#the outskirts of life

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

So wait, Frank helped Julie out in the fantasy AU? What or who was Julie running from? If its a spoiler, you don't need to mention it.

oh yeah i imagine that they were friends while Julie was still ~Princess Juliette~ and when Julie decided to run away from her royal life & home, she went to Frank on her way out in the hopes that he'd help her

[fitpacs]

<3

[otterlyotterott]

A cat sits alone in the cemetery

Inspired by @circuscountdowns's bishop death comic.

cw: grief, slow mental deterioration by way of immortality

Mortal minds were not meant to live forever. Not alone. 

It’s the middle of the night and they kneel before the grave. In one of their hands they grip a shovel that had been gifted to them a long time ago. At the base of the handle is an engraving that matches the stone crown on the gravestone.

There is a pendant on their chest, and it gleams gold in the moonlight.

They close their eyes, and breathe. Out slow, in slow.  

Camellias smell like sugar and dirt, like three thousand years of longing. The flowers on this grave are always fresh. always redder than blood, even in the winter, when every other plant on cult grounds wilts and turns bare and hibernates. The camellias on his grave are always there, always beautiful. One might call them blessed.

They are not afraid of dying—they are devoted to Death. They simply cannot die yet. Their Gods and leaders need them. The rest of the flock needs their wisdom. Someone who can speak to them as an equal, but who knows more and has seen more than the rest. 

Mortal minds were not meant to live forever, but they’re still doing pretty well. They lose days or weeks sometimes, but it’s not a problem yet. They suspect it’ll take another five thousand or so before their mind becomes a problem, assuming something else doesn’t kill them first.

So, they cannot leave. Not of their own accord. They have no need to.

They want to stay, to be content with the impossible life they live, but something is missing. They’ve been missing the sandpaper edges of his voice for the last few centuries. They’ve been yearning for the feel of his fur on their own—green and yellow, a sunbeam shining over a bed of moss.

He left them. They agreed to it. He was tired. They understood, or thought they did. They were with him for the rest of his life, and they loved him, and he died, in the end, like a mortal, but his heart was full, and when he was gone for good, they realized that their heart had gone with him. Stolen in a final prank.

At first they figured the pain would lie in the loss itself, but true moments of pain were every time they would forget that he was gone. It was every time they would look beside them, to whisper to him something that he would yell aloud to embarrass them both, only to find no one was there. It was every odd hole in the ground that they would feel the urge to crouch down beside, to talk to him, coax him out, before someone would ask what they were doing and they would remember that he wasn't there. It was every time they remembered that holes in the ground were for plants, and not Gods.

He would be severely annoyed to see them do anything but smile, but it was getting hard to smile without him.

And, and he would want this, wouldn’t he? Even if getting woken back up annoyed him at first.

His After was probably boring without them.

He'd think it was funny.

He’d grin impossibly wide and say, “ABOUT TIME YOU DID SOMETHING SELFISH.”

They stare at the old stone. The crown of the God of Chaos stares back. It's only another life. He won't even have to put on a necklace this time around.

Mortal minds were not meant to live forever. Not alone.

So, they stand and lurch forward. They take the shovel into both their hands, and they drive it like a spear into the dirt, into Leshy's grave. 

They don’t know how the ritual works, but they know they’ll need his bones for it. They'll figure the rest out later.

[givehimthemedicine]

you couldn't think of the word "flashback" huh? or "memory"? is that it?

[swimming-karyss]

sci-fi au!

the romance dawn trio!

I was reminded that I actually really love sci-fi and I was physically unable to keep myself from putting Strawhats there

it's mostly designs and base information, so details under cut!

The distant future! The humanity had conquered numerous star system, built colonies there and even met aliens! Even if it seems like we now know everything about our galaxy, there still are dangerous and uncharted planets. And only one man is rumored to explore them all. It was Gol D. Roger a notorious space pirate, later bearing the title of the pirate king. He has built a great fortune and left it all on one of the planets on the very outskirts of the galaxy, for the future generation to find!

okay, I just wanted to say that :D

and, well, as can be seen this au is just One Piece but in space mainly inspired by Cowboy Be-Bop and all the sci-fi books I've read (very similar to star wars but more casual) with some differences. (I also didn't want to go full cyberpunk)

Roger was a space pirate and explorer. He did cause quite a lot of trouble, but people closest to him know that his biggest crime was being so free, that even gods became jealous of him. He travelled the whole galaxy, explored unknown planets and visited most dangerous places.

Since unlike the Grand Line the space isn't linear and the further they go the less signs of civilization they encounter, Strawhats have to return to established stations and run some errands to earn money to buy supplies, repair their ship. Of course, they take the most exciting jobs, which is why they go to wonderfully dangerous and interesting places and meet wonderfully dangerous and interesting people. Actually running around the whole galaxy seems to prove rather beneficial to their searching of Roger treasure. Since no one has any idea where he left the clues to it! It just so happens that idiots think similarly and planets that Roger was interested in pique Luffy's interest as well!

