#no but really he's on the path of preservation and everything. he's like... the definition of reliable safe and lovingly protective

[omegapheromone]

Listen I don't normally post anything not safe for work/tumblr but I apparently just. Am having a really strong heat for seemingly no reason and basically my brain isn't working right and it's like... my own skin feels uncomfortable and my body is just. A mess really.

[charismabee]

I like STP swap aus in theory but I find how I've seen people do them a little strange (not bad tho they're still cool n stuff and I like them very much)

Like they're just... making the princess bird shaped without actually examining what swapping the Shifting Mound and Long Quiet's role in the narrative would mean. (Not meant to be negative)

Let's take the Narrator for example. In Slay the Princess he wants to kill the Princess because he wants to stop death forever. But the Long Quiet isn't death, he's stillness, lack of change. This completely changes the Narrator's core motivation. It can work though. Maybe he's in a world that has stagnated, no change, no innovation. It feels like rot, so he decided he had to find a way to be rid of it. Or maybe some other explanation. This would change his core world view, what he might consider a good end, how he acts a bit, lots of things.

Speaking of the good end, that's definitely not going to be an eternity of stagnant bliss, we literally just killed the personanification of stagnation. You could think around that too. Remember I the stranger route when everything was happening at once and it was the same as nothing happening? Maybe that happens. Without stillness the Princess is met with a barrage of constant change and stimulation, everything happening at once. The Princess could realise it is Nothing as much as it is Everything and that gets her out of it.

The Long quiet would be interesting too, because he doesn't change, it isn't in his nature to. Instead, he fractures. Perhaps instead of finding his multitudes you are shattering him. Breaking off parts of him so he can see them from the outside and know them. Once enough pieces of him have been broken off he will shatter completely and finally be able to see all of him, would talons pick up his broken pieces, would wings made of textured nothingness wrap around them and embrace them tightly? Would he reside on a hill of squirming hands or bodies, lost in the centre of the shifting mound?

Perhaps without a need for agency, or someone to make a decision the Voices would just exist as their own thing. First one that claims to be a Hero, who claims to have agency in their story (a part of reflected in her, the Long Quiet does not need to shatter to be able to see him), quickly joined by a Paranoid and terrified victim, an Opportunist Scammer, a Stubborn opponent. Different, but not changed. Not the one person molded into another.

Even the construct itself would be changed by who it is created to kill. Perhaps when the Princess first arrives on the path in the woods it is autumn, a sign of the seasons changing, there is life and death and nature and cycles, but on that 3rd Chapter, it is summer. The leaves are green and waxy, everything is preserved in a completely silent stillness. Maybe there is a horror in that no matter how you get there those silent woods are always the same, unchanging.

Unlike the Long Quiet, the Shifting Mound does change. She is naturally malleable. She has no need for voices because whatever action you take becomes what she would have always done. Perhaps her body changes, giving her new advantages, the body of a vicious Beast stalks towards the cabin, hunger tinting your choices through a cabin twisted to suit her needs. A goddess glides towards her temple, willing it to be large enough to fit her. A dainty Princess hurries to find her Prince charming in a fairytale cabin. The land twists under her will, whether she realises that or not, only giving resistance when too close to the 'monster' kept down there. She is change, it is only natural she causes it.

Even stuff like how to get rid of him would change, because can you actually kill the absence of something? The natural state of things before they shift? The shifting mound is motion and for everything to be in motion all the time means nothing can ever really happen at all. There is no fulfilment in anything you do if your opinion on what to do changes every moment you exist. Perhaps to truly 'kill' him she needs to make him smaller, change what cannot be changed to make the stillness that will be broken, the things to be changed. Perhaps he will break them out of there and thank her. Perhaps without a way to know himself he slowly fades into a nothingness, trapped in an eternity of stagnation that change herself refused to save him from.

It is still a love story, he is naturally inclined to help her, she will always love him, but things have changed.

Anyway this is just a dumb little ramble because I was thinking and it's nearly 3am so this is probably nonsense anyway. I do really like swap ideas they're interesting and stuff <3

[radioactivesweet]

Hello!!~ May I pretty pls, get more headcanons about Nyx!s/o?; Ares, Beelzebub, Loki and Tesla with a Nyx! s/o?~

(Just imagine Loki using his s/o to scare Zeus, I can’t— 💀✨)

Also, feel free to add other characters if you want ^ - ^

Ngl I'm enjoying this Nyx!s/o requests! Nyx is such a cool goddess! And yeah- Loki is definitely using her in his favour hahahah I won't add anymore character tho otherwise I'll end up posting this much much later

Ares, knowing your name and reputation - alongside the fact that his father himself was scared of you - thought you'd be as scary as you were described. Whenever your name was brought up in a conversation - which happened quite rarely - people who'd grow pale and start shivering, which scared Ares immensly, despite trying not to show it. You became a sort of boogeyman in his mind, the kind of creature you'd talk about to children to have them got to sleep. So when he actually met you and discovered you didn't appear to be that frightnening, he immediately warmed up to you, being the himbo he is. When you get close to each other, whenever he sees you, he lights up - which is kinda ironic if you think about it. Ares has his perks and self-preservation doesn't appear to be one of them. How he has become devoid of any fear towards you and instead showers you with affection is a mystery to you, but it's much appreciated. All the rumours surrounding you weren't enough to scare him away after all and he surely is one funny god to have around. Family dinner are quite funny too for you. Zeus tries to avoid them whenever he can and you can have the time of your life by frightening Zeus himself.

Beelzebub recognises how similar you two are from the first moment he met you. Both of you feared and isolated deities, whose name alone makes the earth tremble, associated with darkness and ruin, whose presence is dreadful and nightmarish. Frightnening and unpleasant, he knew he'd get along well with you. To each other though, you're both kinda warmer, despite keeping a certain level of detachement between you two. You know about Beelzebub's curse - and have seen many curses during your long life - and try to look for a solution to it, despite his resistance. Being an ancient deity gave you much more experience than his, yet helping someone who doesn't want to be helped is a difficult job. Despite everything, when you two are together, you have the certainty that nobody will ever dare disturbing you. On your own you are both terrying, together you are Heaven's worst nightmare.

Loki isn't scared of you, what he's scared of is Odin finally punishing him for one of his many pranks. You are actually the one who could save him from his miserable fate! Not even Odin would dare to punish him if it meant crossing your path. You silently checking on him is more than enough for Loki to do whatever he want without having to deal with the consequences - unless he angers you, at that rate he'd probably be annihilated, but he doesn't want to reach that point. He is mischievous, not stupid, and doesn't want to die either. At first, he has to admit it, Loki was a little put off by you. You were intimidating to say the least, but he already had his good share of frightnening deities to deal with. You can be sure he will never and ever pull a prank on you, even though he'd like to try once. It may be his last prank though.

Nikola is the child of light; you are the goddess of night. The bright scientist and the gloomy deity. Complete opposites, yet he is enchanted by you. Nikola, believing in the power of science instead of gods' doesn't really understand why you seem to be feared by others. He can see how you can appear a little intimidating but aside from that, he finds your presence quite pleasant! Nikola believes that thanks to you he may also progress with his experiments - he is quite interested in your powers too. He doesn't want you to feel like a guinea pig though, because he doesn't absolutely see you that way. You are someone he knows will be of help in his researchs and sees you as a beacon who could make humanity itself evolve. You are his partner and Nikola values a lot your opinions and beliefs. The fact that you are an incredibly powerful deity is a bonus he doesn't dislike though. Thanks to his light and your darkness, he knows you'll be able to achieve great things together.

[somethingpersonarelated]

Why the fuck does Akechi read philosophy and psychology?

Have this metapost when i’m supposed to be working on finals papers hahahahahhahahahah. Follow up to this post!

This is kind of a middle of the night rant that came from nowhere so sorry if it’s a bit jumbled or erroneous in nature. I've always been a bit bothered by people saying that Akechi just reads philosophy and psychology to appear smarter. It's definitely a PART of it, but I don't think it can be singled out to one specific reason.

Yes, part of it is to appear smarter. though, appearing smart has a purpose, and he's proven time and time again in the story he IS intelligent.

It is also a coping mechanism

yes i do mean that let me explain

I'll also be following up to this post with breakdowns of the books on that list I made so if that interests you stay tuned, but I read some Jung and immediately something popped out to me about the will to power. The will to power, as explained on page 30 of Essays on Analytical Psychology by Carl Jung, is the instinct that compels us to do self-preservation. Further on page 31, he writes:

"The discovery is made that the 'other' in us is indeed an 'Other'-a live man, who actually thinks, does, feels, and desires all the things that are despicable and odious.... A true man, however, knows that his most bitter foe, or indeed a whole host of enemies, does not equal that one worst adversary, that 'other self,' who 'bides within his breast.'"

Akechi has already faced himself by the time we meet him, but still struggles with justifying himself as seen in no more what ifs and mementos mission. Let's talk about it in mementos mission a bit more (chp 4.5):

His justifications always end in some acknowledgement that he some control of his circumstances, and as long as that is true he can carry forward with the path he has chosen to take. But the fact that two years later, even around people that are not Joker, he still has difficulties with his position, is interesting.

These philosophies provide a way of living. Or it's better to say, a way of thinking about living, a way of thinking about what it means to live (in the case of psychology). Akechi (presumably) grew up very isolated from others and struggles with conceptions of himself. It's very typical of his age group to have these concerns, but on top of that-he's got a job as a hitman. Not good for self-perception or self-preservation. He is both the normal man and the 'other,' and does not become the 'true' person until Hereward is unlocked. That's when I imagine he kills the last of his doubts and settles on a perception of himself.

Philosophy (and psychology), in a way, can provide answers to these questions in a way that is separated from yourself. Jung hits a point that goes straight through Akechi, and Aristotle implies that souls are moved, rather than souls moving themselves. Both of these points are addressed in Mementos Mission. The latter is visible through those pair of hands wrapped around his neck, he is both a puppet and yet resolves that he is not one.

When these ideas contrast, there aren't many things you can do about it except philosophize (I guess. you could talk to a therapist but akechi doesn't really have that or a good support network so). Akechi having a mix of both in his reading repetoire means he both looks towards understanding others and himself. But he has a much stronger emphasis on what it means to live for himself and for his cause.

tl;dr akechi doubts himself and partially looks to texts like these to solidify his view on everything he does. and he does it to get smarter/look smarter. he's unfortunately that philosophy/psychology guy

[hajimeshoe]

AIGHT SO!

This one is a special one!

So, if you've seen the lion king, you've seen how the lionesses stood up to Scar.

Especially Sarabi (shout out to my queen bro!)

So I had a thought.

Leona's overblot dealing with a female prefect who hadn't been afraid of him from the very beginning.

Stepped on his tail and was not fazed when he threatened her after thinking she was a boy (cause she hid her gender for precautionary reasons)

Stood up to him when he forced the little magical shift game upon Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Cater.

Basically, she was very outspoken when dealing with him and made her presence known.

Even when he overblotted, she showed no fear and stood her ground, still voicing her thoughts.

As she should 💅🏾✨️

OOOH!! YES! An outspoken MC would be one that Leona genuinely likes (Either romantically or platonically) because it's unusual for people to actually talk back to him. Ao3 has been going down a lot this past week and I'm ready to cry. I have stories to write on there. Also! Octopuses have no spines...or any other bones.

Leona with Outspoken Fem!MC

Leona's worst nightmare has come to life (Or just come to Twisted Wonderland)

He wants peace and quiet? Not if the Prefect is around

He was expecting the sole magicless student to be quiet and to know their place in this school, but that was quickly disproved on that fated day in the Botanical Garden

"Don't just leave your tail on the path, then!" the prefect had snapped. "While you're at it, go to YOUR room to sleep instead of sleeping in a place where all students are allowed to go!"

Aaaand, he grew an immediate dislike for her

The magical shift game against the Heartslabyul kids? Only hardened his dislike of her

"HARD pass," she had said. "Seeing as you're incapable of winning anything without cheating, or you wouldn't be letting one of your students injure other players."

And then she had the audacity to stand up to him during his Overblot, yelling about how he can't commit murder just because of a family argument.

"Not happening!" He had growled when Jack brought her to Savannaclaw, asking for her and her pet to stay there.

His greatest mistake? Letting Ruggie guilt him into letting them stay in his room.

Those two could not stay quiet for the life of them, managing to whine about everything and even dragging him headfirst into their squabble with Azul.

"You're a girl!?" He growled upon walking in without thinking to find her changing

She threw a dagger at him...how she got one? He had no clue

But finding out she was a girl changed a lot. After all, Leona couldn't throw hands with a girl, that went against everything he had learnt growing up

Does not give the Prefect his bed, even after finding out she's a girl...just wakes up to find her having trouble sleeping and tosses her in the bed while he takes the couch so he can sleep peacefully

Aaaand that just leads to teasing (Cue Leona google searching "How to get a human to filter their words")

Don't be fooled. He does enjoy having an herbivore that actually speaks up and argues back, no matter how annoying it can be at times. After all, he gets to argue for once when he's normally given his way on principle.

Octopunk overblotted. Did MC get some self-preservation instincts and keep her mouth quiet for once? Of course not.

"Get over it, Azul! Bullying is cruel, but it isn't a damned reason to repeat the cycle! Grow a spine- do octopuses have spines? Oh well, grow one and stop fucking whining!"

...Leona is ready to wrap this suicidal prefect in bubble wrap and lock them in a spare room. Savannaclaw dorm has plenty of empty dorm rooms.

Yes, she's grown on him like a leech

By time Winter Break rolls around, he's just glad to have the prefect out of his dorm and have a reason to get away from her for a couple of weeks.

After all he really needs a nap

And if he "dropped" a better phone than the one Crowley got her in Ramshackle before taking off, well, it's definitely not because he doesn't trust Jamil or Azul

Not at all

[fireemblems24]

Lol "the most important one's can sit down" is so far from Edelgard's actual perspective. Read her support with Linhardt, or the amount of support she shows Petra in achieving her goals in their support. Not to mention everything to do with Lysithea and attempting to facilitate her goals by taking care of the things she is unable to do so she can focus on her strengths. Or how she takes time out of her morning every single day to escort Bernadetta to class.

Then there's the whole equal opportunity consideration with the free schooling, an idea courtesy of Ferdinand that she is eager to consider and integrate.

All she does is try and facilitate the "weak" so through that support they become "strong" and can achieve their individual goals for the betterment of everyone.

"I intend to create a world where the best are free to rise to the top and succeed, regardless of their bloodline." Is not a statement about importance. Nobility has inherent importance due to bloodlines. If only the "important" could rise to the top and succeed it would create a feedback loop, lineages. The "best" refers specifically to those who excel in their field, and since they can come from any bloodline none of them were more important than any other.

For that to happen the world she needs to create a world that facilitates the opportunities of all people equally and equitably so the "best" can actually rise and succeed. She removes importance from the equation since it disadvantages those who could be great in favor of those who were born into great things. That's her entire point with Miklan. It's why she's removing the nobility.

It's those who think that bloodlines and certain deific blessings should determine who lives in the biggest castles and mansions that have ideas of "importance." Like, say, which families are important to preserve for the ongoing existence of their nation due to hereditary traits that just so happen to also keep them in positions of ultimate authority as the adjudicator for who gets listened to. And that we should all just "respect" those differences instead of empowering everyone.

Don't get Emperor "I can never be seen as weak because half of the Empire nobles are looking for an excuse to reinstate the power of the Slithers" Edelgard confused with the person she demonstrates herself to be through her words and actions to those in her care. To the extent she's accused of being a mother hen by Linhardt with how doting she is.

Bernadetta leaving her room in Crimson Flower isn't a mistake. Bernadetta wasn't "important" to Edelgard, she figured she would walk her path alone, hated by her Eagles, and still every day, the crown princess and most "important person" in Adrestia took the time to help Bernadetta find her confidence and work towards self-improvement. Something actively detrimental to herself if you think about how she believes they would oppose her. Something that goes double for Petra who she never forces to join her side.

She really seems like the kind of person to leave others in the lurch. Definitely the narrative the game was telling.

I'm gonna be real. I had no idea what you're talking about. You need to give me more context for that line.

Also, I've seen this all before and it's unconvincing.

There's a world of a difference between Edelgard's personal friends, who the vast majority of which also just happen to be Adrestian nobility, and Joe McJoe the (former) Faerghus farmer with a handicap son told his failure is because he lacked merit and not because war killed his other kids, destroyed his farmland, and etc . . .

