#the few times i opened up to someone? they stole my character's lore LOL i have learned my lesson

[rucow]

everyone talks about how nice it so have people be interested in your OCs, stories, yourself etc. but no one talks about how that can also be really draining bc some of us just don't feel the need to share our ideas with others, especially when we're put on the spot and interrogated

[ruakichan]

Memorial Saga: Athlon

Here’s my (very long) playlog of MS:A. Has the usual warnings of spoilers for the entire game, theorycrafting, ALL CAPS EXCITEMENT, gratuitous amount of screenshots, and some shipping.  It’s a doozy of a lore drop, so exercise care if you want to discover the story on your own!

Hit the cut for more!

Opening intro. Art is much nicer this time around compared to Ramge's.

Man, NVF’s royal family is so good looking. Her name is Katarina. You can't fail with those genes.

Athlon looks like he's cradlng a girl's blouse or dress here. Younger sis? Emma?!

New character, Ina. 

Story starts off with Athlon basically dream-narrating the intro for us and how Ina is such a taskmaster...

His relationship with Ina is banter-y. Good odds she’s gonna be Zeon’s mom.

Looks like Ina found Athlon 10 years ago and they’ve been together since then. Seems to confirm there was a younger sister though, when you talk to a little girl NPC in town and he starts getting nostalgic.  Zeon lost a younger sister too, so here's Exos again with repeating tragedies.

Also looking around some more, looks like we'll be able to go to another town by airship—this one in Wasted Red.  It'll come into play later so I'll leave it alone for now.

The text… kinda glitches. It blinks once and so it really throws me for a loop because I think it's actually advancing to the next text bubble.  NOT EXOS WITHOUT SOME SORT OF WEIRD BUG!

Anyway, Ina tells Athlon that his ‘fan’ is here to see him and Athlon knows who she’s talking about. So he goes to the forest to meet his fan.

It’s Schmid.  Rather, Schmid in the role of Gale LOL.  Athlon keeps stealing his bounties.  They immediately get into a dick measuring contest on who is the hyung and who is the rookie.

They banter a bit about this before deciding it’s best to just fight it out since that’s the Exos way.

This battle system is… pretty awful. LOL. Did anyone playtest this? (No. The answer is always no.) Schmid was defeated and… I'm not sure if my game hung up or… what… but I couldn't advance the story and just fooled around for a few minutes before finally something happened. oh exos

That said, that red sword is Zeon's sword. Wasn't it stated that Zeon stole that sword from Schmid when he ran off to go his own way (or rather, Schmid let him steal it)?  … well, that feels a bit ominous...

And looking over his orange FC that you get from this MS, "he has yet to recover from the past incident" and "prefers to work alone instead of a team" so yup. Someone's gonna die and it ain't Schmid.  And the FC uses Athlon's sword.  So yeah. LOL.  Interesting that the second skill doesn't have Zeon in the animation, so they did bother to change it a bit to keep it lore accurate.

yes i bought the fc

It’s a bit of a close battle, until Athlon lures Schmid under a tree and drops a net on him. Schmid calls him a dirty cheater but Athlon says it’s a lesson that’s common here in Lenombe. He picks up that Schmid is from Brunn and says that this is something Schmid should learn; skills don’t matter, just whoever is smarter will win, but since Athlon is such a nice guy, he’ll let Schmid go without asking anything in return.  ... except...

LOL cute, Schmid finds the roads of Lenombe confusing. I guess it’s quite different from the wide fields of Brunn.

This find the cat subquest.  … that's… that's Sia's sprite they're using for this generic cat? They couldn’t at least just remove the blue bow??? Weird.

This sidequest to learn more about Schmid…

Ina tells him to just ask Schmid directly, but then Athlon's like:

… *looks at the camera*

Ina says she finds Schmid a capable fighter and Athlon's a little jealous.

Ina won't say if Athlon or Schmid is better, so Athlon runs over to Schmid and just decides to be direct with his questions instead and just tells Schmid to tell Athlon about himself.

Pretty cocky there, son.

The mention of Katarina seems to make Athlon react a bit poorly (”got a funny look on his face”)? Is he feeling competitive?

Back to the main story.

Schmid is smoozing with food and drink and gets a bit drowsy, so Athlon decides this is a good time to start talking shop.  And offers a partnership contract.

Schmid is like 'I better look over it' to Athlon's dismay. lol  Schmid says it looks okay, even as Athlon does a >D face, so I don't think Schmid looked it over as carefully as he should have.

Oh my god, trying to square the wise, easy-going old man Schmid we know with this cocksure youngster is just too much hahaha.

holy shit athlon just hearted at schmid ("I even got you a room" LOL WHAT)

Ina berates Athlon for taking advantage of a kid.  … but Athlon tosses it back at her, saying she's the one that spiked Schmid's food. 

I can't get over the fact that Schmid is called Servant No 2 LOL. Anyway, Athlon goes to fetch him the next morning and Schmid's got one hell of a hang-over and is absolutely confused about everything.  They go meet the "Boss," Ina.

Schmid is confused about this Servant No 2 business and Athlon tells him to look over the contract.  Schmid maintains there's nothing about that in there, but Athlon says to read the back—oh, his bad. The papers were stuck together.  Schmid's been scammed.  All the work for little pay.

Schmid's pissed as hell, but Athlon says he better do as told or else…

Athlon discreetly leaves as Schmid gets a hard lesson on why Ina's the Boss.

Schmid's quiet when Athlon returns… and he says it wasn't as bad as he expected.

… this time Athlon's the one that gets "scammed" lol.

Athlon questions why Schmid's cut would get worse if he's getting better. Even Athlon feels a bit bad about it…

Wow they really are, like father, like son. LOL. Schmid must've felt helluva nostalgic while mentoring Zeon.

Ina tells Athlon to stop whining and go take care of a job at Wasted Red.  This must be where that airship comes in.

Oh. MY. GOD.

OH MY GOD WHAT THE FUCK LOL HAHAHA?????? they literally took the time to animate him throwing a temper tantrum wDF??

Ina tells Schmid to go investigate some new ruins alone, but "ruins" immediately gets Athlon's attention.

… the quest text keeps referring to Schmid as Servant No 2…

They arrive in Hikan and immediately Athlon complains about it being hot while hanging off Schmid, who yells at him to get off. Tempers aren't improved by the weather.

oh god they are arguing who is more mature and there's so much dick measuring that i'm sure it'll be literal at some point

Since Athlon has no money, Schmid says he'll buy the drinks if Athlon shows respect.

I'm pretty sure that Mr. Schmid is sarcastic. LOL.

Time to explore!  … I walk into a bar and… … is that Ina's sprite behind the counter?  Talking with Schmid confirms it so… I'll just… walk out… for now…

Looks like ruins will be another place we can visit, going by this airship, but for now, continuing with the story:

The game sort of handwaves why Ina's there lol and shoos you to go hit the ruins.

It's the first time for both Athlon and Schmid to explore ruins. They both are pretty excited when they enter (blush emote for Schmid HAHAHA).

I said like father, like son before, but I think Athlon loves money more than Zeon does.

LOL.

Schmid asks Athlon what he'd do with the money and… he’s like “I’ll spend it all?”

???? i thought you had debts what is this

Schmid says this is why Athlon is an idiot.  He’s always broke, so when he suddenly has money, that’s how he gets caught that he was scamming.  And this is a sincere lightbulb moment for Athlon.

oh my god he’s like a manic pixie boy or something? Not... at all what I expected.

So they go to explore and come across a magic seal.  Schmid questions if Athlon knows how to disperse them and Athlon's super confident! Cause of course he is.

Cause he’ll just break it.

oh.  well.  okay then.

Schmid asks him why break through the magic seal when there’s a wall right there. And Athlon is like, “cause forcing through is the basic solution.” And Schmid’s like “even if the seal is harder to break than the wall?”

... then he agrees it’s a good idea.

*stares at camera*

So they bash on the wall with their swords cause why the fuck not and Athlon wins.

New characters, Dorothy and Aria, also exploring the ruins for a job.  They’re hearing all the commotion and it’s causing them problems too.  Schmid and Athlon run into them; well, more that the guys are excited about breaking more walls (???!) and the women are like wdf stop destroying things or shit might happen.

LOL.

The dudebros don't even care, it's 2 points for this wall, let's go.

The two women decide to book it. I have a feeling they won't be escaping these two disasters though.

The guys head further into the ruins but now they're just running around in circles.  Then they notice dopplegangers of themselves over on the other side of the room.

…Athlon, please.

…. actually no, both of you, please.

They chase after the dopples and finally confront them.

The hit confirm in battles are so bad LOL. Also no SFX. I was expecting a bit more like what they were doing with the PVP in Quantum Raid. This is just very unsatisfactory to play.  I appreciate them trying to do different gimmicks for each MS, but this is just …??

Anyway, they defeat the doppels and continue to explore and run across Dorothy and Aria again. (they're sisters)  They scold the guys for breaking shit and can tell they're newbies to ruin spelunking.  Athlon immediately throws Schmid under the bus LOL and they start fighting again.

But as Dorothy and Aria try to leave, a barrier blocks their exit.  Schmid says they should work together.  Athlon interjects.

Oh, honey.

Dorothy counter-proposes that she’ll get rid of the barrier for 200k, so Dorothy and Athlon begin arguing. Schmid goes to Aria and offers they blow this joint together. (he's not very smooth but I’m getting ship vibes here)  Aria appears to be very shy and timid, and yeah, Schmid is very intimidating, so she hides behind her sister. LOL.

Hahah, Dorothy has a cocky hair flip animation.  She's a know-it-all type (wizard trope).  She and Athlon continue to argue.  Aria reveals that Dorothy's magic isn't very stable which is why she’s hesitant to just break the seal herself, so Athlon relents and says they'll help out, but they get a free meal.

Dorothy very reluctantly relents (mostly cause Athlon is sketchy as hell).

