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verxsyon · 2 years

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·:*¨༺ ❝ 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋 ❞

you make a deal with the most dangerous criminal of the century.

✧ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. tartaglia x gn!reader

✧ 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭. drabble ; 0.8k

✧ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞. detective au, modern au ; mystery

✧ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. allusions to murder, blood, swearing, weapons

✧ 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. episode 10 of purple hyacinth: “dreadful deal”

✧ 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚. hihi, this fic is an entry to my own collab! as you can see, this title of the fic is named after the tenth chapter of the webtoon. i highly recommend reading it, especially to mystery lovers! both the art and plot are amazing, not to mention that all the characters are super hot lmao. the tag system is still screwed up due to tumblr and ios guidelines, so as always, please reblog! special thanks to everyone participating.

[ 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐍 ]

For a decade, criminals terrorized Teyvat City. The tragedy at a certain train station was orchestrated by a small fraction, uniting assassins, terrorists, thieves, and killers into an organization called the Fatui ruled by their leader, the Tsaritsa. During then, you’ve been gathering intel through newspapers and force, but to no avail.

“Damn it!” Another dead end. Same results, different day. Your uncle and the housemaids are very worried about you staying up late again, but you can’t afford to waste another second. There’s one person who’s depending on you to bring justice to them and the victims of the tragedy — your friend, who allegedly perished alongside them.

“I’m so sorry,” you whisper to a picture of them on the corkboard. Your sorrows are disrupted by the ringing of your phone. The Fatui claimed another victim.

On that fateful night, you strayed away from your morals. You were offered a deal from the perpetrator, one of the children of the devil themselves.

“Number eleven of the Fatui Harbingers, Tartaglia,” you say with so much distaste in your mouth, pointing your gun at him. Also known as the young master Childe, he’s always thirsty for blood, excelling in negotiations through murder. “I know who you are.”

“And I know about your little investigation on us. My, aren’t you persistent, despite your efforts being futile,” he says mockingly. “Too bad, Officer. Our main priority is to make sure the TPD doesn’t dive too deep into our affairs.”

“Yet here we are,” you remark, digging your barrel harder onto his forehead. “I came here tonight because you’ve been honest with me. Seems we have the same goals so answer me this: why didn’t you kill me?”

“We share the same goals, don’t we? I need someone who most of the general public trusts to put my plans in motion,” he answers, shoving your gun away from his face. “Plus, I’ve heard that you’re like the human version of a lie detector. That’s why you decided to take up my offer. It makes you useful.”

Perhaps, you think to yourself scornfully. Your ability to detect lies curses you to hear things you wish you don’t want to know. You’re desperate to find the truth to your investigation, even as far as to harm the suspects and the perpetrators to make ends meet. Your last encounter with a Fatui agent is what made you into a laughing stock of the TPD. Imagine the horror on their faces once they find out you conspired with the enemy. “You’re willing to betray your own people?”

“Look who’s talking,” he laughs, circling around you as he explains his reasons. “Listen, just because we work together doesn’t mean we like each other. We’re desperate for power just like how you’re desperate for the truth. None of us have been able to dethrone the Tsaritsa, but carrying out her plans and being the best at it are how you can become closer to her. It’s the only way to stop her.”

Teaming up with one of the Harbingers is less than ideal, but like what he just said, it’s the only option to stop them. It’s how your friend and the rest of the victims of the tragedy can finally rest in peace. “Fine, sounds reasonable. Suppose I accept the deal, what are the conditions?”

A smirk spreads across his lips. “To keep things simple, there’ll be three rules. One, no withholding information. Anything you know, I know, and vice versa. Same goes for new discoveries, or else we’re dead meat. Two, no personal questions. Only to keep rule number one from getting out of hand. Three—”

He whips out his pocket knife and places it on your throat. It was lightning fast, you didn’t anticipate it coming. As expected of an assassin of the Fatui. “No ‘accidentally’ killing each other. Not worth the thrill of this operation if that happens. Deal?”

“Not so fast, Harbinger,” you say, pushing his knife away from your neck. “I have my own as well. Keep me out of any businesses you may have with the Fatui, and I’ll do the same with the TPD. I don’t want you to be involved in my life outside of this. It better stay only between us, or count me out. Deal?”

“Alright, you got yourself a deal,” he says approvingly. “My name is Ajax. Pleasure to work with you, Officer.”

The knife he had scared you with is still in his hand, raise your gun at him again. Instead of killing you, he slashes his palm and lets the blood seep out. “Your turn. To make things official.”

You sigh, slashing your palm deep enough to make blood seep out and extend it for him to shake. “It’s settled, Ajax. We have a deal.”

So it begins, the dreadful deal.

✧ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬. if your url is in bold, it means i can’t tag you!

@aibiito ; @aqualesha ; @blissmal ; @bluexiao ; @bokutosworld ; @dreamiehrs ; @fadedjae ; @help-wtf-am-i-even-doing ; @lilikags ; @philosopher-of-fandoms ; @shxnosuke ; @sleepyyangyang ; @sucrosia ; @xriin ; @yeetmeoffjueyunkarst

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imgoingtohellsofuckit · 4 years

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Cocky Hero pt 2

I didn’t want to make this a series but I’m in love with Hawks soo here ya go

Hawks x Reader

Warnings - alcohol use, mentions of abuse (mention no descriptions or anything and its very brief)

Summary - Hawks can’t get you out of his head, lucky for him you can’t get him out of yours either

So there you are, waking up in the number two heroes bed. You're fancy gown from the party on the ground and makeup all smeared off. You look over to see Hawks holding onto you tightly. For someone so keen on hookups your surprised he's still holding onto you. Or even that you're still in his bed with him. You move pulling from his arms grabbing your clothes from the ground making your way through the room over to the bathroom.

"Oh man he really doesn't hold back," You say as you look at the deep purple marks along your neck. You sigh lightly. Deciding not to worry about it as you wipe away your makeup and pull your clothes from last night on.

"You want something more comfortable?" You hear from the door. You look to see Hawks smiling lightly as he watches you.

"Depends on what you're gonna put me in," You say.

"My clothes," He smirks. You roll your eyes deciding to look back to the mirror. "I'll grab you a hoodie at least."

"Fine," You say.

He moves pulling away from the door frame to his room. Returning a couple seconds later with a black hoodie.

"Thanks," You say as you pull it over you dress, "I'll call a cab. I've got to get to my house before I go into the office. I'll get this cleaned and mail it back-"

"Nah keep it," Hawks says, "you look better in it anyways."

"I can't keep your clothes Hawks," You say looking to him, "I'll just have an intern drop it off to your agency."

"You're not even gonna drop it off man thats cold," Hawks says.

"Did you get attached?" You say with a smirk.

"Attached? No more like I'm not used to not being the one in control," He says, "every other girl wants me to fly them home and to keep my clothes. Thinking it'll pull me back in ya know."

"I'm not like those girls Hawks," You say, "I have my own game. And I simply play it better than you."

"Do you now?" He asks.

"I guess that's for you to figure out," You say, "now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready for work." You grab your purse then instead of calling a taxi you just place your hand against the wall. Hawks watches carefully. Your quirk. It's portal something pretty cool. When he first heard about it the first time he met you he thought it was one of the neatest quirks he's seen. Making a portal you could move through going anywhere you need. He was surprised you never went into the hero career with a quirk like that. "Try not to miss me too much," You say looking back to Hawks.

"I have a feeling you should worry about your self," He says.

"Sure Hawks," You say before stepping through the portal. It closes leaving Hawks alone. He chuckles lightly.

"Shes... different," He says softly, "man I need to get ready."

So while Hawks was running around to get ready to meet up with Dabi and the League to work out that situation. You were getting ready at your own quick pace. Using that long distance portal exhausted your quirk meaning you wouldn't be able to use it to get to work. Which is fine you've travelled everyway to work so it won't be too much of a pain but still. You could push a bit and use your quirk... it's irresponsible but... it's better time management. You cave using a second portal to pop into her office.

"Wow you're here early," Impression says, "especially considering your company last night."

"Didn't I hear whispering that you went home with MT Lady?" You shoot back, "you have no room to talk." Impression chuckles.

"Sure I have no room to talk but I'm going to anyways," He says, "Hawks is such a man whore. I'm surprised you went home with him. I mean you had plenty of people all over you."

"Yeah but you didn't feel the energy between them," Kami says, "the sexual tension was suffocating. I thought I was gonna die."

You roll your eyes at the comment.

"Besides we all know that every single one of these events we've been invited to Hawks finds himself at her side," Kami says, "he either is in love with you or super attracted to you."