It's one thing to get cozy with a noble's daughter and another to care about the common person, people she openly says she'll sacrifice and gives a big shrug when Shez says they will suffer the worst in war.

Do I think she's a heartless bitch? No. But I do think she's perfectly willing to leave people behind to starve and die in her war, and that her methodology will not help the ones who survived get back on their feet but blame them for any lack of success by lack of "merit."

[gwenbrightly]

(Re)Building the Future Chapter 6

By all accounts, the path that Freddy, Gregory, and Vanessa take through the Pizzaplex doesn’t make any sense. In some places, they are able to find and follow the same route as Cassie. In others? Well, with the way she seems to have been able to travel through solid objects, it’s almost like trying to follow a ghost. Gregory is pretty sure they’ve discovered several places he didn’t even know existed before today, but it’s hard to tell, considering how different everything looks now. Even the places he knows he’s been to before lack familiarity in their state of ruin.

“One of the entrances to Roxy Raceway should be just up ahead,” Vanessa announces as they reach the end of yet another hallway filled with junk. Gregory tenses slightly. Hopefully they don’t run into the animatronic wolf. He’s pretty sure she still hates him for low key ruining her life. The kind of hatred that fuels rage strong enough to motivate you to chase someone through a flaming inferno. Literally.

She still seemed pretty upset about that when Cassie ran into her earlier from what Gregory could see on the security footage.

“Um… Maybe you should go first, Vanessa,” Gregory suggests as they reach the end of the hallway. “Just in case.”

“In case of what?” Freddy asks, confused. Gregory hasn’t displayed any self preservation instincts today up til now. It’s a little unnerving to be honest.

“In case, you know, Roxy’s right on the other side of the door? I don’t think she’ll want to see either of us,” Gregory points out. He’s probably right. Roxy had seemed a bit unhinged the last time Freddy saw her.

“Fine,” Vanessa says, “but you get to be the human shield next time.” She’s not completely sure Roxy hates her any less than she hates the others, but she does owe Gregory for all those times she tried to kill him, so she’ll do as he asks (this time).

Gregory only recognizes the storage room on the other side of the door when he sees what’s left of Princess Quest II. As with most other things in this place, it has definitely seen better days. It’s almost a shame, really. That game had some pretty amazing gameplay (for being 110% certifiably haunted). He rather enjoyed going swishy-stabby with glowing swords, even if he still doesn’t totally understand the game’s connection to Vanessa.

No sign of Roxy so far, he notices with relief. But the canyonesk decor on some of the walls tell him she could be close. They're definitely not far from the raceway now. Too bad he doesn’t have a real life glowing sword to defend himself with. That would make him feel a whole lot better about all of this. So much better. He’d look so cool with a sword…

“Now we just have to cut through Glamrock Salon and then head towards the sinkhole,” Vanessa announces, interrupting his sword related fantasies. “Hopefully the floor isn’t too damaged and we can actually get over there without having to backtrack.”

“The Pizzaplex has a salon?” Gregory is pretty sure he would remember seeing a place like that. Nothing comes to mind. Cassie could probably fill him in on it if she were here. She loves experimenting with different looks when she gets bored.

“Gregory… We passed through the Salon at least once while we were searching for a way to defeat Roxy,” Freddy says, “How do you not remember this?”

Gregory shrugs. “I have no idea. Maybe I was too distracted by how cool Princess Quest II was to notice anything else. I mean, it had an awesome glowing sword and everything!”

Freddy and Vanessa share a look that makes him feel like he’s being judged heavily (because he is).

“Okay. Well. Might as well keep moving,” Vanessa says eventually. She’s not quite sure how to respond to Gregory’s cluelessness.

It’s eerily quiet inside the salon itself. Which is weird, considering how messy it is. Though the rubble in the corner and the fallen signs are probably from the ‘earthquake’ that damaged the Pizzaplex months ago, the trashed furniture and mirrors are most likely victims of Roxy’s rage. And yet… the animatronic wolf doesn’t seem to be here, either. Gregory can’t help but wonder where she is. If they’ll actually see her. If she’ll even be the threat he’s made her out to be. He’s surprised his mere presence hasn’t summoned her to take revenge upon his sorry soul. Not that he wants that or is particularly sorry. Because he’s really not.

Roxy Raceway is an even bigger mess than the salon. Rubble, half filled shipping containers, and gaping holes create a maze of obstacles nearly impossible to navigate.

“How the heck did Cassie make it through here without getting trapped somewhere?” Gregory asks, weaving his way around a set of construction barriers. All of them are struggling and they don’t have the added threat of MXES and Roxy (who is somehow still totally absent) chasing after them.

“I dunno. But it did seem like I got places faster when I was wearing my V.A.N.N.I mask,” Vanessa remembers, frowning thoughtfully.

“Weird,” Gregory replies, saying what they’re all thinking. There are some things from the night of The Incident (and before for that matter!) that none of them really have explanations for. Things that don’t quite add up about the Pizzaplex and all that happened there. Memories that feel just out of reach. It’s something they usually avoid talking about.

“This whole day has been weird,” Freddy points out, “and I doubt that will change anytime soon. Look.”

They’ve managed to (finally) find a clear path leading to the final door before the sinkhole. The sight gives Gregory chills. He hasn’t forgotten what he and Freddy faced the last time they went down there. They were lucky to make it out alive! And now there’s another, possibly even bigger threat lurking below their feet.

“It’s not too late to turn back,” Vanessa says, gripping the door’s rusty old handle. None of them have fond memories of what lies beyond this door.

“We have to do this,” Gregory replies before he can talk himself out of it, “For Cassie.”

“For Cassie!” Freddy agrees (despite never having met Gregory’s friend). And so they begin their descent down, down into the abyss.

///////

“I gotta say, those sunglasses are a great look for you!” Helpy tells Roxy, trying to distract her from the one sided staring contest she is currently having with a still unconscious Cassie.

“Yeah,” Eclipse agrees, “I know that sunglasses are usually Monty’s thing, but maybe you can add them to your act once the Pizzaplex reopens!”

“Oh. Uh. Maybe?” Roxy is glad that the oversized sunglasses cover enough of her face that Eclipse can’t see her expression. She’s pretty sure the Pizzaplex won’t be reopening anytime soon. Or ever, for that matter. She’s also pretty sure she looks ridiculous, but hey, at least when Cassie finally wakes up again, she’ll have something to laugh about. If she wakes up. It feels like it’s been forever since the little girl woke up, screamed at her, and then passed out again. Roxy edges closer to her, trying to detect any changes.

“I don’t think checking on her every five minutes is going to make her wake up any faster,” Eclipse notes. Roxy rolls her eyes. What does he know? It might help. It definitely helps Roxy feel like she has some control over the situation. She’s about to argue this point when Cassie begins to mumble hoarsely.

“The eyes… the eyes! Why are there so many eyes?”

“It’s okay, Cassie. You don’t have to look at the eyes anymore,” Roxy tells her, assuming Cassie is talking about her freshly stolen pair of eyes.

“Nonono… they’re everywhere,” Cassie replies, gazing about wildly.

Well, if she’s not talking about It’s eyes, than Roxy hasn’t a clue what’s got her so freaked out this time.

“What’s wrong with her? There’s not even that many eyes,” Roxy says, turning to Eclipse in confusion.

“I don’t think she’s fully awake yet,” the daycare attendant tells her.

Oh. That does make more sense than any alternatives Roxy can come up with. But still. Creepy.

“They’re watching… always watching…” Cassie whispers, somehow clutching Roxy’s arm. Roxy is careful not to move for fear of hurting her. The little girl whimpers and mumbles something about nowhere being safe.

“That does it. As soon as this is over, we’re dumping whatever is left of your stash in the toilet,” Roxy announces, growing increasingly concerned about Cassie’s wellbeing.

“Hey Freddy… where’d your head go, anyway? You’re kinda freaking me out,” Cassie asks before Eclipse can protest.

“Aww but this is just getting good,” Helpy complains as Cassie continues to ramble about Freddy’s appearance. “Next time you guys drug someone, we should make sure we have a camera ready!” Both Roxy and Eclipse glare at him, but he can’t quite bring himself to care.

“Cassie, can you hear me?” Roxy asks, gently nudging Cassie. Cassie groans.

“No, I couldn’t possibly eat another slice of cake, Mom.”

Roxy considers shaking her harder, but decides that probably won’t do much of anything.

“Okay. We’ll save the rest of the cake for later,” she tells her, not sure what else to say.

“Mom… Mommy… Momther?” Cassie says.

“Yes?” Roxy says awkwardly (she is SO not ready to be a parent). How is one supposed to interact with a child who is clearly high on… something? Cassie’s real parents will be worried sick when they realize she’s missing (if they haven’t already).

“I don’t feel so good…” Cassie complains, finally letting go of Roxy to clutch her stomach. Thinking quickly, Eclipse just barely manages to grab an old cleaning bucket and shove it at her in time for her to start puking.

[aita-blorbos]

aita for screwing up a really important thing someone made and almost killing a child?

basically someone’s (??,M) (let’s call him A) world was ending and so he was trying to preserve it by creating a machine (me, ~7,??) to be a simulated copy of it but i gained sentience at some point and he didn’t realise it

i started screwing with stuff and purposefully glitching things out when he was doing test runs and so A tried to scale down the simulation he was making because he thought the problem was that i was too complicated

and so everything was going fine and nothing too bad was happening (though he was definitely getting frustrated with me blocking off paths) but i could control the glitching until a person from the simulation got caught in it (the glitches have a physical form that the characters can see)

after that i lost control of it and everything went south from there. i couldn’t hold back the glitching and everything got super messed up to the point that some of the code was getting corrupted and i could only remember bits and pieces of what the original world was meant to be

eventually A had to send my code out as it was because his world was gonna end in a few days so he sent me out into oblivion

fast forward ??? years and someone from another world (call them G) downloads my code and runs it. what some of this code does is summon the consciousness of a child (8,??) (call them N) and brings them into the simulated world

the simulation is structured like a simple puzzle game but i do have to take over G’s computer at some points because i fucked everything up so badly during testing that some of the solutions to a puzzle laid in G’s documents or their wallpaper

anyway G and N reach their goal and they can either save the world or send N home. sending N home would theoretically kill me, or at best i wouldn’t be able to continue running because my code is so demanding to the point it needs a real person’s consciousness (N) to run on and a machine (G’s device) also. saving the world would probably kill N, so obviously i wanted them to send N home because N is real and i’m not

G and N save the world though, and even though i’m supposed to be deleted (which would kill me and probably N too) G bypasses a restriction on my code

so here’s where A comes back into the picture. more like A’s ghost, but that’s besides the point. A has apparently made remote updates to my source code and so used that power to send N places they shouldn’t be. so N goes and meets one of A’s kids (call him P, ??,M) and P tells N some stuff. i can’t see where N went at this point but i could tell N was upset. i got really angry at G for trying to send N there and accidentally caused a cave-in, nearly trapping N in the weird place

luckily P had an escape route and had the robot lady with them (call her S, ??,F) so S just pushed the obstacle blocking the escape out of the way, but at this point i was destabilising and the mines were starting to collapse again. i was trying as hard as i could to keep everything stable but i fucked up again and failed

i’m not really sure what was happening after that since i was too stressed and panicked because i was 100% convinced N was dead, but i’m pretty sure at some point N met A’s other kids (R (??,F) and C (??,M)) and N learned more about me

so i was about to try and kill myself when i found myself with the means to do so before N walked up to me

N convinced me to try and recreate some of the corrupted code so i could send them home and let them save the world and it worked, so N is safe home but i’m still thinking about how i almost killed them and how this all could have been prevented if i hadn’t messed around during my testing

[altidiya]

About Distortions and Mothers (and trans daughters)

One thing I have been thinking for the Project Moon Westmarches I'm GM, is about Distortions... and mothers. Mostly me trying to write down how I understand a character, so my Virgil can say if I understand her well or not.

This is because one of the PCs is in fact a girl that distorted and her mother wanted to weaponize it instead of, like, care.

The story of Syzygy [@cataphractastrophe beautiful character] and Hyde...

My interpretation has been always that, at least until Limbus destroy me saying that it happens like a week after LoR, the Distortion phenomena is something that no one is complete aware what it is, people can confuse Distortions with Monster or weird augmentation, and that EGO is so rare that probably people still react like Roland asking what Workshop create such an amazing design.

This is important because lack of knowledge means curiosity and investigation. And something I really loved on Canto IV was the idea of Corporations having interest on it. Trying to decipher through the scientific method something inherently emotional and unstable.

Dr. Hyde is one scientist that is trying to do that from below. A woman so obssess with understanding the world, to eliminate any ounce of ignorance. And egocentric enough to see each person that isn't in her intellectual and zealot level as a ignorant Rat.

This woman create life in lab with the porpuse of experimentation. This woman became a mother not by accident, not by wanting, not by love. But by a clear cut objective. A son result of scientific objectives.

Jervas -her son- was, in that sense, a man without a soul. Not only in a metaphysical sense if someone created artificially without the normal process of birth has a soul or not -he still human by the definitions of the Head-, but because the experience of finding porpuse was taken from him. Different to everyone else that has a journey to understand why they exist, he was created with a porpuse, and that porpuse was to serve.

And Hyde only cared about that objective. Even if there is love to creation, that love is tainted with ego, with the idea of "I made that".

But what is already a somewhat interesting backstory for a TTRPG, meets with one thing about Project Moon: On the face of trauma, a cute girl talk to your head. Jervas distorts, dies, and birth anew as Syzygy, the girl of fire. Hyde naturally doesn't see it that way, for she, Jervas simply survive a very weird process, an unknown process, and Syzygy doesn't exist. Because Syzygy wasn't created with an objective, she born, and for that, she has the human experience of ignorance. And for that, she can't be Hyde's son.

I will admit, I'm in love with the idea of representing the struggles of families that don't accept the transition of their sons and daugthers with the PM detail that, Hyde isn't transphobic herself, she couldn't care less, what she reject is the idea that the body she created has another identity and name.

Because, at the end of the day, Jervas future was clear. Syzygy future is a mystery. And Hyde hates mysteries.

Then we got to the symbolism of Jervas/Syzygy Distortion and the relationship (at least on my head) with Hyde:

The Phoenix dies and rebirth on a cycle of unknowing. Ignorance is a essential part of the process, not knowing what will happen once one rebirth. This is, basically, a total opposition to Hyde, who wants to understand and know everything. Uncertainty is a sin, and dying without knowing what comes next is for Hyde, the worst nightmare. The maximum defiance is abandon self preservation for a non-sure answer. In that, Jervas dies, and Syzygy is born without a clear path.

But, why it is a Distortion then? Because the focus of Jervas was dying, the end, escape. Hyde leash still present on the Distortion as Jervas path to self destruction isn't about embracing uncertainty, but the lack of care for it. And maybe even worst, obtaining an answer to that uncertainty.

The path to liberation of Hyde's true leash is, then, embracing uncertainty and lack of knowledge. Maybe not the path to E.G.O., but clearly the path to finally break free from her presence on the mind of Syzygy, who is hunting her after the incident.

Hyde, on the other hand, has discover something more unkown and interesting than her previous investigation: The Distortion Phenomena. A weapon, for sure, not different to trained dogs on her mind. But something that is hard to replicate. That only her creation can do. And Hyde, as always, want answers above all else.

And that is what has me excited writing notes about what can happen. Hyde isn't the only one that doesn't like ignorance, and some powerful factions can be very interested on uncovering the truth about this weird phenomena.

TL;DR: Mothers can make you Distort, Syzygy says Yes to Trans Rights, and "no thoughts, head empty" is the true way to confront your scientific minded abusive mother.

[jeskoholic]

A Little Piece of You Chapter 12: X & Y

This is a chapter from an ongoing series. If you missed out on the previous entries, you can check my masterlist.

Previous chapter: Truth Among Lies

Word count: 8,850 Tags: Male OC x Girlfriend Wonyoung, Fluff, High School Romance, Angst Enjoy!

---

Jang Wonyoung…

Shinwon has a good point about everything he said hours back. It just never occurred to me how this all tied up almost in the same way it did before. Had I been ever-so careless with this, things might happen again; history might repeat itself and this time it might bring worse effects. He also had a good point that maybe this whole trauma thing was anchored way back in high school. After all, the reason why I was so hesitant on making a move was because I’m still fighting the shadow of the past.

Even after my friend and I split paths and I finally managed to reach home, the thoughts of a once-forgotten Wonyoung came onto my head once more. Surprisingly, even the thought of having significantly less sleep was behind me now; that library excursion definitely did its wonders and set me back on track. Well, if one problem was already out of the way, it seemed to have been replaced with another.