Quest is labeled "New Servants" lol.

Working together they escape the ruins.  Athlon is definitely being sketchy about the owed meal, saying he'll head over first and get things prepared.

Schmid has a bad feeling. He'd be right.

oh lord have mercy

Anyway, Athlon goes to fetch Dorothy and Aria, who are upset that they failed their job and had to make up some excuse to their boss.  Athlon sees an opportunity and goes in on the pitch about how the sisters should come work for Ina.

Dorothy's like 'lemme just feed you and then go on my way.'

So they have their meal (Dorothy complaining they eat too much) and Ina is sizing them up.  Athlon says he vouches for their skills.

LOL.

Ina offers them a contract and Dorothy looks it over and thinks it's pretty solid.

Athlon says he smells something burning in the kitchen though, and Ina runs off.  Athlon then offers Dorothy and Aria an edited contract all hushhush Ina won’t know.  And Dorothy's shocked that the terms really are better.

Schmid tries to interject but Athlon quickly stuffs food into his mouth LOL.

Aria has misgivings but Dorothy signs it before Ina can notice that the contract is changed.

Athlon's making a lot of evil emotes so … yeah.  He definitely did something.

yup same verse as the first, another hidden page in the contract

Ina shows up and gives Athlon the what for.

They really gave Athlon a lot of animations LOL.

Anyway, Ina tries to fix Athlon's scam, and offers an even better offer, but on one condition.  Dorothy accepts, saying she's heard good things about Ina as a boss, but just that Ina has a really shitty employee (Athlon) lol.  Athlon throws another tantrum and Schmid goes to the ladies and says that if they (and he) leave and return right away, the tantrum will be over.

… sure enough…

Ina then comes out with the condition: she wants Dorothy and Aria to form a team with Athlon.  Everyone sorta sweatdrops and Ina's like "he's not that bad, right?" and Schmid’s like “he’s harmless, I think?”  Not exactly glowing reviews but hey...

Dorothy agrees, to everyone's shock, but she wants an apology.  Athlon won't give it and Dorothy calls him a child.

Sidequest! Need to return to Khuntara for some flowers for spice.  So you go to Khuntara to just steal the herbs from the bar there but… lol? Ina’s there.  Keepign an eye on Athlon to keep him honest.

Gotta do it the hard way.  When you return the flowers to Ina, she uses them on the not!Sia and Athlon runs off to cry because he's so moved.

god why is he such a drama queen

So back to the ruins with our new Servants No3 and No4.

Exploring it yields the inner caverns where the loot is. Athlon, of course, is ecstatic cause $$$$.  We return to Ina and she gives out the payments… and of course, Athlon doesn't get much.  (Notice the trend?)  Ina tells him to buy his team a meal like a leader should.

Another sidequest with Schmid about his background.  Athlon infodumps his own backstory and...

…. oh my god Athlon just seriously …

LOL. It's the intro for the MS word for word and just…  .. Schmid falls asleep.  Athlon thinks he's teary eyed over Athlon's """""""sad"""""" story.

A conversation can be initiated where they have another brief tuffle over junior/senior, where Schmid relents that Athlon can be senior since he's paying for the food—only Athlon complains about how much Schmid is eating. Schmid just waves it off, Athlon is the SENIOR after all.  He should be able to take care of himself.

Another conversation can be initiated with Aria, where she's scared of Athlon and admits she doesn't like him. LOL.

Sidequest with Dorothy, Sisters' Story.  Athlon questions why they're suspicious of him and it's cause he's a swindler.

Athlon feeding some tales here… (OR IS HE? I never thought about it, but the black/white hair thing is like Shu and Ramge...)

The sisters don’t believe him, which is good cause they hate royals.  Athlon says he hates royals too—thinks they’re worse than swindlers.  Dorothy says that the only people she finds worse than royals are those that allow others to walk all over them.

Ah, looks like the sisters are from Greenland.  Greenland's political situation hasn't been compounded on too much, so this is nice.  They're from House Exid.  She says to avoid the royals of Greenland, and Athlon questions if maybe their entire family was killed by them.

Aria interjects that this subject is distressing for hers ister and that Athlon needs to just leave. Athlon obliges.

After eating off Athlon's dime, Athlon tells Ina that they have a team name, and it was decided on by four votes.

Ah. Yes.

LOL then the game asks you to name the team in a cute fourth wall break.  But oh god. Now I have to spend six hours deciding on a name.

Well, when in doubt…1Helluva (Team).

So there's some people here to see Athlon.  Oh boy, Yellowhoods. Oh! It's Al Radrun, the leader before Vinity took over.  And this Shaheen sprite looks like… an ogre character? If so, that'd be the second one we've ever seen since Uloom.  I'm glad they're showing more of the non-human races. I always liked in EH that the bestial races weren't like, automatically evil or something.  Typically you always see races like minotaurs and orcs be only on the evil spectrum.

The Yellowhoods have a proposition.

Oh boy, that's music to to Athlon's ears.  He gathers the group.

Dorothy objects to the team name. But yes, we're 1Helluva Team, okay?! Stop judging me!

Anyway, looks like we have to attack a "gang of bandits in the middle of town" although Al Radrun was explicit in that we can't hurt or kill them.  …. the bandits are the guys wearing the yellow hoods.

The sisters are suspicious.

The plan is the 'secret technique.'  "Brute Force." Yes. Like father, like son.

So after defeating the Yellowhood mooks, Al Radrun shows up but Athlon isn't interested in the reason why so much as the moolah.  But he's a bit insulting about it, Al Radrun steals the payment back when Athlon runs off…

And the party realizes they've been robbed. They confront Al Radrun and Athlon can't abide being robbed, so it's a battle.

Cute, Al Radrun rides Shaheen to fight.  1Helluva Team defeats them though, and Athlon gets him to sign a "promissary note"... and promptly welcomes Servant No5 once it's been signed.

But it looks like Athlon's scheme didn't work this time: Al Radrun swiped the other page of the "promissary note."

oh my god

But before battle number 2 can wage out, Schmid unleashes the team's secret weapon: Aria being nice to Shaheen cause she gets along with creatures and asking Shaheen to join them. (Shades of Rera, then. Also Schmid apparently knows about this when Dorothy didn't cause he discovered it by accident.  There was a bird on his shoulder.  … oh no. Is this… is this how he gets all the birbs in his old man form?!  Aria and Schmid seem to get along well oh ho ho)

And then Athlon basically just blackmails Al Radrun: join us or get turned into jail for being the leader of the Yellowhoods. But Al Radrun explains he can't join cause he's worried about his gang.

Al Radrun's sob story sounds a bit like Vinity's; he actually has a lot of anxieties and worries about being leader.  He set up this fake attack cause he wanted to see how his gang reacted.  He wish he had a vice deputy. He can't leave cause he's afraid his gang can't survive without him.

(Athlon is asleep…)

Dorothy says that Al Radrun can’t protect his gang forever and Aria chimes in that they can’t become strong if they’re always protected. Al Radrun gives in, but he asks that he doesn’t leave yet, he wants to make sure the Yellowhoods will be really okay.

The team (sans Athlon) decide to stick around Hikan a bit to help Al Radrun out before they can whisk him away as Servant No5.

We find out the Yellowhood design was done by Al Radrun lol and Athlon being a dick about it and hurting Al Radrun's feelings…

While Shaheen is off giving Athlon hell for being a dick, one of the sisters asks Schmid why Schmid lets Athlon call himself the leader.

lol. When questioned why he hasn't left, Schmid says it's like raising a child and hoping he'll grow up someday.  .. (shades of Zeon)

Scene switch to Katarina. She's interrogating a Dragon Watcher about the Dragon Emperor.  … she uses floaty (red!) swords like Shufraken.  And she's helluva cruel, beating on this guy.  Just "Speak. Speak." over and over as she beats him down to the ground and into a pulp.  And then just fucking kills all the onlookers.

…. young Shufraken (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) shows up for cleanup. AAAAAAAAAA excited

!!!! Holy crap! Ina is part of Shadow Bane?!

Ah, Athlon might be this "Vessel"?  Given all the things about Zeon and stuff.

Regardless, Shadow Bane warns Ina not to let Athlon and Katarina meet.

Three years pass.

Story quest is "annoy the heck out of the Boss."  I see three years hasn't matured Athlon any.

But first a sidequest.  not!Sia is missing.  Athlon inquires why Ina keeps her around and Ina just says she's gotten attached.  The cat is missing and Athlon says that the cat doesn't actually care, but Ina doesn't believe that and that the cat will come will called.

(... will this cat actually be Sia or related to Sia in some way?!)

It's Sia. Holy shit, who the hell is Sia then, cats do NOT live this long?! What is going on?  Wait. Does that mean when Zeon’s village is destroyed, Sia escaped and that’s how Ramge found her??????  Did she lose her memory?

ATHLON PLEASE

A sidequest where the team (sans Athlon and Dorothy) are trying to cheer up the bulky Shaheen by saying they can't find him.  Except Athlon is being a total dick about it and ruining it by saying he's right over there, even though everyone asked him to play along. Schmid shows up with his BFS to berate him.  But Shaheen reveals himself so that the two don't fight.  Everyone runs off, but Athlon, who says he wasn't gonna really try to find Shaheen and was just trying to spice things up. As he's sobbing. He's so misunderstood, this drama queen.

Back to main story; Ina has a mission in a new set of ruins. Within, we find a book.  While the others ae trying to decipher it, Al Radrun finds a secret in the ruins, revealing a glowing orb.

That's like… a weirdly specific percentage, Athlon.

Except Athlon DOES react to it. The others preach caution (except Schmid who is interested lol) but he takes the relic anyway to sell.

OR WILL HE

Back at the inn… the eating emote is cute! I love all these emotes!  Al Radrun was checking on his gang and they seem to be doing fine without him. Schmid proposes they leave Wasted Red.  Aria says she deciphered part of the book they found and it leads to another ruin in North von Frosty.