"Anyways," You say moving to your desk to pull out everything for today, "we have a lot of work to do... Kami you are missing about 13 accident reports, Impression you have been asked to speak at UA about hero etiquette to the first years. Have either of you seen Mimica? Because he misfiled a report and I had to track it down at the commission and redo the entire thing."

They knew it was time to work So the Hawks topic dropped and everyone focused on their own matters. Soon the day was over releasing them to their own lives. The others left but you remained back. As always you're gonna be the last to leave. Always needing to finish that last thing before you could go home. When you finally stepped outside onto the street in the thick dark of the night you regretted the extra portal this morning.

"Hey you need a ride?"

You turn to see blond locks and crimson wings. Hawks. But what is he doing here?

"No I was gonna take the train home," You share.

"Nah a pretty lady like you shouldn't be on the train," He says, "let me fly you home."

"I couldn't ask you to do that," You say, "seriously it's no big deal I ride the train all the time."

"I'm offering," He says, "come on what do you have to lose?"

You think for a second. What do you have to lose? You start to step towards him. But instead give him a smirk. Then you press your hand against the wall. A portal to your apartment pops up. You're definitely feeling the overuse but honestly to mess with this cocky bastard it's worth it.

"You're right I shouldn't use the train," You say, "well goodnight Hawks."

"Wait-"

You step inside before he can say anything else.

He looks back at the wall you just walked through.

"Man she's gone," He says, "thats a shame. I wanted to talk to her. Oh well."

Back at your house you collapse on your couch. Clearly exhausted. You see something on your couch and smile lightly. It's the hoodie Hawks lent you. You move grabbing it. It's super soft and it smells like his apartment. That woodsy scent that was all nice and piney.

My phone buzzes. I pull it from my pocket to see an unknown number.

Unknown- Impression gave me your number

It took a lot of convincing

A lot

Y/n - Who is this?

Unknown - Oh guess I should of said that

It's Hawks

Number 2 hero

Y/n - Why do you have my number?

Unknown - Had to know if you go home safely

Y/n - You shouldn't worry about me I'm stronger than your giving me credit for

Unknown - Remind me not to underestimate you.

Pretty and talented.

What's it like being perfect?

Y/n - It's adorable that you think I'm perfect but even I have my flaws

Unknown - likww what/?

augh

ugh sorrry harsd to tyep whjike

caan io vcaall you;

Y/n - I'm a really busy gal I don't know if I have the time

Unknown - :(

Y/n - You have five minutes" make it count

Unknown - :)

He doesn't hesitate. You move answering the call.

"Hello beautiful," He says. I can hear the smirk in his voice. "Miss me?"

"Not really," You answer.

"Wow brutal," He says, "is that how you handle all the trolls online? Or those bitchy reporters?"

"I take them down with more force," You reply, "swift, forceful."

"Mmm so you like fast and forceful?" He asks. You roll your eyes.

"Yeah you wish," You say, "can't last long enough can you?"

"Wanna test that?" He says, "I'm sure I'll make it worthwhile."

"You said that last time."

"And I kept my promise didn't I?" He asks.

"Sure," You reply, "if that's what you want to hear."

"Oh come on you seemed to like it last night~" He teases, "I mean come on I had you moaning so loud. It's a good thing I don't have any neighbors."

"You ever hear of faking it?"

"Don't mock me like that," He says, "you know I'm fragile."

"You are anything but fragile," You say, "by the way you have 3 minutes."

"Oh you're really timing me?" He asks, "you're brutal. How am I supposed to make you fall in love with me if you won't play along."

"Fall for you? Is that what you think is gonna happen?" You ask.

"Not if you don't play along," He pouts, "come on what is it that makes you not want to fall for me? I mean I'm hot. I'm good in bed. I admire the fact you are also hot and good in bed."

"Sorry Hawks but I don't fall in love like that," You shrug, "besides your not my type."

"What?" He asks, "how am I not your type. You slept with me. Aren't you like attracted to me."

"Physically," You cut him off, "but romantically you aren't the type I go for."

"What do you go for?"

"Mm hold that thought for another day Hawks... you are out of time," You smirk.

"What? No way!" He exclaims, "you're really gonna leave right now?"

"Sorry I'm a busy gal," You say, "try again another day~"

You end the call before you can say anything else. While you were entertained with your game deciding to move to your night time routine. Poor Hawks on the other hand was staring at your number clearly frustrated with you taking his chance from him. It's his game. He isn't the one who gets played. He's the player!

"She's so cheeky," He says softly, "well guess I have to just try harder."

And so his new mission is set.

"Impression I need those reports asap," You say looking firmly at the pro, "you're behind as it is and I need you to look at the kids from the sports festival. You know internships are important for rising heroes to bring attention to the agency so you want to bring in a few kids to work with."

"I hate to interrupt," Kami says approaching me, "but something came for you." You look over at her to see her holding a bouquet full of flowers. Roses.

"You hookup with someone last night?" Impression asks, "because they seem to be a bit of a simp."

"Not a hookup just a parasite," You say taking the flowers from her. You look at the card and your suspicions are confirmed.

Hey beautiful, you aren't playing the game right - Hawks

"Who's it from?" Impression asks. You show him the card and he just chuckles lightly. "Well now you'll know not to mess with guys like him." You sigh as you move to your desk. You place them carefully in the vase as the two heroes look at me.

"Is he just too attached or is it something?" Kami asks.

"He's trying to play my game," You say simply, "he wants me to fall for him. I want him to fall for me. He wants to be the player, I want to be the heart breaker."

"Two players hookup and now one of them has to finally lose," Kami says, "that's so fanfic. I love it."

"At least it makes my game more interesting," You say. You pull your phone out and send on message to the man.

Y/n - I like daisies more

Kami leans over my shoulder to see the message and smirks lightly.

"Wow you really are just playing him like a violin," She says, "that's exciting."

"Exciting or not it's my personal life and we are still on the clock. So back to what I was saying and Kami this involves you. Pick out the kids you want extend offers to by tonight so I can call the schools to set everything up. Alright?"

"Yes Ma'am," Impression says, "I'll get right on that."

"Yep," Kami says.

As they move off I sit down at my desk to start on my reports. I get through about half when my phone starts to buzz against the desk. I look down to see Hawks messaged me back.

Hawks - Do I at least get points for trying?

Y/n - No

Hawks - boo

ur making the game hard

Y/n - you don't have to play we could just return to our normal lives

Hawks - You don't want to play?

Y/n - I'll admit that I'm enjoying this game. It's harder this way. Which makes it so much more fun...

Hawks - Then it's settled we have to finish the game.

Y/n - Sounds good to me

I can't wait to win

Hawks - Well look who sounds cocky now

Y/n - I have to get back to work

Besides I'm sure you have to as well

Hawks - boo

You decide to put your phone away and go back to the reports. At the end of your shift Kami waves you down to to invite you to a club. You accept. Walking closely with her and a couple of the sidekicks. It's a impromptu girls night apparently. She had gathered a bunch of the ladies in the office and dragged you all into a club to unwind.

You swirl the vodka and redbull mix as you look over at her.

"Do you want to settle down?" She asks me.

"Settle down?" You ask, "no I really don't. I want to enjoy my youth not worry about some girl or guy that's also trying to figure their life out."

"What about that Edgeshot?" She offers, "you've slept with him a bunch and you said you like him."

"I like him the same way you like that booty call you keep going back to," You correct, "it's physical but he's boring. I want someone who's fun and hot. Someone who can keep up with me."

"Who does that sound like?" She asks.

"No one," You chuckle, "if I met someone like that I'd eat them right up." I sip my drink as she glares lightly at me.

"Okay okay so you don't want to settle down," She says, "you want this picture perfect person first try. Do you think we live in a fairy tale?"

"No," You say honestly, "but I know I don't want to date anyone until I find someone who sticks out. Someone who sees me as more than a pretty face ya know? Like okay take the guys I hook up with. They are fun and attractive. But they don't want the emotional stuff. Which is fine cause they are hookups. But if I wanted something real. Something long term. I'd want this person to connect with me on a spiritual level. Match my fast life ya know."

"You're too picky," She slurs.

"You're too boring," You say, "okay- as fun as this girls night is... I'm bored. Soooo how about bow tie over there?"

"You gonna take him home?"

"If he'll have me," You smirk. You stand flipping your skirt up to make it just a bit shorter then ruffle your hair lighter. "Okay how do I look?"

"Hot," She says. You nod.