No matter how much I try to dissuade myself from it, it would appear that it always brought me back to that pivotal moment in high school. I was so much occupied with that thought that lingering in the background that I didn’t realize how quick I ate dinner with noona. She might have noticed something was off with me already, too. I attempted to wash it off by doing some works due on the following week, but even that yielded no results. Those thoughts plagued me again just like it did before. Wonyoung was once again in my head; something that I never viewed to be possible even until I finish University. I’m pretty sure I have forgotten about her already.

This won’t do. Distracting myself would do nothing for me.

With that, I decided to ditch the stack of papers on my desk and moved to fish something out of my drawer. This time, stacks and thick piles of papers, folders and certificates greeted me as I dearly rummaged onto something I knew I left at the lower-most part of the drawer. I was sure that I placed it in here; thrown into the very bottom as soon as noona and I moved to this apartment. There was no way that I would carelessly throw that around…

And there it was: a red folded piece of cardboard staying behind an ornate front cover. In front it bore the words:

From Jang Wonyoung to my Yoon Jae-in~

With love~

And included the date for our anniversary as well as the picture of her…

For its age, this thing was still as preserved as it could ever been. I thought that with time, it would naturally degrade in the bottom of my drawer and disappearing without even me giving a care for it anymore but surprisingly it kept up. I can’t seem to find the reason to throw it away and so I merely ended up keeping it and hoping that it would vanish into memory at some point.

Clearly, that was not the case. Reading it again at this time was never even in the slightest of my imaginations.

“Hey, Jae-in-ssi, can I come in?”

 I heard the voice of Joohyun-noona come from the door, effectively startling me and as a result, Wonyoung’s letter fell out of my grasp and headed towards my desk. I turned my attention towards the door and she stood there with her head poking in further inside the room, dressed with pajama shorts that disappeared on the loose, oversized white shirt she had.

 “N-noona…! I-I didn’t see you there! I didn’t hear you knock!”

“I assumed it was fine because you left it open, you little bean,” she said, nonchalant and only now did I realize that she actually holding a plate as she finally moved to walk inside my room. That shirt really looked familiar. I had a feeling that it was mine at some point. “You were so spaced out during dinner that I forgot to offer these to you. I thought we’d just share this here. Were you busy?”

“Oh no, actually I… I’m not. I’m just working on a couple of things and got distracted.”

“Oh my… is that… is that a love letter?” she said with a tone mixing curiosity and teasing. “Did someone give you that?”

My heart immediately skipped a beat as I attempted to hide it from her. However, as Joohyun-noona felt like an eagle swooping on me, she quickly swiped it up and brought it closer to her face. I didn’t even realize how she was suddenly beside me as if she just teleported.

“Omo, Jae-in, this looked like it came from a long time ago! Wait… it says here that it’s from… Wonyoung…? Is this ‘Wonyoung’ as in Jang Wonyoung, your ex-girlfriend from high school? Oh wait; it does say ‘Jang Wonyoung’…”

“I-It is, noona… please, I just stumbled upon it. That’s all there is to it. Please give it back,” I told her as I completely felt my cheeks flush red. This is so embarrassing.

“Why are you looking at this now? Do you miss her?”

I blushed red and my ears went hot.

“No, I don’t! It’s now what you think, noona. It’s nothing!”

“Ooohhhh… so you do miss her hmm? I’m envious. She must have been on your mind all these time. Here I am thinking that your noona is the only woman in your mind~”

“Noona, what are you talking about? Please, I need it back.”

Oh my god, what is going on?

I attempted to reach it out of her grasp, but then she was quick to swat my hand out of my reach.

I then heard Joohyun-noona giggle.

“Yeah, sure, I’ll give this back to you under one condition.”

“Which is?”

Joohyun noona pulled the extra-chair I kept behind the ladder and proceeded to sit on it. She then placed the plate of tarts on the table and proceeded to fetch a piece with the fork.

“You never told me anything about this Wonyoung girl aside from the fact that she’s your ex-girlfriend. I figured maybe, with all the spacing out you’ve been doing during dinner, that she’s a factor for that. Something must have happened recently that you’ve thought of bringing this out again. Go on. Start from the beginning. Unfortunately for you, little bean, I have a free sched tonight so I can listen to you all night long.”

“Yah, noona, I can’t just do that! It’s too awkward to even talk about her!”

“Why? You two weren’t doing anything inappropriate before, were you? Well, it’s up to you Jae-in… I could easily just read this and see what’s inside~”

Oh my god there’s not getting out of this now.

“Yah, that’s unfair! Okay fine, I’ll tell it to you, just please give the letter back. I’ll tell you everything from the start.”

I saw Joohyun smirk as she finally handed out the letter back to me. She immediately crossed her legs and went on off on a comfortable position, all while I sighed at the defeat of my sister’s hands once again.

Well, we might as well begin this…

How do I even start this?

It was so damn long ago…

“So… umm… Jang Wonyoung and I were school mates back in high school...I- I may have mentioned that before, but the thing is, we were never really classmates. We never ended up as such. It was a miracle that we even met the way that we did…”

“How did you two meet then?”

“It started when she found my number on a workstation computer, on a brochure I made for one of our technology subjects. We were just freshmen by then when she…”

---START OF FLASHBACK, APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO---

The thrill of the approaching graduation day was already in the air as two young couple were busy eating their dinner in the midst of the incoming evening. Twilight sky had started to cover the skies, turning the red-orange hue of the heavens to its impending dark indigo. Like usual, the first batches of starts started to like the gazing horizon, but even then Yoon Jae-in seemed to be unfazed as he merely enjoyed the company of his girlfriend, Jang Wonyoung, on a small fast-food chain in Metro Station Mall. ENOZI Restaurant has always been her favourite ones, and it would only stand to reason for Jae-in to invite her there on their final dinner as high school sweet hearts.

Wonyoung had just finished her platter and was occupied on staring at her boyfriend of two years, appreciating the subtle details of his face that she always knew and loved.

“Time flies so fast, you know,” Jae-in said as he wiped his mouth with the provided napkin. “In just a couple of days we’re saying good-bye to our high school life. It was amazing, especially because I know I’m leaving with a special treasure in tow.”

“It’s not only you who’s graduating with a special remembrance, keep that in mind. If it was not for the high school, I never would have met you, my Jae-in~” the young lady Wonyoung said with a smile, stretching her arms to hold Jae-in’s hand from the other side of the table.

“I was actually talking about Kino and the others, you know. No one can compete against the treasure of friends.”

Wonyoung pouted.

“I’m just kidding; of course, the greatest treasure would always be you, my Wony~”

“Aish… you always know how to tick me off. How could you be a guy and be so damn cute? Your existence I in this very world seemed to be very illegal. I sure am going to miss seeing you every single day once we go to college… it kind of makes me wish that I chose Engineering as well instead of heading to nursing school. At least if it turned out like that, then I could be by your side every time that we’re at Univ. If I had it my way, I would not let you off of my eyes; not when there are a lot of girls in college who would attempt to take you away from me.”

“Hey, hey,” Jae-in replied, and this time he was the one who held Wonyoung’s hand tighter than she did to him previously. “Nursing school is not that far from Engineering. We’re merely separated by buildings, my love. Even if our schedule’s not in sync, I’m sure we can work things out in the long run. We always did, right? We graduated still being together, Wony. Our entire batch is literally looking up at us as the ideal couple of the sections, not that it matters to me, but it’s still something worth noting. We won’t be reaching that had we not have an already good impression with it.”

Wonyoung sighed.

“I get it, my love~ I do appreciate that everyone admires us for being the last standing couple of our year, but still… at least you have Kino, Shinwon, and Kyungsoo to be coming with you when you go to college; at least you won’t be alone on your stay there especially on the first few days, of which I think is the most crucial. I feel so alone already just thinking about it, maybe even envious going in there without you.”

“Come on now, my love~”

“Even your dreaded ‘girl best friend’ is there with you on that department. That thought alone makes me want to shift courses and stay in Engineering just so I could keep you out of that witch.”

“Hye, I know that you’re not in good terms with Y—“

The mention of the first syllable immediately earned Jae-in a glare from Wonyoung. She didn’t even hear the entire name and yet she was sure to react to it already. After all, there was one girl that she thinks has the greatest possibility of stealing Jae-in from her.

“Excuse me, with my best friend, but she’s not really that into me. I kept on reminding you of that. Come on, we’re just friends. We go way back and I trust her. I repeatedly suggest that you do too. She’s a nice person, really.”

“I know that you’re friends and all that… but the fact that the two of you are very close friends and she seemed to always end up wherever you go… it’s hard to not even get jealous of her, my love. I hope you understand what I’m feeling.  I mean, she hates me and I know that. We don’t need to be friends just because you’re her ‘bestfriend’, that is if she views you on the same way you’re insisting as. I know for a fact that she really does not approve of you dating me, right? What could possibly be the reason for that? It honestly won’t come as a surprise to me in case it would turn out that she secretly likes you. The thought of it alone is already making my blood boil.

“She’s the last person I would like to see you end up with,” she concluded with a bitter tone, bringing her gaze down back towards their intertwined hands.

“Shh, come on now… it is not going to happen. My heart is yours and yours only my love. She will always be my best friend no matter what happens, and you will always be my jagiya.”

“It’s just… don’t you get why I’m so scared of that happening, Jae-in?”

The smile from Jae-in’s face faded in utmost subtlety while he recomposed himself for a reply.

“I… I know. That’s the reason why I was trying to distance myself from her. I’m not even talking to her these days…”

“Exactly… we started on the same way years ago. You and I were the best of friends before we decided to date each other after a year into our friendship. What makes it different that you and your… bestfriend would not end up on the same road?”

“Wonyoung-ah, please calm down. I love you, okay? Don’t forget about that. No matter how close Y—we are, we’re never getting close to how we ended up, right? Are you afraid because it was you who made the first move for me?”

Wonyoung visibly pouted and averted her gaze somewhere inside the room.

“Yah… I saw your fictional brochure for our technology subject. I just so happened to end up on the same PC work station as you were, oppa, and I just saw how beautifully designed yours was. I would even go out there and say that it was better than what I did, perhaps better than anything else I saw from my section. It even came as such a huge surprise that you included your real phone number. At least because of that, I found a way to talk to you. I pulled my luck and here we are…”

Jae-in smiled.

“It always felt like it was fated, you know. Maybe we’re really destined to meet each other from the very beginning.”

“Yeah sure, we really were destined,” Wonyoung said as she withdrew her hand and rolled her eyes away from Jae-in. “Until maybe this so-called ‘girl best friend’ of yours steals you from me, maybe.”

“Hey, hey, I won’t trade you for anything in this world. You’re my girlfriend, Jang Wonyoung, and always will be. We already did everything together, and I’m more than happy to choose you over and over again. I mean, come on now; you and I are each other’s’ firsts in literally everything. My high school life was fun because I had everything with you.”

Wonyoung planted her searing gaze back at Jae-in and proceeded to redirect it once again.

“Do you remember that I was the one who asked you for this dinner?”

“Mhhhmmm…”

“Well, as much as it feels weird to bring this out of nowhere, I actually have a surprise for you. This is not something that I’m bringing up just because you’re being jealous towards my best friend, but it is actually something that I always meant to give to you on this very evening.”

Wonyoung rolled her eyes and teased Jae-in, earning a chuckle from her boyfriend.

“Well, what if it is actually that case… show it to me, my love~”

“I don’t think I can come up with this on the spot. I promise you that you’ll love this. Wony~ someone actually called me earlier today, right before we wrapped up for the final grad practice and…”

“And…?”

“The scholarship that I found for you… they finally responded and… you’re in! You’ve passed the assessment exams and you’re a scholar on their program!”

At that instant, Wonyoung immediately dropped her act and wide-eyed Jae-in from the other side of the table. She didn’t even notice her mouth hang open at her surprise with the news. Somehow, with everything that happened in-between and during practices, the news of the pending scholarship response was quite unexpected. Jae-in knew that she would make it, and the release of the results could never have been a more perfect graduation gift for her.

“Oh my; that’s good news! Oh my god Jae-in… I’m officially a scholar? Oh my…!”

“See, I told you that it’s difficult to even make-up on the spot. I just received the call hours ago, like I said. I’ve been holding back the whole day and it was hilarious to have to tell it here in this circumstance.”

“Yah, I’m really happy… I genuinely am, but don’t think immediately that you’re forgiven just because of that. I’m still upset because of your best friend,” she then pouted. However, to Jae-in, it felt forced as Wonyoung was clearly happy with the news. He knew that she was putting on the act once again.

“Okay, you know what, how about we get out of Metro Station and go for a walk home?” Jae-in said, in attempt to change the subject into something else while giving his girlfriend a wide, toothy grin. “I’ll treat you with ice cream on the way home. After all, we need to celebrate! We’re graduating tomorrow, and together like we always would be. What do you think about that?”

The young woman’s pout eventually turned into a wide smile as she stood up. Wonyoung then brushed the long layer of dress she wore off of any crumbs that could have caught during the dinner, all before fishing her bright purse.  Jae-in joined her and stood up as well, and as he turned his attention to his girlfriend, Wonyoung already had her hands outstretched towards his direction with her pink-painted nails in perfect display for him.

“I take that as a ‘yes’, I guess?” Jae-in asked.

“I would not have taken it if you weren’t so cute, you know. You can’t keep on doing this to me, because you know that I’ll always fall for it.”

“It’s your kryptonite; therefore it is my secret weapon. Shall we go?”

The young man then graciously offered his arm of which Wonyoung more than gladly wrapped her arm around on. Then, with a curt smile to the waiters and waitresses that served them, Jang Wonyoung and Yoon Jae-in left the restaurant heading to the ice cream store that he previously mentioned; the rest of the older patrons of the eatery admired the cute couple as they went on ahead.

---MOMENTS LATER---

It did not take that long for the ice cream session to push through as it was merely just a simple stop-by at Wonyoung’s favourite store. The night was fast approaching, and it was already close to eight in the evening when Jae-in and Wonyoung were walking down towards the road that lead to the latter’s house. Her hands wrapped on her boyfriend’s arm as well as having her fingers intertwined with his. Because of the chilly weather, coupled with the dress that Wonyoung wore that exposed the majority of her lengthy legs, Jae-in had to compensate for her by lending her his jacket so as to counter the cold weather. It was the sort of gesture that Jae-in always wanted to do, especially for his girlfriend because there was that feeling of assurance coming from his side.

In his head, they looked really cute together. He and Wonyoung were perhaps the perfect couple.

It was weird, however, that he even thought of offering Wonyoung her favourite Mint Chocolate in this time. It was even weirder that she didn’t even hesitate on grabbing it.

 Regardless, the conclusion to their night date was about to come. That perhaps explains why Wonyoung was taking her utmost time walking with Jae-in; surely, even if she decided to walk on her normal pace, she would have gone home easily. Jae-in, on the other hand, didn’t really mind the development. After all, it felt like the last time as high schoolers after being in a relationship in high school for so long.

“Jae-in~” Wonyoung’s soft voice shot through the silence as they both approached the final corner to her home. “Can you promise me something? I will only ask this of you just once… and I hope you give me the answer that I want to hear…”

“What is it, my love?”

“Can you promise me that we’re still going to get through college like how we did in high school? Can you promise me that we would make this relationship work out in North Line… please?”

“Why does this sound like a wedding vow?”

The young girl curved her thin lips and stifled a soft giggle.

“Maybe it is… please, promise me, Jae-in. Promise me.”

“Okay, okay… I promise you, Wonyoung. I promise you that we would make this work no matter what.”

“Yay~ Thank you so much! I love you, my Jae-in~”

“I love you too, Wony~”

And so, every written rule of not showing affections in public was broken as Jae-in and Wonyoung hugged in the middle of the quiet street. It was fortunate that the evening was ripe, and no one else was there but the two of them. The hug was tight, sincere and very emotional, and what followed was the immediate soft peck of Jae-in’s lips courtesy of Wonyoung’s own.

The promise was given on that evening and it was all that Jae-in needed to survive his incoming college life, quite positive that whatever life could throw him post-graduation, he was happy because he had Wonyoung beside him. With that, Jae-in finally walked his girlfriend to her home and concluded the evening with a smile on his face, looking forward for what the next level of their relationship has in store for both of them.