Both Ina and Athlon react poorly to that. Ina suggests going back to Lenombe, but Athlon overrides her.  Ina pulls himself aside.

Athlon talks a bit about how he felt when he lost everything and met Ina:

So his extremely carefree, weird personality is a coping mechanism and it saved him. Ina urges him to continue living like this cause he and Katarina shouldn’t meet.

Athlon assures Ina he won't be fighting Katarina "yet" and runs off.  So he's definitely in it for revenge.  DEFINITELY LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Shadow Bane shows up. Katarina destroyed a town that was a HQ for Dragon Watchers.  They also remind Ina of her mission: if she can’t control Athlon, she needs to dispose of him.

Back to our NVF royals. Oh my god, I want young Shufraken as a skin.  He looks so good.

Shufraken berates Katarina that she’s been going around slaughtering people and he’s been having to clean up. He asks her reasons and she says it plainly: she wants to resurrect Accor.

So she’s a sociopath.

Shu questions this, saying that if Accor is resurrected, he might destroy the world.  Katarina asks why is that a big deal and Shu says cause the world is his. LOL. That’s why he will stop her. LOL.

Hm, where is Katarina in the hierarchy?

They exchange more words; Shu says she has only strength but nothing else, and this makes her unfit.  He will do his best to see her fall.  They are definitely at odds, but it’s all very political.

Katarina asks Shu’s motive for going against her: for others it was revenge, but what is Shu’s?

Dream big, buddy.

Cut to outside the throne room of NVF.

There are "two Queens."   Alexei greets the First Queen, who comments on how much he's grown and the second Queen complains that Alexei isn't mature just yet. So the brothers are all actually half brothers?  The second Queen is Alexei’s mom. And the first queen makes it clear that Mahar is her son.

Shu's mother abandoned him?  She’s a third Queen ... and it must be Katarina. WOW.

Oh my god, Mahar greets Shu with a music note of happiness.  Oh my god, he really looked up to Shu? Holy moly what. what happened?!

(wait you just said...) oh no this is cute

Yeah okay, the first Queen is Mahar's mother, Alexei's mom is the second Queen. Shu's mom is Katarina…  That explains why Mahar and Shu are the same age. I always thought that was a typo, but it makes sense now if the moms are different.  (so SW isn't the only one that allows polygamy, which means you can totally marry Rachel, Ramge!)

Looks like Katarina is now slaughtering a lot of guards to get to a relic that NVF was holding onto (probably something from Misty).  She approaches the room where the Queens and Princes are waiting…

Katarina kills the first queen. And then the second.  She knocks Alexei out and is disappointed she can’t get a response out of the vessel.

Mahar goes after Katarina, burning with revenge.  She rambles on about how she read anger is a trigger but she can’t seem to get a proper reaction from the vessel, as she advances on Mahar.

Oh… OH!! Shadow Bane had said they fed the wrong info about who the "vessel" was to Katarina. She seems to be under the impression that Mahar is the one meant to house Accor, so she's trying to get him to respond to "awaken" him.

He passes out.

Shu shows up, saying that Katarina has gone too far.

First:… four?

Second: INTERESTING. If this is true, that would be why Shufraken goes mad when he becomes the Dragon Emperor.

Shu berates her as an empty sword that has only strength, and she questions his emotions (pity, contempt) and tries to understand them, as she cannot feel them on her own.  She is frustrated that there are no suitable vessels here and leavse to find another solution.

Off to Obliana with 1Helluva Team.

Some sprites aren't showing up. I have invisible NPCs lol. Okay, game.

Athlon is acting weird and oddly serious so Dorothy's concerned. Athlon gathers his team at the bar, but in the meantime, Shu meets with his father.

Mahar lost his memory and Alexei is in a coma.  The two queens are dead, of which Mahar’s mother was most favored by the king.  It sounds like his marriage to Shu’s mother was against his will for political reasons and he was unable to refuse due to his weak nature and lack of authority (the nobles basically ruled during Shu’s daddy’s reign, which is why Shu overthrew him).

I can see why Shufraken looks with contempt upon Ramge, who is said to resemble Shu’s father.

This becomes a bit of a turning point for Shu. He admits his mother’s methods are correct, but just executed wrong.  His father pleads for him not to be like her.

NGL, the most interesting bits of this MS are Shu’s bits.

Back to Athlon.

The group gathers.

… since we know Schmid is a sad lonely old birb man, I'm very very worried about Aria's well-being.

No one is happy about Athlon's announcement. (Schmid even gets violent lol.)

Athlon reveals he wants to kill the third Queen of NVF, Katarina. Everyone's all O.o cause she has a terrifying reputation.

……. he IS a royal. … ahaha… AHAHAHAHAHA oh my god all that shit talk he was doing to Rachel, ZEON IS A FUCKING BLUEBLOOD HIMSELF.

……………………………….. wow so like are zeon and iris like… cousins twice removed or something?

No one believes he's royalty cause he's uh… a loser.

…

haha… hahaha…………………………………….

Schmid insists on going and Athlon demands to know why.

The two agree it’d be pretty cool to take down a powerful foe.

Then Schmid is like, after we’re done, I’m gonna tell Aria—  AND ATHLON CUTS HIM OFF AND SCHMID IS CONFUSED AND THEN ATHLON DISPLAYS A BIT OF GENRE SAVVY BY SAYING YOU DON’T SAY THESE THINGS BEFORE A DANGEROUS SITUATION

Aria also insists on going cause she can hold her own now.  She also is about to say some sort of "after this, I'll" before once again Athlon is like NO DON'T RAISE THE RED FLAG

And finally Dorothy also insists on coming. She hates royals but …

And she also has something else to say after this is said and done BUT. smh athlon doesn't know how these three managed to survive this far without him keeping them from raising red flags.

Athlon also speaks with Al Radrun. Athlon says he's going to use the relic he found and Al Radrun once again cautions him against using those type of things for power.  Athlon reassures him if one isn't enough, he'll just get them all. ("You're going to have to steal from the palace!" Al Radrun protests lol and Athlon very honestly says "I'll need your help if so" lol.)

Once this is over… Athlon cuts him off. "I TRUSTED YOU" lol  Al Radrun apologizes though; he gets it.  Shaheen not so much though.

Athlon then returns to Ina and tells her that his entire team is determined to go with him. He's pretty light-hearted about the whole thing, even talking about having to get all the relics is necessary and that he has no plans on dying.

Ina: "You think death is the only problem here?  If history repeats itself…" Athlon: "I won't let that happen."

Ina is adamant about Athlon not going but he drugged her.  And she's out and he escapes.

She awakens to go after him… but there a bunch of Dragon Watchers lurking… oh no… and Shadow Bane also shows up.  They will eliminate Athlon.  They leave and Ina tries to go after them but…

Those Dragon Watchers are now meeting up with Katarina in Ina's bar.  Looks like she killed a bunch of people on her way here too.  These are her reinforcements.  She reports the vessel has been broken.

"Firstborn seemed clumsy."

She then asks if there are other vessels.  The Dragon Watchers are surprised she knew about other potential vessels and she said the Dragon Watcher in WR told her; and they find out that she was the one responsible for killing the DWs in that area.  

So after what happened in the latest story chapter, I’m REALLY worried for Iris right now.

And she proceeds to slaughter these guys too. Single-minded.

One of the DWs, fearing his life, spills that the exiled NVF royals might have someone suitable. (Hello, Athlon.)  She offs the rest of them as Shu enters, who says she has got to stop killing off the information sources. She states that she knows that a vessel is looking for the relics, so she will wait where the relics are and leaves.

Ina intercepts Shu as he was trying to leave, pleading for Athlon's life. That killing him won't buy but a small bit of time.  She offers a way to get rid of Katarina.  (Shu seems to know Athlon's name, so looks like he knows of that family.)  Ina tells Shu they need Athlon to get rid of Katarina.

Ina tells Shu the plan (we the player aren't privy to it) and Shu agrees: Athlon must never meet Katarina.

Ina also asks a final favor from Shu: she says she's being hunted.

Yeah, Ina is gonna be Zeon’s mom. The conversation of why she’s willing to die for Athlon screams love. “complicated emotion people like you won’t know”

Athlon and co head into a ruin and run into Shu.

Team has to believe Athlon's royalty now LOL.

Shu and Athlon have a bit of a chitchat.  Athlon's tone here is very singsong and playful, which is a counterpoint to his words and anger.  He honestly sounds like he’s losing it. He mentions it’s been thirteen years since they last saw each other.

Definitely losing it.

Shu tells Athlon that Katarina is coming for him, and for Athlon to leave the relic and return to hiding while Shu takes care of things.  Athlon says he's gonna use the relic to overwhelm her and stop her.

Athlon then battles Shufraken.

Then Athlon throws the battle and admits defeat and hands over the relic and this just screams fake-out.  As Shu approaches, Athlon activates the relic and goes Super Saiyajin with gold eyes and beats back Shu.

Then 1Helluva Team go after the relic but Katarina is there.

Shaheen senses danger and him and Al Radrun try to escape but no one else is running, while Athlon seems mesmerized by the sight of Katarina.  He's still in that sing-song mode and I'm preetttttyyy sure he's getting touched by a similar madness that takes Rachel when he's lost himself.

I think Athlon is taking Ina's advice about "losing your mind" a bit too far.

He attacks her, asking why she killed his family.  His eyes are golden here, so he's using the relic power.  Katarina asks why he's mad at her, she's genuinely curious.

Shu shows up since he needs the relic too, but Katarina strikes him down because she doesn’t need him as a vessel and Athlon takes this opportunity to attack.

Another battle. Athlon's skill changes to one where he heals when he attacks.

After her "defeat," Katarina just hands over the relic, telling Athlon to use it. Uh oh.  Athlon uses it…

And then Katarina attacks all of Athlon's friends.  The sisters manage to shield everyone from major damage, but everyone is trapped.

She attacks Dorothy.