"Perfect now come dance with me," You say. You take her hand dragging her to the dance floor. As the fast pace song comes on the two of you moving dancing together. Doing pretty much everything to draw attention of the guys scouting for a hook up. Some guy moves offering to by Kami a drink leaving you dancing with one of the sidekicks. Suddenly you feel a finger tap on your shoulder. You turn to see a familiar face. But it's completely out of place. "Hawks? What are you doing here?"

"You texted me," He says, "'come to Veil I need someone to party with'"

"That sneaky bitch," You say softly.

"What?" He asks.

"My coworker texted you," You explain, "she loves to meddle you know."

"So I was pulled into something?" He asks, "I can't believe I'm being used. What a shame I was super excited to see you cave. And well to see you like this." You chuckle lightly.

"Well if you're already here... I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to buy me a drink," You suggest. He chuckles.

"Well I'm not opposed to spending time with you," He says, "come on."

You lead him to the bar. Each of you order your drink then he hands his card over.

"You party on weekdays often?" He asks me.

"Only when someone else suggests it," You answer, "I'm not going to be the one who leads the decision but I will gladly take advantage of the chance. Do you normally send roses to girls you hookup with?"

"I hate to admit it but you're the first," he says, "you're the only one playing the long game. You'll take a bit more work."

"Will I?" You ask, "mother always said I was high maintenance."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah I always had to have the best growing up," You tell him, "you know I attended UA? It was for General Studies sure but still. And I went to UA's college."

"Wow flashy school," He says.

"Yeah well I had to get in even if it wasn't to be a hero," You share, "it was the best. My mother wasn't a fan on the fancy private school price tho."

"I can imagine," He says, "what does your mother do?"

"She was a baker," You tell him, "she passed my last year of high school."

"I'm sorry for your loss," He says softly.

"It's in the past," You say, "what about you?"

"My parents they aren't around," He says.

"I'm sorry," You say.

"Don't be," He says, "sometimes thats better."

"I get what you mean," You tell him, "pops ran out on my mom and I when I was in middle school. He was the worst. Alcoholic who beat on my mom and I. He died last year. And somehow to me thats better than having him alive."

"Ah tragic origin stories," Hawks says, "they really bread some great people."

"I know," You say, "cheers to that." You both clink your drinks together. You chug as much as you can. Hawks is slightly taken back but quickly moves to keep up. You set down the empty class and look back to him. "Come dance with me."

"Of course beautiful," he says smirking. You move dragging him onto the dance floor. Dancing to the fast song. He's all smiles as he watches you move. He can't tell if its the alcohol or if you are just that care free. But watching you move like you were the only person in the room was hypnotic.

After a couple songs he can't hold it back anymore.

"I hate to break the mood but- you're really making it hard for me to hold back," He groans.

"My place is down the street," You tell him, "one portal and we can be there in a flash."

"I'd like that very much," He says. You move taking his hand and leading him towards the wall. You place your hand on the wall and the portal opens.

"Last chance to back out," You tell him.

"I don't back out," He says. You smirk.

"Good," You say pulling him through the portal to your home.

#hawks x reader #hawks bnha #keigo takami x reader #keigo takami #my hero academia #my hero academia x reader #bnha #mha

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datarevived · 4 years

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-- Ⅶ : ᴅᴇғɪɴᴇ : ɢᴜᴀʀᴅɪᴀɴ

The next few days ran by like a haze.

With only one objective in mind, a constant prowess around the Tower and watchful eye towards a single individual. The Hunter cautiously kept her distance between the target, taking notes and listening in on conversations that did not belong to her. An earnest attempt to find an opening that she might be able to step out of the shadows without disapproving glare -- nay, the time never came, but the information that guarded it gave her something more.

She would find the truth about the Ward and it's keeper.

" You did what?! "

" I followed him, " the Awoken replies bluntly, blinking amiss the torn Exo as the Warlock stood dead center of the room. Both of their Ghost idly hovered in place next to one another, just short of the dresser that sat pushed against the wall as their Guardians spoke -- a disappointed glow in Data's own hold as he shook his shell.

" I tried to tell her otherwise that it was a poor idea, " the deep-purple shell sighed, cyan optic slant. " Truly, if he's still without suspicion after so long, I'll be amazed. "

" If he was on to us he would have already snagged us aside, " Selene argued, sitting upon ones' own mattress that met to concrete floor, waving a hand in defense. " He doesn't seem the type to just let things go. -- He's not. He's planning something big, and he's trying to do it alone and it's just going to get him killed. "

" And why is that any of our problem?! " Bex pleaded, throwing both hands in front of him in question. " You're over your head this time, Sel! You're putting yourself in someone elses' problem, this isn't your fight! "

" And neither is the Red War, but we're fighting that, aren't we!? " hands slam against the covers in retaliation, wilting expression now staring upward at her companion. " You said it yourself -- he's alone, Bex. Who even wants that!? And the Twins -- they said the rest of them died out a long time ago! And the few who did survive just ended up dying trying to recon some other big mission that ate up another Fireteam because they were alone. "

" You don't know what happened back then, Sel, " the Warlock sighed heavily, tone having switched at the mention of other Fireteam. " Just don't do this, okay? I'm beggin' you. I'll even get on my knees, right here, right now, and we can just act like this was just some whole big' rouse -- "

" And let Valdourin go out on his own to die?! Are you insane? "

" You don't even know this guy, Sel! "

" I know he's a Guardian and we're suppose to watch each others' backs! "

The twos' bickering damped in the background as the two Ghost continued to watch, Screws's shell whirling an unnoticed cog as yellow optic blinks. As if debating whether or not to speak -- not directly, but in retrospect. It's monotone voice scraping at the sounds of altered unit.

" ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs ɴ0ᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ... ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀᴅ. "

The statement naturally having caught Data's attention, at least. Quirked hue turning in favor of the other Ghost, " What was that? -- A bit hard to hear with all the yelling. "

The response being nothing more than silence 'pon mislead rage, the multi-colored Ghost remaining kept to its' thoughts now. Data's own curiosity, tracing his audio backlog to revisit the statement. It was still too hard to decipher between the noise of Guardians.

" People die every day, Selene -- and if this guy wants to go out on his own, don't you think he wants to be alone?! " Bex's voice picked back up, the Awoken now standing on her mattress to meet at risen height, nearly eye to eye with the other as she glared.

" Just because he wants to doesn't mean he needs to! I heard it, from the Bazaar and from the Twins -- this isn't something he'd do unless he was desperate! And the people who want to help him -- can’t! "

" So why are you so desperate to help him! You didn't even want part of this whole Guardian thing, remember!? So why are you so interested now?! "

. . .

Perhaps, in theory -- words that had been taken too far.

The Exo's snap leaving the other tight-lipped and in shock. He, who had been her friend from the start of this mess, calling out on something that was dreadfully personal. Something she struggled to keep up with, true -- a façade she was trying to mend real, this folktale story. With not a care in the world for what the Traveler wanted or intended with their immortality -- it was by the words of the Hunter Vanguard that made her settle for what was done. To help those who couldn't help themselves. To do what others can't -- what others won't. That's what being a Guardian was about, right?

' We take care of one another. '

So why?

Why was this suddenly so difficult to understand?

A tightening grasp clutched at her chest now -- arms still held to the side in white-knuckled fist as she frantically tried to find the words to argue back. But this stun, this spell the Exo had trapped her in -- an improper time of evaluation and truth. Why was she so desperate to help this man? What was in it for her? Why simply him? Would it have been the same, if it was someone else?

" ...Sel, look, m' sorry -- "

" Don't. "

" --What? "

A sharpen inhale as her chest inflates, the Awoken holds it there for a moment before exhaling in locked decision. Brows pinched against her forehead, with threatening light behind the blues of her eyes -- she could do this. She would do this.

" I'm going, with or without your help. "

" Excuse me? " Data's voice quirked back.

" I still don't think this is a good idea -- " Bex attempted, though as quickly cut off before he could proceed.

" No. It probably isn't. But I'm going anyway. "

What else was there to say?

If she had her decision beneath lock and key, nothing more to discussion in the matter, what else could he have done to change the outcome? For what he knew of Selene so far, she was certainly a type. One in which once her mind was set, there was no going backwards. A foot forward, each and every time -- it didn't have to make sense. It just had to move.

Was that how she always bested him?

Or was it how he always lost, not taking the step before hand?

. . .

If faceplate could replicate a grimace, it would be his very war paint. Sun-set hued optics shifting slight, his attention now placed anywhere but the Hunter's face. Her eyes, as if thrown daggers from pocket -- she was a Hunter, thick and thin. Heart worn 'pon sleeve and ambition leading the forefront.

