#the memory thief icons | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

craboon · 3 months

Text

this was an experiment i wrote a bunch of random names and made a semi abstract map and then wrote lore of the places, not all there but might reblog or edit post with more later if you want to hear about one specifically let me know descriptions follow

The Vermin Wood is a place of towering snags, riddled with holes, carved with their own esoteric tongues, the the ground moldering with the burrows of insects, centuries ago a king had promised his people 100 years of prosperity, he kept his promise, so did the rot and it was patient The Incarnadine Vault A scholar became obsessed with hidden knowledge, but he feared something watching him, and so he had a vault made to protect himself, his research, and wealth, painted to hide him from the yellow watching eyes, the poison paint was his end, the pigment in its heart is rotting to yellow

the Scintillating Barrows are tombs filled with mirrors and crystal and once a year the sun hits them just right to make them all glow brightly, it is said that if you visit on that day you can see the spirits of the dead walk again ethereal

The Grave of the Flutists is a cemetery looking burial ground that actually has hidden winding catacombs beneath, the gravesite of a group of flute playing monks, even in death they have flutes pressed against their lips, no mater where you are in the tunnels you will always hear a faint playing, either from a high above shelf or within the heavy earth

The Isle of the Beast Cult is controlled by the eponymous cult they worship an ancient cave beast that lived among people there once they wear fabric cloaks resembling the fur of a beast complete with ears and tail and spots, they have their own breed of holy magic derived from their god

Village of Arsenikessers is a mining village built into mountains of toxic rock no outsider would dare touch, the miners are known for their strange vitality and slightly off appearances, but otherwise friendly nature, their minerals are known for their purity the land over

The Resounding Depths an outcropping permeated by deep bore holes, what created them is a mystery, ancient alchemist mining for materials?, or possibly legendary serpents of old? The only hint of their natures is a faint song half between natural and musical, as a crickets shrill cry from under creaking ice, a faint instrument droning. apothecaries come from far to lower jars and vials to the depths, and collect the fluid that distills therein. It imparts a soporific effect, and stranger still the memory of the song. The God Rot Field is a place where long ago a great hero learned gods could be wounded, even killed. Though they never truly stop existing at least not for an incredibly long time. Mold silver-gold spills out from the scraps of torn flesh and effluvia endlessly rotting and growing all the same. Occult tokens and wards have since halted the progress but not before it claimed a large swathe of land. The Silvering Fen was once the home of a powerful witch, upon death at the hands of a cruel hero, they cursed their lands: a denaturing and thinning of the world, a paleness. And every plant and animal therein would be shining a fickle silver, one that stained that hero as he left, leaving footsteps of blossoming silver leaf. When he arrived home, he was faint and weak, his shock of hair now silvered, and so none believed who he was. At the center still stand the shining ruins of a once great tower, some say there is still a relic of power there. Pool of the Legless Ones An old temple lays rotting, the entrance to an ancient flooded cavern, the water squirms and boils faintly with long slimy things said to be the precursors of all the beasts and all of man. It is said they will share their wisdom if provided with an icon of your devotion. Home of The Tallow Thief An unassuming shack stands perched on a crooked hill, home to the tallow thief, who once stole from the new gods themselves, now an aging mentor to those who move too quietly. His nickname came from his last heist, a cask of heavenly wax, boiled from the flesh of an old god, the very kind that forms the candles that light the halls of the heavens. The Caliginous Divide A great crevasse in which swirling dark mists rush forth blinding all but the most devout. an ancient bridge of peerless construction spans the length, part of a relic of a forgotten pilgrimage. Traders or other travelers have been exploring the route for centuries, they have found ways to honor to forgotten beings that allow them to pass without too much difficulty. The Point of Exaltation Rocky badlands of unparalleled splendor crowned by a grand mount. The winding pilgrims path climbs among the stones up to the peak. Against the view of the vantage, kneels a small stone figure, arms outstretched towards the sky as if receiving water. The figure is headless, though a heavy green star rests on its shoulders during the solstice. The Hungering Copse In the ages before the regal gods people were drawn to the hollow in the world at the center of the copse. They made yearly pilgrimages as birds should do, offering their company to the twisting trees. However, eventually their faiths found new paths and eventually they ventured into the forest less and less. Now any poor soul who wanders inside the shaded boughs becomes lost in faerie reverie, until they become thin and faint.

The Narrow Dens long ago beasts gathered in the shaded valleys, but as soon as the first god of dawn shined, the creatures were forced to refuge in the crags. They slid so kindly through the crevices, and overtime became accustomed to the tight spaces. One such beast, the thin wolves are recognized by their eerily long legs. Ages ago, a lone hermit frequented the area, he learned to get them to favor him, so that he may walk in peace and without fear in his heart. The tranquility found him completing his great work, and after he died and was recognized as a prophet, the thin wolves always accompanied him in carvings.

The Crawling Bog An uninhabited bog, soft wet mossy earth, gives way to shaded groves, all held aloft the eye of an old god of fervor, ever staring at the sky. The perimeter is marked with numerous stone and wooden arches worn. and through compulsion of tradition, a funeral procession must pass consecrating the ground around it. They drive a great charnel-hearse, and carry bushels of bronze blades or other items, which at intervals, are plunged into the earth with fastidious devotion. Some brave members seek to retrieve them after centuries, blessed by the gods emanations, that verdigris of unearthly temperance.

#fantasy worldbuilding #world building #worldbuilding #my art #fantasy map #map

21 notes · View notes

sabrinahawthorne · 3 months

Text

Meet The Cowboy

[image ID: A black & white illustration of a white woman wearing a denim jumpsuit, leaping upwards and away from the camera. The woman wears her hair in a loose ponytail, and a single devil's horn pokes from the left side of her forehead. Her left hand is raised in a fist, which glows with a magical energy. From between each knuckle on that fist emerge three taut, immaterial threads, implied to lead off-screen and towards some number of other combatants. End ID.]

The Cowboy never has a plan of action - they never think ahead. They make a mess, and use their quick thinking and quicker mouth to fight their way out.

Cowboy Touchstones:

- Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

- Hat & Clogs (Bleach)

- Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)

The Cowboy makes enemies wherever they go, but as a rule they themself don't hold a grudge. Correspondingly, they don't begin play with any Rivalries. Rather, they begin with two Loyalties, reflecting the surprising commitment and selflessness at the heart of their blasé attitude.

Allowing the Cowboy to wiggle out of all those tight squeezes are their seemingly endless array of tricks and feints. Their unique character progression mechanic, On Your Toes, exemplifies this, allowing them to swap out one known Technique for a new one of equal or lesser tier between scenes. This means that you'll never fight the same Cowboy twice; they'll always surprise you.

Cowboy Icon: Alice, Celebrity Thief of Lantis City

She/Her

Known to citizens of the Underworld as The Prince of Lies, Alice is a humanoid Chimera with a mysterious past. She spends most of her time menacing the upper class of Lantis; breaking into vaults, private chambers, and other high-security locations, stealing valuable trinkets and selling them on the black market.

Aiding her in her criminal life is Alice's Pneumatic Technique; Spooling Essence - Tapestry Thief. With it, she's able to pull on the strings of a person's soul, temporarily stealing attributes of their body or personality and taking them onto herself. She can steal their senses, their memories, or even their own Pneumatic Techniques - at least for a time.

To learn more about Alice, Lantis City, and CLASH!, Pledge to the Crowdfundr at Otaku: The Cowboy tier to get access to a mini-manga all about her adventures when you receive your physical copy of CLASH! Shonen Battle Roleplay.

#indie ttrpg #ttrpg #ttrpg illustration #jump! shonen battle roleplay #clash! shonen battle roleplay #the cowboy

27 notes · View notes

otakusparkle · 11 months

Text

Identity V Ashes Of Memories Part 2 Begin

Week 1

- After maintenance in November 2, Players can immediately follow Alice to the Kreiburg Race Course to continue the story

- After the maintenance, players will also received 10x Essences for season 29 Essence 1

- New season Essences

- New Character (Fool's Gold available in shop at November 9)

- New Map (Kreiburg Race Course)

- Exclusive mode

- Public Map

- New play mode (Horse race)

Week 2

Forest Of Sin - Rekindling Embers

1. The all-server cooperative battle mode "Darkwood Forest" has started, and players can cooperate in this play mode to fight against the hunter "Fool's Gold".

2. This mode is divided into four stages:

- Struggle

- Pain

- Madness

- Delusion.

The difficulty level gradually increases. As the difficulty level increases, unstable areas gradually increase on the Darkwood Forest map. And in the stage of delusion, it will continue to collapse, so try to avoid it wisely.