She attacks Aria. Schmid tries to save her, but is too late. This one is sad cause Aria very confused and scared and pitiful. She’s not a hero.

Then Katarina attacks Al Radrun but Shaheen takes the blow instead.

Dorothy still tries to heal Aria but Katarina attacks her again.  The remaining three try to attack her but fail.

Damn, another blow on Dorothy, the fuck, woman.

HMMMMMMMM ZEON?

geezus i’m sure that’s someone’s kink 

Shufraken steps in and attacks.

Her sprite gets the white red eyes that Shu later has hm.

Looks like Katarina can't handle Accor's power because she’s not truly of the correct bloodline. But even at her death, she doesn't feel anything. She really is a sociopath.

… Shu isn't that much better either. LOL.

She dies, freeing the relic as the ruin is falling apart.

Dorothy, still gravely wounded, tries to get the others out by creating a teleporting circle at the cost of her own life.  Al Radrun tries to get the relic, but his ankle is hurt and he can't make it to the circle.  Athlon goes to him and asks for the relic. He's still focused on killing Katarina, nevermind that she's defeated.

They argue with Dorothy begging they hurry, and Shaheen goes and throws them both into the circle.  But Shaheen fails to make it himself.  "Hide. Method. Stupid. Hopeless."  And he takes the relic and ... eats it? Hm.

The others escape into Obliana.

Aria passes. The birb's name is Blue. : ( Dorothy is dead.

Al Radrun wants to look for Shaheen and then the relic.  Athlon, who is literally just living life in some deluded narrative, thinks Katarina is still alive cause there weren't any final conversations.  Schmid wants revenge, even if he has to kill Katarina over and over. The three immediately start fighting. (Al Radrun being the only sane one here right now.)

Al Radrun leaves.

Back to Shu. He's with Katarina's body.

Ah, so this is how Shufraken gets his distinctive eye scarring.

Shu questions Shaheen about the relic but dismisses him as useless and kills him.  Al Radrun comes across his body and mourns.  He finds that Shaheen had eaten the relic in an effort to hide it.

Athlon returns to NVF's bar, but Ina's not there.  He waits for her, paying the current barkeep a ton of money just to loaf around waiting.

Schmid and Al Radrun find him but he won't budge.  Al Radrun delivers the news that Shaheen is dead and that Shaheen tried to hide the relic by swallowing it.  But he can't get it out cause… well.  So he asks Schmid if Schmid can remove it.  The two exit.

Athlon finally goes outside.  Schmid finds him and tells him that Katarina is dead.  Schmid tells him he can't stay here or with someone like Athlon any more.  He takes Athlon's sword, blaming Athlon for what happened.

It’s a bitter parting.

Athlon goes to Katarina’s body.

He berates his inability to fulfill his revenge and how directionless he is now.

After Athlon leaves, the Dragon Watchers show up and take Katarina's body…

Athlon runs into a young pickpocket, who he stops from stealing from him.  The kid explains his family was killed by Katarina and he needs money to survive but no one will hire him cause he's so young.

Athlon asks him what he wants to do after he gets his revenge, and the boy is like, eat good food and have a lot of money.

So Athlon gives all his money to the pickpocket all his money, saying Katarina is dead. So go do that, since Athlon has no wish to do any of it himself. And tells the boy to make good friends and hold onto them cause it’s no use if they’re dead.

So Athlon wanders, asn time passes.

He reminiscences of better times and feels regret about his drive for revenge (another big theme in this game).

Back at Obliana, Shu is shown with the bandage over his eye. Mahar seems to be doing better too.  He thinks he slipped down some stairs cause his memory is hazy.  The King and Shu are both telling Mahar to leave; they apparently were having a meeting about the aftermath. The King warns Shu that the nobles are on the move after Shu (revenge probably).

Soldiers show up, after the “traitor” in an effort to exact some vengenance on Katarina’s child. So Shu reveals...

oh.

OH THAT WAS HOT. OH MAN HIM JUST SLOWLY PULLING DOWN THAT BANDAGE WAS HELLUVA HOT?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!!?

… Shu's sprite disappeared during this scene for me ROFL… but he summons the same swords as his mom’s and kills the guards.

Anyway, basically Shu's got a nice grand speech about puppetering and killing his dad as a stepping stone to becoming a proper ruler.  The King protests, but Shu then threatens the life of both Mahar and Alexei.  So the King relents to what will be his future sacrifice to Shufraken.

As Shu leaves, Mahar returns and seeing the red spectral swords triggers his memory of that day and the death of his mother. (IT'S ALWAYS THE DEATH OF MOMS OMFG).  And… well…

So that begins.

The King offers a prayer...

While Shu starts to take over NVF, Athlon is still searching for Ina but couldn’t find anything.  He's become a beggar outside the bar in Khuntara.

She finally shows up.  She tells Athlon to go clean up.  While he's off doing so, Shadowbane finds Ina.

She says she'll submit to the consequences, but give her a moment.

Athlon and Ina talk, she says she left him severance pay at his hiding place, and leaves. Athlon finds the pay but is suspicious cause Ina is a moneygrubber and WOULD NEVER.  He runs off to find her.

Ina then meets up with Shadow Bane and is ready to go, but then Athlon shows up, beats them down.

So the two live together in a remote village, letting go of their pasts...

Now I'm wondering if Shadow Bane are really the ones that end up killing Zeon's family.

Meanwhile, he nobles of NVF go to confront the King about Katarina killing their heirs, but Shu is there… the King, with Shu whispering in his ear, is now stern, promising death to those rebelling. The nobles back down and Shu says he is looking for support in his bid for the throne. One noble readily agrees, but another is quick to say that they support Alexei... but when Shu gets a bit ominous, they quickly change sides. They leave.

Shu asks the King if people are aware of Katarina’s past.  The King doubts it.

INTERESTING. Saying she’s a descendent of Cadmos puts Shu in line for Lenombe’s throne. oh ho ho ho

Oh, there's that Maloff guy that ended up betraying Mahar and Iris down the line… Maloff is loyal to Shu because Shu killed Katarina who slaughtered his family. Shu has a mission for him: “betray“ Shu and join Mahar.

Maloff questions why Shu is focusing on Mahar and not Alexei, who has the stronger forces.  Shu says Alexei’s family are opportunists; they will bow to the stronger hand.  Mahar is the bigger threat and Maloff is to be the mole.

There is one more thing...

Maloff asks if he is to dispose of them, but Shu says let fate do as it will. If they find her they will kill her.

HOLY SHIT SO YEAH SHADOW BANE DID HAVE A HAND IN IT…. in the sense that Shu did keep his promise to Ina: he used Red Skulls to hide the truth.

A few years later…

Aw, Athlon travels the entire continent to make the perfect grilled fish for Ina.

……………………………………………………………….. oh no.

oh.  …

… oh my god.

… Zeon, please don't grow up to be like your daddy. My god. He's a bit broken.

Athlon gets a letter from Schmid. LOL.

oh god lol

oh… that dress must be Athlon's sister's dress.

… Zeon can't lose his family here though? Since he also lost a younger sister. I guess this is just to show Shadow Bane found Ina?

OH. MY. GOD.

OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD IS MY THEORY RIGHT ARE RACHEL AND ZEON COUSINS AFTER ALL (oh my god does this also make rachel and ramge cousins like thrice removed or something cause OH MY GOD HAHAHA AMAZING)  Cause in Emma’s Core Raid, it’s said that a boy watched her get rescued by Baileysh from the river and then the boy disappeared.  She mentions this to Zeon and Zeon also says there’s something familiar about her.  GUYS.  GUYS.

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa  I NEED THIS REVEAL I WANT THESE TWO DORKS TO REALIZE THEY ARE RELATED AND JUST ABSOLUTELY BLOW A GASKET OVER IT Also the so SO obvious foil between the one who chose revenge (Rachel) and the one who gave it up (Zeon). Oh my god. OH MY GOD you could do so much with that. am i giving the writers too much credit

*long eldritch screeching noises*

And it ends there with Athlon thanking Ina for finding him and saving him.

Okay, the start of his Mem Saga was pretty slow. And I don't think we really got enough time to feel anything for the three that died so it felt a bit ??? okay…

Really did love a lot of the lore opening up though, especially with NVF's history and now some more background for Zeon.  The story really didn't seem to focus on Athlon too much; he seemed just to be a rock swirling around with all the events happening, so the focus seemed everywhere.  As a character, he is like all of Zeon's worst traits done to 200000000% so I can't say I like him too much, but his design is killer.  I did like Al Radrun and I can see why Vinity and the other Yellowhoods looked up to him.

But oh my god I need to that young Shu as a skin. HOLY SHIT. Give. I need to figure out how to gif cap that slow motion of him removing the bandages. That was too goddamn sexy.

This MS actually was nothing what I expected, but I did welcome what was in it cause I think EH’s political plots are some of its strongest points.  Can't wait to see what else is next.

[skekheck]

30 Days of the Dark Crystal Challenge

Decided to do poultry-blocks Dark Crystal challenge because it looks like a lot of fun to do. However I’m cheating and I wrote all of this within a couple of days. Warning: fairly large post with pictures and fan ramblings. 

EDIT: I FORGOT TO INCLUDE DAY 16 WHOOP. It’s in there now. 

Day 1. Your favorite skeksis

Idiot, feral, wildman who stole my heart. How? Why? Who knows. *chef kisses* Beautiful stinky bastard.

Day 2: Your favorite gelfling

Bless her and her skeksis cosplay. What a queen.

Day 3: A character that you love that everyone seems to hate.

The tides are changing for her it seems. I think people are appreciating her more, but she still faces her fair share of controversies. Not that I don’t think it warrants discussion nor am I excusing her actions. But she’s way more complex than what a lot of people are making her out to be.

Day 4: A character that you hate that everyone seems to love. 