But more importantly -- she was his friend.

And as such, he couldn't simply just walk away from it.

Not this time.

" ...Do you even know when he's leaving? "

" Tonight. Soon as the City lights turn on. "

" You got a location? "

" Io... something about... " she shifts in place now, expression relaxing against a new coat of melancholy. " -- I don't know, really... he mentioned something about the Hive. That they were crowning a new King or something... I haven't been able to get all the details, but -- "

" And how are you even getting there? " the Exo's head tilts, crossing his arms at his chest as he shifts a leg for balance.

" I... I've been to Io, once. "

" Oh dear, " Data sighs.

" Uh-huh? "

" ...I uh... sneaked into a ship. I figured if I was careful enough, I'd be able to sneak onto his... "

" You want us to stowaway on his ship? "

" It's worked before!? Throw me a bone here, man! "

" Ugh -- you know, Hunters have quite a reputation in their life spans because of this nonsense, " the Warlock shook his head, raising a hand in pinch against the metal of his would-be-if-he-had-one nose. " We're not sneaking onto a Ward's ship. We need a better plan. "

" I don't knoooow, " Selene grumbles, now placing both hands against the sides of her head. " I just assumed at this point you weren't coming and I could sneak into a box or something -- "

" You're hilarious. "

" I'm trying! "

" Yeah, yeah, " Bex pulls the hand from his face in a wave, offering another sigh. At least they'd be going down together, worse case scenario. Dying alone just seemed so... out of date. " Look -- ya'got a few hours before the lights. We figure out a plan, we execute plan, we go to Io and participate in whatever the hell this mission is. Given the Hive, we'll probably die -- a lot. Permanently, maybe. But if we live? We come back, everyones happy? We take a month break from doing bad ideas. Capeesh? "

" I was really hoping you had a better plan, " the Awoken mumbles, crossing her own arms. " --But fine. We fix up a plan... we go... we come back alive, " she points, offering a glance of uncertainty, " ...who knows, maybe he'll turn out to be a nice friend and the we can all three go do bad ideas. "

" After the break. "

" ...Sure, for now, " she shrugs.

" ...Yer' terrible. "

" I know. ♥ "

#✦ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴ / drabble #Destiny 2 short story #Destiny 2 rp #Destiny 2 writing #D2 rp

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zora-moyashi · 4 years

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chara takes a deep breath and says bye to killer. she follows calarie. 'oh damn. we didn't get to check out this moth guy shatter! that's not goodd....'

Core

‘I read the King’s mind, and first of all, he’s a bloody asshole.’ Olympia said, actually cussing

'well great. any other tidbits i should know?'

Core

‘They are a variant of Dream, a fully corrupt one, even nastier than Nightmare. They seem to have lost their sentience, and attack any form of light, so they put-‘ Calarie put a glowing collar around Chara’s neck. ‘That...’

"hey! you can't give the other side this much of an advantage! do you guys even want to see a fun fight?" she wines

Core

“She won’t attack otherwise, sorry, believe me I am.” Calarie says, leading Chara to the arena

she sighs. 'screw this' steps into the arena.

Core

Venus unwrapped herself from Chara’s arm, ready to fight.

chara's soul starts to pound 'oh man...' the sun is practically gone and she's the only light in the arena. sense a little extra time she prepares a purple web and sets a couple points.

Core

A dome formed over the arena, as her save points glitched away. A door on the other side of the arena opened

(not save points the blue/green sling shot things) she got ready to jump as soon as she sensed her close.

Core

A blur shot towards her, grabbing Chara by her sweater and pulling her into the air, only then could she see her opponent, who had large moth like wings

chara's left hand grabbed onto moth's shoulder tightly and she formed a knife in the other slashing at where she thought her neck would be.

Core

The knife broke. ‘Kick away! Kick away!’ Olympia told her, Venus had one of their wings in her jaws.

she does as she's told with orange around her legs so she doesn't break them with the force.

Core

Venus was able to rip the wing off, making both fall to the ground

"owwww" she tries her best to get up but she's super jarred from the fall.

Core

Venus helped her stand, after swallowing the wing of course.

after getting up, moth lunged at her which she barely stepped away from. 'why'd that break my knife? is her armor that strong?' she makes a shield and defends for a second.

Core

‘It’s the same coating as Nightmare’s, so it absorbs impacts and magic, and uses it against whatever makes contact.’ Olympia explained. ‘It also means that my powers are useless against her.’ Moth was very unsteady, unable to use her wings to balance

'well that's fabulous.' she hops behind moth and after making a new knife she stabs into the area that the wing was ripped out

Core

Moth screeched, trying to shake Chara off her back as the knife dug in

'can you burn her now?' she grabs onto her hair and climbs on her back digging in as much as she can.

Core

Venus opened her mouth, breathing fire, burning Moth alive inside her own coating. “Incredible! You saw it here folks! The child was able to defeat the Moth!” The announcer said.

"woah... what?" she hops off the shell. and looks around as the dome is opened back up. 'how is it over already?'

Core

‘Hold on..... Look there.’ Olympia said, spotting a particular winged watcher.

she pulls at the light color and it actually releases when she does. 'what?' she looks over trying to focus.

Core

It was Ink, she was watching them.

'well well well.' she solutes to ink and spins on her heel going to the opening, not wanting to interact.

Core

‘Why is she so interested in you? Did you do something to her?’ Olympia asked.

'hey, not everything is always my fault. she just appeared when i was training the kits.' she goes though the gate and it closes.

Core

(Well..... She has seen how close Chara is to Killer and shatter, but she has difficulty manipulating those two) Calarie met her, having one of the devices to remove the disc.

"hey i did it! you impressed?" she grins.

Core

“Very, you did a good job.” She gave a smile and removed the disc.

it clinks to the floor, she really wants shatter off of her arm but thinks better than to rip her out right now. "thank you, thank you." she bows and heads back up the stairs to where killer was.

Core

Calarie sighed, “good job helping her, Scarlett.”

she stops and looks back at calarie kinda surprised she knew but kinda shrugs it off anyway. "she's missed you, shatter i mean." she continues up

Core

Calarie smiled and walked away, Shatter came off of Chara’s arm, leaving marks where the roots were

"here's hoping no one will make me go into another match because it was 2 on one. or more like 19 on one"

Core

“Yeah, I guess it was, wasn’t it?” Shatter said.

"mhm." they get to the top and she goes up to killer. "i lived b*tch~"

Core

“To my disappointment.” Killer hissed, The red king wasn’t there

"did you see ink in the stands?"

Core

“Can’t see, remember?” Killer said. “As for the squid, she can f*ck herself.”

"i know killer, i thought you might have sensed her but ey. and yeah my sentiments exactly."

"so shatter and i have to stay for another day or she'll explode. wanna hangout?"

Core

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” Killer asked

"i mean yeah no you don't"

Core

“I figured.” She said, getting up.

she grins and glances back at shatter.

Core

Shatter gave a thumbs up.

\(oI u Io)/ she makes a face like that and grabs killer's hand and grins up at her. "i'm sorry i'm a pain."

Core

Killer flinched at the touch and pulled her hand away. “....don’t worry about it, I’m not perfect either.” She said.

"yep~ no one is, but it's always better to be not perfect together." she turns to shatter and starts to walk back down the stairs. "yeah shatter, you wanna go talk to your mother figure or should we just lay low until the day's up?"

Core

“Best to lay low...” she said, trying to convince herself. “There is a house about 3 blocks from here, old owner died, I’ve been keeping it tidy, perhaps we can stay there?” Killer asked.

"i'm down for that." she leads down the stairs and through the halls back to where they came into the underground area.

Core

Killer followed, but not too closely.

chara looks back to shatter who seems hesitant. "you sure you don't want to say hi to calarie?"

Core

“Just.... could you two wait here, for like 10 minutes tops?” Shatter asked, with a nervous smile. “I could wait all bloody night, us genocides are nocturnal anyways.”

"I second that, take all the time you need"

Core

Shatter nodded and ran off. Killer reached into her coat pocket to grab something.

Chara glances over at what yuma's doing

Core

She took out an small orange container and took something out of it, before putting whatever she took out into her mouth and swallowing.

"....what's that about" she cocks her head

Core

“It keeps me stable, I ran out when you found me.” Killer said.

"oh, well what's wrong with your soul than?" She sighs. "If you don't want to answer you don't have to" she says a little annoyed.

