#based on a guy from my dream who killed dogs

[cray0n-b0x]

faust

#art #drawing #doodle #digital art #oc #blood tw #gore tw #based on a guy from my dream who killed dogs

[caterpillarinacave]

So you choose not to step through the door, after all why mess with nonsense when you're already in nonsense? You check the items in your pockets, your phone you shut off to conserve power, the dog tag, key and top clink together but offer no help, and when you fiddle with the walkie-talkie you manage to get it to turn on, excitedly you call out to the void but only static responds, which is disappointing but predictable, so you put the items away and hunker down for the night, looking at the sky you can see that the stars seem strange, though you're no expert, and the moon seems to have a second smaller moon near it which looks pretty cool but is a stark reminder of how not on your own world your predicament has landed you.

In the morning you begin looking through the nearby bushes and plant life taking note of anything strange, you notice the berries you had been picking before you stepped through the door are also growing around here, they look and taste the same, and some other plants seem pretty similar to the forest from before as well, although the further away from the door you go the more unfamiliar plants you come across (of course that may just be your lack of familiarity with plants) and the few animals you have noticed are bizarre in a way that you can't explain, like the people from town, they seem almost perfectly familiar, just a little off and the noises they make have you thinking they wouldn't be able to communicate with their counterparts either, brushing aside another branch you come across a strange funnel made of metal which you pocket and what looks to be a regular whistle, you wipe it down and blow but hear nothing aside from the air going through, you consider it is either broken or maybe a dog whistle, as you go to put it away you hear something big running in your direction, before you can decide how to react a large creature storms out of the bushes and stops in the clearing before you, it's huge as a horse with paws and sharp teeth it licks as it looks around and spots you, it shakes its head again reminding you of a horse, then steps closer before turning and staring expectantly, you get the feeling it's waiting on you, impatiently, and you realize it seems to expect you to get on its back. Do you get on?

Yes.

#I am a terrible terrible Irish child #Clearly all those folk tales whose only moral was “don’t climb on the strange horse” were lost on me. Technically not a horse though. So. H #Uh please don’t run into the bog with my on your back strange horse thing. #…This may be one of my worse ideas #On one hand moving away from what appears to be the only connection my world doesn’t sound like a great idea #Back through the door is logically the the best bet. However I’ve already explored the area #The only thing to do would be to just sit there for hours and that will get me nowhere. The things that do have leads like the walkie- #Sputtering are things to pay attention to but not things that are likely to change if I don’t move. The whistle is the newest thing- #And let’s be real I’ve been in the bramble for like 14 hours without the neurospicy meds I am teetering on dangerously antsy #Probably better to get on the horse before I come up with something more stupid #It’s interesting my world flora seems to surround the door. I wish I’d payed more attention before I stepped through #If the nearby flora on the other side seemed like it would come from this world it would suggest that the door just leaks between universes #In two ways. If it’s earths flora then it’s either only leaking one way which we could no from one step through #Or - which we will not know but should pay attention for if we step into some other world - if the earths flora shows up around EVERY porta #Which would suggest earth is the base in some way #It might be beneficial to climb a tree to try and see farther out #Though I don’t exactly get many opurtunited to haul myself up a tree so I would put to much stock in a)my upper body strength #And b) my ability to chose a tree that won’t kill me #It’s defintley worth taking in as much info as possible. I’ll try and notice things like different winds gravity tempature ect #What should i tag this all. Help I got lost in a blackberry bush? Anon who takes me to alternate planes of reality? #I know #Guys I got lost in a bush #That’s a good one. Nothing weird there at all. #FINE I’ll rage it “guys I got lost in a blackberry bush” #I wonder what makes things so familiar. Perhaps this world exists very closely to the other. Perhaps they’ve crossed paths before. #Perhaps they’ve shown up in our dreams. Perhaps I have bad memory and my brain gaslights itself into thinking everything’s familiar #I wonder maybe the horse is a horse/dog thing- that would explain the likeness to the dog whistle (?) #This can’t get any worse I say doing something that could very much make it worse #Eh what’s the worst that can happen. At least I don’t have to pay taxes in this world #Guys I got lost in a black berry bush

[sciencebecameouraddiction]

my lucifer headcanons

note: these are just my own head canons. things i’ve noticed, how i write lucifer, what plays into why i write luce the way i do… etc. purely my own opinion.

- i think michael was very fond of his brother

- when the time came though to listen to dad and fulfill his duty or be a brother to lucifer michael chose duty

- the betrayal is still a sore spot for lucifer

- during lucifer’s “youth” he was curious, always dreaming up incredible creations… it was why he was dads favorite.

- he made the star fish, “because the sea deserves its own stars!” and he also made the duck. the ducks first iteration was quite a bit larger… lucifer and god compromised on a smaller duck. (more like god bribed lucifer.)

- he watched adam be made…. so he was always fond of him and lilith… until he fell in love with lilith…

- he didn’t realize it was love

- but michael knew and michael was scared. so he would draw lucifer away from the garden every chance he got

- lucifer was very naive when he was cast down to hell. he knew so much, he had been alive for so long, but there was so much life experience he didn’t have.

- the first few years in hell were horrible…

- he had hope at first

- maybe it all wouldn’t be so bad

- it was really bad. like really bad. the people who came down to hell were unspeakable devils

- (this is based off a fic i read and i can’t find it, if this rings any bells pls let me know the fic name) but lucifer is continuously appalled and distraught by the atrocities committed in his name.

- it’s one of the reasons he so powerful. he has the angelic power but also the power from those who worship him and make sacrifices for him

he really hates it. a lot. makes him feel no better than the worse overlord (cough alastor cough)

- charlie has no idea and she’ll never know if he can help it

- lucifer smells like apples and vanilla musk, a hint of cinnamon and something floral or citrusy.

- the floral or citrus changes depending on his mood

- he has a huge library. he actually pops up to earth with Asmodeous sometimes and takes books.

- he saved the whole Library of Alexandria’s books before it burned down

- he’s great friends with all the sins

- arguably closest with Beelzebub and Asmodeous

- he loves claw machines. the lights, the sounds, the prize winning???? he’s so fucking happy

- he actually wears glasses to read. he doesn’t need them but he says they make him look smarter.

- is actually a pretty good leader, is not nearly as forgiving as charlie is, but he’s not inherently cruel

- his third favorite color is pink

- his first and second are yellow and red, obviously

- he has expensive ass, maximalist taste.

- he doesn’t use tech because he knows what vox does to said tech.

- he’s always wanted a dog

- he’s very touchy. shows love physically. is only this way if he likes you though

- he has nightmares almost every night

- coffee addict

- because after not sleeping he wakes up looking like death warmed over

- and that’s if he didn’t forget to eat the past few days except for random snacks and didn’t do a 48 hour blitz of staying up working on ducks or the bit of kingdom shit he does.

- he has a handful of servants who he trusts and they are the only one in the house. there’s no team. nothing like that. he keeps it very close

- this was after someone who was a servant tried to throw an angelic dagger at his head because really they wanted to kill him and thought working for him would get them close enough.

- he homeschooled charlie. he knows a lot of stuff and even knew the guy who created calculus!

#hazbin hotel imagine #hazbin hotel #lucifer fluff #lucifer head canons #hazbin lucifer #lucifer magne #lucifer hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel lucifer #lucifer headcanons #lucifer morningstar #hazbin hotel headcanon

[wardenparker]

Preview: Down the Rabbit Hole

Jack Daniels x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

When Jack accidentally shoots a civilian on a mission he takes on not only the guilt of the man’s death, but inherits his soulmate as well. To you, it’s a dream job with more perks than you can imagine - but for Jack it’s a nightmarish complication. Even more so when he starts to develop feelings.  

✨To be added to the tag list for this story, just like or comment on this post! ✨

“Jason Howe, 36, born in Northwood, New Hampshire on April 4th.”

Jack winces and curls his hand into a fist as he stands in front of the conference room table. Not having been invited to sit, nor to have the glass of ‘67 Statesman Reserve that Champ has sitting in a glass at his elbow. A drink that Jack desperately needs. “Champ, there was a gun.” Jack defends, although he knows it’s a weak excuse. Statesmen take out the bad guys, not hurt the innocent. And Jack’s killed a bystander who had nothing to do with anything.

"You've been off since Cambodia, Jack." And although Champ knows exactly why, it can't be considered an excuse. He looks back down at the file on the conference table and frowns, then keeps reading. "Two siblings. Parents both living. Soulmate so far unknown." The older man looks up, locking his eyes on Jack. "We're tracking her down."

“Why?” Jack demands, frowning at the mere idea. Statesman had never tracked down a soulmate of anyone before, why start now? “We don’t know who it is, or if they care.” He scoffs. “Better to let sleepin’ dogs lie.”

“I don’t blame you for not noticing.” Champ sighs and shakes his head before finally motioning for Jack to sit. The man is his best senior agent, his quickest set of reflexes, and his closest friend. Frankly, Champ is worried about the upheaval in Jack’s life lately. It’s affecting his perception on a base level, not to mention his work. “You didn’t come out of that fire fight unscathed, and your adrenaline was too damn high for the pain to get through to you.” Running one hand down his face, Champ huffs slightly as he sips from his own whiskey glass but still doesn’t offer Jack any. “The back of your right arm. Just above your elbow. You have a new mark, Jack.”

“Bullshit.” Jack spits, furious at the implication of what Champ is saying. “My soulmate is dead.” He reminds the older man, as if he wasn’t well aware. Hell, Champ was the one who had recruited Jack to Statesman, so he was well aquatinted with his backstory. Until this moment, he would have called the man a friend. Maybe his best friend, even though Tequila likes to claim that’s his title. “Been dead and gone for years. So there ain’t no marks on my body.”

“I don’t mean to say anything against her memory.” Champ holds up one hand in a defensive posture. With the other, he gestures to the large mirror on the conference room wall. “Roll up your sleeve and take a look for yourself. Ginger noted the appearance of scars from minor cuts and bruises and a small tattoo on your arm. None of these marks were found on the civilian that was killed or any of the other dead men that Gamma Team cleaned from the scene. Following protocols, we’re now tracking down any and all soulmates and searching databases for your exact set of new marks.” He knows it isn’t good news. It isn’t good for the agency and it isn’t good for Jack. But, despite it being a long shot, it is now more likely than not that someone out there shares these marks with him. And that makes her both a liability and a potential target. Whoever she is.

Fuck.” Jack hisses bitterly, his shoulders jerking as he shuffles out of his sports coat and tosses it down so he can start rolling up his sleeve. “Can’t Ginger remove it?” He demands, not wanting marks on his body. He hasn’t had any since the day Abigail died and he doesn’t want some other woman’s scars or tattoos on his skin either. He doesn’t have a soulmate and he doesn’t want one.

“Soulmate scars don’t work like that.” He knows Jack knows it, but he also understands the younger man’s distress as he tears his sleeve back to inspect his skin. “As far as Ginger’s nanites are concerned, that’s just your skin. No imperfections about it.”

#Down the Rabbit-Hole #Pedro Pascal #Jack Daniels #Agent Whiskey #Jack 'Whiskey' Daniels #Jack Daniels x reader #Agent Whiskey x reader #second soulmate #Soulmate Sunday

[nolita-fairytale]

🍝 thinking of bradley bradshaw adopting a pet from a shelter that he’d name something creative goose… what do you think would happen? would he end up doing it or do you think you’d surprise him with baby goose who has an old soul and loves it when you guys put some of his parents’ favourite records on (okay i’m gonna shut up and leave it to you)

thank you for considering and i hope u have the best day or night <3

hi @bradshawed! yes, i love this idea! here are my thoughts on adopting a dog with bradley:

Adopting Pet(s) with Bradley Bradshaw

it's after a few months-long of a deployment that bradley insists on revisiting the subject. sure, you've talked about it before, but it's after this particular deployment that he really gets serious. not only does he want you to have something to keep you company for next time, but he wants to put down roots, just more proof that he's ready to settle down with you.

for whatever reason, i absolutely see bradley bradshaw with a dog, at least at first. after all the hot welcome home sex, the follow saturday the two of you head to an adoption event where adoption fees are waived and pets can be brought home that day.

"yes, we can go but i really think we should take our time with our choice. this is permanent, baby, so let's make sure the dog's gonna be the right fit for... our little family," you explain to him.

the two of you walk through the rows of crates and playpens of enthusiastic dogs, ready for cuddles, and despite bradley's own set of adorable puppy eyes with each dog he holds, none of them feel right.

it's not till you're just about to leave that the two of you stumble upon a sleepy quiet dog, one that must not have gotten noticed because he isn't as outgoing as the others.

"he's six years old. and everyone wants a puppy," one of the vet techs explains. you look into his eyes and he has the oldest soul, the sweetest, gentlest, kindest eyes and you know that he's the one.

"i know that you think we should wait but-," bradley begins, having already fallen in love with your future son. "yes. yes, i think he's the one."

so the two of you build your dreams, and a family with the goodest boy in all of the world. picking a name comes easier than you thought. after a few days of living with you, he begins barking as soon as goose's old jerry lee lewis record makes it into your vinyl rotation.

"what's wrong, boy? what do you see?" bradley asks him. "babe, i think he likes the music," you giggle, totally in love with the new addition to your family. "so we call him 'goose.'" "we call him, goose."

how you and bradley get a cat: you spend six wonderful months as a solo pet owner, and goose as an only child, before a neighborhood stray starts coming around. you hadn't planned on taking him in, just feeding him every now and then, until you realize that bradley's been feeding him every day, which is why keeps coming back. he's so friendly and cuddly, and while hesitant at first, has met goose a few times in the backyard too.

bradley has a long weekend of on base training, and when he comes home sunday night, you're practically pushing him out onto the front porch to talk first. you've even buttered him up by making his favorite dinner so that he's more likely to say 'yes.'

"what's going on?" he asks you. "okay, don't kill me. but... i sort of... did something. don't freak out... but i kinda let the cat in. you know. your favorite neighborhood stray. and he won't leave. "are you serious?"

as bradley comes inside, your shared home smelling like his favorite meal, goose is curled up on the couch while the stray kitty sleeps curled in a ball on top of the back of the couch. while neither of you were planning on adding to your family so soon, he looks at the two of them, then back to you, and he doesn't have the heart to say no.

"so... we have a cat now." "yeah, i think we have a cat now."

#bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #rooster x reader #rooster top gun #top gun maverick fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun maverick headcanon #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw headcanon #nolita fairytale's follower celebration #nolita fairytale’s follower celebration

[cryoculus]

— guard dog 13 ⟢

pairing: thoma x assassin!reader

summary: paying the blood price for your sins is something you once thought of as futile. but as long as you're with the kamisato clan, you're certain that you'll be able to afford the world's forgiveness someday.

word count: 9.8k words

notable characters: thoma, kamisato ayaka, kamisato ayato, sayu, kujou sara

tags: found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, smut

warnings: graphic sexual content (minors dni), semi-public sex

notes: this is the end of it! thank you so much for following this series so patiently! i hope you enjoyed reading this just as much as i enjoyed writing it ^^

header art cr: cuppydraws on twt

masterlist

Fortunately, no one had been suffering severe conditions when you and Thoma finally arrived back home. The worst symptom that manifested across the people in the estate was Ayato’s prior show of coughing up blood in front of you the other day. Now, everyone was relatively fine. Nervous for the fate of the Yashiro Commission, but otherwise fine.

