#sorry its a bit short )

[floydsteeth]

new oc!!!! Meet Odilia Elodie Lucinenne Abreo

Info on her down here (still a w.i.p will be updated as i go(im lazy ok and over excited to show her off even if shes underdeveloped))

Pairing: Leon (might change)

Age: 30

Backstory(kinda): Odilia is the youngest of 4, daughter of to earl Guillaume Abreo, having grown up in a loving household she was lucky enough to have an identical education as her brothers quickly excelling in math, science and gaining a huge fascination for astronomy, a field which was rather under developed in rhodolite. While yes her education was identical to her brothers, being a lady meant along with her tutor she had a governess teaching her of the more lady like things, the extra hours of learning were exhausting but she gained a love for the arts, and learned how to paint as well. At a young age she had managed to succour a position in an academy in the capital, her family residing closer to the border with bentonite, moving to the capital expecting only to stay for a few years, before moving back home to be married so she throw herself into her studies, she viewed these as her only years of freedome not being pressured to marry or debut in society, at the academy she started learning more literature and philosophy but her passions still lied in math and astronomy, she was surprised when she was given the opportunity to continue her studies in astronomy in rhodolites palace, she quickly accepted this opportunity thinking it would never happen again and seeing this as a way out of any possible arranged marriages. Living in the palace meant access to the library a place where she'd like to spend most of her time, but having only ever heard rumors of prince Chevalier she wasnt particularly enthusiastic to bump into him, but living in the palace makes it impossible to fully avoid the princes's. Even though she came to the palace for an education and an opportunity to start her research she quite enjoys the balls and social evwnts happening st the palace, realising that being a lady of science doesnt mean giving up being a lady of status as well, she will put her status of being a lady above her status of being a scholar, that doesnt mean she takes being a scholar any less seriously infact she takes it much more seriously for that reason, she needs to work less to be seen as a lady as she does a scholar.

Her relationship with leon: i honestly have no idea how they'd get together or why, i need to finish Leon's route :P

personality: shes a very headstrong, determind and confident woman, shes focused and goal oriented, curious and quite hardworking. she's social but not overly talkative, polite, perceptive and opinionated.

-More will be added soon-

@olivermorningstar @solacedeer @m-mmiy @keithsandwich @lorei-writes

Because i feel like you guys would wanna be tagged

[medicalunprofessional]

never change, man !

[buwheal]

OH!!!!! HAVE YOU CHECKED THE CYBER CAFÉ DUMPSTER by any chance? there HAS to be some leftover cake there!!!! i heard there was an event recently!!

[gremlingirlsmell]

played the susan taxpayer demo by @punkitt-is-here

it's pretty fun! I like how it controls a lot like Wario 3 and Wario 4, with some added things to the moveset. the ground pounding into slopes to go extra fast is fun :3

i'm always looking like this

and i did it i got to the secret place, iunno if i missed something after but that being an enemy there scared the heck out of me i could barely grab the screenshot

excited for when the full game releases :3

[murdockcastleslut]

No18 from the angsty romance prompts for Remus lupin pls! Maybe after the full moon

im sorry this took so long but i hope you enjoy it! | request info here!

it was a bad night, you knew it was going to be the moment the wolf snarled at you.

you were all in your animagi forms. this has never happened before. and before you could try and move forward the wolf scurried off and left you all searching for him for hours.

after hours of looking for the wolf, sirius had tracked his scent back to the base of the whomping willow.

when you entered the shrieking shake, there you saw you boyfriend laying on the floor, a small blanket barely covering him. but his body was covered in bloody scratches and bruises.

you cursed to yourself and quickly transformed and grabbed your clothes and yanked them on. you ran to remus's body pulling his head to you lap.

"re-remus, what happened?" you forced yourself not to sound as sad as you were.

"it was a bad one, darling." he mumbles barely audible as his eyes flutter.

your hands trembling while holding his face pale, bloodied face "remus, keep your eyes open, for fucks sake! PLEASE- please please, talk to me." you pleaded with your lover.

"james, sirius, peter, please someone go get promfrey! NOW!" you shouted harshly although not meaning to.

you look back at remus and his eyes are still fluttering still fighting to stay open.

"remus please stay awake. please. tell me about the cottage you want to get us again." tears stream unconciously stream down your face as you beg him.

you sat there trying to get him to talk while waiting for the boys and promfrey to come back.

