway, Captain SkekSa!” His greeting broke the woman out of her trance. She curtsied, praying that the skeksis didn’t notice her trembling. “Thank you Ekoi! It’s been many trine since I last visited the island!” Liliah opened her eyes. She didn’t expect SkekSa’s voice to be so…smooth.

“And who is this,” the lord asked, pinkish red eyes staring curiously at the woman. Ekoi motioned to Liliah while slightly bowing. “This is Liliah, daughter of Elder Dolen. And the gelfling you will be escorting to Cera-Na.” His words turned Liliah’s blood cold. It all made sense now. Her father must have had asked the Mariner to bring her to Cera-Na instead of trusting her to make the journey alone.

“Why am I surprised? I should have known he would do something like this.”

Hiding her rage, she addressed SkekSa. “My Lord, may I have a word with my right-wing? There is something I forgot to ask him.” The skeksis studied her for a moment before nodding. “Yes. But make it quick! The wind is at our backs and we don’t want to miss this perfect sailing weather!” She strutted toward the Silver Splitter. Liliah whipped her head to the other gelfling once the skeksis was out of ear shot. “What is the meaning of this,” she seethed through clenched teeth. “I thought I was the captain of this voyage!” Ekoi’s answered her in a leveled tone. “Elder Dolen wanted to ensure our safety be requesting Captain SkekSa to accompany us.”

“What happened to trusting the crew?!”

Ekoi remained silent, face unreadable. The copper haired gelfling glared at the ground as she crossed her arms. “…How much did he pay her?” Ekoi raised an eye brow. “Why do you ask?” She turned her gaze to him, brown eyes hard. “I want to know how much my father’s lack of faith is.” Ekoi held eye contact with her but turned away when he answered. “...A chest full of rubies, turquoise, and he promised to heal the Captain’s ship.” The last part made Liliah cock her head. “Heal—her ship?”

“Yes. It fell ill and the herbs grown here can cure it. That’s why we’re not taking the beast.” Liliah looked to SkekSa’s monster. She shuttered, thankful they would be on her father’s ship instead of being inside a living animal.

“What is with the delay?” Liliah jumped, biting back a yelp. She looked behind her to find SkekSa towering over her and Ekoi. “The tide is with us! We will miss it if we keep chattering like old biddies.” Liliah straightened her back, trying hard not to stutter. “My—Lord SkekSa-“

“Call me Captain, if you please,” the Mariner interjected. The gelfling took a deep breath, holding back her annoyance. “Captain SkekSa, I am so—flattered that you have offered your services but there is really no need for you to come. You must have more important business to attend to than tagging along on a simple voyage to Cera-Na.” Ekoi’s eyes grew to the size of saucers, color draining from his face. Liliah ignored him. She wasn’t going to let anyone, not even a lord of the Crystal, take away her opportunity to prove herself.

The Mariner simply smiled, showing a maw full of wickedly sharp fangs. “It is no trouble at all, Little Liliah. I am willing to help all of the Sifa, big or small. Besides, Dolen has promised to fix my ship so it is the least I can do!” She patted Liliah’s head, slightly crushing her hat. “Not to mention I must give my blessing to the new maudra as well so it only made sense to come along! Kill two swoothu with one stone as I say!” SkekSa then turned around, motioning toward Dolen’s ship. “Come along now! We have a long journey ahead of us!” Liliah glared daggers at the skeksis’ back as she fixed her hat. “Little Liliah?! Who does she think I am, a childling?!”

Ekoi grabbed her by the arm, face twisted in rage. “Why did you say that to Captain SkekSa,” he asked in a panicked tone. Liliah huffed, turning away. “I was just speaking the truth.” Ekoi’s eye twitched. “We should be GRATEFUL that the very patron of our clan is willing to go out of her way to aid us! You had no right to speak to her the way you did!” Liliah glared at him as rage was building inside of her. “Did you hear the way she spoke to me?! I am an elder’s kin! She talked to me as if I was a mere child!” Ekoi hushed her, leading her to the Silver Splitter. “You ARE acting like a child! Whether you want her to or not, Captain SkekSa is coming with us and that’s final!”

***

Liliah, Ekoi, and SkekSa were on the upper deck, standing in front of the crew. Liliah was currently addressing them. “We know what we must do. We have less than a unum to reach our destination. Because of that we will not be making any stops, unless it is absolutely dire.” The crew was hardly paying attention to her. They were all staring at the lord who at the moment was looking off into the distance. Liliah tried not to show her aggravation. “And as you all are aware by now, Captain SkekSa will be with us on our voyage.”

“As the main captain,” stated one of the crew members. All eyes were on her now. Even though she felt a sting of disappointment, she answered calmly. “Yes. Like Ekoi, I will be assisting her. I am willing and able.” The last part was a lie. Liliah wouldn’t let her crew know how she really felt though. “They’re not my crew…not anymore…” The skeksis stepped forward, leather-like hands on her hips. “With that out of the way, let’s get a move on! Get to your stations and let loose the sails!” They let out a rowdy cheer and did as they were told. The only one who wasn’t cheerful was Liliah. She felt like an emptiness was forming in her chest, like a hole in a hull. The sailors didn’t give Liliah the same looks of enthusiasm as they did with SkekSa. They seemed relieved that they wouldn’t have to listen to a gelfling who didn’t deserve their allegiance, a gelfling who was a nothing more than a disappointment.

She was so consumed with her thoughts that she didn’t hear SkekSa talking. Ekoi nudged the woman’s side. “What?” SkekSa chuckled, making Liliah’s ears turn hot with embarrassment. “I said we should go into the captain’s quarters to look over the charts.” Liliah swallowed her emotions and gave the Mariner a curt nod. “That sounds like an excellent idea.” She then walked to the cabin in the back of the deck. It was modestly sized, big enough for the built in bed, desk, and glass window within it. Maps and charts were stacked into shelves all over the walls. Liliah went to the shelves on the right.

When she was about to grab the map to Cera-Na, SkekSa swiped it from the shelf. Liliah had to catch the salt stained papers that popped out when the skeksis took the map. Liliah tried to not scream in anger as she put the papers back in their proper place. By the time she was done Ekoi and SkekSa were studying the chart. Liliah joined them, making sure to stand by the right-wing. “Once we leave the Spirals, it’s a straight path to Cera-Na,” stated Ekoi as he traced a finger from Midway to the main land. SkekSa nodded, eyes glinting. “Good. We’ll be celebrating on the beach in no time!” The copper haired gelfling narrowed her eyes at the lord. “We should search for another course in case we run into foul weather. It would be foolish to only stick with one.”

Ekoi nervously shifted his blue eyes to the Mariner. She was currently looking down at the map. She then grabbed the nearest quill pen and started to make a line. “It is the time of season where the currents are unpredictable. With my ship we could have gone through them easily but alas…how does this look?” The skeksis turned the map so Liliah could see it. “…This route would make us lose a few days…but if we took the southwest current that’s nearby it would make up for the lost time.”

“Clever observation,” said SkekSa. A small smile crept on Liliah’s face. She dropped it when she faced Ekoi. “What do you think?” The man positioned his head to look at their marks. “…That could work. It’s a little risky but it will have to do. Shall I take over the wheel Captain,” he asked SkekSa. Liliah ignored the twitching pain in her chest. The skeksis waved him off. He bowed to her and left the cabin. It was just the two of them now.

The Mariner rolled up the chart and put it back on the shelf. “You sure know your maps my dear.” Liliah tried to hold back her annoyance when she spoke. “Thank you. I spent most of my life studying them.” SkekSa grinned widely at her. “And it shows!” The gelfling dipped her head. The two were quiet for a few minutes, the tension filling the room. “I shall go and see if anyone needs assistance, with your permission.” The skeksis huffed in amusement. “But of course. I’ll holler if I need you.” Liliah curtsied and exited the cabin, despair growing with every step.

SkekSa (c) Jim Henson/J. M. Lee Liliah/Ekoi (c) Me

#The Dark Crystal #Book series #book #the dark crystal au #bonds au #au #distant shores #the dark crystal gelfling #Gelfling #gelfling oc #ocs #the dark crystal skeksis #skeksis #the dark crystal skeksa #text #My writing

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theonyxpath · 5 years

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Now Available in PDF and ebook from DriveThruFiction: Immortal Eyes 4: The Cup of Dreams for Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition!

Two decades ago, sidhe changeling Morgan Daniels watched her oathmates cross through Silver’s Gate and enter the faerie homeland of Arcadia. Now no longer a childling, Morgan hears a call, letting her know it is time for her friends to come home.

