#Asra looks so sad in the first picture

[to-the-stars8]

Chasing The Memory of You

Summary: In his grief, Asra begins to see you everywhere. Now, he's chasing your fading memory AO3

Asra x MC

Asra made a point to never speak of you, even when asked by the remaining townsfolk he would not answer fully, instead opting to dance around any mention of your existence. It made it easier for him, not to forget you, but to forget the constant reminders that plagued his life. When he avoided the questions about you from the baker, he was saved from the memory of just how much you admired the pumpkin bread. Or, when he ignored the jewelry merchant when she mentioned how a new shipment of your favorite stones had just come in, so he wouldn’t have to picture the stones around your neck. 

He needed to be focused, working on bringing you back to satisfy the insatiable desire to have you near. Avoiding all memories of you prevented him from falling to the floor in agony. So, when he received a letter from the palace requesting his presence, he was relieved. There would be no reminders of you since, to his knowledge, no one in the palace knew you nor vice versa. Luckily, that had been the case for the longest time. Despite the grief, he managed to make progress in not only bringing you back but also letting the sadness settle. He made friends, Nadia and Ilya, and even began to feel fleeting moments of genuine happiness. 

Then, one night, as he was walking back to his rooms after a rendezvous with Ilya, he thought he saw you. Asra had been passing a balcony on the stretch of landing that passed over the ballroom when he saw a glimpse of you, or what he thought was you, standing and looking up at the stars. When he did a double take, there was nothing, just the sound of the harsh wind hitting the glass doors that led out. Shaking his head, Asra assumed that he must have been tired from the day. 

He wouldn’t have thought any more of it, especially since he had finally managed to get some sleep, until he saw some apparition of you again. This time it had been in broad daylight. Asra had been walking the grounds with Nadia, laughing and joking. 

“I could not have picked a more foolish husband, could I?” Nadia jested. 

Asra was going to respond, but, just as they had turned a corner in the maze of rose bushes, he saw you running from another corner behind a tree. When a lack of a response was noticed, Nadia inquired about what was wrong. He was surprised that she had not seen what he just did.

“Did you not see…Um, nevermind.” Asra shook his head. The grief, he reasoned, must have been messing with him, so he tried to carry on the conversation. “I think Lucio is the most foolish husband anyone could find. Not to mention gaudy.”

Nadia, hesitantly, replied. Asra looked over his shoulder, half-expecting to see you, but there was nothing. It left his heart feeling a little heavier. He hoped this would be the last time misery would play with him. 

Unfortunately, hope was a fickle thing when it came to grief and madness. 

Asra was sitting on the terrace with Nadia and Ilya, talking about all sorts of things that had no significance in the long run but were a joy to talk about. They were all laughing about one thing or another when suddenly, amidst their laughter, was the sound of yours. The same light and heavenly sounds that Asra had heard thousands of times. Once he heard it, he turned to look over his shoulder, expecting you to be there in a fit of giggles. Yet, there was nothing but the wall.

All at once, he felt grief and fear through his body. The laugh that echoed sounded too real to be a figment of grief’s imagination. Standing suddenly, Asra decided it would be best to put an end to the taunting haunt. Excusing himself, he walked toward the first place he saw your ghost, on the balcony. 

Upon entering the ballroom the echo of your laugh bounced off the walls, filling it with a familiar, enchanting melody that only your happiness could provide. Calling out your name, Asra looked around, but the room suddenly fell into silence. It was deafening and he begged the stars to stop it. 

The stars listened and answered cruelly. “Asra!” Your voice called. 

Asra would have fallen to the ground in grief if it weren’t for the sight of you running up the grand staircase. You were dressed in the same clothes as the day you first met. Calling your name, Asra begged you to wait. 

“Please, my love,” He said. “Stop running.”

The only response was your laugh. Asra never knew that a sound that brought him so much joy, could also bring pain. When you got to the top of the stairs, you stopped to look down at him—Only then did he realize it was not really you. You stood there, almost as real as day except the moonlight coming through the window cut through you like you were made of translucent glass.

It was almost like you were fading. 

Though he wasn’t entirely sure why, Asra suddenly wanted to make you whole again. He could not let this image of you fade from him—Not when he barely had time to cherish it.

After a moment, you ran off again, and he lost sight of you when you turned onto the balcony. Finally, Asra thought, he could catch this moonlit apparition of you. When he ran onto the balcony there was nothing there except the autumn wind, the stars, and moon. Asra called your name again, but the desperation got caught in the breeze; leaving no one to hear the yearning for you. 

Reduced to his grieving madness, Asra fell to the floor in a mess of tears. Clenching his hands over his heart, he swore to the stars to never love again and that his heart, all of him, belonged to you and you alone.

He’d chase the fading memory of you until he succeeded in bringing you back, or died trying.

#nadia the arcana #asra the arcana #the arcana asra #the arcana #the arcana game #asra alnazar #asra x apprentice #asra x mc #asra x reader #asra x julian #nadia satrinava #muriel the arcana #portia devorak #portia the arcana #asra angst #lucio the arcana #past mc x asra #the arcana apprentice

[the-iron-orchid]

BOOK  VII: THE CHARIOT

Chapter 5: The Return ( ~2060 words)

Warnings: None.

We must part, before this desire overwhelms us both. 

Julian’s hands fall from my face to my shoulders, gripping tightly, as if that can forestall the inevitable. He swallows hard, looking not at me, but past me, an unbearable sadness on his face.

“Being with you… it’s the first thing I’ve really wanted for myself in a long, long time.”

And he has squandered it, standing here gathering his will to leave me, while I must push down the pain and the emptiness, let it slip aside before my magic can respond to it. I must let it go… I must let him go.

“Another compromising tale for the future? Is that what you wanted?” I regret the sharp words the moment they leave my mouth, but the instinct to lash out, to hurt in return, is too strong for me to stop when it’s all I can do to keep my restless magic from stirring up a sandstorm on this beach, from lashing the waves to a frenzy.

Julian stares at me for a moment before his expression breaks apart, falling into pieces. “...no,” he whispers. “Not that I have a future, but… this mattered to me. You… matter to me. The last good thing in my life, maybe. And more than I deserve.”

Perhaps he’s right, in that.

“I’ll… walk you home,” he offers. I do not need his protection; in fact, I pity anyone who accosts me like this, brimming with chaotic magic that wants the least excuse to rend, to unmake. But I relent, simply because he looks so miserable.

“Very well.” Restraining my instinct for destruction leaves no room for warmth in my voice; he cannot fail to hear the lack.

He swallows again, his throat clicking dryly, and shakes his head. It cannot shake away the despair he has brought upon himself. He plunges his gloved hands into his coat-pockets as if to hide them, as if he is afraid of them. In this way, he leads me back into town.

It is a tense, somber procession all the way back to my shop, while the overfull reservoir of power inside of me retreats, ever so slowly. Sometimes, he looks back at me, as if he’s about to say something, but then he stops himself, continuing on. He does not seem pleased to arrive, and for a moment he can only look at me wordlessly in front of the door.

“I came back here to find some answers,” he then tells me, his voice hoarse. “Finding you… was an unexpected gift.”

He reaches out, but stops short of my shoulders, as if afraid to touch me at all. My heart wrings itself inside of me, as if it must crack, but I do not permit this to reach my face.

Julian leans in to give me a chaste kiss on each cheek, with our bodies as far apart as possible. His lips linger there a fraction longer than they would for a mere salutation, but it’s little consolation.

“I won’t forget you,” he says, low in my ear.

I have an entire life that I have forgotten. I do not say this.

He cannot, after all, prevent himself from touching me one last time, though I feel only the brush of cool leather as his fingers trail along my jawline. And then he is gone, a dark shape vanishing into darker alleyways. 

For a few moments, I remain standing there, seeing nothing, while a great, painful void expands in my chest, the too-familiar feeling of loss. For all of the strange ways that we seemed to fit together, two pieces of some puzzle whose greater picture remains unknown… it was not enough.  I… was not enough.

I’m not certain that I ever shall be.

---

The shop’s interior is warm and smells of cinnamon and spices, the lanterns lit already. I know what I will see even before Asra’s head appears around the stairwell, silky white curls bouncing. His dimpled grin is as bright as ever, seeing me, welcoming me home. But he knows me too well for me to hide what I’m feeling right now, and his smile dims as he descends into the shop.

“What happened?” he asks, and the concern in his eyes almost undoes me.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I manage to say, around the fresh grief closing my throat.

“Then you don’t have to,” he assures me, wrapping his arms around me briefly before leading me up the stairs. “Come drink some chai, habibe. I brought back that kind that you like so much.”

I would be more astonished at the change in his manner, but the pain overwhelms my attention. Still, he knows just how to soothe my spirit… even though my first instinct is to go to ground, to hide myself like a wounded animal. I do not have to face this feeling alone.

I wonder if Julian can say the same. Would that I could despise him for what he has done… but he, too, is only trying to protect me.

He is a fool. I wonder if I might have been in love with him, just a little bit… for whatever that is worth now.

Perhaps I am the fool, here.

A smooth, heavy coolness glides over my feet, and I stoop to gather up Faust before seating myself at the rickety little corner table where we take our meals. The snake wraps herself around my shoulders, as if to comfort. Asra bustles about in the kitchen, humming softly. I start slightly when he appears at my elbow with a cup of saffron-infused chai, sweet with honey and cream.

“Faust tells me that you’ve been spending time with Ilya,” he ventures, sitting next to me with his own cup.

“Am I spied upon?” I ask, once again regretting my words as he lowers his amethyst-dark eyes.

“No,” he says quietly. “Just… making sure you’re safe.”

“...I know,” I say, just as quietly. “Let’s just say… I was spending time with him.”

Understanding dawns on Asra’s face. “Ohhh, let me guess. He ran on ahead with what he thought was best for you, even when you told him how wrong he was. No doubt after jumping headlong into a relationship with you in the first place, featuring at least one dramatic speech.” He considers, a finger to his lips. “Knowing him, probably more than one. But at least one was about what a bad and terrible person he is.” He grins at me. “Well, how did I do?”

I give a weak laugh. “Got it in one.” Of course, he is a fortune-teller.

Something about the sympathetic look he turns on me causes the dam to finally burst, for the story to come out. There are no salacious details, and no tears, but it is enough.

Asra just listens in silence, then sits back, his gaze narrow over his mug.

“That really does sound like Ilya, taking longer to end something than to do it.” He sighs. “Can you even really say that you were together at all?”

I wrap my hands around my own mug, watching steam condense onto the glaze. “I don’t know.” 

“Well. I know Ilya, at least… better than he suspects. The only thing he truly loves is drama, and his own suffering.” He snorts. “And he is bound and determined to chase both, no matter the cost to himself… or anyone else.”

Asra sips his chai thoughtfully. “It’s easy to forget that, of course. He knows how to drum up excitement and adventure… he knows how to make you feel special, and wanted. And then he inevitably sabotages it all, ruins everything he’s built up. I’ve never met anyone quite so dedicated to their own unhappiness.”

It’s so true that my eyes begin to sting, but again I must let the pain carry itself away, before it can do harm.