[ohdeerfully]

AaaghhHfbfbfn I looooved 'your half of the deal' and I'm hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for part two 😩 absolutely adore your writing

hello anon u are in luck..............

Your Half of the Deal (ii)

Alastor x Reader

part i part ii part iii

TW: kidnapping, typical hazbin hotel cursing

join my discord!

◈ ══════════ ◈ ══════════ ◈ ══════════ ◈

Your eyes cracked open, and your body ached all over. It took a moment for your thoughts to pick up and consider your situation.

Right, you groaned as you sat yourself up taller, sharp pains coursing from your neck and throughout every limb. Yeah. I got electrocuted. 

You were positioned on a bed; not a very comfortable one, but you preferred it over being shackled in a dungeon or something. You smirked humorously at the thought. In your tacky spy getup, it would’ve made sense to be in a similarly stereotypical situation.

“Myy,” A voice purred from the corner of the room. “Glad to see those beautiful eyes open, finally!” Your nose scrunched at the smell of smoke, and you made eye contact with the Overlord that stood, leisurely leaned against a wall. Tendrils of his cigarette smoke curled throughout the air as he brandished a hand at you. One of his hands began tapping away at his phone.

“Vox will be so happy,” Valentino stepped towards you, and you tried to leap at him. You were shackled, you discovered, the chains clamoring against each other with the jerk of your body. “Feisty. I like that. A shame I can’t have you work for me.” A sigh so dramatic escaped his lips as he put his face right in front of your scowling expression. The smell of cigarettes made you scrunch up your nose. He slowly looked your body up and down, considering every edge and curve of your body.

You spat at his hand as he raised it to stroke at your arm. He recoiled his arm in disgust, raising it once more and bringing it down in a harsh slap that made your ears ring.

“Don’t forget whose home you broke into.”

You couldn’t help the tears that welled in your vision due to the stinging pain, but you continued to glare at him, showing your fangs and lashing your tail in a weak display of intimidation. You knew he was stronger than you, and you couldn’t even fight back with your arms chained up.

“My boss is going to tear all of those arms off your body,” You growled, “if I don’t get at you first.”

“I’m not too worried,” Vox’s voice fills the room as he slowly enters the doorway. You briefly think about calling him out on his dramatic entrance, but think better of it. You were in a vulnerable enough state already. “I mean, if he’s sending his little pet to do his chores, why would I be scared of him?” He erupted in some sort of over the top villain laugh. 

The air was filled with the feeling of strange static when Vox entered the room, running up and down your arms in a sharp, buzzing sensation. It was sinister, threatening, and it made your throat feel dry. Your entire nervous system seemed to prickle, and you were suddenly hyper aware of the pain running through your neck from your previous electrocution. 

You only frown at him, fingers fiddling with the shackles behind your back. They weren’t giving, and your nails were starting to crack as you clawed at your sore wrists.

“I’m not his pet,” you look towards the floor as you mutter back, partially as a lie to yourself. “He’s probably going to realize I’m gone any second now. He’s going to beat your ass, it was part of our deal.”

The two didn’t seem to mind your words, watching your desperate attempt at intimidating them with a pitiful look in their eyes. Why weren’t they worried? The nonchalance radiating off of them was making you feel less and less sure about your rescue.

“I have a question,” Valentino suddenly piped up. He sauntered over to you, and sat way too close, leaning towards you. You rocked your whole body to the side when the plume of his coat brushed your shoulder. Oh, how you wished you could move your hands to rip that fluff off of him. “How is my baby Angel doing up in that shithole?”

“Val,” Vox snapped, pinching his fingers on his non-existent nose. The sentiment was there, though, obviously tired of the moth’s shit. “Nobody fucking cares.”

“I do!” Valentino snapped back, a snarl on his mouth. He smiled and turned towards you again, waiting for an answer.

“Uh…” You looked between the two Overlords. Why was this guy trying to have small talk right now? And why were you even responding? “He’s… okay. I guess. Happy.”

That last word, happy, seemed to wipe the smile off of Valentino’s face again. He gave you a quick “hm” and stood up, all four hands crossed on his torso. He took a drag of his cigarette. Vox silently glared at him.

How is it possible to feel so awkward in such a dire situation?

And where is Alastor?