3. You can earn event coins by participating in this event.

>Note<

*If you clear the current stage, you can unlock the next stage; the stage of Delusion will be released at 10AM on November 10th, and players who have cleared the stage of madness can form a team and participate!

*In the [Struggle], [Pain], and [Crazy] stages, if 2 or more people escape, the game is considered cleared. On the other hand, to clear the [Delusion] stage, players needs to escape for 3 or more people.

*During this mode, Hunter "Fool's Gold" is AI and may use [Blink] or [Excitement] traits.

Team Rules

Players can recruit or form their own teams to take on ``Fool's Gold'' in the Forest of Sin. [Struggle] allows you to enter solo, and the system will match you with an AI companion. [Pain] [Insanity] [Delusion] requires participation in a team of 4 people, players can match up with random teammates or to form a team.

Banned Characters

In this mode, the use of Priestess and Thief is prohibited.

Bonuses

Collect coins from event and earn many bonuses

- Prospector S-Tier Costume

- Entomologist A-Tier Costume

- Fool's Gold A-Tier Accessories

- Icon and Frame

- Emote (Novelist, Journalist, Composer)

- Dishes (White Coffee, Stewed Eggs (Survivor), Fresh Mulberries (Hunter))

- Furniture

- Limited tag

#idv #identity v #idv prospector #idv fool's gold #norton campbell #idv entomologist #melly plinius #idv novelist #idv orpheus #idv journalist #alice deross #idv composer #fredrick kreiburg #idv naiad #idv grace #idv female dancer #margaretha zelle

65 notes · View notes

dragonologist-phd · 3 months

Note

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤️

aah thank you so much!! <3 these are my favs at the moment, though of course it's always hard to choose:

Love & War (pwotr)

Galfrey was a queen, a paladin, an icon for all that was righteous and just in the Crusades. Cleo was a barbarian, a tiefling, a personification of demonic chaos. By all rights and logic, the two should have been at each other's throats- and often, they were. But somehow, through war and struggle and sacrifice, they ended up finding more in each other than either ever expected.

2. Butterfly Kisses (pwotr)

Aruseshalae has broken free of the shackles of her demonic nature. She and Piper take full advantage of the moment.

3. Of Diamonds And Dust (dragon age)

Marja Aeducan and Darvis Brosca lead lives as different as one could possibly imagine. Marja Aeducan, a member of the nobility and second in line for the throne, has spent her life maneuvering the dangerous political machinations of the Diamond Quarter. Meanwhile, Darvis Brosca, a Casteless dwarf rejected by society, does whatever it takes to survive on the streets of Dust Town. When a Grey Warden arrives in Orzammar, the lives of Marja and Darvis are forever changed. Driven from the city by misfortune and betrayal, the two must join the ranks of the Wardens in order to save their own lives. But the surface has far greater dangers than they realize. The noble and the thief will need to stand together if they're going to fight against the oncoming Blight, the brewing civil war, and the strange surface malady called "sunburn".

4. And So They Burned (dragon age)

The world was not a kind place to those touched by magic. Haunted by whispers of demons, fear of the Templars, and memories of the lives taken from them, three apprentices in Kinloch Hold turned to each other and made a world of their own. A chronicling of the Mage Origin in a world where no Grey Wardens are recruited from the Circle, and Rosalind Amell, Shay Surana, and Jowan must decide for themselves how far they will go for each other when their world goes up in flames.

5. If The Creeks Don't Rise (pillars of eternity)

A journey through the relationship of Desta and Aloth, down the roads that twist and turn and always lead them back to each other.

#thank you again!#i'll take any chance to ramble about my fics

13 notes · View notes

dream-meister-translations · 5 months

Text

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X

PERSONA 5 : THE PHANTOM X BETA - PART 8

━

RUFERU : There’s only one thing to do…

RUFERU : We have to go to the Metaverse and steal something from Takeyuki Kiuchi.

RUFERU : That is to say… Become a Phantom Thief.

WONDER : Define “something”...

RUFERU : I call them Secrets. But first thing’s first…

RUFERU : As you know, there are many mysteries hidden deep within the Metaverse. As well as the existence of Shadows which are dangerous in and of themselves.

RUFERU : The only way to truly understand and put an end to this…

RUFERU : Is to go into business with me as your partner.

RUFERU : So how about it? Will you become a Phantom Thief?

WONDER : You’re asking me to…

RUFERU : Forget it… I knew you’d react this way…

RUFERU : After all, just yesterday you were yet another ordinary high school student. And now an owl is asking you to take on a job that puts your life in mortal danger.

RUFERU : But please remember this…

RUFERU : The masses being impacted by Kiuchi’s selfish desires are slowly losing their own desires in turn…

RUFERU : In the worst case… This can even lead to death…

RUFERU : You, on the other hand, managed to awaken your Persona through your abundant desire to live.

RUFERU : It is only by relying on the mask of your Persona that we can defeat this Shadow.

RUFERU : The only human capable of taking action in the Metaverse… Is you.

RUFERU : If Takeyuki Kiuchi is a being that leads others to death…

RUFERU : Then you are a being capable of leading others toward survival.

WONDER : Just what are you trying to do here, Ruferu?

RUFERU : We can discuss the details once you’ve become a Phantom Thief.

RUFERU : For now, I’ll leave it at this… It is my belief that possession of one’s desires is one of the most crucial aspects of human existence.

RUFERU : No… Not quite… That would be to force desires upon you…

RUFERU : The free will to make one’s own choices is another important aspect of human existence.

RUFERU : Please, forget what I’ve said here. You must make this decision of your own volition.

RUFERU : Perhaps a stroll around the central street area will help clear your mind?

RUFERU : You can also take the time to stock up on healing items if you so choose to join me.

RUFERU : I’ll stay here a while. If you wish to join me in this endeavor, please come and tell me.

━

After some time, Wonder returns to Ruferu and talks to him once more…

RUFERU : So, have you thought it through?

RUFERU : Am I to trust that you understand that you coming back to me means you’re willing to take the job?

Memories of what he’d just witnessed. Women being pushed and bullied around, fleeing in terror at threats of physical violence… His vision of the mother and her baby tumbling down the stairwell… All the while, questions tore at his mind…

WONDER : (If I turn a blind eye now…)

Echoes of the mother’s cries, the woman screaming in search of the baby… The man’s somber voice…

WONDER : (Then the worst may come to pass…)

Ruferu spoke up once more, breaking him from his reverie…

RUFERU : So… Have you come to a decision?

Yes, Wonder had…

WONDER : I’ll do my best to help…

RUFERU : Now that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.

RUFERU : Well, now, let us set off for the Metaverse! You should have your navigator intact.

WONDER : Navigator?

RUFERU : Ah, yes, that’s the icon on your phone that looks like an eyeball.

RUFERU : If you click that it should transport you to the Metaverse.

Wonder does as Ruferu says and true to Ruferu’s advice, one tap of the icon has the world around them warping before their very eyes… Twisting into what was quickly becoming an all-too-familiar hellscape…

━

RUFERU : So, now our work has officially begun, first order of business: From now on, we will refer to each other by our code names.

WONDER : Code names…?

RUFERU : Right, I mentioned before that the Metaverse is the materialization of humanity’s collective consciousness…

RUFERU : That means that people knowing our real names will impact their perception of us.

RUFERU : And that risks them finding out our true identities.

RUFERU : As such, I want to use code names during our work as aliases to conceal our real identities.

RUFERU : And calling everyone by their fake names and their real names, don't you think it's a pain?

WONDER : Um… What?

RUFERU : Wait, you don't know what “a pain” is?

RUFERU : It means... like, a problem, an inconvenience… oh, c’mon, all the cool kids say it!

RUFERU : As for your code name… You’ve succeeded all my expectations thus far. In fact, you’re a human who surpasses my wildest dreams…

RUFERU : Let’s call you “Wonder” then, how about it?

WONDER : Wonder?

RUFERU : I’m trusting my gut on this one, and my gut tells me to call you “Wonder”.

RUFERU : As for me, you can call me Cattle.

WONDER : …Cattle?

RUFERU : I’m not sure I fully understand it myself… But I feel it in my gut. I’m “Cattle.”

RUFERU : So shall we get going, Wonder?

With their code names decided, Ruferu and Wonder set off down the tracks, deeper into the Metaverse. However, before they’d even taken five steps, a strong wind billows through the tunnel, the ground shaking as Shadows crawl out from pitch black holes forming in the ground.

RUFERU : Tsk. I can’t believe I didn’t sense them approaching…

RUFERU : If I had to guess, I’d say these Shadows were triggered by Kiuchi’s twisted desires.