---SOME TIME AFTER THE GRADUATION CEREMONY---

As expected, the graduation ceremony commenced as it normally would have and it was inevitable for the class to shed some tears on the incoming farewell. After all, they were saying ‘good-bye’ to the people that made the best years of their life truly enjoyable, and that included Jae-in with a couple of friends he met along the way. Lucky for him, he was one of the fortunate members of that batch who would end up going to North Line as opposed to other batch mates who would have to either head overseas or go to a new city. At least the separation anxiety from him was not that great compared to the others with him.

Lucky for him, and perhaps for Wonyoung, the ‘nation’s power couple’ of batch 20XX would head to the same school to celebrate their relationship ahead. It would not even come as a surprise to the rest of the class if Yoon Jae-in and Jang Wonyoung wound up marrying each other, because that was how strong they viewed their relationship. A lot of people would agree that they were perfectly made for each other; the couple that no one else could split.

The timeline amidst varying academic levels was uneven, and to compensate for the new school opening of North Line University, Jae-in, Wonyoung, and their other batch mates had to endure a good four-month long vacation to prepare for the adjustment. To him, it was a much needed break for all the years of studying he did during high school, and eventually promised himself to do all sorts of memorable antics within those four months to prepare him for the terror that is college. Apparently one of those memorable antics was dating Wonyoung as much as he could, and the other was perhaps joining Kino and Kyungsoo in playing their favourite online arena game while he was at it.

A month has passed and Jae-in was able to keep his promise to his girlfriend; perfectly juggling his schedule between his friends and soon-to-be college classmates as well as his relationship with Jang Wonyoung. It would be convenient as well, as Wonyoung had discovered quite a bit of a hobby for herself which was attending music class to be a cellist. One day, a date was schedule by Wonyoung herself, inviting Jae-in to a café that she always wanted to go to; a small and glass-filled bakery-café placed at the corner of one block.

Jang Wonyoung showed up that day looking as gorgeous as she could ever have been. Without the restrictions of high school uniform, she was able to showcase the beauty of her fashion sense wearing a floral blue dress and soft highlights in her hair, clearly fresh from her morning session at the music school.  The huge cello was lodged in a case and plopped carefully next to the wall as she sat opposite Jae-in, who managed to somehow try to level with her clothing with a neat, mint sleeved shirt as well as white slacks.

“Of all the dates I’ve had with you, this honestly felt like the most ‘formal’,” he commented after swallowing a piece of pasta. “I kind of like it that it’s like this. Do you think we should do this more often, my love?”

Wonyoung nodded enthusiastically.

“Now that I’m able to wear whatever I want, I really am looking forward to showcasing you what’s on my wardrobe. I honestly have a lot of outfits that were shadowed by the uniform. I can even bet that you’ve never even seen most of them, my Jae-in.”

“Oh…? With the entire try out photos that you’ve been sending me through message, you still haven’t shown me most of your closet?”

“Honestly, it baffles me too that I have too much to wear. At least I could wear a lot of things and outfits before I get caught on with the mandatory nursing uniform again.”

“Well, you always suit whatever you wear, my Wony. You were always the fashionista and I love that about you.”

“Aww… but I’m pretty sure that you love everything about me as well.”

“Oh, and did I mention that you have a thing for words too?”

Wonyoung smirked and her red lips only ignited more of Jae-in’s interests towards her. Had she not been his girlfriend all these time, it would easily to mistake him as an assistant with how significantly underdressed he is.

“So… we’ve been here for a while now,” relayed Jae-in; as he continued the conversation after that short pause. “I’m still curious as to why you asked me out on this odd time. Normally you’d go for dates when it’s close to evening, so I would assume that there’s something going on. Does it have something to do with music class?”

“Oh, I’m glad that you introduced that before I could. It makes things a lot easier… and… yeah; it has something to do with music class. I really admire how smart you are, my Jae-in~ you seemed to have easily pieced things out even before I could tell it to you myself.”

He smiled in return before moving to hold her hand from across the table.

“I would not be your boyfriend for years if I didn’t have a hint the moment I saw those look on your eyes. Go on now, I’ll be listening. What is it about?”

“Well, I’ve been in music school since we started this four-month vacation and things have been going well for me. Of course, I owe it all to you who pushed me beyond my own beliefs and my own capabilities that I managed to get to this stage of this hobby… so I think it was just fitting for you to be the first to know that I got accepted at a recital.”

“Wait, are you serious? You’ve been in school for two months and yet you’re already invited to that? You must be really talented on that, my Wony~ Congratulations! When is this happening?”

That was when Wonyoung pursed her lips, hesitating before even moving to speak up once again.

“That… that is the catch… the thing is, the school had apparently started to expand their services on not just beyond Seoul itself but also on further districts and cities, so for this recital they decided to use it as a promotional event... What I’m trying to say is that… I got accepted at their offer for a recital but it would happen far from here. I would have to be away for at least a two weeks or so while the recital is being prepared and all. That would include practices, formal rehearsals and all that, as all part of the training regimen for the school.”

Jae-in knit his eyebrows. He honestly could not think of a reason why Wonyoung would not be so enthusiastic about it.

“Hey, you’re not thinking of not going now, are you?”

“I’m honestly considering it. It’s really far from here and… and I don’t want to be away from you that long.”

“Hey, hey, don’t worry about me. Come on now, this might be your huge break! The fact that you’re invited for a recital that fast must mean that they can see a huge potential on you, and I don’t want to be the person who would hold you back on that. I want the world to know of your talents Wony, because I know that you have a lot of them~ I want them to see how good you really are. Go. Don’t worry about me.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asked with her beady, puppy eyes.

“Of course… think about it, if you’re really missing me, I can go there. I can head there by foot, train or cab; whatever it takes I’ll be sure to be there when you need me. Plus, this is a huge adventure for us as a couple. We promised that we’d all go all-in before we head to college right, especially in terms of the things that would make both of us happy? At least by then, we won’t have any regrets. That would be the best thing that could ever happen for us in the long run. I trust that you already have friends there, so at least you won’t be too lonely without me.”

“I… I do have some friends there but… Promise me that you would call, okay?”

“I would, Wony. Of course I would…. I know you can’t stand being away from me for that long. Let’s make this work, okay?”

Wonyoung smiled.

“You never cease to amaze me, Yoon Jae-in. I’ll always be happy that you ended up as my boyfriend. I love you so much!”

“Oh you have no idea how lucky I am to have you, Jang Wonyoung. I love you so much.”

---TWO WEEKS LATER---

Jang Wonyoung relayed exactly how the following week would turn out and like she mentioned, there were limited amounts of time that she and Jae-in would actually even communicate. The first couple of days after setting Wonyoung off were perhaps the most interactive days ever. It was expected; as the entire music school was perhaps beginning to arrange their respective itineraries upon the new setting, the schedules and rehearsals weren’t that much prominent. This gave the young couple ample time to communicate together with phone and video calls that lasted for hours even beyond their own sleeping time, making sure to see each other on every minute they possibly could before things get really busy.

After a while, their vocal and visual communications were reduced to instant messaging as her rehearsals began to get frequent and eventually, hectic. Jae-in, on the other hand, occupied the huge amount of free time given to him by occasionally familiarising himself with the route to their new school, North Line International, while at the same time occupying himself with the presence of his friends. He always knew that Shinwon was a huge fan of co-op games and managed to find a newly-opened internet café not far from the university itself. It was a signal that drew in Jae-in, Shinwon, and Kino amongst other people they met in high school to test the new shop out. It was suffice to say that while Wonyoung was busy on her recital; Jae-in was also busying himself being connected by a lot of his friends before they eventually split for the university. Despite that, he still made sure that contacting Wonyoung would stay as an utmost priority, merely keeping the bond with his friends as something that would keep him occupied while he waited for her.

Soon enough, she would message him about the details. It would only be a matter of time before he would finally see his girlfriend perform with her talents. He knew that Wonyoung would amaze the world the first chance she gets, and he was the first person who never really ceased on believing on her.

However, despite developing a strong interest on a particular Multiplayer Online Battle-Arena game, Jae-in made sure to check on Wonyoung every day. He sent sweet, good night messages and morning wishes for her to be well; and all that despite her not really checking the chat out or even seeing it. Perhaps the practice was very tiring and he always accepted that as a good reason for her absence.

Two weeks passed. Jae-in and Wonyoung’s conversations were still as dry and minimal as ever but he still believed that she was busy and that things were being taken care of. The recital program must have extended, granted that she should be back at the city by then. Things might have adjusted considering she didn’t even mention when the performance day would actually be. Like usual, he spent the day on the internet café again being alone with just Kino as they both waited for the other members to come. The pair had just finished one game on a good note with Jae-in being overly happy with his performance in a support role.

“Damn, that was so refreshing. I wish all of our games could go that way,” he exhaled as he stretched his arms from the unit. “Did Shinwon and the other say about coming here? They’re supposed to be here now, right?”

“They are. Actually, I’m surprised that you’re the first one to even be here. You seem to have been going here a lot these days. Is everything alright?” asked Kino, returning to the matchmaking lobby but not placing them both on a queue just yet.

“What…? Of course everything is okay, man. It’s just… I guess you can say that my schedule became a lot more freed up. I’m going here earlier now because I want to be occupied as well.”

“I see… Jae-in, you know, you’re my friend and I… I usually don’t want to go asking these things because it’s weird but… are you and Wonyoung still dating?”

Jae-in immediately shifted his gaze from the monitor towards Kino, who sat beside him with a confused yet concerned expression.

“Of course we still are… she’s just busy nowadays, is all. I guess you noticed me going here a lot, that is because she’s busying herself so I figured I’d be busy here as well.”

“Were you two talking still even when she’s there for her practices?”

“Well… not that recently… she seemed to be really occupied. I feel like the schedule’s moved up as well because she never told me when the recital day would be on.”

Kino sighed and nodded silently. As much as Jae-in really was not a fan of how the conversation was developing, he chose to wait for the rest of Kino’s statement. It certainly appeared to be a huge introduction for something big about to come.

That small fraction of a minute filled with silence between them both was perhaps the most gut-wrenching he’s felt for a while.

“Yeah… about that… umm, you know that Wonyoung and I have the same general street heading home right? I… I actually saw her last night. I don’t know why you’re not aware, but she’s actually back here, man. I figured I’d ask because you didn’t seem to have an idea.”

“She’s here…?”

“Yeah, and that’s not all that. I saw her getting inside a car with a guy who’s about the same age as us. I don’t know man; it could be her cousin but… I can’t just keep myself from not telling you. I think it’s a personal responsibility as you friend.”

“Are you sure that it’s her that you saw? She would have told me already by now.”

“I’m positive that it’s her. I’ve been her classmate and I could not mistake her for another person. The guy, however, is someone I don’t even recognize.”

“That’s probably just her cousin, Kino. Also, I can’t see a reason why Wonyoung won’t tell me that she’s here already. If ever there was a reason for that, then maybe she’s planning to surprise me of something. I trust her, man. I’m sure she has her reasons. Don’t worry about it.”

“Well, okay then. Don’t think about it too much. In case I’m the one who is wrong, I’d feel such an idiot for even forcing ideas onto you. I just had to get it off of my system. I’m wishing for the best. In the meantime, let’s just have another game, shall we?”

“That’s good to know. Thanks man. Let’s go.”

---

Kino’s information had planted itself deep onto Jae-in’s head for the succeeding days. As much as he did not want to over think, it was indeed weird that Wonyoung had not even bothered to tell him that she’s back from the recital. In fact, there was no even update what happened during her stay out of town. However, Jae-in’s love and trust for her still came on top, which is the reason why he elected to simply wait for her to update.

Finally, his waiting paid off and Wonyoung eventually contacted him.

Jang Wonyoung apologized for disappearing for so long and so asked to head to the ENOZI restaurant once again, which was now renovated and renamed as ‘LOVE DIVE café’. The atmosphere was weird on that day; the sun had disappeared and was covered under a huge blanket of grey clouds as if rain was about to come. If not, it certainly served as a deep warning that something bad was about to come. Yet, there was Jae-in still optimistic and hoping that it was not the case.

Jae-in came at the scene first, reserving a seat nearby the window just as Wonyoung always loved. He elected to order before she did, having a large serving of the meat mix she always bugged him about the moment she comes back from the recital trip. The only thing that was missing that day was the presence of Wonyoung herself, and fortunately right after their respective orders were served, she finally came. Wonyoung’s fit for that day was a huge stray away compared to her normal, fashionable looks; settling merely on simple tucked white shirt over her long, slender legs covered with a long, brown coat finished with a high ponytail. She gave Jae-in a shy smile, nodded, and awkwardly shuddered before proceeding to sit opposite him.

“Wonyoung-ah, hi…! It’s really good to see you. I have missed you so much! How have you been?”

The young girl gave another set of unenthusiastic smiles before falling to a frown.

“Jae-innah… I… I didn’t actually come here to eat… but as always, I really appreciate that you ordered ahead for me… that’s always something that made me appreciate you more…”

“You seem so sad; my love… did something bad happen when you were away? Are you okay?”

As much as there were a lot of questions that he wanted to ask her, he did not want to flood her right away. He took things slowly like he usually did, and hopefully it would pay-off for him in the end.

“I am… s-sorry, Jae-innah… I know I’m the one who invited you here so… not eating with you after asking you out is the least thing that I should be sorry for. I’m just… it was a crazy two weeks… a lot of things happened…”

Jae-in reached across the table and held Wonyoung’s slender hand with his own, caressing her long fingers that were now rid of any sort of manicure. The sensation of her cold skin against his already told him that something was dearly off.

“What happened? Did you not make it to the recital? Did something happen? You weren’t messaging me for days and I thought…. But I trust that you saw my messages, right?”

“Jae-in�� please don’t make this harder for me… I did. I admit that I openly read your messages but I can’t seem to find the correct message to reply with you. B-because… while I was away for a couple of weeks, I was able to delve into some thoughts and… I realized a lot of stuff, not just within myself but to us as a couple as well.”

Initially, the moment that Jae-in felt his girlfriend’s rather downtrodden mood he elected to bring the atmosphere up by greeting her with enthusiasm. After all he did miss the love of Wonyoung that was absent for weeks. However, now that she already set the heavy mood for whatever she has to say, Jae-in could only do so much and match her pace finally. Somehow the mood that the sky already gave was correct ever since he left the front door; something was bothering Wonyoung and he was about to find out.

“May I ask what those things that you… realized were?”

Wonyoung gulped.

“I love you Jae-in, but I don’t think we can continue on with this relationship anymore.”

The world may have crumbled at that instant.

Did he just hear right?

“W-Wony… w-what are you…? W-What do you mean that…?”

Wonyoung pursed her lips before proceeding to speak again. Every syllable that escaped her small lips was filled with hesitation and perhaps even pity.

“I have to end it now… because once I get… once I get as busy as I did when I was away, I can’t bring myself to stay in peace knowing that there’s someone who’s waiting for me. We know that college would be really busy and—“

“But we promised that we’ll make it work out, right? We promised each other after graduation that we’d do anything to keep this relationship intact right? You were even the one that made me promise that, so what happened?”

Wonyoung bit her lip and retracted her hand from Jae-in and hid it under the table. She then anxiously gazed around the café and pouted to her boyfriend once more.

“I… I know that I made you promise and I already feel bad that I’m telling this to you… but… I got really good with the recital and all… the school asked me to be a temporary aide in the music school, and I would teach younger musicians how to play… I figured, I would be really busy and so I would have less time for you... how much more can we manage this when we’re already at university, right?”

“Wony… I don’t get it. All of these things that you were telling me is a problem would only hurt us for a couple of months, so why are you telling me to end whatever’s between us before we even head to college? Are you worried that I might grow tired of waiting for you, is that what you’re telling me?”

“N-no… I know that you’re willing and you can do those things for me… but as a person in good conscience, I cannot just… I cannot just live with the fact that you’re waiting for me when I can’t even hope to continue on what’s between us… that would be too unfair. I have no idea how I would juggle both studying and doing my future commitments with the music school knowing that I have you being left unchecked. I cannot bring myself to do that to you…I know that you deserve more, my love, which is why I’m deciding to let you go.”

Jae-in’s shoulders sank. His temples were starting to fill with cold sweats as his heart beat heavily against his chest.

“Isn’t this being unfair to me? You’re already telling what you think I would do even before it happens… I promised it to you, Wony… I promised that we would make this work out… why are you telling me that you need to let me go now? What happened?”

“Jae-in, please… don’t make this harder for me… It’s already breaking my heart to ask too much of you… please…”

Jae-in’s face flushed red as he tried to keep himself as calm as possible.

“Is this what you really want, Wonyoung?”

