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loneberry · 19 days

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FIRST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Images from my first total solar eclipse, depicting the outer corona, inner corona, prominent prominences, diamond ring, and the partial phase. Photos taken by Dan.

A black sun. Never had I seen a black sun, that insignia of melancholia that will forever remind me of Kristeva, which will forever remind me of M’s suicide—it was one of the few books M had with her at the very end, the book that her mother believed was the key to why she did it.

Black sun. On the day of—or day after—M’s death anniversary. I had been weeping for days when I found myself beneath that darkening sky.

What’s the difference between a partial and a total eclipse? I vaguely remember going onto the playground with some glasses as a child, but I don’t remember what I saw in the sky. What’s the big deal? The sky goes dark for a few minutes. It can’t be much different from the onset of night.

Wrong.

The rhapsodic scientists I listened to on various podcasts convinced me that there is really no comparison between a partial and total eclipse. I tried to hatch a last-minute plan to get myself in the path of totality. In the days leading up to the eclipse, I would be at the French King Bridge for M’s death anniversary. The only person I knew in Western MA, besides M’s mother, was my poet friend Ethan. So I asked him if he had a plan to see the eclipse.

I did not know, when I texted him out of the blue, that his parents lived in the path of totality in northern Vermont, that his father Dan was an astronomer (communist astronomer!) and eclipse chaser (this was his 14th eclipse), that Dan had even organized the local viewing event and wrote a book on the history of astronomy. At Ethan’s parents’ house there were literally photographs of eclipses mixed in with the family photos (see below). His father had even built a little observatory on his land. I had, in the most haphazard fashion, found the perfect guide to my first total solar eclipse.

Dan brought his equipment to the eclipse viewing: cameras, filters, binoculars, and a $4000 hydrogen alpha telescope that we used before the eclipse to look at the sun’s prominences and a sunspot on the surface. He enthusiastically answered all my questions. How had the Babylonians worked it out so long ago? Why does the wind pick up when the eclipse begins? Why is the sun’s corona so much hotter than the sun’s surface? (It’s still a mystery to the scientists…) Why why why. (People often tell me that I always ask a lot of questions—almost like an eternally curious child.)

The eclipse. It is not like the dimming of sunset, with its orange hues and plunge into the horizon, the low angle. It is a light unlike any light I have seen before, a strange dream-like atmosphere, a gray yet shimmering unreality, the air suddenly cold, the birds in a confused tumult. The uneven temperature of the atmosphere makes the wind pick up as the moon slowly covers the sun. Though the light was not the gold of sunset, you could see a band of orange on every horizon like a 360 degree sunset, an eerie gloaming that electrifies your skin.

A silence descended on the field as the moment of totality approached. Then, audible gasps—we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. I think the first thing I said was, “Holy. Shit.” Nothing prepared me for the numinous beauty of the sun’s corona, those elegant wisps of bright white light haloing the black sun. I think it’s probably the closest one can come to seeing God while alive on this earth. I cried during totality while observing the patterns in the corona through binoculars. A beautiful pink arch of plasma (a prominence) was visible toward the bottom of the sun. Dan pointed out Venus in the sky.

In the center of that black hole there is an abyssal silence

I don’t know how to describe it. Celestial indifference to human endeavor, human emotion. A kind of coldness in that heat, the heat of the corona, beyond even the fires of Hell. Then I can hear the angelic squall of the corona ringing over the landscape. It is a sound full of grace even as it cannot be called happy.

I can see why the ancients might interpret an eclipse as an augur of something deeply ominous, perhaps apocalyptic. The experience is, at once, sublime, ecstatic, and deeply unnerving—all your perceptual faculties are telling you that something is wrong. The ongoingness of the world and its rules cannot be taken for granted, for the sun went black, not in my dream, but in the afternoon sky.

And just as soon as it began, it was over. We had almost 3 and half minutes of totality. I was surprised by how quickly the sky brightened, how much light we get when the sun is almost completely covered.

One day the moon will float away. There won’t be any more total solar eclipses. Be grateful you were alive during this slice of cosmic time.

youtube

This is my favorite scene in all of cinema, from Béla Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies. Watch drunkards reenact an eclipse in a drab Hungarian bar...

Ethan and communist astronomer dad!

I even got eclipse-branded maple syrup (peak Vermont)

#eclipse2024 #eclipse #total solar eclipse #solar eclipse #Werckmeister Harmonies #film #bela tarr #great american eclipse #béla tarr

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itstheghostofmypast · 3 months

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🌻Imperfections🌻

Draco Malfoy x (f)Reader (Hufflepuff)

Summary: Perfection is what defined those who were above the rest- yet, she could not be part of the perfection that defined him. Defined his society and very presence- defined her own family but not her. She was the imperfection within his world of perfection, the bright sun in his cool, pale blue sky. For even if she was the warm sun, he was nothing more than the silver moon- both destined to live in the same sky but never together.

Genre: Fluff, Angst

AU: NO VOLDEMORT - Plus Cedric is vibing, I'm sorry he's too precious.

Warnings: suicidal thoughts

Part- 4/?

Masterlist / Previous

28th September

I truly fail to understand how a parent cannot love a child. Is blood not to be thicker than water? A being stronger than a name or title, perhaps these were all metaphoric beliefs passed down by a delusional fool, for my family has, and always will, prove to me that my birth is a sigil of shame on the insignia of our family. A birth that only exists for the family archives, in a file locked away behind the vault.

It is only worsened by the letter I had received today- letters actually, though one hurt me more than the other. Mother really is a work of art. I feel like the only bright side of today was meeting Draco. A bit weird- a few screws too tight but he's alright.

Scoffing at the conclusion, he flipped the page, "Like she's any better."

29th September

I have a feeling that I'm going insane. I've done so much, and tried so hard, but that same nightmare keeps haunting me. The moment my head hits the pillow it starts to manifest around me. One minute I'm up in the skies and the next I'm falling and falling and falling.

1st October

I think I've got it, maybe I've been dreaming of falling off the astronomy tower, maybe because I sit so close to the edge. Draco told me to move too- could be it. Sometimes, perhaps, more often than just some, I do wonder if I were to tip-off. What if the only way to end this curse would be to do

Frowning at the statement he flipped over the page, to find a new entry. Why did she stop, what was the cure? Wait, so there was a way to end the curse- but then again, he didn't know what the curse was in the first place. She just assumed it was the fact that she was a Puff- but technically that's not a curse. Well, it is in its way- but not the hex kind. Maybe if he dug into it a bit- no wait, what was he thinking, not only had he made it clear to her how the two were from two different worlds, but she most probably could not even stand listening to his name, let alone have a whole conversation with him- especially one that revolved around such an unpleasant topic. Sighing he flipped onto the next entry.

3rd October

Draco confuses me, at times I feel like we are friends, but only moments later I am reminded about my status, being put back in place. Like that day he was staring at me in class, I could feel it, and when our eyes met...it was like it was just us, no one around us, nothing stopping us- or perhaps I am but a foolish girl, my own heart has begun to play tricks on me. Or maybe I finally saw someone of the same air not judge me? Not belittle me or not look at me with pity. Then he was upset during practice like I was nothing more than a stranger to him, well, I do feel like he was not upset, but jealous, Zabini had come a bit too close for comfort, and if he had not pulled away the fool, I may have let my intrusive thoughts win, much to everyone’s displeasure- especially Cedric.

Why in the good name of Heaven must she mention that fool? Scoffing he scowled at the name, bloody bastard took most of her attention and time- creep needs to be put- wait, did she just? His eyes scanned through the paragraph once more, again, and again, so it was true then. Zabini was right, this sickening feeling of being choked into ecstasy was not a one-sided curse he was suffering, it was her too- well, probably not anymore, considering he had just been humiliated for the last time. He’d be lying if he were to say he felt any joy in doing so, once again, this was done for two reasons; to preserve his reputation and to keep her out of harm’s way. Only this little tactic had begun to take a toll on him, whether he would ever admit it out loud or not, she had slowly seeped into his being, the essence of his soul- his mind (much like now) had been racing with thoughts of her, his fingers would twitch at the subtle thought of her, or if he’d see her in the hallways, during the time of ‘abstaining from the puff’ as Zabini called it. He was itching to feel her warmth, to feel her soft palm against his cold, clammy ones, using her warmth to put an end to the blizzard that had frozen most of him. These thoughts were nothing more than thoughts though, no good came from acting on them, which is why he held back- in fact, he was surprised that he was able to hold back tonight when she was only a breath away before confessing, his brain had malfunctioned, fixated not on the argument but her lips, noting the slight quiver of her lip, wanting to feel them against his, that would explain how he hand ended up confessing, instead of saying something else, something that would have hurt her less. Perhaps, at the end of it all, he was just a hormonal teenage boy, wearing a cloak of pretence- a mere boy, with no self-control, or maturity; so, was he then, imperfect?

4th October

It disgusts me, no, it haunts me, these feelings, these things swirling inside me. I cannot get rid of them; I cannot get rid of him. I feel as if my own heart has it against me, pulling me towards what I can never have, people who will never love me. I fought with Cedric today, it was awful, I felt awful, especially if I consider our history, how he has been nothing more than readily available to pick me up whenever I fell. A part of me enjoys it, embracing it as some kind of love, such as finding a lost duck or an injured animal, one you only help bring back to its feet and then let go of it. Then I wonder if I am no different than a feral animal. Is that what I am to him? Is that what I am to my parents? Does Draco think of me in such a manner as well? Or perhaps I am a mere jester, he is keeping sound for his own amusement. I think of this, yet, I spent hours begging the same fool I fought with in the morning, begging him to give me the handbook for captains. What's funny is he knew, he knew why I wanted it, and while giving it to me he gave me that look. The last time he looked at me like that was when I almost- I mean I was about to do it. Can't anymore though, the grill is installed pretty well. Once again, it was sickening, watching him care for me, being upset over my actions. I had assumed Draco would have the same look when I handed him the book, no, he didn't. It was different, it made me feel different, like a prickling sensation, one that had my imprudent, immature heart struggling against my ribs, wanting to jump into his breast pocket, to be closer to his own.

Slamming the diary shut he sat up, his own hands covering his face, palms pressing against his warm buzzing cheeks. This may have not been a good idea, but she was so hard to read and the fact that she felt this way about him, his parents were never this excited to see him and then this random puff pixie fluttered into his heart. Sighing he slid off the bed, feet pressing against the cold floor, his body too warm for comfort, the enormous room felt like it was closing in on him. Grabbing his robes, he marched out, taking in deep breaths, he was going to do it. He was going to find the cure, he was going to fix this curse, perhaps only then could he be free to have her- even if she was a Hufflepuff. While on his journey up a flight of stairs, he realized how his muscle memory had led him to the astronomy tower once more, but the bubbling cluster of endorphins left no room for annoyance. That’s what surprised him even more, for months, no almost years, he had been wrapped in the claws of every bitter feeling out there, and here he was, just thinking about her, he was willing to throw to waste the efforts of ignoring her for the past few months, impulsively jumping into a puddle of feelings, an unknown territory.

With a boom the door burst open, feet planting firmly on the floor as his eyes scanned the room, nearly missing the figure standing a bit too close to the edge. Closing the door behind him he walked in slowly, trying not to scare the person- her off, a flinch would have been enough for her to topple off. “Hey- get off from there.” He spat, wincing at his tone, really Draco Malfoy, use that tone with someone who is already at the edge, literally and metaphorically.

Flinching at the tone, her head whipped in his direction, what was he doing her? Bloodshot eyes meeting his, watching his expression morph into one that represented terror that is seen in the eyes of a lost child.

“Y/N”

“What…are you doing here?” she whispered, not moving an inch, standing still at her spot.

“I just wanted some fresh air and- get off, get off from there this instance, I- you-move!” stumbling over his words he moved closer to her, only to freeze when she turned back to look up at the sky, taking in a deep breath, closing her eyes, trying to savour the peace she had lost long ago.

“I’m so tired…I’m going to fix this once and for all, so leave.”

“WAIT!”

Sighing at his tone, she opened her eyes, staring ahead. “I’ve never liked the night, it’s dark, I’ve always been afraid of the dark. It’s so quiet you can hear the thoughts of your thoughts, do you know, the lake over there, you can’t go there at night. They have creature patrolling around it, and even if you do make it to the water, they have night watchers in the water. I tried it you know.” With an empty chuckle she pointed ahead, not that he was looking at it, he was far more bothered for her safety, slowly inching closer to her, “But I’ve yearned for it, the darkness, I realised long ago, that this was the only way, but those bloody fools pulled me to the surface before I could fully embrace the cold.”