RUFERU : Well, looks like we gotta mop the floor with these mooks, first!

Wonder and Ruferu swiftly deal with the attacking Shadows.

RUFERU : Okay, four shadows taken care of, let’s keep up the momentum!

On cue, three more Shadows crawl from the abyss.

RUFERU : Oh, come on, more of them!?

More Shadows spawn behind Ruferu and Wonder.

RUFERU : They’re jumping us from behind, as well? Oh, this is bad…

WONDER : Should we retreat?

RUFERU : Wish we could… They’ve blocked off our escape!

RUFERU : Cheaters! …Urgh… There’s nothing for it. We gotta hit ‘em hard!

RUFERU : I’ve got the Shadows at our six. You smash through the front!

Wonder is seen fighting off several Shadows, but nothing seems to keep them down. Behind him, Ruferu acrobatically dances around his own attackers. One of the Shadows manages to sneak through Wonder’s defense and knocks him back. He falls to his knees, the constant assault draining on his energy. As he looks up, three more Shadows burn their way into existence, stalking toward him. One of the shadows roars out and they charge to strike him in unison…

RUFERU : Wonder!!

And then… As Ruferu calls his name… In a blur of energy and motion, each Shadow is swiftly ripped apart one by one. They don’t even have a chance to react. And Wonder doesn’t have a chance to blink. A single blow to the back of the final Shadow has the creature crying out before dropping to its knees, and shortly after, crashing to the floor, revealing…

#persona 5 #p5x #persona 5 phantom x #p5x translation #translation #persona 5 x #persona 5 x translation #p5px #p5px translation #p5xpart8

18 notes · View notes

maze-of-my-design · 2 months

Note

persona fun facts :o? can be from any game!

totally not copy-pasted from dms FUN FACTS BRIGADE (also i cut it in half with a readmore bc its. a lot)

Ann is the tallest girl among the Phantom Thieves, santing at 5'5! (In my head she is taller than Ren but shh)

If you take the thieves to darts, the worst player in the gang is surprisingly not Morgana, but Sumire! Don't ask me how she's worse than a cat!

In P5 (including royal), Ann is the only romance option to directly say "I love you" to the protagonist without cutting herself off* (and, i'm half sure, she's one of the few direct kisses a protagonist receives in a persona game) and honestly? good for them ily ann im so gay for her *Sumire says it too, even before being romanced, but it's not a complete "i love you", per se. She stutters through her confession and Ren has to finish it for her because she's so flustered, which is pretty cute i'll be real but in terms of Saying it, it technically doesn't count.

Sho Minazuki (yknow, the guy from the arena games) was originally meant to be the protagonist for P5! This is massively implied in ending dialogue for the Arena games, as well as how similar the two look if you, like, dye his hair black. Also if you recall the original Femc for P5 with the neon red hair…

Sumire lives with her dad, that much is obvious, but the Royal artbook reveals she also lives with her grandma and her mother!

Among all the non-party-member confidants in P5 (including royal), only 5 find out Ren's identity as a Phantom Thief through something else other than a mementos request. These are Maruki, Yoshida, Sojiro, Mishima, and Sae

The Featherman series is a Power Rangers style anime that airs in the inner universe of the series. Contrary to what the Dancing games make us believe, There's always only 5 Feather soldiers that are part of the main crew: Pink Argus, Red Hawk, Black Condor, Yellow Owl, and Blue Swan. These names, however, are sometimes interchanged between "generations" of the show.

Actually lemme go on a tangent (you asked for fun facts you're GETTING fun facts) There are three generations of the Featherman show to date: OG Featherman (persona 2), Featherman R (Persona 3), and Featherman V (P4 and the Arena games). There's actually a change in the naming semantics every new generation of Featherman. For example, take this excerp from the wiki: "Red Eagle (from Featherman), Feather Hawk (from Featherman R and/or Neo Featherman), Feather Red (from Featherman V)" So in P2, the naming convention is "[Color] [Bird name]", in P3 it's "Feather [bird name]" and in P4 it's "Feather [color]"

Ok tangent over don't ask me how i know so much about a fictional series from a fictional game JSVGEFVR more fun facts

Sumire actually has the biggest amount of portrait sprite variations, since it includes her Kasumi and her Sumire sprites. She deserves it tbh, fashion icon

Another Sumire fact! Did you know Maruki "transformed" sumi into her sister on her birthday? I sure did! Fuck you Maruki!! Uninvited from MY birthday party for sure

Sumire, piror to the third semester, is only ever called by her last name, Yoshizawa, by everyone aside from Ren, Morgana and Futaba. This is a very a subtle way to show something's up with her and i gasped when i first found out about it.

Ok fine enough P5 facts have a P3 fact. It's kinda well known im pretty sure but Makoto Yuki's barrage of official names include, also, Sakuya Shiomi from the stageplay. Sakuya means "blossom" or "bloom". Hey do you recall that he dies in March 5th? yknow, when spring starts? Cherry trees. you get it

Back to P5, Tactica reveals that Haru used to indulge in chopping firewood when she was younger. Her dad didn't like that for her, but he never tried to stop her. This probably leads to her having an Axe as part of her Phantom Thief artillery.

Did you know Fuuka and Futaba actually become friends in the Dancing games? They sadly don't remain friends after losing their memories post-game but Fuuka knew her as Alibaba, and Futaba knew her as Lucia :) I hope they became friends online again

In the jazz jin in Royal, Futaba reveals that the retro console you use to play games was hers, and that she'd sold it to the shop in Yongen. Also apparently the busted laptop you buy there was Haru's! (fact also revealed in the Jazz Jin)

#i know you'd meant fun facts but shhh im not letting these go to waste #maze.txt #persona series #persona #that's all im tagging gn JHGFSJDF

9 notes · View notes

my-heart-beat-for-anime · 1 month

Note

Hi. If you are interested, please write about Chase/Carmen.

There are several ideas here, you can choose all, one or nothing.

1. It's been a few years since the end of season 4. Chase got into a car accident and lost his memory (he only remembers the first season of the animated series) and forgetting that Carmen is his wife. But Carmen does not despair, she spends the whole day with Chase and tries to remind him of important moments in their relationship.

2. Chase discovers Carmen in his apartment when he returned home after work in the evening. Carmen is studying his board with interest with notes about finding V.I.L.E. They talk and Carmen tells him about her past. This is after the end of season 4.

3. After a joint mission in Egypt, Chase turns out to have Carmen's phone number. Chase mostly sends questions about her, jokes, and old memes for Carmen. They begin to communicate often and Carmen's mom jokes that her daughter has a fiance.

Thank you for your request. I choose the topic number two, and I hope i didn't disappoint you.

If anyone has any idea about fanfic i would be happy to write it for you.

With love your author.

Chase Devineaux pushed open the door to his apartment, his body aching from another grueling day at Interpol. He could feel the strain of the day etched into his muscles, the relentless chase for V.I.L.E. operatives ever-present in his mind. With a sigh, he loosened his tie and tossed his keys on the counter, making a mental note to have a glass of his favorite scotch before calling it a night.But as he walked into the living room, he froze.

There, standing by the large bulletin board plastered with notes, photos, and strings connecting various V.I.L.E. agents and operations, was Carmen Sandiego. She stood confidently, her iconic red coat and fedora silhouetted against the dim light of his desk lamp. Her gloved hands were clasped behind her back as she studied his board with a keen interest.

"Carmen Sandiego," Chase said, his voice steady, hiding his surprise.

"What an unexpected… intrusion."Carmen turned around, a smirk playing on her lips. "Bonsoir, Devineaux. Nice to see you, too." Her tone was light, almost teasing. She glanced back at the board.

"You've been busy, I see."Chase's eyes narrowed as he tried to understand what game she was playing.

"How did you get in here? And what do you want?"She shrugged, a casual gesture that seemed to be her trademark.

"Getting in wasn’t too hard. You should consider upgrading your locks" She turned fully to face him, her expression becoming more serious.

"And as for what I want… I’m here to talk.""Talk?" Chase echoed, crossing his arms.

"You’ve never been one for small talk, Carmen."Carmen chuckled softly.

"No, I suppose I haven’t. But tonight is different. I’ve been thinking… about V.I.L.E., about my past, and… about my future."Chase raised an eyebrow.

"Your past? Why would you—""I wasn’t always Carmen Sandiego, the master thief," she interrupted.

"I was once a student, like anyone else, though perhaps more… impressionable." Her eyes flickered with a distant sadness, a shadow of old memories.Chase uncrossed his arms, curiosity piqued.