“Well. It is no longer my problem,” I say, flatly, and Asra raises his brows.

“Isn’t it? You’re still tasked with bringing him to justice… if that’s even what it is.” Something goes over his countenance, some shadow, but I cannot guess at it.

“Does it matter?”

“Maybe not, if he’s so determined to throw himself into harm’s way.”

“He is an idiot,” I mutter, staring down into my chai.

“Yes. But for good or ill, you are now tangled in his fate.” Asra reaches out, smoothing the hair back from my forehead. “I know that look, ya albi. You are angry - of course you are. You have every right to be. But you also want to go after him, if only to shake some sense into his fool head.” He gives a rueful little smile, then sobers. “While I’m the first to admit that stranger things have happened… I’m not sure that anyone can shake that man out of his cycle of self-destruction.”

“Whatever I think of him personally… I don’t think that he is guilty of this crime. That much, at least, I do owe him.” I drain my mug, but continue to keep it in my hands, so that I do not have to meet Asra’s too-knowing eyes.

“Jinana…” There is something in the way he says my name, now, but I can’t yet take the time to examine it. “You’re your own person, and you can make your own decisions. But please… don’t hurt yourself trying to save him.”

I feel like there is something else there, above and beyond his own history with Julian, or how Julian might hurt me. But Asra changes the subject, to the deck he entrusted me with. I hand it over, feeling a small surge of energy as they return to their creator. A matching look of relief comes over Asra’s face, and he asks if I am all right, if anything odd has happened with the deck itself. 

They’re just cards, though; colorful bits of painted and gilded pressed paper. A conduit, not the source.

“We’re home now,” he says, as if reassuring himself, or perhaps the deck. Then, “I’ll make us some dinner.” I nod, and he returns to our tiny kitchen, humming again as he works, coming by to refill my mug. I continue to stare down into it, trying to make sense of it all. But no matter how all of this pans out, my intuition tells me that Asra is correct, that I’m not quite done with Julian… not yet.

If so, I’m going to have to place a wall between myself and this pain. I remind myself that he is not its cause… I am. It is my own expectations, my feelings. Julian is also his own person, and can only affect me as much as I permit him to do so.

It still hurts.

Asra and I share a light dinner of fragrant rice cooked with savory spices, butter and toasted cashews. It’s one of my favorite dishes, though the knot of misery in my throat and guts means that I eat little. We speak of other things for a time, then retire to the lone bed in the small bedroom above the shop, as we have for three years. 

I suppose that I could blame Asra for all of this, tell myself that an unmet need is what sent me into Julian’s arms… but it is not his fault. He has never been anything but kind to me. I do take some solace from his presence, the knowledge that he, perhaps, has suffered this same hurt.

Asra gingerly reaches out to me, no doubt able to sense the way I’m feeling from my aura. I let him curl himself around me, taking the comfort he offers. Though the pain is a banked coal burning in my chest, my eyes are dry. The tears of a magician are too powerful to squander on a broken heart.

Eventually, I sleep. My dreams are fragmentary, unformed, made up of replayed bits of memory and things only dimly glimpsed, as from a great distance.

When I awake, I am alone again. I am used to this. Asra very frequently leaves in the night, silent as a cat. But today, it just reminds me of waking up alone in the hideaway under Mazelinka’s home, alone after sharing something I thought might have had meaning.

I am definitely the fool, here.

#arcana rewrite: tides of chaos #jinana aditya #julian devorak #asra alnazar #the arcana rewrite

[scolopendress-tag]

I said I'd make a post detailing my kid Asra working for Lucio theory in this post so here it is! 

So Let's get STARDED.

So! To start off, how it began. We do know when Asra and Muriel were kids, Lucio came to them each seperately with a deal.

Essentially: work for me, or I'll hurt your friend.

This was the sentiment he repeated for both of them. So, not wanting the other to be harmed, they both agree - unaware of the other's deal.

For Muriel, it was playing heel/excecutioner at the coleseium. For Asra, it was doing... Well, we never know, aside from he worked under Lucio. But that's what we are here to discuss in any case.

Continued under the read more, for the sake of people's dashes.

Now presumably, if I got my timeline right, Asra at this time would've been around 12 or 13. We don't know much about how Asra was when he was younger, other than that he has certainly changed.

It's also worth noting that it's not amiss to say they were both also still homeless at the time, and the hut hadn't come into the play until after.

Asra was still living on the streets.

This all isn't overly important for any of my claims later, but perhaps someone else could make something of it. It does provide us with some framing for the situation as a whole, though.

Now onto Asra's time under Lucio. I don't know that we have any indication of how long it was, but presumably at least a year if not more.

We do also know that Lucio knew who Asra was. Both in that he knew Aisha and Salim had a kid, and that he knew Asra was said kid.

This is bring this up because we know Aisha and Salim were incredibly talented, and likely incredibly powerful. Lucio wouldn't settle for any run of the mill magician or alchemist for the work he needed. So he must've had some idea that Asra may take after that power as well.

To top it off, he also interacted and talked with the dock kids he also used, (two of which would actually later become palace guards,) and seeing as this is seemingly how he learned of Muriel, it's not off to think that this is also how he heard of Asra again to start. The kids knew of Asra's magic, and roughly where he was, and could've even continued talking about both Muriel and Asra to Lucio for unknown amounts of time.

So now Lucio knows that the kid of his two powerful practitioners of magic is not only still around, but taking after them as well.

If Muriel's intimidating size and physical power are what drew Lucio to him, why wouldn't Asra's considerable metaphysical power and talents draw Lucio in as well?

We know how much Lucio loves power, and that he has an interest in magic because of it, as mentioned in the main story. (no ss sorry... If you have one send so I can add. )

Plus, homeless kid in a vulnerable spot. Easy pickings.

That's what I think this whole thing was about, really. It's all power. Though Asra likely didn't have the full scope of power he does in the current game, he was probably still considerably talented, and was only getting better.

What Lucio specifically probably wanted from Asra then was either to be taught how to use that power, to use Asra for things that required it, and/or use his power for entertainment akin to how he used Muriel.

I think out of these however, using him for his power was most likely. Why? (And teaching him now, more on that further down)

(Sorry for bad quality lmao it's a small image. Also thanks to @8-bit-space for showing these to me like months ago. As you can see I can't stop thinking abt it)

These are screenshots from the old prologue. While they're not canon any more, there's reason to believe they still hold merit as to how Lucio feels about Asra.

Two things to me are major here. First is the "powerful potent magic," and how it's the "real deal," equating to a large part of how he views Asra yet again tying back to a heavy interest in his power. Now, you could argue this relates to using his powers in the palace during the plague, but the second point stands out even more to me.

"The one who broke him for me?"

What this implies to me is that Lucio could never quite get all the way through to Asra or control him when he was younger, and he's been dying to do so. He wanted Asra broken, presumably so that he'll become essentially a tool for him to use for his skill and not put up a fight- something Asra likely did as a child.

Because it seems that Lucio for the most part relied on control through fear when it came to Asra, threatening to hurt Muriel, lying to him about how he executed his parents, likely other things as well. But things seem to point to that never quite working like he had hoped.

This could allude to this as well. Though "impossible" is something Asra's been called a few times, namely also by Julian, there's no reason to assume Lucio wasn't also including his work with him as a kid in "always". Impossible to hate could be his draw to Asra for his power, his talent, his skills, the prospect of which I'm sure Lucio found practically mouthwatering. Impossible to love could be his stubbornness or reluctance to do what Lucio wants, always pushing against him or being hard to deal with, both as a kid and during the plague.

And lines like this, where he calls him a coward. I find it hard to relate this to the plague ritual as he was for the most part willingly helping with that, so it could be resenment for when Asra eventually ran off as a kid, unwilling to put up with him any longer, or his reluctance to do certain things for him then in general.

We know, and it has even been mentioned by a character within the canon, that Asra can be incredibly stubborn, to back that up. Plus, he could've been even harder to work with then both being a kid and as I mentioned earlier he has changed from how he was then, so he could've had more spunk to him or such.

This also easily means that what Lucio was trying to get Asra to do then was something Asra was quite obviously opposed to. Being used for his power is already degrading enough, but there could be more to it.

You'll notice in the post that was linked at the top (the reason I'm writing this) I mentioned pushing Asra to his physical limits and magical extremes. This could be one of the reasons for a push back.

If Lucio was having Asra do things for him involving magic, it's not out of pocket to assume he'd practically run him into the ground- I'm sure he really wouldve loved testing the limits of what Asra could REALLY do.

Wether it be huge expendure of power all at once, or tons of smaller things one after the other, it would absolutely take it's toll. We are shown a few times that using magic can exhaust someone, and I don't remember if this is shown in canon ever (tell me if so!) but pushing it even further could definitely lead to other things such as passing out, (Or nosebleeds, for the aesthetic,) alongside likely being incredibly painful and draining, both mentally and physically.

Basically, abusing his powers and the body that commanded them. It's also possible that the stubborness to work with Lucio could also be partially percieved because of this- Lucio taking Asra's literal physical inability to continue as defiance.

Another reason for push back from Asra would be making him do morally compromising things. This is a little more vague, but intimidation is a common headcanon I see for what Lucio made Asra do, and that could tie in here. Other things could be meddling in things and business he shouldn't, but again, it's a vague thing. Make of it what you will. Fucked up stuff all around.

[EDIT - TEACHING LUCIO]

(THANK YOU @tea-tye for showing me these, and credits to @hangedman-magician for the video they came from!!!!!!!)

...I cannot BELIEVE I forgot this, I KNEW I was missing something. Especially when I was fairly certain I remember Lucio being obsessed with the idea of magic. SO, MOVING ON,

There's not terribly much to pick apart here as it's rather direct- Asra saying he has in fact tried to teach Lucio magic. So in my eyes this solidifies that this was a component of Asra's time under Lucio. I still think my points about Lucio treatment (pushing Asra to his limits) stand, as well.

This can also tie in the stubborness mentioned as, well, can you imagine teaching Lucio? Asra backs this up by saying nothing he has ever said stuck with Lucio, and you know how Lucio gets when things don't go his way. He would've blamed his inability to learn on Asra, likely.

Looking to other quotes mentioned: the 'broke him' line still rings to me like he was trying to use Asra in other ways, and the 'coward' line could go either way from refusing to teach Lucio certain things, or refusing to do certain things for Lucio when he was merely being used. The "impossible" line could also go for others, as trying to teach someone like Lucio would've undoubtedly caused some head butting.

This is certainly really exciting and interesting to me as it gives a more complete picture on the exact situation at hand here. I still stay by my reasoning for Lucio simply using Asra as well on top of being taught because it seems highly likely that Lucio would've been too impatient to learn to do certain things himself, and like I said as well, I don't doubt he also just wanted to see what Asra was REALLY capable of. Something he could've saw as a tantalizing insight into the kind of power he could aquire of this kid would just... work with him.

NOW we have a MUCH clearer answer as to what exactly Asra was likely doing under Lucio, or at this point, almost certainly doing. It's a sad picture for Asra of course, but with this you can draw some interesting points as to how he could've been affected by this, as I'm sure it would've left some kind of imprint on him.