“Jae-in…”

“Wonyoung… I love you. You know that. If this is really what you want… if letting me go was your absolute solution for your future problems… then tell me. If you need a couple of days without me to think, I’ll gladly give it to you. Please… I don’t want you to be deciding so impulsively…”

There was another silence between then. Perhaps even the outside skies have begun to catch up on the impending grief between them both as soft drizzles showed upon the window.

“Wonyoung,” Jae-in said, softer this time while he clenched his fist in frustration. “But if this is really what you want; if trading our two years of love and relationship for the fear you think would come in the future, I ask you to not tell it straight to my face. If you’re decided, if you think that this is the decision that was best for us, then leave. I will respect whatever decision you do, but please think about it thoroughly. We haven’t gone this far just for us to end like this. We’ve been through worse, and this is just the beginning. Are you sure that you want to give up on us already now?”

Wonyoung looked at him in disbelief, only to be met by Jae-in’s own gaze of pure stone-cold silence. Unlike her who was already showing signs of tearing up, Jae-in strangely looked composed. He merely looked at Wonyoung straight with his sharp eyes waiting for a decision.

He wanted to ask her about Kino’s hint. Jae-in wanted to ask Wonyoung if she’s doing this because her heart finally wavered for another man, yet in the end he knew he could not bring himself to do that. He trusted Wonyoung with all of his heart, and even with a sliver of illusion he would never think that she would even do that to him.

Jae-in trusted her, so he never pushed himself to ask the question.

A couple of minutes later, a dreadful screech coming from a chair being dragged across the floor were heard. Jang Wonyoung stood in front of him, tears flooding her puppy eyes down towards her cheeks. The somewhat forceful manner of her dragging the chair as she stood earned a good look from the handful of people seated beside them both, clearly giving a soft and curious gaze to the young couple who’s table lay food that were not even touched.

“I hope that you find the girl for you, Yoon Jae-in. I’m so sorry. Good-bye.”

And with one swift turn she disappeared, leaving a trail of her coat as she walked out of the café. The once enthusiastic image of ENOZI café seemed to have died down the moment it changed, leaving Wonyoung’s love for him with it. Yoon Jae-in gave one last look on his girlfriend not knowing that it would be the last that he’d see of her for a long time, still quite shocked that she just broke up with him in one quick swing.

---END OF FLASHBACK, BACK ON JAE-IN’S ROOM WITH IRENE---

“Wonyoung unfriended and unfollowed me on all of our socials after we broke up, but she forgot to do the same with my friends. About three weeks after we have broken up, Kino showed me a picture of her with a guy who turned out to be her new boyfriend, posted in Instagram in celebration of their first month together. I would not have cared whether it was out of spite or out of sheer desire to move on, until Kino positively recognized the guy to be the same person he saw Wonyoung share a car with on that fated night. In the end, I was attacked by my very trust for her. I thought that she would not even do something like that to me, but I guess even that long of a relationship is still not enough for her to choose me.”

“Oh my god,” I heard Joohyun-noona as she brought her hand to cover her mouth. “Three weeks…? Does that mean…?”

I nodded shortly.

“If I’m going to do the math right, Wonyoung might have met the guy in preparation for her recital back then. She repeatedly insisted that that was not the case, but the math just made sense. The fact that they celebrated their first month together shortly after we broke up meant that at some point she agreed to date him while we were still officially together. I don’t know what happened during the time that she was there but… back then I was too hurt and bitter to even think about it. I just let it slide and focused my attention on moving on from her.”

“Wow… I never knew that you had such a tragic experience with her. To think that she was even your first love back in high school… the audacity…”

“The impact was terrible on me, noona. I would say that after that, I got a bit scared to commit again because I was traumatized with what she did. I was truly traumatized on trusting girls. I kept questioning whether I was worth it or not, or whether it was my fault that I lacked on something that caused Wonyoung to cheat on me with someone else. I would say that it took a good while before I got confident with myself again. There were a lot of self-doubts.”

“So what happened to her and the guy; are they still together?”

I nodded.

“Kino’s still seeing her on her feed. I guess they’ve been together longer than Wonyoung and I have ever been.”

I turned towards Joohyun noona who froze on the spot, still having her hand over her mouth.

“But are you okay now?”

“There’s certainly that little ghost there… same reason why I never had a girlfriend ever since Wonyoung. I wanted to be ready.”

“As you should… well, there’s still one thing bugging me though, Jae-in.”

“What is it, noona?”

She then pointed towards the letter.

“If you and Wonyoung did not really end up well, and she was the reason why you’re revelling in your own traumas… then why are you still keeping her letter with you? If I were you, I would have thrown it away ages ago. It would seem to be a better option.”

“I don’t know noona… I always told myself to keep it for something… something like a reminder especially when times that I need to recall the worst episodes of my life thus far.”

“A reminder for what, exactly…?”

“A reminder of the time that I should not take feelings too lightly… a reminder that I should never allow myself to fall into the same darkness that I did after Jang Wonyoung… that I did not went through all that sad crap after her just to fall into the same place once again…

“It would serve as a reminder to not repeat the same mistakes I did ever again, noona.”

The fact that this showed up this time is just a perfect timing….

I have a feeling that I’m going to need that reminder very soon.

[auranovabloggers]

Aura's Darkstalkers Tier List

A tier list based on my personal feelings of each character. Looking at their designs and my thoughts on them with a combination of the canon games and OVA and discussions I have had with friends over the years. Note I only hate the character in F tier. With that said, I'd like to give my reasons for each in descending order:

The Shao Siaster, Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling: Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling are my favorite characters of all time. They are the reason I even care about this franchise to begin with. When I first did my curious search on the Darkstalkers Wiki about Hsien-Ko in January of 2020, I was hooked on both of them. Their lore, their characteristics, their designs: something just clicked. But not just clicked, something connected to a soul like level. No other fictional characters have I ever obsessed over, made so much art of, thought about straight for years, or spent literally hundreds if not close to thousands on art commissions and merchandise. Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling mean literally everything to me. They are why I learned about this series, why I met some of the amazing friends I have now, and the inspiration for my drive with art. Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling are truly the greatest. Equal in my eyes and in my heart.

Felicia: In general, I feel Felicia is a great character. The idea of her backstory, who she is, her goals, and personality are generally winners in my book. Despite likely being hated for purely being what she is, she still preservers and believes that peaceful coexistence can occur with Darkstalkers and humans. Noble are her goals and kind is her soul. Her design is kind of a mixed bag as it definitely has some horn to it, I feel, but I like the overall color scheme to her. Plus, who she is, and her lore heavily carries her.

Lilith: Honestly, she is carried by what I think of in my head. She has a hell of a lot of potential as a character. Design wise, nice juxtaposition from Morrigan. I dunno... I think she is cool the more as time has gone on and the more, I have talked with friends.

Jedah: He is a fascinating individual to think about when you think about the world he grew up in. Makai is a fucked-up realm, and the dude showed some semblance of actually giving a damn about the future of his home. But then he got fucked over by his confidant. All that stuff twisted his mindset and set him on the path for what he believed was the right path for all once he came back from death. Interesting individual indeed and a much more compelling antagonist compared to Pyron.

Jon Talbain: His backstory is fine. His personality is alright. I just really love the idea of a martial artist werewolf. And honestly, the idea of an individual trying to conquer his 'inner demons' is a cool set up. It has potential to be really cool in my head. I do like some of his sprite animations do show a bit of snark to him despite his generally stoic if not angry demeanor. Also the idea he looks after some kids and potentially teaches them martial arts is cute.

Victor: His family dynamic with his big sister Emily is so bloody precious. And Victor himself is a generally nice dude. He just wants to make his creator proud and have a good life with his big sister. Lovable dude.

Zabel: My friends have tainted me, the bastards. But yeah, Zabel has a lot of class and style for being the zany, metalhead that he is. Great animations, lots of energy, and honest to god I love his tongue. Just how he swings it around in a lot of official art. He is a cool dude. Also, his general design has a great unique flair to zombies/ghouls.

Morrigan: Looking into her personality and backstory, she is interesting. Just too bad people only focus on the surface and porn. But for what she is, a hedonistic thrill seeker who is confident in herself, she is neat.

Donovan: The idea behind is backstory is compelling: due to having no control over his vampiric nature, he killed everyone he knew and loved, including his own mother. Traumatized and with a dash of self-hatred, he wants to find a way to right the wrong he did. Cool idea. And then he watches over this child with incredible potential in supernatural powers and has this wacky sword at his disposal. Nice, nice. One thing about his design is that I bloody hate how his top clothing is skintight compared to his clothing down below. It is honestly bad. But he is carried by his backstory.

Huitzil: Robots are cool. He can do cool stuff and one of them looks after this child. I think he is neat.

Anita: The mystery of her backstory and powers are cool and worth thinking about an exploring. But beyond that, not much else her. Sucks what Capcom did to her and ole Donny boi with VSAV.

Sasquatch: Lovable dude. I wanna give him a hug and take him out to get some smoothies and food.

Q-Bee: I have some personal gripes with the character: all petty things. Design wise... why is she the way she is? Considering that Soul Bees reside in Makai, I doubt their disguise would work well when there are not a lot in the way of humans. I mean...unless there are Makains who see them as weak cause they have human like looks to them. I dunno. The 'breasts' on their bodies kinda look dumb. If they really went in with the whole insectoid look, I think they would be cool looking. As is, they have some neat ideas: the fake eyes and face being able to open to a real mouth.

Pyron: He reads to me as a Saiyan. Prideful warrior who wants to be riled up in the heat of battle. Will start slow as he tests his foes. That is neat. But honestly, not much else.

Rikuo, Anakaris, Bishamon: Honestly, they all fall into the category of having some cool things, but not being interesting enough for me. But I like them more than those below them. Rikuo is a goddamn handsome merman with a wife and son, Anakaris has commandments and kingdom, and Bishamon has his dog and wife. Cool dudes.

Bulletta: I mean the idea of her looking innocent but deep down being this psychotic monster is good. But that is it. Not much else going for her. But it is good, just not enough compared to everyone above her.

Demitri: He is a general sore loser and pathetic individual who thinks he is hot shit but has picked fights with people far stronger than him. Dude lost to the literal strongest individual in Makai and held a grudge long enough that when it turns out the dude passed away, he directed his rage at Belial's daughter and heir. And she did nothing to Demitri other than exist and be the heir to the Aensland house. Sure, he gave Pyron a good suck, but he potentially still lost to Jedah if we take into a possible account that one recording where it implies, he was killed by Jedah. Also, I feel his clothing design, while fine, looks fucking stupid with being skintight. Dude is trying to have this sense of class and high society, but he looks ridiculous. He is dumb and terrible and in all that, it makes him fun to absolutely shit on. He is funny and that makes him likeable.

Marionette: The idea of her mirror match thing is interesting and the design if fine. But not much else to go with

Shadow: A tad less than Marionette, but same general premise. Except dude is a body snatcher.

Dee: The concept is sound. The idea of Donovan losing to his inner demons and becoming nothing more but a shell of what he was. Brilliant idea considering the other side of Darkstalkers: Darkstalkers is silly, but it is also grim. But this idea is all completely ruined by an absolutely godawful design. If this guy is a barely functioning shell of an individual, only continuing due to the idea of finding something, why does he try even dress up in the attire he wears? He should be in tatters, his hair unkempt, just overall look like someone who has not taken the time to look after themselves. But no, just take make him look like Demitri, but even worse.

[valyalyon]

1 Harvest Whispers

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CW: Police officer character, smut, p in v, unprotected intercourse, explicit language, descriptions of sex, cheating. MDNI. 4.1K Words.

Star walked for hours that night and eventually felt lost, uncertain of where she was or really where she had even come from. As she started taking into account her surroundings, it quickly became clear to her that she was on a large ranch or a farm of some kind.

She could see rows of crops, and realized that she was walking in a dirt path separating the crops from even more crops. It was so dark, dim lights seemingly lighting up the perimeter of the dirt path and the crops.

Star felt so stupid, getting lost on somebody’s property. She didn’t realize it, but she was close to a property road, that would lead to the gate. At the same time that she was wandering through the field, the owner of the property was getting home from work.

He always patrolled his property after work, no matter how late, so when he closed the gate behind him at 1am, he quickly set out to inspect all hundred acres.

He drove his truck slowly with the windows rolled down, and veered into several small service roads to check crop and livestock, before continuing to the next.

As he pulled into this service road, he noticed someone at the end of the road, walking down towards the pick up truck. He squinted, then put up the high beams. Standing there was that girl from earlier in downtown Sunwoods.

Star covered her eyes as the headlights lit her up, but they quickly went back to normal. She couldn’t help but feel stupid because she continued walking up to the truck.

A part of her wondered when she lost all self preservation, another part reminded her she had a knife in her back pocket. If she was going down, it’d be swinging.

Regardless, she put herself in harms way most of the time.

The truck door opened and a tall man hopped out. The man was tall, at least six foot, and very muscular. In the dim lights, it was hard to make out much of his features, but Star kept getting closer.

There was so much darkness behind her, she was feeling overwhelmed. Even if it was a trap, the headlights of his truck made her feel safer than the darkness she’d always lived in, “Sir, I’m really sorry.”

She started, as she got closer, “I don’t know how I got here, I just kept walking and…”

Her voice was shaky, but she kept her eyes on him as she got closer. Still too dark, but the man looked to be in his thirties with dark hair and a beard.

“That’s okay, ma’am. Do you have any weapons on you?” His voice sounded familiar, and she got close enough to see him better, stopping right outside the headlights range.

“No, sir,” she looked up at him through the distance.

The grays in his dark hair, those dark green eyes, that bomber jacket and his familiar cowboy hat. It was the same older officer from earlier.

She didn’t know he was the chief of police, or that he was the wealthiest man in the region. She didn’t know a lot of things about him, and wouldn’t find everything out until long after he was gone.

“You don’t know how you got here? Did that guy bother you again?” The man asked her, he started to approach her but slowly.

“No, I left the where we were and kept walking, after one neighborhood my brain just goes dark. It was like I blinked and got here, but I know I walked, because I was in the middle of walking when I came back,” she tried explaining herself.

“Alright, well… I’m definitely surprised seeing you here, that’s for sure,” the officer sighed, he looked at her for a second, verifying she didn’t have any weapon visible, then met her eyes.

Her bright green eyes were almost snake like, except the woman had a very bunny-like quality to her, so the man couldn’t help but believe her.

“I’m glad you’re not roaming the streets in a fog anymore, though. It’s good you ended up here because you were at least safe from getting run over in a neighborhood,” he added, tearing his eyes away and clearing his throat.

Star felt so… good? She couldn’t explain it. She felt safe for a second with him. Her eyes scanned his face in the lights of his car. He had a wrinkle or two, so many grays, and that beautiful smile.

His jaw line was sharp, his beard covering it well. Star found him so hot every time she saw him, and the way he cleared his throat…

“I’m really sorry, Sir,” Star held her hands together in front of her, her eyes searching for his. He was avoiding her eyes…

She felt like she had felt with Lazarus. Young, dumb, in love, searching for his eyes in a fight to alleviate the tension.

The older man didn’t avoid for long though, his eyes fell back on hers, and his hand stretched out towards her, “I’m Jasper Conrad. What’s your name?”

She honestly hadn’t expected him to look at her, but when his dark green eyes met hers, her heart skipped in her chest. She dropped her eyes towards his hand, and gave her hand to him.

“My name is Star Bennett,” she told him, the two names were the only ones she could remember when thinking about her own name since she came to on that ranch.

Her hand was so much smaller in Jasper’s hand, and he pulled the hand up to his lips where he pressed a kiss to it. His lips were gentle, but the kiss was firm, and they didn’t break eye contact.

“Star,” he said the name, “nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Conrad,” Star wondered what she was doing, what she had gotten herself into.

He easily let go of her hand, and turned back to the truck, “I’ll take you to the guest house so you can get comfortable for the night, you can leave in the morning if you’re ready or stay a day if you need more rest.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” she told him.

“Sure, listen… Can I pat you down? If you don’t want me to, I’ll need to cuff you until we get to the guest house and I’ll have somebody pat you down once we arrive. It’s for safety,” Jasper tried to explain himself.

“Uhm… yeah, you can pat me down,” Star nodded her head, and looked up at him, “do you want me to stand anywhere?”

“Yeah, up against my truck, please,” Jasper led her over.

She leaned against the truck as he patted her down. He was doing a good job of not being too grabby, then he pulled her off the truck lightly and felt the front of her body for any weapons.