“Y/N, I’m sorry, I am terribly sorry, I was wrong, it was wrong and selfish of me.” Whispering he stood a few steps away, “But I promise I’ll help you find the cure and then we can-“

“THIS IS THE CURE YOU FOOL!” turning around in rage, she almost lost her footing, somewhat glad she wouldn’t be facing her end like that, confrontation was never her strong suit, not was looking at the face of her problems, who knew the person who loved to fly across the skies was willing to fall down from grace within the same space.

Never in his life had he moved quicker, perhaps not even in the field, not while playing against Potter, not while running away from his fears, but for her, at that very moment, he realised he would face death itself, fight it with his bare fists, just to keep it away from her. For once he was glad his mind let his body run on autopilot, no argument, no debate or pondering about the pros or cons, but a quick flip of a switch had led him to grip her wrist, jerking her towards him, her body colliding on top of his. The persistent ringing in his ears slowly faded away, trying to rearrange his thoughts he slowly blinked up at the ceiling, his arms tightening around the shivering figure pressed into him, a hand pressed against the back of her head, forcing her to let it all out, pressing her face into his shoulder. He was unsure of wear he had picked up on this, never really one to receive comfort in such a physical manner, let alone provide it to someone else, but once again, she wasn’t just someone else. His other hand gently stroked her back, and slowly it began to piece together, the grills at her window, the disappointment of Cedric, this wasn’t just a one-time occurrence, how could he have missed the signs? He was reading her diary, but was so caught up in his own little emotions like a little school girl that he had not been able to take in the bigger picture, what she had assumed was the solution was not beneficial for her, but for others around her, her family. What kind of twisted lunatic would come up with such a solution? He understood the whole notion of being selfless, but this was not an act of selflessness, it was mere stupidity, why was she to suffer for the lack of tolerance and abundant ignorance her family possessed? Why was she being punished for being herself? Who were they to punish her for something she had no control over? At this point he wondered if the curse was her being a Hufflepuff or being born in a family of bigots.

“Draco?”

“Hmmm?”

“Can you- I mean, can I- umm…”

“I’m still very upset with you.”

“I know but I-

“What.”

Lifting her head up she stared at him, eyes puffy and a nose as red as a cherry, cute- until she placed her hands on either side of his head, watching a faint blush spread across his face. “I know you like me, but skipping to third base isn’t my style.” With that she pressed herself against him ever so slightly, causing him to shift uncomfortably, slowly pushing her off until she way laying beside him, staring at the same spot on the ceiling with him.

“You’re insufferable.”

“You’re the first person I’ve met who says that but doesn’t let me di-

“Shut up.” Turning his head to glare out her he growled, “I swear upon my own life if you ever try to pull something like that again or even think of it, I’ll” pausing for a moment, trying to think of a threat, “…I’ll…do something.”

“I’m sure you will.” Following his movement she met his eyes, “thank you.” Their words slowly turning into hushed whispers, subconsciously moving closer to one another.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I umm…kind of found your diary.”

“…”

“I’m so sorry, I- I couldn’t help myself from reading it.”

Sighing she looked away, choosing to look back up at the ceiling once more, trying to hide her flushed face, clearing her throat, “It’s…okay.”

“In my defense, your expression of writing is beautiful.”

“We don’t have to talk about it.”

“You’re phrasing and choice of words is immaculate.”

“Okay. We really don’t have to talk about it.”

“I have similar feelings towards you but I was unable to decipher them, but you, no the way you expressed it all-

“And we’re done for the night, thank you very much, I’d like you to” instantly sitting up she dusted off her robes, “return it to me tomorrow, like a good boy.” Eyes darting to his laying figure, noticing the smile that had graced his lips, not one of the small one’s she had seen before, no this was different. It was one of those boyish smiles, wide and cocky, you’d read about in teen romance novels, those sappy things you’d keep under your bed, one that had the girl’s heart leaping with joy, much like hers did at the sight.

“Or we could,” standing up, much taller than her he peered down at her curious gaze, “burn it together. Write something else, something new, something better.” His hand slowly reached for her face, fingers grazing over her warm cheek, trying to keep the urge of kissing her at bay, “What do you think?”

“I’d like that.” Her words but a whisper, too focused on watching him slowly lower to her level, hovering a mere breath above her face, the puffs of their breath mingling together, “Can I…” his eyes flickered to her lips then back at hers, waiting for her approval, one he’d thought she’d readily give him; he was Draco Malfoy after all and on top of that she did like him- as was proven in many pages of her diary.

“Earn it.”

“Thank- excuse me?” He squawked as she gently pushed him away, licking her lips, teasing him- he was sure of it, as she walked towards the door, turning to give him one last look before leaving, closing the door behind her.

“Earn it, Draco Malfoy, can’t write the climax before settling in with a few establishing chapters.”

Oh, he was in one hell of a ride.

A/N: Well, this took forever. Honestly, I wrote several chapters but nothing clicked, finally wrote something which seems decent enough. I hope you all like it- dw the next one is pure fluff.❤️ If you want to be part of my tag list please fill the form on the Navigation Post❤️ (I've tagged a few people who aren't tagged, so I'm not sure why this happened)

Taglist:

@buckyandgeraltsupremacy

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@jensfraise

@dramatic-long-coats

@m00nie-m00

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@danywonderland

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matcha-kisses · 1 month

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wordcount: 3.6k+

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"Papa, I feel so pretty!" Bai cheered. Bai was wearing a traditional red and white kimono dress with red flats to match. Gramma even added a red flower head piece to match and give her already beautiful outfit some magic. Bai has never gotten so dolled up before and she feels like a true princess.

"Well, that's because you are pretty! You're pretty when you're all dressed up like this or when you're dressed in your training clothes. Never forget that Bai." Yao replied to his young sweet.

Bai looked at her Papa with pure happiness. She's very lucky to have him in her life and to have someone who cares for her so deeply. She might have not met her actual father, but she knows that her papa is a true father to her. She grabs his big, calloused hand and gives it an "I love you squeeze".

Yao takes the child's smaller, soft hand and copies her action.

Suddenly, they are both snapped out of the moment when they hear a voice.

"Yao! Welcome." A lady annouced, bowing at Yao.

Yao returns the gesture by bowing back at the servant.

"Thank you, Liang. It's always a pleasure to see you."

Liang looks down to Bai and gives her a big bright, beautiful smile.

"And who do we have here? Is this one of Princess Azula's friend?" Liang questioned.

Bai began to grow nervous and sweaty. It didn't hit her until this very moment what exactly she was getting herself into. But, she shook off her nerves. Firelord Ozai invited me, she thought to herself. It's okay for me to be here.

"I'm Bai. And I'm not Azula's friend. Oh, that sounded mean. I mean I'm not her friend yet, but that's only because I haven't met her yet! I'm hoping we'll be very good friends though." Bai answered, unsure of herself.

Well that didn't go as planned.

Liang smiled at the young girl before looking at the guard.

"She's a cutie."

"Well, I think so. But I'm known to be a little biased." Yao answered.

Liang gave a small giggle before moving out of the door way. Bai and Yao walked in together. All of Bai's nerves were replaced with excitement.

"Have fun you two!" Liang called. She began talking to more guests, and her voice became softer as Yao and Bai walked closer to the social room.

Bai couldn't believe her pretty blue eyes. The Palace is beautiful! When you first walked in, you could see the columns standing proud and strong, much like the Fire Nation. Banners with Fire Nation insignia hung high on every corner you passed. Combinations of red, black, and gold followed you whenever you went. It was a beautiful mixture that Bai couldn't get enough of. She's never really seen so much beauty in one room. She knows that the Fire Nation can do some... questionable things, based on the way Gramma speaks, but no one can deny the fact it's beautiful. You can feel the passion, energy, and life.

"We're almost to the ballroom, Bai. We just have to cut through this walkway outside and we'll be on our way partying." Yao said, snapping Bai out of her own thoughts.

Bai thought it couldn't get more beautiful until the duo stepped outside.

When Bai looked to her right, she was greeted with a beautiful outdoor scenery. It was nighttime so Bai couldn't see the garden in it's daytime beauty, but it was just as beautiful at night; maybe even prettier. The fountain carried a beautiful, heavenly glow to it thanks to the moon. The moon even shared reflections with the pond, allowing the pond to glow brightly through the night, and if you were quiet enough, you could faintly hear the turtle ducks sing a song.

I can't believe the princess get to play out here and feed turtle ducks all the time! You could probably have so much fun on that bridge over there! Maybe Azula and I will be such good friends, and she'll invite me here all the time! I'd love to explore this area more, Bai thought to herself.

Suddenly, Bai and Yao stopped right at the ballroom doors. Yao crouched down so he could be eye level with his granddaughter.

"Now, Bai. I want you to have a good time tonight. I know Gramma and I don't get to really treat you to things like this so I want you to take complete advantage to it. And, if for some reason, you're having a bad time, come find me. We'll out-dance everyone here." Yao said with a coy smile on his face.

"Of course," Bai giggled. "Thank you, Papa. I'm going to have fun tonight."

"I know you are," Yao said, patting the young child's shoulder.

Yao had his hand on the door, ready to open it until he remembered something very important.

"Oh, and sweetie? No bending." Yao whispered. He couldn't risk anyone hearing him.

Yao then opened the door with force, and Bai felt her nerves coming back. Everyone looked at her and Yao as soon as they entered. She wondered if her Papa was feeling a little overwhelmed too, but she figured not since he began talking to one of the servants.

"Yao, what a pleasure to see you." The servant spoke while bowing down.

"As well to you." Yao replied, coping her motions.

Yao knew Bai was a little nervous so he took her hand and guided her through the large crowd of people.

As Bai was following her Papa, she noticed that there wasn't many children here. She could only spot three girls in the crowd, one of them being Azula, she figures.

I thought this party was going to be filled with children? Where are they?

Suddenly, Yao came to a halt, causing Bai to bump into her papa since she was behind him.

"Firelord Ozai," Yao started. "It is with great pleasure to be in your presence."

"Yes. Thank you for that. Thank you for coming as well. You know you are my most trusted guard."

Bai peeked from behind to get a look of the man full of power. When she glanced up at the Firelord, she began to grow afraid.

He was wearing a sinister smile and he towered of Bai and Yao. He had is hair up in a half up half down style and was being hold by a crown- shaped like a flame. He was wearing layers of red and gold that made him look very strong. Bai expected to be in awe when she saw the Fire Lord, but she was. He looked like power, and she didn't like the look of it on this man. Bai didn't know much about him, but she knew that he could destroy someone with a snap of his fingers.

He then looked down and locked eyes with the young child. When he saw her, his smile grew even bigger- making him look wickedly evil.

"And is this the famous, Bai, I've heard about?" The Firelord questioned. His voice sounded vile and it made the hair on Bai's arm stand.

Bai became nervous with the Firelord's attention on her. However, she knew better than to ignore him. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before answering.

"Yes," she started, bowing like Papa did. "I'm Bai. Thank you so much, Firelord Ozai, for inviting me to suck a luxurious party."

"You are welcome, little one. I should be saying the honor is mine."

Bai couldn't understand why, but there was something about this man that made her want to scream. Papa has always told her that she must show reverence to the Firelord. Especially, considering how kind they've been to the Shang family.

But Bai couldn't find anything to respect about this man. She could only find reasons to fear him.

"Bai," Firelord Ozai utteted, stopping Bai's train of thought. "I have a special someone I'd like you to meet."

Suddenly, a young girl came from behind the Fire Lord.

"Bai, I would like for you to meet my daughter and princess to our nation, Azula."

Azula held a nasty smirk on her face. She had fair skin and shared the same golden eyes just as of her father. Her hair was pulled back, out of her way with the exception of two pieces hanging from her face.

"Princess, it is a pleasure to be here. I'm Bai and it is wonderful to meet you." Bai said cheerfully.

"Well of course it is! It is my party after all. It's probably the most fun you'll have in your life."

"Yeah, you're probably right, Princess. I never really get to do things like this!" Bai spoke, innocently. She didn't even realize Azula was attempting to speak down upon her.

And Azula loved that.

"Yes, well, why don't you two girls run along. Bai's grandfather and I have serious business to attend to." Firelord Ozai insisted.