You were quick to round up Hina’s help to administer the available doses of the cure to those that needed it first—Ayaka and Ayato, the elderly retainers, and those with existing medical conditions. The other attendants volunteered to brew the next batch of Sango broth following Doctor Naoko’s instructions in his journal and Thoma gladly busied himself by helping out as well—speeding up the boiling process with his Vision and all.

Contrary to your prior assumptions, your abysmal supply of pearls was surprisingly enough to cover all the retainers and attendants in the estate, along with your esteemed visitors. 

Given that he was unconscious for the majority of the day, you had to administer Kujou Masahito’s dose intravenously. It’s a good thing Hina had some sterile syringes stashed away in the estate’s first aid kit. When he finally came to, Sara, who was still stuck here as well, gave him a thorough questioning. 

However, instead of the merciless man who’d issued your orders to kill Ayaka, you were met with a soldier blinking up at his current audience in confusion.

Turns out, the man was merely another pawn in this convoluted war of ideals. Their father, Kujou Takayuki was the sole mastermind behind the Tatarigami experiments. Masahito explained, in great detail, that their father had been playing his cards quite suspiciously over the past few months. 

“I suspected he was onto something, but he wouldn’t tell me what,” he sighed. “I didn’t know why he wanted us to build a base on Yashiori Island, and I was in no place to refuse. The next thing I knew, I felt like I was in a dream all this time. I was awake, but my decisions weren’t my own. I suppose it’s the same for all the men he’d forced me to bring.”

Ayato gaped at him. “So you’re telling me that the guys who attacked us the other day walked from Yashiori to here?”

“I’m sorry, Lord Ayato. My memory is still quite fuzzy, but that might be the case.”

Huh. That explained why your back-up from burning the tengu feather took so long. Once that was made clear, you decided to come clean to Kujou Sara about the contingency plan Masahito presented to you when he was being mind-controlled.

“No wonder I felt a bit off-kilter that day,” she sighed, massaging her temples. “It’s alright. Once we’re all cleared of the infection, Lord Ayato and I will raise this issue directly to the Raiden Shogun herself. Our father’s actions are putting the people in peril.”

“...Did you just say you’re going to work with us on this?” the Yashiro Commissioner asked incredulously. 

“I’m not as disagreeable as you think I am,” Sara huffed. “I’ve had my own...reservations about our father’s methods when it comes to war tactics. But this is something that would be a crime to overlook. It’s our word against his.”

To her brother’s side, Ayaka spoke out. “Is it safe to assume that Kujou Takayuki has been colluding with the Kanjou Commission? I think part of the reason they refuse to have the Vision Hunt repealed is because they’re profiting off this war more than we thought…”

Masahito nodded somberly. “It’s true that father has been quite…taken with the wealth he’s made from the war effort. That’s why no matter how many times the Yashiro Commission attempts to raise the concern to Her Excellency, they’re quick to shoot down your attempts despite being the commission closest to the Raiden Shogun.”

“So they’ve been taking advantage of it this whole time…” Sara muttered.

…God. This was way too much information for you to take. Why were you even part of this audience in the first place? You were just one of the many casualties that got caught up in a noble’s greedy endeavors. 

Thankfully, it was sorted out faster than you’d anticipated. 

You were back to checking up on every member of the house with Hina in no time. Despite having little medical experience of your own, everyone was surprisingly cooperative when you checked their vitals and asked how each one was faring. But you didn’t have the time to appreciate the fact that everything had seemingly returned to normal with how your fellow retainers treated you because of the amount of patients you had to monitor. 

In the process, you got to speak to the retainers more than usual. Especially Hina, since the estate’s resident healer was pretty much your partner-in-crime for this entire operation. She was kind and patient enough to manage everyone’s medical reports alongside you. And she even filled you in on some random bits of trivia for every person you treated.

“Hirano used to be a player from an underground fighting ring,” Hina whispered. “He doesn’t know who his parents are, and the Commissioner suspected he was a victim of child trafficking.”

“That’s awful,” you told her, face scrunching up. “...You told me back then not everyone is as noble as they seemed.”

She nodded. “Yup. Ayame was a notorious pickpocket at Ritou Harbor. Old man Yuuji used to be a slave trader. There’s lots more that everyone in here got in trouble for in their dark days, but Lady Ayaka and the Commissioner gave them a second chance at life. Now here we are.”

You nodded solemnly, a smile finding its way to your lips. “What about you? What did you do for a living before coming here?”

Hina hesitated for a moment but eventually laughed. “I used to manufacture dangerous drugs and poisons for the underground. You know that powdered crystal marrow you used on Ayame? My old master was the one who came up with the formula for it.”

“What?! Huh, small world.”

“By the way, the Commissioner told me that a doctor that’s familiar with the effects of the Tatarigami will arrive in a day or two,” Hina told you once the two of you finally caught a break by the gardens. “He’ll be a great help, I’m sure. And we’ll get to treat the soldiers that have been infected, too.”

You nodded in understanding as you leaned against the fences overlooking the ocean, sighing. “Do you have any news about those guys? Last I heard, Lord Ayato had them shipped off to some containment facility underneath Inazuma City.”

She hummed. “While you and Master Thoma were away, the Commissioner has been sending messenger crows all over the country almost tirelessly. He’s been laying the groundwork all this time. If Lady Ayaka hadn’t scolded him for overworking himself despite the fact that he’s more susceptible to the curse than most, he might still be at it until now.”

“That’s Lord Ayato for you…”

The next day, when the doctor that Ayato had rang up had arrived, you were the first to brief him about the situation—the state of the estate’s denizens, the timeframe of the curse’s onset, and the experimental cure you’ve administered. 

“I’m no professional, so I’m not sure if it’s safe for them to go out like usual even if they seem relatively okay now.” You sighed, scratching the back of your head awkwardly. “That’s why I was wondering if you knew any better way to—”

“Tell me…do you know someone called Suzuki Naoko?” he interrupted, looking up from the journal containing Doctor Naoko’s research notes. 

You blinked in surprise. “Y-Yes. That notebook belongs to him. The cure we made was also based on his findings when he stayed in Yashiori Island.”

He laughed softly, nodding in earnest. “I see. He and I used to be colleagues at the Sumeru Academia. We both chose the so-called Tatarigami curse as our respective thesis topics, but we’ve had conflicting ideas as to how it can be cured. I think it’s obvious which one of us turned out to be right after all.”

Your jaw nearly dropped. You knew Doctor Naoko was a bit too intelligent for your everyday medical professional, but to think he went to Sumeru Academia, of all places? 

The doctor that Ayato had invited eventually introduced himself as Haruno Shinya, and once Doctor Shinya was done with his own routine check-up of everyone in the estate, he gave you the green light to produce more of that Sango broth you cooked up with Doctor Naoko’s recipe.

“It’s a bit odd, though,” he said. “One of the reasons I was against using Sango pearls as a Tatarigami combatant is because of how long it takes for it to work. The pearl itself has special properties, yes. But you have to wield a certain flame to truly access its full potency. Boiling it over regular flames isn't enough.”

The gears slowly clicked into place as you processed his words. 

It took months for you to get over the illness because Doctor Naoko had only experimented with ordinary fire when he boiled the pearls. But now, with the use of Thoma’s fervent Pyro Vision, the effect was near instantaneous. 

“To think Naoko died trying to save people with his hypothetical cure. What a hero,” Doctor Shinya chuckled, adding a couple of annotations of his own to Doctor Naoko’s notes. “I’ve been observing Tatarigami patients for a chunk of my career, and I’m positive that everyone in this estate is cured. But you mentioned another set of patients in the capital…?”

“Yes. The Commissioner gave strict orders to his men to keep the soldiers isolated from everyone else. But we haven’t been able to procure more Sango pearls to manufacture enough doses to cover them…” 

He nodded as he shut Doctor Naoko’s journal, handing it back to you as he patted your shoulder. “You’ve done plenty already, kid. You’re the one who’s been spearheading this whole operation, aren’t you?”

“I… Yeah. I guess you can say that.”

“I expect no less from Naoko’s apprentice,” Doctor Shinya praised. “Leave the patients at the capital to me. I’m actually a native of Watatsumi myself, so I’ll be able to get my hands on all the pearls you’re going to need. However, I have one last question.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Did you do anything special with the experimental procedure?” he asked, one brow raised. “Sango broth isn’t supposed to be this potent, but here we are, with dozens of recovered patients in no less than a few days.”

While Doctor Shinya elaborated on his inquiry, your eyes managed to catch Thoma across the courtyard, speaking animatedly to one of the elderly retainers. Your heart warmed. It’s been a while since you’ve spoken to him. Your hands have been tied with fussing over the patients that you hadn’t exactly found the time to approach him again. Then, your gaze slowly roved over to the red orb gleaming at his side.

“Yeah,” you replied—a knowing smile spreading on your face. “All you need is a bunch of Sango pearls and…someone with a Pyro Vision.” 

The following days in the estate have mellowed down as everyone quickly recovered. Migraines were gone, spontaneous bleeding episodes resolved, and you’re elated to find out that only a few retainers had suffered the onset of nightmares. They've begun sleeping more peacefully these days, too.

However, the situation of the power balance in the Tri-Commission only got more and more hectic thereafter. 

While you were busy taking care of the patients with Hina, Ayaka and Ayato, together with the Kujou siblings, testified against the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions’ blatant mismanagement of the war. They were going to try and repeal the Vision Hunt Decree with Kujou Sara’s support as agreed upon as well. Because of this, neither of the two Kamisato heads had been home for nearly two weeks, and the only way you could keep tabs on what was happening was through Thoma himself.

The chief retainer was granted the privilege to attend briefings with the Raiden Shogun but wasn’t required to remain at the Tenshukaku for longer than necessary. It was for that reason that everyday, Thoma went back to the estate to report the situation to everyone before returning to the capital before morning.

You didn’t even have the time for a quick chat with him either. Whenever Thoma was in the estate, he’d update all of you about the state of affairs in the pavilion before promptly passing out in his bedroom. Not a single soul dared to disturb him from those few hours of rest.

It was really kind of him to go through all the trouble, you thought. Everyone in the Yashiro Commission didn’t seem to make too much of a fuss about the whole fiasco. But you guessed it was because of Thoma’s constant reassurance that both retainers and attendants managed to fall back into their old routines without hesitation. 

Today was the last day of routine check-ups that Doctor Shinya had advised you to conduct, and you’re glad to know that everyone was pretty much in the clear now. But as the people around you continued going about with life as usual, you found yourself gaining more free time than you knew what to do with.

Technically, you’re no longer a retainer of the Kamisato house, and neither Ayaka nor the Commissioner officially invited you back into their ranks. But with how much they’ve got on their plates, it was normal for you to be a sitting duck now that everyone in the estate was cured. 

Being completely aware of that did nothing to quell the agitation, though.

You couldn’t bring yourself to seek some semblance of comfort from Thoma either. You knew he was just as busy as the Kamisato siblings. But another reason why you���re a bit hesitant to approach him alone was because…you’re unsure of what you actually were to the guy.

After that eventful trip to Yashiori Island, you’d be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t think about the way he’d kissed you that day. Of course, you’d snap out of it once you caught yourself daydreaming, but…

What else were you supposed to think about?

Despite having complete freedom to do whatever you wanted, you weren’t the type to go around kissing other people for the hell of it. You could barely stand the idea of receiving affection until recently. So when the man who claimed the rights to your first kiss suddenly became too busy to sit down with you and talk about it properly, you supposed you’re entitled to some degree of senseless overthinking.

One day, Hina came up to you at lunch. 

“Doctor Shinya reached out to Madarame this morning,” she told you. “He said he wants you to meet him at the capital.”

For some odd reason, the news filled you with an inexplicable sense of relief. Given that this was the last day your semi-nonexistent medical expertise was needed, you feared that you'd be the only one not doing anything around the estate. And since your status as a retainer was still in question, Madarame decided not to issue any housework for you to do. 

“You’ve done plenty for us, Miss Kira. You deserve to rest, too,” he said. You wanted to tell him that keeping your hands busy also kept thoughts of Thoma far away, but you didn’t exactly know how to break it to him at the time.

Now though, you’ve found a much-needed distraction.

“Miss Kira.”

You’re in the middle of a conversation with Hirano, who offered you a ride to the capital on his horse, when Ayame approached you in the courtyard. She met your gaze with a hint of hesitation, like she was embarrassed. But you didn’t let yourself scrutinize her more than you should. 

“Miss Ayame,” you greeted in return. “Is anything the matter?”

Ayame opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, and sighed. “I… Can I speak with you for a moment?”

“Sure,” you agreed with a smile, turning to Hirano. “I’ll meet you outside after. Thanks again.”

The guard nodded earnestly. “Anytime! This is the least I can do for you, after all.”

Huh? The least he could do…? But weren’t you the one who’s indebted to them for trying to kill one of their leaders? Alas, you couldn’t spare it another thought when you followed Ayame to a less crowded corner in the gardens. She was awfully quick to get to the point.

“I was wrong about you.”

You watched in silence as Ayame traced idle shapes in the sand with the rake in her grasp. “What do you mean?”

“I thought you were going to take advantage of milady’s trust,” she murmured. “For a while, I even blamed you for the Tenryou Commission’s attack on the estate, too.”

A soft breeze wafted through the courtyard, making you sigh. “You’re completely right about that. It was because of me that the mansion got sacked by those soldiers.”

“But you didn’t leave us for dead,” Ayame argued, turning to face you with an insistent look. “You even went to that…that cursed island just to give us a cure you made yourself. Us, the same people who tried to shun you out of the estate.”

You waved a hand dismissively. “I’m only trying to undo the damage I’ve done. That doesn’t make me any less of the cold-blooded killer you know I am.”

“Real cold-blooded killers won’t try to ‘undo the damage they’ve done’, though.”

Her response was almost petrifying in how sincere it came forth. You stared at Ayame with equal parts confusion and disbelief as you knit your brows together. 

“Miss Ayame… What are you trying to say?”

She huffed. “Well, it’s obvious that Lady Ayaka’s kindness has gotten through so there’s no point in antagonizing you. That’s why, I… I wanted to apologize. For the way I acted around you these past few weeks.”

One second passed, then two, before you ended up burying your face in your hands.

“Miss Kira?” Ayame asked, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Archons. She was so sincere with her apology, and you had the gall to overlook the one thing that made her so hostile with you in the first place.