You began to think about the deal you made with him. Was it too naïve to think that he would actually come rescue you? Yeah, you literally sold your soul to him for his protection, but did you make a mistake in thinking he was being honest? You still didn’t have the most knowledge when it came to deals, and it wouldn’t surprise you if the Radio Demon managed to fudge his way out of his part of the deal.

You were dragged from your thoughts when you noticed the two Overlords began to bicker about something. Valentino had dramatically turned away from Vox, walking towards the wall to stare at nothing in anger.

“That old-timey, relevant wanna-be isn’t going to find us,” Vox stated, following Valentino. “So stop being such a bitch!”

“And if he does?” Valentino snaps back, whipping his head around to narrow his red eyes at the television head. “I’m too popular to get into your power-trip induced battles! I have a reputation to uphold.”

“What, a reputation built on the backs of sluts?” 

“Yes! Obviously,” Valentino missed the insult Vox tried to stab him with. He turned his head to look at you, gaze hidden behind the glare hitting his heart-shaped glasses. He felt menacing, though. “...though, if we kill him…”

You wordlessly mouth a ‘fuck you’ to him, and look at your feet. What do they mean by find us? Your eyes scan the room you're in, trying desperately to find any semblance of recognition to where you were.

It was pointless, though, and you cast your gaze to the door. Bright, flickering lights colored the crack at the bottom, and you frowned curiously. You suddenly realize that the deep thumping you had been hearing for the past couple minutes was music.

Did these egotistical assholes really kidnap you in a club?

.

Alastor had quickly made it to the Vee’s headquarters, and stood at the entrance with a wide smile and furrowed eyebrows. He peered up at the tall doors for a moment before leaning forward and neatly rapping his knuckles against them. His shadow melted away from his feet and inked through the crack at the bottom of the door.

“Who the fuck is- What the fuck,” Velvette had opened the door, her eyes glued on her phone before she realized who was standing in front of her. She frowned at the sight. Alastor easily towered over her, looking down with a sinister grin.

“Vox isn’t here right now. So,” She began to shut the door, an aggravated look in her eyes. Alastor gripped the door, and easily held it open. “Dude, come on, I have the whole place to myself right now. Leave me alone. He’s not home!”

“What makes you think I’m here for that pompous nobody?” He replied, yanking the door from her grasp. He held a sickly sweet smile on his face. “I’m here to pick up what he stole from me.”

Velvette obviously knew all about the antics of the other two V’s. She also knew how serious Alastor was, and how fast things could get bad for her. She wasn’t easily intimidated, though.

“Kay, well, again,” She rolled her eyes, making a point to show her annoyance in the way she aggressively grabbed the door handle again. “They aren’t here. Get the fuck out.”

Alastor’s shadow returned without her noticing, stitching itself neatly back to the demon. Velvette was telling the truth—they weren’t here. You weren’t here. Alastor retained his grin, but it was tighter than before.

“Ah, my apologies then!” He said, his voice brightening in a fake chipper attitude. He squared his shoulders and stood up straight, folding his hands behind his back. “How rude of me to interrupt.”

With that, he turned sharply on his heel and left.

He hated the way his heart drummed faster when he thought about being able to find you, and he hated the way he could feel it send sick adrenaline through his body. His chest was annoyingly tight. He sent his shadow off again, and made his own way towards town. Surely people would have noticed Vox walking around earlier, and he could use them to pinpoint your location.

Alastor was a master at lying to others and even himself about his emotions, finding it advantageous to growing his power and manipulating those around him. This was harder, though, and he knows he's never felt something like it. The feeling of regret, of frustration, of worry. It made him mad at himself, and even at you. Why were you, some random sinner, making him, the Radio Demon, feel this way?

He had missed the way his shadow held a sharp frown on its features as it dashed away from him.

part i ... part iii

================================================

taglist(sorry if i missed anybody!):

if you want tagged in the next part, lmk! i will be using a continuous tag list, so if you already requested to be tagged you dont have to again. and, if you want to be removed, let me know!