In Arcadia, Morgan’s oathmates engage in a battle to return to Morgan and the Mortal Realm they left behind. A new quest awaits them, one for the elusive and mystical Cup of Dreams.

In the meantime, drawn to San Francisco by a mysterious call, another group of changelings gathers at the Toybox Coffee Shop. Their task: defend the freehold from a series of incursions by servants of the changelings’ ancient enemies.

Combining Celtic lore with old ballads, this sequel to the Immortal Eyes Trilogy reunites old friends and brings together new ones in a tale of adventure, romance, trust and betrayal that is both timely and timeless.

The Cup of Dreams is a sequel to the classic Immortal Eyes trilogy: The Toybox, Shadows on the Hill, and Court of All Kings.

Also available: Auspice Gift Cards for Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition!

It’s hard to carry a book in your hands when you’re charging into battles, claws and spurs popping through your skin. Frankly, who wants to get the Wyrm’s blood on their rulebook? Thankfully, the Auspice Gift Cards exist to alleviate your hardships.

Now, the powers of all Auspices are available at your fingertips, in an easy-to-handle format!

This set of Gift Cards contains all the Auspice Gifts present in Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition and its accompanying sourcebooks. Each card contains the rules and description of a single Gift.

Sales

DriveThruComics is serving up two bundles in support of ConTessa: the ConTessa Bundle of Comic Awesome includes a copy of Exalted: Tale of the Visiting Flare, while the ConTessa Bundle of RPG Awesome includes a copy of Aberrant 1st Edition.

Scarred Lands products for Pathfinder (the Scarred Lands Players Guide and The Wise & The Wicked 2nd Edition) are upwards of 90% off from Indie Press Revolution! Both products are an incredible $5 each!

Kickstarter Update

The Kickstarter for Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition launched last week, and hit its $25,000 funding goal in just 10 hours! We’re currently at $44,051, or 176%, with three weeks to go. Thanks to our 878 backers! So far we’ve hit the following stretch goals:

Mummy Storyteller Screen

Did you miss one of our previous Kickstarters? The following Kickstarted products are still open for preorders via BackerKit:

They Came from Beneath the Sea!: They Came from Beneath the Sea! rulebook

Trinity Continuum: Trinity Continuum: Aberrant

Dystopia Rising: Evolution: Dystopia Rising: Evolution rulebook

Realms of Pugmire: Pirates of Pugmire

Exalted: Lunars: Fangs at the Gate

Chronicles of Darkness: Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras 2

Chronicles of Darkness: The Contagion Chronicle

Geist: The Sin-Eaters: Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition

Community Spotlight

The following community-created content for Scarred Lands has been added to the Slarecian Vault in the last week:

Blood Sea: The Crimson Abyss Adventure Conversions

Your product could be here! Have you considered creating your own to sell?

The following community-created content for Realms of Pugmire has been added to Canis Minor in the last week:

Your product could be here! Have you considered creating your own to sell?

The Storypath Nexus is now open! So far Scion content has been unlocked. The following community-created content for Scion has been added to the Storypath Nexus in the last week:

Your product could be here! Have you considered creating your own to sell?

#Onyx Path Publishing

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foreaft · 5 years

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THE DARK CRYSTAL : AGE OF RESISTANCE [ NOTES ]

Notes taken from a Netflix original series created by The Jim Henson Company; TDC : AOR. A few of these notes quote the narrator or characters in some of the episodes, but some are also things I’ve noticed & thought worthy to make note of for future use in potential role - play. Please note : I’m only up to episode 6 ( lol ).

When some Gelfling exclaim, they say WHAT IN THRA; it’s kind of super cute.

Gelfling only have four fingers !

Thra is a planet that circles three suns, “ and at its center, the Crystal of Truth, the heart of Thra and the source of all life. ”

Aughra protected the crystal since the planet, or the crystal ?, was young; she was most favorable to Gelfling.

Seven Gelfling clans call Thra home : Vapra, Stonewood, Grottan,

Vapra, the proud Vapra, reside in the mountain city of Ha’rar ! They are the most cultured, who rule over the other clans. Ha’rar is cool, snowy; it is also the seat of the All - Maudra.

Stonewood reside in the Endless Forest; they are great warriors w / exceptional battle prowess.

The gentle Grottan ! They live beneath the ground, and they are “ in perfect harmony with all of Thra, ” but are forgotten from those living above ?

Thra was in balance for millennia, but then some beings who were not native inhabitants of Thra show up : the Skeksis.

The Skeksis “ bewitched Aughra with stories of the universe and built her an orrery, so that she might discover the mysteries of the Cosmos for herself. ”

Aughra turned her attention to the stars, and thusly, left the Crystal of Truth in the hands of the Skeksis to look after.

“ Almost 1000 trine have passed since the Skeksis declared themselves Lords of Thra. ”

The Skeksis use the Crystal of Truth to “ replenish themselves ” by stealing life from it. To cheat death. Under their reign, the Crystal of Truth is known, and turned into, the Dark Crystal.

The Gelfling do not know that the Skeksis are using the Crystal in such a way.

Due to the Crystal being corrupted, it spreads through Thra, through the creatures. Even creatures held captive.

Female Gelfling have wingies; they are like true faerie wings.

Dreamfasting is through touch. Dreamfasting seems to be like walking through memories, or recalling them so both dreamfasting can see that memory.

Armaligs are big roly - poly, armored grubs, and they attach to carriage - like carts and ball up to act like wheels.

Rian’s papa is captain of the castle guard; hero of Stone - in - the - wood !

Landstriders are hoofed, long - legged furry mount creatures. They also bellow which is cute af.

Rian, Mira, and Gurjin are soldiers of the castle guard.

Ha’rar has a huge library FULL of books and scrolls; a spiral staircase lies within it.

Brea, Tavra, and Seladon are princesses of Vapran clan.

“ Tug noot causes explosive belching ! ” — Brea

Deet is singing a song : “ Far from the brothers’ blinding light, beneath the blanket of the long night. Grottans work in the dark & deep, where the glow moss grows & the crawlies creep. ”

Eating the glow moss makes the head and face glow.

Nurlocs are big worm - looking things, with antenna sticking out the sides that have large lapis lazuli - colored eyes on the ends ? They eat glow moss.

Skeklach is the mucus oozing Skeksis lol.

Knowledge within / from the Great Library at the Castle of the Crystal is forbidden.

Chamberlain is Skeksil.

The scientist Skeksis accidentally reversed the Crystal, so now it takes life instead of giving it.

Sanctuary Tree is big chunk and it’s underground. It can speak to only those who can hear, and it knows like everything.

The Great Trees have been battling the Darkening and corruption for a long, long time, keeping it underground and they’re starting to lose the ability to do so.

Gurjin sings : “ A loyal Gelfling serves his lords and always reaps his just rewards. ”

The Gelfling clans must pay a tithe to the Skeksis, and the tithe depends on the Gelfling family’s means ? Farmers pay with produce, etc.

The library in Ha’rar is separate from the royal villa, or the throne hall, or whatever it’s called. The library has a blue, circular door, with gold trim and a golden metal pattern in the shape of a curvy, 5 - point star.

“ The Order of Lesser Service is not a punishment, it’s an opportunity to lift yourself up by performing the lowliest of deeds . . . ” — Duadran.

Some girl serving in the OoLS with Brea says that they sometimes chew up snippit root to feed the Nebries because the Nebries don’t have teeth so the OoLS have to chew it up & then spit it in the creature’s mouth.

Sweet mini - katnies is a treat or something ?

Juni was put into the OoLS because her parents didn’t like that her crush wasn’t a Vapran . . .

“ The DETERGE is an opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our mistakes by cleansing Podlings. ” — Duadran. Podlings are apparently the filthiest creature in Thra. Were they rolling around in mud ?

“ Podlings take to dirt like a Sifan takes to the sea ” — Duadran.

Sun Frenzy is a condition, sounds like it is like minor hysteria or like a bit of “ craziness ” like someone doesn’t know wtf is happening. But, it can be read about in Durken’s Deliriums, a book.

Childling is what they call little, baby / toddler Gelfling.

Folk think Rian killed Mira, a rumor made by the Skeksis to protect themselves.

Tavra was sent by All - Maudra Mayrin to seek out and capture Rian.

Claw Mountains are cold.

There are shelves lining the spiral staircase in the library that are stacked with books, scrolls, etc.

Skeksil / Chamberlain sewed the mouth shut of two Gruenaks, which were thought to have been a race eradicated.

Maudra Fara is the Maudra of the Stonewood clan of Stone - in - the - Wood.

Aughra’s wellness is connected with Thra & the crystal’s wellness.