Slowly, your hands dropped to your sides as you shot her a somber look.

“I still haven’t apologized for drugging you that night.”

Ayame’s lips parted with confusion before she slipped back that mask of hostility that’s grown so familiar to you now. “It took you this long to realize that?! Gods, I knew I shouldn’t have apologized first!”

“Miss Kira!” You suddenly heard Hirano shout from the entrance. “Your ride’s ready! Let me know when we’re leaving!”

Not wanting to receive the brunt of Ayame’s wrath, you ended your exchange with a quick bow. “Apology accepted, Miss Ayame! But I have another pressing matter to attend to, so let’s save the teary make-up embrace for later, yeah?” 

“You sneaky little—!”

Without waiting for her to finish, you bolted towards the doorway.

“What?” You scowled. “You sent them all home?”

Doctor Shinya chuckled from where he’s seated beside you at Shimura’s—one of Inazuma City’s up-and-coming outdoor restaurants. When you and Hirano arrived at the entrance to the capital, the doctor was already there, waiting for you. Doctor Shinya even offered to treat you to a late lunch despite the fact that you’ve already eaten. 

And now he was telling you about how he’d discharged the Tenryou soldiers to their respective homes today.

“It was just as you’ve said, performing the procedure with the aid of a Pyro Vision increased the broth’s potency tenfold!” Doctor Shinya gushed with a mouthful of tempura. “It was a good thing Mister Naganohara’s daughter was more than willing to cooperate. Oh, and that boy from the Kamisato clan also dropped by from time to time as well. What was his name again? Thoma?” 

You were surprised to find out that Doctor Shinya asked for Yoimiya’s help in the matter, but you supposed he couldn’t just ignore that pro-tip you gave him beforehand. But finding out about these detours that Thoma made on top of everything else he was dealing with made you shake your head. He was just the same as the Kamisato siblings—putting their duties first before anything else. 

“I’m glad to know the soldiers have all recovered then,” you sighed, sipping the tea you’d ordered. “But what are we going to do with the Tenryou Commission? Didn’t you get any backlash for just ordering those guys to go home or something?”

“Oh? You haven’t heard?” Doctor Shinya blinked, setting down his bowl and chopsticks. “Apparently, the Raiden Shogun has made a definitive ruling for the case filed against the heads of the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions. They were stripped of their titles this morning, and Kujou Sara was elected as the new head of the Kujou clan. She’s the one who insisted they get some much-needed rest.”

Well. This was definitely news to you.

“I-I see…” you replied dryly. “Um, wait. So what’s going to happen now? Is the war over? Are they putting a stop to the Vision Hunt Decree?”

“The answer to all of that is...yes. Lord Ayato is actually overseeing the return of the confiscated Visions as we speak.” Doctor Shinya smiled, gesturing a set distance away from behind him.You squinted your eyes as you tried to follow his lead until you finally saw it. 

Right where the statue of the Electro Archon stood, you saw a flank of scaffolding set-up in front of the stone visage of the Raiden Shogun. It was hard to tell because you were too far away, but you were pretty sure that the men engrossed with it were taking out the colorful orbs once embedded within. Suddenly, you remembered something Thoma said in passing during that one festival on Amakane Island.

Gods, I wish those two would catch a break soon.

You couldn’t even suppress the grin that made it on your face—not minding that Doctor Shinya could see you smiling like an idiot. 

They did it. Ayaka and Ayato managed to turn the tides of the war after all.

“Well, that said,” Doctor Shinya spoke again, interrupting your thoughts. “I only called you out here to update you about what’s happening. These past two weeks haven’t been easy on any of us, after all.”

You nodded with a dreary laugh. “I never thought I’d be taking care of so many people after I…”

For a second, you panicked. Right. You hadn’t told Doctor Shinya about the years you spent as an underground assassin. And it’s not like you could break it to him easily when he seemed to take your contributions with high regard. Great, now you were ashamed of your own tragic past. Was this what they called character development?

But from the way his eyes softened, something told you he already knew.

“So, Doctor Shinya…” You decided to shift the topic. “What are your plans after this?”

“I’ll actually be accompanying Lord Ayato for the reparation procedures,” he told you. “Her Excellency put him in charge of maintaining public relations with the people of Watatsumi Island, and he invited me in hopes of gaining their goodwill.”

“Oh, right. You said you were a native, right?”

Doctor Shinya nodded. “Yes. And…we’ll also be doing a thorough inspection on Yashiori Island. The Tatarigami typically takes years to fully set in the human body, but we suspected that Kujou Takayuki must have done something nefarious to get his hands on such a powerful manifestation of the curse.” 

You nodded. “Yeah. I’ve never heard of being able to mind-control others with it…” 

“Exactly,” the doctor agreed. “Which reminds me. Would you like to come along when we head to Yashiori for the routine inspections? Lord Ayato informed me that Her Excellency said something about a possibility of the wards being disturbed—causing the rampant spread of the Tatarigami.”

“...Wards?” 

He nodded once more. “When the Raiden Shogun slaid the Orobashi hundreds of years ago, the manifestation of its hatred came in the form of the Tatarigami. To keep it from spreading to the nearby islands, Her Excellency put up protective wards all over Yashiori. But…we can speak of it in more detail if you decide to accept my invitation. I’m sure Lord Ayato will be glad to have you on-board.”

Your shoulders slumped at the news. So it wasn’t over just yet after all, huh…

“You know, there’s an onsen somewhere down the road,” Doctor Naoko mentioned, jabbing a thumb behind his shoulder. “Now that I think about it, you look like you could use some rest.”

You shook your head almost too quickly. “Not at all! I’ve actually been feeling…antsy because I had nothing else to do. So please, do take me with you on your trip. I’ll be happy to show you around the island if need be.”

To your disappointment, it seemed like Doctor Shinya was not having it.

“You’ve worked hard enough, kid,” he chuckled, reaching out to ruffle your hair in that same, infuriating way Doctor Naoko used to do with you. “Now go treat yourself to an afternoon at the bathhouse. We aren’t leaving for another two weeks, so you better make use of the time to relax.”

You wanted to protest—to let him know that you weren’t the only one worked down to the bone by everything that’s happening. Ayaka and Ayato were using all their capabilities to restore peace and order. Doctor Shinya took care of an entire battalion of soldiers by himself. Kujou Sara was busy fixing everything her father had inevitably messed up, and…

Thoma. He was probably out there doing errands in-between for everyone else. Because that’s just who he is as a person—a housekeeper in every sense of the word, even if his duties went beyond the corners of the estate.

But in spite of it all, the buzzing need for a few moments of peace tickled the back of your head. You sighed, succumbing to your not-so subtle desire for a break. 

“So just how good is this bathhouse we’re talking about…?”

You stood in front of the doorway to the hot springs with a sigh.

The owner said the bathhouse was reserved for the day by none other than the Kamisato clan, and was about to turn you away. But, in a moment of desperation, you mentioned you were one of the clan’s retainers. 

“Hmm… Oh, here you are on the guestlist,” he remarked as he went through his clipboard. “My apologies, Miss Kira. I’ll be preparing your things in a while. Someone already went ahead of you, by the way!” 

And now here you are.

The glass on the sliding doorway had fogged over from the steam inside, so you couldn’t really see who you were going to share the hot spring with. And given that this was the mixed bath, there might be men from the estate inside. You weren’t really opposed to being in the company of the opposite sex but…from what you remembered, no one had really left the mansion today aside from yourself.

So who was the person lounging inside the onsen, then? 

It couldn’t be Ayato. He was preoccupied with retrieving Visions from the Shogun’s statue. And you couldn’t exactly picture Ayaka just waltzing into a public bath like this either.

“Only one way to find out, I guess…” you muttered.

The interior wasn’t as extravagant as you initially expected. Just a large, closed room with vents in the ceiling to let the steam billow outside. In the middle, the floor was seemingly paved to imitate a naturally occurring hot spring—decorated with ornamental rocks and fake moss. There was a section in the far end where you figured the showers were, if the bamboo shutters were anything to go by. 

You glanced over to the hot spring in the middle, squinting through the steam rising from the water. Just as you were told, someone else was already occupying the onsen, but their back was turned to you and they had a towel wrapped around their head and a smaller one draped across their face. It made the person’s identity quite hard to decipher through the steam. 

Knowing it’ll be futile to scrutinize from a distance, you decided to take off your robe, folding it by the shelf near the entrance, before finally taking a well-deserved dip. 

The stranger(?) didn’t even stir even when the water rippled all around you. You’d decided to occupy the same side of the hot spring out of curiosity, and when you could take a closer look, this person was, in fact, a man. 

Or they could be a flat-chested woman. Don’t be so quick to judge!

You shook your head, letting the heat of the water seep into your skin. The effect was near-instantaneous. You found yourself sinking lower into the bath as you pressed your back against the edge. A pleased sigh escaped your lips and you were mindful enough to wrap your hair in a towel to keep the strands from getting wet.

You stayed like that for a few minutes—happily letting the hot water work its magic on your fatigued body as you stared at the ceiling. But the more time passed, the more you found yourself growing concerned for the man just a few feet away. He hadn’t stirred since you got here, and you worried he might have passed out. 

And won’t putting a towel on your face in an onsen suffocate you or something?

Hesitantly, you weaved through the hot water with your arms crossed—conscious of the fact that your breasts were on full display. But the moment you reached out in an attempt to remove the towel from his face… 

You yelped loudly—the sound echoing throughout the room when you suddenly found yourself with your arms twisted behind you as the man forced your face against the wet rock. What the fuck? How did he—

“...Miss Kira?”

Oh my fucking Archons.

Of course it was Thoma who put you in an instant headlock. 

The two of you merely stared at each other in stunned silence. The towel on his face had dropped to the water and was drifting uselessly across the surface, and the one he’d tied around his head began to come loose as well—letting his long, damp hair cascade down his shoulders. 

His very naked shoulders, attached to a very naked body he used to press you down in one of the most compromising positions imaginable. Huh. This reminded you of the first night he cornered you in the Kamisato estate’s kitchen… 

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered sheepishly, making a show of turning around as if he was trying to give you some privacy. “I thought you were some asshole that’s trying to kill me or something.”

“I can see that,” you scoffed, sinking back into the water with your face redder than his uniform. “Glad to see you’re alive and didn’t die from steam suffocation, though.”

Once you were settled, Thoma decided to scooch a few feet away before lowering himself into the bath once again. 

You did not stare at his ass while his back was turned to you. You didn’t!!!!

“So…” you began, still feeling all sorts of awkward. “What brings you here?”

Thoma cleared his throat, and you watched the bob of his neck as he swallowed. “Um. I might’ve been complaining about wanting to go to the onsen for days now, and Lord Ayato made the proper arrangements just to shut me up.”

“And he honored your wishes just like that?” you snorted. “If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve thought you were the princess of the house.”

The chief retainer shot you a narrow-eyed stare. “I could ask the same for you. Did you just happen to go into the same bathhouse as me at the same time I decided to as well?” 

“Maybe it’s fate,” you shrugged, recalling the same train of conversation occurring between the both of you in the past. But when you began to consider his question a bit more seriously…

You know, there’s an onsen somewhere down the road.

The bathhouse has been reserved by the Kamisato clan for the day, my apologies.

Lord Ayato made the proper arrangements just to shut me up.

You blinked. That shouldn’t be possible, right? This was all a coincidence. Surely Ayato and Doctor Shinya wouldn’t deliberately set the two of you up like this, right? 

“How are you?”

A jolt ran across your shoulders when Thoma spoke out of the blue again—his voice nearly echoing in the empty room. You stared at him incredulously before forcing yourself to peel your eyes away from the droplets of water that ran tantalizingly across his pectorals.

“I-I’m good,” you replied. “There isn’t much to do back at home anymore so I was just feeling a little antsy. Doctor Shinya told me to relax for a change.” For some reason, Thoma laughed the moment you finished speaking, and your eyes narrowed into slits.

“Sorry, sorry. I was just a bit…happy.”

“With what?”

“You called the estate home.”

“Oh.”

Man, you’ve gotten so soft, it’s embarrassing. 

“How about you?” you murmured in return. “You’ve been so busy, I could hardly talk to you.”

Thoma raised an eyebrow, mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. “Did you miss me?”

“So what if I did? Stupid guard dog…”

You startled again when the water rippled all around you once more. Thoma rose out of the bath just enough to make his way to you. And when he leaned down to meet your gaze head-on, you swallowed thickly—face burning hotter than the room itself. 

“I think I liked it better when you called me pretty boy.” He pouted. 

You groaned, pushing him away, but Thoma refused to budge. “That was one time.” 

“Once is enough to have me thinking about it for weeks.” The laugh that left his lips had a familiar sultriness to it that made your thighs clench. Thoma’s wet hand was on your face again, cupping your cheek as the other peeled away the towel in your hair. 

“I missed you, too,” he murmured, thumb gently teasing the swell of your lip. His green eyes looked so pretty up close. “So much that I had to hop into a bathhouse just to keep my mind off of it.”

You huffed. “Then why didn’t you just go back? Doctor Shinya said everything was already sorted out with the Shogun.”

“Well, yeah. But I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold back if I saw you again.”

“Huh?”

You barely had time to process it when Thoma captured your lips with his own—the hand not holding your face immediately resting on your hip. But you didn’t even have any fight left in you when you were so quick to melt into his kiss. You sighed, and Thoma used the opportunity to slither his tongue inside your mouth. 

He lifted you onto the edge of the bath, wet bodies sliding past each other as he slotted himself between your legs. Though his lower half was still submerged in the water, the feel of his toned stomach made you more flustered than it should. But Thoma wasn’t exactly giving you a lot of leeway to think. 

The chief retainer wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling you closer as he kissed you fervently. You mewled into his mouth as your hands wandered to his hair. You tugged on the strands in a way you remembered he liked, and you couldn’t help the heat that stirred in your stomach at the sound he just made.

“Thoma,” you sighed when he pulled away, lips trailing a fiery path down the column of your neck. “Are we really going to do this? Here?”

For some reason, he tensed. Thoma peeled himself away slightly, eyeing the way you’re presented bare for him to see. You might have blanched and covered yourself if it had been anyone else, but… 

“Sorry,” he muttered again, leaning forward to rest your foreheads together as his hands gripped your thighs. “It’s just like I said. I can’t seem to restrain myself when it comes to you… But if you want me to behave, I’ll gladly do so.”

“...Like a dog?”

“You don’t have to put it like that!”

 For the first time in a while, you managed a lighthearted laugh, shifting your head a little so you could nuzzle the crook of his neck. You couldn’t find traces of Thoma’s scent given that the steam was making your head swim a little. But the reassuring heat of his body was enough to make you feel safe, in spite of his seemingly ravenous appetite for you. 

“I’ll let you do anything you want if you answer my question,” you told him, biting your lip. 

He craned his head. “What is it?”

“...How do you feel about me, exactly?”