Azula immediately took Bai's hand and ran towards the two other girls she saw earlier. One of the girls was wearing pink outfit and had her hair pulled back into a braid. The other girl was wearing maroon and black robes and had her hair pulled back with two little buns on her head. Bai had a feeling this was a close group of girls and wasn't sure how they would feel adding another addition.

I just hope they'll want to be friends with me too.

"Ty Lee, Mai- I want you to meet, Bai. She's the guard's granddaughter I was telling you about."

Ty Lee gave Bai a big smile while Mai looked as if she couldn't care less about what Azula just said.

"Hi there! I'm Ty Lee! It's so nice to meet you! It's nice to have another girl to add to the gang, right Mai?"

Mai took a long, exasperating sigh before answering. Does she always seem so.... gloomy, Bai thought to herself.

"Yeah," Mai responded flatly. "More people I'm forced to talk to."

"Oh, lighten up Mai," Azula said. "Bai is our new friend here and we must treat her as so. Or I know... are you scared she'll take away Zuko from you?"

Mai's emotionless face turned into anger very quickly, upon hearing this name.

"Yeah," Ty Lee joined in. "You better watch out, Mai. You have some competition!"

Ty Lee and Azula giggled like hyenas, Mai looked like she wanted to destroy Bai, and Bai just felt very uncomfortable.

"Um- who's Zuko?" Bai questioned.

"Oh, it's just the boy Mai's been after for ever." Ty Lee explained.

"Oh," Bai replied awkwardly. She didn't know how to feel about being pulled into the middle of all this. She just wanted to make friends and eat some Fire gummies. She wasn't expecting to be stuck in some love struck war only 30 seconds after meeting these girls. "Well, where is he? I don't think I've met him yet?"

"No... you haven't." Azula said, looking of Bai's shoulder with a wicked smile on her face. It was the same smile her father carried and it made Bai's skin crawl. "But you're about to."

Suddenly, Azula shoved Bai without warning. She didn't use enough force to cause Bai to fall on her bottom, but it was just enough force to cause Bai to run into a stranger who must've been trying to walk past her.

Oh no! I'm in trouble. It's over for me! My 11 years are about to end in this moment. This person will be furious with me.

Bai immediately began apologizing to the victim of Azula's sneak attack, hoping she wouldn't get in trouble. She didn't known why, but she knew she would probably get blamed for the whole incident. Especially since it's Azula's birthday and she's the princess.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident! Please don't be mad at me!" Bai pleaded.

When the stranger turned around, she was greeted with a young boy. He didn't look much older than her; maybe a year older than herself. He only towered a couple inches over her, but she still managed to feel slightly intimidated by this boy. Not the same way she did with Azula, but just enough for Bai to understand this boy is important.

He had jet black hair that was tied up in a slick ponytail. He golden amber eyes and a twinkle to them and they looked very inviting. His skin was free from any imprecations and had a slight glow.

Bai's stomach began turning into knots.

"It's no problem!" The boy replied. His voice was raspy, but still sounded a little young. His voice probably hasn't changed all the way yet, Bai thought to herself. Yet, it didn't stop the butterflies dancing in Bai's stomach.

What's wrong with me? Get it together, Bai.

"Ugh!" Azula screamed. "Zuko! What are you doing with my friend? Sorry about my dumb-dumb of a brother."

Bai was shocked about hearing Azula had a brother. No one has spoke about Zuko this whole night, not even his father.

Shouldn't the prince be a special guest that I also should meet? Why wouldn't the Firelord let me meet his son?

Pink started to color Zuko's cheeks out of anger and embarrassment. Bai understood that Azula may give Zuko a hard time. She figured she should step in to defend the prince and save him from embarrassment. After all, Bai was the one to bump into the prince.

"N-no! He's fine. It was my fault. I'm just clumsy." Bai replied with a breathless giggle.

Zuko smiled shyly at Bai. He let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding in. A small part of him felt glad that she would defend him. No one has done that since his mother disappeared. Azula is perfect, and never does anything wrong. So, it felt nice having someone make him feel like he isn' a constant screw-up. Zuko suddenly wanted to know more about this girl.Why would someone who seems so sweet want to hang out with someone as icky as Azula.

"Oh! Where are my manners? I'm Bai. It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Zuko." She said while bowing.

"Oh," Zuko awkwardly started. He didn't realize she would make him feel so nervous. Her voice sounded soft and sweet, and her smile was pure. She must've been the type of girl everyone wanted to be friends with.

Play it cool Zuko, he thought to himself. She's just a girl- a nice one at that.

"Um, hello! Zuko here. But I-I guess you already knew that since Azula already said my name."

Nice, he thought to himself proudly.

"Oh, Zuzu!" Azula interrupted. "Why must you always get so weird around girls?"

"Not funny, Azula!" Zuko growled.

"Yeah," Ty Lee giggled. "I don't even see you get this awkward around Mai!"

Ty Lee must've struck a nerve with Mai because upon hearing this, Mai ran off into a different part of the room.

"Oops! Better go get her!"

Ty Lee then stood on her hands and walked over to Mai, leaving Bai with the royal siblings.

"Well," Bai chimed in. "I don't think he's weird. And I also don't think he was being weird! Your bother seems very sweet, Azula. Would you like to hang out with us?"

Zuko was about to answer until Azula butted in.

"Sorry, Bai. But we have more important things to do."

Bai looked at Zuko with disappointment. She wanted to get to know the prince. That's what tonight was all about anyways- making new friends. Yes, she's getting to know Mai and Ty Lee, but she was more curious about Zuko. She didn't know why, but she wanted to know everything about him.

"Oh... okay. Um, sorry Zuko. Maybe we'll run into each other again." Bai suggested.

The young prince smiled at the possibility of running into Bai again. He didn't know much about her, but he knew he wanted to. He wanted to be around Bai all the time.

Azula grabbed Bai's hand, leading her to the direction of Mai and Ty Lee. Bai turned around and saw the prince holding a small smile on his face while waving "goodbye" to Bai.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

"Well, did you enjoy yourself?" Yao asked. "I noticed that the princess really enjoyed your company."

Bai thought about the time she spent with Azula. She liked her of course. Bai doesn't hate anyone. But, some of the things Azula said and did tonight didn't sit right with Bai. Maybe it was just an exciting night for her and she got carried away, Bai thought to herself.

"I did! I really enjoyed the party. There was so much dancing and life! I ate so much fire gummies tonight! I'm surprised I'm not sick, Papa."

Yao laughed deeply. He hoped Bai would have a wonderful night and he was glad that he was able to do this for her.

"Well, I'm glad, sweetie. I've got something else I want to ask you. How do you feel about that prince? I saw you two smiling at each other and awful lot."

Pink washed over Bai's face while heat was slowly crawling over. She remembered how gentle and sweet he was- the complete opposite of Azula. Of course, she couldn't tell Papa the full truth; she'd never hear the end of it!

"Um, he's alright, Papa." Bai awkwardly spoke. "I didn't get to really talk to him tonight that much. I don't really no how I feel about him."

Yao looked at his granddaughter. He knew she was lying. But, he didn't say anything. He did know, however, she was about to be a little more embarrassed.

"Oh, I see. Well, I hope you don't mind him too much because you'll probably be seeing him and the princess in the days to come."

"What?" Bai squealed.

Yao smiled at his sweet's reaction. He knew she'd freak out about that.

"When the Firelord said he and I had matters do discuss, it was about Gramma. I wanted to see if he'd let me take some time off because... well, you know that Gramma hasn't been feeling herself for the past few days." Yao started.

Bai disappointingly nodded her head. She hasn't tried thinking of it too much, but she knows it's true. Gramma hasn't been herself at all. She's not sick; she's in perfect health. But there was something off about her. Her eyes didn't hold the same warmth they used to. She doesn't smile like she used to. Gramma tries her best to be strong for Bai, but it's still hard.

"Well," Yao started. "He wasn't pleased with that idea."

Of course he wasn't, Bai said to herself.

"However, we came up with a compromise. Firelord Ozai is aware that Gramma isn't feeling well, and she probably needs to have some personal time alone."

"So....." Bai questioned. She wasn't sure she was following her Papa's trail.

"So, he thinks it's best that she takes care of herself for a few days. At first, I didn't think it was a good idea. I had to explain that someone had to watch you, Bai. But apparently, you made quite the impression on the Firelord. And, his daughter seems to take a liking to you. So, while Gramma is taking time to heal, you can come with me."

Bai was in shock. The Firelord really is allowing me into his home, she thought to herself. Willingly?

"Really? So, I could hang out with Zuko and Azula!"

"Yes, child. However, he did tell me this. Since, he is being so gracious to you, then you must start working in the palace. You will be the prince and princess' personal maid. He couldn't allow you to just do nothing around the palace. But, that still lets you spend time with them."

Normally, that would sound like a dealbreaker to most people but not for Bai. She was excited at the fact she would get to be in the palace! She'll get to be with her Papa! She doesn't get to spend time with him often since he's always at the palace. So, it'll be nice being with him. Not to mention she'll get to become even better friends with Azula.

And get to spend time with Zuko as well.

"Papa, that sounds wonderful! Me? Getting to work at the royal palace! That is a huge blessing. The spirits really are good to us!" Bai cheered.

"I thought so too, Bai." Yao exclaimed. He was very lucky to have such an understanding, sweet granddaughter. I hope you always stay like this, he said to to himself. "You start tomorrow so I hope you're ready to wake up early."

#atla #atla live action #avatar the last airbender #avatar aang #aang #atla aang #prince zuko #atla zuko #zuko fanfic #zuko x oc #sokka #atla sokka #katara #fanfic #firebending #waterbending

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mad-raptorzzz · 1 year

Text

[ID: A drawing of King from the show The Owl House. He is standing waring the robe and cloth from the episode involving the Titan Trappers. He is lifting the cloth partially up with his right hand while his left hand holds a torch with a bright blue flame that casts light and shadow. He is peaking out from under a cloth with the Collector's insignia and looks frightened. There is a bit of light blue pain dripping down his skull. He has a dark blue robe with a fluffy blue collar and a gold stripe at the bottom, it appears to be too big for him. His smalle light grey-tipped tail is seen peaking out being him. There is a zig-zag shaped dagger hovering above him, dripping dark blue Titan blood down. The backgorund is dark purple towards the edges that fades to a bright purple in the middle. The Collector's insignia, a half moon half sun face smiling and crying, can be seen glowing ominously. /.End ID]

'Then we get to play catch, right?'

Jesus this entire episode got me but this line. The way it was delivered. Oh man. It got me real good. I know he doesn't lift the cloth up in the scene but I thought it looked cool. I loved this episode so much because it confirmed a lot we as the fans were speculating about King. But it also showed that he is just a kid, like even younger than Luz, who wants to play catch with his dad. Yes, Eda is his mom and he loves her, but he just wanted to play catch. I think the taller Titan Trapper guy would have actually come around to King eventually. Maybe in another universe where we got a full season 3 we could have gotten a redemption arc for him. That would have been cool. But I just had to draw this because I loved it so much.

#toh fanart #toh king #king toh #the owl house #the owl house fanart #the owl house king #king the titan #king clawthorne #i hope he gets to meet the spirit of the titan talking to Luz #and that they play catch #he has had such a cool subtle character arc

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dear-mortality · 2 months

Text

The shepherd prince

Chapter Ten: finally there

Chapters

The next day ether woke up refreshed again and enfys- despite being in a grumpy mood- tried their best to not show it as they continued their journey to zatieon.

"can you tell me about the deities again?" Said ether while smiling but in a shy tone. He felt like he was acting like a child.

Enfys smiled and brought out a small book that seemed to have pictures. "This should tell u at least how the look and what their jobs are. Sorry I can't use magic to tell you the story in smoke right now im kind of focusing on something else."

Ether was a little disappointed but enough to show " oh ok! Thank you. I'll give it to you when we reach the gates." He said while holding it and looking at how well made it is. she figured it was precious.

"you can keep it for as long as you like prince ether." Enfys answered while looking at the horizon with a glare that felt almost as if he was hunting. Ether was a little confused by the sudden change and seemed a little upset for some reason he himself doesn't get.

"Ok then...." ether answered while slowing down to be tailing enfys as he opened the book

The book wasn't big at all, each chapter about a deity with a picture at the beginning.