When the Skeksis consume Gelfling, the Gelfing can’t return to Thra so Thra is becoming weakened due to it’s cycle being corrupted, abused, and altered.

An UNAMOTH is the totem animal / creature of the Vapra clan; it’s chrysalis glows and is yellow. Ask it a question, and it’ll take you where you need to go ?

There’s a secret something below the throne, activated by the unamoth transitioning into a stone key on the throne.

The Archer, is a mystic. His name Urva.

SkekVar is the General, and later the Chamberlain.

The Podlings have drums, a lute, and lyres.

Deet sings : “ So lay down, my childling, and sleep. No need to fear, and no need to weep, ” she’s interrupted by Hup crying.

The Dream Space is a spirit realm, the source of magic and prophecy; the “ world within our world. ”

It was Brea, All - Maudra Mayrin, Seladon, Deet, Rian, Naia, Gurijin, and Kylan within the dream space, deemed the heroes of Thra.

Gelfling blood is like a magenta color ?

All - Maudra Mayrin was really slain by the General SkekVar, but it was the result of Seladon telling on treachery, and whole lot of other stuff too, just the general turn of events happening.

There are Paladins that were volunteers to the Skeksis, who were saved and shown the truth. They’ve been spreading the truth all across the land.

#ooc.#series : the dark crystal ( tdc ).#spoilers /#LOOK / i'm such a nerd that i take fucking notes #but i *need* to know things #this is why i'm a hufflepuff with ravenclaw tendencies

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bumblingbrujo · 5 years

Text

The Burnt Lady and the Threepenny Prince sit together for a quiet discussion on devotion, duty, and desire.

@thatwhichbindsus

There had been some difficulties enacting his plans, but it was no matter Miguel couldn't handle. It was only a matter of time. After dealing with the problem of nosy vermin he ended up in the courtyard again - wishing he could get on his boats and leave. Maybe, if he was fast enough, he could kill his father himself. And not rely on time and age to do his bidding for him. There wasn't much point in wishing, when the Inquisition was still going strong, and Miguel had already given all the assistance he could muster to the investigation. They knew what kind of snake the venom had come from, a dead end as far as Miguel was concerned. So instead of bothering about any of that, he whittled a long piece of driftwood into a spoon.

Ciara walked onto the courtyard with eyes as slits, but let her face clear when she didn't see Lord Cardero. There was a nervous tick to her hands as she wandered along the outer walkway, as there had been since the attempted coup by the Kesley's. Merely a distraction. She was more worried about this: someone might have found her out. As she walked, she spotted Lord Miguel, and with both company and questions in mind, wandered over. "Did the kitchens run out?"

Miguel glanced up at Lady Cirara and a smile lit up his face. "Yes, they sent all the Lords and Princes who know how to whittle out to make spoons." He let his dumb joke settle on her ears a moment before he chuckled and said: "That was a jest. There isn't much to do in a locked down keep. How are you keeping yourself busy? Maybe you could give me some hints."

"It did not escape me," Ciara replied with a smile, sitting beside him. "We are all too aware of that. Suspicion and confinement are not good bed fellows." She folded her hands over her knees and made them entirely still. "Needlework. It takes time, creates something new, and can be beautiful." It was also good for stabbing things a thousand times over. "Do your brothers also whittle in their spare time, or is it just you?"

Once upon a time, Miguel had found some solace in needlework as well - though that wasn't something he was going to share with Lady Ciara. "Yes, that's part of why I whittle. It's nice to look down and see the fruits of your otherwise idle hands." He blew the loose wood shavings off his spoon and held it up. "It's also a valuable skill when you spend so much time on a boat. Though I'm sure we could use someone to do needlework instead of the ugly mend-jobs my med do." He chuckled. And then she asked about his brothers, specifically his brothers and not just Iann. "Ah, well. Juan was the one who taught me to whittle, though I can't know if he still does it or if his time is all consumed by that damned crusade." He groaned and shook his head. "I shouldn't sound so blasphemous, I just... miss my brother." He held his spoon out to Ciara and pondered Iann for a moment. "I'm not sure if Iann whittles or not. I know he's fond of bees, honey, and mead. Not necessarily in that order."

"Indeed," Ciara agreed, looking at his spoon when he held it up to the morning light. "I have no doubt. You don't have the option of pulling into the next village." She smiled. "I do not know if mine could hold up against the ravaging storms you sometimes face. Function over form." But she was curious to learn his assessment, especially considering her current concerns. "I understand. My sister is so often occupied with the Snowdonia borders I rarely even get a raven from her." She cocked an eyebrow. "Bees honey and mead? Only the latter doesn't surprise me. But then he has much to preoccupy him too."

Miguel's eyes narrowed just slightly. Was she trying to get information about Iann and Juan, or was she just trying to soften the youngest prince of isles? "Both of my brothers are extremely busy. Juan with Summerset and crusades, and Iann as Commander of the fleet. Somehow, he still finds time for bees, honey, and mead. He's very involved, involved as he can be, with the honey farms and the breweries." Miguel tried to be involved too, but it was a tightrope walk, between endearing himself to the people by being with them, and endearing himself to the people by exploring, gaining allies, and bringing artifacts and riches back to the islands. "As the youngest, I just try my best to keep up." He let loose a carefully curated sheepish look, the look of a younger brother who didn't know how to step out of his elders' shadows.

“Impressive.” Ciara commented, looking back up to him with a piercing look. “I doubt it would be too much work for you. You impressed many with how you handled the assassination the other day, working with the inquisitor. Humility is no bad thing, young Lord, but nor is pride.”

Miguel froze a humble smile on his face. "Like I said, Lady Ciara, I have no small interest in alchemy and potions. After all, I need some way to be distinguished from my brothers. Though Lady Lacroy was the most help. I provided her with an ear willing to listen."

“Of course,” Ciara agreed, breaking her gaze with a smile, and looked back down at his hands, shaped for purpose. “Lady Lacroy is certainly very knowledgeable. Useful, when none of us now know what the future holds.”

"Everyone is in the same boat right now, on the same choppy sea." Miguel sighed and looked up at the sky, still blue - just like yesterday. "I will never make the mistake of underestimating someone, be that an ally or an enemy. Lady Lacroy meets my expectations." He glanced at Lady Ciara, and wondered what surprises lay up her sleeves.

“Which do you consider her?” Ciara asked, meeting his curious glance briefly before looking back out across the courtyard. “I try to live by the same rules. Especially here.”

Miguel looked away when she did, he didn't want to make the Lady uncomfortable. "Lady Lacroy? She has been a help to me for years now, beside this whole debacle, she helped me when a plague brushed through the Forty Isles. Have you any experience with the Gold Blood sickness?" He was open and honest then, it was the only way to gain trust. And offering information was the only way to get knowledge in return.

"Only a little. We have been blessed, it has not yet reached the Eades, but I understand it had been a cause of some distress in the isles." Ciara replied with a sympathetic look. She knew what a blight such suffering could be on their people. Not four winters past, food had run out when frost had come early. Many had not survived to spring, as there were no trading paths for which neighboring landowners to help, even if they had had the desire to. "Is it a problem still?"

"It is, less deadly than in the past, but I worry about it... and honestly, it would set me apart from Iann to eradicate the sickness," Miguel smiled a little sheepishly. Sure he wanted help for his own selfish goals, but that would directly help the people he served, the people who served him. "Still, I want my people healthy, and not beholden to a mysterious illness that comes and goes as it pleases."

“There is not much that can be done to prevent these things, except perhaps pray,” Ciara replied, but her mind was already ticking with thoughts and questions. Iann Cardero was a liability, there was no doubt about it, and with a girl missing, one that served her dearly, an ally in the isles would suit her well. “What do you hope to do about it?”

"The only thing I can do," Miguel replied. "Use the knowledge I get from physicians and alchemists to fight the illness like I would a battle. I'll find where the resistance lays dormant and snuff it out. Though, mind you, I would like to do that without killing my own people. There must be some tincture or method that would purge the sickness from their bodies.”

“I do not know of such a thing,” Ciara lied, twisting her head to look up at the sunset. It was an easy enough assist, and with such a dearth or allies it was all too urgent. “But I know who I could ask, if you wish.”

Miguel smiled cautiously. "You know someone who knows of a cure? Would they work with me, do you think?" He pursed his lips. "Of course, please contact them, if you would." He clasped his hands together and cracked his knuckles. A glance at Ciara told him there were natural wonders being missed. So, he turned and watched the sunset with her. "Lady Ciara... what do you want from life?"