You instinctively recoiled, fingers tightening around his arms as you braced yourself for an inevitable rejection. You didn’t really have an idea why you expected the worst right off the bat, but… Surely Thoma wouldn’t—

“How I feel about you?” he repeated, chest reverberating with each word. 

Thoma forcibly pulled you away from his torso, making you meet his beautiful emerald eyes. The smile he flashed you the next second was so real, you could cry.

“I like you. Can’t you tell?” 

Just like that, the disbelief came crashing down on you all over again. 

Did people really just admit their feelings like that? Straight to the point, without any hint of hesitation? You had no clues as to how potential couples went about the ‘confession’ stage, but…wasn’t Thoma being a bit too honest? You thought all the best romances started with some degree of denial and pining from both parties.

“I’m…not used to this kind of thing, okay?” you replied, suddenly feeling even more embarrassed. “If it’s normal for you to just admit to someone that you like them, then—”

“You’re the first person I’ve ever liked enough to confess to, though.”

You could have sworn that steam billowed not just from the water but also out of your ears. This was not real. No one could be this fucking honest with himself. You refused to believe it.

…But then again, Thoma had proved himself to be different from every other person you’ve ever met. He had the patience of a saint, a capacity for banter that could keep up with your own, and a deep-rooted understanding that not everyone could afford to spare for people like you.

Whenever you looked at him, he always reminded you of the sun with not a single cloud obscuring his intentions and you started to see why. 

(Overlooking the fact that he lied about Ayaka’s plans. You can forgive him for that. Kind of.) 

“I don’t deserve you,” you told him with a groan. “Why do you even like me?”

Something shifted in the hot air, and suddenly Thoma’s easygoing smile dropped. He spoke your real name like a prayer in the thick steam, and you could feel your head buzz from the whiplash of it all. When his mouth descended onto yours once again, he lacked the ferocity he’d exhibited in both times you’ve ever kissed him. Thoma merely pecked your lips with the softest of touches before pulling away to meet your eyes.

“You deserve me and more,” he murmured. “And I’ll give you all of that if you’re willing to have me.”

Your first instinct was to argue, but the heat between your legs has festered enough. Instead of debating about what you did and didn’t deserve, you closed your eyes and finally let yourself fall off the edge.

Thoma’s hands were inescapable when you finally gave him a little nudge—that final confirmation. He swallowed up all the sounds you made as he lifted himself out of the water, fingers already making quick work between the growing heat in your thighs. The evidence of your arousal was hard to hide—especially when he’s sliding those thick digits against your glistening seam so tantalizingly, you almost forgot you were in a public bath. 

“Thoma,” you mewled. “W-What if…someone comes in?”

You gasped when he eased one finger inside you, wrapping one arm around your waist as he watched your expressions with a sultry smile. “As much as I’d hate to share this view with someone else…” He leaned closer to your ear, and you instinctively clenched your walls around him. “Something tells me the idea of getting caught excites you.”

“Quit projecting! You’re such a weirdo.” The words were meant to hit like an insult, but you ended up moaning them instead as Thoma slipped in a second finger. “F-Fucking pervert…”

“Hmm? Would you like me to stop then?”

You mourned the loss of the friction when his hand became stock still inside you. A throaty groan scratched against your throat as you threw out a fist—hitting his lean chest in the process.

“...No.”

He chuckled, low and dangerous as he let you sink down to the hot spring—flipping you around so your ass was in full display. His fingers never left, though, and the moment he had you bent over the edge of the pool, Thoma resumed his sinful ministrations. 

You could barely contain your moans when he pressed his chest against your back, spreading your thighs wider as he fingered you loose. His tongue slithered across the shell of your ear, and he even nibbled on your lobe as he worked you between your legs. You sighed—completely embarrassed by how slick and easy the slide of his fingers had become.

But before you could make another sound, Thoma prodded your mouth with the fingers of his free hand. 

“If you don’t want to get caught,” he whispered huskily. “You need to be quiet.”

You would’ve been mortified by how easily you opened your mouth for him had it been any other scenario. But you were so unbelievably aroused by his voice, his heat, and the feel of his strong body caging you underneath his, that your otherwise snarky defenses had been tossed aside. You didn’t want anything else—didn’t need anything else.

All that mattered right now was Thoma.

It didn’t take long for you to notice his hard length rubbing against your ass while he made a mess with your mouth and cunt with his fingers. You couldn’t even fathom the dexterity his multitasking should have required, but you figured that when it came to doing several things at once, he was the man for the job. 

You moaned when he curled his fingers inside you, thighs quivering as he continued thrusting in and out. You couldn’t tell if the clouds of vapor emerging with each bated breath was from the steam or not, but when Thoma took his fingers out from both your mouth and cunt, you couldn’t help the whine that got caught in the back of your throat.

“So needy.” A soft chuckle resounded from behind you and your eyes widened when you felt him slide his cock against your slick folds. 

“T-Thoma…”

“Tell me you deserve me,” he murmured into your ear, pressing your thighs together as he rocked his length into the space between your legs. 

“What are you—”

“Tell me or I won’t fuck you the way you want me to.”

…Gods, he was so hot when he bossed you around. 

Each time his hips pressed forward, you could feel the head of his cock catching on your clit. You nearly sobbed, forcing your palms onto the slippery rocks as you desperately attempted to meet his thrusts. But Thoma wasn’t letting you get what you wanted so easily.

“I’m waiting.” 

Fuck it. Who needs dignity anyway?

“I deserve it,” you moaned. “I deserve you. I deserve your cock. I deserve to get rammed into the next life, just— please!”

Your vision nearly went dark when he finally pressed himself against your entrance—filling you to the brim with the heat of his length. The burn of his passage was conspicuous but bearable. Although, when he finally sheathed himself to the hilt, Thoma let out another infuriatingly sexy laugh as he pressed a kiss against your neck.

“Tell me you like me, too.”

This fucking guy…

“I like you,” you mumbled, feeling your heart stutter with every word. “I like you so much I can’t imagine going back to a life without you anymore.”

All of a sudden, the possessive grip he had on your hips faltered, making you turn around to sneak a glance. Thoma stared at you with wide, green eyes—flushing so badly even the tips of his ears were red.

In the end, his embarrassment melted with a sigh. 

“You know just exactly how to rile me up, don’t you?” 

You were about to dish out some crude reply, but Thoma effectively shut you up with a sharp thrust. 

He took you against the edge of the hot spring, pawing at every inch of skin his hands could reach. Your stomach, your breasts, your thighs—if he’d taken you somewhere else, you were sure he’d spend hours worshipping your body alone. 

Maybe taking a guard dog as a lover wasn’t so bad after all.

“So…good,” you drawled, barely having enough strength to prop yourself upright. Thoma muttered something under his breath before angling his cock a bit differently, hitting a spot inside you that made you melt underneath his touch. 

For a moment, he let himself slip out of your cunt—an action met with another whine in protest. But Thoma  was quick to flip you over again, making your back dig into the pool’s edge. And when your gazes met, you were completely unprepared for the unadulterated want in his eyes.

“I can’t wait—” he hissed, spreading your thighs wide enough to accommodate him, “—to take you in my bedroom. I’ll love you until morning, I swear it.” 

And you believed him. Every single word. Because Thoma was as honest as a man could be, and you wondered if you could learn to be the same way once you’ve been by his side long enough. 

You’ve never felt like this before. So whole. So special. So adored. He made it clear with each thrust exactly how much you meant to him, and you’d be a fool to turn away now. With a sigh, you laced your fingers around Thoma’s neck—eyes glazed over with a desire of your own.

“Kiss me,” you whispered. 

He was sweating all over, lips bitten red with your earlier activities. But Thoma seemed all too willing to heed your every wish as he lowered himself. You leaned upward to meet him halfway—pressing your breasts against his chest as the cadence of his thrusts slowed into a crawl. Thoma canted his hips deep enough to have you moaning into his mouth, and suddenly, you wouldn’t trade any of this, wouldn’t trade any of him for the world. 

If this is love, you thought airily as you lost yourself in the sensation. 

I want all of it.

A few days later, you and Thoma had gone back to work. 

You’d been out all morning, busy with returning confiscated Visions to their rightful owners—something you were more than enthusiastic to get done. After all, it was a job entrusted to the both of you by Ayaka herself.

As a retainer of the Kamisato house, your Lady’s orders were of utmost importance.

However, as the two of you walked back into the estate, your quiet banter with your new lover was momentarily interrupted. In the center of the pavilion, you spotted Ayaka in her lonesome, but you could very much make out the curious eyes of the other retainers encroaching from the sidelines. You couldn’t blame them for their curiosity. 

The Shirasagi Himegimi’s fan dance was always a spectacle to behold. 

You hung back by the entrance as you bore witness to the sight you’d been dying to see since you’d laid your eyes on her. Ayaka was as graceful as the winds of a winter morning, with every move serving to mesmerize any lucky onlooker. She swayed to the beat of the song in her head, flicking her fan with a show of snowflakes every now and again. And when the breathtaking performance came to a close, she glanced your way with a sweet smile.

“Welcome home,” she greeted kindly. “How was your trip?”

“Tiring,” Thoma yawned as the two of you met her at the center. “But everyone’s happy now I guess. Isn’t that right, Miss Kira?”

You nodded. “But it wouldn’t have been possible without you, milady.”

Ayaka chuckled, taking your hands in hers. “Brother and I only laid the groundwork. Everyone else in the Yashiro Commission did their parts as well. This is a team effort, you know?”

If the you from three months ago saw you right now, you knew she would’ve been mortified. Clutching the hands of the same woman you’d been sworn to kill, what a joke. But then again…maybe your past self wouldn’t have minded the idea of being doted on if it was by the princess herself. 

The day you could finally speak to her again, you practically fell to your knees—face splotchy with tears as you spat out every apology you could think of. You were aware of how pathetic you were being. Your crimes had been duly pardoned by Inazuman law, and even if you still harbored some degree of guilt, you swore that you’d right your wrongs in any way or form. And that’s what you were doing now, as an official Kamisato retainer. 

But Ayaka, in all her merciful glory, asked you to stand and put your chin up.

“There’s no need for tears, Miss Kira.” She smiled. “To me, you never really left. You just had to find yourself. And we’d always been willing to welcome you home once you did.” 

And now here you were.

“Oh, you two! You’re back!”

The sound of the Commissioner’s voice snapped you out of your momentary reminiscing. Ayato emerged from the mansion with a familiar figure curled in his arms, and another familiar figure tailing him from behind.  

“Yo, newbie!” Yoimiya greeted with a smile. “So you’re the one who made all those nifty cures, huh? Glad to have supported your cause!”

Blinking up from underneath her hood, Sayu seemingly nuzzled herself further into Ayato’s chest. “So noisy…”

“Aw, Sayu! Don’t go sleeping now! We’re still going to test the fireworks I brought!”

“Are you making preparations for the lunar festival later?” Thoma asked. “We kind of delayed that for a while, huh?”

Ayato nodded with a sigh. “All the more reason to put our backs into it. We’re heading over to Amakane Island to sample Yoimiya’s new inventions. She wanted to make sure there’s no need for fine-tuning. Do you two want to come with?”

“Isn’t it a bit early for testing out fireworks though?” Ayaka wondered, gazing out at the afternoon sky. “But I suppose we could take advantage of the time we have. You and Miss Kira are leaving tomorrow, yes?”

“Unfortunately,” the Commissioner sighed before turning to you and Thoma. “Well, what do you say?”

Before you could even open your mouth, Thoma was already slinging an arm around your shoulder—grinning at Ayato with a confident air.

“We’d love to!”

“So why are you still calling me Kira again? Everyone’s starting to forget I actually have a real name because of you...” 

You posed the question to Thoma when you two found a comfortable spot on the cliff, just underneath the cherry blossoms as you watched Yoimiya and the Kamisato siblings set up the fireworks by the beach. 

Thoma shrugged, resting his chin on your shoulder as he hugged you from behind. “I kind of got used to it.” 

“Liar.”

“What? I’m not lying.”

You snorted, turning to face him with a smirk—the fox mask on your head lightly bumping against his. “It’s not the whole truth either, though,” you said, leaning closer to nuzzle your nose with his. “Come on. I’m leaving tomorrow without any idea when I’ll be back. I won’t get the chance to ask you again for a good while.” 

He whined. “Can I really not come along? I’ve been to Yashiori, too, you know… I’m pretty tough.”

“So you’re just going to leave milady alone like that?”

“...How about we all just go on an indefinite field trip to the Orobashi’s graveyard, and Madarame can be the pseudo-Yashiro Commissioner for a while,” Thoma suggested. “I think it would be a win-win for all parties involved.”

“I don’t think milady will last long living in the wild,” you admitted, and Thoma surrendered with a sigh. “But fine. If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t force you.”

For what it’s worth, the thought of leaving Thoma to help investigate the wards on Yashiori left a bitter taste in your mouth, too. It’s only been a few days since the two of you made it official, and now you’re going to have to leave him for a while. But there were things that had to be done, and as a Kamisato retainer, you’re obligated to see them through until the end.

Sometime later, Yoimiya shouted from below to keep your eyes peeled. You and Thoma had been assigned as the official judges for her newest craft, and you were more than happy to humor the lively fireworks-maker. It also gave you an excuse to sit between Thoma’s legs as you watched.

However, as the special fireworks shot up to the sky, you felt Thoma’s breath against your ear.

“It’s because I want to be the only one who calls you by your real name,” he whispered. “Is that so possessive of me?”

Whether the redness of your face was a reflection from the fireworks or plain embarrassment, no one would ever be able to tell.

Yoimiya’s invention was something else—fireworks that changed color right before the sparks shimmered into oblivion. Fiery red morphing into electric blue. Bright gold into luscious green. You watched each one rise into the sky with a dazzled look, chest twisting at the idea that it might take you a while to witness another fireworks show again.

You were completely unaware of the bright emerald eyes that watched you the whole time.

When all the preparations on the island were set, and you’d given Yoimiya your stamp of approval, the visitors had started pouring in. It’s as if Inazuma hadn’t been on the brink of an internal collapse because of the Kanjou and Tenryou Commission’s misdeeds. Everyone who walked beneath the torii gates had smiles splitting their faces as they sampled festival food, tied their wishing charms, and tried their hand at the game booths. 

That night, Thoma finally met his match in the form of a rather competitive Kujou Sara—who made a surprising entrance with Masahito despite how busy things were on their end. She ended up beating Thoma’s goldfish-catching record without a sweat, earning herself a new and improved Mister Danuki plush of her own.

Even the kids from Konda Village made it, immediately running towards yours and Ayaka’s direction before they inevitably dragged the two of you all over the place. The princess must have sensed the unease in your posture as Futaba and Takeru told you about how their fathers used to bring them here all the time, too.

There’s a time for you to tell them. Just not now, her eyes seemed to say.