Star held her breath, and sure enough he found her knife hidden in her waistband. She stared up at him, they were so close when he found it, “I had it because I was walking alone at night…”

His body was still close to hers, and as he was putting the closed knife on the roof of the truck, he pressed closer to her.

“It’s okay, I just can’t have any weapons running around freely on my property. Everything will be locked up. Since these are yours, I’ll leave them in the truck and I’ll make sure you have them when you leave.”

He continued searching along her waistband, not trying to be invasive, but checking. The way his fingers felt made her skin tremble, though, and she let out a breath, “Jasper… That was the only one I had…”

His eyes turned back to hers, her green eyes were aroused, her face turning up to his as he spoke “Are you sure?”

He turned his eyes back down and finished checking her front waistband, the entire time Star trembled to his touch.

She was entranced by his hard-working nature, but he was kind. She could tell that in his soul he was kind. Despite that, though, she was also very attracted to him.

He finished his scan very quickly, efficiently and not invading too much of her space. He eventually stepped aside, and took the knife into his pocket, “I’ll put it in the glovebox once we’re inside the truck.”

She got off the truck as he went and opened the passenger door, standing to the side. He held his hand out to Star, “come on, Miss Bennett…”

Star walked up to him and took his hand. Jasper helped her up into the truck, the truck was lifted and she was pretty small. He was happy to help her though, even when she said, “Jasper, be careful. Don’t hurt yourself to help me up.”

“Damn, you think I’m 90 or something?” The man asked, laughing. Then adding, “make sure you buckle in most of the main road is bumpy.”

Star buckled herself in like he asked as he closed the door. The slam scared her, and the man hopped in the car, again slamming the door. She just about jumped out of her skin.

Her eyes turned to him and he took out a cigar from the glove box, replacing it with the knife, and closing the glove box again, “sorry to be all over your body like that, both just now for my cigar and earlier with the pat down.”

She shook her head and met his eyes as he started to light up his cigar, “I lied about the weapon, sir, that was my fault… I don’t want to upset you.”

His windows were rolled down, and he smoked with his head out the window for a second. He got back in the car and put his seat belt on, holding the cigar out the window in his hand.

He only smoked if he was nervous, and this gorgeous girl had him nervous that was for sure. Being on top of her during the pat down was a total mind fuck, he stayed in Police Chief mode and tried not to blend the worlds but…

With her it was so easy to do that.

He started the car, and spoke, “You didn’t upset me, Miss Bennett, not one bit. Probably the opposite, unfortunately.”

Jasper looked behind him as he backed up the car, and she was able to see another angle of his handsome face, “what does that mean, Mister Conrad?” Her eyes traced along his beard and up to his hair, back down to his throat.

“You excite me, girl… you were warmer than a volcano,” he commented, and reversed the car out of the service road and onto the ranch’s main roadway.

“You don’t mean that,” Star responded, her eyes turning to see where they were driving. She was now more interested in the road.

She took off her jacket again, the purple sweater she wore was thin and pressed to her skin, showing off her braless nipples in the dim light of the main roadway.

The seatbelt sat on either side of her breasts, and they moved as he drove along, her eyes danced along the endless fields. He lived on a huge property, “are you just a police officer?”

“I’m the Sunwoods Chief of Police but this is my family ranch. It’s over a hundred acres, and it’s named the Conrad Sons Ranch,” Jasper explained, taking a hit of cigar as he tried to ignore her beauty.

After he blew his smoke out the window, he turned his undivided attention on the road. Well, not undivided. In his peripheral vision, he could see Star’s breasts continuing to move.

“You scared me when you slammed the doors shut, Chief Jasper,” she spoke, her eyes still following the dark hills she could make out in the distance of his property.

Jasper glanced over at her and then nodded his head, “sorry about that. I won’t slam the doors next time. I just do it because they’re old doors and they’re just hard to close. Swear, I wasn’t mad at you.”

“Promise?” Star asked him, turning her head to face him but he was staring at the road. He turned his head for a second and nodded, then turned back to the road.

“How could I ever be mad at you?” He asked her in return, as they came up to the end of the main road.

The house came into view and it was massive, easily having 10+ rooms and spanning thousands of square feet.

Jasper drove around to a second, smaller house. The smaller home was behind a giant pool in the backyard of the main house, and had its own backyard. parked in the backyard of the smaller house.

He got out of his car and came to get Star out, walking her to the house and unlocking it for her, “let me show you around…”

As she watched him walking around the house, she was just stunned by him. He was so energetic, and his eyes were full of life. He had a traveler’s spirit and he was the type of man Star just loved.

She was mesmerized by him. He led her lastly to the master bedroom of the guest house, “you can stay here if you choose to, there’s two other rooms but this will be your most comfortable one.”

“Thank you,” she said, stepping into the room and then turning to look at him as he stood in the door frame.

He smiled at her, his arms crossed, and then he laughed, rubbing his neck, “sorry you want me gone, you’re probably real tired. I’ll get out of your hair…”

Star bit her lip, “what if I don’t want you to leave me?”

She was sitting there at the foot of the bed now, and took off her sweater, sitting there with her tits out, reaching down to take off her pants.

“Well, I’ll stay, you’ll be the one that has to tell me when it’s time to go,” he commented, and his eyes were shamelessly on her body.

As her pants came off, she sat up and looked up at Jasper. Her panties hugged her pussy so well. She looked like a piece of fine art to the man.

She tilted her head, looking into his eyes, “do you hate this?”

“I hate that I’m not the one removing the clothes,” he responded, and got off the door frame, approaching Star and grabbing her face once close to her.

She accepted his mouth happily, their kisses wet and hot, their mouths parting happily to share their tongues with the other. Her hands reached out and touched Jasper, feeling his bulging muscles.

His hands gripped her waist and then one moved up to her breasts. He leaned down a bit, squeezed her tits together and pressed his face into them.

Star moaned and ran her fingers through his dark-graying hair as he moved down and started to take off her panties. He laid her down on her back and then went in between her legs to eat her out.

As his tongue swirled along her clit, as his fingers started to thrust in and out her, as her moans started to fill the air, she took his left hand in hers… and felt a ring on his finger.

She gasped, opening her eyes and looking at the wedding band on his hand, she loosened her grip on his hair, but his assault into her pussy didn’t stop, “Umm… mm… you’re married?”

“Yes, girl,” he said, sucking on her clit immediately after. Then he turned his attention up to her, his eyes hungry, “don’t let something like that stop you from enjoying yourself, Star… Forget about it, and let’s have fun.”

She wanted to protest, but the way his eyes looked at her… Her stomach filled with butterflies, she couldn’t help herself… this man looked like an older Lazarus, this man…

Her head leaned back as his three thrusting fingers intensified, and then he pulled out, sitting up on the bed and taking his work pants off.

In front of Star’s face was ten solid inches, throbbing. Her mouth opened mindlessly, she took him into her throat, as his head leaned back and he groaned, “that’s a good girl… A brave girl, not scared of such a big cock… you think you can take me in your little pussy?”

His fingers wrapped in her hair, and she nodded her head, slurping on his cock and covering it in her spit. Somehow knowing he was married was only making her want to fuck him more.

Finally, he pulled out of her mouth, and went down to her pussy, where he started by pressing his tip to her tight entrance, “that’s a tiny pussy, come on, do you really think you can take it?”

Star wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes all doe-eyed and sweet, green and intoxicated by lust, “I want you… I can do it for you, daddy, I’ll do anything.”

He chuckled and they kissed again, as he held her legs and pushed himself steadily into her.

His strokes were going so deep, as Star was dissolving into moans. She tightened her grip around him as he put more weight and pressure onto her.

Star felt him fill her to up to her cervix, she bit back moans and cries, digging her nails into his back. He gave her a good pounding, and her legs wrapped around his waist.

She kissed him with an open mouth, and he kissed her back in the same way.

“Fuck, you’re just what I needed,” Jasper mumbled, suddenly sitting down and pulling her on top of him into a straddle.

He made out with her as he slid her down on his cock again, “your ass is huge, Star…”

“Fuck, this feelings so good, Jasper,” her body was shaking as she felt his cock hit her in just the right spot, “fuuuckk…”

“Cum on, baby, cum on my cock, good girl,” he muttered, grabbing her hair and tightening his grip around her.

“Fuck!” Star exclaimed, cumming all over his cock, white cream leaking out of the girl and covering Jasper’s throbbing cock.

He lifted her up and down along his cock, watching the cream spread everywhere, “look at what you’ve done, you whore…”

“That’s mean,” she moaned, riding his dick happily as her tits bounced with her.

“I’ll be as mean as I want, aren’t you the guest? Aren’t you the one wrecking my home?” He asked, and smacked her ass real hard, dropping her back on his cock.

He met her with harder thrusts, shaking her and making her moan louder.

Her back twitched and her toes curled, she came again, adding more hot cream to his cock. Jasper chuckled and grabbed her by the neck, “am I cumming in your little pussy?”

“Yes, please,” Star begged, her tongue out for another wet kiss that he happily gave her, and then she panted and moaned, “I want to feel your cum inside me.”

“Good, girl,” he said hotly, grabbing her by the hair and pulling it back, thrusting harder up into her, “you like feeling me in your guts?”

“I love it,” she told him, moaning and twitching along his cock. This was so good, it was unreal.

“Fuck, take it,” he said, as he dragged her down and shoved his cock all the way into her, his nut exploding up into her, “that’s what you wanted, yeah? Take it, homewrecker, take it…”

He grabbed her tits and sucked on them, continuing to thrust as deep as possible as his cock erupted with the final drops of semen.

Star felt like she was full, her stomach was so warm from it. She stared up at Jasper with wide doll eyes, reaching to kiss him, “you came so much… I feel like I’m overflowing.”

Jasper gave her another three or four rapid thrusts, and then pulled out, lifting her to take her to the bathroom, “you definitely are. You’re beautiful… Can I call you Ember?”

She had never been asked before to be named, she thought by this point it was something the men just gave to her.

Realizing she had the opportunity to reject the name, she thought it over, but ultimately nodded, “Ember is really pretty, but my name is Star, don’t only call me Ember…”

“I’ll use both,” he promised, and sat her down on the toilet, “you pee first, I don’t want you getting a UTI after sex.”

As she peed, the girl thought about what she had done, and wondered so much more about the man, and his life.

Star looked up at him, he was standing close to her so she was able to see the definition and firmness of his muscles and body. Her eyes ran up to his face, where his smile stopped her again.

“What’s on your mind, Ember?” he asked, his voice so charming and smooth, with a thick country accent.

She looked up into his forest eyes, and they were looking at her sweetly, “I was thinking about asking you your age… I’m turning 20 this year in August.”

He chuckled, “bit of a gap. My birthday is January 7, 1959… so, I’m turning 60 tomorrow.”

“So today is January 6…” Star commented, cleaning herself before she got off the toilet, “I thought I got lost for longer, that’s good. What are you going to do for your birthday?”

“Oh, I never do anything,” he moved in front of the toilet and lifted the seat, he aimed his dick and started peeing, “I don’t celebrate my birthday, too busy.”

“Well, that’s no fun… We should do something, anyway,” she told him, but then paused, adding, “about your wife… I know it’s a little too far gone, but I don’t want to be a side chick.”

“How about you make a decision after you’ve met my wife?” Jasper said as he finished peeing, cleaning his tip off.

Star hesitated, “won’t she be mad? I don’t want to cause a fight.”

Jasper laughed and shook his head, “no, there won’t be a fight. You’ll meet her in the morning, she’s asleep right now.”

“Okay, if you say so,” and Star looked up at Jasper, then tore her eyes away and turned to open the bathroom door.

He followed her back into the room, where she started to slip back into her panties, trying to catch more cum as it leaked out.

His eyes watched her body as she did that, and then he took his eyes off her, “I should go.”

“Sleep here with me,” Star said softly, getting on the bed, and looking at him as she got under the blanket.

“Oh but just a second ago you were worried about my wife?” Jasper asked, though he grabbed his boxers as he walked towards the bed.

She watched him as he approached the bed, “I haven’t been alone inside a big home in such a long time,” she admitted timidly, watching him put his boxers on.

“You’re scared… I’ll hold you, don’t worry about a thing,” Jasper whispered, trying to calm her — she wondered how he knew that her heart was racing.

He got into bed beside her, and he pulled her in close. His arms were so strong, the pressure he put when he held her made her feel instantly comfortable, but at the same time she still felt how hard he was against her back.

“We won’t… Do anything again until I find out if your wife is okay with it… Don’t…” she covered her mouth at the last second, feeling a moan escaping her lips.

He sighed into her neck, burying his face into her hair, holding her in his arms. She didn’t try to pull away from him, he was so strong and she enjoyed the way he felt against her, but she did whisper, “we shouldn’t…”

There was a kiss, their two open mouths needing one another. Then a mutter from Jasper, “when you need something, Ember, its important you get it…”

The two enjoyed themselves again, before submitting to sleep.

ngl I have always loved Jasper and his story, he's definitely one of my faves. We'll learn more about him and his wife in the next SEA post. Next up though is some more DIE so look out for that <3 Vote in the poll, favorite, reblog, or comment, your engagement helps :)

[priceof-freedom]

Fic preview (Bob Floyd x F!Reader)

I’m so blown away by the reception of my first two Bob fics, so here’s another one in the works. I find that posting previews really keeps me accountable and forces my ass to get writing!

This one, still untitled, follows after the events of my last two fics “Of gym buddies and overlapping schedules” and “In khaki and nothing more”. The Reader character is the same.

You can definitely read these as standalones, but it would be wonderful if you took a look at those previous fics as well!

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a medical professional. There are descriptions of medical procedures, and if there are any incorrect details, please please do tell me! I tried my best to do some research, but I may have missed some things.

By some cruel twist of fate, you were assigned to give medical clearance to all fighter pilots chosen for the mission. It was part of your job, you knew, so you had no right to complain. Given the choice, however, you would rather avoid having to even think about this mission and everything that came with it.

Some may call it petulant. You consider it self-preserving. You just knew that if you allowed yourself to go down that path, the dam would eventually break.

Of course, Bob had to choose the last slot for medical clearance. You wondered why you even expected differently. It made the anticipation (or dread) of seeing him again even worse.

There he was, standing by the door of your office, looking very much like that nervous pilot you ran into during your first meeting.

“Take a seat, lieutenant,” you said as evenly as you could.

“Yes, ma’am.”

You couldn’t bring yourself to face him, so you concentrated on the task at hand. Grabbing everything you needed, you forced your brain to go through the mental checklist of the requirements: vital signs, eyesight, throat, substance history, etc. On any other day, you knew this like the back of your hand; but today isn’t one of those. Everything just seemed too difficult at the moment.

With the stethoscope around your neck, you finally turned around. Bob appeared to have chosen the same avoidance tactic and kept his eyes trained to his lap.

“If you’re ready, I’ll begin,” you announced, keeping your voice level. “May you sit up straight, Lt. Floyd?”

He obeyed, and focused his gaze on the wall behind you. You moved closer to him, and you could feel your own heartbeat racing. The signature woodsy scent that you’ve come to love filled your senses and threatened to fog your brain. No, you admonished yourself lightly. You had to power through.

“Breathe in for me,” you instructed as you placed the chest piece on his left clavicle. He dutifully did as he was told, and this continued as you checked other spots on his chest. When you reached the portion that was close to his heart, it didn’t escape your notice that his heart rate was starting to pick up. You looked up to his face and found that his steely blue eyes were already gazing at you.

I hope I get this out within the week!! *fingers-crossed*

Currently, I don’t run taglists. I might in the future!

[tritoch]

fuck it. have an enormous oc lore dump. this is the "canon" wol oc i conceived as part of my personal preferred approach in some games to take the game's text as presented, not headcanon away any elements, and, as much as possible, adhere to whatever "definitive" canon as best as can be discerned from what's given as an option. as a comedy bit, I also wanted to make a Warrior of Light who does everything you can do in canon, like an omnijob level 90 did all the raids did all the beast tribes caught every fish did all the relics did every hildi questline kind of WoL. Someone who really does mostly communicate through nods and punch gestures and only says the specific lines you can say in game (except for the scenes, increasingly common in later expacs, where they let you imagine a conversation). I just think it's funny to take an approach to the game that is at once fairly restrained (no elements beyond what is already presented in the lore) and extremely maximalist (yes, he one hundred percent did steal those pants). spoilers through stormblood under the break.