“Perhaps not knows, but is aware of some possibilities no doubt.” She replied. In the golden pink sun, he seemed so innocent, so young. He was beautiful, she thought, but was not aware of any marriage in waiting for him. It was a strange thing, and an obstacle in his own desire to take what was Iann’s. “That is a dangerous question indeed, my Lord. I want what many of us want, I believe.”

Miguel chuckled. Was that her version of honesty? "Well Lady Ciara, what do many of us want? If you had asked me that question, I don't know what answer I could have given you. Some days I want to sail away never to return, sometimes I want to spend the rest of my life on the Forty-Isles keeping bees and making mead. Some days I want to see how far to the North I could possibly go before I freeze to death. And sometimes I want to switch places with Iann, to be a family man with five kids running around, devoted to my Islands and my kin." He added the last want, even if it couldn't happen, even if it was a deep desperate want. "My soul it not that of the youngest prince, though I doubt many people are suited to it. How many desires do you have to bite back because of your station, Lady?"

Ciara smiled for him, a deliciously private smile as she watched glints of gold settle on the city below, as the turrets here gleamed pink. The sunlit throne indeed, she thought. "I would never have guessed, my lord," she replied softly, smiling to him. A family to chase, it sounded appealing until she remembered just how close she had come to this fate. Rather childless and free than with many all ensnared to a tyrant. She thought of lord Avitej, lifting the crown onto his head. It was to be a somber affaire, he'd set, but not like this. "What I want I cannot have. It does not befit those of my station to dream, my lord. This is plenty enough for me."

The low light created long shadows on Ciara's face, both hiding and elongating her burns. Miguel had experienced pain, a stab here, a flu there, one time an infection that almost reached his blood - but luckily he had a good physician on his ship and he hadn't needed to lose his arm. All that said, he couldn't imagine what that burn could have felt like. The terror of her husband burning in her arms. It was a dramatic story, but Ciara had to live it. He chanced a gentle touch of his hand to her arm. "You have an admirable sense of duty, Lady. I apologize if I've overstepped."

Ciara did not hesitate to lean slightly into that touch. Just a little, a movement so small it could be denied. "Not at all, my lord. I have quite enjoyed your company."

Miguel moved closer to Ciara. A hand on an arm turned into sides pressed together. And his hand went up to lightly brush her hair, which was up and tight but a few strands had come undone. "If you ever want to pause your duty and see what life on the sea is like... know you could call on me." It was a small offer, but Miguel would enjoy that immensely. He tried to keep in mind that she was a third daughter of a small house and he was a prince. He didn't want to bully her into anything. That wasn't how Miguel liked to play the game.

Ciara knew this side of the game just as well as the kind with daggers and subterfuge, and looked down at her lap with a quiet smile. His rough, sailor hands were sooth against her hair. "Thank you, my lord. It sounds quite tempting, but I cannot abandon my family so easily."

Miguel nodded. He bit back a chuckle that wanted to bubble up from his throat. "Of course," he said as solemnly as he could. He brushed back a few more strands of hair before standing. "I'll take my leave of you, Lady. If I feel too much affection for you, I'll find it too hard to sail away." He left unspoken his own duty. But he had to sail away, as soon as the new High Raj was crowned, if not sooner.

"With words like that, my lord, you make it easy to change one's mind," She stood also, as the sun set over the city, and they were slowly cast in shades of purple. Ciara curtsied deeply and clasped her hands before her. "I will speak with you soon again, I imagine, once I've conferred with my contact." He was a sweet, kind man, this Miguel. But, as Ciara was learning, he was a clever, deceptive one too.

#ciara #got au #chatzy

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etherealblasphemy · 6 years

Text

Adventure of a Lifetime

these just get longer and longer...

TW: Cursing (Cal has a very dirty mouth), mentions of injuries, mentions of angsty backstories (*laughs maniacally*), transphobic slur

Their wounds were finally healed. In the weeks it took for the gash on their chest to close up enough that it no longer needed stitches, Calrex found themself slowly warming up to these strange outlaws who had practically adopted them as one of their own. Cal was still wary of them, especially knowing that Draven was after them as well. They’d yet to wrangle the story out of them of exactly why that bastard was hunting them of all people.

With a yawn, they stretched their thin arms high above their head, cracking their neck to get the kinks out of it. Patton finally told them the night before they could start walking around the ship for more than a couple minutes. Though they’d never admit it to anybody, Patton had quickly become their favorite, with his paternal antics and constant smiles.

They swung their legs over the side of the cot that had been their home for the past few weeks as Patton happily doted over them, monitoring the cut across their chest. They were still unsteady, as the father-like figure had only allowed them to begin walking earlier that week, and only for short bits at a time.

“Believe me,” he’d told them. “You don’t want any chance of your skin beginning to dissipate again.” Thankfully, they’d listened to him, and now they could finally use their legs for what they were made for.

Cal stood cautiously, testing out the strength of their limbs. Figuring they were sound enough to stand, they took a tentative step forward on uneasy feet, not used to Patton’s absence. They didn’t fall, which they considered an ‘okay’ to step forward further. Letting out a breath of relief, their foot landed firmly on the solid floor. Smirking, they headed for the door. Now that Cal could move freely, they were going to explore every inch of this mysterious ship.

The doors opened as they waved their hand to reveal a long hallway splitting off into several other corridors. “Who in the heavens designed this place?” they muttered, craning their sore neck to look around at the pristine white walls. It was certainly boring.

“Oh, you’re awake already!” they heard. They turned their gaze from a brightly lit panel to down the hallway, where Patton poked his head out from behind a corner. “Follow me, I made breakfast for everybody!” They opened their mouth to ask why a kitchen was necessary in a spaceship, but their stomach interrupted them, growling loudly. Patton giggled. “Looks like I finished at the right time!” he laughed, the sound melodious and reminiscent of- Cal stopped their thoughts there.

They obediently followed the antlered man, who took them through a maze of hallways until they could smell the food and knew the kitchen was close. Patton waved his hand in front of a little panel, and the circular doors beside him spun open. Inside the room were the rest of the crew members Cal had met. L.O.G.I.C.- Patton and Roman had begun calling him Logan during their time on the ship- was seated at the table, his eyes scanning over pages of a leather-bound journal as he jotted down notes with a jet black feather that sparkled in the light. Roman was scouring through the cabinets, his hair mussed and unruly at this early morning hour; a bag of makeup that was definitely his was on the countertop, its contents spilling overboard. Anxiety was sitting on top of the countertop like a feline, contently munching on a piece of toast with what looked like jam smeared on top.

“Oh, Calrex, how do you feel today?” Logan asked, looking up from his notes and noticing them. They shrugged, not really sure themselves.

“I dunno. Bored, for one. Not much you can do in a cot for three weeks straight,” they complained, heading for a chair. Patton, meanwhile, headed for the cooking devices, where Cal noticed he had been making some sort of dish they had never seen before.

“What do mean, ‘bored?’ Believe me, young noble, there is so much just waiting for you!” Roman cried, triumphantly grabbing a small jar from a cabinet, proceeding to struggle with its cap as he tried to open it. “...Anxiety could you... maybe help?” he mumbled. Sighing, the emo grabbed the jar and twisted it open with little effort, handing back to the embarrassed prince.

Cal snickered. “And just what do you have in mind to entertain me, Princey?” They smirked, a hand on their cocked hip. The prince grumbled something with a spoon full of jelly in his mouth, snarfing it down like a hungry orphan.

“How you feel about robbing a bank, Calrex?” Logan asked, adjusting the navy blue ascot tie he wore beneath a black waistcoat. Cal’s smile widened, showing off a mouth full of sharp fangs.

“Positively! I feel very positive about robbing a bank!” they shouted with glee, already fantasizing about the destruction they’d wager. “Which one are we going to? How much are we taking? Can I use a blaster?!”

“Calm down, Calrex, it’s a simple operation so we may acquire the necessary funds to continue our “intergalactic punk acts,” as Anxiety refers to them. We are headed to an aquaterrestrial planet known as Levian, and we will only be taking as much as we need.” Logan smirked. “If the commoners nearby decide they would like to take back the money they used to pay egregiously overpriced taxes, however, then that is entirely up to them.” Cal huffed.

“Well, look here, everybody, the robot has a heart!” they exclaimed as Roman choked on his jam, laughing.

“Aw, he’s actually a big softie when nobody’s around to see it!” Patton said giddly, overly excited for both the upcoming adventure and Logan’s slip of character. “Anyways, I’m setting course for Levian as soon as we finish breakfast, so eat up everybody!” The other four hummed in acquiescence, munching on the food Patton had prepared for them. They all joined Logan at the table, though Anxiety allowed Cal to take his seat, leaning against the window behind Logan.