Sure it may not have been as traumatic as what Muriel went through, but when you look at it, it's hard to say it DIDN'T leave it's scars. If we consider all the points presented in this post truth we have:

A 12/13 yo homeless child, threatened with his friend's life to work for the Count that he knew was the one responsible for orphaning him and making him homeless in the first place.

Said child believing his parents are still alive, and as we see in Travel at Night, could very likely still be trying to find them. In a situation like Asra's that glimmer of hope probably was a big deal in helping him push on. This may also be a reason he agreed on top of Muriel's safety.

While working under the count, he is told that his parents were executed, no doubt devastating. The manner in which this was mentioned is up for debate, and could affect exactly how it was taken. Options could be Lucio joking or bragging about it (treating it as trivial or an accomplishment), or using it to threaten Asra, (as in I killed your parents, I'll kill you too,) both would work when it comes to controlling by fear.

It is also mentioned that Lucio told him the reason for his parents execution is that they messed up his gold arm, so Asra also has the knowledge that his parents were killed over something so unbelievably trivial.

Being used as a source of power and nothing else, both for teaching and pure work/entertainment, all for the man who killed his parents, day after day.

Being pushed to physically painful and mentally draining limits, expending so much energy that he completely exhausts himself, day after day.

Likely taking all sorts of verbal abuse from Lucio, day after day.

Like mentioned earlier, it seems clear that Lucio wanted to break Asra, so some other form of trying to chip away at his psyche to make him more convenient for Lucio is likely as well.

Those points alone, to yet again a CHILD no less, seem more than enough to cause some traumatic impact, and depending on certain specifics of what exactly went on during that time, it could be worse. I may make a post looking into the long lasting effects of this on Asra, I may not. It would mostly be headcanon regardless. If you want to add your hc relating to this situation though, I'll gladly reblog it!

And now that we are closing out, it's time to revise my summary. So, without further ado, THIS is what I think was going on during this time.

Lucio knows of Asras existence and parentage.

Lucio learns Asra is around and that he's got power.

Lucio LOVES power, so he threatens Asra into working for him.

Lucio uses Asra for his power and to be taught how to use it for himself.

While using Asra for his knowledge and power, runs him into the ground by pushing his limits to physical and magical degrees, possibly even moral.

Asra pushes back against a lot of this, or is at least percieved to, frustrating Lucio.

Lucio does what he can to try and control Asra even more, primarily via fear, but can't seem to crack him.

Eventually it's too much, and Asra leaves. Likely when the plague hit like Muriel, but it's possible it could've been somewhat sooner. Lucio is PISSED, because he wanted that magical power all to himself.

Less related, I can see Lucio trying to brush it off and pretending to be fine with it, excuse being "he was too difficult to work with, anyways," or something.

...And then... years later, as far as Lucio sees it, Asra comes crawling back- and he's tamed down to a degree! He's actually working with him. Lucio might not know what or who did it, but Asra is finally broke for him, and I'm sure he was absolutely ecstatic to have that power back in his hands- and more than ever before.

Think of all of this as you would like!

At the end this is all still speculative, so definitely feel free to make your own points or say if you feel any different abt anything- expansions or counters on this theory/headcanon welcome!

And if you also have any other screenshots or info not here that could add to the theory or change the outlook of certain things definitely add them!!! I feel like I'm missing stuff for sure, and my memory has probably muddled some things (hopefully I didn't get anything wrong, though.)

And @asrascherry thanks for the offer in helping word my hcs also! I forgot to say that. This one is just so long I wouldve felt bad bringing it all to you 😔 it's probably still messy as a result but I tried lmao (worried it's repetitive or unclear 😬)

Uh yeah! That's mostly it for NOW.

+All the love to Asra for going through so much I'm so sorry bb,,

Thanks for reading!

#asra #the arcana #the arcana game #asra alnazar #asra the arcana

[steponmepinkjun]

I know we've never talked but I was scrolling through your blog and saw a post that reminded of how the song The Night We Met by Lord Huron makes me think of Asra after MC's death and I literally can't listen to that song without crying anymore. I've been avoiding that fucking song like the plague for so long bc it always makes me cry so hard I nearly drown in my own tears. Every. Single. Time. And I just can't. I'm not strong enough. Just hearing the song in my head rn makes me want to cry,,,,

I actually have a whole playlist of songs that make me sad and, like, more than half of them are songs that just remind me of Asra after MC's death. Those are always the worst. The other ones I can actually listen to without crying if I'm not already sad but the ones that make me think of Asra... hoo-boy!

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with someone, idk. Feel free to ignore this lmao.

Oh you want BIG ASRA SAD SONGS? OH I'LL GIVE YOU SAD, BABEY. BUCKLE UP MY SWEET.

I'mma give you a journey, okay? A timeline. Trust me on this, I'll guide you through the hurt right on to the sunshine again. Set you up reeeeal good for that sweet sweet heartbreaking angsty shit and then follow through with some soft, gentle healing. So first imma need you to listen to "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and think of it as Asra and MC's dynamic prior to their death, traveling together, utterly comfortable and devoted to each other, reveling in the beauty of the world next to their best friend, the love of their life. Then imma need you to listen to "You Belong to Me" by Santo & Johnny and imagine Asra and mc slow dancing in the moonlight during their summer in Nopal before the plague. Arm in arm, content with the silence and the intimacy and wondering how life could possibly get better than this. And "Overtime" by Lucinda Williams when you imagine their lazy mornings together, feeling warmer than the sun in each other's arms. After that, put on "Still" by Daughter and think of the unbearable silence of the shop after MC's death. The way Asra would slowly slip further and further into the depths of the grief he was fighting. "Please Don't Go" by Barcelona when you imagine him waking in the morning, reaching to their side of the bed, expecting them to be there, before his conscious mind reminds him of the awful truth. "Sea of Love" by Cat Power when you picture the moment of their resurrection, how he must have held them so desperately, weeping over the feeling of them in his arms once again, and the confusion on their face, in equal measure. The violent, wracking sobs that would move the apprentice to silent tears for reasons they couldn't understand. "Fever Dream" by Iron & Wine when you picture the way Asra tirelessly cared for them, fed them, bathed them, rubbed coconut oil on their skin in the evenings and kissed their forehead each morning, every day, day after day, even though they couldn't get speak. "Beach Baby" by Bon Iver when you're ready to picture the way, after their first words, or the first time they reached for him after a nightmare, or the first time they laughed, truly laughed, since their return, and how Asra would smile at them so tenderly and then steal away, out of sight, to cry for their suffering, their confusion, the guilt that wracked him wondering if he'd done the right thing, the regret and the loss and the knowledge of all the memories from their Before that they'd never share again. "Wish That You Were Here" by Florence + The Machine when he misses their old self, but more than anything wishes that they could have all they've lost once again—and realizes he's falling in love with them all over again, for both the same and also entirely different reasons. "Angels" by The XX the first time they look at him with the same tenderness they did before. And, finally, "Love Song" by Lana del Rey when he's laying in bed the night after their first kiss, too overwhelmed with emotion to sleep, overcome with the possibilities and the grief for the past but most of all the all-consuming, weighty, impossible chance that his once in a lifetime love... has returned to him.

#It's okay bb we can cry together. #Asra hcs #asksteppie

[ilyeahdevorak]

Don’t Say Goodbye- Julian Devorak x Reader

summary: MC didn’t realize she wanted a real relationship with Julian until it was too late. 

Set during Julian’s murder trial. Before the trial, Julian and MC have been keeping each other at a distance- neither wants the other to get hurt.

tw: death, lots of angst

I burst into the dungeons, rage simmering in my chest. How dare Julian tell those people that he was guilty- that he actually murdered the Count- when it was clear that he was innocent!

“Step aside!” I commanded the guards standing by his cell. They jumped at my presence, quickly scattering when they saw the look of pure anger on my face.

I saw Julian’s angular face peek through the prison bars. He raised an eyebrow, pale hands wrapping around the bars. “Ah, the Magician (y/n). What can I-”

“Drop the act,” I hissed, cutting him off. Julian’s face instantly paled in shock. “Why are you doing this?” I demanded, approaching the bars. “You’re innocent, Julian!”

Julian faltered. “Now, (y/n), let’s not be too hasty-”

“You are innocent and you know it!” I boomed. Julian looked away guiltily and I took a deep breath, trying to quell the whirlwind of emotions in my chest. “Whatever guilt you think you have, Julian, we can fix it!”

Julian finally met my gaze, his one good eye shiny with tears. “Oh, (y/n),” his voice broke. “It’s not that simple.”

I froze. Julian’s face stirred a fear deep inside of me; it was if he knew what he was doing to himself, and he didn’t care.

“What do you mean?” I breathed. My throat seemed to have suddenly constricted, making each word a titanic effort.

Julian’s eyes fluttered and he bowed his head. His hands flexed around the bars, gripping tightly and loosening as his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I learned things in that basement that I wish I could unsee, (y/n).” He whispered slowly. “I remember who I was- the kind of man I am- and I have a lot to make up for.” He looked up at me, the tears in his eyes replaced by cold determination. “The plague is coming back, (y/n).”

My face went white as a sheet. “But- you said you found the cure-”

“I did. But I don’t remember what it is. Those memories were stolen from me- permanently. If I want to get them back, I have to go the Hanged Man’s realm. And to do that...” his gaze turned sorrowful once more and he reached through the bars, cupping my face in his palm. “I need to die.”

It could work. His mark could bring him back to life. He could visit the Hanged Man’s realm, find the cure, and make it back safely.

But if it went wrong...

“No,” I gasped, pulling away from Julian’s hand. I pushed my emotions into the back of my mind until they were nothing but a tiny lump in my throat- a lump of pure resolve. “No, there has to be another way. I’ll go to the dungeon myself, I find another solution-”

Julian gripped my wrist desperately. His eyes went wide with fear and a pang of sadness shot through my chest. “(Y/n), you can’t! It’s not safe!” He pleaded. “Please, I can’t-” he swallowed thickly. “I can’t do this alone.”

“You won’t have to do it at all, Julian. I’m going to stop this!”

“Please,” Julian breathed, his hand sliding down my arm to lace his fingers with mine. He brought our palms up to his face and pressed his cheek into our entwined fingers, placing a fervent kiss onto the back of my hand. “Please, (y/n). Asra and I already tried to get there. This is the only way.”

A lump rose in my throat and I looked away. He couldn’t see it- he couldn’t know how much the thought of his death ripped me apart. “You can’t,” I whispered. “I can’t- I can’t let you go- not yet-” A traitorous sob escaped my lips.

“Oh, my darling,” Julian pressed against the bars and used one hand to bring me as close to him as possible. He kissed my forehead feverishly, a tear sliding off of his chin. “It’s going to be alright.” He cradled the back of my head and let me lean my forehead against his chest while he smoothed my hair. I tried to keep my tears quiet, but soon I was sobbing uncontrollably, shaking in Julian’s arms like I had no will left to stand.

I’d tried to pretend that he meant nothing. I’d tried to push him away, to push down the feelings I had for him that were abundantly clear- and now it was too late. If he died, I’d never get to hold him, never get to kiss him, never get to be with him the way I wanted to.