@enbytwink@wonderlife974@cannibalcoyote@reigenmagnet@tsukilover11@sophiasrant@bby-clowns@amurtan@sleepykittycx@radical-bunny@kimkimmm2411@mihuntress@lunaria1@spirlimpo@poppingaround@scrumpdidlyuptious@sammyaftxn@quinnofthevoid@fabii275@abbiedail@tuhlollo@venom-laced-words

[deadduvznap]

crybaby miguel waking up to getting his pussy ate, he’s already cum so many times in his sleep and now he’s just a teary mess 🙏

hed be so sensitive by the time he wakes up omg hed literally be shaking in his sleep bcs its so much for him hed be crying and whining and so disoriented and hed be so much more vocal that if he was awake and his cut is leaking EVERYWHERE bcs he feels so good ugh hed be a little whore

[karkatbug]

Some Dave lore with a touch of ✨fate✨

Day 5 of @davekatweek: Fate

page 1/2-3/4/5/6/7-8/9-10

[infernothechaosgod]

I love you "four eared trouble" oswald

Hell yeah a ghost brother trying to help you break into a ritch guy's house because he fucking stole your "kinda magic mirror" my beloved

also

I love how the jokes with oswald being an older character arent just him using 1920's slang and that being his entire personality but him being unaware of so many things We found out during the decades Like yeah uhhhh i dont know i dont think you can land on the sun oswald

[averagecatdoodlesenjoyer]

My piece for @daily-teki's DTIYS !

[ot9snumber1]

mommy!hyo putting r in their place in a public bathroom bc they kept teasing her 😵‍💫

she’s 3 fingers deep in r’s pussy, who’s moaning like crazy.

“shut the fuck up you slut! you want everyone to hear you?” 🫠

cw: semi-public sex, degradation

"m-mommy!" you yelp as jihyo pushes your face against the wall, her fingers going in and out at an insane pace. you feel her ring brush against your entrance every now and then and it drives you crazy.

"what did i just say?" she says, sounding more disappointed than angry. "do you want everyone outside to hear me fucking you, huh? are you that much of a whore?"

you shut up, resorting to strained whines as jihyo kept her pace up. "now the bitch won't talk. you learning your lesson?" she asks, her other hand pulling your hair to make your back arch for her. you nod weakly, your eyes screwing shut.

"good. you should know better than to act like a slut in public. be glad i love you, because i would've made you strip in the middle of the mall for doing that."

you deserve it, you think. it's a good thing jihyo always made her punishments feel good, she knows you wouldn't dream of teasing her in public ever again.

[sculkshrieking]

Perhaps some MotherSpore and Mayor Scar? I absolutely ate up their dynamic during S7

you and me both anon, s7 desert duo is everything to me <3

short people problems require short people solutions

[the-gayest-sky-kid]

venti birthday art captions ranked by how gay they make him and the traveler sound

2024

The morning sun is pretty pleasant, isn't it? Ehe, you can barely keep your eyes open. Here, come sit with me and enjoy the scent of Cecilias! They'll perk you up. Ah, I lost track of time just chatting with you... Wait just a moment, I'm almost done! You haven't eaten apple pie in a long time, have you? Then I'll make us breakfast today~

2021

Oh, is this apple for me? Haha, that won't do, come share this apple with me. Split it open like this...and you will feel the breeze from the apple core. In some fairy tales, it is written that there is a whole tiny world hidden inside an apple core, and this breeze is a gift from the tiny world. Here, this half is for you. Once you're done eating, let's take a stroll in the tiny little world. But remember to keep it a secret and don't tell anyone else. That's because... you're the only one I want to bring there.

2022

Yahoo~ Look up, I'm here! It's been a long time, my warrior, ready to tell me your new story? Haha, you want to know if it's for my verses? Oh, don't make that face. I just want to hear about your adventures, isn't that reason enough? I want to know more about what you saw on your travels or the lives of others. The most important thing for me is to hear you talk about your own experiences and what you think about them. Come on, come sit next to me. This bottle of aged cider will be enough for us to chat from first dawn of the morning light until the stars cover the sky.

2022 (Web Event)

Paimon: Look, it's the Tone-Deaf Bard! / Venti: Heh, I was just wondering when you two would get here. / Traveler: Venti, it's your birthday today. / Traveler: Do you have any birthday wishes or anything you want to do? / Venti: Mmm... Then stay with me to chat and walk around. If we could go for a drink after, that would be great. / Paimon: These are all pretty normal... I would've thought a god's birthday wishes would have more of that "boom shaka-laka." / Venti: Hehe, that "boom shaka-laka" isn't from what you're doing, but who you're doing it with. / Venti: Right, Traveler?

2023 (Birthday Short)

"Together with you, even apples taste sweeter. But something isn't quite right, it feels like... I'm gonna s—sneeze."