Core

“Nah, I’ll tell ya, you’re gonna find out later anyway.” Killer shrugged. “A being is only supposed to undergo so much trauma, it will break a living thing until that living thing has no will to live, even it’s body will soon no longer wish to heal, scars can’t heal after all. So it just keeps hurting, it continues to chip away. The pills keep my soulstone from breaking itself. Make sense?”

She blinks with her mouth agape. "Yikes. Who makes these pills?"

Core

“One of the people who work only for that red *sshole, so I have to come here to get Them.” Killer said.

"well that's not ideal. Do you come here to fight sometimes? The king seems to love your fights"

"Or are you only able to get the pills by entertaining? "

Core

“Yeah, But that’s just because I find a way to actually enjoy doing it. I play with my prey, pretty risky, yeah, but worth it in the end.” Killer shrugged.

“Nah, I also do favors.”

Chara nods, "least you enjoy it. Shatter seems to hate every part of being here"

Core

“I wouldn’t blame her, to be honest.” Killer said. Shatter returned, with a hint of a smile on her face

"yeah i heard what happened, pretty grousome stuff.""now that shatter's got closure let's get to that house"

Core

They went to the house Killer led them to.

chara steps into the house it's pretty dusty and barren but other than that it's pretty nice.

Core

“Sorry for the dust, been a while.” Killer said, going to tidy up.

"it's all good" she plops down on a fluffy couch

Core

It was a two bedroom home, everything was all in order, even the lone bookcase in the living room.

"how do you keep people from taking your house? you know, sense you're almost never here."

Core

“Snapdragons work well.” Killer shrugged,

".... what does that even mean? you have guard dogs that are flowers? this is the face of confusion."

Core

“Exactly.” Killer said. “They’re in the dining room of you wanna see them.”

"heck yes." she hops up and goes into the dining room.

Core

She saw a vase of plants, with flowers that looked like the heads of Chinese dragons. One spot fire at Chara.

she hits the fire away with her own fire. "well aren't you guys cute." she goes closer. "a little strange though, not gonna lie."

Core

Killer came in, with a container of jerky. “They like this stuff, if you feed them, they swear you are their best friend in the whole world.”

chara smiles and takes some. handing it to two of them.

Core

They fought over it, playing tug of war with it before a third one snatched it.

chara chuckles and pats the one who stole it's head. and around that time there's the sound of the front door opening. chara looks over questioning even though she can't see from here.

Core

Shatter glared at the intruder, the snapdragons made hissing sounds, like that of a hissing cockroaches.

it's the guy she turned into ash about 12 hours ago now. his ashes did glow afterwards but chara wasn't expecting him to ever get back up. he's not compleatly put together but here he is, half falling apart and standing in front of the one who tried to kill him. "fancy meeting you here shatter." his voice seems a bit healed

Core

Shatter’s eyes glowed orange, a sign she was pissed. Killer could feel the room temperature rise “If you burn anything I am going to beat you.” She hissed.

"i heard you cheated in the arena, seems there's a bunch of confusion over who get's the prize money on their bets." he kicks at the ground.

Core

“Not my concern.” Shatter hissed. Killer listened closely.

"you say that, but you still have the tracker in you. because you so rudely decided to attack me, i've given out your tracking number to some of my 'friends' they don't know anything about you or how much you're worth so don't worry about being ambushed or some sh*t. what they want is a formal resignation to losing the match. i recommend you do that. or have your friend killer cover for you. your choice i suppose. i bet you wonder why i'm bothering to tell you this, i just wanted some petty revenge, so." he uncover's his hood and lets out an ear busting screech like black canary before anyone could stop him and while they're reeling from that he just goes back into the sewer form where he came. it ripped up the house a bit, some of the ceiling is now shredded and the organization it's self is nonexistent anymore. chara is on the floor shaking her head in pain.

Core

Shatter and killer seem unaffected by the screech, Shatter went to try to help Chara. Killer growled, “*sshole.” She hissed, cleaning up.

(it them)

chara holds her ears that are ringing and looks to shatter

Core

I am so happy you have no idea

“You Okay?” Shatter asked

"huh?" she can't hear you very well. she shakes her head trying to clear it. "what was that? what happened?"

Core

“Hyper voice.” Shatter explained

"hyper voice?" she repeats to make sure she got it right. "well dang." she rubs her ear and creates a save-star and heals up a bit.

Core

Killer growled. “Damn *sshole messed up my house!”

"shhhhh killer, child in pain over here!" (i think we should switch to the kits and tonic for a bit if you agree)

Core

Shine was playing with skink, having fun.

Shade watched his sibling, seemingly protective of her

tonic is kinda stressed thinking she needs to make sure the kits don't get into trouble even though they're being completely chill at the moment. tonic goes up to killer's brother's grave and glances at it's workmanship.

Core

It was a wooden cross, held together with what looked like silk. Shade could sense Tonic’s stress. “You okay?”

tonics tilts their head "oh, yes. I'm simply confused on what my objective is at the moment"

Core

“Well, I’m sure we have plenty of time for you to think.”

(I think you’ll like this one the most)

who's that second to last? and yee your right! killer's looking fly. but error tho i want her back haha

tonic swipes off some dirt off the cross with their paw and turns to shade. "you're correct. i just haven't been away from shatter for this long."

Core

“Well, neither have we, from any adult that is.” Shade sighed

tonic nods and their tail flicks from side to side. "is there something you'd like to do to pass the time?"

Core

“Well, whenever mom would leave, Shine and I would normally sleep, to pass the time.” Shade explained

tonic didn't seem pleased with the idea and trotted over to shine to see her opinion.

Core

Shine was playing with Skink, who was tickling her

"shine, is there anything you'd like to do while we're waiting for shatter to come back?" she sits by them

Core

Skink crawled onto Tonic’s shoulder. “Yeah, play with Skink!”

tonic flinches as skink climbs them. tonic isn't made to sit around and is getting very uncomfortable with the vagueness of what their objective. tonic looks at skink and lightly headbutts it.

Core

Skink grabbed the jelly like flesh around Tonic’s skull with his small claws, licking his face slightly. “You know, wasn’t too smart of them to leave you three by yourselves.” (As promised, your favorite returns)

(>:DDDD ) tonic shook their head from the grab and looks around for the voice's owner. "who's there." they get defensive all the sudden.

Core

A female star came out of the shadows, she had pitch black hair with blue streaks under her eyes. “Just little ol me.”

(I can feel your excitement lol)

(a;onefo;aiejhfeoj haha ) tonic steps infront of shine. "state your business." their eyes narrow. from what tonic saw of error when they were spying on chara they didn't like the feeling they got when error was around.

Core

“I just want to make sure my sister isn’t causing too much mayhem

tonic cocks their head. "sister?"

Core

Error rolled her eyes. “Yeah I know, big shocker.”

tonic's taken aback and clears her question. "who's your sister?"

Core

“That would be me,” a winged star said from the roof.

tonic looks over to the star questioning to theirself when she got there.

Core

The winged star looked back at Tonic, her eyes lacking any form of emotion. Error sighed. “So how long are you planning on stalking these runts?”

tonic just stared at the new star studding her.

Core

The winged star had a scarf around her neck, and fingerless gloves. “It’s not stalking it’s observing.” Ink clarified. “No, this is stalking.” Error sighed. “Why do I always have to follow behind you and clean up your messes.....” she grumbled

... "... are you here to take her away error? why was she observing us? as far as activities we've been pretty stagnant."

Core

“1- I have tried before to get her to stop her little games, she doesn’t listen to me. 2- she sees you a variable in her game.” Error said, sitting down and taking out an unfinished doll.

tonic looks back to ink. "game? as long as you don't hurt the kits or shatter i suppose it's fine for you to... watch i guess?"

Core

“You expect me to follow your rules?” Ink asked with a somewhat sarcastic tone.

"....um" tonic mumbles quietly. "it's not a mater of expectance. more of a status you should uphold if you wish to not make an enemy."

Core

“One more enemy means nothing to me.” Ink said coldly. Error took a sewing needle from her pocket, and used the strings she made to sew the doll together.

tonic sighs at ink's comment and lays on the grass watching error sew.

Core

Error made the basic shape, before pulling the doll inside out to hide the stitching.

"your sister isn't very nice." tonic states absentminded.

Core

“She just doesn’t understand how to be ‘nice’, she doesn’t understand emotions at all. Which is why she does these games.” Error explained, pulling more strings from her eyes to use as stuffing

"i feel like that's not a great excuse." tonic's tail flicks and she glances to the kits for a second to make sure they're fine.