“So, tell me, Calrex,” Roman was saying, finishing off the last spoonfuls of his delicious jam, “why is it that you’re an outlaw? Whose feathers did you ruffle?” They hesitated briefly, the tension of their shoulders only noticed by the cameras in Logan’s eyes.

“...Actually, I’m not that sure myself,” they sighed, running a hand through the tangled locks of their hair. “I ran away from my orphanage, so I guess some people might consider that ‘criminal.’ According to my wanted posters, though?” They trailed off, licking their smiling lips, enjoying the suspense as the others leaned forward, eager to find out. “I destroyed an entire galaxy system, and killed everyone.” The table fell silent, taking a tense turn.

“Did you really?” Patton asked, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Well, of course I didn’t!” Cal cried, offended. “I wish I was strong enough or as badass enough to actually do it, but, nope, I can’t even hold my own in a fight…” They snarled at long-forgotten memories, bitterly recalling past grudges and losses. “Nah, I suspect it was some sort of shit Draven put together after- nevermind.” They cut themself off suddenly, gripping the edge of their seat tightly in their palms. The crew members noticed, but remained silent, inferring Cal’s story was one like their own- painful, and not to be discussed.

The rest of breakfast was quiet, most dialogue pertaining to one of them asking another to pass the butter. At one point, however, Logan asked Roman to pass him the salt, to which the prince replied, “I don’t think I can lift Anxiety, though.” That got a laugh out of the rest of them, however short-lived the relief of silence was.

Patton soon left for the cockpit, Roman following him. Logan turned his attention back to his writing, mumbling something about cross-space travel, leaving Anxiety and Cal to shuffle their feet awkwardly. The earthling coughed into the sleeve of his hoodie, feeling the silence stretch longer than he wanted it to.

“So, you like robbing banks? Who’re you, Nimona?” he asked, his voice small and tinny in the thick silence that preceded it. Cal nodded, thankful for something to distract them from something other than the quiet scratch of Logan’s pencil on notebook paper, paying no mind to the second part of his dialogue, more than likely a reference they wouldn’t understand.

“I’ve had quite a bit of practice over the years. A little nick of a galleon or two here, a little swipe of a jewel or three there, the usual. Most of it I give away, though. There are people who’re starving out there, so if going hungry one night means another person doesn’t die of hunger, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” they mused, gaining a faraway look in their eyes. Anxiety tilted his head, smiling softly as he saw Logan pause from his writings out of the corner of his eyes.

“Say, why don’t we talk to Thomas? He’s always fun,” Anxiety proposed, getting up and heading for the door. He stopped in front of the circuit board on the wall next to it and typed in something on the number pad. Cal watched him with confusion before a hologram appeared next to them. They shrieked in surprise, Anxiety sniggering with mirth.

“What is up, crew buddies? Who’s the new pal?” the hologram asked, turning to Cal with a smile that seemed too real to be digital. The hologram looked similar to Roman, though with light chestnut instead of blond hair swept over his warm brown eyes. He was donned in a bright red charvet shirt, though not much else. The image cut off right below his chest, an electric blue edge fizzing in the air like real-life glitches.

“Hi, Thomas!” Anxiety greeted, waving at the hologram, who waved back. “This is Patton’s newest childling.” Cal stuck out a hand before realizing the person apparently named Thomas was just a hologram, and shaking hands would most likely be one-sided.

“The name’s Calrex Bennova. Most people just call me the Pirate, though, seeing as I’m wanted in nearly every system there is,” they offered, quirking a side of their lips. “Who’re you, exactly?” they inquired.

“As Anxiety said, my name’s Thomas, your local, friendly AI! I’m basically the ship’s mind.” Cal narrowed their eyes, raising an eyebrow. “Logan was the one who programmed me, and he takes the more logical side of things, so he programmed most of my functions. Anxiety wrote down most of my speech patterns, though,” Thomas explained. Cal noticed Logan straighten at the mention of his new name.

“Oh no, you, too,” he said, pressing his lips into a thin line of frustration.

“Yah, Patton sort of changed your name in my database and I think Anxiety put a lock on it, so I guess I’m calling Logan from now on!” Thomas said cheerfully, shrugging his digital shoulders nonchalantly. Logan closed his eyes, taking a deep, audible breath.

“Ooh, hoo, hoo, I’m really regretting not leaving when I had the chance,” he muttered under his breath. He snapped his notebook shut, placing it delicately on the table as Cal and Thomas continued to examine one another.

The hologram tilted his head suddenly, his brows furrowing. “Ah, sorry, pals, but Patton and Roman are summoning me right now, so I gotta dash,” he said before the image was promptly cut off, nothing more than white static and garbled speech.

“Well, shoot,” Anxiety said, pouting. “There goes our only escape from boredom.”

“Nonsense, Anxiety, I can easily help with that.” Both Cal and Anxiety raised their eyebrows, clearly not seeing how the intellectual could possibly entertain them. “I recently memorized the entire Requiem scripture, which, despite its facade to be a book on religion, is actually quite an interesting commentary on our humanity and philosophy-”

“Nope, I’m good,” Anxiety said sharply, shaking his head fervently. “I’m going to go join Patton and Roman, so see you guys.” Anxiety finger-gunned the both of them, at which they cocked a confused eyebrow at the earthling’s antics, and make a hasty retreat from a possible hour long lecture on intergalactic morals. Cal breathed a laugh, rolling their eyes. They cast a side glance at Logan, catching him watching them intently.

“Don’t even think about it,” they warned. “I’m not about to be your next victim.”

“Very well,” Logan conceded. “Shall we join our crew mates?” Cal shrugged, getting up as Logan did the same. He waved his hand in front of the blueish panel, the doors opened, and they walked through in silence.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the cockpit, weaving in and out of a labyrinth of white-walled hallways. Anxiety was waiting for them there, Patton and Roman seated in the pilot chairs, small holograms flickering over their gazes. Cal’s breath stopped momentarily as they took in the sight of the room.

Behind them was a wall filled with buttons and wires and levers and all sorts of things that made no sense to them. The floor was transparent, giving the illusion of walking out right onto the stars. A faraway cluster of stars painted the heavens beneath them a neon purple, the celestial skies dark as a raven’s fallen feather. In front of them were two high-backed leather seats the color of marble, holographic screens popping up in front of them to deliver information. Ahead, the entire wall was one seamless pane of glass, not a single fingerprint visible.

It reminded them of happier times, when they could tell themself their childhood myths without triggering some painful memory. They bit their lip and focused on the stars twinkling like divine dancers slowly reaching their svelte arms towards them.

“...bank,” Logan was explaining, likely describing how they would go about robbing whatever establishment the robot had chosen. They cursed silently, having heard not a word. “Calrex, are you paying attention?”

“What? Who, me? Yeah, of course. I get a blaster and destroy everything in my path, got it.” Logan’s eyes narrowed, unimpressed. “Okay, fine, I got a little distracted by the stars and everything. Just tell me what I have to do, I’ll be fine.”

“Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to take part. You have only just healed, and you hardly know anything about us. Robbing any establishment is more than just pointing a weapon and demanding resources- it is a carefully crafted dance where everyone knows the parts they must play in order for the performance to go as smoothly as possible,” Logan replied. Roman snorted.

“I thought we normally just go off the cuff and end up with you ranting how certain damages could’ve been avoided if we’d just listened to you,” he laughed, his reflection in the glass smirking.

Logan pursed his lips. “You see what I have to deal with?” He gestured towards the prince, who smiled and waved. Cal shook their head sarcastically, fooling the robot. “Roman’s a handful and he’s emotional and he’s illogical. Is that not the worst possible scenario for any being to encounter?” The crew mates shook their heads, biting back giggles. Logan sighed. “Well, I’m frustrated now.” Cal barked out a laugh, shaking their head as they let out a long sigh.

The hologram called Thomas appeared suddenly next to them, frightening them. “Fucking Calypso! Don’t do that!” they yelped, jumping about a foot in the air, a hand clasped over their heart. Thomas cracked a smile, sheepishly apologizing as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Language, Calrex! Anyways, we’ll be arriving soon kiddos, so grab onto something,” Patton said, turning his head slightly to direct his words at the three behind him.

“What bank are you guys robbing this time?” Thomas asked.

“You’ll see,” Logan said, bringing out a pair of glasses from a breast pocket on his chest. “You all remember your illusions? Oh, Cal, you never gave me your answer. Do you want to take part in this? You’re free to leave at any time, now that you are sufficiently healed, though I must warn you that Patton does not like goodbyes.”