The first chapter was the deity of the sun. Aster. He looked like a fat and strong jolly old man. His beard and hair seemed to be made of clouds and his eyes glowing bright. He was smiling gently with his arms folded behind his back. He was the deity of the sun and day time. Ether read something about how he's considered retired but they didn't understand that.

The second chapter was about the deity of the moon. Náttljós. She had a round face and was a little more on the average side than aster with many pairs of wings on her back belonging to different kinds of birds. She had her eyes fully open as they glew dim. Her hair seemed to be wings folded together. She had many arms that were see-through and each pair took a different pose around her. She looked tired with eyebags but she smiled widely. She was the deity of the moon and the night time. She's also heavily worshipped by birds.

The third chapter was about the deity of flames. This one puzzled ether, bun couldn't read the name as it seemed to be scratched out. The picture showed him from the side running while looking behind him. He was a young athletic man, his clothes seem burnt and torn in some places. His hair was wavy and he had a goatee but the entire chapter was quite literally undecipherable. From the corner of ethers eye he saw the deity behind bars as he looked at the chapter. It felt like the deity was furious and looking directly at ether for a second.

"we're here. Prince ether please stick to my side." Enfys exclaimed suddenly. Ether hurried up and gave enfys the book back. Bun was about to ask about what bun had seen before realising something glimmered in their eyes. It was the glimmer of zatieons insignia over the gates.

Ether gulped and stood straight with her face obviously showing how nervous she was. Enfys had a smug smile on their face. Ether felt the wind currents shift but they thought nothing of it as they approached the guards who seemed mortified, ether assumed it was because of him so he felt sad.

"i have an audience scheduled with your ruler. Let us in please." Enfys said while he saw the guard shakingly go to open the gate in a hurry.

As they passed the guards enfys thanked them. Making their way to the castle ether was mesmerized by everything and everyone in the place. The kids stared at them both before a little girl poked ether.

"your hair is pretty" the little girl said with a smile. Ether smiled back "your hair is also pretty." He answered before walking away to catch up to enfys.

"prince ether, i need you to understand that since you're new to being a prince I'll be the one talking in your place. We need to make sure the ruler of this land becomes our ally." Enfys exclaimed with their eyes darting Around the place trying to see if there's anything suspicious only to see more mortified looks.

Ether nodded. Still puzzled by where that wind is coming from. They reached the castle doors. The guards there are not as frightened but they're definitely not unaffected. Ether felt ashamed of himself thinking he was the reason these people are scared. Enfys glanced at one of the guards and they immediately opened the door for them to go through. The palace was huge and ether never saw such shiny floors. He felt glad that the flip-flops he wore were still in good shape because he felt he might slip otherwise. He spun around but Very gently as to keep his arm hidden. He waved at some of the workers and they hesitantly waved back. The wind was still going. Ether could swear wind doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Then they realized that enfys may be causing it. ether didn't ask though.

As they got in it got darker. Until they reached the throne room, where zaroth sat with their generals at each corner of the room, But aimanat by his side.

"it seems our new friends are quite punctual. They said they'll arrive in three days time and they did." Said zaroth as they leaned back on their throne. "Bringing thunder to our ears as they entered." Saying that his eyes tightened a little. "You didn't have to do all that you know? Im quite good at describing who my guests will look like to my subjects."

Ether looked at enfys with confusion slanting his head

"im sure. I was just trying to make sure none of said subjects underestimate me." Enfys said as he looked directly at aimanat. "Some were smarter than that."

"always nice to see someone who's ready to pick a fight. But maybe you need to be more wise about your choice of battles." She said as she glanced around the room at the other generals. Her glances caused ether to look around as well.

There were 3 other generals in the throne room. One average height one with long moustache and a big beard with a huge golden weapon that looked like a lance and copper coloured armour that seemed to have been cleaned recently. He was smiling with one eyebrow raised.

One wide general with gauntlets that had gems that glittered on their own while he stood there cross armed at the entrance

And a general hidden in the shadow opposite to the one with the moustache. Ether couldn't see them clearly but their eyes were glowing enough to show that they were wearing black light armour without a helmet and a mask hiding their face from the nose down

Enfys grinned anda snicker escaped their mouth. As their lips parted to speak, smoke followed. Everyone covered their ears as their faces showed both pain and surprise. Except the general wearing the mask. Wind blew stronger and ether looked at enfys in fear.

"Oh i think im fine. After all im sure not even all of you combined can best a high-mage." Enfys said that while looking directly at zaroth, a smile almost devilish on their face took form to see zaroth shocked and nervously smiling with their eyebrows shaking from fighting the pain. Ether put his hand on enfys's shoulder to get her attention, he didn't notice it was his werewolf arm.

"enfys please, what's going on?? Are you hurting them?" Enfys looked at ether, after seeing their face enfys stopped and everyone in the room seemed to be fine again.

"apologies fair ruler." Said enfys before bowing down "i didn't mean to act with arrogance."

Ether put his arm back under the cape but zaroth noticed it.

"you're forgiven." Said zaroth while clearing his ear then they looked at ether "to answer your question, your friend here made us all hear their magic. It felt like thunder to our ears."

Ether looked confused but then remembered how enfys explained magic before and how people of zatieon hear it.

"so he was like, flexing his muscles loudly on you??"

The entire room fell silent and enfys looked embarrassed and stared at ether. everyone else looked at ether blankly

"oh *gulps* oh my gods." Zaroth Said while trying to catch his breath "oh we are SO using that as a way of describing that action from now on."

Then they all laughed hard.

After a few seconds of laughing they were almost out of breath

"and here i thought this was going to turn into a fight, HA! who knew one of our guests was so funny" said the copper armoured general as he approached ether to pat his back " im ferronid. You gave me a good laugh so i owe you one."

Aimanat wiped a tear off her cheek from laughing too hard "wait until everyone hears about this, i doubt anyone will ever try to do this again."

"alright alright let's all settle down now" said zaroth before clearing his throat "what's your name?"

"ether" he answered but was reluctant to continue giving anything else, zaroth realized that they need to speak without anyone around.

"well ether i sure like a guy who's both attractive and can make me laugh. Everyone, you can go back to your duties. Ether and the high mage need to speak to me about something and i think we can trust that they'll behave."

Everyone nodded and left while talking to eachother, ether heard something about how this will probably be a nice story to tell everyone before the doors were closed. leaving zaroth, ether and enfys alone.

"so," zaroth descended from the throne and got really close to ether "what can i do for you?" Saying that in an almost seductive way ether blushed and stuttered a little before zaroth felt enfys staring daggers at him

"we need to know where the arch-Mage was headed. They're the only one who can directly guide us to the deity of knowledge and we desperately need their help."

"for this i assume?" Zaroth said while pointing at ethers hand, ether tugged on the cape to hide it even more.

"...yes. the prince needs the curse to be lifted off him-"

"THE PRINCE????" Zaroth said loudly "YOU'RE THE PRINCE OF THAT LAND???"

Ether was a little frightened by the sudden change but nodded nervously. His bubble showed a sentence "please be quiter im not good with sudden noises."

"o-oh sorry, where are my manners. Im sure if it weren't for your entire nation disappearing into thin air we would've met more and became close friends prince ether. Maybe even closer than that." Zaroth said while eyeing ether before enfys walked between them blocking zaroths view

"in any case, we need your help. I know your peoples ability to hear magic isn't exactly limited unless you want it to be. Can you help us find out which direction they went? We know they were in zatieon not too long ago from a hint at the last magic guild meeting they attended." Enfys told zaroth who seemed visibly bummed out

"then why don't you ask them on the next meeting??? Seems like you're going out of your way to look for them when the next meeting must be soon" said zaroth while turning his back on enfys and sitting on their throne again

"because they're missing." Enfys stated while looking at zaroth to see how they'll react only to see a confused face "its been a few meetings now without them showing up, at first it seemed like they were busy but later we all realised we have no idea where they were."

"missing??? That can't be right. The archmage has a very important job, too important to just disappear and think its ok."

"yeah and it gets worse when you know that trying to find them with any sort of spell is a wild goose chase. I need to reach them in case something happened to them first and to help the prince with his curse second."

Ether looked a little uncomfortable for just standing around and not understanding much of what these two are saying but he managed to utter something

"will you please help us? I don't want to feel like a monster forever....." Ether said that in a very sad tone it almost broke enfys's and zaroth's hearts.

".... I'll see what i can do. I can't promise an exact destination but rather a general direction of where they went. Their magic is strong but i think they'll be sure to generally mask their presence" zaroth said after sighing and resting their back on the throne

Ether was very excited and his eyes seemed to glimmer while he had a wide smile on his face "thank you! Thank you so much uhm......im sorry i don't know your name. What should i call you?"

Enfys looked at ether "as the ruler of zatieon they have an official title as the 'judge' but its old and kind of outdated so people normally call them 'ruler zaroth'-"

"just zaroth will be fine." Zaroth interrupted. "I quite like you ether and enfys. Im sure we'll be great friends. You may stay in the castle in the chamber next to mine, its quite big and has two beds." Zaroth stated while smiling "of course if either of you or both of you wanted to share my bed i wouldn't mind. At. All." They grinned as they watched ether and enfys flustering

"Thank you for the kind offer but we'll pass. Let's go ether, I'll explain to you whatever you didn't understand in our room." Enfys said while leaving

"thank- thank you zaroth.....i might visit you in your room later to know eachother more since we're friends now..." ether left in a hurry after saying this to catch up to enfys, zaroth looked surprised but amused as he giggled a little after seeing ether almost trip.

"they're interesting, im sure going to enjoy their company." Said zaroth to himself before remembering his duties. Annoyed they sighed and got up to go to where they were needed next. Stretching and their muscles and cracking their back, the throne may need some adjustments to make it comfier.

A shadow from the corner of the top of the empty room smiled widely before fading back into nothingness

#original story #original characters #original writing #original character #ocs #my ocs #oc writing #my original characters

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ivybone · 1 year

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15 with moone :-)

15. finding excuses to be alone with each other [x]

Erik’s lying on his back in his bunk, an arm slung haphazardly across his eyes. The afternoon light is bright as it beams through the blinds slotted across the window, warming his room and casting parallel rays across everything – the floor, the bed, his body stretched long above the thin sheets. He doesn’t move a centimeter as a set of knuckles rapping softly on the door announces the presence of a visitor. The door is opening before he even has the chance to gather enough energy to peel himself off the mattress.

There’s only one other person in the barracks who has a key to his room, so the sound of boots being unlaced and slid off as the door shuts is of no consequence to Erik.

The person in the room isn’t a stranger, and today Erik doesn’t quite have the gumption to properly host a guest. Any other day, he’d be at the kitchenette, heating up a pot of coffee, maybe digging out a few oranges to peel and share.

He doesn’t even have to move his arm as the mattress he’s on dips with the weight of another body. He gives a halfhearted rumble and scoots towards the wall to give his guest a little more room.

“Bad day?” Mun asks as the warmth of her figure fills the space where only sunlight had been before. She tucks her hands beneath his shoulder as she drops her head onto his chest, and Erik can’t bite back the easy smile that breaks the slack expression on his face.

“Me too,” she continues, without giving him any time to answer at all. “A whole shipment of Hecatian artifacts went missing in transit. Brass thinks it all got returned to Hecate. I had to make, like, a thousand excuses to get away from the inquisitors.”

Erik can’t disguise the hitch in his chest – not with her head so close, not with his heartbeat thudding strong beneath her ear. He feels her head lift, feels the shift of her hair as she turns to look at him.

He moves his arm, just a little – everything is fuzzy for a second as his eyes focus, and then Mun sharpens into view. Her glasses are skewed around her nose, her expression accusatory as she props herself up on an elbow.

He grins at her. “I stole a whole shipment of Hecatian artifacts.” He finally moves his arm, hooking it around her waist and anchoring her to his side. With the other he pulls her glasses off her face, carefully folding them before setting them gently into the nook in the wall where he keeps other mementos – an old set of dog tags, a blue ribbon, a photograph of Ezra that’s a little damaged but stretched into a black plastic frame regardless.

Mun mumbles disagreeably but starts to nestle anyways, hooking a leg between Erik’s knees. “One of these days you’re going to get caught.” She snips, her voice half-muffled by the fabric of Erik’s black coveralls. He can feel the curve of her mouth – smiling – against his chest.

Erik gives a little hum of agreement, watching her closely as she reaches up and twines her fingers into the chain hanging around his neck. She fidgets with the flat silver tags bearing his name and rank, the insignia of the guild and the symbol of his order. “Haven’t been caught yet,” he reminds her, drawing his free hand up to brush some hair away from her face.