Hate is a strong word as I don’t hate him, but I don’t really care for Amri. He feels like a bootleg Deet mixed with a little bit of Kylan and Gurjin. Wasted potential and honestly shouldn’t have been the POV for Tides of the Dark Crystal. Seems I’m alone in this opinion, though. Maybe the book warrants rereading?

Day 5: Movie or TV Show? Why?

TV Show by miles! I think the series accomplishes way more than the movie does, like establishing lore,  better written characters, and a more engaging story. I actually cared about the gelfling and it really fleshed out the skeksis in an interesting way outside of “oh they do evil things because they’re evil!”. Doesn’t mean it does everything right, but I’ll get into that later.  

Day 6: Something you wish that happened in the series but didn’t.

Just a few things. I miss the gelfling intermingling with the mystics, particularly urVa. I love everything that happens with urGoh and skekGra, but some of the bonding moments Naia had with urVa are precious and I wish we had more of that. I also wished the gelfling got the message out to the other clans like they did in the book where Kylan dreametched their message onto the Santuary Tree’s blossoms and scattered them all throughout Thra. I also wished Tavra and Onica were an established couple, but maybe it’s not too late for that.

Day 7: Favorite gelfling clan

The Sifa! It was the Dousan at first, but the more I learned about the Sifa the more I grew to love the clan. If I were a gelfling I would probably be a sifa myself LOL. 

Day 8: You opinion on Aughra

She’s a fun and fascinating character! Aughra puts a unique spin on the whole beautiful, wise earth goddess trope by making her ugly, old, and cranky. She’s also a character with her own flaws, even having a mini arc about neglecting to take care of her planet and doing whatever she can to make amends. Not to mention she’s wildly entertaining. Much love for Aughra!

Day 9: Skeksis or Gelfling?

Both!

Day 10: Your opinion on podlings?

They’re just funky little potato people who just want to have fun, dance, and drink all day and I respect them for that. They’re great. Also Hup exists and he’s just an amazing character so there’s that.

Day 11: Your The Dark Crystal unpopular opinion

I think it’s okay to sympathize with the skeksis as long as one is not excusing their actions. I see a lot of people say you shouldn’t because they’re evil and they commit atrocities. Which, yes, it’s true, but I think both can co-exist. I mean, skekTek’s whole cycle of abuse is written very sympathetically yet the show doesn’t coddle him. It shows the ugliness of his character and what happens when someone isn’t capable of cutting off from said cycle. Also the writers consider the skeksis as tragic characters due to their broken nature so I don’t think it’s wrong to be a little sympathetic. But once again with great emphasis, sympathy is fine as long as their actions are judged. They are awful bastards and no amount of sympathy will change that. 

Day 12: Something you dislike about the series

I think the stuff I don’t like about the show is a result of its pacing and cluttered cast. There are so many stories going on and while I liked how they handled it for the most part, you can also see how the show rushes to get through all of them. A lot of important moments where a character should reflect or something that should simmer more is pushed aside for the next thing. Maybe if the show was given more episodes and time to breath it would have been better off. 

Day 13: Most disappointing thing about the series

SkekMal and urVa didn’t have enough screen time and we were honestly ROBBED. 

Day 14: Your OTP

Speaking of which... . Its a crack ship, but I’m all about that allegory for self love (and I just want these two to be alive). Day 15: Favorite quote

Listed plenty of my favorite quotes before, but I’ll pick this one:

“ Life is my paint. Death is my canvas”

Day 16: Rate the skeksis from least favorite to favorite OR rate the gelfling from lest favorite to favorite [or both!]

And if you want my gelfling hot takes, here’s this list (just backwards in context to this post)

Day 17: Opinion on Raunip?

Raunip is a fantastic character. I loved him in Creation Myths and I can’t wait to see what role he’d play in the resistance. And I absolutely love the parallels between him and the urskeks it’s great. 

Day 18: A character that is most similar to you.

I too am a dark-dwelling gremlin who constantly forgets where I put things and crack a few dark jokes at my expense. 

Day 19: Which character do you strongly dislike, why?

This is entirely based on the books, but I find Mera to be awful.  I think it’s because she’s so fake and condescending? When Naia arrived in Sami Thicket, she was acting nice and polite but when the Drenchen asked her why the skeksis never visited Sog Mera responded  “It’s only worth counting what’s valuable”. She continuously disrespects her by calling her pet names even when Naia became maudra. It doesn’t come off as cute, it’s gross. I don’t recall Mera ever apologizing for any of the shit she did to Naia... or Kylan for that matter. She was a pretty neglectful step-mother to him. She doesn’t have an excuse being busy with Maudra stuff because Laesid was a kickass mom to her kids. So in conclusion, fuck this bitch.

Day 20: What do you like so much about the Dark Crystal?

The better question what’s not to love about the Dark Crystal? It has amazing creature design, an expansive world that feels real and alien from our own, having complex and interesting characters as well as villains, the fact that it relies heavily on practical effects a.k.a puppetry... . There’s nothing like it and that’s what makes it so wonderful and unique. It needs to be appreciated more. 

Day 21: Favorite music piece from the soundtrack?

Can’t beat that opening theme. 

Day 22: Your opinion on the sequel comics [Power/Beneath the Dark Crystal]

They have cool concepts and ideas, but they’re not written well. Power is just the movie if it was put into a blender and shredded and ignoring a large portion of established lore for the sake of plot. And Beneath is just a generic fantasy story with the Dark Crystal logo slapped on it. 

Day 23: Which character from the YA novels/comics do you wish we would see more of?

There are plenty of characters that are a given to appear in the series at some point (skekSa, skekLi, urSan, etc). And of course I want to see them, but I really hope Periss shows up (and his brother too). He is one of my favorite characters from the book series and we could use some more Dousan rep!

Day 24: Your opinion on the Age of Resistance comic?

I have yet to read the comics. I’m waiting on them to be part of a collection so I don’t have to buy all of the volumes at once (I prefer owning physical copies). I’ve heard good things about them, especially the story with Hup and the current Mayrin arc. I’m excited to get my hands on them. 

Day 25: The best moment/scene in the series?

There are a lot of great moments, but Rian and Ordon’s fight with skekMal is still my favorite in the entire series. The "Speak For the Dead” scene is a close second.

Day 26: The death of a character that hurt you the most?

He did not deserve this. Fuck you, skekMal. 

Day 27: Your favorite episode from the series?

It’s got to be 4. Not just because a number of my favorite characters debut in this episode, but it’s an important one for the plot. Stakes are being raised, we’re seeing set ups to major story elements and character arcs, and events that impact the rest of the series. It also has a handful of my favorite character moments and interactions. 

Day 28: Your favorite non-skeksis and non-gelfling character? Why?

I’ve come to realize the reasons why I love urVa are the same as why I love skekMal (incredibly appropriate I might say). There’s enough information about him that we get a good understanding on who he is as a character, but still mysterious enough that there’s interest in wanting to know more. Much like his skeksis, he’s unique from the other mystics and thus giving him unique experiences that are fun to speculate. However, the YA novels are responsible for my current fondness of him. 

Day 29: Do you like the urru and skeksis apart or like them as urSkeks together?

A main theme of the Dark Crystal is unity and balance. The main conflict of the franchise are the skeksis, the broken fragments of their urskek self who, according to the writers, “...[have] a dire need for the qualities they lack”. Their only salvation is to become urskeks again and unfortunately many of the pairs never achieve this.  They’re basically a giant allegory for the self and self-love. While we don’t really know what they were like when they were an urskek (aside from SilSol perhaps), we can get some understanding when we look at their pairs and see what traits they share. Speculation is also fun! So as much as I love the skeksis and mystics as individuals, I prefer them to be whole again.

Day 30: What are your wishes for a possible season 2?

A whole bunch of things. I want to see them explore more about the mystics and their lifestyle, having Raunip play a big part in the plot, seeing more of skekSa’s fall from grace from her perspective, the beginning of the Garthim Wars, and more. 

[mickeycookies]

hey hon I really like your karavette work (the other anon is right, that sunset comic always makes my heart flip!!) and I was just wondering if you have some kind of backstory as to how these two babes met and fell for each other etc? basically some lore on their relationship if you can call it that lol. keep up the good work!💕

First, I’d like to start this off by saying: OH MY GOD I’M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG I’M SORRY I’M SORRY I’M SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Their first meeting had always been dialogue-less in my head and so putting actual words and scenes into something that I always imagined to be wordless and just flashes of what happened, along with other things going on in my life and my inability to write, and my refusal to just give another brief explanation of how it went down because i’ll “draw it one day” all contributed to the 9,000 years it took me to finish this _(:3」∠)_ BUT IT’S HERE AND I DID IT AND I’M SO SO SORRY IT TOOK THIS LONG!

Ivette was created before season 2, so their first meeting is very much based on season 1 Karamatsu’s character and it’s kinda weird to think about now that he’s grown so much in season 2. But, this is the way I’ve always seen it, and I’m too attached to change it ｡(*^▽^*)ゞ Also, big thanks to Dr. @lazura and Professor @lenkachu for looking over this for me! You guys were a big help!

Ivette stared at the map on her phone with a blank face, the little blue dot blinking at her tauntingly.

‘Definitely took the long way … .’ she mentally grumbled to herself, wondering why she would even trust her sense of direction to begin with, ‘How did I even do that?’.

She should’ve just taken a taxi. She always took a taxi. Why didn’t she take a taxi?

Sighing, she powered on. There was no point in trying to reason with her past self’s misguided decision to walk because “it’s not that far!” She’d just have to remind herself next time that everything’s far in heels and that she should never trust herself to find a new spot without help from her friends ever again.

Her eyes tracked the little dot as she walked, examining street numbers and the estimated time it’d take to get there, ‘just past this bridge I’ll make a right and it should be at the next intersection …’ The thought of finally being able to sit down and enjoy some expensive sweets with what little time she most likely had left in her break outweighed everything else, and she was more than happy to be almost done with navigating this unfamiliar part of town.

‘Just a little bit longer!’