2023

Caught you~! The farther your journey takes you, the less time we have to spend together in Mondstadt. But... I knew I'd run into you today. Quick, just sit down, right here! It's a rare chance, so allow me to croon you a dulcet tune, accompanied by the melody of the water's revelry.

2021 (Birthday Short)

"Paimon's back! Paimon picked a lot of big, fresh apples! Hey, where did the Traveler and Tone-Deaf Bard go?"

2022 (Birthday Short)

"Hey, Tone-Deaf Bard, we've been looking for you! Didn't expect you to be here!" / "Haha, Traveler and Paimon! You guys came just in time. Here, special apple juice made just for you. Try it~" / "Hey! Where's the special apple juice for Paimon!?"

2023 (Web Event)

Traveler: Happy birthday, Venti! / Paimon: Tada— Paimon and the Traveler made this apple cake for you! / Venti: Wow, thank you both! As the greatest bard in the whole world, allow me to put on a special performance for you. / Paimon: Yay! You're the best, Venti! / Venti: I'm just returning the favor. I've been waiting for a chance to perform this ever since the both of you told me all those new stories. Now then, shall we begin? / (Venti begins to perform the new ballad he's written. Paimon lets loose a party popper. The confetti flutters in the air, before gently settling on the floor.) / Venti: Wow, we even have stage effects for the song. / Paimon: Hehe, Paimon prepared this in advance. / Paimon: Wait... Is Paimon going to have to pick up the confetti pieces one by one before we leave? / Venti: Oh, that'll be a breeze. A little gust of wind will make quick work of that. / Traveler: ...So this is the sort of stuff the Anemo Archon uses his elemental powers for, huh? / Venti: Ehe.

2020

The tune you just hummed away, is it one that I oft play? Ah, so it's "Happy Birthday" you were just humming? Then please, continue, and I shall keep strumming! Eh-he!

2024 (Birthday Short) & 2024 (Birthday Calendar)

"Eh, olah! Mosi mita!"

The wind here is mixed with the scent of Cecilias... It feels quite pleasant! Oh, don't be afraid, little one. I've got you. Listen, there seems to be singing coming from a distance...

[ioniansunsets]

i’ve recently been on dating apps and ITS A BATTLEFIELD OUT HERE. Could i get some heartsteel aphelios to comfort me please? 😭preferably one where the reader and aphelios are already an established relationship 🫶

✖ Comfort Heartsteel!Aphelios x Reader ✖

✖ Word Count: 566 Words

✖ Tags: Established R/S, Surgery Mention

✖ A/N: This is reader and Aphelios who are High School Sweethearts and he wants to tell you things will be ok but can't do it properly </3

✖ Wrote This Listening To: Monsters - Falling Feathers It really fit too well I am hurt….

----

It was not a good time. Aphelios knew good times, of course. He knew what it was like to serenade you under the stars, he knew what it was like to belt out songs in a private karaoke room with you cheering him on, he knew he loved having you by his side as he wrote his own songs and sung them back to you. He knew all these things that were constants in his life that he never thought he would lose.

Honestly. When he heard he would have to get surgery for his vocal chords he was devastated, but you were always there, gently consoling him. You were always by his side, always telling him how no changes of this sort would make you love him less, your love would never waver. You were a constant in his life that kept him grounded enough to see past the horrors of losing his hobbies and subsequently help him find solace in the possibilities of any sort of hopeful future. So obviously when you were the one sad, when you were the one lying in his arms crying what was he supposed to do other than try to comfort you the same way you comforted him? You were there for him and he would be there for you, that was just how it was.

A gentle hand rising to caress your cheek, the soft brushing of his thumb to wipe away your tears. His lips pressed against your cheek as he tries to will away your sadness with his affection. Not ever being able to sing again was horrible, but now, seeing you in his arms, and his voice not being loud enough to talk you through your pain, ah…he hates it. But in the end, he knows his actions are as much a comfort for you as his voice, so gently he pushes your hair aside, peppering soft kisses against your forehead. Warm breath fanning over your face as he rests his forehead against yours. His free arm firmly wrapped around your waist, holding you so close to him that you could feel the firm thumping of his heart against your chest. Carefully he leans back a little to properly look at you.

“ I’m here for you.”