She worries about him. She always has.

Erik sighs. “You know, I had to tell my captain that I had to go to R&D again. Just to get back here.”

Mun peeks up at him. “Again?”

Erik nods. He’s a regular at the Research and Development department at headquarters, coming in every few weeks or so for some sort of repair to his cybernetics. The engineers know him by name and joke that he’s the best guinea pig they’ve ever had – troubleshooting the ghostwalking technology so nobody else has to.

“He believed me.” And then, changing the subject – “Sorry about the inquisitors. They’re brutal.”

Mun wrinkles her nose.”I don’t think they’ve ever had fun before. Ever.”

Erik chuckles at this. “What did you tell them to get them to let you go?”

Mun thinks for a second. Then tilts her head, a wicked smile overtaking her sharp features. “I told them I was expected at R&D.”

“I’ve never been more proud of you.”

Mun giggles, then gives the chain around Erik’s neck a tug as she cranes her face towards his own. “So you’re free for the rest of the day?” She hedges, her mouth pausing in its trajectory infuriatingly close to Erik’s.

Erik’s brows knit together, frustrated. “Yes,” he grumbles, bringing his head forward to try and close the gap – but she pulls away, a cruel temptress in a turtleneck sweater.

Mun presses a forefinger to Erik’s lips. “Did you actually go to R&D?”

He groans. “No, I didn’t. Why is this relevant?” His hand tightens around her waist, trying to goad her into a less frustrating proximity.

“Because yesterday you told me that your hearing aids were bothering you. Did you get them fixed yet?”

His voice is tight as he watches her lips move, reading her words as she talks. “No.”

Mun frowns, sitting up in earnest this time. “Why not?” The absence of her figure is chilling against Erik’s side, like someone’s just dunked him in an ice bath.

“Can we talk about this later?” His hands cage her hips, no longer concerned with the softness of her hair. He can’t hide the whine in his voice, gaze locked on the movement of her lips.

She finally seems to notice his discomfort as his fingers knead into her waist, lashes low over his eyes. "Fine, but I'm going with you to R&D tomorrow."

Yeah, yeah, thinks the sergeant, stretching his knees as she swings a leg over his abdomen and settles against him with her hands on his chest. R&D. Got it. Her fingers grab for the tags around his neck again, tugging him upwards and into her waiting hands.

When Mun finally obliges Erik with a kiss, her mouth is soft and smiling, her hair a dark curtain around his spinning head.

#moone #for faye <3 #erik

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starlightshadowsworld · 11 months

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Stella witch fairy hybrid

Let's spin the tale of Queen Luna in this AU.

It was no suprise that Luna was a Witch.

Her Mother, Beatrice Alexis Moore was a Moon Witch as had her mother and her mother before her.

Her father, Julius Haden Moore was wizard with an affinity for darkness. He was born an orphan and found a home with the coven when he married Beatrice.

They both knew their daughter would become a powerful witch.

And having been born under the light of a full moon, Haden suggested they name their darling after the moon in her honour.

Beatrice had smiled, tiredly and nodded. They named her Luna, Luna Elizabeth Moore.

Luna was raised by not only her parents but the conven as a whole.

She had many aunts and uncles and cousins related both by blood and others not.

They were a family.

One that was close and loving.

She grew up on the planet Linphea, learning to live amongst nature in the trees the coven called home.

Her powers were quick to appear, making themselves known when she used them instinctively to stop her doll from falling out of her bedroom.

Luna was friends with a giant ladybug called Daisy and loved to explore her homeland.

Although she didn't go too far because despite Linphea being an open place for magicals, their were few that weren't happy of the convens existence.

Their were a good number of convens in Linphea, but being the one more closer linked to the moon and shadows, the Moore's were used to being seen as evil or vilified.

Although they remained in Linphea for many generations and had on occasion aided the magical council, which had helped their image.

Luna grew to be a strong witch, trained by her mother and aunts. She adored her conven and had a big heart for others.

And a mischievous streak.

It was when she was a teensger, she dared to bypass her parents warnings and go out of their convens territory.

Luna had wanted to see the Black Willow and it's infamous waterfall that had water flowing up instead of down.

She had persuaded Daisy to take her their and promise not to tell her parents.

Luna was awestruck by the waterfall... Until a group of boys tried to push her in, they recognised her convens insignia on her arm and wanted to drown the witch.

Luna fought them off, but she was outnumbered.

When someone came to her aid.

Ordering them to leave her be, and that he would sentence them all to cleaning the royal stables for eternity if he caught them hurting her again.

That sent the boys apologising and running off.

Her rescuer helped her up and handed her his jacket, explaining it had a warming charm.

"Thanks but... Who... Are you?"

"Oh, my apologises miss. I'm Radius Alba, Prince Radius of Solaria."

He was her age, his eyes were warm and bright and despite his status he wore simple clothes.

When asked why a Prince was wandering about in another realm, Radius blushed and admitted he was here on a visit with his parents but had... Wandered off and gotten horribly lost with his men.

The ones who had tried to drown her after thinking she was threat to him.

He apologised prefusely until Luna stopped him, she was afraid and shaken but didn't let it show.

Instead she offered to take him to the palace which he accepted.

Bowing before Princess Krystal and Queen Ravhel, explaining herself and reuniting Radius with his parents, Luna headed home.

But that was far from the last time they'd meet.

The two would meet in secret for a while but Luna ended up telling her Conven.

She didn't like keeping things a secret from them and her parents were concerned about her wanderings.

And while they were suprised that their little moonbeam was meeting a Prince of the sun in secret, they only told her to be careful.

Solarian's were not known for their tolerance.

But perhaps the Prince was different if he knew Luna was a Witch.

Although the drowning incident filled them with worry and anger, they couldn't do much about it.

They couldn't stop her from meeting him.

Or make their anger known, they could only teach her how to defend herself.

Luna took their lessons to heart but she was also slowly falling for Radius.

And vice versa, Radius was falling for this sweet and brilliant witch from another kingdom.

The added notion that his parents would be furious if they found out, only helped.

The two tip toed around their feelings for a bit but soon started dating.

In secret of course.

The Conven knew and Radius parents later found out.

Having found a letter addressed to him by Luna.

However, Radius was adememt that he loved Luna had continued to defy their wishes of him marrying "a princess, a lovely fairy."

The two dated for several years before Radius proposed on Luna's 21st birthday.

She immediately said yes and was overjoyed.

Though saying goodbye to her Conven was hard on her.

She embraced both of her parents tightly who didn't want her to leave but knew they had to let go.

Promising her that no matter how far she was, she was always family and the Moore Conven forever her home.

Life at the palace was hard.

Radius told her while he loved her, her heritage had to stay a secret for her own safety.

Remembering the day they met... Luna agreed.

Though she found it hard after a life time of being nothing but open and proud of her heritage.

The King and Queen of Solaria didn't make their distaste of Luna a secret behind closed doors but we're the dutiful mother and father in laws in public.

Luna had had the conven come to her wedding, despite their protests but missed them as soon as they left.

She loved Radius, and he loved her.

But hiding who she was made her unhappy despite knowing why.

Having to pretend to be magicless, as the former King and Queen had called her in public, physically and emotionally took it's toll on her.

To where she'd spend her free time in the palaces observatory where she could watch the moon and stars she was born under, and practice her magic.

It got worse as years went on.

Radius who first loved her for her spirit and interest in who he she was, now expressly made her hide any traces of her old life.

The Conven were no longer allowed in his kingdom.

At first for her safety, of being tied to them.

It was their first real argument, and he'd blown up that the public couldn't know she was related to a bunch of dark witches.

Luna yelled back that how dare he say that about her about her family. And that their was nothing wrong with being a witch.

They went to seperate chambers that night.

In the morning he apologised, and said they could visit whenever they liked and he was sorry he never should have said such things.

But it was the first of many arguments.

Some about Luna and being un Queen like and some about Radius for being too stuck up.

They'd apologise.

They'd make up.

But less and less as time went on.

The arrival of Stella changed things.

Stella who was born under a luna eclipse and named after Radiua's beloved Grandmother.

Stella who was a sun fairy, and was beloved by both her parents and her people.

For a while they were happy, because how could they not with their darling daughter.

... But when Stella at her young age used a different set of powers, ones Luna had spent years hiding... Things changed again.

The bittersweet smile on Luna's face.

The anger on Radius's face as he accused Luna of teaching their daughter witchcraft.

Their daughter who was a fairy.

But also a witch.

Luna had wanted to leave than and their, pack up her things and go back to Linphea where her daughter could grow up in the Conven.

.... But she hadn't gone back since her wedding and was afraid they didn't want her anymore.

She had left for love and she lived to regret it.

But not Stella, no she would never regret Stella.

Her darling daughter.

Luna held her daughter, tears in her eyes that she refused to spill.

She was a Queen.

A mother.

She had to be strong, she would raise her child to love her powers and identity in secret.

And hope one day she would fly free.

Stella Alexis Alba of Solaria.

Their shining star.

Born of sun and moon.

She was their gift and both her parents loved her so.

Luna would make sure her daughter would know her heritage, that it was to be proud of.

Radius would make sure his daughter was beloved by all, his shining sun. He was sure this... Witchness was simply a fluke and she would be a strong fairy.

Despite that witchness being what had drew him to his wife.

Drown the witch.

It was funny how things turn out.

#queen luna #stella witch fairy hybrid #King radius #Stella #Winx club #winx club stella #Winx stella

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datoneboardedguy · 11 months

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Avatar: Legend of Korra Fanfiction - Korra x OC Male Reader.

(DISCLAIMER’S: I DON’T OWN THE LEGEND OF KORRA IP OR IT’S CHARACTERS! & THIS IS A NON CANON FANFICTION THAT ISN’T CONSTRAINED BY THE LIMITATIONS OF THE OFFICIAL AVATAR LOK CANON & ANY ATTEMPT’S TO SILENCE THIS FANFIC IS A BLATANT VIOLATION OF MY FREE SPEECH RIGHT’S!)

Chapter 4: Secrets.

Ricks POV in a small Earth Kingdom village nearby the mountain range prison:

I wake up with the sunlight shining in my eyes & realising I have slept in “oh Spirit’s, I gotta hurry!” I rush out of bed & get changed into my White Lotus uniform as I’m about to head out the door I just then remembered something “Oh, I almost forgot to my water my cactus!” After I finish I quickly head out to make my way to the airship station while grabbing a quick bite to eat along the way from a small Tofu stand, which makes the best in this side of the Earth Kingdom “Here you go Rick, your usual spicy steamed chicken Tofu with no mushrooms!” “Thanks Nox you’re the best, how much do I owe ya?” “Just 5 yuan’s” “here.” I handed him the money as he asked “Why did you quit that Metalbending Task Force anyway?” “I didn’t, I got promoted. Apparently I impressed the Metal Bending Boss herself Cheff Beifong. Sure I’m not in the taskforce anymore & I’ve had to essentially uproot my entire life & move far away. But anyway when you have a family of your own you’ll understand..-” “Alright alright I don’t need to hear your whole life story, now you better hurry off now or you’re gonna be late for work.” “Oh right, thanks for the pick me up!” I said as I started booking it to the airship station. I noticed I’m running behind schedule & use my Earthbending to launch myself onto the rooftops & started racing to the airship I reach the station as it’s about to take off & enter just as the White Lotus Airship Transport shuts it’s doors when another White Lotus guard remarks “Took ya long enough Rocky Rick..” I catch my breath then say “Better late *deep breath* ..that never, heh.” Then the Airship takes off bound for the Mountainside Prison.

Hours later-

As we arrive at the prison it’s nearly late, clear skies & there’s a very bright full moon too, like me & few other guards a couple of days ago there’s a small group of White Lotus guards waiting at the landing zone for the shift changes, i & the rest of the passengers get off while the other guards boarded the airship I quickly ask one of the off duty guards “Hey, has Old Gary Clocked in yet for his shift?” & she says “Yes I think so, he should be on patrol right about now.” “Okay, thanks.” She boards the airship & it immediately takes off, I think on where I saw last him going & head to where he went before I lost sight of him only to find a dead end wall which was odd so I placed the palm of my hand onto the ground & put my echo sense training to good use. After a few seconds I started sensing a void this wall, i stand up & forcefully Earthbended this false wall open & discover a Planning Room, there’s Temple maps, ancient scrolls, there’s even a stack of encrypted letters here & a dairy. Last log entry was two days ago. ‘It’s almost time to act after soo many months of waiting under cover as one of these pathetic short sighted idiots, practicing & honing my skills on the brat you sent for me to train on, just a couple of more days until I can finally liberate our glorious leader & finally without the White Lotus!’ As I finish reading this last passage I turn the page to find this insignia.