Cal thought for a moment. They and the crew had slowly warmed up to one another, though neither ever asked each other why Draven was hunting them. But in the few weeks they had been in the med bay, they had felt a sense of familiarity. A sense of home. A sense of belonging. It had been something they hadn’t experienced for a long time, something they only ever felt in wispy dreams that floated beside them in the heavens, mixing and mashing and creating beautiful creatures they knew they had seen somewhere beforehand.

Before them was a chance to finally have a family. No longer would they be alone. No longer would they be living on the streets. No longer would they be unwanted.

“Sure, if you want me,” they replied, lifting their head to the purple and navy skies, brilliant white stars continuing their immortal ballet. Logan nodded, Patton clapping happily. They let out a breath they hadn’t realized they’d been holding in. Part of them had latched onto distant memories that had begun fading, of the constant rejection, the endless days where they were told over and over again nobody wanted them today. Not yesterday. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never.

“That settles it. Come with me, we need to figure out a way to disguise you. Along the way I’ll explain our usual tactics,” he said, adjusting a pair of metal-rimmed glasses on his nose. He blinked, testing his vision, and determined his sight was not deterred by the pieces of convex glass. He grabbed Cal’s arm and led them out of the room, ushering them into one nearby. “Grab a stool, I believe we will be landing soon,” he instructed, grabbing a stool for himself. Cal followed the orders, and soon felt the familiar rumble of a spaceship entering a planet’s atmosphere, adjusting to the pressure and weather conditions.

“So, tell me, how exactly do you plan to disguise the most wanted outlaw whose face is plastered on every building you could think of?” Cal asked, lacing their fingers beneath their chin, settling their arms on a knee, feeling the ship begin to rock as the ship prepared to land.

“Roman will cover your scars, though I have no idea how, and I will provide you with an attire that should cover any other distinguishable features, yet still be functional should we encounter unnecessary problems.” With that said, the AI strode over to a chest in the corner of the room and opened it with a flourish, revealing dozens of clothing items packed neatly into the cramped space.

Cal’s eyes were immediately drawn to one piece. Though folded, they could tell it was a silk dress the color of faded cream. Logan noticed where their gaze fell and picked up the dress. As the garment whoosed into the air, a cerise ribbon fell out of the chest, falling on the floor in a heap, and Cal rushed to pick up the gorgeous material.

“I think I know how we can disguise you, Cal,” Logan simpered. They could practically see the gears turning in his head, his attention now focused on a chest beside the open one. He opened the smaller trunk, which contained beautiful jewelry and accessories. “Thank Calypso Draven’s nobles have such exquisite taste.” Pulling a few bracelets from it, Logan stepped back, surveying the items the both of them had acquired and looked at Cal, shoving the dress and bracelets into their arms. “Try this on.”

“For a someone as serious as you, you seem to know a lot about fashion,” they remarked, already shoving their pants off. They knew one of them had taken their shirt off to treat their wound, and besides, it’s not like Logan wouldn’t turn around anyways- which the robot had indeed already done. They pulled off their shirt, throwing the dress over them quickly, eager to see how the dress fit them. Around their waist they wrapped the cerise ribbon, tying it in the back. They slipped on the bracelets and told Logan he could turn back around.

He studied them, more focused on how well they would stay hidden rather than how the garment fit like a glove, giving them the appearance of a feminine being, a radical change from their previous experience. “It’s very flattering, Calrex. The guards should easily fall for this. Shall I acquire Roman for you?” Cal shrugged, nodding as their hands roamed over the soft fabric, marveling at its beauty. It had certainly been a long time since they had even dared to wear something so pretty, so untouched, so perfect.

It was a rogue feeling, one that dreamed of wearing dresses and slacks and jerseys and slips, unconcerned who thought what about them. But as they grew older, they had learned to forget these childish fantasies. They couldn’t afford wearing what they wanted, not if they wanted to stay hidden for as long as possible before Draven eventually found them again and they had to run for their life.

They had worn a dress once in their lifetime, a grey sleeveless one that tightened around their waist and puffed out slightly as though they wore a crinoline underneath. The best part of it was that no one had called them a girl or a tranny or anything except Calrex. That day, they had felt weightless, able to conquer anything. Pity the euphoria had ended so quickly.

With a start, they realized Roman had entered the room, Logan likely taking his place as copilot. The prince was mumbling to himself, carrying the bag they had noticed in the kitchen area. “Roman?” they asked, unsure what he was doing. The prince looked up, startled, and proceeded to gasp dramatically.

“Oh, I didn’t know Calypso herself was alive and well! You look absolutely stunning, by the way, but you shall look ravishing as soon as I’m done with you,” Roman said, smiling wickedly as he whipped out what looked like an eyeliner pencil from the bag. Cal inwardly groaned, ready to have their eye poked out or worse.

The prince got to work quickly, constantly swiping his blond hair back as he grabbed foreign objects from his bag, twisting open tubes and popping the lids off of jars. At long last, he stepped back to survey his work, and gave a satisfied sigh. “Take a look,” he said, pulling out a mirror from the seemingly bottomless bag. They take the mirror gratefully and held up it.

Cal nearly dropped it in surprise, taking in their transformed face. No longer were they the scrubby outlaw on the run for far too long, but an untouched person who had never seen poverty or war. They now took on the visage of a dainty damsel who had not yet met with death’s grim grip, their cheeks full and lips pursed, ready for the sweet taste of love. Roman had highlighted their cheekbones, covering their scars with mounds of concealer, and added dark grey eyeshadow to give their eyes more depth. They patted their cheek, seeing their reflection copy them, confirming they were real and not some illusion Roman had whipped up like magic.

They turned to Roman, smirking smugly. “How do you do this? This is incredible!” they gushed happily, ready to woo all the guards and have a good time. Roman shared their content, and the two began to exchange make-up tips they’d garnered over the years as Patton’s voice came over the intercom.

“Hey, kiddos, we’ve landed! Me, Anxiety, and Logan are all ready, so come on out whenever you guys are ready!” Cal hid a snicker, hearing Logan correct Patton’s grammar as the intercom shut off.

“I guess we join them,” Cal said, handing the mirror back to Roman. “Let’s go have some fun!” they cheered, exiting the room, promptly getting lost before Roman led them to the docking bay, where they rejoined the others.

“Oh, dear Calypso, Calrex, you look wonderful!” Patton squealed, running to hug his adorable child. They thanked him, grinning gratefully. “Right, let’s go do whatever Logan planned!” he cried with excitement as the robot took a calming breath, ready to go off on the Drisine for already forgetting the plan. Cal watched them, a bittersweet smile on their face. It had been a while since they’d witnessed scenes like this, been apart of scenes like this. Deep down, they hoped this sensation blooming in their belly like a rose at midnight would last, that maybe they could go on more adventures than just this one.

Lord Condor Finch’s Royal Bank of Taxes and Tributes was exactly like its name: huge, overzealous, and an obvious candidate for mockery and tomfoolery. Though imposing at first sight, the overuse of gold leaf was laughable, the guards sleeping were they stood was pathetic, and the amount of currency it actually contained in comparison to other banks the group had been to put a beggar’s tin cup to shame. It was perfect for the heist.

“So I know you already explained, everything, but why this bank of all places? I’ve been on the downlow for a while now, but even I know how crappy it is behind the scenes,” Cal was saying as they hiked up the long flight of cracked marble steps that led to the entrance.

“Easy,” Logan began. “Lord Finch is a moron. Thusly, his security systems are vastly inferior to others I have encountered. Besides, he taxes his people needlessly, some to the point of starvation, so by distributing the wealth within the vaults, not only might we save some lives, but the common people will begin to take our side, benefitting us in the future,” he explained as they finally reached the end of the stairs.

Anxiety bent over, panting for breath. “Give me a second, okay?” he wheezed, catching what little air remained in his lungs. Patton fussed over him, offering a canteen of water from his satchel. Anxiety shook his head, saying he was fine.

“Let’s get this over with, shall we?” Roman said, fixing the lapels of his white suit jacket. The copper on the goggles perched above his ever-present flower crown shone brightly, nearly blinding Cal as the prince turned in the sunlight. “The steampunk aesthetic belongs to Remy, and to Remy alone.”

With that said, the group moved. Cal stuck with Roman; their jobs were to distract the tellers. If the Generals broke loose, Cal had a blaster hidden within the handbag they clutched nervously. They were hoping for chaos.

Roman laced his arm with theirs, giving his most charming smile. “My dearest sister-”

“We don’t look anything alike, try again.”