It was soft, raspy and barely audible of a whisper that leaves Aphelios’ lips, a haunting semblance of what his angelic voice used to be. But it was still Aphelios, it was still your lover. Hearing him try so hard to be there for you through his own pain… His slender fingers reach out to tilt your chin up towards him, a look of concern on his face. Even when he looked at you like this, he was beautiful, the way his lips curved in a frustrated pout, how his sparkling ruby eyes looked so serious as he stares straight into yours, the way his brows furrowed as he thinks hard on how to show his care and concern. And when you crack an exhausted smile at him, the way his eyes light up, the way he pulls you back into a hug with his hands gently rubbing your back, the way he rests his head on your shoulder so you can feel his warm skin against your neck. You were loved, oh so loved by him that it was hard to stay sad for long.

[thrilling-oneway]

Fate in Project SEKAI - 1/?

VBS

2.3k

1. An and Kohane

Right from the main story we're introduced to the idea that An and Kohane's first meeting was simply fate. Kohane was just a bypasser overhearing An's singing, hearing An talk about her dreams. It's this that makes Kohane reflect on herself, how she's never been passionate and never had anything she wanted to throw herself into. This girl is everything she isn't and everything she would like to be.

They don't even meet formally, but An's profession of her dream and Kohane's longing for one is what causes their SEKAI to manifest. We know from MEIKO that it's been around for a long time, but it wasn't until Kohane saw An that it revealed itself to its owners. But that could've been anyone. Anyone could've been inspired by An, or Akito and Toya, since they were involved in its creation too. Heck we could've had Kotaro who outright stated was inspired by Akito. But no, it had to be Kohane. Kohane had something she wanted to change about herself, and meeting An is the only way this could happen.

An also needed a partner, and Kohane was the perfect partner. An grew up talented surrounded by talented people. She never had any problems, she'd always been a step above everyone else. Kohane is a total beginner, far, far out of her comfort zone. They compliment each other. Kohane learns from An how to sing, how to be confident, all about her dreams and aspirations. She learns what it's like to be passionate. An learns what it means to rely on someone, what it means to wholly trust someone. A beginner is not to be protected, a beginner is to be taught. She teaches Kohane all these things, and learns what it's like to struggle too. She experiences a sense of weakness for the first time, the fear that someone will surpass her. She's not jealous, she's happy for Kohane, but she's insecure that Kohane will become too good for her, that she'll fall behind and lose the person she loves and trusts more than anyone else. It's these insecurities that push her to become even better, to improve further. She may be naturally talented but that doesn't mean you can't improve.

Kohane's fes card further touches on the idea of An being everything she wanted to be, by literally making her become An. All this time she thought she had to become An, not realising that what she truly needed was to stay being herself. Kohane wanted to change, but to change yourself doesn't mean to become someone else entirely. Kohane is still Kohane. She's still the shy girl who was too scared to do anything, but she left that girl in the past the second she chose to return to An in the main story. It's this idea of a rebirth that is touched on a lot more later on in Nagi and Akito's arcs, and VBS' arc as a whole.

2. Akito and Toya

Was Akito and Toya's meeting just a coincidence, or was it fate? I'll discuss the overlaps between coincidences and fate in this game later, but for now we'll say that yes, Akito and Toya's meeting was also fate. In fact, it's rather similar to An and Kohane's - a parallel, if you will. Not quite the same but not wholly different.

Akito had been fully devoted to soccer for his entire childhood. He was talented, the best player on the team. He put so much time and energy into it. And then he lost, and gave up. Bringing back that idea of rebirth. Akito's passion for soccer burnt out, he was done with it, and not going back. Sure he was good, but he had nothing left in him to care about it anymore. Seeing that concert relit that passion. Made him rediscover himself. Maybe he wasn't made for soccer, but made for music. Music was an opportunity to reinvent himself, much like it was for Kohane.

Toya came from a musical family. Surrounded by professional musicians, tied to the fate of music from birth. His family expected nothing less of him than to follow in their footprints, a fate pushed onto him regardless of whether he wanted it or not. It wasn't right for him and it hurt, his parents hurt him trying to make him into something he wasn't. He may be talented and experienced, but he was willing to run away from it all. The lyrics to RAD DOGS say as much. Classical music was never his real fate, his real fate lied with street music. Even then, street music was just something he chose because it was so different from the path chosen for him. It was an unknown route that he didn't know how to navigate, but nonetheless, he grew to love it. Fate cannot be chosen, so maybe Toya's spontaneous choice was leading him in the right direction.