“I haven’t gotten enough time with you,” I gasped, clutching his shirt for dear life. “I’ve been pretending that I don’t care, but I do.” I cried. “Gods, Julian, I can’t do this. I can’t do this without you.”

“Hush, darling,” Julian’s words came out slow and thick. His hands were shaking as they caressed my skin.

“I’m so sorry,” I hiccuped. “I’m so, so, sorry Julian. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

A laugh escaped Julian’s lips that quickly morphed into a strangled, despairing noise. “Please don’t apologize, darling. I don’t care that you pushed me away. I just wanted- I just want- you.”

My heart lurched. I thought I’d been too callous; I thought I'd lost him. But here, on the brink of his death, the knowledge that he cared for me swelled in my chest until it was practically unbearable. I pulled back and met Julian’s eyes through a haze of tears. 

“I love you.” I gasped.

Julian melted into my touch. “Oh, (y/n),” he smiled. “I love you too. So, so much.”

Our lips collided and everything seemed to fade away. Nothing existed besides us- not the looming execution, not the dungeon, not the prison bars keeping us apart. I was consumed by the feeling of his fingers tangled in mine, of his arm pulling me as close to him as possible. His body seemed to consume me until he was all I could feel- until my world consisted of only Julian. 

Suddenly, a guard broke our kiss with a loud cough. “(Y/n),” he called, respectfully keeping his eyes averted. “The- the execution is starting soon. You need to meet Countess Nadia in her booth.”

I whirled back to Julian, my heart dropping in my chest. “No.” I gasped. “Julian-”

Julian silenced me with a quick kiss. He smiled at me reassuringly, but I could see the sorrow in his eyes, feel the tremble in his fingertips. “Will you meet me when I wake up? I want your lovely face to be the first thing I see when I come back to life.”

I laughed in spite of the situation. That was Julian- always trying to make other people laugh. “I’ll be there. I promise. And, Julian...” my voice faltered. I met his eyes, hoping I didn’t look as terrified as I felt. “Please be careful.”

“(Y/n).” The guard repeated my name insistently.

I kissed Julian once, twice, trying to convey everything I felt into those few quick moments. “Please.”