“Roman glared at Cal. “My dearest friend,” he started again, “what a lovely day for us to go to the bank to make a withdrawal!” Cal sighed, raising an eyebrow. “Quiet, I’m a great actor, I just have unique methods.”

“You can say that again,” they mumbled under their breath. Roman playfully whacked Cal’s arm, huffing in exasperation. Cal’s attention, however, was already gone as they entered the massive bank. Despite its shady purpose, the bank was a magnificent sight to behold.

The golden wall stretched up for what must have been forever, curving into a domed ceiling, where a chandelier made of thousands of crystals glittered, reflecting rainbow patterns onto the walls. Dozens of little stalls were lined up against the walls, all leading towards a single door in the back of the room, which undoubtedly led to the vaults. Above the door hung a ginormous portrait of the irascible Lord Finch in all his glory, sporting a cape of loon feathers and too many medals pinned across his chest like some feeble attempt to give credence to his leadership abilities.

Looking around, there were only two or three tellers. Cal grinned. This would be easy. Roman grinned, too, sharing a knowing glance with the pirate. “I’ll take the mermaid,” the prince said, gesturing subtly to a fair maiden currently combing through aegean and peacock locks, cream seashells poking out in some places, looking bored out of her mind. “Can you handle the other two?” Cal glanced at the tellers on the opposite side, seeing a merman who definitely had to be the mermaid’s brother or something and a young girl whose eyes were the color of amethysts. They nodded, a wicked grin forming on their lips.

“I got this,” they said, hurrying off to the neighboring tellers. “Good morning,” they greeted, smiling sweetly as they approached the tellers. The merman stood at attention immediately, jolting awake as the young woman waved cheerfully. Cal headed for the woman. She would prove to be more a challenge. “My mother recently made a deposit here, but she would like to withdraw the amount. She’s fallen terribly ill, you see, and needs the money to pay for her medication,” Cal alleged, batting their eyelashes seductively. They could practically see the young lady melt at the charms they had picked up from the streets over the years.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, miss,” the woman said, speaking as though she had a bag of marbles stuffed in her mouth. “What was her name?” she asked. Cal swore under her breath. “What was that?”

“Nothing. Her name is, uh… Cassandra. Cassandra Ildris,” Cal offered stoically, swallowing the lump in their throat as the young woman brought up a hologram, pressing a dainty finger to the screen to scroll through a long list of names written in electric blue. The young woman furrowed her eyebrows.

“Hmm, I don’t see your mother’s name on the list. Are you sure she made a deposit here?” the teller asked. Cal nodded insistently.

“Perhaps she used one of her other names. She’s been married twice now, including my father,” Cal explained. “If you just check all names under Cassandra, it would likely be fastest,” they said, leaning down slightly, watching the teller’s gaze glance down before meeting with Cal’s eyes again. They smirked mentally. Too easy.

“All right, but I’ll have to ask Damien to help me. I’m not that good with technology,” the teller confessed, laughing nervously. “Damien, could you come over here and help me?” Cal grinned. Perfect. Glancing upward, they saw a small wooden beam painted white to match the walls. If they aimed just right, they could bring it down and trap the tellers. It might not be exactly what Logan had planned, but it would certainly be more fun.

The moment the merman called Damien entered the stall, however, a shout came from the other side of the spacious room. Cal turned to see Roman back away from the stall, the mermaid saying something unintelligible, waving her hands furiously. With a burst of mist, she cast a spell. The result nearly made Cal choke on their laughter.

Roman shrieked as he felt his now enlarged head, nearly double the size it had been before. At that moment, Anxiety chose to run in, who took one look at the enchanted Roman and said, “Oh, my God, it’s finally big enough to fit your ego!” He fell to his knees, laughing hysterically. Cal soon found themself unable to contain their own giggles, laughing as well as Roman began panicking.

“Um, help!” he cried.

“What did you do to Faerin?” the merman asked, running out of the stall towards the prince, who immediately began backing away, walking around like a drunk man as he tried to hold his head upright. “What did he do to you, my princess?” he asked the mermaid as Cal watched on. The other young teller ran out from her stall, joining the merpeople as they exchanged words, Damien’s eyes soon boring into Roman’s. “You will pay, you vicious fiend!”

“Oh, I should probably help him,” Cal mumble under their breath, pulling out their blaster. “Eat crystal, motherfucker!” they cried, firing the gun up at the chandelier. They didn’t know what to expect, but an ominous rumbling emanating for the ceiling was hopefully a good sign. From the corner of their eyes, they noticed Anxiety rush towards Roman, grabbing his arm and getting him away from the tellers and whatever Cal had initiated. They glanced up to see a myriad of spider cracks running across the ceiling, just barely touching the chandelier. “Hmm. That’s probably not good,” they said, beginning to head towards the back of the room, where Anxiety and Roman were headed.

They took one step forward and heard a resounding boom echo through the interior. They gulped, eyes widening, and bolted for the earthling and prince, not one second by their side before they heard a loud crash, turning to see the chandelier hitting the floor, the crystals smashing into smithereens as the brass structure holding it all together pinned down the tellers, trapping them all together. From behind them, Cal heard someone enter the room.

“Nicely down, you two- dear Calypso, Roman, what did you do?” Logan said, a large, bulky creature Cal assumed to be Patton following behind, carrying several medium-sized satchels, the coins creasing in the fabric. Roman whimpered softly, embarrassed. Anxiety rubbed Roman’s back reassuringly, calming the prince down. “We should probably leave,” Logan remarked, eyeing the enraged merman chanting in a foreign tongue.

The others agreed and they ran for one of the tall gilded windows by the door, where they had formerly agreed they would exit, as Logan knew the guards would more than likely block their original entrance. The creature known as Patton leapt first, his body weight easily shattering the glass panes. With a whoop, Anxiety jumped out, pulling some sort of martial arts move as he dove out the window, rolling as he hit the ground. Cal shot their blaster once more, firing randomly at a wall before diving out the window after the prince and the robot had clambered through awkwardly.

“FUCK YEAH!” Cal shouted giddily, a wide grin plastered across their face. The others rolled their eyes lightheartedly. Their mission, however, was not over yet. They still had to get away. Their grin grew, showing off sharp fangs, as they raised their blaster, squinting at a couple nearby trees as they jogged after the gang, nearly tripping over their feet. With a laugh, they fired a final time, directly hitting the trees, setting them aflame. Immediately, the nearby guards, all dressed to the nines in their saffron red and midnight blue uniforms and shiny black boots, ran to the fire, panicking. “That should distract them for a while,” Cal whispered-shouted to their companions, who cheered as they ran around trees, jumped over small fences and walls, and avoided any more destruction.

They all sprinted towards the nearby wooded marsh, tall pines sprouted up, outstretched towards the emerald sky dying down to a husky, smokey blue. As they reached the brackish waters, the sounds of confusion fading away, the water began seeping into their boots, the thick fog that hung in the air suffocating them, the setting sun blinding them.

“Yeesh, Logan, why do you always pick the worst places for us to hide the ship?” Roman grumbled, still holding his head so he wouldn’t fall over like a newborn. Logan simply shook his head, not bothering with a response. They continued trekking around the edge of the shallow parts of the marsh, heading deeper into the wildlands where they had hidden their ship. “Shouldn’t we see it by now?” Roman asked as a soft whisper cut him off.

“He-llo?” a voice called from all around, as though the voice wasn’t coming from just one place at one time, but rather every place at every conceivable moment. The crew froze, all looking in different directions. Cal glanced at the water a few feet away, where the water was much deeper than where they stood, and shrieked when they saw a pair of yellow eyes watching them from underneath the surface. For a moment they thought it was Draven before realizing he would never go anywhere near a marsh, too afraid of getting his precious cape wet.

“Who are yo-u?” the voice asked, echoing across the otherwise silent swampland. Cal stared down those eyes, convinced the voice belonged to the body that held those eyes. “Who are yo-u?” they repeated. The voice sounded familiar. If they closed their eyes, they could almost picture-

“Cassandra?” Cal spoke aloud. The eyes in the water were unwavering. By now, the others had noticed the yellow eyes, too, and were coming up behind Cal, ready to fight off whatever foe was calling out to them.

“Who-o is Ca-ssandra?” the voice said as the eyes rose slightly, revealing slivers of a face soaked in water. “Who are yo-u?”

Cal stepped forward, cringing as they felt the water and dead pine needles spill into their boots, soaking their socks. “My name is Calrex. Cassandra… Cassandra was a friend of mine. You sound like her,” they told the eyes. The eyes seemed satisfied with the response, blinking slowly as they registered the answer.