"Go on."Carmen took a deep breath and began to share her story. She spoke of her time at V.I.L.E. Academy, the deception, and the moment she realized she didn’t want to be what they had trained her to become. She spoke of her decision to leave, to fight back against V.I.L.E., to become someone who could right the wrongs in the world, even if it meant operating outside the law.Chase listened intently. This was a side of Carmen he had never seen before—vulnerable, introspective.

"You chose to become something different," he said slowly. "You chose your own path."

"Yes," Carmen replied softly. "But I can’t do it alone anymore. V.I.L.E. is still out there, still causing havoc. And I think… I think we might have a common goal after all.

"Chase felt a strange mix of emotions—confusion, intrigue, maybe even admiration.

"You want to work together?" he asked, almost incredulous.

"Something like that," she said with a faint smile. "At least for now. I need someone I can trust… someone who knows how they operate."Chase studied her for a long moment, weighing her words. Then, with a slow nod, he extended his hand.

"Alright, Carmen. Let’s see where this goes."Carmen shook his hand firmly, her eyes meeting his with a newfound understanding.

"Deal."As she turned to leave, Chase called after her. "Carmen… you know you’re still on Interpol’s most wanted list, right?"She glanced back, that trademark smirk reappearing.

"Then you’d better keep up, Chase." And with that, she slipped out into the night, leaving Chase alone with his thoughts—and the start of a most unexpected partnership.

9 notes · View notes

inkyquince · 2 years

Note

I laughed so hard that I figured it out Wren is actually sell all the shit he won from the poker night with pc. PC is literally give him money and their ass for any horny reasons. If we lost enough, why not consider pc is whoring him.

Whore wren hehhehehe

NO NO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS, HEAR ME OUT

he sells it to the hornbags

Like, my man doesn't have memory issues. He knows your body. You have humped his cock to hell and back, the point he's CHAFING.

now, he'd keep your shit. He would. You got good tastes babes. But how is he supposed to afford his rent?

So he singles out the nasties and sells off your clothes. Kylar and Leighton and that iconic panty thief, harper, who isnt lining up?

that man is such a bastard i love him

#ask #wren the smuggler #WREN THE MENACE #dol #degrees of lewdity

93 notes · View notes

freddycartr · 2 years

Text

i know that a lot of people are complaining about the fact that they used parts from the crooked kingdom, but here is a reminder they didn’t use as much as they could have. there is still a lot of content that they need to get through as well as character development that they need to show. they did use the “i want you to remember” scene but they didn’t have:

“you’ll pay for this, brekker. you’ll pay and keep paying. there will be no end to your suffering.

kaz met pekka’s gaze. suffering is like anything else. live with it long enough, you learn to like the taste.”

he was going to miss that look of surprise.

she smiled then, her eyes red, her cheeks scattered with some kind of dust. it was a smile he thought he might die to earn again.

kaz checked the time. we should go. this isn't over.

he offered her a gloved hand. inej heaved a long shuttering breath, then took it, like smoke from a flame. but she did not let go.

you showed mercy, kaz. you were the better man.

there she went again, seeking decency when there was none to be had. inej, i could only kill pekka’s son once. he pushed the door open with his cane. he can imagine his death a thousand times.

with the bathroom scene they didn’t have kaz kiss inej neck

“she exhaled. go on, she repeated. finish the story.

the barest movement and his lips brushed her skin—warm, smooth, beaded with moisture. desire coursed through him, a thousand images he’d hoarded, barely let himself imagine—the fall of her dark hair freed from its braid, his hand fitted to the lithe of the curve of her waist, her lips parted whispering his name.

all of it there and then gone. he was drowning in the harbour. her limbs were a corpses limbs. her eyes were dead and staring. disguist and longing roiled in his gut. he lurched backward, and a pain shot through his bad leg. his mouth was on fire. the room swayed. he braved himself against the wall, trying to breathe. inej was on her feet, moving toward him, her face concerned. he held up a hand to stop her.

don’t.

she stood in the center of the tile floor, framed by white and gold, like a gilded icon. what happened to you kaz? what happened to your brother?

it doesn’t matter.

tell me. please.

tell her, said a voice inside him. tell her everything. but he didn’t know how or where to begin. and why should he? so she could find another way to absolve him of his crimes? he didn’t want her pity. he didn’t need to explain himself, he needed to find a way to let her go.

you want to know what pekka did to me? his voice was a snarl, reverberating off the walls. how about i tell you what i did when i found the women pretending to be his wife, the girl who pretended to be his daughter? or how about i tell you what happened to the boy who lured us in that first night with his mechanical toy dogs? inej flinched.

that’s right, he went on. the clerks at the bank who turned over our information. the fake attorney. the man who gave me free hot chocolate at hertzoon’s fake office. i destroyed them all, one by one, brick by brick. and rollins will be the last. these things don’t wash away with prayer, wraith. there is no peace waiting for me, no forgiveness, not in this life, not in the next.

inej shook her head. how could she look at him with kindness in her eyes? you don’t ask for forgiveness, kaz. you earn it.”

“he could see the truth even if she couldn’t. inej was stronger than he would ever be. she’d kept her faith, her goodness, even when the world tried to take it from her with greedy hands.

his eyes scanned her face as they always had, closely, hungrily, snatching the details of her like the thief he was—the even set of her dark brows, the rich brown eyes, the tilt of her lips. he didn’t deserve peace and he didn’t deserve forgiveness, but if he was going to die today, maybe the one thing he’d earned was the memory of her—brighter than anything he would have the right to—to take with him to the other side.

kaz strode past inej, took his discarded gloves from the sink, pulled them on. he shrugged into his coat, straightened his tie in the mirror, tucked his cane under his arm. he might as well go to meet his death in style.

when he turned back to her, he was ready. whatever happens to me, survive this city. get your ship, have your vengeance, carve your name into their bones. but survive this mess i’ve gotten us into.

don’t do this, inej said.

if i don’t, it’s all over. there’s no way out. there’s no reward. there’s nothing left.”

“don’t go to the slat, kaz. let us find another way.

step aside, wraith.

kaz—

if you ever cared about me at all, don’t follow.

he pushed past her and strode from the room. he couldn’t think of what might be, of what there was to lose. and inej was wrong about one thing. he knew exactly what he intended to leave behind when he was gone. damage.”

i feel like (if we get a soc spinoff) there going to take what they didn’t use and turn it into something phenomenal so pls stream s&b s2

103 notes · View notes

pixelgrotto · 5 months

Text

Dogmatic Dungeon Master

The last four weeks of my gaming time were consumed by Dragon's Dogma 2, an extravagana that's something like experiencing a wild D&D campaign that keeps going off the rails over and over again. (I'm pretty sure Capcom would be pleased with this comparison, seeing that they released promo art heavily based on AD&D's classic Red Box.)

DD2 has been a delight to devote 100+ hours to, and I find myself wishing I'd bought its predecessor ages ago, especially during those Steam sales where it sold for ridiculous prices like three or four dollars. I never did because I thought it looked sort of generic. Joke's on me! To be fair, this second one could also be described as looking generic upon first glance (though Capcom's RE Engine is certainly proving that it's got legs since Resident Evil 7), but I feel like that was an intentional decision. The goal here was clearly to create something with the trappings of the iconic Western fantasy setting (plus the inclusion of cat people, AKA Beastren) to draw players in and get 'em comfortable before presenting them with one of the most wacky open worlds in recent memory.

How's it wacky? Well, DD2 has a billion different systems under the hood, all colliding with each other. There are the systems that dictate the schedules of NPCs, who you can find wandering roads and getting into fights with enemies. Said enemies have their own systems, and on more than one occasion when I was fighting one of the game's huge bosses (drakes, golems, minotaurs, ogres and the like), that fight spilled over into the territory of another boss, who proceeded to attack both me and the first boss. A kaiju rumble ensued as the systems of both bosses collided with each other, and sometimes this rumble veered too close to the borders of a settlement, attracting the attention of pawns, which are basically the sidekicks assisting the game's main character, the Arisen.

If you're playing online, pawns created by other players can randomly appear in your game, and there were many special moments when I ran into a bizarrely off-proportion thief with the incredible name "Frog Nasty" and a half-naked mage dubbed "Lucy Liu." On one such occasion, Frog and Lucy joined my ever-evolving kaiju battle, and the incredible chaos continued until a griffin just happened to swoop down from the sky to snatch me up in its arms. As I went in the sky, I proceeded to climb atop that griffin’s head and smacked it silly with my mace until it dropped me into the ocean where I was devoured by Brine, AKA DD2’s in-world explanation for why you can’t just swim everywhere.