I gasped & said to myself “I need to warn the rest of the guards & sound the alarm’s!..” as I’m making my way to the security tower I see Old Gary standing on it’s & decided to pursue him.

Old Gary’s POV:

I’m currently looking over the Prison from the top of one of the Guard Tower’s basking in the full moon light after I finished planting the explosives all around the prison during my patrol, I have my finger on the trigger ready to finally set the plan into motion. I gleefully smile from ear to ear as I say “After all these years of carful planning ..has finally led to this ONE ..GLORIOUS MOMENT TO FINALLY FREE MY MASTER!-” I’m then interrupted by the meddlesome Lotus guard from before as he shouts “HALT! I HEREBY ARREST YOU FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT A JAILBREAK OF A KNOWN SERIAL KILLER & FOR TORTURING A YOUNG CHILD!” “YOU’RE TOO LATE STOP WHAT’S COMING, enjoy the show!” I say as I lift my hand holding the detonator up for him to see “IT’S OVER GARY, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING ..STAND DOWN!” “..& here GO!” *Click* (Loud Explosions)

End of Chapter..

#male reader #fanfic #avatar #avatar korra #avatar lok #korra x reader #mystery #conspiracy #revelations

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birindale · 2 years

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Visual development by Soyun Park, clean-up by Mike Collins

#visual development #soyun park #mike collins #backgrounds #bright moon #castle bright moon #castle bright moon exterior #insignias #bright moon insignias #coronation cave

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seventhstrife · 2 years

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Know Your Enemy

💙💛SubScorp Week 2022 - Day 1- Vampire AU💙💛

Link on AO3~

RATING: Mature

PAIRINGS: Kuai Liang/Hanzo Hasashi

TAGS: Alternate Universe - Vampire, Enemies to Lovers, Vampire Hanzo Hasashi, Hunter Kuai Liang, Angst, hanzo's in this of course there's angst, Canon-Typical Violence, POV Kuai Liang

@subscorp-week

Chapter 1/?

When a hunt doesn't go as planned, Kuai Liang is forced to reconsider the definition of a monster.

Kuai Liang couldn't remember the last time he'd spent so long tracking during a hunt.

More often than not, finding his quarry was all too easy. Screams and blood, the ravenous sounds of a beast gorging itself on fresh meat—these things announced a vampire's presence gruesomely and violently, with the thoughtless carnage of a senseless animal.

But not this time.

His latest hunt had come straight from the Grandmaster himself.

You've never faced a vampire of this caliber, the Grandmaster had told him, dark eyes narrowed with shrewd assessment. Stronger and far craftier by our scout's reports. But completing this mission will save countless lives. Do not fail us, Kuai Liang.

Missions given directly from the Grandmaster were a class all their own, demanding a level of skill few in their order possessed; Kuai Liang had been honored by this assignment and was determined to achieve success.

Dressed subtly for combat in dark leathers, the blue insignia of his clan the only spot of color to be seen, Kuai Liang had arrived in this latest city that he assumed would be like any other he'd visited before.

He had expected the usual signs to tip him off and point him in the right direction, but there were none to be found. No reports of missing people spirited away in the dead of night. No surges in local healthcare facilities of people with vicious animal bites or records of blood packs disappearing from inventory.

Nothing seemed amiss and after three days of searching, Kuai Liang was tempted to doubt the presence of vampires here at all.

But, no; their scouts were too good for such a mistake, nor would the Grandmaster waste his time with hearsay or rumors. Had he not been warned this hunt would be different? These vampires, better hidden? No, the fault lied with him, that was all. He simply had to look harder.

On the fourth night, Kuai Liang changed his tactics; the obvious tells were clearly not going to help him find his quarry, so he took to the streets. He kept his eyes and ears open and studied his surroundings from the crowds, at packed, busy crosswalks and outside nightclubs, treading countless streets and subway platforms, eyes lingering on any shadowed alley or dark crevice he passed.

His mind could not help but wander during his silent, fruitless search. What manner of creatures were these that they could conceal themselves so well? Had they found some way to hide the signs of their thirst? And if so, how did they acquire the blood they needed without raising any sort of alarm? Had they found some bolthole that kept them hidden from the public eye? That was likely, but stranger still that it had managed to last so long when thirst and madness should have drawn attention to them.

It was well past midnight when Kuai Liang stood alone amongst a sea of strangers, the only still figure as countless people surged around him at a four-way intersection. Bright, garish neon lights glowed from the buildings, choking the light of the moon, and he felt annoyed that these vampires were making his hunt so difficult, were keeping him in this loud, stinking, overbearing city when he could be back among his clan. His narrowed eyes swept over the crowds, cataloging and dismissing dozens of faces by the second, and his frustration only mounted with each passing minute.

Show yourself, he willed. You can not hide forever.

Ironically, it was only when he finally admitted his impatience that he got the sign he wished for.

There was no scream or snarl, nothing so obvious as that, but all at once, Kuai Liang had the sharp, certain feeling he was being watched.

Startled, Kuai Liang stilled—and then he pushed himself past his surprise and fell into the flow of people and crossed the street, glancing around surreptitiously.

No one around, however, seemed to be paying him any mind, nor did he notice any obvious tail.

Strange...

He stepped onto the pavement of the sidewalk and paused, tense and trying to not appear so, waiting for the attack to his back or for a challenge to be issued, and his gaze wandered, narrowed, left, right, up...

Up, up, and there—a figure, dressed in dark clothes, crouched on the roof of a squat building, barely thirty yards from him across a side street.

Their eyes met, and even from a distance, Kuai Liang could see the expression of surprise, dark eyebrows flying high on a pale face, the unnatural stillness of the body perched on the very edge of the flat roof.

Kuai Liang saw the eyes reveal the vampire, the sudden unnatural white glow—one of the most significant tells of their kind, an involuntary one that only occurred in moments of sudden, strong emotion.

All of his annoyance, his impatience and uncertainty and weariness—all of it was banished the moment Kuai Liang clapped eyes on the vampire.

Finally.

The vampire stood—and ran.

Kuai Liang broke into a sprint right; it didn't matter that the vampire had a head start, or was quite the distance away. Kuai Liang had his prey in his sights. This hunt would be over tonight.

He scaled the nearest building in a few bounds and spotted the vampire easily, who took one look behind him and seemed to run faster.

You will not get away.

The chase took them away from the more densely populated areas, which suited Kuai Liang just fine. It gave him more room to maneuver without having to worry about civilians. And when he let loose a knife, embedding it into the wall the vampire was just reaching for as a hand-hold, the vampire's loud, sudden crash to the ground as he flinched and missed his reach wouldn't attract unwanted attention.

Kuai Liang pressed his advantage, pulling out another burst of speed so that he could jump into the alley the vampire had fallen into, jumping between the walls of the narrow passageway so that he landed just a few feet away from where the vampire was pushing himself up.

Up close, the vampire revealed himself to be a man of young age—relatively, by vampire's standards, at least. Mid-twenties, fit, dressed in dark, casual clothes. He had messy black hair and his eyes still glowed that pale, unnerving white as he stared at Kuai Liang.

He seemed anxious, almost scared, and it was the obvious display of emotions on his face that spoke of his youth more than his appearance.

"Um—" the vampire said.

Kuai Liang slipped a hand beneath his coat and slid a thick wooden stake out of his belt.

He attacked.

"Oh shit!"

The vampire dodged into a retreat, barely staying on his feet as Kuai Liang assaulted him relentlessly, knowing the moment would come soon when the vampire would stumble or falter and leave himself open. Kuai Liang only had to be patient.

They ended up in a small inlet where several alleys opened up into a rounded dead-end. It was a good bottleneck position, and Kuai Liang would have suspected a trap if not for how obvious it was this vampire could not focus on anything beyond Kuai Liang's next move.

When the vampire jumped back, taking advantage of the space of his surroundings, Kuai Liang turned the stake in his grip so that it faced upwards. Ice encased it from above his handhold so it formed a long sword while the rest of the stake acted as a hilt.

"Whoa—fuck!" The vampire leapt back again, clutching the long tear in his clothes that Kuai Liang had just ripped across his chest.

He hadn't even struck flesh. Dissatisfied, Kuai Liang attacked again.

That was around the time Kuai Liang finally noticed that the vampire was not fighting back. He'd only been defending from the moment Kuai Liang first struck out, even though his life was on the line.

It didn't make any sense.

Kuai Liang's brows furrowed, his lips pressing together in a tight line.

"Why aren't you fighting?" Kuai Liang demanded with a harsh swipe.

The vampire danced away from the blow, dropping low in a quick sweep of the leg in an attempt to unbalance him.

"I don't want to hurt you," the vampire said, his dark eyes open, and it was so strange, to hear those words from a mouth with fangs.

Surprised, Kuai Liang paused, and the vampire did as well, wary and tense.

Then Kuai Liang understood, and pity washed over him.

He acted quickly, distracting the vampire with a quick spray of ice shards. When the vampire threw himself back and caught himself with one palm flat to the ground, Kuai Liang was ready for him, slicking the ground so that the vampire fell and couldn't orient himself before Kuai Liang thrust a fist in the air; ice encased the vampire's feet and hands, trapping him.

"Fuck," the vampire said.

He was surprisingly lucid for a vampire, still thinking, which meant he couldn't have been turned for very long. It was always sadder, taking down the ones who still thought they could be normal, who hadn't realized exactly what they would become, and while Kuai Liang pitied them, it did not change reality, nor the lives this vampire would take when he lost control. Killing him now was a mercy in more ways than one.

The vampire struggled, pulling at his restraints without success. He stared up at Kuai Liang with wide, terribly young eyes when he stood just beside him.

From behind his back, Kuai Liang pulled another wooden stake from its sheath.

"I will make it quick," he promised, and then he struck, aiming for a deep, single impalement straight through the heart, quick and merciful.

But his stake had barely begun his descent when a force like a boulder slammed into his side in a jarring, brutal crash.

For a brief span of seconds, he lost all contact with the world, weightless, but when he hit the ground in a teeth-rattling slam he was quick to orient himself, to push himself up and braced, ready for an attack even before his brain had stopped colliding with the sides of his skull.

Kuai Liang raised his stake, expecting a follow-up attack while he was still disoriented—but there was none.

Instead, where there once laid one vampire, trapped against ice, now there were two.

The second vampire was older, evidenced only by the fine lines at his eyes, narrowed above a gold mask carved to resemble an oni with its fangs bared. He wore a hood and was covered head to toe in black, yet Kuai Liang recognized him for what he was instantly. There was no hiding that kind of strength, the speed with which he must have moved to strike before Kuai Liang could see or hear him coming.

The sight of two vampires had Kuai Liang getting to his feet quickly, gripping a stake in each hand, but he was largely ignored. Instead of pressing his advantage of surprise, the vampire placed his palms on the ice that bound the younger one at his legs and—melted it with a bright orange light growing from his skin. Flames crept out from between his fingers.

Pyromancer, Kuai Liang thought, equal parts unnerved and intrigued. He'd never met one before, and while the sight was fascinating, he didn't bask in the advantage a latent ability gave his opponent.

"Are you hurt?" the vampire was asking in a deep voice, reaching up to free bound hands, and then he gripped the younger vampire's front by a fistful of cloth and hauled him up like he weighed no more than a feather.

"N-no, I'm okay—"

"Good," the vampire said, and then he was flying at Kuai Liang, his fierce, piercing white glare illuminated by the flames that erupted up his arms and escaped through the teeth of his lacquered mask.

Kuai Liang blocked each attack in the sudden flurry with his arms, reinforcing each block with ice to protect him from the fire, coating his stakes with ice as well so they did not splinter and burn beneath the relentless heat.

This situation was less than ideal, especially given how remarkably sane these vampires were. Soon enough, the young one would join the fight, and then he would be outnumbered. Kuai Liang had faced worse odds, but he had to press every advantage. The sooner he took out this stronger, more powerful vampire, the better.