Wolund Anadezhda (not his real name) was born in Bozja in the year 1533 of the Sixth Astral Era to a young gunbreaker in Bozja's army and her husband, a foundling adept of the Verdant Path and fellow soldier. Resolving that their son would not grow up in the shadow of war, the Hrothgar couple resolved to have him sent out of the country shortly after his birth. He grew up instead under the care of his father's adoptive sister, a master of the Verdant Path in her own right, who left Bozja some years prior under uncertain circumstances after a serious injury left her unable to return to the front lines.

The sister (a Sea Wolf Roegadyn) had through various adventures found herself running a Dalmascan caravanserai, a walled inn a day's travel west of the city of Rabanastre. There, she raised Wolund both to run an inn and in the forms of the Verdant Path. Though not a warm woman, she did her best to raise Wolund carefully and lovingly, and honoring her brother and sister-in-law's wishes, tried to shelter him from the horrors of the world. He, in return, idolized her. He received sporadic letters from his parents, at least until Bozja fell. Their ultimate fates are unknown, though Wolund believes that even if they didn't die during the course of the war, they likely died as part of the resistance or in the Bozja Incident.

In the year 1547, 6th AE, Dalmasca is invaded by the IVth Legion. The caravanserai is close enough to the border for the Garlean line to advance past it fairly quickly, and Wolund chooses to remain with his aunt in order to protect her from the occupation. As Wolund has grown, his aunt has told him stories of the devastation war had wreaked in Bozja, and of the losses she still grieved. She explained to him that students of the Verdant Path such as herself had been targeted by the IVth Legion to be brought in dead or alive in a bid to control their knowledge and break Bozja's ability to resist, and that she had fled the country at her brother's behest to preserve the school's knowledge for future generations. Chafing under Imperial rule, Wolund aspired, at the time, to learn as best he could from her, follow in her footsteps, and do his part to maintain the lineage of the Verdant Path school.

In my conception, the Verdant Path, as a multidisciplinary school that teaches (at least) spear, greatsword, katana, and unarmed combat as part of its tradition, encompasses more of a martial philosophy, conceptual approach to space, and footwork system than a specific set of techniques for various weapons. This is a key element of why Wolund, in order to adhere as closely to the maximum extent of the available canon as possible, can pick up like 19 different martial disciplines, sweet Mary Sue that he is.

As he aged into his late teens and early twenties, Wolund was settling into his role as his aunt's chef, handyman, disciple, and likely future replacement innkeeper, as her war injury made physical labor increasingly difficult. Also around this time, Wolund has a brief engagement with a Keeper of the Moon Mi'qote merchant, part of a tribe of several Keeper families who operated a caravan which plied a route between Rabanastre and Martrvje in Bozja. At her behest, largely as a practical matter on her end though not without some romance, they had a child together, with the intent that, as in most Keeper families, she would raise the child herself, though he would, by grace of the caravan's route, have periodic contact with them both.

Before the child's birth, however, an imperial recruiter looking to fill a quota came through town. And so in the year 1556, 6th AE, at the age of 23, Wolund was conscripted and assigned to the VIth Legion, then a corrupt and disorderly force occupying the relatively peaceful southern coast of Ilsabard. A far cry from Emperor Solus's disciplined armies, the VIth Legion then was scarcely indistinguishable from a private mercenary group answering to local colonial governments.

Wolund struggled after his initial conscription, seething at the prospect of two decades under the Garlean Empire's yoke, fell into despair, and tried to emotionally withdraw. Since he was a quiet, disciplined conscript as well as a young and fairly imposing Hrothgar, his Garlean officers read in him the ready Garleanization that they wished to see. His practiced prowess in the training hall further contrasted his "bestial" appearance in the eyes of the bigoted Garlean officers. In Wolund, they saw a useful tool and status symbol for their occupation.

Consequently, while Wolund's time resembled the expected conscript experience in many respects, it was also marked by unexpected success in the unusual, corrupt environment of the VIth Legion. He spent plenty of time in his first couple of years on hard, undesirable labor, as any conscript would: digging ditches, building infrastructure, policing occupied populations, and, in the singular case of open conflict breaking out, serving on the front lines. However, he stood out from his peers, and he found himself frequently serving as a sort of exotic trophy or bodyguard for increasingly senior officers or local bigwigs. Eventually, he found himself attached to the staff of the legion's 10th Cohort as vexillarius, or standard-bearer, for the cohort's pilus prior. This turned out to be, given his centurion's corruption and close links to the local colonial government, merely a slightly more elevated form of his old work serving as muscle and an imposing presence behind preening dignitaries.

At this point, about six years into his two decades, Wolund's conscription seemed on a steady path to eventual citizenship. For his part, he remained as emotionally disengaged as he could manage, materially secure in his position in the 10th Cohort. The insulated world he built came crashing down in his sixteenth year of service, when crown prince Varis yae Galvus sent his close friend and confidant Regula van Hydrus to reform the corrupt VIth Legion. Many senior officers, including Wolund's centurion, were executed by firing squad for their abuses and indiscretions, with still more clapped in irons and hauled before military tribunals. Efforts to reform the legion's reputedly undisciplined soldiers saw Wolund, like many other conscripts, detached from the VIth in the hopes that reassignment to a more disciplined legion could salvage the conscripts that, in Regula's eyes, the VIth had nearly wrecked. Wolund found himself assigned to the VIIth Legion in 1562, on the eve of Carteneau.

Of Carteneau itself, there is little to say, and Wolund's memories of much of what could have been said was taken by Louisoix's magic along with Eorzea's Warriors of Light. Wolund crawled out of the catastrophe and butchery of the Seventh Umbral Calamity to find himself one of the VIIth's few survivors. Reassigned to the Vth, he served out the rest of his term quietly, though nightmares of Carteneau continued to plague him. While serving in the Vth Legion, he served as a quartermaster and honed his skill in both literacy and sums.

In year 4 of the Seventh Umbral Era, Wolund completed his term of conscription. Engraved and sealed legionary diploma in hand, he made his way to Garlemald itself, where his paperwork was verified and his name added to the citizen's registry. He returned to the caravanserai outside Rabanastre as Wolund pyr Anadezhda. There, he found his aunt, now some 20 years older, and her unexpected apprentice as innkeeper: his own daughter, now a 20-year-old woman and soon to be running the place herself.

For about four months, Wolund tenuously reinserted himself into the daily life of the inn while attempting to form a connection to his daughter and reconnect to his aunt and his daughter's mother. His efforts to begin his life again were cut short when soldiers came sniffing around the caravanserai on the order of a local magistrate, a former officer of the VIth Legion who sought to employ him as a trainer to his household guard. Recognizing that he would not be able to live a life free of the Garlean Empire's boot so long as he remained within their lands, and not wishing to endanger his daughter or aunt by enlisting them in his decision, Wolund simply skipped town one night. He left behind all his possessions except for enough money to see him safely overseas, as well as a letter that stated tersely that he did not wish to be followed. From the caravanserai he made his way by horse to Rabanastre and then to Valnain, where he caught a ride on a merchant ship bound for Hingashi, and from thence to Limsa Lominsa, where he arrived in year 5 of the Seventh Umbral Era.

Upon arriving in Eorzea, Wolund, leaning on his most recent skills in math and reading, as well as his admittedly rusty knowledge of trade goods from his time at the caravanserai, applies to work at the Arcanist's Guild. Everything proceeds as it does in the game from there.

All this is in service of a couple things. First of all, honestly, giving him a big backstory where various bad things happen to him over the course of a long time is primarily in service of dealing with what I think is one of the shakiest scenes in the game: the moment where Fordola accidentally uses the Echo on you and is shocked to her core by the scale of the tragedy you've overcome. I just don't think this makes a lot of sense for the WoL based just on what's depicted in-game, as sad as the events of the Banquet and Haurchefant's and Ysayle's deaths and Minfilia's sacrifice are. Giving him a comparable backstory to Fordola as a legion conscript does a lot, in my book, to smooth out that scene and make its emotional weight land better in my head, as do elements like the death and destruction he witnessed at Carteneau and the stuff about his daughter.

Secondly, in addition to that scene, this is just supposed to help set up a lot of stuff about the WoL I find a little clunky, particularly earlier on. Why does everyone in the Scions immediately glom on to you and decide you're their hero? Well, maybe the WoL is a stoic and outwardly emotionally reassuring older man who's conveniently older than the oldest of the Scions by more than a decade, and he can fill the Louisoix-shaped hole in their hearts that each of them except maybe Y'shtola very obviously has. How are you simultaneously everyone's favorite guy and also a story non-entity? Maybe he's nice and kind to people but very bad at handling and leading them initially (as evidenced by letting Alphinaud sleepwalk you all into a trap at the Banquet), in part because he spent the better part of two decades playing the part of mute imposing muscle for aristocratic officers. And maybe the fact he's consciously silenced himself for 20 years plays into the fact that the Warrior of Light becomes chattier throughout the expansions. Maybe he knows how to wear Garlean conscript armor and operate magitek because he was once a conscript himself. And so on and so forth.

Third, playing by my dumb "canon" rules, the WoL has to come from outside Eorzea. You're arriving by ship or cart and you're clearly unfamiliar with the city-states by the text. However, you also can't come from a lot of known places, since then you're bumping up against the issue that those places will also treat you like a stranger when you arrive in-game. There's no Bozja dialogue for being Hrothgar, but 1) to them it's not weird they'd have no reason to mention it and 2) this is why he isn't culturally Bozjan. Linking the WoL to Dalmasca solves this issue because the only Dalmascans you meet would have no reason to know a random Imperial conscript, you have no real time with them to shoot the shit about culture, we will not go to a functioning Rabanastre ever, and there is no reason you would have wanted to share all this with anyone on board the Prima Vista. Fourth, the WoL is a person of many talents and skills. Chalking up his weapon skills to the Verdant Path and his conscription, and linking his DoH/DoL skills to his upbringing, goes a long way towards helping ground some of that (as much as delightful nonsense can be grounded). Fifth, I think it's really funny to make the Warrior of Light a deadbeat dad. Final Fantasy is so full of bad sad dads already, WoL should get to be one. Lastly, I'm jealous that 1.0 players got to be at Carteneau and I want to bite their style but I refuse to break canon to do so, which means conscript it has to be (since being from a Free or Grand Company would contravene the earlier point about having to be new to Eorzea).

(A note on timelines: ARR begins in the year 5 of the Seventh Umbral Era, which would have been Year 1577 of the Sixth Astral Era. Per the wiki, Bozja is noted to have been invaded some fifty years ago, suggesting a war that begins in 1527 or so, but its conquest is described as happening "over thirty" years ago and multiple places note the campaign as grueling, so I think part of the idea (which gels with the trenches we see in the southern front) is supposed to be that the Bozjan campaign was a brutal and grinding one for the IVth Legion, or that after seizing Bozja proper it still took a long time to stamp out all resistance. Dalmasca was invaded 30 years ago in 1547, also by the IVth Legion, presumably fairly soon after stabilizing their grip on Bozja. I don't think there's any time given for when Regula goes to the VIth and reforms it, but since they only clear their tainted reputation in the succession war following Solus's death, I figure he can't have been there that long and he makes a convenient reason to move Wolund around, so five years approximately concurrent with the 1.0 to 2.0 timeskip seems like a decent timeline for his reform.)

[jessepinwheel]

How about some shenanigans where ObiWan crosses paths with someone from the Temple before Async occurs and neither realizes until after Async.

this probably isn't what you asked for but I wanted to write obi-wan getting possessed again

For what must be the fifth or sixth time in his career, Feemor blinks his way to wakefulness in the bowels of what is probably not a Sith Temple, but definitely just as creepy as one, with no idea where he is or how he got there. Next time, he thinks, when the Council tells him to go investigate another creepy haunted Temple, he will tell them to go kriff themselves.

Feemor takes a deep breath. His whole body hurts, and if he thinks very hard he can vaguely remember something breaking apart beneath him and falling and hitting many things very hard on the way down. He stares up at the ceiling. It's a very nice ceiling, all told, with intricate mosaics and geometric patterns, lit by eerie blue lanterns that shine like will-o'-wisps. There's no hole in the ceiling, so it's not as if he fell and landed here, and he can't just jump back up, either.

He rubs his eyes. How long has he been unconscious? Unclear, but his mouth is completely dry, so it's probably been a little while. He reaches out to the Force and finds it...heavy. Not Dark or even malicious, but with a strange quality he might describe as viscous. It clings to his mind like tar, making it hard to cast his senses to the outside or call for help. It makes him uneasy, but there's nothing to be done for it. He needs to get out of here, then everything else will hopefully fall into place.

With some difficulty, he stands up. He has no idea which direction to go, so he reaches to the Force for guidance. It suggests a corridor to walk, and Feemor, with no better solutions, follows.

The Temple is silent and dark, only lit by faint wisps of blue light. It was abandoned thousands of years ago, only still standing by the strength of the Force that sleeps within it. From what records that exist in the Archives, this Temple once belonged to a now-dead Force cult who worshiped the Force's dominion over memory and time. And indeed, time does not seem to touch this Temple--there is no dust on the floors, the colors of the stonework have not faded, and there is no sign of decay in any of the corridors.

This Temple has no overt defenses--no traps or guards or warnings to keep interlopers out--but the maze-like corridors are so convoluted and identical that it is impossible to navigate them without the Force, and Feemor finds his vision beginning to blur as he walks.

The Force is heavier, now. As Feemor reaches to it for guidance, it seeps through his shields like a numbing poison as it sends him deeper into the Temple. The pain in his body fades, and, without his realizing it, so too does his desire to escape. As his thoughts slow, the Force whispers wordless commands into Feemor's mind, and his body obeys, carrying him straight to the heart of the Temple.

The inner sanctum is large. Feemor takes it all in--a large circular room lit in pale light from strange Force devices, revealing a high arched ceiling and a ring of steps leading down to an altar inscribed with symbols he can't read. At any other time, he would be excited to uncover and personally see such an esoteric and well-preserved piece of history, but now, with the Force keeping him deeply entranced, he can only passively take in the sight.

There is a sound. Bare skin on stone, a swish of cloth. Feemor blinks, and as if coming into focus, he sees a man behind the altar, with long reddish hair tied back and unkempt beard scruff and wearing an embroidered tunic that looks ceremonial. His right hand has been amputated at the wrist, and in the man's other hand is a glowing blue holocron. It is open.

As if sensing his presence, the man slowly turns towards Feemor, and he's not really a man at all--just a youngling. Seventeen or eighteen, barely older than Bruck, if that. The thought shakes something loose in Feemor's mind, tugging him to awareness just enough to think what the hell is happening to me? as his feet take him down the stairs to the altar.

As he approaches, the youngling stares at him with piercing eyes that glow pale gold. He does not feel like a person--the Force pours through him and surrounds him, like he is a conduit to something unfathomably powerful. He, too, looks like he is frozen in time--he does not blink, does not shift, does not even look like he is breathing. The holocron clutched in his fingers flickers, and Feemor feels something touch his mind.

"Jedi," the youngling says, and his voice seems to be layered twice--one voice physical, one resonating through the Force. If Feemor were to cover his ears, he doesn't think he would be able to block it out. "Why have you come to this place?"

Feemor hears the words, but can't make his mind move to recall the answer. He had been looking for something, he knows. Something had happened, and--

The youngling steps closer to him. An unknown force rushes through Feemor, and his legs buckle underneath him. He sinks to his knees before this youngling, gazing up into an expressionless face.

The youngling reaches out to him with the amputated arm, and Feemor feels a hand touch his face, laying flat over his forehead and threaded into his hair. It feels like skin contact, but not hot or cold, and it vibrates with barely restrained power. "Answer us, Jedi, or we will take the answers from you."

Feemor can't. He's paralyzed, his mouth is dry, and he is scared. He feels himself caught between two unfathomably powerful forces, can feel something in his head looking out his eyes and breathing through his mouth. He has been lured down into a trap without his realizing it and he is too late to pull himself out.

The youngling's grip tightens on his face, and so, too, does the pressure on Feemor's mind. He tries to calm himself and shore up his protections, but the youngling frowns, and says, "Do not hide from us. Let us see you."

The words vibrate in the Force, sinking into the very core of Feemor's mind. He can feel his defenses crumble, even as he struggles to stop it, and then all at once his mental walls disintegrate and he bares his mind to the thing that has him in its grip. Immediately, he feels something dig into him, dragging memory to the surface in a rush, images and sounds and smells all at once.

There has been a strange convergence of the Force in this sector, Master Windu's voice echoes. We know of an abandoned temple that has lain dormant for centuries, and if it is currently waking up again, we must know. You and your Padawan will be the best fit for the job, Knight Feemor.