Ivette looked up from her phone to see how much further it would be until she hit the main street when something caught her eye.

A skull. On a leather jacket.

She came to a short stop where she stood, phone lowering as she stared at the form of a man down on one knee, bent forward in the bushes. Aside from the leather jacket that had originally grabbed her attention, she could see he also wore a pair of fitted blue jeans and scuffed brown Cuban-heeled boots, and she couldn’t help but be a little surprised at the sight.

A greaser? Here in Japan?

She regarded the jacket for a few seconds more, admiring the cut and the skull applique that was a dead giveaway it was vintage and well-loved.

“Come here, little one … it’s alright.”

Ivette watched quietly as he made beckoning motions into the bush and, ever so slowly, a cat emerged from the leaves, unsure. Her heart gave a little squeeze as the cat approached him slowly, hazel eyes big and curious as it sniffed his hand cautiously, judging whether he could be trusted or not. It stared at him, making a decision, before nuzzling against his hand, eyes closed contently. The man in the leather jacket chuckled, rubbing the cat’s head gently as it leaned into his hand, ears flattening at the touch. From the way he handled it, she was certain he had an affinity for cats, and she couldn’t help but smile at the scene, the sweetness of it all making it impossible not to. Snapping back to reality, she pulled her purse back up her shoulder, eyes shooting back to the phone in her hand. She didn’t have time to stand around and stare! Ivette walked away, stride a little faster as she refocused on her mission.

Quick footsteps sounded behind her and she turned to see a little girl, probably not older than five, running across the bridge towards them.

“Maru-chan!”

The little girl caught sight of the man in the leather jacket, the tabby and white-patched cat in his arms.

“Maru-chan!” the little girl ran towards him, and he turned to look at her, lifting his sunglasses with one hand to rest them on his head, surprised. She came to an abrupt halt before him, a little bag of treats held tightly in her fists, “Maru-chan, I’ve looked everywhere for you!”

The man looked down to the cat in his arms before smiling, brown eyes soft, “It appears you’ve reunited with your mama much sooner than we’d thought, little one.”

Ivette watched his every move intently, stepping a little closer to the two. The girl was alone without a guardian, all the warmth she’d felt previously towards the leather-jacketed stranger turned into cold wariness in a second. He shifted to kneel on his other knee, bringing himself to face the girl properly and lifted the cat away from his chest to look it in the eyes kindly, “How wonderful it must be, to have someone in this world who loves you.”

Ivette’s serious expression faltered a bit, his words stirring something within her. Her hand went to her chest, curling into a loose fist over her heart as she watched him carefully place the cat back into the little girl’s open arms. A small smile returned to her lips unconsciously when the child gave a happy cry, nuzzling into the cat.

Another set of quick footsteps caught her attention, this time faster and heavier, and Ivette caught sight of a woman running towards them. The woman ran past her much like the little girl, and over towards the other two, grabbing the girl by the shoulders.

“Don’t run away from Mom like that again!” She chided her, though her tone was far more distressed than it was angry.

The young girl nodded, cuddling the cat closer to her, “Yes, Mama …”

Ivette let out a relieved breath, the girl’s mother was here now, everything was going to be ok. She’d stood there long enough so she turned to leave.

She hadn’t even taken ten steps past them when she suddenly heard crying.

Looking over her shoulder at the group again, Ivette was surprised to see the little girl crying her heart out, holding her pet closer to her with one arm as the other pointed at the man in the leather jacket accusingly, “He did it! He stole Maru-chan!”

The man in the leather jacket jolted, eyes shooting to the child fast as lightning, “Ehh?!”

The little girl continued to sob, cries just getting louder and louder, and the greaser panicked, not knowing what to do, torn between trying to calm the crying child and defending himself. The mother’s hands clenched into tight fists and Ivette put her phone in her purse, deciding to step in and try to help clear things up.

“I’ve never seen this cat before in my life, Ma’am! I—!”

“He did it! He’s the one!” The little girl sobbed.

“O-OI!” A nervous bead of sweat dripped down his temple, and his eyes widened when he realized his mistake, “W-wait, please! I d-didn’t—!” Ivette was already rushing over but it was too late. The mother punched him, the force creating a sonic boom and sending him skidding across the pavement with a sickening sound. Ivette’s eyes widened in horror at the sight, her jaw falling open in a heavy gasp. She ran over without a second thought.

“Come on, let’s get you two home,” the mother said sweetly, taking her daughter’s free hand in her own and leading her out of the park, the little girl sticking her tongue out at the unconscious man sprawled out on the floor, steam radiating off his skull.

Passersby looked on at the scene in silence before shrugging it off and going about their business, not fazed by the poor man practically embedded into the concrete. Heads did, however, turn when Ivette dropped to her knees beside him, letting her purse fall to the ground next to her. Her hands hesitated, not knowing if it was ok to touch him, “Are you ok? Can you hear me?”

He groaned in response and she let out a sigh of relief. He was still conscious, that was good!

She looked up briefly when she realized that the woman was long gone by now and she cursed herself for not stopping her, “Shit!”  She turned over things to do next in her mind, too panicked to settle on just one thing, ‘Should I report this? It was an assault, of course I should! Do I feel comfortable reporting a mother who was only trying to protect her child? No, no, there were other ways to resolve this, she didn’t need to hurt him! Does he want to report this??’ Ivette looked down at the man when he groaned once more, and she pulled her hair behind her ear nervously, leaning closer, “Is it alright if I help you sit up? Do you want to sit up?”

A slow nod was her answer and carefully she put one hand beneath his shoulder, wondering if she should support his head too, when he began to sit himself up on his own. She helped push him gently the rest of the way until he was able to sit up properly, but she kept her hands where they were, just in case he tipped over.

He rubbed his face slowly, bangs falling over his eyes, “Ah … Yes, t-thank you, my honey …”

Ivette processed his English, taken aback.

The man lifted his head and Ivette flinched, face drawn in shock at his face, caved-in into the shape of a fist perfectly, like a mold had been cast. Her mind went into overdrive as she started panicking again, ‘Oh my god!’ The greaser gave the back of his head a hard pat and his face seemed to pop right back to normal, at least she had thought so until she saw the red, angry swell to his eyes. A thin sliver of his brown irises were visible behind the puffy watering skin, and blood trickled from his nose; his left eye seemingly trembled at her for emphasis and Ivette was unable to stop herself from making another face at the sight.

At the silence, the man shifted nervously in his spot before crossing his legs and leaning forward in a “cool” pose like he wasn’t hurt in the slightest, “Heh … a kind stranger has come to my rescue. ” His voice was timid for the way he tried to present himself, “I am a honest man, I’ll admit this never—" He pitched forward suddenly, hand flying to his mouth as he hacked up blood, red squirting from between his fingers, and Ivette’s face paled, a horrified squeal escaping her.

“Thank you very much!” An elderly ice cream man thanked a couple of high school students, smiling wide as the two walked off enjoying their cold treats. His smile faltered in curiosity when the quick pounding of footsteps reached his ear, like something was rushing towards him and he turned to the noise only for a woman to slam her hands down on his stand with an incredible force, startling him. He stared on in confusion as she panted hard, hair sticking to her forehead from the run before looking up, still struggling to catch her breath, “T-two! No—two mai-No! Ni ice—!” Ivette whined, slamming a hand down on the counter, obviously frazzled and looking a bit crazy, “TWO! I NEED TWO! PLEASE!”

“They feel like they’re starting to melt, is it ok if I look?”

“O-of course! Please, do what you must!”

Ivette leaned a bit closer to him on the bench, peeling one of the softened monaka packages off the man’s left eye as carefully as she could. The swelling had gone down considerably, and she released a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding in relief, shoulders relaxing, “Thank goodness, the swelling’s gone down.” Placing the package on her lap, she examined his eye more closely, “Can you see?”

He squinted his eye, trying to focus in on the woman sitting across from him, but all he could see was colors, all blobbed together, like looking through stained glass.

His lips flattened in a tight line, concentrating, and Ivette leaned in again, raising her hand to his face, “Here, maybe this will help …” She peeled the other monaka back just as carefully as the first, satisfied to see the swelling had gone down for his right eye as well, it squinting upon exposure to the light. The skin around his eyes was still an angry red, and he’d have some nasty bruising tomorrow, but for now she was just glad it looked better.

When he didn’t say anything, looking just as lost as before, she held up two fingers in front of his face, “Can you tell me how many fingers you see?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning in close to her fingers, inspecting them intensely before closing his eyes, humming thoughtfully. She dropped her hand and wondered if the pain was too much to keep his eyes open when he gave a short shaky smirk, stroking his chin, “Trick question, my dear~”

“It … wasn’t,” Ivette bit her lip, thinking about what to do next, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to a hospital? I could—”

“Non, non, non! I couldn’t possibly burden my noble heroine any more than I already have!”

“I’m not—“ Ivette started, shaking her head flustered, “It wouldn’t be a burden at all.” There was only so much she could do for him with a few makeshift ice packs that weren’t going to survive the heat for long. Cleaning the blood off his face and wrapping a few monakas in hand towels wasn’t nearly enough to be called a heroine, or to qualify as decent medical care. “A real doctor could fix you up much better than I can …” she persisted, pulling another hand wipe from her purse when she noticed a dry fleck of blood she’d missed earlier near his mouth, “I’m going to clean the corner of your mouth again, is that ok?”

“Y-yes! It is!” He stiffened, warmth spreading across his face when her hand came to his cheek, gingerly holding him still as she rubbed the spot away with a gentle pressure, like he was something delicate, something cherished. Her hand was soft, and he felt himself flush deeper when he was overcome with the sudden urge to lean into it, quickly squashing the idea before he could consider it further, “Y-you’ve already done so much! It’s more than enough!” The wet sensation near his mouth was lifted away along with her hand and he opened his eyes, vision still cloudy.