Ayaka had to peel away from your little group to perform her fan-dance to the crowd, enrapturing every single person in attendance without fail. From behind, you could hear Kujou Sara speaking to Ayato about how the princess can finally enjoy a festival like a normal girl. The Commissioner couldn’t help but sigh in agreement. 

By the time Yoimiya’s fireworks show was underway, you were already exhausted. 

Instead of taking your usual spot by the cliffs, you decided to hang around by the entrance with Thoma, where there were less people crowding the space. This gave you the leeway to breathe, resting your head on his shoulder as you fought your brain’s desire to just go to sleep.

“We can head back now if you want,” he offered, stroking your hair. 

“Mmm…” you groaned. “But Yoimiya’s fireworks.” 

The chief retainer smiled. “And you’ve already done her a favor by judging her handiwork. You deserve a good night’s rest before you leave, you know?”

Well, it didn’t take much convincing for you to agree, so to speak.

Thoma’s mattress was soft as you landed on the surface, not bothering to change out of your kimono. Your lover let out a soft laugh while he stripped himself of his uniform before joining you on his bed. The dip of the bed under his weight made you crack one eye open, and you could see him holding a familiar toy in front of you.

“Don’t forget to pack Mister Danuki before you leave,” he reminded, setting the plush on top of his nightstand. 

“I won’t,” you murmured. “I’ll miss you too much if I do…”

Thoma sighed as he pulled the sheets over your bodies. “You always know what to say, huh?”

You let out a satisfied noise when you felt him nestle you in his strong arms. Turning around, you rested your head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

“You’re not going to try anything tonight?” you asked curiously.

“As much as I want to have passionate, unforgettable goodbye sex,” Thoma started with a laugh, pressing his lips against your forehead, “I am completely serious about you getting a good night’s rest, Miss Kira. Now go to bed before I change my mind.”

Though your eyelids were heavy with fatigue, you still managed a soft, almost mischievous laugh. Thoma, of course, didn’t miss the playful lilt in your tone, and immediately groaned when you climbed on top of his lap.

You stared at him from your vantage point, watching the way his ears turned red under your scrutiny. This was the man who made the gears on your stale, unsalvageable life finally turn. If it weren’t for him, you never would’ve changed. If it weren’t for him, you never would have formulated a cure that’s effective enough to save those you cared about.

If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be as happy as you were now.

“I love you,” you told him, fingers toying with the pendant around his throat. “Thoma of the Kamisato House, I love you.” 

Thoma smiled, soft and sincere and everything you’ve ever loved. When his hand reached up to caress your cheek, you’re not strong enough to resist his touch.

“I love you, too.”

This was your place in the world. Even if you had to leave for a while, you’ll always come back to him. 

Without worry. Without fail.

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© cryoculus | kaientai ✧ all rights reserved. do not repost or translate my work on other platforms.

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin smut #genshin fanfic #thoma smut #thoma fanfic #genshin fanfiction #genshin scenarios #genshin headcanons #genshin thoma #genshin x reader #thoma x reader #cryoculus #guard dog

[cryingcoyote13]

Zolani Nash

Quaritch's daughter that escaped from the RDA

Melanistic skin with shaved white hair

White snake tattoo runs down left cheek and arm

Born on Pandora the year before the war, after her mother died and she got sick she was forced into the recoms where so became a punching bag and science experiment.———————————————————————— While out with the recoms, Zolani makes a run for freedom from her abusive father, and she meets one of the Sully's kids while running for her life.

Neteyam x Zolani (/ro)

Spider x Zolani (sibling/platonic)

TW: guns, violence, abuse, PTSD

————————————————————————Chapter 1

The recoms were talking about something as we walked throughout the forest. I don't even know why I was allowed to go with them, but it doesn't matter. Today is the day. The day i've been dreaming of ever since I set foot inside that god awful base camp, or whatever they call it. Quaritch was up front with two other guys, and Z-Dog was just in front of me. If I ran fast, I could try to make it as far away as possible. I stopped slowly, and then I ran into the forest of Pandora. I ran as fast as I could as I heard the recoms yell about something and come running after me. But I was faster, more agile without all that gear they had on. Running, jumping, and swinging through the forest, it was beautiful. It would have been nicer if i didn't have a bunch of reborn-marines hauling ass after me, but whatever. I ran like a madman, tearing through the fauna and throwing myself further ahead. I was almost free then, I crashed into something. I let out a hiss and quickly got up, looking back. It was a Na'Vi, I gulped, putting my hands up as they pulled out a knife.

" we need to run " I yelped, my accent sliding through my Na'Vi speech as I heard the recoms yelling getting closer.I didn't wait for a replay, I grabbed the boy's hand as he growled and I yanked him along.

" what are you even doing here!? "

" long story! But we should really just keep running! " I growled back, picking up speed as I jumped up into a tree and climbed. The boy just behind me, knife still drawn as we hunched down in the hidden branches of the tree.I hushed him as the recoms came into view, looking pissed.

" where the hell did she go!? "

" well this fucking sucks "

Their fighting was drowned out as I looked over, finally seeing who I had almost killed. He was staring back, golden piecing right through me.I motioned for him to follow as I climbed silently away from the recom group. We climbed for a while until the recoms could no longer be heard, then hoped onto the ground. Sweat beaded on my forehead, from stress and the heat.

" what was that about? " I looked over to meet those golden eyes again.

" needed to get out of there. " I explained dryly, not wanting to explain my sad little life to this stranger.

" my name is Zolani " I continued, turning to him with an 'i see you' signHe reciprocated the gesture, glancing up and down curiously as he sheathed his knife. My dark blue skin was beaded with sweat and cuts, my white hair was dirty and shaved down. My 'stripes' where not stripes, more resembling those spots like cheetahs on Earth.

" my name is Neteyam " He said calmly, tail flicking around. He reached for my hand, inspecting it as I tensed up.

" you are an Avatar? " He questioned. I nodded, as he stalked around me.

" I will take you back to my clan " He stated calmly as he returned infront of me, my tail lashed nervously behind me.

" What? Why? " I asked, wipping my hands down my face in exhaustion.

" Because, you have no where to go, correct? " He stated, nodding to where we came from.I nodded slowly, and he turned away.

" Try to keep up " He grinned, looking over his shoulder before running off.I sighed with a giggle and took off after him. After a few minutes of running side by side we stopped at a stream for water, I hunched over, taking water in my hands and gulping it down as Neteyam watched. Suddenly, there was yips and yells as two Na'Vi jumped out, bows raised. I hissed, jumping up and drawing my knife as Neteyam jumped up as well. Before Neteyam could say anything one released an arrow, there was a thunk as it hit into my shoulder. I gasped, letting go of my knife as I hit the ground. I let out a groan as I felt someone put pressure on the wound, my hearing was fuzzy as my ears twitched around. My eyes watered from pain as I felt something burning throughout my blood. I gasped, convulsing as my body went rigid as everything faded to black, there was two other blobs coming into my vision.

Everything was hot, heavy and painful. I groaned, sitting up as I felt someone trying to gently push me back down. I blinked my blurry vision as I hissed weakly, pushing against them with weak gasps of pain.

" You gotta stay down kid " I managed to hear as my hearing came back to me, I let out a weak, breathy 'no' as I started to pull myself up. I groaned as I slumped forward out of pain, as someone yelled something. It sounded like one of Quaritch's men, I hissed, struggling weakly at the grasps the shoved me back onto my back as my vision slowly came back to me. I blinked rapidly, realizing I wasn't in the lab, I started to stop resisting the hands pushing me gently onto my back.

" where... where am I..? "

" It doesn't matter, you are safe " someone said softly near my ear, it was Neteyam! I looked over quickly with a gasp, reaching my hand over to him. He awkwardly grabbed it, holding it as he hushed me.

" You were shot, by a poison arrow " He explained as I winced, the pain coming again. As I looked over to the other people in the kelku I let out a pained wheezing as I blinked at one of the woman, tsahìk. She turned towards me and I made 'I See You' sign weakly as she crouched down.

" tsahìk " I wheezed as I laid back down as she unwrapped the bandages around my shoulder. I winced, letting out a gasp, looking at the two other adults in the kelku. I locked eyes with the man and I gasped, then looked over to the woman next to him.

" Jake! Jake! " I wheezed, as his ears perked, confused. He walked over crouching down, a serious expression on his face, before he could ask anything I wheezed out.

" Zolani! It's– " I winced at the pain in my shoulder.

" It's me! " I gasped out as his expression faded to shock, then fear.

" why— why are you here? " He hissed, worried.

" Let's just say— " I hissed as the tsahìk started to rewrap my wound.

" Things went to shit after the war. " I slowly pulled myself up as the tsahìk finished wrapping the wound. He held me up with gentle hands on my shoulders, I was panting. This was all so much, I mean I knew he was alive but I didn't think I would end up here.

" My human body died.. so Quaritch figured out how to get me an Avatar. He hoped I would work for him but– I was more like an experiment. I couldn't live like that— " I hurriedly explained as tears welled in my eyes, he took me into a gentle hug as I let out a sob. At this everyone was confused and scared, especially at Quaritch's name. The other woman, Neytiri, crouched down as Jake let me out of the embrace. She looked me over with a blank expression as I finished wiping tears from my eyes. I laid back down with a wheezy breath and closed my eyes as I started to fall back asleep.

I awoke to soft chatter, I slowly sat up with a shake of my head. I peered at the entrance to the kelku realizing it was dark outside. I looked around the kelku to find no one around. I pulled myself up, noting the loincloth instead of my shorts and a bandage wrapped tightly around my chest and shoulder as I did. I grabbed onto the shelves slightly, careful to not break anything. I slowly walked out of the entrance as the voices got louder. I peeked out only to almost run into a young girl Na'Vi. She screamed, dropping what she was carrying as she turned tail to run. Quickly, there was two adults at her sides questioning her, she pointed towards me as they looked up. My ears perked, trying to make out what they were saying. They started to get closer and I realized who it was, Jake and Neytiri! I smiled slightly, steading myself against the doorframe. Neytiri watched as I walked closer, her eyes staring right into my soul. Jake was quickly infront of me, he was holding two plates of food. My mouth watered as he handed one to me and I quickly scarfed it down in quick bites. He gave me a wide eyed expression, then looked at Neytiri who was smiling slightly in amusement.

" Were you hungry or something kid? " He joked, raising an eyebrow as I wiped the food from my mouth with a nod. He slightly smiled, then inspected the bandages.

" Let's get these things changed, I will get Mo'at " He said, turning to Neytiri as he walked away. I peered behind them to see the two kids that jumped out of the bushes at me and Neteyam. My ears flattened to my skull as I let out a hiss. Neytiri looked shocked and turned around to see who I was hissing at.

" YOU! You shot me! " I spat at the boy, who hung his head in shame. Neytiri turned to me, and put her hands up onto my hand that was pointing at him.

" mawey, my son Lo'ak is sorry. He was trying to protect his brother. " Neytiri stated as the kid, Lo'ak, stepped closer slowly a older girl beside him. My look softened slightly as I sighed looking him over.

" I am so very sorry " He explained, hands raised to show he was harmless. My tail flicked as I studied him. His eyes stared into mine with worry filling them. I sighed, rubbing my face with my hand.

" It is alright Lo'ak " I stated, making the 'I See You' gesture as he returned it. The girl beside him did as well.

" I am Zolani Nash. " I said, repeating the gesture to her.

" I am Kiri " She said, taking my hand.

" Please, let's get you laid back down " She gently pulled me back into the kelku and sat me down as she started to unwrap the wound as she sat cross legged infront of me. I winced, fighting to not pull away from her touch as she applied a paste to the wound.

" How long until it's healed? " I asked, looking into her eyes nervously. She looked up from my wound as she began to rewrap it.

" Probably a few weeks at least " She remarked, looking back down as she finished wrapping it. She looked back at the entrance as Mo'at, the tsahìk, and Jake walked in. Followed by Neytiri and the littlest Na'Vi girl as Kiri walked off into another part of the kelku with Mo'at.The girl was clinging to Neytiri's leg as she peered at me, she quickly looked at her mom then back at me.

" Why do you look like that? " She asked, innocent eyes staring into my soul.There was a collective " TUK! " as my mouth fell open in embarrassment.

" I- um... " I rubbed my hands together as my tail swished around nervously

" Apologies Tuk. That was rude. " Neytiri crouched down to Tuk's height

" I'm sorryyyy " She looked down at her feet as I reached out a hand to rub her shoulder.

" It's alright Tuk " I smiled softly, taking my hand from her shoulder as she looked at my sitting figure. She put her hand up, tracing my markings with a delicate finger. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in as she did and closed my eyes. She giggled, running her fingers along my tattoo till she was at my wrist as I opened my eyes to look into hers.

" What is it? " She looked up from the tattoo, wide eyed with a grin.

" A snake, it's a Earth animal that looks like a living rope. It represents my mother.." I paused, lips in a tight line as I looked back on my mother. Then smiled at Tuk's wide eyed grin of excitement and curiously. I slowly stood up, looking around at the other children as Neytiri, Jake and Mo'at walked out after sharing a few hushed words with Neteyam who had just came in with Lo'ak and a plate of food. My ears perked as he and Lo'ak walked back over without them.

" where are they going? " I inquired, peeking around Neteyam as the figures disappeared into the crowd.

" Off somewhere, something about 'adult business' " He said through bites of food, looking at his siblings then me.

" They left me in charge so I've decided we are going to show Zolani around the clan, if you feeling up for it? " He smiled slightly at my excited gasp as he finished off his plate.

" Really? I would love too! " I gasped as Kiri walked over, taking my hand in hers and starting to walk with Tuk at her side.

" Come on! There is so much to show you!! Lo'ak! Neteyam! Hurry up! We must introduce her to Spider! " She said excitedly as we picked up the pace, I laughed happily beside her and Neteyam as I was showed around the village. I was shown the Ikran, the Avatar Area, and eventually we left to meet up with Spider in the Lab. As we all entered the Lab, we each grabbed masks, I handed on to Lo'ak with a smile. He grinned slightly, as I turned around to hear Kiri exclaim happily,

" Monkey Boy! " She hugged the much smaller human, I mean he was tall for a human but compared to the Na'Vi him and every other human were puny. My tail flicked nervously as he looked up.

" Who's that? " He questioned as I took a puff as air from the mask.

" Zolani Nash " I dipped my head, looking the kid over. He had blue stripes painted all over him and his hair was in matted dreads.

" Spider Socorro " He said as he was released from Kiri's grasp. I gasped

" Socorro, as in Paz Socorro? " He tensed, glancing at Kiri who looked confused. He nodded slowly

" How did you know my mom? " He said, arms crossed in front of him.

" You are Quaritch's son. Him and Paz were a thing before she died " At this is eyes widened, and he glared into my soul.

" You're my half brother " I said, crouching down to his height as he slowly took in what I had said. His mouth opened to ask questions but I cut him off.