“My na-me is Mi-la,” the sighing voice replied. Without warning, the eyes leapt into the air, bringing with them a face, body, and mind. Before the astounded group floated a young girl, skin blue as the water she lived in, eyes wide and unblinking. Water droplets coated her body, clinging to her skin as though it didn’t want to leave, forming a dress that covered her like a ball gown, the water becoming long, draping sleeves and a high collar. Her sweeping hair that spilled past the small of her back was made of reeds swaying in the breeze; in fact, her entire body swayed as though she was made of liquids herself. “Yo-ur not suppo-sed to be he-re,” Mila said, waving a single finger childishly to emphasis her point.

“Our spaceship is here,” Cal told the water nymph. “Do you know where it is?” they asked, having a feeling the nymph did indeed know the location of their hidden ship. Mila nodded shyly.

“I kept it hi-dden for yo-u,” she whispered, drawing both her hands close. “Ingare nadia,” she chanted quietly as the water began leaping up just behind her, dancing like bolts of energy. As the water parted, fragments of cool white metal appeared. With a giggle, Mila lifted her hands into the air as if praying, and the water enveloping the ship did the same, raising the bulky vehicle in a bubble. Logan stepped forward, ready to get away from the chaos they had created at the bank. Mila suddenly whipped towards him, throwing up a wall of transparent water to block him from continuing forward.

“Mila, you want something from us, right?” Cal asked, remembering previous encounters with water nymphs that had not ended well. Mila nodded, her lips parting into a youthful smile.

“Tw-o things,” the nymph said, holding up the equivalent number of fingers. “One, a ki-ss from the pri-nce,” she said, blushing as she glanced at Roman, who flashed her a charming smile. “Tw-o, an apology for hur-ting Fae-rin... She’s my only fri-end.” Mila ducked her head.

“It doesn’t seem to bad an offering. I say we take it,” Cal proposed, turning to the others. Logan shrugged, as did Roman. The creature known as Patton squealed, indicating an agreement. Anxiety, however, stepped forward.

“Undo whatever spell was cast on Roman and I’ll be your friend,” he offered. In a more gentle tone, he added, “It’s got to be lonely, out here all the time, when nobody ever stops by or says hello.” Cal’s brow raised. They’d have to ask about that later.

“I’ll be your friend, too! It would be an honor to share a friendship with such a magnificent young lady such as yourself,” Roman commented. Patton barked, agreeing with the earthling and the prince. Logan sighed, muttering something along the lines of, “I’ll offer companionship as well.” They all look expectantly at Cal.

“What, do you really think I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like Mila? She’s cool enough, I wanna be friends with a water nymph,” Cal remarked, turning back towards a smiling Mila. “So, what do you say? We accept your offering, what about ours?” Mila lifted her yellow eyes ever so slightly and grinned, nodding.

“I would li-ke more fri-ends,” she mumbled. She drew closer to the group, her feet barely skimming the surface of the marsh, until she floated in front of Cal. Mila shyly extended a hand. Cal grinned back at the little nymph, grabbing the hand and shaking it firmly. “Ke-ep your end of the de-al first,” she said as she drew her graceful hand back.

Cal glanced over at Roman, who stumbled forward as Anxiety shoved him forward, the shadows on his face just barely concealing his smirk. “Go on and kiss the girl,” he said as Roman’s eyes lit up at the phrase.

“Oh, I love that movie with the mermaid!” Roman exclaimed as he neared the nymph. “Perhaps we can show it to Calrex tonight?” he inquired, pursing his lips as he batted his eyelashes.

“Only if you get us out of the mess you caused,” Anxiety replied. Roman scoffed, but turned towards Mila, who had sunk halfway into the water to be eye level with the dashing prince. Flashing her his trademark grin, the prince leaned over and pecked the young girl on the cheek as she blushed, giggling in a manner that echoed across the marsh.

“I apologize most deeply, my dear Mila, for hurting your friend. Do accept my most sincere and heartfelt apology,” he said, bowing deeply. Mila laughed, a tinkling sound that reminded Cal of fairies.

“It was fu-nny hearing it from the wa-ter,” she mused. “Th-ey tried to mi-mic it, yo-u flirting with Fae-rin and fai-ling.” Mila turned towards the others, whose interests were now piqued with curiosity. “He to-ld her, ‘Yo-ur eyes shine like the mo-on on a cry-stal ni-ght,’ ‘Yo-u’re the mo-st beau-tiful sea crea-ture I’ve met.’” Mila burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as Cal glanced at Roman.

“You called her a sea creature? No wonder she cast a spell on you!” they uttered, shaking their head in exasperation. Roman spluttered, unsure how he could spin some sort of witty response from this humiliation. Mila sighed.

“Yo-u kept your bar-gain, now I ke-ep mine,” she proclaimed as she throw her hands up in the sky, waving them as though she was signaling some passing ship. “Vocifere, caban!” With the enchantment cast, a cloud of smoke encapsulated Roman, dissipating to reveal the mermaid’s spell had been reversed.

Roman clapped both hands over his face. “Oh, my gorgeous head is back to normal! Anxiety, do I look okay? Because a prince has got to slay,” he asked. Anxiety laughed, disguising it with a cough.

“You look fine no matter what’s happened to you, don’t worry,” he reassured the prince. “Anyways, Mila, thank you so much for your help,” he thanked the nymph. “We might not be able to come back for a while, but we’ll try to return as soon as we can.” The nymph smiled happily, waving. The wall of water blocking Logan suddenly dropped down, scaring the robot. With a few more thanks and a couple vociferations of the marsh water soaking their feet, the group finally clambered onto the ship.

As the door shut, Cal swore they heard Mila say, “Go-od luck, Pi-rate. Fi-ght and pro-sper.” Perhaps it had just been the wind.

“Alright, kiddos, let’s get out of here before the guards find us!” Patton said, morphing back as he threw the heavy satchels off his shoulders, heading for the cockpit. Cal felt a breath of relief rush out of them as they followed the Drisine. They’d done it. Nobody had gotten (fatally) injured, no guards were firing at them as the ship started up its engines, and they had actually done something.

“What a heist,” Anxiety sighed, leaning over the copilot’s chair, dangling his arms in front of Roman’s face.

“That was certainly an ordeal,” Logan huffed, settling onto a stool as Patton skillfully guided the craft into the air, where they could easily see the miniscule figures of guards and peasants all grouped around a hole in one of the bank’s back walls. A pile of golden coins shimmered on the ground, spilling from the vault inside the building. “Hmm, looks like the commoners are taking advantage of Lord Finch’s private income,” the robot noted.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink or two,” Cal stated. “Calypso knows after all this, it’s gonna take at least seven Harvey Wallbangers to forget the sight of Roman’s head double its size.” Lighthearted laughter overtook the cockpit as Roman groaned, wishing he, too, to forget what would likely be held against him for the rest of his life.

“Let’s just head over to Remy’s already,” the prince pleaded.

“Alright, I’m setting course for there now,” Patton said. “Boy, I won’t forget that adventure of a lifetime. And Cal got to be a part of it!” he squealed, his smile practically crushing his cheeks. Cal quirked up a corner of their, the feeling of apprehension beginning to sink in.

“If you don’t mind,” they began nervously, “I’d like to keep having more adventures with you guys. At least I wouldn’t be bored.” A silence fell and immediately Cal knew they said the wrong thing.

Patton squealed even louder, confusing the outlaw as to how the windows had yet to break from the high-pitched noises. “Oh, we would love that!” he exclaimed as he got up from the pilot’s seat to hug Cal tightly, Roman huffing as he took over Patton’s duties to fly the ship. Though first surprised at the kind gesture, Cal felt themself relax, awkwardly wrapping their arms around the Drisine to hug him back. The warmth that followed was something they remembered feeling a long time ago, when they were still an innocent child.

Yeah, they could definitely get used to this.

WOOT WOOT WOOT ANOTHER CHAPTER UP! I hope all you lovelies enjoyed this new installment! (It was so much fun to write the bank scene)

Hey guess what I was inspired over the weekend for a chapter that probably won’t come up for a while so here you go:

“I will give you world. Every night, I'll let you know how much I love you in a hundred different ways. Every morning, when you wake up, I'll be by your side, whispering sweet nothings, telling you how beautiful you are, how your eyes look like the heavens when you're excited, how you are the bravest person I've ever met. Every day, I'll sing a ballad of praises for you. I will make you and this entire universe see how much you mean to me, because lavehsea, I’m so in love with you I might just burst, and dear Calypso this went so much better in my head.”

Hmm, may have just spoiled what that story’s about... heh.

AnYwHo, thank you all for reading, reblogging, and leaving likes :)

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