(and the side jobs they take are mostly bounty hunting (is taken care of by Zoro and whoever is free), aiding scientists by going to places no one wants to go because no one wants to risk their lives(and, you know, scanning the surface, checking on research stations placing probes etc) and sometimes even giving people(various people, not many of whom are lawful civilians. revolutionaries know Strawhats and love them) a ride, for money, of course)

Unfortunately, since Zoro's story is rather simple and I want to talk about Luffy's a bit later, so here is some trivia about Nami and Arlong Pirates. (and yes minks, fishmen, and longlegs and longarms are aliens :D )

Did you know that when space probe are launched into space, their route and time of the launch are set in the way to make the most use of the gravitational pull of the planets to save fuel? That's what Nami does! Her job is to calculate the best route for their ship to take. And while computer offers the safest way, she is willing to take risks :) which is why Strawhats travel faster than most other space sailors. Nami wasn't born on Earth, she and Nojiko were brought here by Bell-mère. Arlong pirates take control of settlements on asteroids and moons, and even some towns on Earth which are too small for the government to care. Nami, just like Zoro, had went into space before Luffy, but didn't go further than solar system.

[mawsmauls]

Day twelve of the @dragonaday-fr challenge! Vajra is primarily hired as a stonecarver, commissioned to add custom detailing to the homes of those who can afford her efforts. Though her main joy is found in woodworking, a difficult material to get ahold of in the subterranean city of Pinion.

[sans-guy]

Do you feel any of your oc's, characters, or even yourself... would feel comfortable in the homestead farm life, Or would the peace of living out there with no chaos be "boring" and unsettling for them?

ermm hmm for ocs relevant to this blog, butch was raised on a big farm so,, he's technically a farm boy. living in a city has not benefitted him that much lmao and he tries to get away from it as much as he can

[sidetongue]

various pics of henry hunting gecks 

[muscosus]

[chemdisaster]

god i can't fucking stand people who come into a community having an issue with someone and decide to make it everyone else's problem. as someone who's been both the victim and the server owner forced to sort through their dirty laundry - quit trying to guilt mods into banning people you don't like. quit asking them to be the judge and jury of your interpersonal issues. you are on the internet. you have a block button. use it. the world doesn't fucking revolve around you.

[kociokwiki]

ask game 17, 18, 20 HAIII !

HIIIII

I love killing things unfortunately i am kinda bad at it. so as anyone but spearmaster i'll try to sneak by or just run away from creatures. Not worth the risk

when i first played (so as survivor) i was kind of disappointed by the ending. it just wanted to find its family you cant tell me pebbles actually convinced that little creature that death is the only option .... didnt help that the ascension sequence was confusing. but yeah despite that it made me Feel Things for sure. i am glad downpour added more possible outcomes !!!!

apparently they fixed the swimming mechanics in donwpour but theyre still . kind of . uhm. looks around. some sort of ledge grab mechanic could be nice to implement as well

[not necessarily something to improve on but i will always gladly see more iterators and ancient lore too hiiii]

[riverswater]

Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde (x)

[starmansymphony]

going out and making irl friends would surely fix me (<- kinda lives in the middle of nowhere, too scared of driving to learn how to do it, doesn't know how to make friends, kinda scared of random people around its age, very guarded about their interests irl, and a whole slew of other problems)

[mrschwartz]

there's something to be said about how in pivotal moments in my life when everything is changing and i can only hope things are gonna work out, and i feel lost and overwhelmed and alone, but at the same time weirdly hopeful and excited because i have no option other than Things Will Figure Themselves Out, i can't help but think about my dog and how much i miss him

[softquietsteadylove]

Currently I'm playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey and whilst playing I'm thinking about the Eternals back then, in Ancient Greece.

So basically i thought about Socrates annoying our Goddess of War. And Thena would never admit she actually likes talking to him.

Hugs and much love!! 🖤✨

"Is the Goddess of War cowering again?"

Thena bristled and glared at the old man, "I do not cower."

He chuckled, though, sitting himself on a rock amongst the olive trees behind the main constructions of Athens' outskirts. "And what to call it then?--you hiding here in the trees?"

She rolled her eyes. The old man was not so insufferable, but he had no problem saying things that made her want to pick him up and rattle him like a barrel. Although she was almost grateful for it in comparison to the obsessive reverence of the rest of Athens.

"Too many demands in the day already, young one?" he asked, raising a frayed, white eyebrow.

She sighed; if only he knew how young he was, to her. "They are discussing the launching of ships. Why this would need my input - let alone approval - is beyond me."

But the old man laughed, letting his walking stick rest against a different rock. Thena eyed the pale length of dead wood. "The senators, as they call themselves, are just as new to this as the idea itself. They have assembled this great counsel and yet they still seek the approval of a higher power. One wonders why they assembled this body to 'speak for the people' if they were going to surrender their decisions to a figurehead in the first place."

Thena let old Socrates ramble on. She typically wasn't one for the musings of man, much preferring her solitude. But the old man hadn't ratted her out yet, and as far as humans went, he was far from the worst. "Have you been postulating again?"