" My father was Quaritch, and mother was Dr. Nash. You're mother was a few months pregnant when I was almost 1. " I explained as he looked at me with a shocked expression, everyone was huddled around me in a circle hanging onto every word I said.

" My mother died in child birth, I was raised by the scientists before everything went to shit. Some of them managed to stay and raised me, and when Quaritch came back he got me an Avatar. Then my human body died— " Someone walked through the entrance, and stopped at the sight of the circle of teens.

" I wanna ask but do I really want to know? " He said, I wipped around. That voice.. that voice!!

" Norm? " I looked at him and he almost dropped the papers he was holding at the sound of my voice.

" Zo..? " He blinked in surprise as I practically jumped up and tackled him with a hug.

" Norm!! I thought you died! " I let out a cry of relief as we hugged, I eventually pulled away because of the burning in my shoulder.

" You thought I died? I thought you died kid! " He snapped, flicking me in the forehead. I let out a small hiss as he laughed, I motioned him to join the circle as I crawled back into the middle and started talking again.

" Anyways back— " I started then Kiri spoke up.

" How do you know everyone, you knew Jake, Spider's mom and Norm! " My ears twitched as I looked at her.

" They raised me, how could I forget them! " I grinned slightly at Norm who rolled his eyes.

" You sure were a pain in the ass kid " I gasped dramatically, putting a hand to my heart.

" How could you say such things! Oh my! I will die from my broken heart! " I fell back dramatically, into Neteyam's lap as he sat cross legged. I stuck my tongue out at Norm as I closed my eyes and pretended to be dead. Everyone let out a laugh as I sat back up and continued,

" Anyways, after my human body died I was somehow able to remain alive in this body. " Kiri's ears perked as she spoke up

" Perhaps it was the will of Ewya. " I shrugged looking back behind me at Neteyam, who was looking back at me. I grinned then turned to Spider who was sitting beside Kiri deep in thought.

" Spi– " He started to talk, cutting me off quickly.

" Was he... y'know– a dad to you? " Everyone went silent as my ears pulled back. I fought back the urge to yell, Spider didn't even meet him, did know him.

" No. He wasn't. That's why I ran " I growled softly and he nodded. Kiri put her hand on his shoulder as I got up, Neteyam following after me as I left. I practically shoved people out of the way as I stalked out of the lab, I didn't want to explode my anger onto anyone. Neteyam gently grabbed my wrist, causing me to turn to him and he pulled me into a hug. I struggled to get away for a moment then melted into his touch.

" I'm sorry, I didn't want to yell at anyone.. " He hummed a response as he slowly let go of me, but kept his hand on my shoulder.

" Are you okay Zo? " He looked into my eyes as tears welled in them. His looked softened as he wiped away the stray tears that rolled down my face.

" I'm so sorry Neteyam, I'm just being a big baby " I quickly wiped at the tears.

" Hey, no you're not. It's okay to feel things and cry " I looked up at him as my lip quivered as I held back a wail. He pulled me into a hug as tears rolled down my face. God dammit. Why can't I do anything right. I started to sob, hiccuping and shaking in his grasp.

" Please.. P-please don't make me go back " His eyes widened and he looked down at my sobbing figure as I shook my head.

" I can't go back– I can't! " He took my head in his hands as I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face.

" You will never, ever have to go back there. I promise " I sniffled, hugging him gently as someone walked over.

" You okay Zolani?.. I'm sorry for bringing him up.. " Spider said, as him and Kiri walked over. I looked up from Neteyam's shoulder and nodded.

" I- I'm sorry for running off it's just... bad memories.. " Spider nodded as Kiri's expression softened, she walked over as Neteyam let go and I walked over to her.

" Let's get you back to grandmother's kelku " She said, taking my hand and walking me toward the hut. I slowly let go of Neteyam's hand as he smiled comfortingly at me as me and Kiri left. She lead me through the crowd ad I started to become exhausted. When was the last time I even had a conversation with anyone? My thoughts we interrupted as Kiri stopped and I crash into her. I shook my head, gathering myself as my ear perked up. There was someone talking in the kelku, I looked at Kiri and stepped forward into the hut and everyone went silent. Neytiri, Jake and Mo'at all stared back at me as Kiri followed me in. She lead me to a corner and she sat me down and began unwrapping my wound. I winced as Mo'at came over to help, but I felt everyone's eyes staring through me. I closed my eyes, head swirling with thoughts and when I opened them again Kiri was gone, I looked over just in time to see her slip out the hut. I looked back at Jake, who was standing just behind Mo'at, fear flashing in my eyes. The silence was deafening as I looked at him, finally I broke the silence.

" Are you gonna make me go back..? " His eyes widened as he crouched beside me. I felt tears pricking at my eyes as I stared at him

" No, you will never go back there " I slightly smiled as Mo'at finished tending to my wound.

" You should get some rest " She said as I yawned. I nodded, looking up at Jake as he helped me up.

" We have enough room in our hut, you can stay with us " I smiled, nodding excitedly. Him and Neytiri lead me to their kelku and showed me which bed I would be sleeping in. It was the one farthest from the entrance but it was still with the other beds. I crawled into it and curled up, looking up at Neytiri and Jake I smiled.

" Thank you guys... for everything.. " I yawned and tucked my head under the blanket and eventually fell asleep.

I was back in that damn lab. My head hurt, where was everyone? I sat up from my bunk and walked into the lobby. It was completely empty, I walked around peering out of the windows to be met with darkness. Suddenly I felt someone grab my kuru and throw me down. I yelped in pain as I felt blood run down my head as I banged against the floor. I tried to sit up but was pushed back down by a boot landing on top of my head. My head was realing with pain as I tried to struggle free. I looked up, slightly seeing the muzzle of a handgun coming into view as I was yanked up my kuru. Tears streamed down my face as the muzzle pressed firmly against my head, my eyes closed as I started to shake. There was deafening silence, then a loud pop.

I practically jumped out of the bed, panting and scrambling for safety. I hit the floor harshly, head still swirling as I started to get up and quickly stumbled out of the kelku. I had probably woken everyone up but I needed air or I was gonna pass out. I slowly reached the edge of the forest and sat down, still shaking and panting. I pulled my knees to my chest, my tail curled around my feet as I listened to the forest. I slowly calmed down, I finally looked over as I heard someone clear their throat. I didn't look over, I knew who it was. He scooted closer till he was sitting next to me, but not touching. The silence was filled with my slowing breathes as I regained composure.

" You know, when Lo'ak shot you I thought you were going to die, " I glaced over at Neteyam as he spoke, he was leaned back on his elbows looking up at the night sky.

" well, that was until the atokirina came out of the forest and started landing on you " I laid onto my back with a glace at him.

" Ewya meant for us to meet that day. " I looked over at him, eyebrow scrunched in confusion.

" What? Why do you think that? " He looked over, beads clanking together in his braids.

" I was following an atokirina when you almost killed me " He remarked, smiling slightly as I rolled my eyes at him.

" Perhaps it was. And I didn't almost kill you " I turned over to see the sky as I let out a yawn. I closed my eyes, listening to the forests sounds and the heartbeat of the ground. My ears perked as Neteyam laid down onto his back next to me. I felt something land onto my stomach with a feather soft touch, then on my arms and legs. I opened my eyes to meet the glowing figure of an atokirina, I gasped as it lightly tapped my nose.

" Neteyam! " I whispered out, he sat up and gasped at the sight. I was practically covered in atokirina as I laid still in the grass. The one of my nose floated across my face, then up into the sky. The rest followed quickly after, leaving us star struck as we watched them float away into the treeline. My heart raced in amazement, my mouth agape as I whipped my head around to look at Neteyam, who looked amazed, but not as shocked.

" See it is a sign! " He prodded, light shoving my arm as I rolled my eyes.

We sat for a while longer, staring up at the stars until we made our way back to the kelku where everyone was back asleep except Neytiri. She practically jumped up when we walked into the entrance, putting a hand on her son's shoulder as she glanced at me.

" Are you two alright? " She inspected her son, circling him then me for injuries.

" We are fine ma " Neteyam sighed with a smile as his mother inspected him.

" Sorry if I woke anyone up, I had a nightmare.. " I forced a smile as I looked into her eyes. She stared back, right through my soul. I shivered nervously as she removed her hand from Neteyam and glaced at me. I knew she didn't like me, I saw the way she glaced at me. Who could blame her? I'm Quaritch's daughter, ofcourse she hates me. I was snapped out of my thoughts as a gentle hand pushed me forward, towards my bed. I looked at Neteyam as he motioned towards the beds. I started to walk, crawling into the hammock and curling up as he crawled into his. I fell asleep shortly after that.

* * *

#neteyam x reader #neteyam #[ Covered Myself In Thorns ] #avatar fanfiction #atwow fanfiction #atwow #atwow neteyam

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this week (#172):

"May I watch you eat?"

The taste of things is the latest French 'Food-porn' movie, following the recipe of so many before it, and paying homage especially to 'Babette's Feast', with Juliette Binoche playing the simple cook Stéphane Audran in a similar style. They knew what they were doing, romanticizing the 'olde thyme' vision of culinary bliss, making it like a summertime Renoir tableaux [but without any of the dozens of assistants needed to chop the wood, peel the potatoes, pluck the geese, and do the dishes]. Food as love.

I saw it on the same day I read this article about 'The Hottest Restaurant in France', which got me in the mood.

🍿

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Please forgive me..."

Samsara is not Ron Flicke's film of the same name (him of the The Qatsi Trilogy). But this 2023 film too is a meditative, spiritual essay about life, death and change. It specifically tells about the Buddhist idea of re-incarnation.

Like the Italian poem 'Le quattro volte' it transforms the philosophical concept of 'Bardo' into a visual story about a bed-ridden old Laotian woman who turns into a new-born goat in Africa after her death. And like Philip Gröning's patient 'Into Great Silence', it follows the simple life in a monastery, quietly and poetically. (Photo Above).

It tells two separate stories: A young boy reads from 'The Tibetan book of the Dead' to a dying woman in a village in Laos. And exactly at midpoint, there's an unexplained, abstract 2001 "Star Gate" light show, where the (Spanish) director asks the audience to close their eyes, and get lost in the vortex with her for about 15 minutes. Long stretch of strobe lights and strange dead sounds, as her soul travels though the afterlife into new birth. Then her spirit transmutes into an another form, as a pet goat for a young Muslim girl in Zanzibar. It's a fragile, silent and unfocused vision about the circle of life.

🍿

Thoroughbreds, my second unsettling thriller by Cory Finley (after 'Bad Education'), his accomplished debut feature. It tells of two rich, psychopathic Connecticut girls who scheme to murder, a-la Raskolnikov, the mean father of the richer one. Terrific direction choices and well-made execution, but I can't stand the young, unlikable actresses (and actors!), and their emotionally-stunted upper-class coldness left me cold too.

I loved JunePictures's lovely animated logo at the beginning!

🍿

Invention for Destruction, a Jules Verne steampunk'ish adventure fable. It was made by Karel Zeman, the "Czech Méliès", in 1958, and is considered "the most successful film in the history of Czech cinema". It's a fantasy sci-fi story that includes rollerskating camels, underwater biking pirates, a giant man-eating octopus, submarines with duck-foot paddles, Etc. It mixes real-life acting with special effect Victorian engravings and animation, including traditional, cut-out, and stop-motion, along with miniature effects and matte paintings. 4/10.

🍿

2 by French feminist Germaine Dulac:

🍿 Dulac was a radical, impressionist, avant-garde film-maker who had made ground-breaking surrealist silent films even before Buñuel and Dalí made 'The Andalusian Dog'.

The Smiling Madame Beudet (1923) is a strong feminist story of an intelligent woman unhappily married who's dreaming of killing her boorish husband. It includes a literal Chekhov's gun. [*Female Director*].

🍿 The Seashell and the Clergyman is based on an experimental story by avant-garde artist Antonin Artaud. A year before 'Un Chien Andalou', it's just as opaque & untamed. Anybody interested in early Buñuel, should visit her films. It's about the "erotic hallucinations of a priest lusting after the wife of a general." Distorted images, bizarre fantasies, impolite subversions... [*Female Director*].

🍿

Another silent era classic, made by a towering pioneer, Alice Guy Blaché's 1906 The Life of Christ. [On IMDb, Alice Guy is credited with directing 464 (!) films, producing 32 and writing 18!]. Composed of 25 individual tableaux, telling of mostly his last days, and noted for her focus on his mostly women followers. The poor baby who had to play Jesus in the manger!... [*Female Director*].

🍿

Crack-up, a confusing 1946 Film Noir, made by a second-rated director, with a terrible script and bad acting all around, including the miscast Pat O'Brien. A stolen art piece, not up to 'The Maltese Falcon' levels. 2/10.

🍿

"I was drugged and left for dead in Mexico, and all I got was this stupid T shirt."

A single re-watch this week: the sophisticated mystery The Game, again♻️. Still my favorite David Fincher film, even more than 'The social Network'. With the magnificent Memory montage opening, which was also copied successfully by the show 'Succession'. Chasing a "White Rabbit", a birthday present to remember...

🍿

2 more selections from the US National Film Registry:

🍿 I am somebody is a 1970 documentary about a strike by 400 black hospital employees (all but 12 women) for better pay in Charleston, South Carolina. Racist discrimination against poor blacks in Amerika is so appalling and so deep, it's hard to watch. The fight for equality and civil rights never ended. 9/10. [*Female Director*].

🍿 Jammin' the Blues is a 1944 Warner Bros. jazz short featuring Lester Young and (new to me) singer Marie Bryant. Oscar nominated in 1944. 'Smokin'!

🍿

I used to really like British magician Darren Brown, and saw many of his shows. Pushed to the edge (2016) is a disturbing experiment in social compliance, a-la Stanley Milgram, taken to the extreme. With dubious morality, he manipulates an unsuspecting guy to push another man from the roof of a building. But the more elaborate the set up, the more uncomfortable it is to watch it.

🍿

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, a lame, loud, shallow music mockumentary by The Lonely Island. It had only one good number, "Fucked Bin Ladin" (which came at 46:00, exactly one hour before the end, so they did follow some script writing rules after all..) and about one million celebrity cameos, including Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. 2/10.

🍿  

In They're Made Out Of Meat (2005) two aliens meet in a night Diner. One of them tell the other, dressed in St. Pepper-type uniform that he discovers that all people on this planet are "made out of meat". It's a cute concept, but that's the whole thing, and there's not more to it.

RIP, Terry Bisson!

🍿  

Semiotics of the Kitchen was an angry installation piece by artist Martha Rosler, at the heights of the second wave feminism years (1975). A parody of a cooking show, where the host gets more and more agitated. [*Female Director*].

🍿

(My complete movie list is here)

#movies #samsara

[starmeadowsystem]

Hi, we're the Starmeadow System! We're an autistic transfem system who kinda just exists and also draws things sometimes.