Core

They were wrestling each other playfully. “Well, excuses or not, it’s the facts.” Error said, sewing the doll shut

Tonic bobs their head around not agreeing or disagreeing. They play with a yellow flower by their front paws a few seconds later they pick it only to place it on error'S finished doll

Core

Error gave her the doll. “Want it?”

tonic's eyes light up this would be their first gift! they nod shyly.

Core

“Well you can have it, I make way too many.” Error sighed, handing it to Tonic.

tonic reaches for it at takes it. They inspect it

And decide they like it and how squishy it is. The liquid around the areas that are touching the doll start to turn an aqua blue

Core

Ink watched this with mild interest. “You know, I’m honestly surprised that Killer is actually getting along with Chara.” Error said

Tonic curls up and thinks 'how does anyone get along with chara.' "Perhaps their goals line up well?" Tonic suggests.

"Nonetheless, killer said she hates chara. As Chara hates me it seems."

Core

(I forgot also I found horror’s old design) “Well maybe they are just jealous?”

"Chara?" Tonic pauses. "That's what someone else said a few days ago. What she could be jealous of is beyond me."

“Maybe that you have people who care for you. I know I would be jealous.” Error explained

"...Chara cares for you, you should have seen her excitement ehen you agreed to think about her offer of joining her group. May I also point out that shatter took chara on their little jurney to find killer and left me. If anything I'd think shatter cares more for her."

Core

“Not based on what I saw.” Ink spoke up. (She has changed so much tho.)

tonic looks to ink. " care to explain?"

Core

“Well, it’s simple really, she feels responsible for Chara since she helped her get her body, but you? She could have left you without consequences, but didn’t. Scarlett sees something in you, and still refuses to leave....” Ink said, looking over at an owl.

Tonic looks over as well and gives a little wave to the owl. "I see. I belive I understand now."

Core

The owl was a light grey, with eyes that were fogged over

"be that as it may..." Tonic thumps her foot on the ground like a rabbit. "I've never been without orders for this long. I really want her back"

Core

“She’ll come back soon, she has to.” Ink said

"to get Scarlett? Is there a limited amount of time she can be away from one of her parts?"

Core

“Well yes, you see...” Ink glances at the owl for a moment. “You know, it would be more entertaining to have her tell you herself.”

Tonic shrugs finding inks coment demeaning. Entertaining being her only worry. Tonic desides to forget about it until shatter herself desides to tell them. Maybe not asking in order to get on inks nerves as well.

Core

Error rolled her eyes, “You and your stupid games...”

"i don't mean to be rude but this will probably come off that way. but can't you try to enjoy your life the way it is instead of messing with others?" tonic asks ink

Core

“I can’t enjoy anything.” Ink replied. “I’m artificial, I don’t have emotions, morals or faiths. I just see things as they logically are.”

"than why bother doing what you do?"

Core

“To gain information, and the best way of finding new data is to create experiments using controlled variables.” Ink said Error sighed. “You know it’s quite ironic, humans think I am the puppeteer because I always have to clean up after Ink, but she is the one pulling the strings.” (Remember when LJ was going to say where Killer was then went silent? She saw Ink)

tonic thinks that over and how it reminds them of their old master. "does that bother you, error?" (no. bad ink. don't be mean to LJ)

Core

“Well, I don’t really get along with people to start, especially humans, so it just gives me more reason to erase them.” Error said

(LJ knows better than to start a fight with Ink)

tonic nods. finding the sister's lives convoluted. "... question, if you wish to erase them in the first place, why do you follow your sister around to fix her messes?" tonic puts the doll behind her head. the liquid in tonic now compleatly aqua blue.

Core

“To erase the people she manipulates.”

"but why?"

"is it fun for you? it seems like a waste"

Core

“Well, it also allows me to get rid of some of my spite.”

Tonic nods. " forgive my ignorance but are you a genocide star? Do you eat meat?"

Core

“Yes and mainly, though I like certain other things.” Error answered. (Yeah, and I also had an idea of an Aurorous tank.)

"alright." now that tonic's powers are completely aqua blue they bet that they'll be able to teleport just fine. but this will be their first time doing it and they're a little scared they'll get stuck somewhere.

tonic also knows the coordinates chara and shatter went to so that shouldn't be a problem

Core

Ink noticed this. “I’ll watch the kits as long as you tell me what happens.”

tonic looks to the kits and then back to ink suspiciously

"i don't think i can trust you."

Core

“I haven’t interfered yet, have I? I have not done any harm. So why would I sabotage my own game?” Ink said

"i wouldn't know honestly. i wouldn't want them to get hurt." tonic says. they get up and thinks about how shatter makes portals and all.

Core

Shatter seemed to always use an almost lavender colored typing, at least that’s what her eyes showed, so she used psychic typing to teleport. “If they get injured it stalls progress, which is honestly... what’s the word.” Ink looked to Error. “Annoying, frustrating, obnoxious, or frivolous?” Error replied. “Both frivolous and frustrating.” Ink Corrected.

"thought you couldn't feel stuff...?" tonic realizes that about shatter and thinks she shouldn't do it the way she does and instead thinks of gaster. "are you two okay with staying with her?" tonic asks the kits

tonic manages to teleport to the other side of the house and back getting a feel for it.

Core

“I can still know when something is a waste and find it frustrating.” Ink said watching. Shade nodded to Tonic. Error thought for a moment, “why don’t I just take you, Tonic? So you can save energy in case Shatter needs help?”

"um, if you would be so kind i would be grateful." they say to error their tail flicking side to side. tonic looks to shine to make sure she agrees with her brother.

Core

Shine was too busy playing to pay attention. Error got up and opened a portal, “ok, so I’m not the best at these, but I can get you there.”

tonic doesn't like the sound of that but they roll with it. tonic goes up to the portal batting a paw at the glitches around it. "this is safe?"

Core

“Yeah, I use them all the time, though Ink hates them....” Error explained, walking through.

Core

(So Ink hates the antovoid, it doesn’t make sense to her and can cause her system to overload, leading to malfunctions)

(serves her right, jk) tonic steps through carefully.

Core

There was a doll, a string wrapped around its arm. It looked like Ink, the string stretched across the floor of an empty white world. “So I can only really make portals to people, more specifically people who resemble the dolls I make,” Error explained as the portal closed, “so if I make one here, we go to Ink.” She said before walking the direction the string went

this intrigues tonic so they keep quiet and listen

Core

This place was as silent as it was empty, so Error and her were the only noise. They passed a few dolls before Error stopped at one that looked like Shatter. “So now I just need to make a portal here, but before I do.” She got something from her pocket, it was doll that looked like her. “If you ever need my help, you or Chara, stick this with a pin, it won’t hurt me, just get my attention.” She explained, handing it to Tonic.

tonic takes it and nods.

Core

Error opened the portal, right in front of Shatter who jumps in surprise

tonic smiles and steps through. "thank you error" as soon as chara sees tonic without the kits she freaks out a little. "where's the kits??? also you're hanging out with error??? why do you steal all my friends you little demon?" tonic is just silent to that.

Core

Shatter quickly turned into a leipard and lunges at Error, her fur standing on end to show her anger. Error moved back quickly, summoning more strings as both were now in the antovoid

chara climbs into the portal as well "hey! cut it out what's the big deal!"

Core

‘Oh only the fact that she is the one that led the hunters to my family in the first place!’ Shatter said via telepathy as she hissed, circling the Genocide Star

"okay okay yeah that sucks, but!-" she runs in between them "killing her now wouldn't change anything! right?"

Core

‘No, but I would feel a hella lot better’ Shatter hissed, jumping over Chara. Killer sighed and looked at Tonic. “I have to do all the work, don’t I?”

tonic gives a shy shrug to killer. chara grabs one of shatter's back paws when she jumped over and chara is dragged along the floor as shatter keeps moving. "okay yeah but likeeeee. she's my friend! remmeber this same thing happend with you and blood and me? she's not even the one that killed them!"

Core

Shatter kicked Chara off. Killer sighed and teleported, turning the area around them black, which immediately seemed to kick Shatter out of her form. “Okay, listen up, I don’t like doing this so I would appreciate it if you would just chill, but until then you can try and attack Error, but with my rules.”

tonic peeks through the portal. chara on the floor blinks as the landscape changed. "woah. that was cool." she looks to killer. "what is that?"

Core

“Well, you already know how Shatter and I are similar, well, I can change the rules.” Killer said simply. Shatter growled as she tried to change shape again, unable to turn into what she had hoped, she ended up turning into a Muk, but it was made of sand. ‘The hell?’