But that was easier said than done. The younger vampire had shown clear signs of being trained and well, but this one was clearly a master in his form and it took Kuai Liang longer than he wanted to admit to go from defending to actively attacking—this vampire struck just as fast, just as mercilessly as he had, barely leaving Kuai Liang enough time to track his next move, let alone strike true with his stake.

Only his ice seemed to give the vampire any significant pause, so he relied on that more and more, until weapons were ignored entirely in lieu of their bare hands, fire and ice sweeping across the ground and against the walls, bursting out in great surges as one element tried to overpower the another.

The vampire thrust a hand behind him and a great, concentrated fire converged there, a portent of tremendous power and Kuai Liang instinctively did the same, summoning as much ice as he could, thrusting it forward just as the vampire did the same—

The explosion rattled his ears, ice shattering against the pavement, fire singing concrete and billowing into the sky, and they were both forced apart until they crashed against opposite walls. If not for these alleys, keeping them together, they likely would have been sent much, much further.

Panting, Kuai Liang glared across the distance the explosion had driven them apart, body aching, bruises and cuts screaming for attention all over. He met a matching bruised glare from the vampire, whose hood had been blown back by their fight, revealing the long tail of his black hair, brushing the ground as he pushed himself upright as well.

He is a skilled fighter, Kuai Liang admitted. This was not someone he could simply overpower with brute force alone, and even though this person was the enemy, he felt the begrudging stirrings of respect.

Not that it mattered. Kuai Liang always completed his hunts. Always.

They both stood at the same time as if a silent bell had chimed, signaling the continuation of their fight. Kuai Liang let frost crawl up his arms and the vampire mirrored him with flame.

It was unbecoming, but excitement made Kuai Liang's heart race; it had been so long since he'd tested his abilities like this.

He was going to...enjoy this.

Or, he would have, presumably, if not for the sudden crack of sound that echoed in the air, the sharp whistle of wind before he found himself sudden bound in the blink of an eye, deceptively-thin black ropes winding around his torso at least a half-dozen times in the blink of an eye. They squeezed tight, pinning his arms to his sides.

A sharp tug brought him to his knees and he grunted, surprised, and heard a similar sound echo—a look up saw the elder vampire in much the same position, though his glare was aimed at his kin, not his bonds.

"Release me, Takeda!" he barked.

Takeda only frowned, pulling the ropes taut in response to their struggles, so tight Kuai Liang lost his breath.

"Stop fighting!" Takeda ordered, eyes stern on both of them. "Look, I'm fine, you're fine—no harm done, right? Killing each other isn't the answer here."

"You must be joking," Kuai Liang said at the same time the vampire said, "You can not be this naive."

The older vampire glared at Kuai Liang but Takeda was firm.

"We talked about this, remember?" A note of pleading crept into his voice as he spoke. "Please. Can't we just—go?"

Kuai Liang felt as if he were in some bizarre alternate reality—a feeling that was only cemented when the older vampire glared for a few more beats before he grunted in reluctant agreement with a nod, though he was quick to aim a look of immense distaste Kuai Liang's way.

"Should you try to harm him again, I will rip out your throat," the vampire promised.

Before Kuai Liang could respond, Takeda shook him loose, an incredibly strong yank tossing Kuai Liang free a few feet away.

The fall didn't even hurt and he rolled back onto his feet, the ice around his stakes growing to form axes, but he had to retreat further when Hanzo shot flame—not at him, but just before his feet, etching a long dividing line of towering flame where Kuai Liang could just barely make out their silhouettes through the flickering light.

Swiftly, Kuai Liang stowed his weapons behind his back. With a deep breath, he brought his palms close, just shy of touching, and concentrated his ice into a contained maelstrom. One breath, two, and then he thrust his hands out, extinguishing the flames in an extensive spray of ice, so sudden that snow formed in the air and swept out like fog.

It had taken scant seconds to clear this flaming obstacle, but it was time enough.

The vampires were gone.

#subscorpweek #subscorp #vampire au #mk #mortal kombat #fic #my fic #my stuff #@subscorpweek

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orchardisland · 2 years

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━━ EVENT 02 : FESTIVAL OF WISHES (PART 1)

It seems a bit strange ━ the island is already bustling around for another festival. The strange incident at the Seaside Jubillee seemed just like yesterday, the sun still beating heavily from above and the waters warm. A chilled wind runs through Gwasuwon. But as the leaves change and the grass loses its vibrancy, a blossom of bright orange can be seen throughout the island. Persimmon and pumpkin season have arrived and such marks the coming of the Festival of Wishes.

There are still remnants of grief throughout the island, residents still scarred from what happened a mere month ago, but they all understand that life must go on to move past the misfortune. Mayor Moon arranges for the fall and Halloween festival to go on as planned, much to the urging of his trusted advisor.

When you turn on your television, his face appears standing in front of a podium with the island’s insignia. His appearance is distorted by the camera, an obvious case of editing occurring, with many of the closeups focusing on his daughter, Moon Boram, or his wife standing closely to his side. Any shots of him are from a distance but you can still faintly make out the strange gray texture to his skin and his bulging eyes. If you noticed it, you would think that they were trying to hide something.

He coughs and his voice sounds bloated, “The township of Dangam-eup will, this year again, be holding the Festival of Wishes as planned. An increase in security presence has already been arranged,” He blots at his forehead with a handkerchief. Slowing down the footage would reveal a residue too murky to be sweat on the fabric. “I urge the citizens of Gwasuwon to have a wonderful time and newcomers to see the beauty our humble island has to offer.”

The program ends and there is a flicker of a young woman’s face, then yellow. It’s too quick for you to catch it, even if you pause and go back.

A heaviness still lingers in the air, and fortunately, this festival takes place nowhere near any bodies of water. Many of the residents have already begun their preparations for the festival, carving out their wish tokens in advance, tending to their crops, and even preparing costumes and stories to tell. The get together sees many familiar faces, smiles reemerging slowly but surely. Their teeth sink into the skin of a persimmon and walk along with a wish in their head.

Behind the persimmon tree, a dark figure lurks.

━━ EVENT ACTIVITIES & HISTORY

Yet another festival... because it ended so well last time. It doesn’t seem like anyone will learn. The Festival of Wishes is only recently marked as Gwasuwon’s official Halloween seasonal celebration. Although taking place on 10/10 in the past, the dates were moved to accommodate the recent popularity of Halloween. In the past, it was only two days, meant to pray to the gods for a good fall harvest and warn the children of the reaches of greed. DAY ONE sees many opportunities for vendors and it comes with plenty of persimmon and pumpkins on display and for sale whole or in delicious sweets. This day is also one of praying for wishes, of which will be written on charms and hanged on an empty persimmon tree. On DAY TWO, there is typically an emphasis on telling scary stories to the island’s youth, particularly related to the island and told around a bonfire but for those older, there is a scary movie night with a large projector showing the classics. DAY THREE’s addition is relatively recent an modern, being the day where everyone dresses up in costume, usually as urban legends, ghosts, and other frightening or fun things and roams about the island. Of course, with modern times come the addition of the island’s more vibrant young people throwing Halloween costume parties as they so choose. Individuals have been particularly cautioned from straying toward the abandoned village on these days.

━━ INTERACTIONS

IC, this event will take place on 10/29 to 10/31 but can be written about from 10/2 to 11/2.

Your muse has the choice to attend or not attend any of the days, that will be up to you entirely! However, whether or not this will benefit or hinder your muse in the future will be left to fate.

If you decide to thread anything, tag all posts with gsw:wishful.

Stay tuned for a second part later as usual! Random encounters will be taken care of first.

#gsw:event #gsw:wishful

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nikki-with-a-pen · 8 days

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Miette Steelheart character backstory

Rogue with a heart of joy and vengeance. She’s gay and steals bread.

Miette and her family lived in a mossy house, deep in the woods, in a small commune, away from all the dangers of the invading kingdom and the less tolerant folk. A wondrous natural alcove in a cliffside, not far from a stream, full of bright faces of the ill, malformed or otherwise outcast.

Miette, the colonies firstborn, spread much joy throughout the settlement, but she still had to contribute like everyone else. One day, while playing near the creek with her sister, when suddenly her mother stormed in with a chore that she forgot to do yesterday, selling knives in the nearest market village. Miette had the soul of a wanderer and got lost in her thoughts pretty often. Sweeping her tail slowly, she reminisced about the larger world, yet understood the need for their secrecy. Not too long ago a tiefling got caught at the markets and never came back, so the colony had to be more careful. Each week, a seller and a buyer would be elected as to not attract attention.

Miette rushed back to the cabin to be greeted by the warm face of her father Mael, the local blacksmith. A late man, tired out yet accomplished by his job. Miette picked up the dozen blades in a rolled up leather sheath, too made by a friend, and started packing her backpack.

“Miette?” “Yeah dad?” “Ever thought of getting into carving wood? Or butchering a boar?” “Never really crossed my mind, no.” “You might be a little too young for that anyways.” Miette looked at her mother, sarcastically rolling her eyes.“ Ah, I keep forgetting. Regardless, there’s something I’d like you to have.”

Miette’s eyes perked up and Mael opened a drawer next to his workbench and handed Mie a pristine leather package, smooth like silk to the touch and stitched with a thread of the finest purple. The small pouch unrolled in her hands to reveal a shiny blade. A damascus steel knife with a varnished dark oak, bearing the commune’s insignia in a metal she didn’t want to believe was gold. Her father was obviously very proud of this piece, and Miette knew he’d never smelt the family’s gold.

“Take good care of it and It’ll take good care of you Mia.” Mia nodded, put on her backpack, and started hopping along the trail, but not before being patted on the head.

Eventually wandering into town, she was stunned both by its beauty and its rot. A beautiful monument, sure, but no one seemed to care about anyone but themselves. Mia had suspected this, but finally had her beliefs cemented. People ought to care, she thought. She set up a small stand she managed to unfold from her seemingly endless backpack, seeming weightless on the girl’s back when compared to her size.

She unfolded the sheath and started bargaining with customers, as everyone else did, though it didn’t seem right to her. By dusk, she had earned far more than needed and decided to go home. The commune buyer had arrived too, and so she threw the sick man her pouch of gold.

By the town gate she saw a garden path, leading to a beautiful mansion, next to which was a lake in which glittery fish swam, reflecting the moon. Mia got sidetracked again. Realizing this, she rushed back home to not worry her parents.

The commune was dark and quiet, as it should be at night, but not during the full moon. Deciding to investigate, she spotted a fire, moving away. Mia made her way home and opened the door to find her house awfully quiet. She tried to grab a candle.

Thump, a suit of armor before her stomped down loudly, with no care for the life in front of him. Eeek, startled Mia ran as fast as she could, and faster than that after spotting red flags. A whistle went right by her ear, an arrow. Her run turned into a four legged sprint for her life as she dodged and weaved between bolts, some of fire, which she took as a torch. The guards could track her, but they could not outrun her.

Mia tried to catch her breath for a while, even during the full moon she was a mouse, not a race horse. She stood up and tucked her tail in her dress and walked, still gasping, toward the distant embers. She reaches a torch and sees lone evil, a guard in black and red crouched down. Her view turned the corner, hiding behind trees. She started watching. The guard is skinning a corpse. She’s calm and collected now and her breaths are masked by the breeze. The moon stopped covering behind a cloud and shined down on them. Mia, The Guard, and her lifeless mother.

A panic rushes over her and Mia is paralyzed. Her body wanted to maul that bastard alive, but when she tried to make a step or a sound, a cry, she flinched back. She could barely see, or even feel through her tears. She had to stay calm, and collected. Calm, and collected, safe, a human girl makes the first step forward. Then the second. Then Goliath fell onto his severed Achilles heel.

“AArgh! You little bitch!” “W-why? D-did she hurt you?” “Fuck you, jesus christ, god, fuck” Mia moved her knife to the grounded waste of life and screamed: “DID SHE HURT YOU OR NOT?” Mia’s voice crackled. “She’s a fucking monster, oh fuck,, she, she’s my prey if that’s what you want, you psycho.” Miettes eyes widened, then dulled.“Where are the others?” “Paying taxes now, we don’t tolerate freeloaders and we sure as FUCK don’t tol-” A single act of greed can ruin everything we’ve built up.

A gurgling starts and stops and the deafening sound of silence sets in. Mia moves to the corpse and with eyes shut, she crawls into an embrace. With each passing eternity, the grief grows larger and the only there to comfort her is the horrifying dullness she felt disappear. She hears footsteps somewhere else. She hears a shout, a stampede, somewhere else. She feels metal on her skins and jumps forward, running far away from more shouts, far, far into the unknown woods.