About us (individually)

Stella (she/they/kit): Kittygirl host. Shows up the most often. Loud and outspoken about a lot of things. Makes up the most things and kisses the most girls. Wants to do more things for her headmates.

Apple (she/her): The red panda gremlin who manages to be a bigger lesbian than Stella (when adjusting for the resource gap). She also has a sister in our partner system.

Pizza (they/them): Fictive from Chicory: A Colorful Tale. They are very silly and cute. Very pettable as well.

Cupcake (she/her): Really cute dog. Also one of Stella's several exes.

Ezekiel (he/they/ze): Green bird who lurks and says "computer" sometimes. Has the voice of a 90s text to speech program.

Volo (he/him): Fictive from Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Memelord who announces his presence with his theme. Approves his source's Near MB post we think.

Artemis (she/her): Fictive from Deltafauna, a series we tried to develop once. Acts and speaks in a very deadpan fashion.

Crystal (she/ice): Pretty glaceon with a southern accent. One of Stella's kids somehow.

Amethyst (she/her): Fictive from Steven Universe. Lurks. Says things sometimes.

Technoblade (he/him): A mix between his "real life" and "dream SMP (my behated)" self. Also kind of a memelord. Claims to get along with Volo well.

Rich (he/him): Factive of a guy we worked for once until we got laid off. Hasn't shown up in a while. Don't know what he was about tbh.

Nomi (she/her): Fictive from Dogs in Space. Just as chaotic as her source, and is also probably very very gay. Pettable.

V1 (he/him): Fictive from Ultrakill. Very violent. Claims he's a gopro. Even more enthusiastic about killing transphobes and cops than most of the system.

Sox (he/him): Fictive from Lightyear. Acts as a therapist who remains unaffiliated with the psychiactric system. Very pettable.

Doris (she/her): System member who briefly showed up based on the person-sized dinosuar plushie we have. Kissable.

Bluey (she/they): Fictive from Bluey. Small, adorable dog child. I (stella) would kill for her. And do the dishes for her too.

Rocket Raccoon (he/him): Fictive from Guardians of the Galaxy. I'm a little gremlin who likes shooting shit. Hope you understand.

Fandoms

Listed in alphabetical order. Non-exhaustive.

Animal Crossing

Beastieball

Bluey

Breaking Bad

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

Celeste

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Deltarune

Dogworld (2021)

Grapple Dog

Hollow Knight

The Hunger Games

Kirby

The Legend of Zelda

Pix and Bit

Pokemon

Preeny Has To Repeat 6th Grade

Rain World

Sonic the Hedgehog

Super Cat Tales

Super Mario Bros.

Squid Game

If you notice there's a pattern: yes, we're furry gamers lmao especially Stella

Shit we do

We post things, reblog furry women and Very Fun Political Things Going On, and sometimes maybe work on some projects.

Stella's the main person who manages things about "Pure of Heart" characters on tumblr, and posts about it when she feels like it. She has also made a 100(DEC36)-point moral scale for evaluating fictional characters. Discussion around this is encouraged.

Independently of that, kit's also planning Souls of the Broken Warrens, an adult interactive comment-driven dark fantasy quest about genocide, cute rabbits, and love and companionship in the darkest of times.

Pix and Bit Save the Galaxy is a fanfic I sometimes write for on AO3. It's about a couple trans lesbians fighting one of their dads and his army for the fate of the Galaxy. You know, normal shenanigans n shit.

These plans are about as liquid and malleable as life itself, of course, so uh. Yeah.

Cool people you should also follow

@rougewitchfox - Our partner system. Very very pretty and cute and kissable. Minors aren't allowed on her account. She's also agreed to proofread for Souls of the Broken Warrens so that Stella doesn't accidentally end up harming marginalized people, given the sensitive nature of the game's subject matter.

@autisticsupervillain - cool guy who happens to often talk about Magnificent Bastards, Complete Monsters, and pitting fictional characters in fights to the death and seeing who wins with better logic than Death Battle. We consider him a good friend of ours.

@imsobadatnicknames2 - Interesting fella who runs Brave Little Mouse, a cyoa with Mausritter rules. Has a Ko-Fi. I cant buy him one rn though :(

Anyway that's it we think, have fun dealing with us lol

#pinned post #starmeadowsystem

[wayward-lives]

Prompt list

Hey guys! This is all the prompts I had in my writing folder that I never got around to writing anything for. Some of them are just a couple of words or sentences, while others are absolute monsters. If any of you wanna do something based on one of these prompts, go for it! I'd love it if you tagged me or let me know, just so I can read/see where you've gone with it <3

"How about you take me out back and I don't call you tomorrow?" "How about I take you home after and you sneak out when I'm asleep?" // "You make a habit of sneaking around behind buildings?" "Last time I did, I fucked a cute guy. Maybe I'll get lucky again."

Nymph Bucky falls in love with a hiker who walks through his woods

Post WS. Bucky is in SHIELD custody and doesn’t remember Steve, but he remembers Natasha from the Red Room when she was a child

Vet Bucky. Steve is running from New York after the Snap and he hits a dog and brings it into Bucky's clinic

Bucky doesn't do relationships, but Steve keeps seeing him for sex and Bucky falls in love - friends with benefits (what's love got to do with it - Tina Turner)

College AU - Bucky is an international student who's paired with Steve's roommate Sam

Steve and Bucky are close friends, Steve is complaining one night about how annoying hook-up culture is, and Bucky suggests a FWB situation. Bucky's been in love with Steve for years and it's only when they start sleeping together that Steve realises that he feels the same way

Bucky recognises Steve during their fight on the bridge

Bucky and Steve had broken up, but they keep sleeping together whenever they run into each other

Shrunkyclunks: nurse Bucky works at Stark tower

"just friends who have sex sometimes and live together" where Bucky and Steve don't realise they're dating

Winter Soldier Steve/civilian Bucky

Pirate AU - Bucky's dad is a fisherman who takes Bucky out on trips. One day when Bucky's twelve, they're taken by the crew of the HYDRA, run by Captain Pierce. Pierce kills Bucky's father and keeps Bucky as a slave. Several years later the captain from a rival ship (Steve) is captured by Pierce and he and Bucky fall in love

A/B/O post-winter soldier where the mask doesn't come off and the WS is brought into custody at Avengers tower by Natasha, and Steve falls in love with him without knowing he's his long-lost mate

Steve survives the war but Bucky still falls off the train. In the 50's the Winter Soldier has a mission in New York and on his way is spotted by Rebecca Barnes's daughter, who's eight and has been told all about her uncle Buck. The daughter finds it so amazing that this total stranger looks exactly like uncle Buck and pulls him along to meet Rebecca, who has a breakdown and persuades the Winter Soldier to come home with her. The Winter Soldier just kinda goes along with it because nobody's ever been nice to him and this lovely woman has promised him meatloaf and pie and for some reason he knows that he really likes meatloaf and pie. Becca calls up Steve and the Winter Soldier moves in with Steve because Becca can't look after her amnesiac brother on top of two kids and a third on the way

Big Eden Shrinkyclinks AU

I hope it's warm in hell, because darling I hate the cold

My dreams look like you - Steve and Bucky used to be best friends during high school but lost contact when Steve moved away - they meet again at a mutual friend's party when Steve moves back home

Steve and Bucky used to be together and are both masked vigilantes. They have a bit of a rivalry going but the fun kind where they both kinda wanna fuck. Neither of them know who the other is.

Post WS - Steve and Sam move back to NY to be closer to the other avengers. Sam starts noticing someone following him and watching him and he soon realizes it’s Bucky. Sam starts gently trying to get Bucky to interact with him and starts buying him sweet pastries. Soon Bucky becomes more comfortable and lets Sam help him recover as long as Sam doesn’t tell Steve

(NSFW) Steve is a knight who often visits a manor house where a disgraced Lady lives. The Lady was disgraced for her promiscuous and sexual appetites, but she's comfortably set up in the Manor. Steve visits because the Manor's on a path he travels often, and it's one of the only places to rest for the night. The Lady always sends a group of her servants to service her guests, and Steve is used to this by now. Bucky is a new servant who works in the kitchen who's sent to Steve's chambers with food, and he sits by Steve's bed and hand-feeds him as Steve is serviced. Steve never takes his eyes off Bucky. Each time Steve visits after that, they manage to see each other

Bucky chooses to forget Steve and has his memory erased, because it’s too painful for him to be around Steve when he thinks that Steve doesn’t love him. A few years later Steve picks Bucky up in a bar and pretends not to know him

Prompt: My husband thinks that our parents arranged this marriage. We’ve been married for ten years now, and for ten years he has thought this. I’m not sure how to tell him that my parents wanted me to marry his older brother but I fell in love with the younger brother (my husband) so I pretended to be my parents and sent his parents a letter asking for his hand in marriage. And then the wedding invitations were being made, and it was too late for my parents to do anything. And I was very happily married to my Husband, but he courted me for two years after our marriage not knowing that I was already in love with him.

Steve falls for vet nurse and animal lover Bucky despite being allergic to pretty much all household pets and trying to hide it

Shrunkyclunks - a few dates in Steve tells Bucky he's Captain America, but Bucky doesn't believe him and thinks he's delusional. He doesn't tell Steve he doesn't believe him and has a moral crisis about whether or not he should be dating someone with such strong "delusions". Steve just thinks he's hit the jackpot with supportive boyfriends.

Pirate Captain Bucky captures Navy Captain Steve from his ship and holds him for ransom (very homoerotically) (steve is confused and horny)

Steve is a warrior in his village who's come down with a mysterious illness. The townspeople send him to the "evil" witch who lives in the forest to see if he can be healed

Weird a/b/o

Hardly any Queen Omegas, those who are a threat to national security. Bucky is the WS working to murder hydra and Steve is sent to take the same hydra base that the WS targets

#prompts #my writing #fanfic #stucky

[zimithrus1]

Au: Cloud has to take care and raise toddler remnants 😆

Send me an AU and I'll give you 5+ headcanons about it

1. Cloud was sure Aerith's healing rain was supposed to send them back to the Lifestream, to dissolve them and return their forms to the free-flowing strands they once originated from. But they did not. Instead they shrunk, and shrunk, and shrunk, until suddenly instead of whisking away green into the sky, a chubby-cheeked remnant toddler lays in his hands. And two more laid on the ground a few feet away from him. Unsure of what to do, for the time being, Cloud brought them back to Seventh Heaven.

2. The remnants would not vanish. They were stuck here with them now as toddlers. But at least they weren't hellbent on killing anything anymore. (Merely hellbent on turning Seventh Heaven upside-down and giving everyone inside headaches from their antics). Kadaj remained the leader of the others, standing tall and proud at 4 and a half (anything older or younger would get a very loud protest). He got into everything he could, ran with sharp objects, and threw the poutiest tantrums. Yazoo stood in the middle right at 4 and was the quietest out of the brood. He got involved in some high-strung incidents with his brothers, but was main the most level-headed. He was still prone to fits and pouts however. But Cloud was lucky a good book could calm him down. And Loz stood wobbly at 3, having the most energy and getting into the most trouble. Constantly running around, jumping off furniture, screaming and shouting, and throwing himself to the ground when things didn't go his way, crying the longest and loudest out of the three.

3. It was hard and awkward to get used to. After all the trouble they caused, half the time Cloud wanted to wad up a newspaper and smack their noses like dogs. Marlene and Denzel were a little wary at first but grew the fastest to accept them as part of their crazy family. They saved Cloud and Tifa from a lot of headaches and threats, they'll say that much. After a while, they ended up becoming part of the Strife's.

4. Aerith visited Cloud in his dreams one night and asked how he was handling the new additions. He asked her why they didn't rejoin the Lifestream, but she just smiled and shrugged, 'Guess they're still really attached to their big brother.' Zack was with her and smiled as well. 'You're just a really popular guy, Cloud. And don't worry, we'll save places for all of you eventually.' He rolled his eyes at both of them, but he couldn't stop himself from smiling.

5. Getting the party reintroduced to the remnants as toddlers and not as world-ending antagonists took some adjustment as well. But the ended up coming around with their own stipulations. Cid was 'don't let those brats touch anything in my ship and we're cool' Vincent didn't say much, but if he wanted space from them he'd give him his phone and let them play centipede on it. Yuffie said 'stay away from my materia, unless we're up to something together then they can use it, because it's more fun that way!' Red XIII did not enjoy becoming a furry taxi to the three toddlers, but he was okay with it as well as some good-natured pets every once in a while so long as they didn't call him a dog. Barret took the longest to adjust as they had put Marlene in danger before, but when figuring out they turned into regular, crazy toddlers, warmed up to them much easier. Cait sith preferred to keep his distance from them based off that one time when the kids fought over who could play with him and nearly ripped him into three uneven pieces. But he didn't mind them aside from that he supposed. (He much preferred Marlene's tea parties though.)

#This was super fun to do!! #Thank you so much!! :D #ffvii #ffviiac #advent children #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #kadaj #yazoo #loz #aerith gainsborough #zack fair #cid highwind #vincent valentine #yuffie kisaragi #red xiii #barrett wallace #cait sith #toddler au #au headcanons #zimianswerz #again that was a blast!!

[nitrosodiumfmp]

Games Like Sinister | Gameplay

The only reason I picked Doom 2 over Ultimate Doom is that I prefer it; better level design, more enemies, generally more fun. The link here is obvious; you move through levels trying to reach the end, fighting off demons as you do so. The game is 2.5D, which may seem confusing, and it is. Essentially, there's no up - floors can't be placed on top of each other, but it gives the illusion of height. The basic idea of exploring an abstract underworld filled with two-dimensional monsters is what Sinister is entirely based on, and I'll probably add limited combat, but not on the gratuitous level of Doom.

Pathways Into Darkness is a classic 90s dungeon crawler akin to Ultima Underworld, but slightly more obscure as it was released for the Mac and the Mac only. The story is bizarre; a gigantic god-like entity is asleep under the earth, and its dreams are causing a massive temple to manifest in the jungle. You're part of a spec ops team sent into the temple, to drop a nuke in its lowest chamber and pacify the being before it wakes up - as this would cause the end of days. It connects to the Marathon series as well, but that's not important right now. Having a game focused on exploration and combat, but also being set within a dead god's dream is very in line with my idea for Sinister. The game is also quite surreal with its enemies; from lumbering blob-men with mouths in their chests to goofy walrus-like floating creatures to reanimated skeletons, who throw bones at you.

Penumbra was essentially a tech demo for Amnesia: The Dark Descent. It follows Philip, a physicist who enters a desolate bunker in Greenland to find his father. Inside, you must solve puzzles using the proprietary physics engine, and occasionally avoid enemies; namely, rabid dogs. There is combat in Penumbra, but it is discouraged, and there are many ways of getting around enemies. You could sneak by them, you could run, you could bait them with meat or distract them with a flare. You could throw explosives (a quick but costly kill) or use physics objects to slow their pursuit. You could even lure them into an enclosed area and trap them, or use environmental obstacles to kill them without your input. It's an interesting angle of immersion that I haven't seen much; so many immersive sims will give you all sorts of weapons and gizmos and character upgrades for dealing with enemies in unique ways, but these usually boil down to a fancy way of killing them that isn't just shooting them in the face. This idea of discouraged but viable combat is what I want to replicate.