Akito happened to meet Toya on the street one day, just like how Kohane first encountered An. Akito, who had refused to work with so many people before, immediately chose Toya on his own accord. He recognised Toya's talent, that Toya was new and inexperienced despite all that, and that Toya was someone who needed a guide in this unknown world. Akito and Toya are two sides of the same coin. Akito is bold and brash and two-faced, Toya is calm and reserved and honest. Akito has no background or talent in music, Toya has all of that. Even their colours are complete opposites. But at the end of it all, both of them chose this path as a way to reinvent themselves. Relight a fire that had burnt out within themselves, allow it to burn brighter than before. Relight, restart, reborn. It's all the same. They're one in the same despite all their differences. They compliment each other and it's what allows them to work so well together, to trust and love each other more than anyone else. Aun no Beats' title is derived from the term Aun no Kokyuu/Aun Breathing, when two people act in perfect harmony to the point of breathing the same, being able to understand each other without words. There's a reason they and no one else was chosen to cover that song.

3. Bird lore + Arata and Souma

The Walk on and on event essentially confirms that the meetings of the two pairs were indeed fate, and that they're soulmates. A word that so fully describes exactly what they are. They complete each other, understand each other and trust each other so, so deeply. Kohane would not be who she is now without An, An would not be who she is now without Kohane. The same applies to Akito and Toya, their meeting is essential to who they are now, they wouldn't have navigated this far without standing shoulder to shoulder, back to back. The best way to describe these feelings, these actions, the way they act and the way they complete each other, two halves of a whole, two sides of the same coin, two parts of the same story, would be love. Platonic or romantic, the text supports both. Kohane and An will keep working hard to become the best possible partner for each other. Akito and Toya are still learning too, how to become even better than the best partner anyone could ask for.

The cards for that event contain a few references to the idea of soulmates two. First, the costumes. Toya and Kohane's costumes for the event have a single wing on the back. Their first recolours change the accent colour to their partner's image colour and flip the side of the wing. This alludes to the mythical Hiyoku bird. A bird with only one wing that will not be able to fly until it meets its other half. Akito and Toya would never have been able to fly, to get as far as they have, if it weren't for that chance meeting on the street. The same applies to An and Kohane, if Kohane hadn't run into An she never would've changed, and An never would've had a partner quite like Kohane. The cards also feature crows, a bird that, notably, mates for life. Toya explicitly states in the event that he wants to stay right beside Akito forever. It's a promise, it's not quite fate but it's the closest a person can get to it with their own actions. Toya is never going to leave Akito's side, and in return, Akito will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him. We see this demonstrated in Toya's card, with Akito literally having broken Toya's cage to reach him, and continue to sit beside him.

KAITO's card is particularly interesting, as it suggests that Akito and Toya, and An and Kohane are not the only fated partners on Vivid Street. KAITO's costume notably already has two wings, a completed whole, only one of them is damaged. Whilst not confirmed, it's highly likely that this is meant to represent Arata and Souma. After all, Souma was an important character in Walk on and on, as was his relationship with Arata. Souma and Arata's relationship has been compared to Akito and Toya's multiple times. Both of them wholly care for and love their partners, as outright stated by KAITO in THE POWER OF UNITY. For Toya, Akito is incredibly important to him. Akito taught him to love music again, Akito introduced him to a whole new world that he only entered out of spite but now is devoted to with his entirety. He has nothing but gratitude for Akito, much like how Souma has nothing but gratitude for Arata. Both of them want to give something back, through the medium both they and their partners love and understand more than anything.

Souma's accident may have made him unable to continue to stand by Arata's side, but Arata will continue to carry the dream that once rested on both their shoulders. It's more complicated for Arata though, who is still clinging to the grief of losing a partner who always stood beside him, a wall placed between them against his will, a wing torn from his shoulder. Dreams can't be carried alone, which is why he can't truly ever carry Souma's dream, nor claim it as his own. He's so caught up in his feelings that he can't realise that he wants this too, that it isn't just for Souma. It's in his honour, the memory of a dream that can't be achieved anymore. Arata's inability to realise this brings him so much pain because he loves Souma, so much, and it crushes him to think that he's betrayed him, in a sense. But once again, they truly are two people who complete each other. Souma wouldn't have reached the heights he did reach if Arata wasn't there beside him, and Arata would not still be on this path if it weren't for Souma leading him along for the first part of the journey.