My description of this incident is no exaggeration. Unscripted mischief of this ilk happens every five minutes in this game, and it's the result of all those systems smashing into each other with delicious gusto. That said, not all of the systems work as well as they should, and some are half-baked. For instance, there's a romance/affinity system that's a carryover from the first Dragon's Dogma. The affinity levels of characters are never truly explained, and you can unexpectedly cause random people to fall in love with you by giving them the right gifts again and again, or completing their sidequests at the expense of others. This means that the Vernworth tavern keeper, who plays no important role at all, can suddenly show up in the final cutscene as your true heart's desire, in the clutches of your mortal enemy. I guess even when DD2's systems are half-baked, they still yield entertaining results.

As someone who runs a lot of tabletop RPGs (but often doesn't get the chance to act as a player), Dragon's Dogma 2 truly reminds me of a dedicated Game Master who doesn't mind when players test limits. This is a GM who clearly loves madcap battles full of unexpected twists that can take up an entire gaming session, as well as expansive side quests with more flavor than anything else in the campaign. The main story is not said Game Master's preference, which serves as a handy explanation on why you can find many Reddit threads decrying DD2's plot as kinda blah.

I get these complaints. The game's main missions are not terribly long - 40 or so hours, probably - and the clear meat of DD2 is in the exploration and combat. This isn't to say that the story's total rubbish, as it does have poignant moments in its cyclical, meta take on an Arisen who rises up every couple of years to complete a destiny of fighting the titular dragon. There's a secret endgame that also delves even farther into the tabletop RPG comparisons, giving you the chance to "defy the Dungeon Master," if you will, sending the campaign even further off the rails as you potentially see what happens when the GM just has no shits left to give and decides to turn the world into an apocalypse.

All of this makes DD2 probably one of my favorite open world games. I've been thinking a lot about what sort of open worlds attract me, since I'm a firm believer that more often than not, video games don't need to go all massive. (Give me a small-scale, well-developed area over a massive map filled with junky quest markers.) That said, I've noticed that I like open worlds that buck the Ubisoft-style trend of having busywork for really good writing (The Witcher 3 comes to mind) or simply invest in their mechanics to the point that everything fills up like a wonderful sandbox, with lots of bits and bobs to play with (that would be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild).

Dragon's Dogma 2 is definitely more on the kooky sandbox side of things, with its oversized monsters at every turn and wonderous pawn shenanigans. The true appeal of this game, however, lies in the little stories that you create with your main pawn and other pawns along the trail. There's something special in the relationship you forge with these AI allies, who aren't real in the slightest, but bring forth that feeling of being a Game Master yourself as you corral them into taking down a drake. I was downright emotional when I said farewell to my main pawn at the end of the game (okay, the fact that I designed her to look like my wife probably helped, but still).

So here's to Dragon's Dogma 2, a wild piece of entertainment commandeered by a Game Master who clearly loves the journey more than the destination. Here's to those moments when you and your loyal pawns are facing down an ogre in its lair, or just barely survive a golem's laser beam after a series of hobgoblins stunlocked you into low health over and over again. Here's to sitting by a campfire, enjoying an unpredictable open world, and realizing the grand truth that comes with all tabletop RPGs - that the unscripted moments truly are the best part of the adventure.

#pixel grotto #favorites #dragon’s dogma 2

10 notes · View notes

plumassieres · 8 months

Text

location: stage of the local theatre content warnings: death, graphic imagery of violence and well, essentially, murder, implied depression and related triggering content.

February.

The month he lost his first tooth and almost swallowed it. The milk tooth, as they used to call it, had barely wobbled at first until it finally gave into the pressure of his prodding curiosity. He was like that, to poke and jab until it bruised, but the damage was already done, all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again. The month he found salvation at the dinner table, but there was no God, unless God was a home, his siblings’ laughter. The month that was forgotten, but still rooted within like sprouts of memories awaiting the rain. Mundane things, like eating arroz con leche on a Monday morning, buying Mickey Mouse band-aids for his scraped knees; painful things that were covered with a cadaver pouch of grief. The month his mother died.

Stuart’s life was an ode to those who stayed and didn’t. And he’d stayed, by some miracle, so the biggest piece was dedicated to himself. His mother was kind, but the world wasn’t kind to her; but it was the world in which Stuart did not exist, the upside down in her ailed mind. He would tell her tales of a kingdom come, about princesses carried into the light—come out, come out, mama, I can feel you, but I want to see you. Then come out she did and the world was right again, mother and son aligned on the same axis. Until an earthquake shook the Earth, a tsunami towered over to wash her away.

Stories woven with threads of life. His last one unraveled by death.

The ladder swayed with the tremble of his startled hands, then grew steady to the beat of his heart; the dim glow of the stage highlighted the enigmatic shadow backstage to shape a silhouette of familiarity. He climbed down the ladder and they talked. They laughed. Embraced. A temporary distraction defused his bomb of frustration.

Pause. Rewind. Frame by frame.

He climbed down the ladder, then felt a crushing weight pinning him against the hard metal. An electrical jolt coursed through him, but it dulled the ache of the stab in his chest cavity; in his imagination, his lung hissed like a deflating balloon, and with each breath, he felt like his head was being pushed underwater, minutes ticking by like hours. Betrayal surfaced in his eyes and he was nine years old all over again, the attic window was ajar and the February wind stung his cheeks like a bullet ant burrowed into the skin.

“Mother—” Stuart gasped out in a plea, but then it wasn’t “—fucker.”

The film reel was cut and dry, but he was the tortoise and reality was the hare. There was no moral of this story and the tortoise did not win. But the tortoise did try, relying on the pressure of Stuart’s hand around the person’s—hare’s—throat. Pump. That was the adrenaline. Squeeze. That was the hand. Pump. Squeeze. Pump. Squeeze. Pump. Pump. The more he prodded, the harder it was to breathe like they were mirror reflections of each other; bruise, bruise, bruise, chanting in his head. His siblings’ laughter echoed distantly in his mind’s hallway, growing louder with each step. Don’t come, you shouldn’t see this. His own voice was alien yet familiar, his mother’s lullaby. He’d said something, he was sure of it, but his words bubbled like a witch’s potion in his throat, choking on the metallic tinge of his blood that poured, poured, poured until it filled up the frame. Why? was his silent scream.

He closed his eyes and hoped that when he opened them again, there would be no slit in his throat, no puncture in his chest. Maybe he would be a nobleman or a thief, a cowboy or a priest, a dog or a father. A better son and a better friend. A friend turned lover.

It had meant to be his show, but someone else had told the story for him, using his lifeless force as a ventriloquist dummy. His wrists, tied up against the beams of the makeshift balcony, made a biblical icon out of him that rained all over the stage. No! This performance was going south, he had to put a stop to it. But he could take a break, they could laugh and talk, and embrace again. A temporary distraction to defuse his bomb of frustration. Sleep.

A story he wanted to tell.

There was a bed in the middle of the tortoise’s path. He’d traveled such a long way, he wanted to rest. His family and friends gathered around his bed, they wiped his wrists and neck clean and tucked him in.

“Sweet dreams, little tortoise,” they all said and, one by one, they kissed him on the head.

And so the little tortoise slept.

#ARCHIVE: QUINN STUART FRANCISCO.#death tw #graphic violence tw #implied depression tw #sexy person dying tw #im shaking

9 notes · View notes

carissimipaixao · 2 years

Note

uhh lupin w/ bliss #16 of that prompt list? if requests are still open that is!!

─ i. WHAT A THING TO ADMIT

published on: january 20, 2023 requested by: anon pairing: arsène lupin iii & reader prompt: “i don't think i've ever loved someone this much.” word count: 5.6k+ note: part one of this request! part two will be released shortly after. ask to be tagged if you want to be notified as soon as it is released, or follow! reblogs are highly appreciated!

The first time you meet Lupin III, you nearly cut his nose off.

You have found yourself hypnotized by the beauty of an exotic gem — your target — when a voice suddenly speaks from behind you. Out of pure instinct, dagger in hand, you turn, swinging your blade as fast as you can towards the face of an unknown man. He reacts just as quickly, with a shriek and eyes that nearly boggle off its sockets.

‘Careful where you swing that thing!’ He cries out, taking a long step back with a hand on his face. ‘What would I say to the ladies, if they saw me without my beautiful nose?’

You grit your teeth, firstly cursing yourself for lowering your guard and secondly cursing him for appearing in the first place. You are in a defensive stance, standing in front of the opened vault as the tip of your dagger points directly towards his sternum. Any move he decides to make will be his last, you think and you grip the dagger tighter. ‘I don’t know. They aren’t exactly missing out on anything, really.’