Prey 2006 is pretty obscure (mostly due to Prey 2017 making it impossible to search for, and it's removed from Steam) but quite interesting. You play as a Native American guy named Tommy, who gets abducted by aliens, and has to fight through their massive bio-organic ship to save his girlfriend Jen. The game uses seamless portals, one year before Portal, as well as loads of interesting tricks like non-Euclidian level geometry and alterable gravity (such as walking on walls and ceilings). It's really cool. The relevant thing for my game is that Tommy canonically dies within the first hour. After this, he's taken to a spirit world by his grandfather, where he gains spirit-walking powers and a ghost of his childhood pet, a hawk named Talon. When you die again in-game, you're taken back to the spirit world, to battle the "dishonored dead" and regain your health and spirit power. I really like games that deal with death in a canon sense - instead of restarting at a checkpoint, your character has legitimately died and returned to life. I want to explain respawning in Sinister in a similar way; you're in the afterlife, so technically, you're already dead.

Pathologic is a game I can't say enough good things about. It's a mega-obscure Russian game, about (in simple terms) a strange town, a string of murders, and a plague. You have twelve days to explore the town, uncover its mysteries, save your Bound (a group of people who are connected by fate) and save yourself. You'll have to make tough decisions, scavenge for supplies, learn the town's esoteric customs, and all while discovering the secrets of the Sand Plague. When I was first deciding what I wanted the project to be about, Pathologic was my main inspiration for the key themes: "Exploration in an unfamiliar world". The gameplay is primarily walking about, but you will occasionally get into combat. Stakes are very high in the game, and so you are encouraged to run and hide in buildings just as much as you are encouraged to fight. This more visceral and realistic approach to combat rather than just "shoot the bad men" is another thing I want to replicate in Sinister.

#nitrosodium #indie dev #indiegamedev #indie game #indie games #indie game dev #indiedev #devlog #gamedev #Youtube

[cappurrccino]

awakening, the archwing, stolen dreams, & octavia's anthem for your operator

Awakening: What was their first Warframe?

Based on him being my main, I think my gal's been an Inaros operator since day 1.

The Archwing: Where is your character's favorite place in the Origin System? How often do they travel? What is their favorite form of travel?

Favorite place I think is Cetus. It's just so alive and normal and there's never any real pressure on her to do anything while she's there. There's (usually) no critical missions or people expecting things of her, she can just chill and shop and sit up on a light pole and people watch. She travels fairly often, and I think orbiter travel is her preferred for most things. I imagine it's a little slower than the railjack and is just hers and has all her stuff stashed in it, so it's a comfortable ride.

Stolen Dreams: How would your character feel about working with someone typically considered to be an enemy? Who- or which factions- do they trust the most?

At this point, everything's so fucking topsy-turvy she'll pretty much just roll with it as long as someone she trusts (or has at least worked with once who hasn't tried to kill her) says "hey, this person can be trusted" Corpus are probably highest on her trust list (aside from some of the syndicates) just because of Fortuna, though if Dog Days are considered canon, her thoughts on the Grineer are "well these guys can't be all bad, they host squirt gun battles!"

Octavia's Anthem: What kind of music does your character enjoy? Do they play an instrument or sing?

Her favorite music is 100% Umbra's shawzin playing, both because it's just beautiful music, but it's always a reminder that she's not as alone as she feels and that his soul/personality is still kicking around in his frame, just as strong as ever. She's very slowly learning to play herself, but still greatly prefers to just sit and listen.

#//juri answers #ask games #the warframe oc one #bit late but thamk!! #also as i was writing this out i realized my tags yesterday were wrong and i DO have another warframe oc! #deri! the corpus guy from my ''corpus seige'' fic!

[bumblebeerror]

I’m thinking not about the fact that bedrock bros was doomed, but why c!bedrock bros was doomed.

Like yes yadda yadda he lied to Tommy blah blah blah I don’t care tbh, Tommy lied to him right back and left him standing alone against the whole server they’re even, okay

I think the thing people overlook about c!techno a lot is his fucking borderline dedication to giving other people a choice, which makes some sense - there are many many times in the narrative where he doesn’t get much of a choice at all: Tubbo’s execution was kill or be killed, get out of his old base or keep getting targeted and robbed, comply with Quackity or lose his horse (and with Techno being such a horse girl we all know that second one isn’t even a question). Techno is dogged by impossible chooses throughout the narrative - all culminating in Ranboo’s death, eventually.

So it stands out to me just how much choice he gives Tommy - a guy who himself gave Techno no choice as to whether he would stay there.

Whenever Tommy doesn’t want to do something while they’re together, Techno doesn’t tell him to it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Drink this invis, take off your armour, hide, stop trying to get me to say bitch, my monetization!

I think the part where it hit me is during the Wolf Army stream, where Tommy agonizes over… Several things, and is very fuckin anxious. He starts off just asking Techno what to do in general, looking for an order, but he quickly gets frustrated - soon he flat out demands.

“Techno, just tell me what to do!”

And Techno refuses. Outright. In plain words. He tells Tommy that he’s willing to protect him, but that Tommy must make his own choices. Tommy asks him over and over again, and over and over: Techno stonewalls him every time - he refuses to tell Tommy directly what to do. He gives him advice! He reiterates what Tommy’s told him - that Dream tortured him, that he ran away from Dream in the first place. But he never tells Tommy what to choose.

Techno refuses unless it is literally vital to Tommy’s continued survival. The only times he directly tells Tommy what to do when Tommy asks is when Dream visits the house, and it’s all strictly to keep him hidden.

It’s clear at that point that Techno the character does have some idea of what Dream did to Tommy. At the very least, he clearly understands that Tommy shouldn’t under any circumstances actually see Dream or be seen by Dream. This despite him repeatedly giving Tommy the freedom to choose to go see Dream when they spot him at logstedshire. He steers Tommy away from the idea as hard as he can without ordering him around, until it really fucking matters, Dream being there, right now. Looking for Tommy. By then, we know Tommy's choices are illusions, that when push comes to shove, Techno probably would have found a way to stop him if he had chosen to see Dream, but it doesn't really matter - Tommy still was able to choose not to without feeling like someone else would make said choice for him.

It’s a lie, sure. But I’m pretty sure you can’t throw a grain of sand on this server without hitting someone who’s lied to someone else, whether for the greater good or not.

And I think that Techno’s willingness to give Tommy choices or at least the illusion of choices, to let Tommy come to the best for himself is ultimately both the downfall of that relationship and also the thing that helped Tommy the most when it came to regaining a part of himself and healing. In fact I think Phil’s advice and Techno’s quiet refusal to order him around are probably some of the most helpful tools Tommy’s been given thru his entire... Ordeal. I cant think of a better word for it, dont yell at me

The sheer change between when Tommy showed up, confused and tired and terrified to make a choice and the moment he chooses to betray Techno, his voice entirely certain and assured. Techno gives him that certainty, that space to remember that he knows how to say what he wants. Giving Tommy that space to heal and effect his own destiny is what killed that alliance.

So in a way, it’s definitely Techno’s fault for the bedrock bros falling apart, but ultimately was probably better for the both of them - as much as I would have loved it if Tommy committed to destroying L'manburg just because the resulting stream would be pathetic and hilarious.

(Also while typing this up I realized that the first Life Ranboo lost was probably the one to Clarencio the Llama because I watched the dog army stream. Second was hitting on 16. Third to Sam. I hate it here. I have no idea if this was glaringly obvious to anyone else but it hit me over the head like a fucking anvil.)

#c!techno #dsmp #c!tommy #c!bedrock bros #dsmp analysis

[kyoxyukiforever]

Trigger Warning: homophobia, slurs, abuse, assault, murder, suicide, hate crimes, bullying

Just a heads up to anyone looking to follow in this idiot’s footsteps — I am not a guy you want to have this discussion with. Really.

I, along with the rest of the queer community, have been through so much of the garbage that people like this have seen fit to put us through, and we have come out the other side as warriors. On the one hand, it has made me more patient and understanding. On the other hand, it means I will defend young queer individuals from hate speech like this with every bone in my body. I went through years of homophobic people like this one physically assaulting me, all so kids today wouldn’t have to.

I stayed strong when I got outed in elementary school. I stayed strong when the boys on the playground held me by my hair and shoved dog shit down my throat. I stayed strong when they held my nose and forced me to swallow it. I stayed strong when a popular boy asked me out as a prank. I stayed strong when the video of me saying yes was posted on all my classmates’ Facebook and MySpace pages. I stayed strong when I got cornered in the bathroom by a bunch of jocks. I stayed strong when they shoved my head into the toilet. I stayed strong when they flushed it and I had to blow air out through my nose so fucking hard just to not drown. I stayed strong when I had to walk back into the cafeteria with my hair plastered to my head and water dripping down my front. I stayed strong when my very first boyfriend killed himself. I stayed strong when I got beat to hell in the locker room for looking anywhere but my feet. I stayed strong when I spent years in physical therapy so I would be able to walk again after what they did to me. I stayed strong when I came to school with a doctor’s note and the same boys who had put me in the hospital reported me for forging it. I stayed strong when I was forced to arrange a meeting between my doctor and the school principal. I stayed strong through founding my high school’s Gay Straight Alliance. I stayed strong as I replaced the posters for it every day after they’d been vandalized. I stayed strong when a man in a grocery store parking lot cat-called my trans friend. I stayed strong when he realized she wasn’t what he’d been expecting. I stayed strong when he came at us with a knife, and I stayed strong when he put it through my hand. I stayed strong when my friends Korbin and Matt were killed in two completely separate hate crimes. I stayed strong when neither of their killers were convicted. I stayed strong when I found out that I would be able to get married one day, and I stayed strong when people immediately tried to take that right away from me.

But today’s kids? I don’t want them to have to stay strong. I want them to be allowed to cry when they hurt and not have to expect more pain as a result. I want them to go to school worried about their SATs, not whether or not they’ll be attacked by their peers for something they can’t control. I want them to dream about getting married without the addendum that it won’t be real.

So, @flirtatiousstab, when you come onto my post made by a queer for other queers, calling us disgusting fags — firstly, know that nobody wants you here. If you hate queer people that much, block the associated tags and you’ll never have to hear when we’re making everything about us ever again.

But you lost your right to a quiet, calm resolution when you decided that this was a good place for your hatred. It says in your bio that your blog is not safe for queers. Well guess what? My blog is not safe for you, and you would have to be stupid not to realize that (although based on your comment I have to assume you only made it through the first three sentences of the original post, seeing as I went on to discuss all the other reasons Eddie might have been wearing that bandana).

So let me ask you a question: after everything I went through at the hands of people like you, what on earth makes you think you can take me? After everything I put up with in the hopes that one day queer kids wouldn’t have to fear for their lives if they got outed, what could you possibly do that would make me back down?

Meanwhile, you? You lost your shit because someone on the internet suggested that a fictional character might not be straight. If queer folks really have made everything all about us, then why do straight characters in fiction outnumber queer characters a thousand to one? Or hell, why do straight people get to decide whether or not queer people can get married?

Queer kids on the internet see themselves in Eddie Munson, because he’s different, because everyone villainized him even though he was innocent. When you see him through a screen, a fictional character, you can see him as a human, a victim of stereotype and circumstance. But when you see us in the real world, actual people, you call us names. So don’t kid yourself. If Stranger Things were real, and you were actually there, you would be Jason Carver. Eddie Munson would hate you. And you would deserve it.

So keep your hate speech the hell off of my posts, and take a good long look at yourself while you’re at it. Who do you think you’re helping? Do you think young queer kids are going to see you calling them slurs and decide they should be on your side? Or did you just leave that comment to make kids feel bad about themselves? Honestly.

#gay #queer #queer pride #homophobia #stranger things #eddie munson #eddie stranger things #pride #and I’m not even a little bit sorry for putting this person on blast #their behavior is unacceptable and they need to learn #I know I won’t change their views #but maybe they’ll think twice before doing this again

[fatalled]

🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them? [any muse!]

[ d o l l y ]

dolly was inspired by gambit ( everyone going HUH ? ) but listen. she can telepathically control her cards! she could do it! no one has given her a chance yet! or seen her on the field bc she's a terrible agent! but more ... she came from the idea that i simply love in wizard builds of using something other than a spellbook as your spellbook? so the idea that she could use the characters of the tarot came from her using the tarot as her 'spellbook' and using tarot cards is a fun idea. but then i thought the powers listed on main were like things to choose from and i picked dream manip and quickly had to swerve when i realized my mistake! but her 'divine' psychic abilities allowed me to play with a character who has a fraught mental state, haha! and the first thing i decided about her was that she's bright mustard yellow! her color is yellow!

[ k y u n g s e o k ]

kyungseok is a rebuild of an older character i have. the power was the same ( able to summon a pink bow and shoot with deadly accuracy ) because i really enjoyed it but i never got to use it! the idea behind the original character is based around eros and essentially doesn't have a big cool power, literally just some guy who stumbles into his power ... i wanted to play with a character that can't do the big showy things like create tidal waves or turn off gravity but was still considered an incredible hero ( one of the best! even! ) ... so i tweaked some things when kat wanted a brother for miyoung and here we go! to think, kyungseok could have been a huge himbo with fat tits. i really denied you guys the best, huh? the first thing i decided about him was that he's an arrogant slut.

[ h a d r i a n ]

hadrian came from "the deepest circle in hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers." / "you know nothing of hell." from potc + the whole able to turn into a skeleton. but really, i wanted a character that could be extremely powerful without the need of their power. hadrian ruled as much as he did just as a guy ... the skeleton is really just for spice and scaring people. his control and power comes from him just being really good at manipulating people and having fat stacks of money. the first thing i decided about him was ... bone daddy.

[ h i r o j i ]

i just love ... dog coded characters! but also a rebuild! i had the idea of a dog-coded character in my mind since kyungseok. so i knew i wanted one ... ( denied you guys AGAIN by not making kyungseok dog-coded. damn! y'all lose! ) but his power came from an off handed mention by a friend of teleportation slowly erasing you ... and the idea of using a power that will eventually kill you! so his power came first but i also had a character that had a similar personality to hiroji now that i just mashed together. most of my characters are just new outfits for old characters, haha! the first i decided about him was dog-coded ... it's my favorite type of character and it plays so well into him having a limited time but he still throws himself into being loyal to those he loves even at the cost of his own life

#[ oracle : musings. ] #[ oracle : received. ] #[ loveshot : musings. ] #[ loveshot : received. ] #[ wither : musings. ] #[ wither : received. ] #[ roulette : musings. ] #[ roulette : received. ]