Julian grabbed my face suddenly and devoured my lips. His touch was needy, desperate, like he was just fully realizing his position. “I’ll come back to you. I promise.” Then he pushed me away, stepping back from the bars. Quiet determination hardened the planes of his tear-streaked face as I backed away from the cell. He gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and then he was gone.

~~~

I sat stone-still in Nadia’s box as the guards pulled Julian out to the gallows. He offered no resistance as they dragged him up the platform; he stayed limp in their arms, the picture of a man defeated. My fingers tightened in my lap as I watched him, but I couldn’t move. Intense trepidation rooted me to the spot.

 A mixture of cheers and boos resonated from the Coliseum’s stands as the executioner looped the rope around Julian’s neck. He looked up, searching the crowd until his eyes met mine. They conveyed an unspoken apology and I suddenly realized that he didn’t expect to survive.

I lurched upwards, racing to the end of the box. 

“(Y/n)!” Nadia cried in alarm. I ignored her. I had to stop this, I had to protect him-

Julian smiled sadly and shook his head. I ground to a halt. The message was clear: I had to stay put. I had to let him do this.

A strangled sob escaped my throat and I clapped my hand over my mouth, trying desperately to quell my screaming heart. The executioner followed Julian’s line of sight, meeting my eyes once, then looked away remorsefully. He walked to the lever that would send Julian to his doom and boomed, “Julian Devorak. You have been found guilty of murder by Vesuvia’s highest court and have been sentenced to death by hanging. Do you have any last words?”

This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t lose him. I couldn’t watch him die.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats but Julian didn’t say anything. He just kept his eyes on me and mouthed the words: “I love you.”

Then, he closed his eyes, and he fell into the noose’s cruel hands.

#julian x reader #julian #julian devorak imagine #julian x mc #julian devorak #julian devorak x reader #julian devorak x mc #julian devorak fanfiction #the arcana #The Arcana Game #the arcana julian #arcana #arcana fan #arcana fandom #arcana fic #arcana julian #the arcana Julian devorak #Julian Devorak self insert #self insert #the arcana nadia

[glitchedhearts]

How Lucios endings were to a person that doesn't like Lucio.

Spoilers

Obviously but I want to say there is no hate to anyone that likes Lucio. Its just my opinion. Also sorry its messy its really late and im tired.

In order from which one i did first.

Reversed:.....I had so much physical discomfort with that. I don't know why I was so uncomfortable reading it around the end. I was really into it at first the action and description of the pain the mc went through was very good. Then.....it happened. I loved the way it showed how everything went down after he became the count again and how he declared war on Prakra. Then it got to the part when Lucio came to the Devils Realm........it got......very spicy I guess and thats when I got taken out of it and got uncomfortable for me, but because I needed to finish it I powered through it. Its sad the only mentions of Muriel and Julian are in the end and they were very brief, but I dont know. I guess its just bitterness but again I'm very biased. Then it goes on with more personally uncomfortable scenes and it ends there. The cg also makes me a little uncomfortable but again to each their own.

To sum it up....that was a roller-coaster ride from beginning to end.

7/10 personally it would be an 8.5 if I wasn't super uncomfortable during it.

Upright: I have less to say but just gonna say right now......I liked it okay. It played out very nicely. The imagery and mean girls reference was great. This one i was more into. I could picture ever single move they made. The slight bickering between The Hanged Man and The Star was really funny. It felt great to sit through and was super funny. Nadia and Asra work great together and it's nice to see them interact more and battling together was really nice to see. The battle was a little short imo but hey we had to wrap it up somehow so not gonna be mad about it. The flash forward was amazing. I love Lucios new look it really fits him. Also them being adventures is a good choice. I didnt pick any of the paid options so if you could fill me in on it I would love that but imagining Lucio eating fire noodles is hilarious. As a person that has played Muriels route multiple times it was great to see Terske again (Probably wrote that wrong but its late okay dont yell at me for it)......The jam.....anyway next I have nothing to say about that. I love that cg it closes everything off so well and that is probably my favorite Lucio cg out of them all.

Rating: 9/10 enjoyed it more then I thought but no tears out of me so down a little.

TLDR: I kind of like both ways that Lucios route ended and am TERRIFIED for Muriels endings.

#the arcana #the arcana game #thearcana #asra alnazar #nadia satrinava #count lucio #lucio #lucio the arcana #muriel #julian devorak #portia devorak #the arcana mc #the arcana apprentice

[faustonastring]

Can you make a HeadCannonn about Muriel (again) about probably reason why he have a reason dislike/hate the MC? Because there so many reason. The only thing i believe he dsilike us probably because we brought back alive. And is not a real us. (Probably)

Writing this as a meta, (after discussing it with them of course!) thanks for asking

Also this is a long ass post, sorry I just have some thoughts

Why Muriel probably doesn’t like the apprentice

Well first off it’s safe to say Muriel doesn’t like people In general. Especially people who are loud and ‘annoying’ and especially people who have no boundaries and get up in his personal space.

So chances are, Muriel doesn’t like you because you’re just there. And he doesn’t like you even more if you fit any of that criteria, but I think there’s more to it. I could be wrong, but certain things about Muriel’s character kind of stuck out to me, while thinking about this.

First off, the only person Muriel has been close to his entire life in asra. He had his parents ripped away from him when he was a kid, all the other orphans called him weird (unrealated, but that’s probably why he calls the apprentice weird all the time, but anyway-) it was always just him and asra.

Then you enter the picture. :)

By using my judgment I think it’s safe to say that you and asra meet after Muriel escapes from the coliseum (it says in asra’s route, I think I’m his dancing paid scene, that you’ve know each other for nine(?) years, and Muriel has been living on his own for ten, so you literally missed it by a year) which puts a huge damper on things.

During this time he needs asra most. He’s going through a lot, and processing years of trauma, but his best friend won’t shut up about this cute person her met at his shop today. That’s where he starts to not like you.

And I’m not saying asra just ignores Muriel,mans granted Muriel was probably very stand offish to asra at some points, but it’s safe to say that asra’s little crush, is kind of harmful to Muriel. And this is just based off of contex clues but Muriel probably had a crush on asra at the time, or at some point, and well I think almost all of us know how much it hurts when our crush doesn’t like us back, or how much it hurts when they like some one else

So let me break down why I think Muriel is upset at this point (yes there’s more)

It’s no longer just him and asra, now it’s him, asra, and some random person, who he doesn’t know, which is a big Nono for Muriel

Asra could be focusing more on you than helping Muriel with his trauma, which yes isn’t his job, but it’s what he needs, which makes Muriel not only more upset but more standoffish

Muriel probably had some type of romantic feelings at some point towards asra, and finding out that asra not only didn’t like him back, but liked some one else (who he automatically deemed better and more good looking than him) hurt.

Then you and asra get in a fight and asra disappears to god knows where and Muriel doesn’t like you for that either, because you hurt his one and only friend. His best friend. And he doesn’t know where he is. Nice.

Then you die. :)

And Muriel feels bad, he feels sad, he may even cry about it with asra, but now he’s just mad at the world for making asra spiral out of control like this. He’s not mad at you, he knows he can’t be mad at you, you’re dead, but he’s mad, and upset, and he doesn’t know how to process everything, so he kinda doesn’t like you for this too. Only kinda though.

He’s not upset with you for the ritual, that was asras doing, he’s not alowed to be mad at you for that, I’m not letting him. He’s more or so mad because asra spiraled like this, and he doesn’t like seeing his best friend so distraught. It makes him feel things. He’s also not mad about the ritual because not only does he get to give up his fear, but now people also forget him so it’s a win-win! Atleast that’s what he thinks at the time.

In my opinion, I don’t think he cares that it’s not the real you. I mean maybe a little. Just a tiny bit. But if we follow the canon time line, ehhh I think it’s safe to say that he never liked you anyway. (I swear to god if his update says something about the apprentice and him being tight. I’m going to riot. For multiple reasons.)

But If you have your own little cute story with Muriel and your apprentice pre-plague, and they liked each other back then in your canon. Then yes. He doesn’t like you because you’re different.

I feel like a lot of people are going to attack me for this one, or the update is going to prove me wrong, (it’s bound to happen, I should of waited I just felt bad) so everyone just remember this is what I think, I never said it was true, or canon.

And I would really like to hear other people’s thoughts, or answer any questions some one has if theyd like! Just please keep it respectful. I’m sensitive.

#the arcana #the arcana game #asra alnazar #muriel #muriel of the kokhuri #the arcana muriel #muriel the arcana #muriel headcanons #muriel hc #the arcana hc #the arcana headcanons #the arcana game headcanons #the arcana meta #muriel meta #the arcana game meta

[raccoonpoptart]

Hiya, can I ask for the shape-shifting mc thing? But mc's a bit insecure on their looks, so they shapeshift to look different and then one day decide to show themselves? Ty-💐

this is so beautiful i will collapse on the spot.....THANKYOU TY 💜🦇 shapeshifting is so cool i made one of my MCs a shapeshifter

also i did a little prologue thing and then had the main six react ✨ if you want me to do a fic with mc and one character let me know!

❀

shapeshifter mc

warnings: insecurities, slight angst (i’ve never written angst omg exciting)

gender neutral!

Y/N sighed softly as they looked into the mirror. Their reflection stared back, looking miserable and far away. This had unfortunately become a daily occurance that y/n wasn’t proud of, but couldn’t seem to pull themself out of it.

Pulling at their ears, a soft tear slid down their cheek and they scoffed. Too big. Pushing against their nose, they laughed. A hollow laugh that rang throughout the room as their brows furrowed. Was that too big, too?

Shaking their head, y/n took a deep breath and wiped their tears. “I think i’ve been staring too long.”

With that, they shifted their nose and ears to their preferred shape. Smiling softly, they changed their hair to the style and color they liked and waltzed out the door with a newfound confidence.

oops my hand slipped <3 okay!! no more angst, now we’ll move on to the babes!

Asra

he had only seen you in your natural state a few times surprisingly, but you changed something everyday...

at first he thought nothing of it, but it led him to wonder if you had always changed what he thought to be your natural appearance

one day he heard you crying in the bathroom but didn’t want to mention it, so instead he kept reminding you of how beautiful you are and gave you longer hugs

once you were more comfortable with him, you slowly stopped changing yourself and he was starstruck, he adored how you looked before but your natural look? oh geez he absolutely loved it

he would not stop complimenting you, even when you tried to deny it because he 1000% believes that you’re the most beautiful/handsome person ever

kisses the parts of you your insecure about and reminds you everyday that you’re perfect

noticed that in your old pictures you were normal and couldn’t help but feel bad he didn’t realize sooner

Nadia

once she was brushing your hair and complimented the color of it that day (“mc, purple is such a beautiful color on you!”) and didn’t notice you flinch

she walked into her bedroom one day and found you crying in the bathroom

immediately she scooped you up into her arms and held you close telling you “it’s okay” over and over and kissed your head

when you were finally able to look at her she gasped, but you could tell it was in a good way because she blushed and held your face

“darling, you’re so gorgeous! is this how you look naturally?” she couldn’t stop staring

you explained that you always change little things about yourself in hopes that no one would notice and she got a little sad but was understanding

she always remembered to compliment you everyday and was so proud when you finally start being yourself

Julian

let’s be real this man can probably smell insecurity from a mile away because he is the ceo (secretly)

he never said anything about it but by the way you always changed your eye color, hair color, etc. he had a feeling that there might be something up

it wasn’t until one day you looked at someone and he could just see how sad you got as you touched your nose softly

that’s when he finally mentioned it, but of course he’d be super gentle about it and wouldn’t push you

once you were alone you finally revealed yourself to him and he froze

him saying nothing and just staring obviously made you freak out, so you covered your face and went to change but he quickly stopped you

“MC, i’m sorry, i’m sorry.....you’re just so ethereal! so heavenly, i couldn’t believe it! you’re so lovely, darling~”

if you have a big nose he doesn’t ever let you feel bad about it because i mean...look at him he’s rocking his beautiful nose so why shouldn’t you

Muriel

(sorta off-topic but if you were able to change into a bear i think he’d die of love) anyway

he has a very comforting aura so i think he’d be the easiest to talk to about it

always notices whenever you change anything about your appearance and has probably only seen your natural form when you’re sleeping

out of respect he doesn’t ever say anything but sometimes comments on how cute you look when you sleep which causes you to blush, but you realize you can’t really control what you look like when you sleep (no matter how much you try)

once you’re more comfortable with him and you slowly stop changing how you look (other than your hair because it’s just fun), he makes sure to tell you you’re beautiful/handsome whenever he can

loves to hold you close and make you feel safe enough to be completely yourself

Portia

probably a little jealous you can change how you look but only because she’d love to have crazy colored hair for at least a day

if you can turn into animals she’d be so ecstatic! pepi would be so excited too :3

she eventually asks why you change how you look so much but doesn’t pry if you get uncomfortable

instead she just hugs you tight and reminds you that you will always be perfect in her eyes and nothing will ever change how much she loves you

once you reveal your natural self to her she goes wide-eyed and gasps

you only had a few seconds to brace yourself when she tackled you into a hug and kisses your face all over