Ivette’s brows furrowed as she regarded him with concern, “But you’re still hurt …”

“Heh~” The colors were starting to resemble a shape, the black and white smudge sitting across from him starting to have blurred edges, “I’ve born far worse than this, my dear, I’ll survive~”

Ivette looked at him quizzically, wondering what other scuffles he could have possibly gotten himself into before remembering how he hit the ground, “What about your head? Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?”

The man touched the back of his head gently, trailing his fingertips lightly over the back of his skull before applying more pressure, “It’s still a little tender, but nothing I can’t deal with!”

“Tender?” Ivette wanted to huff in frustration, what was his deal? Why all this talk about going through worse? Dealing with things? Not being a burden? He couldn’t see! Why couldn’t he worry about himself? “Is it alright if I take a look?”

He jumped, taken aback, “Uh, yes! O-of course!” He watched the black and white blur stand and he turned his head, unconsciously holding his breath as he waited for movement of any kind. Nobody had ever been this concerned about him before. His hands clenched as he thought about his family, and how quick his brothers were to dismiss him when he needed help, when he was in pain.

“Let me know if it hurts.”

“I will …”

“And also,” Ivette smiled weakly down at him, “Please be honest with me, ok?”

His heart started pounding in his chest and he could only nod, a small smile of his own crossing his face, “I will.” Her fingers gently grazed his hair and when he made no sign of discomfort she continued, slowly applying more pressure. Relaxing, he made sure he paid close attention to the spots she touched, trying to gauge his pain.

He … wasn’t used to this, actually being taken care of like this, and by a complete stranger no less. Memories of his brothers started to return, even though he’d told himself they’d moved past it and he didn’t need to think about it anymore. His own brothers couldn’t even be bothered to rescue him when his life was on the line, tied to a pole in the middle of the ocean or set ablaze in front of their own home. But this stranger … she stopped for him, when everyone else was perfectly fine with walking around him and leaving him there to pick himself up eventually. She helped him up, she offered to take him to a hospital, she ran off to get something cold for his injury, she even came back, that was what surprised him the most. With his luck he was surprised she didn’t just take off and leave him sitting there for hours until the realization that he was ditched set in. She did all that and then stayed with him, cleaning him up and taking care of him. He didn’t even know how long it had been, but he had a feeling it had to have been around an hour or more.

He didn’t know this woman.

But she was kind.

“No blood. Doesn’t seem to be any swelling …” she thought aloud to herself in English, impressed for how hard he hit the ground, “And you’re sure it doesn’t hurt anywhere?”

“Nothing to worry too much about, my dove! As I’ve said, I’ve endured worse!” If he were wearing his sunglasses he would have slid them up the bridge of his nose to hide behind them, feeling uncharacteristically shy. He cringed as he thought back to the incident, “My back took most of the impact, so my head should be more or less fine.”

“Your neck—” Ivette started only for him to interject, his hand going to rub the nape of his neck reassuringly.

“—Is fine! Don’t worry about me, Honey,” He closed his eyes, smirking at no one, “I’m sturdier than I look.”

Ivette frowned, moving to sit next to him again as she reached for the coldest monaka, re-wrapping it in the hand towel. It wasn’t going to last that much longer so might as well get as much use out of it as they could. She held it in her hand for a while as she thought; he didn’t want to go to the hospital and she couldn’t convince him to change his mind. He didn’t seem to have a concussion, but he still couldn’t see.

“I’m going to put this back on your eye, so it might be a little cold.”

“I can take it~”

His hand came up to his face to hold the ice cream package in place himself, calloused fingers lightly brushing her own in the transfer.

‘Maybe I can get him back to his house? Have someone there convince him to go … I’ll have to ask—’ Ivette’s brows furrowed.

His name.

She never asked for it.

“Uh …”

“Hmm?”

He blinked hard with his uncovered right eye, the fuzzy shapes becoming even clearer than before. The silhouette of his rescuer was sharper now.

Ivette pulled her hand back, embarrassed for keeping it on his own for so long, “Your name.”

“Eh?”

“I’m sorry,” She wondered how the thought had never crossed her mind earlier, “I never asked what it was.”

The man stared at her silently before realization dawned on him. He too also wondered how he’d never thought to give it to her, “Ah, my name …” Suddenly everything was too bright. He squinted, allowing his eyes to refocus, “It’s Matsuno Karamatsu.”

How long had he kept this poor woman here? The amberine glow to her eyes could only mean the sun was setting … but then why had it been so bright? It didn’t feel like it had been that long …

Karamatsu blinked hard again, only registering the other monaka being lifted to his face when the stranger began to lean in to him.

Ivette noticed his eye fall on the ice cream, something it hadn’t done the other times, before widening when it met hers. Her request to have him close his eye died on her tongue, her head tilting when his lips parted in surprise.

“Can you see it?” she asked gently, slightly worried about the spooked look on his face.

He didn’t answer. Karamatsu continued to stare, the hand holding the other ice cream pack slowly lowering to his lap as his eyes bore into hers.

It was still noon.

The sky was blue.

The sunset was really …

She sat back in her seat, concern dampening her features. He was frozen. Karamatsu blinked a few more times, his left eye seeming to adjust to the brightness before he shook his head, flustered.

“Y-yes! Yes, I could see it!”

Ivette smiled, relief washing over her, “That’s good!”

He could see again! That was good! But!

Her smile grew weak, “Are you still sure you don’t want to see a doctor?”

A couple walked by, the man sneaking a glance at Ivette before his girlfriend noticed, frowning and tugging on his arm hard, pulling him away faster.

Karamatsu couldn’t tear his gaze away from her eyes, almost entranced by them. His lips curled into a shy smile back, “Yes, I’m sure.”

This was the lovely stranger who had helped him. The kind woman who offered her hand when no one else would.

It didn’t matter what he had to do or how long it would take, he would repay the kindness she had shown him, he swore his life on it.

“Are you really going to be ok?”

Karamatsu flicked his bangs out of his eyes, smirking; the swelling was much better now, the skin around his eyes almost back to normal save for the crimson rings that were beginning to darken with bruises, “Worry not, my dear champion! This broken man is capable of putting the rest of his pieces back together again!”

Ivette’s lips turned up a little awkwardly, she wasn’t entirely sure she’d understood that quite right. She just decided to go with what she thought she’d heard, “I’m no champion.” She tucked some hair behind her ear as she laughed bashfully. “But I’m glad you seem to be a little better now.”

Karamatsu jolted, cheeks warming in a way that went unnoticed by her because of the red rings marring his skin.

Her laugh.

It was cute.

“Thank you.” He said it as sincerely as he possibly could, feeling like he’s never meant anything he’s said more. Even for something as small (she had claimed) as this. He wanted her to know.

Ivette pulled her purse back up her shoulder, waving it off, “There’s no need to thank me for anything, Matsuno-san.” Giving him an apologetic look, she continued, “I wish I could have done more.”

“I-it was enough!” he reassured her, louder than he’d intended to. He wanted her to know how much this meant to him. Needed her to know. Snapping his arms to his sides, he closed his eyes and bowed low, surprising most of the people that walked by, including her. “It was more than enough! Thank you! Thank you for everything!”

People stopped and watched as Ivette stared at him in shock, whispering about the strange scene amongst themselves.

A desperate man thanking a girlfriend-for-hire, perhaps?

Karamatsu was about to lower himself further, when her hands came to his shoulders, stopping him.

“You don’t have to do that!”

Something like this had never happened to her before, and slight social panic quickly overtook her, “Please stand up!”

The gentle push to his shoulders made him open his eyes slowly to the floor before trailing back up to her, confusion settling into his features. She seemed to realize she was still touching him and took her hands back immediately, slightly mortified. This was all just too much for her.

“But—!” Karamatsu started, only to be cut off by her.

“Please stand …” her voice was soft, and Karamatsu found himself drawn to the sunset of her eyes once more, practically begging him to do as she said. Karamatsu wanted to protest, wanting her to see just how serious he was about this, but begrudgingly stood, unable to deny such a heartfelt plea.

The crowd slowly began to disperse, uninterested now that the weirdo in the painful leather jacket wasn’t going to throw himself prostrate before the sexy foreigner anymore.

An awkward silence fell over them as they just stood there, both lost in their own thoughts of what to do next.

“Will you be able to get home safely?” Ivette asked, still hesitant to leave.

Karamatsu looked to her in surprise. Gathering his bearings, he melted right back into his usual cool self, “Your concern for me touches my heart, ma chère, but you needn’t worry for me. Already, I feel even better than I did before and should have no trouble going back the way I came!” Placing his sunglasses over his eyes, he smirked, the cracks running down the center of the lenses not bothering him in the slightest, “My home is also not too far from here so I should be fine.” He added, not as dramatically.

Smiling, Ivette took her phone out of her purse to call a taxi, after this little adventure she was certain she wouldn’t have enough time to attempt walking back to work.

Karamatsu was about to say something else when he noticed the woman’s eyes suddenly widen as she stared at the screen silently, grip tightening around the device in her hand. Her face paled, back straightening and mouth opening and closing repeatedly, like a fish stranded on land.

He unconsciously raised a hand out to her, concerned, “Is something wrong?”

It was 3:30. Her break ended three hours ago.

“I’m sorry I need to go!”

Karamatsu blinked at her, words quickly escaping him as he watched her turn slightly, still talking to him.

“I—” a thought came to her and she bowed courteously, “I’m sorry this is so abrupt, but I have to go back to work—now! Please take care of yourself, Matsuno-san!”

It was like the clock had struck midnight.

“W-wait! Please!” Karamatsu called out to her, reaching for her hand, before stopping himself.

The woman turned back to him, looking ready to break into a sprint at any moment. He was holding her up, he knew this, having the audacity to keep her there longer, but he couldn’t just let her walk out of his life never having her kindness paid back in full.

“Is there any way I can repay you for all you’ve done?” Karamatsu asked.

She was taken aback, raising her hands in front of her, she shook her head, “I’ve already told you, Matsuno-san, there’s no need to!”