"Bah," he waved his hand through the air, squinting up at the Grecian sun through the olive leaves. "Just a crazy old man, to them."

"And you think you are not, to me?"

"Maybe," he grinned at her with what teeth he had remaining, "but I'm a crazy old man who lets you be, no?"

Thena allowed a faint smile on her lips. "Indeed, you are."

"So then, we seem to have reason for our alliance," he chuckled.

"And you?" Thena asked in an unusual invitation to continue their talking. She summoned a blade to her hand and whittled down his walking stick.

Socrates watched her the same way he watched fisherman haul in their catch; with admiration for the craft, but with no further interest in the act itself. "Hiding from that young tyke."

"Young Plato?" Thena smiled as she sliced the wood cleanly, angling it to form a head for a proper cane. The old man was walking around leaning on this tree length washed up on the shore. "He is fond of Phastos as well."

"Ah, yes, Hephaestus?" Socrates raised his other eyebrow, to which Thena shook her head. "What of your Champion?"

A length of wood went flying.

Thena tossed the properly carved cane back at the man, "what of him?"

Socrates shrugged an increasingly bony shoulder. "You're with him when at all possible, aren't you?"

Thena nearly pouted at the needling - but entirely correct - statement. She huffed, "there are many demands on Gilgamesh."

"Ah yes, Gilgamesh," Socrates laughed, resting his hands outstretched in front of him. "And what do you call him?"

She gave him a somewhat tired glare. She could deny him the rest of his needling and simply leave. But then she ran the risk of an advisor or senator or counsellor - or stars forbid one of the many sculptors searching for her - finding her. She sighed. "Gil."

"Oh."

She glared at him anew, her hackles rising despite her best efforts.

Socrates gave her a look that made her want to chuck him right off their cliff of solitude, "Gil."

She hardened her expression at him, if only to keep her annoyance from boiling over. He said it in a way that made her feel agitated. "Have you not other people to pester?"

"None as fun as you, dear," he laughed heartily, his head tossed back.

Thena huffed again; insufferable old coot.

"And what power does your Gil possess, again?"

She glared at him, but he feigned some effort into remembering, scratching the beard on his chin. "Strength."

"Ah, yes, the fella who can reach into the forges and grasp iron with his bare hands."

No trouble remembering him at all, it seemed. Thena pursed her lips, "indeed."

"They do demand a lot from him," Socrates agreed with her earlier statement at this much later junction. He snuck his eyes - still sharp under the wrinkling of his skin - back over to her with a grin. "Not very fair to you, is it?"

Thena refused to dignify that with a response.

Socrates let out another laugh, and she wondered how many rocks might fit in that wide mouth of his. "That's why you're out here moping?"

The shade of the trees was doing nothing to shield her from the heat of the sun.

"Dearie," he snorted, jabbing her knee with the cane (which she just so-kindly fashioned for him!). "You are the patron saint of Athens. I'm sure if you want to steal your boyfriend all you need do is ask."

Thena flushed further at yet more indignity. "I do not-!"

"Oh, save it!" he drawled at her, in a way no one else in Athens would ever dare. He scratched at something in his ear, "I don't care what you think I think or what you know I know."

She glowered at him.

"There you are!"

Thena looked up, a smile coming over her (whether she wanted it or not). "Here I am."

Gilgamesh pushed an olive branch out of his way to lean on the rock beside her. He nodded to old Socrates, "and good day to you."

"And you, Champion," Socrates gave him a smirk. "We were just speaking of you."

"Oh?" Gil looked at Thena beside him, who was glaring at the old man.

"Have you nowhere else to rest after your ceaseless chatter?"

Gil didn't argue with her. He had seen her and the old philosopher interact a few times before, and it was always funny. Jabs were only ever made in good humour. "Actually, I was hoping to steal the Goddess away with me."

"She's all yours, sonny boy," Socrates stood, stretching out his arms before taking up his newly carved cane. "Don't mind me."

Gil simply nodded to him as he began shuffling past them and into the city. He looked down at Thena, stealing one of her hands off her lap to hold for himself. "Hey."

"Hey," she beamed. The unique relief and comfort of his company truly had reached new heights during their time in Athens.

"Time for a break?" he propositioned, pulling her up from her resting rock, her hand still in his. He brought his head closer to hers, "I packed us a little picnic--you, me, in the orangery?"

Thena kept her eyes on her personal embodiment of solace standing before her. She yearned to curl up in his arms, "divine."

"I thought you weren't one for divination."

"Away with you!" she snapped at the old bastard one again chuckling at her expense. She thunked her forehead against Gil's chest.

"Hey," he chuckled, rubbing her back as he allowed her frustrations. "Come on, he's not bad. As far as humans go, I'd say you're fond of the old guy."

"I am done speaking of him," she sighed, still pressing her warmed skin to Gil's cooling robes. She purred as he pulled her hair over her shoulder, running his fingers through it gently. "I believe you offered sustenance?--and solitude."

[a-daisy-in-the-dark]

more flowers & fungi from the trail 🌼