“YOU’RE EVEN MORE STUNNING THAN BEFORE!! not that i didn’t like you before, you’re just so PERFECT!!”

makes it a daily ritual out of listing every single thing she loves about your physical appearance (and personality, and basically everything,,, she starts to ramble)

Lucio

probably wouldn’t notice if you change your appearance very quickly unless it was completely obvious

he always compliments you no matter what you look like that day but eventually starts to realize he can’t actually remember what your eyecolor is

which leads him to realize he doesn’t know your actual haircolor and then??? he panics because how is he supposed to get you jewelry that will be perfect for you if he doesn’t know????

once he finds you he asks you how you’re able to change your hair so much cause he assumed it was magic “but that would take a lot of energy, right? i swear i’ve been paying attention, mc....”

you explain your situation and he eventually understands but he then asks again what your real eyecolor and haircolor is

seeing his stress, you sigh and show him your natural self

cue the confusion.... and most likely him being either hurt or just whiny,, “mc, why do you change yourself so much? you’re so breath-taking...”

when you share your insecurities he can see how embarrassed you are and his suave facade is back in motion, so of course he starts showering you with TONS more compliments and gives you soooo many kisses

now he knows the perfect gifts to give you~

❀

i hope you enjoyed :)

i’ll most likely make another shapeshifter fic because i love this idea so much

#the arcana #julian devorak #julian x mc #asra alzanar #asra x mc #count lucio #lucio x mc #countess nadia #nadia x mc #portia devorak #portia x mc #muriel #muriel x mc

[nobeliumoxygenoxygenmisc]

Main 6 with MC in the snow (HCs)

(modern au - these got long-ish so portia, muriel, and lucio are under the cut!)

Asra

Don’t lose him in the snow because asra’s hair is snow so be sure to keep your asra near you at All Times

snow snakes because faust (later when you facetime her, coz she’s being babysat by muriel, and show her the pictures of the snow snake she’s ecstatic its adorable “twins!”)

He always makes sure you’re bundled up enough but show the slightest shiver and he’s piling more layers on top

if you two go tobogganing down together, asra doesn’t realise anything he’s just kinda cuddling into you and ignoring how fast you’re going down

“asra i think we’re gonna fall” “hm??” asra we’re gonna fall ohmyg--” “you’re so warm y/n” “a s r a”

he says so many stupid snow related pick up lines tho

e.g. “asra where’s your scarf??” “hmm... oh looks like it lost it... can i wrap you around me instead?” “... asra did you lose it on purpose”  

or, you two make a snow angel “you’re the real angel here y/n”

Warm up cuddles later on!! Because you gotta!!

Depending on your skills, asra can either a) pretend he sucks at skiing etc. or whatever just so you can teach touch him a bit or b) become your teacher to “correct” your stance just so he can teach touch you a bit - he’s flexible like that

And you know he’s playing but it’s a good game

Nadia

Grace elegance and beauty even in the freezing cold

shes so happy to be able to have time with you in the snow because she’s so far away from her responsibilities and it’s just the two of you

You two make a fabulous snowman that … honestly looks really good wow

But the best part is not even out in the snow it’s when you’re both inside and you’re sipping your hot drink and nadia’s smiling at you and you’re like ??? and she just goes “You look charming MC” and you don’t quite believe her because your nose is running and your eyes are watery from the cold but nadia is so genuine that you’re not flushing just from the cold anymore

She’s super supportive when you go skiing/whatevering down and takes loads of pictures and videos and tells you you were amazing even if she’s already a pro at it

if you fall, nadia makes sure you’re alright first and foremost and frets just a bit before you reassure her you’re fine

if she falls (if that’s possible) she laughs it off and asks you to teach her with a very sly but subtle smile that makes you go >.>

on the snow lifts, she looks at you like flynn looked at rapunzal in that one tangled scene as you’re looking at the scenery

Julian

Snowball fights but julianised. So like every time you get a hit in he’s crying out in pain and dramatically falling to the ground because of course he is

You two probably reenact a death scene and it’s very very dramatic

“MC… remember i love you… my dear my sun my stars … not even the harsh coldness of this weapon of snow … could ever erase your warmth from my heart”

If they’re there, mazelinka and portia are not impressed but they do remark that you two are a match made in heaven considering you indulge in his drama

A few passerbys probably go wtf but it’s okay because you’re having fun with your dear, sun, and stars

And he does exude a sort of charisma so some kids aren’t afraid of taking a shot as well and its hilarious for them when he “dies” so this leads to a huge game of snowball fights and julian thinking he cant wait to have fun like this with your future kids

Going down the hill in whatever form more than likely ends up with julian on the ground with a face full of snow because he tried to do a trick five levels higher than his own

julian probably says stupid snow pick up lines like asra but his make you roll your eyes when he says it because he’s so smug and dramatic saying them

Portia

You two do everything there is to do in the snow

snow angels turn into snowball fights with portia making impressive fortresses and throwing snowballs with more force than someone her height should be able to use that turn into snowmen that collapse because you two are really just chucking as much snow as possible into one huge pile before just sculpting it into this vague humanoid shape that you two take one look at and go ...

“it kinda reminds me of vlastomil!! ” “maybe volta if you tilt your head..?” “oh! you’re so right y/n!” *snow figure collapses* both of you, in sync: “vulgora”

Go tobogganing down together and portia’s laughs and squeals are enough to last you the whole year who needs warm clothes or fireplaces when portia is the sun herself

of course that’s before she uses your weights to speed up as you go down and inevitably crash and burn and now she’s not so much squealing but screaming but still in joy let’s be real and now you’re not so much warm but panicking

The snow lift is fun but hopefully you’re not afraid of heights because portia unintentionally (or intentionally…) rocks your seat as she waves to people down below and probably gives you a mini heart attack when she holds the phone over the edge to take pictures

Muriel

You two are in your own little corner because there’s a lot of people so you should definitely find a quiet place but not to worry inanna is with you of course and the whole experience is very very soft and wholesome with muriel

the only person you’d leave the snow super unharmed with. everyone else are varying degrees of a mess

He won’t do snowball fights but if you join in with someone else’s he may be coaxed into making snowballs for you to launch from behind your little snow fortress that has to be big to cover your mountain boyfriend

comment on how adorable he is in his seventeen layers of clothing and he’ll shortcircuit like. “!!!! w-what?? ...it’s-it’s cold. stop smiling.”

Snow angels are just sad comparisons of your angel to his, really, and you have to convince him to do it because why?? whats the point of that??

and that’s if inanna doesn’t come over and trample them as soon as you two finish and get up because she’s curious

You two try to make a snow companion for her but the resemblance is … not uncanny

Still it’s enough to get pictures!!

Take the opportunity to cuddle more than usual indoors because you can use the excuse that you’re “cold so let’s cuddle” and maybe some puppy dog eyes thrown in so muriel’s conflicted but ultimately kind heart is compelled to warm you up

Lucio

snowball fights start off with one innocent ball that is a bit rougher than you’d like and then it snowballs into something bordering on vicious - people steer their families away from you two

at first he was just trying to annoy you but assuming you fought back, it is so on - good luck

If lucio wins he’s rubbing it in your face but if you win? He’s playing it off like “well it’s just a game anyway!” sure it is lucio sure it is

if a stranger throws a snowball at you, whether intentionally or not, he’s ready to protect you even from a little kid. no one can hit you with snowballs but him thank you very much

Snowboarding, skiing, whatever it is he wants to get to the bottom first. and lucio might not even be trying to win against you - someone passes him and he’s speeding the hell up

Take the snow lifts and he’ll take the opportunity to cuddle up with you under the guise of “don’t be scared MC, i’ve got you” but it’s more like you’ve got him if the lift stops and he’s like “what is going on??? Why have we stopped??? Has something happened?? This is ridiculous do they know who i am--” “lucio please--”

probably looks at you like miguel looked at tulio in that one road to el dorado scene

dare him hard enough to lick his arm and he would actually do it to show you he’s not a coward so like. your move

#the arcana #the arcana headcanons #asra #nadia #julian #portia #muriel #lucio #asra x mc #nadia x mc #julian x mc #portia x mc #muriel x mc #lucio x mc #asra x reader #asra x apprentice #nadia x reader #nadia x apprentice #julian x reader #julian x apprentice #portia x reader #portia x apprentice #muriel x reader #muriel x apprentice #lucio x reader #lucio x apprentice #my writing #writing #my work

[lieutenantdexy]

Asra x Julian Modern AU that I made with a friend

So it's based on the song Somebody Else by The 1975. Julian and Asra had that whole physical relationship going on for a while, but they had a nasty argument leading to them not speaking again. Julian loved him a lot and gets super upset for more than a month. He's at this like bar place club thing and he sees Asra with MC and is just utterly destroyed about it.

So this add-on-to-the-plot is based off of "How To Be A Heartbreaker" by from Marina and The Diamonds. Asra used to be a local prostitute, he used to get paid to sell his body to people. Although, in this AU it recently became illegal to be a prostitute without a pimp or having yourself recorded. So, after it became illegal, Asra turned to stealing money instead.

Asra started going to gay bars since he found it easier to get money there, Asra goes to the same gay club, and the guys there label him as a "player" since he almost always goes home with someone. Julian didn't know this, Asra tries his shot with Julian, and Julian REALLy falls head over heels. Since the most impulsive thing Asra did was Julian, he showed a bit more of his personality to the redhead, Julian falls for this part of him, and doesn't want Asra for his body. Julian constantly tries to talk to Asra at the club Julian often goes to (let's say Asra goes to different clubs on different days and sometimes he has days off he gives himself if he's not feeling it, but Asra goes to the club Julian goes to on Fridays), Julian treats the bar as somewhat of an escape, he knows the people there well. Asra pities Julian, knowing well about how he feels about him, since this wasn't the first time someone fell for him. Although, Asra gives in to him constantly trying to talk to him and they end up developing a physical relationship. Asra started stealing money when this relationship started (since like, Julian is an actual doctor, he gets a lot of money), but slowly felt guilty for doing it, and stopped talking to Julian. Julian gets really jealous easily, so when he sees Asra with MC, he gets really upset. Asra gets annoyed when Julian interrupts his work (that is, trying to get into MC's pants for money) and kinda just, says angrily, straight to Julian's face, that Julian should move on, and that Asra isn't what Julian is looking for. Julian of course gets more upset, and just, doesn't give up, until Asra stops talking to him. It isn't until his friends at the gay club inform him that he's a "player", but this doesn't help. Julian doesn't know what to do and is still very much in love with Asra. This is when Portia notices Julian's behavior, noticing the pictures of Asra that he always looks at on his phone and how sad he looks when he looks when he sees them. Portia decides to investigate (she's a cop), and looks through Julian's phone during movie night, (Portia and Julian often spend time together, eating pizza and watching some movies), Portia sees he constantly texts someone named Asra, and has picture of himself and some white haired guy (Asra) in his phone. Portia assumes Asra is his ex or something, but is still suspicious, she investigates more after movie night and learns that Asra is a prostitute online. She contacts him pretending to be interested so she can arrest him, but she doesn't have the guts to when Asra invites her in. So instead, she convinces Asra to contact Julian, flirt with him, talk to him so he can feel better. By "convince" I mean Portia bribes Asra with money to do so, Asra agrees and well, talks to Julian, Asra gets paid every week to pretend to be interested, and Julian is happy for a while, until he realizes that Asra is being paid and he's a prostitute. This practically breaks Julian, he tries to convince, beg, even, for Asra to quit being a sex worker since he doesn't want him to go to jail. Asra gives up, Julian convinced him, he ends up living with Julian, Julian tries to help him with a job, etc. Julian starts seeing an actual part of Asra, his personality and just, loves that part of him as well, it's an emotional rollercoaster but they end up together and happy in the end.

AND HERE'S THE PLAYLIST THAT GOES WITH IT

#the arcana #julian x asra #asra x julian #asrian #the arcana portia #julian devorak #asra alnazar #the arcana game

[straykidsnerd255]

The gift of a friend The Arcana man 6 x Fem Reader

Game: The Arcana- Modern Au

Not romantic just friendship fluff

Pairing: None

Song: Gift of a friend- Demi Lovato

Julian sighed in sadness for the tenth time that day. “Julian, this isn’t going to make her come back faster. She has things that she needs to do.” Portia said, patting her brother on his back. Julian looked down. “I know. I just want her to come back home.” He mumbled. Portia couldn’t help but laugh at her brother’s pouting. Lucio and Nadia soon walked into the room with Muriel trailing behind them. “Any word on her return?” Nadia asked. Asra walked into the room and shook his head. “I actually just got off the phone with her. She said that she is going to be singing a song somewhere else and won’t be back for a while longer.” He said looking down. Lucio crossed his arms and scoffed. “Well, she is a superstar alright now.” He said sitting on the couch next to Julian.

Asra remembered that she told him to flip to the channel her concert was being aired on. He sat on the chair to the left of the couch and felt a smile grace his lips when he saw her dancing around on stage. The bright smile that sat on her face, and the cheering crowd made every single one of them smile brightly. The next song that began playing struck each of them in a way that they couldn’t even describe. It was like she was there with them and had each of them wrapped in a big hug. Her voice filled their ears and made their hearts explode with how much they loved and cared for her.

Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself

'Cause a dream is a wish that you make all alone

It's easy to feel like you don't need help

But it's harder to walk on your own

You'll change inside

When you realize