"palossand but muk. that's pretty fancy. so like... shatter" she gets up and goes up to the muk who's not moving very fast she can't help but poke it. "can you stop? please?"

Core

Shatter growled slightly as she turned back to her humanoid form. She glared at Killer. “I hate you now.” “Dully noted.” Killer said as Error teleported somewhere else. Shatter sighed and got up. “Fine, I guess I won’t get even.” She said to Chara as she went to the portal

chara giggles at their exchange. she quickly follows shatter. "hey hey i'm sorry about that i really am! but i just i don't want to watch two of my friends fight you know?"

Core

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, but wouldn’t you want to at least get even with the ones who led the attack on you and Asreil? Even a little?” Shatter sighed as Killer seemed to recollect the black terrain before following. She pat Tonic’s head when she saw her.

"to be honest that whole mess was my fault i should have known asreil was too chicken to do what he promised. but yeah i get it. i do. but what did she even lead them there for? she wanted to kill your little village?" tonic smiles up at her happily

Core

“No she was running from them, and happened to lead them directly to what was my home.” Shatter explained. “That’s what happened with you? I ran away from home, then sh*t happened and next thing I know I had killed everyone I cared about.” Killer said way to casually....

chara looks over to killer silently for a few moments baffled. "well damn. you're hardcore." tonic kinda shifted away from killer a bit.

Core

“It wasn’t my fault persay, I can’t remember anything after running into a version of Gaster. Well, that is until after I had killed them both.” Killer clarified. “Ok, can we just stop talking about this?” Shatter asked

chara giggles under her breath and heads away from the group a little. tonic looks very curious as to what the whole story is but is too loyal to shatter to ask for more info.

Core

“Why? I know I’m fine talking about this stuff, so why aren’t you?” Killer asked. “Well you’re more numb to it.” Shatter responded. “Says the one who’s favorite way to kill is to either suck the life from people or burn them alive. If you ask me that is sick.” Killer said

#rp chain #sakkar stuff #arc 5 #sorry for spam i'm done for now

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quilloftheclouds · 5 years

Note

30, 32, 36 for Captain Io, please? // ~livvywrites

[Let’s develop some characters–shoot me a number!]

@livvywrites You really are curious about Io, aren’t you? Love! This interest!! Wonderful!!!

30. What topics does your oc know the most about? Are these obvious or would these be surprising to others?

Because Io was, uh... frankly obsessed. With pleasing her father. She focused most of her late childhood on training, which included fencing, English and lettering, strategy, and mostly sailing skills. Which is fairly obvious, considering it is well known amidst her crew that she is very adept at her work.

What’s less obvious is her knowledge of keeping your emotions hidden. Surprising because most think she doesn’t have them in the first place.

32. What five ingredients would you throw into a cauldron to make a potion based on your oc? How would you cook/mix them? What would the potion do?

Oh I love this one! Ready for some out-of-context spoilers?

Seawater charged by a lightning strike

Fresh blood dripped from a Spanish rapier

Powdered silver

A single water sapphire

Three petals from a purple violet

I have no idea how potion making works so I’m just having fun with aesthetics and symbolism here, sorry. ^^’

The base would be the seawater, the blood and silver added and mixed in by hand. The water sapphire would be sunk to the bottom, and left for a few hours at a simmer to infuse the rest of it with gemstone magic stuff. The stone would then be removed and the rest of it would be boiled down to an extremely concentrated liquid, and bottled into the smallest vial you can imagine. The three violet petals would be added once it’s cooled down.

And then it would be sealed tightly with a white silk ribbon, and frozen until ready to use, when it would be thawed and untied.

It would grant the user the ability to slow time to almost a standstill for an hour, but feel incredibly detached from reality as a side effect.

36. How stubborn is your oc? Are they easily convinced of the opposite opinion, do they not agree but let it happen anyways? Or do they cause conflicts with their inability to budge in their decisions?

Oh stars. You basically picked my most stubborn character.

Captain Io has very strict views of what is right and wrong, and her inability to see anything otherwise is likely her greatest flaw. This can be applied to morals, but also to what is fact and what is fake. For example: Despite being told ever since her father... disappeared during a pirate raid when she was a child that he was never going to come back, she... uh. Refuses to believe that he isn’t still alive. She still knows she’s going to find him someday. And it’s been near 15 years, now.

This sort of obstinance has certainly caused its fair share of conflicts. But Io’s skilled with a sword, and fast enough with a pistol that... those conflicts don’t last too long. As for when her opinions clash with a superior’s, she’s good about keeping her mouth shut. To a point.

#ask #ask reply #oc development asks #oss #one siren's soul #io #heck i love io probably too much #what is my problem and loving antagonists?#ahhh #anyways this is gonna be my last one for tonight #Quill has to sleeeep #ladytauria

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duckfresco · 6 years

Text

Ashes

Rating: T Tags: Nicaise Lives,Unreliable Narrator,Post-KR,canon-typical disrespect for sex workers/slight ableist language/existence of slavery,mentions of rape,discussions of pedophilia,misogyny,(some of it internalized :/),abuse,APFA: Abandoned People Forming Alliances Summary: Jokaste has fled Akielos; she finds Nicaise, alive, at a tacky inn in Patras, and takes him under her wing.

(Also on AO3 -->)

Ashes: scattered at funerals, symbolize death and provide soil for rich regrowth. In Greek myth, the Melai Nymphs of the manna-ash tree raised Zeus and were the mothers of humankind. In 19th century floriography, which was greatly influenced by Louise Cortambert’s Le Langage des Fleurs and B. Delachênaye’s Abécédaire de Flore, ash symbolizes grandeur and protection.

When she saw him, she recognized him, but she was the only one that did. That was good. It had saved his life.

Without the paint, or the jewels, or the swaths of silk too sheer for a child to be wearing, he looked both older and younger all at once. Older, because you could see the tension around his eyes, the tiredness, and because he no longer looked like he was playing dress-up in a grown-up relative’s clothing. Younger, because without makeup he was fresh-faced, and there was an innocence to scrubbed skin.

Jokaste could have told him to leave off the paint. But he liked the ostentatiousness of it, she knew; he liked to feel different from other people. Above them. It was something they shared, though her tastes had the refined elegance of a woman, not a child.

(Damen would have been horrified at the concept of her helping him retain his position. It was a horror, but making a lofty moral stand would do the boy no favors. Damen had never understood that most people in power broke their toys when they tired of them.) (Even in the slave baths, Damen had not known what it was to submit in order to survive.)

He recognized her, too. When she stepped in the door of the inn his face grew pale. He dropped his ladle. Jokaste smiled at him. Warmly, because he was smart enough to be frightened by it. She strolled over to the counter and collected a bowl, holding it out to him in a delicate grip that showed her slender arm to good effect. “I thought,” she said sweetly, “there would be food.” The ladle lay on the floor between them. Hidden by the counter, true, but the difference that made was negligible. Nicaise flushed. In order to serve her, he would have to bend down and get it, and then wash it in the tub that Jokaste could see behind him, all with her watching him.

“Where’s the brat,” said Nicaise. A hiss. He was smart; he knew what to aim for. It was a pity, for him, that Jokaste had learned to conceal a landed hit. (They had taken him, her child, her son, her son—)

Jokaste said, “I am waiting for him to serve me dinner.” She tilted the bowl the barest noticeable fraction. It drew attention to the fine bones in her wrist. The roughs in the tavern, already drooling for her, could not have appreciated the subtlety of the motion—had likely not even noticed she had made it— but Nicaise’s eyes glittered.

What’s the difference between a woman and a whore? A nobleman had asked his friend once, in Jokaste’s hearing. That’s easy. One of them exists to suck your cock. The other one’s the whore.

(It had been two centuries since there had been a Queen Exalted of Akielos. When she had been a young girl, and as naïve as she had thought herself wise, Jokaste had pinned a portrait of Queen Kydippe to her wall and told her, you will not be the last.)

(When she had been a young girl.)

“Boy!” The shout came from the kitchen behind Nicaise. He turned swifter than Jokaste had ever seen him do so, when the Regent of Vere had taken him on the short, clandestine visit to Ios that felt so long ago. Theomedes had still been alive. Kastor had taken Jokaste to the meeting because Nicaise had been there; a pet for a pet. It had been demeaning, but the information too valuable to pass up.