The man clenches his chest with a fake gasp, and, while he dramatizes how you must’ve hurt his feelings, you observe — as you always do. You’re searching through your brain and your memories, because there is something oddly familiar about his face. Have you met him before? Has he ever been a target?

‘Best you back off, monkey,’ you threaten. ‘Hate to inform you, but this is mine.’

‘Well, I hate to inform you,’ he begins as he straightens his back, ‘but I’ve already decided that I would have it.’ His hands are inside his pockets, and his smirk widens. The overconfidence only makes you more resentful — and, on edge. Your eyes narrow at his stance and you try to spot any sort of weapon that could be possibly attached to his body. He is yet to draw it, of course. Does he think, however, that he’s some kind of overpowered deity? Does he think he has any chance against her? Oh, hell no. ‘I’ve already sent a calling card, you see.’

A calling card? You blink, a clear realization echoing through your mind. But, before you can say anything—

You barely catch the subtle click before you dive back below the counter, just a curtain of bullets begins raining above your head. The thief shrieks — ever the freaking clown that he is — as he dodges the bullets, searching for cover. You make eye contact, and he shrugs with a sheepish smile. You only roll your eyes.

The shooting stops, though only for a moment. ‘Lupin!’ A rough, old voice rings through the deadly silent room. ‘Such a pleasure to have your delightful company.’

‘The pleasure is all mine,’ Lupin smirks, pulling out his iconic weapon. ‘Same as your little treasure.’

‘Ah! As if,’ your target scoffs, although you can already imagine how his face has darkened. ‘I’m sorry to inform you that you won’t be getting out of here with my treasure. Let alone alive! The same goes to the little mouse you’ve brought along with you!’

‘Huh?’

‘Excuse me—,’ you begin, feeling perhaps the most offended you’ve ever been in your life. You? With this man? Never.

‘You can’t fool me!’ He shouts. ‘It’s time I finally get rid of you, Lupin! Now, die!’

In an instance, the rain of bullets falls upon you once again. You press yourself harder against the counter, gritting your teeth in annoyance. You turn to spare a glance at Lupin, narrowing your eyes into the nastiest glare you can muster once you meet his eyes. He grins sheepishly, switching off the safety of the gun.

You shake your head, and, instead, turn your head in the other direction.

The ruby in the vault glints tauntingly at you. It’s still there, waiting to be stolen, waiting to be taken away from the greedy and wealthy. You wet your lips, your blood rushing through your veins. You can already imagine how much money you could make with that gem. It is bigger than a diamond, and more beautiful than all jewels combined.

You adjust your position, having already begun to plan your strategy. You are beginning to know how many seconds it takes for all men to fire, for all men to reload and fire again. The voices of Lupin and the ganglord are muffled as you take deep breaths.

Unfortunate as it may be for Lupin, you had already set your eyes on this gem for a little over a week. The saying goes “finders, keepers”, after all — and, in your opinion, you were already meant to be its new owner.

You wait a beat.

And, another.

And—

You throw a smoke bomb into the ground, hearing the hiss of the smoke as it begins to involve the room. The guards are shouting in a second, and you run towards the open vault. Lupin yells something from behind you, but you pay no mind to it. You have nothing to do with this man. When your fingertips brush against the sharp edges of the gem, you feel your face stretch, a grin forming on your lips.

You use your free hand to raise a piece of fabric around your neck, thus covering your mouth and nose. ‘Sorry, Lupin,’ you begin, finding his eyes through the smoke that is starting to surround him. ‘This is where we part ways.’

You don’t wait for a response as you jump through the broken window, a victorious laughter echoing through the night.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The chandelier glints in the ceiling. It is to be expected, when it is made out of diamonds. The owner of the estate clearly loves to show off his property and wealth, despite the unwanted attention the diamond chandelier and other goods receive and will receive. It attracts thieves like you, after all. From the distant, thoughtful and greedy eyes that are also sparing long glances at it, you suspect they are part of the Underground, just as you are.

You sip the champagne with a subtle curl of your lips. You’re not aiming to steal it, but if it were to be stolen… How much money would you make out of it? What if someone tries to steal it, and you steal a diamond from them, instead? So many possibilites and thoughts, but you’re trying to lay low for now, trying to restrain yourself from theft, after nearly being caught for stealing (and being robbed) that exotic gem from last month.

‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’

A sudden voice from behind you makes you jump. You barely save your glass from spilled liquor and curse under your breath, before turning to look over your shoulder. For a moment, you brush the person off — until you do a double take and turn fully to look at them.

‘It’s said to have been a gift to Marie Anne de Bourbon,’ he continues, using his index finger to push the glasses in, while the other hand remains behind his back. ‘From her father, le Roi Soleil himself.’

‘Daddy’s little girl, then,’ you conclude with narrowed eyes before turning back to the chandelier. Though, to the outside world, it merely looked as if you were watching the crowd, glass in hand as you twirl it in deep thought.

‘Aw, don’t you look happy to see me?’ Lupin teases you, leaning towards you. You take a step to the side, turning your head to glare at him. His smile only widens. ‘I wonder if fate is bringing us together.’

‘Aren’t you a comedian,’ the sarcasm, as you fake a chuckle, drips through your voice like honey, but so does the venom that hides underneath.

The thief puts a hand on his chest, giving you a pout. ‘I see your heart remains cold, but that’s alright! I’ll just have to warm you up to me.’ He winks.

‘Is that your pick-up line?’

‘No. Did it work?’ He sounds hopeful for a moment, and he leans over again, invading your personal space. You use your arm to push against his chest, with an exasperated sigh, and the thief steps away with a giggle. Then, he turns to the chandelier, as he stands next to you. ‘Are you planning to steal that?’

‘I’m laying low. Not that it’s any of your business,’ you reply curtly. But, you are curious as a cat; and so, after a beat, you look at him from the corner of your eye, twirling the glass in your hand. ‘Are you?’

‘Why, of course!’ He puffs out his chest in all of his contemptuousness, not unlike a peacock. ‘I never back away from the promises I make.’

‘What are you talking about?’ At your question, he reaches inside his jacket and hands you a little paper. You hesitate, and you glare into his face. For all you know, there could be something inside. You’ve taken your time since the previous encounter to further research him; after all, you knew little of him when you first met him, for the exception that he was considered “a master thief” by some and constantly alerted his targets of his intentions. You’ve discovered he can be quite crafty and unpredictable.

Yet, in that face, you find nothing but pure contentment and composure. He appears relaxed and unhostile. Would he really harm you like this? In public and in the middle of a crowd? You don’t think he would be foolish to take the risk, but… what if…?

When you grab the paper that is held between his fingers, he puts his hands back inside his pockets. You glance at him again, wearily, and then, you open the paper. The first thing you notice is the little sketch on the bottom right corner of the paper, almost like a caricature. Even in his infamous calling cards, he acts like a clown. Then, you look at the contents of the letter. But, alas, you don’t understand it. You frown as you attempt to recognize any of those words or to find a possible translation, based on the spelling.

‘Ce soir, à neuf heures, je volerai le grand lustre de Madame Marie Anne de Bourbon,’ he reads the letter to you in a mischievous voice. ‘“Tonight, at nine o’clock, I will steal the great chandelier of Madame Marie Anne de Bourbon”.’ You sigh and hand the paper back to you, which he refuses to accept. ‘Keep it, as a memento of our delightful meeting.’ He gives you a wink.

‘What’s the point of all this, really?’

‘It gives me a challenge, you see,’ Lupin explains, observing the treasure up and down. His eyes narrow in calculating thought. You look quickly at your watch; it’s five to nine. ‘You say, “what’s the point of warning your target”, but I say, “what’s the point of a challenge if there’s no risk involved”. If there is no challenge, thieving just isn’t as exciting. If it weren’t for these—,’ he points at the calling card in your hand, ‘—I wouldn’t have to deal with obstacles or thrilling chases and enemies, such as that one.’

The thief points towards the opposite side of the ballroom. You follow its direction, until your eyes land on a man that is clearly not dressed for the occasion. In a long, brown coat and with a brown hat on top of his head, the man frowns with his hands in his pockets, as he inspects the room, looking for a specific face in the crowd. Then, he moves his left wrist close to his face and says something that you obviously can’t hear from this distance.

‘The police are here,’ you say and swallow for a moment. You quickly turn to glare at the man, who puts his hands up for a moment, as if afraid you’ll jump and attack him. ‘I’m laying low, and you bring the police.’

‘Had I known, I would’ve been more considerate,’ he smiles. ‘Don’t worry, if anyone catches you, I’ll rescue you, chérie.’