The world comes to life

And everything's bright

From beginning to end

When you have a friend

By your side

That helps you to find

The beauty you are

When you open your heart

And believe in

The gift of a friend

The gift of a friend

She swirled around on stage with each of their pictures flashed behind her. Some just of them, and some with her hugging them or all of them laughing. She continued to sing with all of her heart. Lucio stared at the picture of her and him slow dancing in the backyard. The others still in the picture were smiling and clapping their hands. The biggest smile graced his lips when he looked down at her. What surprised them, was the picture came to life and it showed them the dancing and the chanting and singing that went on in the picture.

Not a single eye was dry in the room. Lucio was practically sobbing and he didn’t care who saw it. She held her arms out when a picture of all seven of them appeared on the screen. It was a picture of when they had all gone jeeping and stayed till after the sunset. She had planted a camera behind them and when the sun was setting, she started the timer.  The picture has been her favorite as the silhouette’s were different sizes and it made her happy to see it. The camera’s zoomed in on her face as she sang and tears spilled from her eyes.

Someone who knows when you're lost and you're scared

There through the highs and the lows

Someone you can count on, someone who cares

Beside you wherever you go

You'll change inside

When you realize

The world comes to life

And everything's bright

From beginning to end

When you have a friend

By your side

That helps you to find

The beauty you are

When you open your heart

And believe in

The gift of a friend

Outside of the house, Y/n held her finger to her lips. They had pre recorded the scene that she had told Asra and the others to watch. She had planned the special trip home to see her friends and to hang out with them. Of course, the camera crew wanted to capture this reunion and show the world. Which, she didn’t mind it at all. She looked at the camera crew and made sure that they stayed quiet. She walked to the front door and took a deep breath. She knocked on the door and heard Lucio’s startled curse. She chuckled lightly. “I got it.” Portia said as Y/n heard her walking to the door. When she opened the door, a surprised squeal left her lips. She whipped the door open and ran to Y/n hugging her tightly. 

Y/n laughed freely and hugged the red-head back. Portia held her in the hug for a while before Julian walked over to the door. “Portia, come on we have-” His words fell short when he saw Y/n being squished by Portia. She looked up and smiled at him. “Hey Julian. How have you guys been?” She asked when Portia pulled back. She grabbed her hand and pulled her in the house. The camera crew of course didn’t come with unless motioned to come. Y/n turned to them and nodded her head motioning them to follow. 

When she entered the living room, Lucio was the first to look up and nearly broke down crying again. He stood so fast and had Y/n wrapped in a hug. Nadia, Muriel, and Asra were the next to follow. They had her wrapped in a massive hug. “What about the concert?” Nadia asked, turning back to the tv.  “She wanted to come home and surprise all of you and asked us if we could try and push this show in with the other show. The profits made from this massive show she did, was amazing. So many people showed up after hearing this was the biggest show she would put on.” The camera man said smiling.

When your hope crashes down

Shattering to the ground

You, you feel all alone

When you don't know which way to go

There's no signs leading you home

You're not alone

The world comes to life

And everything's bright

From beginning to end

When you have a friend

By your side

That helps you to find

The beauty you are

When you open your heart

And believe in

When you believe in

You can believe in

The gift of a friend

The last of the song could be heard as the camera’s continued to film the reunion between friends. Lucio didn’t want to let go of her when everyone else did and opted to let her sit in his lap making her laugh but she couldn’t help but feel the love they all had for her. They had been best friends since they had been in diapers. They consider each other as family more than anything. Y/n leaned her head on Lucio’s shoulder and sighed softly. She was glad that she was home now. 

“Are you staying home for a while this time?” Muriel asked leaning his back against the couch near Lucio and her. Y/n smiled and nodded her head. “Ya. I’m on break for a little bit. I announced it at the concert and told everyone that I was going to be on break for a little bit. I wanted to spend some time with my best friends. The real only way to do that is to call for a break.” She said smiling. Ya, Y/n was glad that she was home with her friends. She had missed her friends since she had been on tour and she wanted nothing more than to tell them that she was done touring.

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”~ Walter Winchell

"Some people arrive and make such a beautiful impact on your life, you can barely remember what life was like without them." ~ Anna Taylor

"I may not always be there with you, but I will always be there for you." ~Unknown

“Friends ask why you're crying...Best friends already have the shovel ready to bury the loser that made you cry.” ~Unknown

“When you’re in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, “Damn. That was fun.” ~ Groucho Marx

Enjoy<3

#the arcana #Nadia #Lucio #Julian #Portia #Muriel #Fem reader #Music #Song #The gift of a friend-Demi Lovato #Enjoy #Friendship #fluff #cute

[hanawrites404]

Hi! Saw you reblogged the OC asks, so how about 1, 12, and 13!

1. What is their occupation in the Arcana World?

I am a fashion designer by profession, but I am also a farmer at my village along with my father. We both do the agriculture of almost every crop and even sell milk and meat along with some eggs.

We have a small bungalow near our fields too. But don't judge us only by this. Even though our work may seem squalid, we are rich. Like, filthy rich. Not as rich as Count Lucio but maybe as a baron, you can say.

And talking about the difficulty faced by a peasant which is wheather change, we don't worry about that at all. We are at the special side of Mother Nature, remember?? *Smirks*

12. What's one of their favourite memories?

I have many sweet memories of my childhood at Vesuvia. Most of them are of me playing with Lucio or being with my father. But I want to share this particular memory of mine when me and Asra.....well......shared our first kiss *blushes a lot*.

It was nighttime, we were at the docks, staring at the silver moon among the inky waters. We were holding hands, and I had laid my head on his shoulder.

He was telling me the stories of mythical creatures and magical worlds. Even though I was usually interested in such topics, my mind was somewhere else. My mind was thinking of the future, because tomorrow was the day when I was leaving Vesuvia.

Asra clearly noticed my distracted state of mind, and he asked me what was more interesting than his folklore. He didn't sound angry at that time, he was sounding like he was.......curious.

I told him everything without any hesitation, and I still remember how I was trying so hard not to cry in front of him, but as soon as he pulled me close to his chest and wrapped his arms around my smaller self, tears started to erupt from my eyes and soak his clothing.

It really suprised me that how the next thing he asked me was why I was crying. I really wanted to yell at him and scold him for being so naive and stupid to not even realise that I was not going to see him again.

And it seemed like he understood what I was thinking, as the next thing he did was pulling me closer and pressing his lips against mine.

It was a bliss. My heart skipped a beat and butterflies were fluttering in my stomach. His lips were soft while mine were chapped because I was biting them the whole time due to my anxiety of telling him the sad news, but he didn't seem to mind.

After we pulled away, he explained me that I shouldn't feel sad because where I was going live in the future will be better than Vesuvia, and whatever was happening was for my own good.

He admitted that he was sad because he won't be able to see my 'pretty' face and play with my 'silky' hair, but he was sure that I would come back to him soon and he would get to shower his affection on me.

You have noooo idea how hard I was blushing that day *smiles and chuckles*.

That night was bittersweet.....but it is surely one of the memories I cherish the most. Asra was a charmer at that time....and he still is, and I swear to protect him and never let him get hurt by anything at all............

13. What's one of their least favourite memories??

I can't really call it a memory because I was only a baby when it happened and I had no brains at that time, but Lucio was kind enough to tell me what was the incident once I grew up, even though I literally had to threaten him with a damn knife against his other arm..........

So I was sleeping in my crib peacefully while my father was away. Count Lucio was in charge to take care of me and was in the room with me, watching me sleeping.

And I fucking don't know what kind of ghost just possessed him at that time that he lifted me up with his golden prosthetic while holding me from my arm, pricking my skin with his sharp claws and destroying my invaluable sleep.

He also told me that how my loud wailing still haunts him when I adruptly woke up with a bleeding forearm. He also mentioned that how the whole palace was shook because of my cries.

I-It is not my fault though. I was a child!! My skin was delicate and sleeping was my life!! And even a small bleeding was enough to kill me at that time!! I would have been dead if I had bled more for even a second!!

Well, whatever. I had forgiven him as he was the one to bandage me up. At least he admitted his mistake....which I really liked about him *blushes*.

And by the way, I still have that mark on my forearm, and it's a really good method of blackmailing Lucio for everything *smirks mischievously*.

But I don't really use it on him frequently, I don't want to trouble him and make him feel more guilty. He has been neglected, forgotten, and I understand his pain. He has saved my life more than once, and it's my time to repay him..........

Hopefully this answers your question. See you later.

*She then looks at a painting of Lucio and younger her grinning to the brightest that they might rival the sun*

*She then smiles and kisses the picture where Lucio's face was*

My true hero.........

#the arcana game #the arcana #arcana mc #arcana OC #arcana apprentice #fan apprentice #apprentice asks #Wynne Toprak

[asrastea]

MAIN 3 + Faust: Children HC (Arcana)

This is my first time making a headcanon so... bare with me! Also REQUESTS ARE OPEN! merci and gracias. 

Asra:

Asra with kids?! Oh boy... as calm as he may seem on the outside, he can be about as chaotic as Julian on crack

For instance, once you went out to the market to get some of that scrumptious pumpkin bread for breakfast to find your whole kitchen and precious husband + spawn covered head-to-toe in flour

Let’s admit, he’s kinda embarrassed when you walk in

Lots of naps and cuddles

Those children are attached to him at the hip

They’re always cooped up with him, reading books on anything: alchemy, goldilocks, botany, it doesn’t matter. They just like the way Baba’s voice sounds

Tells lots of stories of his travels during bedtime

Forehead kisses and tuck-ins too :)

Best believe Aisha and Salim are always at Chez Al-nazar

Lots of magical incidents... good and bad, mostly bad ;)

Let’s just say the teapot situation had a reprise

Spending lots of time at the palace with Nadia and Portia

And getting into heaps of trouble with Uncle Ilya

And those times when Baba has to go on those long trips, they beg to go with him just like Mommy/Daddy used to

Julian:

Sometimes you think to yourself, who let this man have children???

He’s already a big baby

But, deep down he’s always wanted a big family

And that’s what he’s got!

Many, many, many rounds of piggyback rides

Broke a couple of vases and pictures frames. Oh well.

Julian does everything with them

Leech collecting? Hell yeah!

But don’t get too close, darling

Playing as pirates for a day? You betcha

You’ll be sick of, “ARGH, SHIVER ME TIMBERZZZ” by the end of the day

Julian is more conscientious than you’d think when it comes to his children

And is definitely more cautious about your welfare as well

Those Devorak children do enjoy seeing Auntie Pasha beat the shit out of Julian on a day of bad judgement.

“THE RED MARKET ILYA?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND YOU-”

Don’t let Mom/Dad know though, that’s a new type of hell

Nadia:

Polite, well-behaved child

At least, when she’s not looking

With Julian being at the palace so often, being troublesome just rubs off on you

When Nadia’s not busy, she gives your child personal piano/organ lessons 

She feels it’s more intimate that way

On a cool spring day, tea and your bambino’s favorite biscuits at the gazebo

Hide the alcohol! It’s not juice!

Lots of fancy outfits

Is a cool mom, but stresses that their wealth is a privilege 

Will NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES have Lucio 2.0 be brought up under her roof. 

Not. on. her. watch

Stories with the fam on holidays are a must

Auntie’s always keep the kiddo on their toes

There’s never a dull moment

Especially when Asra teaches the two magic

Life really couldn’t get any better, could it?

Faust da bootiful snek:

Lots of “Squeeze!”

Faust likes to play with them

Brings lots of gifts in the tots favorite color, smell, etc.

Don’t ask where it came from. 

Just don’t!

Faust is generally open, except that one time your child threw her across the room with their magic, accidentally

“Ouch” was definitely said. You felt pretty bad.

Some distancing was put in place for sure

But it didn’t last long

Faust is literally with them almost all the time

Did I mention her favorite nap-place is on your kid’s neck?

It is

And whatever you do, DON’T MAKE BAMBINO AL-NAZAR ANGRY OR SAD!

Faust will show up to that person’s doorstep with a knife.

Gladiator Faust Activate!

Faust really does love them, enough to make Asra a teeny-bit jealous!

Just a bit.

#the arcana #The Arcana Game #the arcana julian #the arcana lucio #the arcana portia #arcana headcanon #arcana #arcana hc #arcana headcanons #asra alnazar #asrathearcana #asra the magician #asra headcanons #julian headcanons #nadia satrivana #julian devorak #nadia headcanons #faust headcanons #Muriel

[witcherarcanathings]

MC with Night Fury Familiar Part 3

Reactions from LIs + Faust

Julian makes a habit of making drawings of him. Anatomical of course. For studying. But when you take a look they're pictures of you and dragon doing silly playful normal things.

Lucio us jealous. He wants a dragon. do they come in white?

Nadia is curious and in love, and will feed them from the table and scratch under their chin and baby him.

Portia is the only one to have ridden him as much as you.

Faust is jealous and they have a quick sibling rivalry, but dragon just wants to be friends. They make up when dragon vaults Lucio into the water one day at the docks.

Epic prank team Faust and Night Fury.

Asra will hand you all the books and times on dragons and stay up with you to read them. Have you tried x? I heard dragon's find it very pleasing. Or how about doing this? It should strengthen him and help him grow.

Asra understands your parent anxiety.

Muriel is quiet, and is at first annoyed by playfulness but Inanna likes him so that's okay. He brings Muriel fish, and he's okay with that too.