“I want to!” He assured her earnestly, “I know you think that this wasn’t much, but it was! And I couldn’t possibly let you go without letting you know how grateful I am!”

Ivette bit the inside of her cheek, not knowing what to do. He didn’t need to repay her anything, but she also didn’t have the time to go back and forth with him about it like before. He didn’t seem to be trying to weasel her into a date with him as her “payment” like other guys, so that was nice. He wasn’t up in her space, he wasn’t keeping her prisoner by the hand, he seemed to want to pay her back simply because he thought it was the right thing to do, even though she thought it wasn’t necessary.

Sighing, she came to the conclusion that just once it would be ok. The burden of “paying her back” would be lifted from his shoulders and he’d never have to worry about it again. She could ask for something small and that’d be the end of it.

“Ok …” she conceded, “Ok.”

Karamatsu beamed, and Ivette gawked at the sight for a moment. It was the happiest she’d seen him so far.

“But not now,” she reminded him, “I need to go back to work, so some other time?”

“Yes, of course!” Karamatsu’s eyes were sparkling, elated.

“Here,” Ivette opened up her contacts list and made a new one, “Why don’t you give me your phone number and—”

“Ah, my phone number …” his hand came up to stroke his chin, expression turning sheepish, “I don’t have a phone.”

Ivette stared at him incredulously. Realizing that she was just wasting time staring at him, she locked her phone, “Not even a home phone?”

“I do but—you see it’s—” He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to explain not wanting her to call only to have one of his brothers answer the phone instead, “complicated.”

Ivette’s lips formed a tight line, knowing she needed to go setting her nerves on edge, “Ok …” She opened her purse, digging around for a pen. She always carried one, where was it? Her eyes settled on her business card holder and she snatched it up, relieved that she hadn’t left it at work.

Karamatsu watched curiously as she walked closer to him, slipping a card from the baby pink holder before placing it back in her bag. With both hands on the card she handed it over to him with a light bow, and Karamatsu jolted, reaching for it and doing the same. This was the most professional interaction he’d had in a long time and Karamatsu grimaced internally, realizing he should feel some sort of embarrassment that it had caught him off guard.

Stepping even closer, she pointed to a number on the card, “This is my cell phone number. I’m usually off work after 7 but you can leave me a message during the day if you’d like.”

He nodded, listening intently as she listed all the other times he could try calling her as briefly as she could.

Taking a step back, she clapped her hands together, “Is there anything else?”

His gaze went from the card in his hands, to her, “No, I believe that’s it. Thank you. Again, for everything.”

The woman smiled, and he smiled shyly back.

“Good!” Glancing at the clock she suddenly noticed on the other side of the walkway, her eyes shot back to him, “I have to go now.” Retrieving her phone once more she pulled up the number for a taxi, starting to turn as she did so. She hit the call button, but looked back to him one last time, “Please, take care of yourself, Matsuno-san.”

Karamatsu wanted to say something back, to tell her to do the same, but she was already gone, phone pressed to her ear as she ran towards the main street. He was amazed at how fast she could run in her heels, worry suddenly taking over with the thought that she could get hurt.

Heads turned as she ran past, and Karamatsu realized he should have walked her to wherever she was being picked up. He made to follow when he saw her come back from around the corner, a taxi pulling up beside her. She hopped in—ever elegant, even in a hurry—and then she was gone.

Karamatsu stared at the spot he’d last seen her, wide-eyed.

Scenes from a fairytale flashed through his mind, the situation feeling all too familiar. He murmured to himself, wide eyes sparkling, “My Cinderella …”

The thought that he’d never gotten her name followed immediately after.

Eyes dropping to the card in his hand, he moved the thumb that was covering it quickly, reading the katakana for her name and sounding it out to himself.

‘Ivette.’

The front door slid open, and Osomatsu looked up from where he was laying on the floor to see who it was.

“I’m home …”

Oh, it was just Karamatsu.

“Yeah, yeah, welcome home!” he called over his shoulder uninterested. When Karamatsu said nothing else and walked heavily to the staircase, that caught his attention. Usually Karamatsu wouldn’t shut up, whether it be try-hard deep nonsense or something about his day and what he’d done, he always had something to say, and this sudden silence freaked Osomatsu out a bit. Pushing himself to sit up, he watched Karamatsu trudge up the stairs looking like a zombie, and was that … something pink in his pocket? Osomatsu was silent as he watched the figure of his younger brother disappear, wondering if something happened. Shrugging it off, he reached for another handful of Ichimatsu’s chips, attention going back to the tv.

Karamatsu always had something to say. If something was wrong he’d tell his nii-chan.

Karamatsu slid the door to their room open, relieved for once to see it was empty. Shuffling in, he slid the door shut behind him and reached into his pocket, pulling out the business card. He stared at it for a few moments before sliding down the wall to sit on the floor, thinking.

This was a girl’s phone number.

It was on a business card, but it was still her phone number.

He examined it further, flipping it around to see it was identical on the backside but written in English.

Girls didn’t go through the trouble of making fake business cards, did they?

He shook his head, berating himself. He didn’t have her number to take her on a date, he was just going to pay her back, that was all. Karamatsu reached into his other pocket, almost forgetting about the hand towels he’d shoved in there right before entering the house. Unfolding one of them in his palm, he looked at it. The small white towel had a pink border, a pattern of pastel heart shaped objects from some magical girl anime he wasn’t familiar with decorating it, and he felt himself melt a little at how adorable it was.

He had to find a way to wash them without anyone finding out. He would return them the next time he saw her.

‘The next time …’

Karamatsu looked back to the card, blushing as his eyes traced the characters of her name once more.

He’d have to find a safe place to hide everything; nothing was ever safe amongst these wolves, the fact that everyone knew where each other’s porn stashes were was proof enough of that.

[noxian-rose]

Name: Lily  🌺 Age: 19 Faceclaim: For LeBlanc it’s Morticia Addams, but I’m not showing my face :^) 

Pronouns: She/her Height: 5′ 2 Birthday: November 15th Aesthetics: She is the last note before the crescendo in an orchestra, the soft wind that makes the branches of trees rap against the windows of your bedroom window at night; the flicker of a candle that’s been newly lit and the last wisps of smoke that evaporate into the air when it’s blown away. An enigma hidden in the shadows but in plain sight, a carnation in bloom and the hum of a forgotten song. The sound of whispered musings, the touch of a burning sun and the stare that could send anyone reeling with lust or fear in a single second; the scent of lavender and the gentle sound of a page being flipped. Fire crackling from it’s place in the hearth, a laugh that pierces past dead humor.

Last song you listened to: Be Real by Phoebe Ryan  (wow Lily how ironic of you)

Favorite muse(s) you’ve written: LeBlanc, Cassiopeia, Jhin respectively. ( I also liked Katarina a bit but I didn’t write enough of her to truly enjoy it.)

What inspired you to take on your current muse (that you are posting this on): This is actually a long drawn out story of lots o’ trouble of finding satisfaction in my writing and inspiration from a fellow writer on Tumblr. To sum it up, I hated LeBlanc. A lot. To the point that whenever I saw her in lane while playing the game I wanted to just ff@20 because I knew she would literally kick me in lane with the champions I played with at the time. I hated her but I also began to love her character after reading an incredibly beautiful fanfic called ‘ Vici ‘ it was based on old lore but dear lord I loved it. After that I chose to I write for her because I loved her personality and the small little things no one noticed in her judgement (also because I sought a challenge). I would have chosen someone else like Lux or Sona as I love their characters dearly, but it just didn’t offer me the same opportunity to revolutionize my prose and teach me something new that I haven’t done before.

What are your favorite aspects of your current muse:  I suppose this is more of a love/hate thing but LeBlanc is incredibly open to interpretation and is so easily moldable that I can link the most obscure things to her and make it work without much struggle. I’m also a fan of how ambitious and aspiring she is in her goals, alongside of course the dedication she has to keeping her organization operational not just for her own gain but for those involved as it’s members. No she may never be a true mother, but she is a true Matron who will go through hell and come out as it’s queen to protect her people. She’s also incredibly subtle and eloquent? That in itself is enough of a showcase to draw me to her. (And draw me like a moth to a flame she did.) 

What’s your biggest inspiration when it comes to writing: I tend to really look further into the judgements and see how I can find ways to improve a character, but that’s really not my biggest inspiration LOL. One of my biggest inspirations is history and it’s admirable --and also incredibly terrible --- figures throughout history. It’s literally almost like a pool of inspiration waiting to be weaved into stories.

Inspiration wise: A few people I looked at while researching inspiration for LeBlanc were: Elizabeth I, Maleficent, Cleopatra, Morticia Addams, and Anne Boleyn. Of course not all of them were real what fun would that be? 

Favorite types of threads: I adore those kinds of threads that really bring you wanting more each time you respond and get a response back-- those kind of ‘ on the edge of your seat’ plots with people that just never seems to stop with it’s suspense and adrenaline no matter how long it might take the other to respond. Believe it or not I’m also an avid fan of fluff and angst mixed together. 

Biggest struggle in regards to your current muse: I admit, the major struggle I’ve come to find in my writing with LeBlanc is plotting with the people I want to plot to or making my blog completely open for plotting for everyone. LeBlanc simply isn’t the kind of individual who would open her parlor to anyone who decides to waltz in, she is a woman of action and caution with those she interacts with. Of course there’s always little ways to make threads work but it’s more than likely a plot that’s relatively similar each time: LeBlanc deceiving someone in order to gain something and manipulating them to then further obey her every whim or make them despise her with all of her existence, if not LeBlanc generally sassing them out of her vision. I really don’t want that kind of stuff to happen in plotting, which is why I’m more willing to take something off of an ask meme if the muse is someone that’s incredibly far fetched from having any sort of encounter with her.

Tagged by: no one, I stole it from @ignis-ad-iudicem​ *waves from afar* 

Tagging: no one, steal it if you wish.