‘What did you just—’

At that same moment, the lights go off. You gasp and take a step back, taken by surprise. The entire room screams in shock, and you swear you hear the voice of the police inspector in the background, as the staff run blindly through the room, yelling for someone to turn on the generator. As you do, a hand gently grabs your own and you feel the slow touch of lips on the back.

‘Until we meet again.’

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

As you had suspected from the start, the chaos that followed the heist on Madame de Bourbon’s treasure, surveillance had tightened and the law enforcement, most particularly Interpol who was only there to catch your newest rival, looked through the crowd of guests to find any more collaborators. No one seemed to have been found, but they did find you.

The shackles around your wrists are too tight for your own liking, and your glare is heated as you mumble under your breath. You have been pushed into the back of a police van, and you can see the Inspector from Interpol talking to the owners of the estate. The old woman attempts to gain sympathy from the man, weeping openly into his arms. The man grows awkward, and coughs into his fist, politely pushing the woman away under the scandalous and jealous stare of the husband.

The policemen are wrapping up for the night, and you see two approaching the van you’re sitting in. You immediately tense up and grit your teeth. If only I hadn’t brought this dress—-no, if only that ugly monkey hadn’t shown up…! Your escape would have been almost guaranteed.

However, another police officer shows up from around the van.

‘Excusez-moi, messieurs, mais je dois escorter la criminelle dans son pays,’ he begins. Some of the words you are fortunate enough to understand, and you can’t help but notice the slight accent. The men look between themselves in confusion. ‘N’est pas de nationalité française, et on nous a ordonné de l’emmener dans un commissariat de son pays, où la criminelle pourrait être jugée pour ses crimes conformément à la loi nationale.’ He moves to stand in front of the van, as he moves his hand around, the other inside his pocket. Perhaps, he is indeed a fellow Frenchman. You snort internally.

After a moment, one policeman shrugs and waves off the conversation, turning on his heel as he does. ‘Si tu dis… Alors, emmenez-la.’ The other one appears a bit reluctant, looking back and forth, before he inevitably gives up. The third one huffs, and turns to stare at you quietly. You narrow your eyes at him.

‘Take a picture, pal. It’ll last longer,’ you say.

The man scoffs. ‘You’re not worth the picture.’ He replies fluently to you, the slight accent still present. He climbs into the van, closing the door promptly. He knocks against the wall that separates the back of the van from the driver, and the van starts up. You lean back, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. Not now, you think. Once I’m out of this van, then I’ll know what to do. You need to know more about your current situation.

‘So, where are you taking me?’ You ask. ‘Back to my country?’

The officer stretches his leg to be able to pull, from the pocket, a box of cigarettes. He holds it between his lips as he searches for a lighter. ‘No.’

That makes you pause. Then, it makes you tense. Elsewhere—

An annoyed grumble comes from the man as he finishes lighting his cigarette. ‘The things that idiot makes me do—listen, lady, I’m only doing this as a favor to my partner. If, by any chance, you do want to go to jail, I’ll have this van turn back.’

‘A favor to your partner?’ You take a close look at his face. You cannot see much of it, anyway, as the hat has been pulled as down as possible, concealing his features. Yet, seeing the slacked-off posture, the cigarette and the neat and well trimmed beard pulls at your memory. This type of loyalty — you have seen it somewhere before.

‘Lupin sent you?’

The officer — Jigen, you remember — groans as he exhales a cloud of smoke, as if you suddenly reminded him of this unfortunate task. ‘Yes, but I’m yet to see why. As far as I can tell, you’re just another woman that is trying to get to him.’ He tilts his back upwards, burning his eyes into yours. ‘Well? What are you plotting, exactly?’

‘Plotting?’ You are at edge. You remember his skills, the long list of enemies and targets that he has taken down. You certainly wouldn’t dream of joining that list.

‘What is it that you want from Lupin?’

You narrow your eyes, not wishing to appear intimidated or cornered, ‘I don’t want anything from him. What I do want is for him to leave me alone. He has stolen my trophy before, he has endangered me because of his methods, and he just got me arrested.’ You haven’t forgotten how he pulled that stunt, taking the exotic gem you had stolen. I never break a promise, he’d said with a wink as he fled.

‘He has asked me to come to rescue you from the police,’ he interrupts you. ‘Clearly, there’s a reason for your rescue.’

A voice interjects from the driver’s seat. ‘As long as it is a beautiful woman,’ the man starts, ‘there shall always be a reason to safeguard her.’ He speaks in an earnest way, contemplative.

‘Sure, and what about just keeping it in his—’

‘Either way,’ you speak over the gunman, ‘I have nothing going on with Lupin. He is only competition. I did not ask to be saved, he did all of it on his own. It’s not my fault that he made that decision by himself, neither is it my fault that you two were dragged into it.’ You sigh. ‘Just drop me off somewhere, and I’ll be on my way.’

‘The police may be heading this way to come after you,’ the driver says. ‘They might have already confirmed that you are not being detained by the authorities.’

Jigen groans. ‘Goemon…’

‘I shall keep my word to Lupin. He has asked us to take her to the safehouse.’

‘And she might report it, or she might attack us—’

‘Jigen,’ the hitman is stopped mid-rant, ‘despite what destiny might befall us, we will know what to do. Lupin will know what to do. However, Lupin needs us now.’ Jigen heaves a sigh. ‘Ma’am, you are in safe hands. No danger shall fall upon you.’

The eloquence behind his words is weirdly calming. You nod, before you voice your thoughts, knowing he may not see you, ‘Thank you… Goemon.’ You spare the upset man in front of you a glance. ‘You too, Jigen.’

He scoffs.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

A little over a month has passed since the incident in France. Even if the gentleman thief rescued you, having kept in mind your “situation”, it still feels embarrassing — especially for your ego — to have needed the help from someone you hardly know, from someone you consider to be a rival or competition within the thieving business.

From someone like Lupin.

You try to understand the reasons that may possibly be there for him to save you, but there is nothing in sight. You are a thief just like the many others out there; although you pride yourself on your stealth skills and charisma (when you need to be in the public scene), you truly believe you aren’t that special. You don’t have any unique talent that stands out, like Arsène Lupin III’s genius,—

Don’t ever tell him that I said that…!

—Jigen Daisuke’s masterful skills in gun handling and weaponry, or Ishikawa Goemon XIII’s mythical sword that can cut through anything and anyone.

Either way, you want to keep your distance from him. So far, he has done nothing but give you unnecessary trouble. You had left France before the police could confirm your supposed arrest at the hands of your country’s authorities; instead, you chose Olinda, Brazil, as your hideout. It acts as a resting place, as if you are on vacation like any other citizen, as you think of your next target and as you come up with a plan.

The beaches are beautiful, however, and that cannot be denied. If you were, indeed, like any other citizen, clear from the life of theft, you would’ve chosen to stay there forever. But, work is work, and it is how you earn a living. You wouldn’t be able to afford these places or travel as much as you need (even if it is to escape the police), if it weren’t for the jewelry, the museum pieces and the money you have stolen over the years.

It is nearly time for lunch, and you get up from the deckchair. You have gotten a little bit of tan from the sunbathing, which feels like a new breath of air — as if you are already someone else. You’re not a thief, or “the Thief” — a Ladra — as you hear the Brazilian news call you. You put your sundress back on, and fix the hat on your head. Yet, it is when you begin walking back to your hotel that you feel your peace shatter.

All good things must come to end, you tell yourself, displeased.

A man stands in front of the entrance, leaning against one of the pillars. He, too, sports a pair of sunglasses, and he wears shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He looks like a tourist, but, even from this distance, you recognize that insufferable smile.

As you approach, he raises his arm to wave at you. You clench the bag on your shoulder tight, trying to contain your temper. I’ll strangle him. Just let him say anything else, that is how you try to be composed in public, as you sadly get closer to the French thief. However, you do not regard him. In fact, you pretend like he is not there, as you walk right past him.

‘Bom dia. A senhora vai subir?’ The receptionist greets you, smiling.

‘Sim,’ you reply, unable to keep the frown off your face as you hear the sandals behind you, hitting against the floor. ‘Me traga uma garrafa de vinho para cima, por favor.’

You have apparently amazed Lupin, for he whispers charmingly, ‘Is that for us two—wait!’ You manage to press the button to close the elevator doors, before he can enter. He stares after you with a stupefied expression, as you wave your fingers, saying goodbye.

When the door closes, you heave a deep sigh. ‘Goddamnit.’ I just can’t have a break, can I?

You put your sunglasses on top of your hat and hear the elevator chime upon arriving at your floor. When you step out, Lupin appears from your right, having climbed the stairs. He puts his hands on his knees to catch his breath, holding out his hand. ‘W-wait!’