But stay away from the hen house because you scare his chickens.

Chickens slowly learn they will not eat them. Makes the night fury sad, so makes extra effort to be nice soft baby.

Brings Pepi fish, which sometimes he doesn't finish and it stinks up the house if Portia doesn't find it in time. But when she does she uses it for compost in her garden.

Playing in the garden with Pepi.

#the arcana asks #the arcana apprentice #arcana asks #apprentice #apprentice asks #Mc with night fury familiar #mc asks #arcana apprentice #night fury

[witchygalaxys]

MC Coming back to life!

Emptiness. Nothing but a dark void with no sound or light. The only sound was of my feet walking through water. The feeling of the freezing cold filled my soul, and yet it didn’t bother me. I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t anything anymore. Who was I again? What was I? I walked into the void questioning where I came from. I could feel my long hair drag through the water behind me as I continued my walk into emptiness.

MC: Wasn’t I supposed to do something important? I thought…. No… It doesn’t matter any more. Nothing does and nothing did I suppose….

Voice: MC!

A voice I recognized called out. Are they calling out to me? But why? How? Who is that…?

Voice: MC! Please come back to me!

MC: Is that my name? Is that who I am… or who I was? This doesn’t feel right…Wait… I couldn’t feel anything before… What is this? What is happening?!

The void began to brighten, and all-around cracks began to appear. The once still water beneath my feet began to create waves. Tears welled up in my eyes. This feels wrong! What’s happening?!

MC: Please…. Stop….

Voice: MC I wont let you go like this…

MC: STOP! THIS WILL BREAK YOU! IT WILL BREAK ME! PLEASE!

In a blinding light everything vanished. The void was gone and when I open my eyes I’m somewhere else… Everything hurts! My heart hurts so much! What happened to me!? This is all wrong! This body… Its not mine… This heart… It hurts so much!

Voice: MC! You are here! Y-You are really here…..

I’m curled up in a ball clutching my chest. I look up to finally see the voice. Who is this man? W-What did he do to me!? Why does he look so relieved?! All of a sudden this body just jerks. Immense pain swarming the body. I open my mouth to scream but no sound comes out. The pain… its to much… This heart… it’s breaking… Its dying… No… Please… I don’t want to die again! I’m scared… Who is he!? Why did he do this to me. The body tenses up not allowing me to move it. Tears start pouring from these foreign eyes. The mouth gaping open trying to let out a scream.

Man: MC! No no no no no! It’s Okay! Breath! You need to breath!

The man wraps me in his arms. Breathing? What is breathing? Why is he so worried? Who is he? What is he doing? The man gently leans down placing his lips against this body’s lips. He pushed a puff of air down this throat. Separating for a moment to gather more air. I began to realize what to do. Gasping for air on my own for the first time. Beginning to catch on I began to breath on my own. I gripped the man’s shirt tightly. Finally getting a good look at him. His face is dripping wet from tears. The pain pulsed through my body again. Un able to hold anything back I let out a blood curdling scream. I began to claw this new body. This body that wasn’t mine. I clawed at my chest trying to pull out The heart that wasn’t mine.. The heart that was full of so much pain and sadness. Continuously screaming, I hold nothing back.

Man: No! MC Stop!

The man jumped on top of me grabbing my new wrists and pinning me down. My hair covering my eyes I kept screaming and crying. Please…. Who ever you are… Make this stop…? Please… It hurts so much... I can’t take it! I stop screaming for a moment to try and beg him to end this. But nothing but nonsense came out.

MC : Phece maje ot sep

Man: MC…. Can… You not speak?

Please… make it stop. I beg him to make it stop but I can’t do it right… I look at him with tears running down the sides of my face. I looked into his purple eyes pleading him to make the pain stop. To fix what ever he did. Put me back where I was…

MC: phes…..

Man: Do… You know who I am?

I close my eyes and bite my lip. Unable to break free from him I shake my head. Another Pulse of pain rushes through the body. Causing my eyes suddenly to open. I let out another painful scream.

Man: MC…. I-I’m…. I’m so sorry…..

He slowly reached his head down placing his lips against my forehead and suddenly the pain stopped and once again everything became dark. As I faded gently into the darkness, I could hear his voice, so soft and gentle and full of so much sadness….

Man: Sleep for now…. I’ll fix this… I promise… 

So! That is, it! I Shall explain everything! Let me explain why I used MC instead of my own OC of the MC! I want everyone to be able to fit their character into this scene. I want them to be able to picture their own MC and if they want they can draw it out! The reason I gave the MC long hair is because the mc is no longer in a body. But is only a soul and a soul is the purest form of who the person is. I don’t know how to explain it… I just picture like a holy spirit and whenever I do I think of them all having extremely long hair. That’s my reason! And when MC is brought back into the new body the body takes the shape of the soul so the body had extremely long hair as well! Eventually when the MC calms down they can cut their hair however they want.

Now to explain everything else!

Obviously, the mystery man is Asra and this situation is what I think happened when the MC was suddenly brought back to life. The void the MC is in is my representation of purgatory. I also call it my depressed state of mind! Because when ever I am really sad to the point I feel nothing I always picture myself standing in a endless void. I believe MC was in purgatory because of a lot of unfinished business the MC had. From trying to help cure the plague and wanting to make up with Asra after their fight. In my thought’s purgatory is a void where nothing exists. Being in purgatory you lose your self and who you are or were.

I thought of this scenario when I saw something similar happen in the anime “Midnight occult civil servants” It made me think of how the MC first reacted to being brought back into a body that wasn’t originally their own. Having a different heart as well. From being pulled away from nothing where you felt nothing to being brought into a place where you feel everything. I made the MC react how I saw Hyakkimaru in Dororo when ever he got a new piece of his body back. But instead of getting one piece back at a time the MC got it all back at once. Overwhelmed by everything the soul and body began to reject each other. Hence the violent attacks of pain. Even with no memory nothing felt right. It wasn’t the MC original body or heart. The soul was having a hard time clicking into place. The panic only made things worse. So Asra used a spell to put the MC to sleep to stop them from panicking and give him a chance to figure out a way to stop the rejection. So He made the MC forget the entire thing. So when the MC woke up again they would be calmer. They would simply be some one who lost their memory. But when ever the MC came close to remembering the soul and body would also begin to remember being put together and begin the rejection process again. Causing the MC great pain again. So Asra constantly would need to erase their memories again until the soul and body could fully sink together.

But that probably wouldn’t explain how Lucio was able to take the body and use it so easily right? WELL I FIGURED THAT OUT TOO! MC was not in the right state of mind when they were brought back. They were dead for a while. Locked away in nothingness. You know how your eyes hurt when you leave a dark room and suddenly enter a bright room? It’s like that but with your soul. Not just that but the soul was almost reduced to nothing as well. The faint recognition of the voice that called out to the mc filled them with emotions they didn’t understand or remember. They just knew what was happening wasn’t natural and wasn’t supposed to happen and that it was dangerous not only for the MC but for the voice they heard.

Lucio remembers everything… (I don’t think he fully remembers everything, but we will get to that in a different post.) He remembers being alive and still has his emotions and sense of self. Which allowed him to fit into the body easier. And when MC get’s their body back they have accepted what happened to them. They have a better sense of self and can now accept their new body.

That’s all I think… I hope you enjoy this! I may post similar stuff like this later. If you have any questions just ask my ask thingy! I basically made this because I love to imagine what happened in parts we didn't get to see in any of the routes. So I thought I would share one of my ideas. 

#The Arcana #Asra #asra alnazar #MC #Dororo #midnight occult civil servants #MC behind the scenes #Please read #Please like it

[loneliness-in-pain]

⚠️ Warning! ⚠️

This post speaks about the heavy topic of Suicide with a fictional character in the game ‘The Arcana’. I’m not disrespecting anyone and I’m not giving any ideas to those that have suicidal thoughts! I too have very heavy depression and I have had these thoughts in the past but I’m a-okay now! So don’t think I’m being disrespectful. Because I’m not. This is how I cope with my depression! Fictional characters and their struggles! The first half is not the suicide topic. The first half is funny. Which you can stop reading after the first half if you’ll be pissed at me for talking about one of the characters that’s not Julian being suicidal.

So I was reading Julian’s route in the game called ‘The Arcana’. (This half is not the heavy suicide topic).

Portia was telling the story about Julian and her with this other kid encountering bandits that were stealing from them.

They were children at this point and I don’t remember all the story... but all I remember from it was Julian threw himself at the bandits to try to stop them and Portia beat the shit out of them with a shovel. The bandits didn’t leave until one of the ‘grandmas’ she called them that was looking after them came running after them with a rolling pin. They were scared shitless when she came running after them, dropped what they tried to steal and BOOKED IT! Don’t fuck with Russian women. XD

Portia just needs a shovel, and whoever your opponent is... they’re fucked. XD

⚠️⚠️Now begins the suicide topic!⚠️⚠️

Then there’s when you’re telling Nadia that Julian is innocent for the death of Lucio. I chose the first one that tells her magic was involved and she noticed that too. You also tell her that Julian can’t use magic worth shit and she’s surprised but she believes you. Not to mention, she’s already been thinking that Julian is actually innocent but she still thinks he did it more than he’s innocent. Then she says what’s in that picture, and it makes me think that Lucio might’ve... committed suicide. (This is not cannon. It is my thought from what I’ve understood).

If someone is murdering you with fire they’d most likely burn everything else in your room along with you.

I was watching this Murder show. Not ‘Homicide Hunter’ but another one and the victim was a woman that was burned alive and she was laying there as she burned, completely conscious. Feeling every piece of it but acting like it was nothing. Thing is, she had multiple personalities. The man in her head, controlling her is what made her do that, when she didn’t want to. The only spot burning was her and where she was lying. The point about this is Lucio’s room would be burned everywhere at least a little bit and Lucio was the only one burned. Everything else in the room was like nothing happened. But your character believes magic was involved and Nadia is considering that.

Back to the topic of Julian being the one thought to have killed the Count, Julian was busy trying to find a cure in the dungeon and only heard about the fire in Lucio’s room and ran towards it to try and save Lucio. This is what we heard from Muriel when we met him again. So basically, there was already a fire before Julian even went to the room. And why would he be trying to rescue him if he’s the one that did it? It makes no sense. Unless someone was controlling him to do so. But again, it makes no sense because Muriel saw Julian run towards Lucio’s room after the fire was spoken about. So... it makes me think either someone else did it and accused the most obvious one, Lucio’s doctor of the crime or Lucio just committed suicide.

Why would Lucio commit suicide? WELL let’s talk about that shall we? His mother. There’s your reason. It’s known that his mother was not a good mother, (look at the fan wiki about him) and if you look at his smile compared to everyone else, his is VERY fake looking (like someone with very bad depression usually has). Especially when he’s acting like he’s ALL THAT.

Basically, Lucio’s mother was the type of mother to be there like, ‘crying is weak so you’re weak’—“grow a set of balls and stop crying” and people who go through that upbringing sometimes act like they’re the best since sliced bread, act like they’re strong and powerful, treat people different or more stronger or smarter than them like sh!t (Muriel—He’s f!cking strong as sh!t, and Julian—he’s a freakin Doctor, Asra—he’s a f!cking Wizard~) because they’re jealous of they’re accomplishments... and sh!t like that. You get the picture, they become bullies basically. Which he is. Look close to his smile when he’s acting like he’s the best thing in the world:

I may be wrong, but to me... compared to the others... that looks fake as sh!t...

Then there’s this:

He f!cking KNOWS he’s done terrible things. He KNOWS.

But, so he does not seem weak, and seems like he’s great and powerful he acts like how he does in the dialogue.

In other words, he’s trying to make his mother proud of him for how much of a ‘powerful’ and ‘strong’ and an ‘I’m not sad’ Viking. Because, in history... Vikings were TERRIBLE to each other and others. Don’t believe me? Look it up yourself because it’s very... V E R Y gruesome. Also how women were the most strong and intimidating people of the Vikings. The dominant gender. And his mom was a viking. He’s a Viking. From Sweden.

Anyways, back to why Lucio would’ve probably committed suicide.

Depression. Depression because of his mother. He acts like he doesn’t have it, because that’s usually what people with depression do, especially when they were raised with the words of ‘sadness is weak’, ‘tears are week’, ‘grow a set of balls and stop crying’. While with Julian, one of the most OBVIOUSLY depressed characters of The Arcana, was actually comforted. Way more than Lucio ever was. And that usually causes people to commit suicide. Especially men. You guys know by now the statistics of men and women that commit suicide in a year. The statistics of men is usually higher than the statistics for women. That is a VERY known fact at this point. And it’s most likely because men usually don’t get comforted often. Men are supposed to be rocks basically with how they’re usually brought up.

Don’t think I’m stating ANY of the things about Lucio and depression that I said here as fact. I don’t want to argue, so please don’t argue. I know there’s so much against what I said here, I just want to say the things my brain came up with. This is basically all just late night thoughts rushing through my head as I was reading Julian’s route. I do head cannons a lot. 😅

But anyway, good night. Or should I say at this point good morning. It’s 5am where I am and I haven’t been able to sleep at all! XD

#the arcana #the arcane game #the arcane #the arcana game #the arcana headcanons #the arcana lucio #the arcana lucio head cannons #the arcana julian #the arcana portia #the arcana nadia