4. Nagi and RAD WEEKEND

If there's one thing known about fate, it's that fate isn't kind to everyone. Fate was cruel to Nagi, it took her life from her. Her dreams were to be left unfulfilled, half complete. She had no choice in the matter, her story was coming to a close, before she could bring it to a proper conclusion. However, even if her fire burnt out, she still had the time to light a fire in a new generation. Her story will never see a proper end, but she can give her story to a new generation, and inspire them to write their own, one that can be truly completed.

Nagi held RAD WEEKEND as a send-off to herself, one last performance that she could put everything that she could into since she wouldn't have another chance. It was also a chance to create a legacy for herself. Whilst she herself would be gone, her impact would be remembered, be seen by many and inspire them to reach for their dreams, or perhaps give them a new dream. As she looks out to the audience whilst putting her legacy and dreams into the world, she sees An and Akito in the audience. While they wouldn't know it for years, Nagi knows, in that moment, mere days before her death, that these are the children she's inspiring, the ones who will remember, the ones who she's lighting a fire for, a fire that will never burn out. It's fate that Akito was there, it's fate that Nagi saw both him and An, and chose to entrust her life's work to them. Without Nagi, there is no Vivid BAD SQUAD. Without Nagi, An and Akito would not be so passionate, for there is no RAD WEEKEND to be passionate about. Akito wouldn't have chosen Toya as the one to run toward his dreams with, because there would be no dream to run towards. Kohane wouldn't have seen that passionate girl on the street and wished she could be just like her, wish she could be more than herself. And without that, there would never be a Vivid BAD SQUAD, never be a SEKAI, never be an Arata who learnt that he's not alone, or a Kotaro who learnt that he's not as talentless and useless as he believes.

Without Nagi, there's nothing. Her fate was not to die before her story was finished, because she finished her story. Her fate was to pass that story on, allow it to be rewritten and adapted by the ones she inspired with it, allow it to continue on. Nagi had more of an impact than she will ever know, but she knew that it's what she wanted, she knew who she was telling her story to, who she hoped would take what she gave them and run and burn brighter than she ever did. For Vivid BAD SQUAD, for Arata and Souma, for Kotaro, and for Tatsuya, Nagi is what guided them to their fate. Even moreso, she may have created it.

[titanofthedepths]

I was talking about this on a call the other day but one of my favorite things about Sea of Thieves is that the characters are allowed to be ugly and so wildly diverse. Even the skeletons are diverse and have compelling and fun designs.

Note that when I say ugly I don’t mean that as a bad thing - I’m a firm believer that ugly doesn’t have to be a bad word, just the same as fat doesn’t have to be. Nobody’s perfect and that’s beautiful etc etc, when I say ugly I mean “not conventionally attractive” and it’s something I wholeheartedly appreciate

Like. Player pirates are randomly generated, which can be frustrating but at the end of the day it’s refreshing to not be able to sit and put together the perfect pirate. There will always be little scars or nicks or features you didn’t choose to place there, but they’re your pirates’ features. Just a couple days ago I realized my pirate has a snake bite on her cheek, and I LOVE that it’s there, though I never would have considered it for her had I been given the option to build her from scratch.

The NPCs, too, are diverse, and allowed to be flawed, and ugly. With their crooked or missing teeth and imperfect proportions and scars and asymmetrical faces - Rare could have very easily chosen to make every last NPC a perfectly pretty face fit for a magazine, and they chose not to. It makes the characters feel a little more real, more like they’re people - I can’t tell you how often I sit and examine the models of NPCs to look at every little detail and just appreciate how imperfect they are.

And like previously stated - and perhaps the thing I appreciate the most - even the skeleton characters are widely varied. Rathbone moves with a hunched posture that hides the fact his frame is fairly small, Grimm is tall and wide in that way that Sea of Thieves builds their fat characters, one of Chi’s horns is growing from her eye socket and she’s lankier than Ruth’s sturdy frame, Horatio has arms that are just a little too long, so on and so forth.

Just… Sure, I don’t by any means love Rare as a company, but the character design we see in Sea of Thieves is some of the best I’ve ever seen. I have a lot of love for this pirate game and the amount of love the design team put into every single character they offer us