You huff and keep walking to your hotel room, doing your best to ignore the monkey-faced man. I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him! Yet, despite your annoyance, you know you wouldn’t do it. There may be a lot of things to say about your character, but “killer” isn’t one of them. Perhaps, same as him, even though you are aware that he has spilled more blood than you did.

Lupin runs up to you, as you turn the key, ‘I have something for—’

‘Do yourself a favor, and leave me alone, will you?’

You start to close the door, but he puts his foot and hand in front of the door to keep it open, even if for a little. Yet, instead of insisting to speak with you, as he has been doing, something pokes through the gap. You pause to look at it and widen your eyes. At your silence, the man says, ‘I said I had something for you.’

You hesitate.

‘Can I come in, chérie?’

You bite your lower lip, clenching the doorknob tighter in your grip as you think it over. You have only really interacted with him twice — well, it has actually been the double of that, considering the moment he stole the gem from you, and when he tried to invite you inside his safehouse in France, despite the disapproval from his right-hand man. So far, one thing is certain; everything is a game for him.

Clearly, there’s a reason for your rescue, you remember the conversation with Jigen. Perhaps, indeed, there is a reason why he persists following after you. What is it that you have that he needs?

As long as it is a beautiful woman, those had been Goemon’s words. You hardly gave it a second thought back then, but now—

You shake your head forcefully — as if to push those thoughts away — and tear the door open, the man nearly falling onto the floor with a shriek, before he catches his balance. ‘Make it quick.’ You turn your back to him and walk to the couch that is near the window.

Closing the door behind him, Lupin chuckles to himself. ‘Well, that’s the first time I’ve heard a lady telling me that. It’s usually the oppo—’

‘Are you going to tell me what you want, or not, Lupin?’ You interrupt him, ignoring the sudden heat that you feel on your face. You sit down with an angry huff.

The Frenchman raises his hands, as if in surrender. ‘Alright, alright.’ He rubs the back of his head, sheepishly. He looks out of his element when he is not wearing a suit, you realize. ‘Are you still mad at me?’

‘Whatever made you think that?’

The doorbell rings. Lupin sighs. ‘Je suis désolé, chérie. You know I have no intention of putting you behind bars.’ He opens the door and warmly takes the bottle of wine from the hands of the hotel employee, thanking her with a flirtatious purr. You hear her gasp and reply flusteredly, before the door closes.

‘No, I don’t. In fact, I don’t know you, Lupin,’ you reply. ‘You might as well stop acting like you know me, though. Now, before I lose my patience, will you just tell me what it is that you want?’

He fetches two glasses from the kitchen, filling them up with the wine. ‘There will be an auction for the Premier Rose Diamond, the diamond that I have shown you. I believe the future former owner is selling it to pay off his debt.’

‘Debt?’ You reluctantly accept the glass that he brings to you. You eye him carefully, and he responds by giving you a smile.

‘Gambling. As you know, that’s a richman’s best friend. Until it isn’t.’

‘Why the Premier Rose Diamond? Why not just a piece from the Cullian Diamond?’ You take a sip from your glass, and then fix him with a smirk. ‘I thought you liked challenges.’

The man shakes his head, smiling. ‘Not yet. The most expensive fruit isn’t always the best.’ You snort.

‘Suit yourself,’ you shrug. ‘But, why are you telling me this? Is it being held here?’ Even if it is his target, you wouldn’t resist the urge to chase after the same diamond. Maybe, this time, you would be able to catch him off guard and take the diamond for yourself. If you remember correctly, the diamond must be worth around fifteen million dollars, as the price rates have increased. It’s tempting, for sure. It would cover more than your expenses while you are laying low from the police, and it would allow you to rest for a long time before taking another heist.

‘It’s close, yes,’ he answers, with a glint in his eye. ‘It’ll be in an auction in Nova Lima.’

‘That’s, what, two thousand kilometers away?’

‘Precisely.’

You nod and twirl the glass in your hand. You look into the red liquid, deep in thought. Nova Lima is one of the many regions and cities where the Brazilian wealthy classes can be found. Not that poverty does not exist there, regardless, but the upper middle and high social classes do their best to pretend as if those people do not exist, or they spare them with little regard or kindness. Discontentment has been more than common in the country because of the uneven and unequal distribution of wealth.

Of course, not everything is perfect, and, behind every wealthy man and woman, behind every “self-made” millionaire, there is a story that is untold, a story that has been constructed and completely and falsely fabricated. Everyone has their own demons, after all. Could the owner of the Primer Rose Diamond be selling it just to clear off his gambling debts, or is there something else to the story?

‘I believe his name is Davi Souza. He’s CEO of perhaps the number one mining company in Brazil.’ Lupin takes a sip of the wine, crossing his leg on top of his knee. ‘Money is like an accessory for him, right now. Well, it used to be, before he took the huge debt that has him now owing money to the banks. Gambling is a poison that strips you off your money, and, when you have nothing more to offer, your soul.’

‘Poetic.’

Lupin chuckles, before continuing, ‘He is holding up the auction in one of his estates, and the money will be given straight to the bank.’

You raise an eyebrow. ‘You plan to steal that diamond to feed him to the wolves.’

‘Men like Souza never learn, chérie,’ his eyes look straight into yours, even though they have darkened. Either it is personal, or he has heard that story before. ‘No better solution than to make him pay behind bars. I am sure there are lots of people who would love to have a word with him.’ He quickly spots a smile, leaning back as he drinks more of the expensive wine. ‘See, Pops has more people to worry about than us.’

‘You mean, than you,’ you correct him. ‘Interpol wants nothing to do with me, as far as I’m aware. You’re closer to an international celebrity than you know.’

Lupin shrugs. ‘You never know the future.’

You turn to look at the watch on the wall. ‘Well, it’s about time you go.’ You stand up, brushing off your skirt. ‘And don’t expect me to be this nice and hospitable to you ever again.’

‘Aw, you wound me, chérie,’ he puts a hand on his chest, giving you a pout. ‘But, you’re right, and I don’t want to overstay my welcome.’ He stands up and puts the empty glass back on the kitchen counter. Then, he turns on his heel, giving you a mischievous, yet childish, smile.

As he approaches, you clench your hand around the glass and narrow your eyes into a threatening glare. Yet, he continues to walk up to you, carefree of whatever you may be thinking — or, using Jigen’s words — plotting against him. You remember the harmless threats that had been running through your mind since the first time you spotted him here, and you know that your glare might actually be as harmful as a little butterfly.

Lupin reaches inside his shirt, and he pulls out a piece of paper. ‘For you.’

You reluctantly accept the paper and unfold it. There is an address written on it. From the name, it is more than two hours away from your current hotel. For what reason would he give you this address? Could it be—

He confirmed your suspicions. ‘It’s our hideout. We’ll be waiting for your response there. You can send a little postcard if you’re so inclined,’ he leaned forward, ‘or, you can bless us with your presence.’ He tries to give you a flirtatious smile, which you completely dismiss as you shove your clenched fist into his chest.

‘What makes you think I’ll help you, especially after you have taken my treasure and endangered my life due to your stupid thrills?’ He raises his arms up in surrender, just as he had when he first entered the room, but his face is nothing but fearful; he spots a confident smile, which throws you off guard.

‘We’ll split the money evenly amongst everyone,’ he replies. ‘I want to make it up for you.’

‘Bullshit, Lupin. I don’t need your help!’

Lupin turns on his heel, ignoring your frustration. ‘It’s not often that you see a diamond like this one. It will be an easy target, Souza doesn’t have much money left for security. The thrill is definitely worth the money you’d earn.’ He opens the hotel room, turning his head to throw you a wink over his shoulder. ‘Adieu, chérie.’

You huff angrily as he closes the door behind him. Such a narcissist, you clench the paper tighter around your hand. Bold of him to assume I’ll just do whatever he wants. Does he think that, by flirting with you, he will be able to get what he wants? Perhaps he is too used to having things done his way, too used to succeeding in his achievements and dreams.

I’m not the one who’s plotting, you think. Jigen’s clearly looking in the wrong direction.

You look back at the address on the paper, deep in thought. The offer is indeed tempting, and it suddenly feels invasive — as if he had been able to read your mind. You have always had a thing for jewelry, and perhaps that is what he took away from your first encounter and the way you were dressed for the party in France. What else do you know about me?

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

4M, or the deal is off. — C.

D'accord. ♡— Lupin III

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

↪ continue to part two

#lupin iii x reader #lupin x reader #arséne lupin iii x reader #arséne lupin iii #lupin iii #lupin the third #lupin the 3rd #x reader #reader #reader-insert #fanfic #fanfiction #fic: what a thing to admit

77 notes · View notes