In the nearest city, in a small flat, a note in a breadbox reads “Hah, sorry! Get better locks.” along with a sewing kit, pocket lint, spare change and a whisker.

#nikki-writes

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shitpostdevil · 12 days

Text

Epiphany, 3

Kyojuro is sent on a mission to fight a lower rank demon in the area he was stationed in, but when he shows up the threat is far greater...

~*~*~

ahhhhh well I hope this is a good start, I'm still very unsure how to write Kyojuro ~.~ I need to read more with him in it or more headcanons or something because himbo hard to write for me- but it's a challenge I will commit to! ♥( ˆ⌣ ˆԅ)

(((BETTER VERSION ON Ao3)))

(Kyojuro’s POV- the night they met)

I sensed him before he came into sight.

There was word that a lower rank demon had been wandering around this territory,

so I was sent to handle the situation.

I weaved my way through the trees as fast as I could towards my targeted area.

I slowed to a halt as the aura grew exponentially.

I look down from the trees and definitely see a demon there,

covered in tattoos,

cornering a man who was frozen in fear.

I quickly descend,

startling the demon enough that his focus was no longer on the man

and he made a run for it.

“Leave him alone.” I state boldly,

unsheathing my sword,

running my fingers over the cool metal of the flame insignia

that had been passed down through generations as I set my stance.

“ How annoying. ”

he sighs, slowly turning around,

eyes seeing my haori,

which turned his annoyance into a smile.

“ Oh, a Hashira ” Sharp teeth show.

“ This’ll be fun.”

It happened faster than the naked eye could see,

we clashed,

my sword meeting with his arm as he blocked my blow,

trying to gain the upper hand.

His bright yellow eyes held the words “Upper Moon Three”

My flames burned brightly,

illuminating the night as I fought with all my might

to bring down the powerful demon dancing with me.

He was no pushover,

his speed and strength matching that of a Hashira's,

dare I say better?

The battle raged on,

each combatant pushing ourselves to our limits

as I struggled to last until daybreak against one of Muzan’s own.

In a turn of events,

I found myself at the mercy of the demon,

my sword knocked from my hand as the Upper Moon stood over me,

a wicked grin on his face.

My words spoke before I could think,

“Were you searching for the blue spider lily tonight?”

A mere legend, but…

I brace myself for the final blow,

but to my shock,

it never came.

Instead,

he looked down at me,

a strange expression crossing his features.

" And what do you know of the blue spider lily, Hashira? "

he asks,

his voice low and gruff.

I could feel his blood lust begin to recede.

I stare up at the demon in disbelief,

unsure of what to make of this unexpected turn of events.

That worked?

But as I looked into the upper rank’s eyes,

what looked back was something I never expected to find in a demon–

a glimmer of admiration and respect.

As dawn approached,

his words came quickly.

“ I will spare you,

Hashira,

but I know your scent now,

I will be able to find you again. ”

As I lay on the forest floor,

bleeding,

the demon disappeared into the shrinking darkness.

I couldn't shake the strange feeling that had taken hold of me.

I couldn’t help but find myself thinking of him,

of the way we moved and fought,

of the power and grace he possessed.

Upper Moon Three,

that’s what his eyes said,

he’s an upper rank demon.

I pass out before I can finish the thought,

hearing Kaname call out

from somewhere in the distance as the night fades.

*~*~*

I wake up in the Butterfly Mansion,

bandaged up.

I’m still in significant pain but it’s not something I’m not used to at this point.

The pain just feels like another day in the life of keeping others safe.

But this time I didn’t keep anyone safe,

only prolonged the life of an upper rank demon.

Shinobu’s silent Tsuguko is cleaning things up at my bedside,

but she turns,

and after seeing my eyes open,

she produces a small jump

and hurries out of the room,

I assume it is to alert Shinobu.

My eyes fix on the ceiling as I think back

to the tattooed man that spared my life.

His eyes were a piercing yellow that cut through the night,

his hair almost as bright of a pink as Kanroji’s.

Why?

I continue to quiz myself.

That was only a legend,

why did he believe it?

Is that really what Muzan Kibutsuji is after?

“ How are you feeling, Kyojuro? ”

Kocho’s soft voice comes from the doorway.

“I’ve been better.”

I produce a small smile.

“ What happened to you? ”

She seems concerned,

but I wonder if I should tell the truth.

She is sure to know this couldn’t be a lower rank demon to have bested me,

but at the same time I knew that if I told her that I let an Upper Rank get away,

there would be a disruption amongst my fellow Hashira

that I didn’t really yearn for.

There was also a part of me that was curious.

He would likely meet me again before I fully healed

so that I couldn’t just try to kill him.

There was a strange knot forming in my stomach

that made me question whether I even wanted to fight with him again.

“ Don’t want to talk about it? ”

She accepts my silence, and I’m glad.

She continues to take my vitals while I’m lost in thought.

“ I’ll have the girls whip you up a plate of rice balls

and you will feel better in no time, Kyojuro. ”

“Thank you, Kocho.”

I say gratefully as she takes her leave.

She is always taking great care of us.

I hear distant noises of laughter and clattering dishes

coming from somewhere in the mansion.

The little family that they have made here really is special.

I turn my head towards the window.

The sun is shining brightly.

I reach towards the rays.

I wonder if he misses this…

I don’t know why my thoughts are on the demon in such a way.

It shouldn’t matter.

He deserves to be dead.

That is my mission.

I live to take down that very race.

It takes about 10 minutes

before a plate filled with rice balls

comes hand delivered to my bedside by Miss Aoi.

“Thank you.” I say,

sitting up with a pillow propped behind my back so I can eat.

She bows,

“ No, thank you for protecting everyone.

It’s my pleasure.

If you need anything please do not hesitate. ”

She says formally before leaving again,

I can only assume to complete more duties around the mansion.

An idea comes to mind after a few rice balls hit my stomach,

and I request a journal and something to write with

the next time one of the girls comes by.

They very graciously obliged,

bringing it to me promptly.

I pay my gratitude again with the best bow I can do in my state

before she waves her arms and tells me not to move like that

because she isn’t sure how bad my injuries are.

I can't help but chuckle and pat her on the head.

I wonder if he really can tell where I am…

If he could then I knew that this place was in danger and I had to move quickly.

I have a safe house...

If he found me there I truly did not care.

It’s not where my brother or father lived,

so I have more privacy.

I glanced at my Kasugai Crow, Kaname, on the window sill,

and he looked back at me.

I momentarily pleaded with him silently that he would keep quiet about this,

but at the same time,

I was pretty sure that he couldn’t read,

so I took a chance.

I decided to write to him.

If he responded then I knew.

The plan was to sneak out late when everyone was asleep to take a trip to my home,

place the book there,

and be back before morning under the ruse that I wanted to get a few things.

I would be scolded for leaving with my injuries, but I would be fine.

I flip open the journal to the first few pages and press the ink down onto the parchment-

If you really do know, tell me why you chose to keep me alive.

Is it not our mission to destroy one another?

Is this flower really so important to you?

It was short, but I didn’t have much else to say.

I planned to feign knowledge for him until I could kill him.

I had only read about it in a book long ago,

it apparently had certain medicinal properties

but nobody knew where it bloomed

or what time of year it had been found.

I waited for nightfall to come

and for everyone to settle into bed

before departing as carefully and quietly as I could in my healing state,

departing in the direction of the home.

It took me longer than it usually did before I reached the doorstep

and I was more out of breath than I liked,

but I made my way inside to place the notebook.

I jumped when a voice came from behind me,

causing pain to shoot up my side.

“ You’re up faster than I would have hoped. ”

an annoyed, but familiar voice bounces off the walls.

A chill runs down my spine.

It almost seems to echo in the silence of the night.

I guess that answers one of my questions.

I gulp, feeling like I was caught red handed.

He eyes the book in my hands,

“ Was that thing really so important to you

that you had to come home? ”

His eyebrow raises,

it matches the pink on his head.

I don’t really know how to answer that.

To a demon it’s just a few lines scribbled in a notebook

so probably not to him.

He moves fast enough to take the notebook from my hands

and be back in his previous position before I can answer.

To a normal human they wouldn’t have been able to see it,

but I followed him with ease.

My body, on the other hand, is still healing

and allows him to take it.

He seems to read it

and looks up at me with judgment in his eyes.

“ Really?” his voice is teasing,

“ This is what the great flame hashira Rengoku Kyojuro comes up with? ”

He laughs out of pity.

I don’t know why,

but I feel my face burning.

Am I embarrassed ?

He doesn’t even entertain the second part.

His eyes roll,

“Of course I can find you. ”

I can only stare at him,

the small cracks in the beams holding up my house

showing him in an almost ethereal light.

He tosses the book onto the floor at my feet.

“ Go heal yourself, Kyojuro,

you’re not worth fighting right now. ”

Somehow that stings.

He’s right next to my ear when he whispers,

“ And if you want to write me a letter,

try and make it more meaningful next time. ”

He disappears again into the night,

and I’m just left there,

not sure if that interaction was actually real or not.

I stare at the ruffled book at my feet.

That was definitely real.

I still don’t even know his name.

#akaren #renkaza #~#epiphany #akaza #rengoku #rengoku kyoujurou #rengoku kyojuro #akaza x rengoku #fanfiction #demon slayer

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spacenutspod · 2 months

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In the left two photos, workers with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) paint the bright red NASA “worm” logo on the side of an Artemis II solid rocket booster segment inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. The EGS team used a laser projector to mask off the logo with tape, then painted the first coat of the iconic design. The booster segments will help propel the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on the Artemis II mission to send four astronauts around the Moon as part of the agency’s effort to establish a long-term science and exploration presence at the Moon, and eventually Mars. In the right photo, the Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission received its latest makeover. Teams adhered the agency’s iconic “worm” logo and ESA (European Space Agency) insignia on the spacecraft’s crew module adapter on Sunday, Jan. 28, inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA/Glenn Benson and Rad Sinyak Art and science merge as teams add the NASA “worm” logo on the SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters and the Orion spacecraft’s crew module adapter at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency’s Artemis II mission. The iconic logo was introduced in 1975 by the firm of Danne & Blackburn as a modern emblem for the agency. It emerged from a nearly 30-year retirement in 2020 for limited use on select missions and products. NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems and prime contractor Jacobs began painting the red logotype onto the segments that form the Moon rocket’s two solid rocket boosters Jan. 22. To do so, crews used a laser projector to first mark off the location of the logo with tape, then applied two coats of paint and finished by adding several coats of clear primer. Each letter of the worm logo measures approximately 6 feet and 10 inches in height and altogether, stretches 25 feet from end to end, or a little less than the length of one of the rocket’s booster motor segments. The location of the worm logo will be moderately different from where it was during Artemis I. While it will still be located on each of the rocket’s 17 story boosters, the modernist logo will be placed toward the front of the booster systems tunnel cover. The SLS boosters are the largest, most powerful solid propellant boosters ever flown and provide more than 75% of the thrust at launch. Workers with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) paint the bright red NASA “worm” logo on the side of an Artemis II solid rocket booster segment inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. The EGS team used a laser projector to mask off the logo with tape, then painted the first coat of the iconic design. The booster segments will help propel the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on the Artemis II mission to send four astronauts around the Moon as part of the agency’s effort to establish a long-term science and exploration presence at the Moon, and eventually Mars.NASA/Glenn Benson Around the corner inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, personnel adhered the worm logo and ESA (European Space Agency) insignia Jan. 28 on the spacecraft’s crew module adapter. The adapter houses electronic equipment for communications, power, and control, and includes an umbilical connector that bridges the electrical, data, and fluid systems between the main modules. In October 2023, technicians joined the crew and service modules together. The crew module will house the four astronauts as they journey around the Moon and back to Earth on an approximately 10-day journey. The spacecraft’s service module, provided by ESA, will supply the vehicle with electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air, and water in space. The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission received its latest makeover. Teams adhered the agency’s iconic “worm” logo and ESA (European Space Agency) insignia on the spacecraft’s crew module adapter on Sunday, Jan. 28, inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NASA/Rad Sinyak NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the Moon through Artemis. SLS and the Orion spacecraft are central to NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway space station planned for orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems.

#space #astronomy #news #science

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