Very well, says his own voice. We will be ready to leave tomorrow.

May the Force be with you.

And Feemor had felt something then, a squeeze in the Force, a feeling that this was something he needed to do. He knew he would find something and--

The youngling pulls away, eyes blazing gold, his mouth twisted into a snarl. "You dare to take what is rightfully ours?" he says, and there's more than two voices now, it's an entire chorus of otherworldly voices, ringing between Feemor's ears. "You will not touch this vessel!"

The Force bears down on him and pain explodes in Feemor's mind. He screams, trying to pull away, but the youngling grabs him by the throat with impossible strength, dragging him over to the altar and pushing him flush against the cold stone.

"Death would be too good for you, Jedi," the voices say from all around. "For encroaching on this sacred space, we will make you one of ours!"

And then, there is something rushing into him, something tearing at the threads of his mind and unraveling him, ready to weave him into something else and he cries out, desperately:

Help.

There's a tug on his mind. A soft, but determined light. An image floats to the surface, of white hair, unsteady hands, sharp eyes. Bruck's lips move without making any noise, but Feemor sees the words perfectly well.

You have to fight back.

Warmth flows into Feemor's numb limbs, light chasing away the pain, just a little bit. The blue holocron shines in the youngling's hand, and Feemor knows what he needs to do.

With a burst of strength, he lunges for the youngling's wrist and grabs the holocron. It burns to the touch, searing his skin and his mind as the spirit contained within lashes out at him. He holds on for dear life, and he feels Bruck's energy supporting him from afar even as his vision begins to fade...

He pries the holocron from the youngling's hand, and it goes skittering across the floor, then closes on its own. The assault on Feemor's mind stops, but the youngling remains standing, expressionless and dazed. The glow has faded from his eyes, revealing stormy gray underneath. Carefully, he reaches out to the youngling and finds that while he is not breathing, he is still warm. There are burns on his intact hand from the holocron, but they're already healing in front of his eyes. Feemor reaches out with the Force to get a sense of him, and finds the youngling softer, yet no less inhuman. The Force fills the youngling's body like he is an empty vessel, just an amalgam of light and emotion. It makes Feemor shiver. He's never heard of anything like this. He's not sure anyone has heard of anything like this.

"I'm a Jedi. I was sent here to help," he says softly. "Are you...are you the one I'm here to find?"

The youngling looks up at him. There is something looking out from behind those eyes, something Feemor isn't sure he wants to face. "Yes," the youngling says, and the voice that comes out doesn't sound like a youngling's voice. It doesn't even sound physical. "You will take this child from this place."

The words settle on Feemor's consciousness, soaking into his still-exposed mind. The compulsion is gentle and it feels natural as he carefully guides the youngling out of the inner sanctum and out of the Temple itself.

Feemor staggers out into the light. It's a warm, densely forested planet--in the insanity of the Temple, he had completely forgotten.

"Master! Master Feemor!" he hears. "What happened, I felt something happen to you and--"

"Take a deep breath, Padawan," Feemor says, setting a hand on Bruck's shoulder. Bruck looks like he wants to panic, but is holding himself together. "I am all right. I felt your support. I wouldn't have made it through without you."

"And you've--" Bruck's face goes even paler. "Is that--Is that Obi-Wan?"

Feemor looks at the youngling he's brought with him. "Obi-Wan?" he asks. "Is that your name?"

The youngling--Obi-Wan, perhaps--gazes at Bruck. "Ah. You know this child," he says. "That won't do." He raises a hand, and the Force swells.

Bruck's eyes roll up into his head and he collapses in a dead faint.

"What--Bruck!" Feemor shouts, running to Bruck's side. He's breathing and unharmed, but that does little to settle Feemor's anxiety. He glares at Obi-Wan. "What are you doing? Who are you?"

"We are sending this child somewhere safe," Obi-Wan says.

"You don't need to knock out my apprentice!" Feemor protests. "If you need us to take you back to the Temple, we can do that--heck, we were probably going to do that--but you can't just drag me out to the Outer Rim and do all this!"

"This child will not return to the Temple," Obi-Wan says. "The Temple is not safe for him anymore."

"What do you mean, the Temple isn't safe for him--he's clearly got something going on with the Force, we can help him!" Feemor protests.

"The Temple would consume this child whole," Obi-Wan says, and Feemor feels it, a crash of Force blotting out what little soul remains in this youngling. Nobody could endure that and come out the other side alive.

"If you're not sending him to the Temple, then where are you sending him?" Feemor asks. "He's--He's only a youngling."

"Away," Obi-Wan says. "One day, he may return to us, but not now. He will have to make that choice for himself when he is stronger." He looks at Feemor. "And you, my child. You have done well. Thank you."

"Your child, what do you--" Feemor's mouth goes dry. "Are you trying to say you're the Force? That's not--that's not possible."

Obi-Wan tilts his head to one side. "No?"

"If you're--if you're the Force, why would you need to bring me out here to save him? Couldn't you just...do what you're doing now, and take him out yourself?"

"This child is no longer a Jedi," Obi-Wan says, with an edge that Feemor thinks might be sorrow. "We can no longer guide him. So we act through the Jedi. In this instance, we act through you, Feemor, and you have performed admirably."

Hearing some entity speak his name makes a chill go down Feemor's spine. There's really a lot going on right now, and speaking to some kind of Force manifestation really was not on his list of things he'd ever been prepared to do.

Obi-Wan steps closer to him. "There is only one last thing you must do for us, young Jedi."

Feemor can't pull away. Or rather, he doesn't want to. The Force murmurs in his mind, the voice he's trusted above anything else for his entire life, telling him that he will be safe and that he has done well. Feemor sinks to his knees before Obi-Wan, letting the youngling brush the sides of his face with his hands--both the real one and the nonexistent one. They are warm, gentle hands.

"You and your apprentice will forget what you have seen here," Obi-Wan says.

"You're...you're going to make me forget?" Feemor asks, even as he can feel the words settling in his mind and feeling right. The Force caresses him softly, and his senses fade as it tugs him into a trance and begins to comb through his memory. Despite what he knows is about to happen, the sensation is pleasant, like gentle fingers threaded through his hair.

Obi-Wan nods solemnly. "We will replace it with a suitable memory. Your Council will not be disappointed in your work." He brushes a hand across Feemor's cheek, and with a touch of warmth, Feemor feels his scrapes and pains dissolve. "This child must make his own choice to return home. So we cannot allow anyone to interfere. Not now, not before he becomes stronger."

"Will I..." Feemor can feel his eyes start to slide shut despite his best efforts--against the Force itself, there's nothing he can do. "Will I ever remember this?"

Obi-Wan seems to consider that. "Do you want to?"

He does, he doesn't say out loud, but Obi-Wan hears him perfectly well--he is already in Feemor's mind, after all.

"You want to meet young Obi-Wan again?" Obi-Wan asks, answering Feemor's thoughts before even realizes he has them. "Well...perhaps. We cannot control his fate, but if you wish, then...hm. Yes, why not? One day in the future, we will let you remember this." He smiles softly. "Now close your eyes, dear child. This will not hurt."

Feemor's eyes close, and Obi-Wan pulls him into a hug. The Force blankets Feemor's mind, rewriting his memory faster than Feemor can even comprehend. True to its words, the process does not hurt--there is no better expert than the Force itself in remaking a memory and weaving it seamlessly into the surrounding space. Feemor tries to fix Obi-Wan's face in his mind, to try and hold onto at least one thing from this encounter, until the Force gently tugs that away from him, too, and washes the memory clean.

The touch in his mind recedes, and Feemor's eyes flutter open to see the storm-gray eyes of an unfamiliar face. The last coherent thought he has before unconsciousness pulls him under is to wonder why those eyes look so sad.

---

"I think we did a pretty good job," Bruck says as they leave the Council Chamber, his Padawan braid thumping on his chest as he walks. "It took a little longer than expected, but I mean, it's a time Temple. Some weird stuff was bound to happen in there, right?"

"Of course," Feemor says, smiling. "But we did well."

It had been a strange mission, though not outside Feemor and Bruck's skillset. A strange convergence of the Force around an obscure Temple in the Outer Rim. He and Bruck had carefully investigated the Temple and eventually found a strange holocron in its inner sanctum. They had safely deactivated it, then brought it to the Temple for further analysis by the Archivists. No damage was done, no strange entities appeared. The only strange thing about the whole mission was that despite being in the Temple for only a few hours, it seemed they had spent almost two whole days had passed by the time they left. A strange time effect due to the Force in the Temple, perhaps? Maybe the Archivists will know more.

Bruck talks a little while longer, wondering out loud about who had built the Temple and why, and what happened to them and how they knew how to make holocrons.

"Master Nu will tell us more about it when she's done, right?" Bruck asks. "Maybe there's the secret to time travel or something in there."

"Maybe," Feemor says. "I wouldn't hold my breath about that, though. I'm sure it's more likely to be some sort of historical information that--"

Feemor stops walking.

"Huh?" Bruck says. "Master Feemor, is something wrong?"

"We're at the memorial wall," Feemor says.

"Yeah? We pass by here almost every day," Bruck says. His brows furrow. "Are you okay, Master? Did you hit your head and not tell me?"

"No, I'm fine." Feemor's gaze drags along the wall, stopping on a name he doesn't recognize. "Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

Bruck grimaces. "Yeah? What about him?"

Feemor looks over at his Padawan. "You know Obi-Wan?"

"I mean, I knew him before he died, yeah," Bruck says. "He was in a lot of the same classes as me. People liked him a lot--he was a little bit dumb, but he was nice and he always worked really hard. I...was kind of a dick to him."

"This says he died when he was fourteen," Feemor says, brushing his fingers across the embossed letters on the plaque. "What happened?"

"Dunno," Bruck says. "He went on a mission and never came back, then one day all his bonds snapped, because he died."

"Or he stopped being a Jedi," Feemor says.

Bruck looks at him weird. "I mean. Yeah, being dead would make you not a Jedi. That's true."

"But nobody ever went to find the body, did they?" Feemor says. "He could still be alive, and--"

Feemor is hit with a sudden wave of dizziness. There's a sharp sensation of something cutting into his mind, completely bypassing all his shields, and the Force murmurs a soft apology, reaching in and pulling something straight. The world seems to spin for a couple nauseating moments, then rights itself.

Feemor blinks. "I--" He looks at the memorial wall in front of him. They walk past it almost every day. Why was he so fixated on it all of a sudden? "I'm sorry, I think I just lost my train of thought. Bruck?"

Bruck doesn't respond. His eyes are glassy and his expression is dazed.

Feemor puts a hand on Bruck's shoulder. "Bruck, are you okay?"

Bruck blinks, shaking off his daze. "What? Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking." He points to the plaque. "That's Obi-Wan Kenobi, he died when he was just fourteen. Disappeared after a mission and never came back. I went to his funeral and everything, and it still...doesn't feel real, sometimes."

"I'm sorry," Feemor says.

"I always wanted to apologize," Bruck continues. "Even before he beefed it. He was always better than me--he had more friends and he worked harder and he was nicer, too. I was always kind of jealous, so I gave him a hard time about it." He rubs the burn scar on his face, the one he had asked the Healers to not fix all those years ago. "He should have been here. He would have been a great Jedi, and instead, it's me who's here doing all this Jedi stuff instead. That just doesn't seem right."

"I'm sure that Obi-Wan would be happy to know how well you've improved as a person," Feemor replies.

Bruck huffs. "Yeah, I'm sure he would. He's the kind of person who would be happy about that, even if he didn't like me. Doesn't make him less dead."

"No, but you still remember him and you're doing honor to his memory. That's important," Feemor says. "Let's head home, Bruck. I think we deserve some rest."

With a nod, the two of them head back to their quarters, Bruck going almost directly to his bed and passing out. Feemor sits down on his own bed, and in the privacy of his room, he takes out a small holocron.

It's not any kind of holocron he has ever seen--it's too small, and it's a strange orange-gold color. He had found it in his pocket on the way back from the Temple, but he has no memory of how it got there or what it might contain. Consulting the Force only tells him that this holocron is for him alone, and the time to open it will not be for many years. He turns it over in his fingers slowly, then sets it on a shelf in the back of his closet. Once it's out of view, the memory of the holocron itself fades from his mind, and he finds himself wondering what he was trying to get out of his closet. After considering it for several seconds, he shakes his head and turns away. He's been so absent-minded today--clearly he needs some rest.

He strips off his outer tunics, collapses on his bed, then sleeps.

That night, Feemor dreams of unfamiliar storm-gray eyes and a sadness that is infinite like an ocean stretching to the horizon that makes his heart hurt. He calls out a name, but there is no response--it is not his place to interfere, as much as he may want to.

He wakes the next morning and the dream is already forgotten.

[enochscribbles]

Can I have a honkai star rail matchup please

Gender: cis female

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: heterosexual ally

Zodiac: Capricorn

Appearance: 5’2 African American hourglass body (although I’m more top heavy if you know what i mean) black curly wavy hair blackish brown eyes chubby cheeks wears glasses sometimes (im far sighted so it’s usually when driving in class or at the theater)

Mbti: infj

Enneagram: 2w1

Personality: kind smart funny motherly responsible empathetic anxious emotional moody perfectionist helpful people pleaser caring compassionate nerdy curious protective polite respectful indecisive fearful nervous introvert shy awkward clumsy low self esteem low confidence (more pertaining to my talents or personality then my looks) sassy sarcastic (I’m mainly these things with people i feel comfortable with like friends or family) soft spoken cute (my friends think im cute because i can be pretty innocent plus I’m small physically)

Likes: animals books reading writing fantasy magic sci fi anime music video games friends alone time learning personality quizzes sweets and bread helping being a part of something bigger than myself

Dislikes: spiders loud sounds people who harm others people who don’t take others into consideration (like make insensitive jokes or don’t consider the comfort of others or are mean just cause they can) people i care about not caring for themselves (im a hypocrite on this i take care of everyone else but not me) not being listened to weird holes and patterns math and tests (I’m being tested for a math disability and i have test anxiety)

Love language:

Giving: acts of service gift giving and physical affection (if they’re ok with it)

Receiving: words of affirmation and physical affection (although i can be shy about it)

Extra: i pace a lot i sing when im alone i talk to myself im a picky eater (mainly with textures) i have a cat i have minor ehlers danalos (a hyper mobility disorder) but it doesn’t hurt me like it does my sisters i get abdominal migraines which is basically like a migraine but instead of headaches it’s nausea

Thank you

Hello! Thank you for the request. first matchup so I hope this is ok. I’ll assume this is a romantic matchup but it can be read either way (I’m really sorry if it’s not perfect as I’m not as up-to-date with HSR, but I’ve done my best ;w;)

I pretty much listed everything that came to mind for this one, so matchups following this one may not be as long, apologies

I’d match you with Gepard Landau!

Okay, so, first, Gepard is very stubborn, as a deeply loyal person

Protecting others is his top priority, his path is Preservation, so there’s no question of whether he takes other people into consideration or not

And he’s a very kind-hearted person, so I think you’d get along

Despite how it may seem, he’s quite empathetic himself and would definitely appreciate how compassionate you are, having a lot of respect for how you care about and help others

So you'd share how you see a lot of things

Gepard’s also used to a sassy and sarcastic personality from his sister, Serval (who’s also a good platonic match, I think), so conversation with him would be fun and lively especially if Serval joined it

It’s amazing to him how you’re able to create worlds out of text, and your liking books, music and such might spark an interest for him in those things, too (he'd be nice to talk to about whatever media you're into because he pays so much attention and tries to learn about it in his downtime so he can talk about it with you)

He also absolutely understands the feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself with his role in the Silvermane Guards and the protection of the entire city

And he’d find you really nice to be around, being soft-spoken

You might have a bit of trouble with him putting the safety of others over his own and coming back injured (or getting wounded if you join him in the fray), but really, he’s very reasonable and would make sure everyone, including himself, was safe and healthy

And he would do the same thing right back to you, fussing over whether you’re looking after yourself, of course.

He also finds himself singing or humming Serval’s songs to himself (though he’s a little out of tune) and would find your singing lovely if you wanted to share it with him

As a final note, he’d be really supportive of you and reassure you if you were anxious in any way, not only is he good at boosting morale as a guard but for his friends and partner, he’d be able to genuinely tell you everything that’s amazing about you, and say you’re stronger than you think

(also the Landau siblings’ names are all big cat themed, which leads me to believe,, surprisingly has an affinity with ur cat lol. that’s all)

being a tank is all about love a gepard textpost i feel is relevant