Nicaise took the blow the red-faced man gave him across the face without making a sound. Jokaste smoothed down the front of her skirt to conceal her flinch. She met the rheumy eyes of the man—then innkeeper, probably, from the stained apron stretched over his potlike stomach—and raised a single cool eyebrow. “Sorry you had to see that, ma’am,” the innkeeper said. Surprisingly, he sounded like he meant it. Jokaste waited, the picture of delicate patience, and tried not to let the appellation perturb her. She had expected miss. The changes that childbirth had wrought in her body were inconvenient.

“I can forgive it,” said Jokaste. Accompanied by a glance around the walls, and the barest sniff, she was a noblewoman who had settled for a rustic wayside hovel; with a smile, tight but indulgent, she was making the best of it. A generous noblewoman, who would not bring the matter to her lord. As long as she was offered, from here out, the finest choice of hospitality. The innkeeper did not know the danger in her pleasant tone, and relaxed even as he bowed, tugging Nicaise down beside him. “Lady. My deepest apologies, again. I’ll have the boy prepare the best room for you.”

“That would be well,” said Jokaste. She used the weakness of relief to allow a hint of road-weariness to color the words, as if she were not used to hard travel (she hadn’t been, until this past month). Hers was not a ruse that would retain credibility for much longer. Though Jokaste washed herself and her gown in every stream she came across, both were showing signs of wear. For now, however, it would pass. The innkeeper’s spine straightened under the shred of gratitude. She had him. “My belongings are outside, with the horses. My men will spend the night with them the stable. They don’t like to be disturbed.” There were no men, and only one horse, an aged mare with grey-spotted withers that she had charmed from a miller in the first town she had come across. Damianos might not have followed her, might even have stood the loss of a warhorse, foolishly bighearted as he was, but a lone woman and a highbred destrier would have been too much temptation to flaunt on the open road. As Jokaste had been hoping, the innkeeper shoved Nicaise towards the door with a sharp order to bring the Lady’s men food and wine, and see to her luggage. Nicaise would already have known that her presence here, alone, meant that she was out of favor. It was unpleasant, that he knew, but better he than anyone else in the inn. There was no fear that Nicaise would have her up against the wall of the stable with a hand over her mouth, the way these men would if they sensed they could get away with it.

“You’re a bit young to be the house boy,” Jokaste said later that evening, when Nicaise, sulking, delivered a sloppily-arranged tray of breads and cheeses to her room. The best the inn offered boasted the unparalleled luxury of a lumpy mattress and a window that was two handspands wide instead of one. Jokaste thought of the feathersoft cushions she had known in the palace, the whole wall open over the white-tipped waves of the sea, and chose to sit in the rickety chair before the fire. She adjusted her seat, daintily, and struck. “Still.”

Nicaise had a blemish on the end of his nose. It turned purple when the rest of his face turned red. “Did Kastor throw you out after you dropped his bastard, or before? Oh wait. I forgot. He’s a bastard too.”

Calmly, Jokaste took a sip of the water she had poured into the cup from the nightstand. She had known, when when she had stopped taking the herbs to prevent pregnancy before visiting Kastor’s bed, that her child would be born a bastard. Nicaise, used to the Veretian abhorrence of illegitimacy and only a child, had miscalculated the size of that blow. It was more of a gentle tap, really. (It hurt, that she had not a name to call her son by. In Akielos the prerogative of naming went to the father. To allow Kastor to name her son would have been to confirm him that, the father, and Jokaste would have lost the leverage that she had paid for in the ravage of her own body.) (Her breasts no longer swelled with milk. It had been too long since she had had a babe to put to them.)

Jokaste looked at Nicaise, in his ill-fitting, coarse-woven Patran tunic, his eye puffy with the forming bruise. At fourteen, Jokaste had dismissed a chambermaid for a loose thread in the weave of her least-favorite gown. At fourteen, Jokaste had been a virgin. “You could pass, almost, for my younger brother,” she said. “I don’t need you,” said Nicaise. “I don’t need anyone.” Jokaste snuck out of the inn early the next morning, before the pre-dawn light, because of course she had no coin to pay. It was easier than the first time she had done it, if no less humiliating. Of guilt she felt nothing. She did not like innkeepers who hit young boys. Nicaise was waiting for her, her mare already saddled (badly, like Jokaste’s first attempts), holding the reins of another horse that must have belonged to one of the tavern roughs from last night. “They’ll chase the horse,” she said.

“I’m not walking,” Nicaise sneered.

“Aren’t you?” Jokaste inquired politely.

There was a basket in Nicaise’s hand, with a long strap for carrying. The mare lipped at it curiously when he drew it over his head, and Nicaise shoved her nose away with the impatience of having done it many times before.

Jokaste had wondered what he had done with the food he had brought to her “men.” She smiled.

“Where are we going?” Nicaise asked, on the third day. Jokaste was surprised it had taken him that long. She supposed he might have been in shock. “The Patran court,” said Jokaste, because it served her better to have Nicaise think he had time to prepare. The boy’s face fell; he tried to rescue it, and failed. “Did you think I came all the way here to turn around and leave? We’re staying in Patras, for a while.”

“Patras,” Nicaise said, and spat.

Patras, where they had sent her son, a clause at the bottom of a treaty to keep the other side from poisoning your dinner wine. Jokaste had always intended him to be a piece in the game. Please, gods-that-were, thought Jokaste, let him not have been killed as well.

(Only fools worshipped the gods, anymore. They were stuff of legends and songs; they did not stoop to help these newer mortals. Jokaste’s mother had been a priestess, in a temple that was derelict as all temples were nowadays. She had died praying. It hadn’t saved her.)

They crossed a peddler going the opposite direction, an old woman, and shared a meal with her for the protection of the long knife thrust through her belt. She had snow-white whiskers and called Nicaise young man, clearly thinking it a compliment. When she was gone Jokaste held Nicaise’s hair back while he vomited.

“He used to compare me,” Nicaise said, glassy-eyed in the aftermath. “He used to point to the other pets and say, look how old they are. How ugly. Not like you. He used to say—“ “Stop,” said Jokaste. In another moment she would be retching as well, and they could not afford to lose two portions of their meager food supply.

“He loves me,” Nicaise said. His forehead was damp with sweat. “No one’s ever loved you.”

One man did, thought Jokaste, and I betrayed him. “Is that why he killed you?” she asked. “I made a mistake. He was angry. I can apologize. I can make it up to him.”

“Damianos and your Veretian Prince will have had him executed by now,” said Jokaste. Until she said it, she had not realized that it was true. “Kastor will be imprisoned, if not dead himself. There is no place for either of us in Akielos or Vere.”

“That’s not true!” His limbs were trembling, fragile bones butting up against each other under his skin. He was very thin. “You’re an old hag and you don’t know anything. It’s your barbarian slave king that’s dead. It’s Laurent—“ his voice sputtered and went out. For a moment, it seemed he would start crying.

Saying the name aloud had undone him. If Jokaste were a kind woman, she would open her arms and allow Nicaise to protest he didn’t need coddling while he folded against her chest. Jokaste was not a kind woman.

“I wonder who it was, the child he killed to pretend they were you,” she mused. “Well. Had killed. He doesn’t get his hands dirty, does he? Not in daylight. Whoever it was must have borne a passing resemblance. Prince Laurent was convinced.”

(He’s a child, said Damen’s shocked voice in her mind. He doesn’t deserve cruelty like this.) (Oh, Damianos. Neither did you, and yet the chains came down on your proud-lion head anyway. Wouldn’t it have been better to be prepared?)

“The only reason they didn’t kill you too is that you don’t matter anymore,” said Nicaise. It was a flailing blow, from a boy who had already been beaten, but Jokaste felt her chest collapse around it. She remembered Damen, when he had come to Karthas, the steel in his eyes that had not been there before. She remembered him delegating her to his under-soldiers, like an afterthought. She remembered the Veretian Prince’s hair…more than that, his mind, matching point-for-point with her in the dungeon. She remembered again her cushions and her sea-view. The Queen’s apartments would be Laurent’s, now, for what little time he spent in them. If Jokaste was right, and they had won, then Laurent now had two kingdoms where Jokaste had never truly had one. And Damen. She had never truly had Damen either, Jokaste was learning. That was the trouble with playing both sides. You forgot that the love of an honest man cost everything.

(What of the love of an honest woman? That’s easy, said the nobleman, in Jokaste’s head. There is no such thing.)

(Once upon a time, Jokaste had kissed Lykaios on her full rich mouth and thought, there is a sweetness here that even I cannot bear to corrupt. For days after even persimmons had tasted of dust.)

Damen would have killed her if Laurent had not set her free.

A mocking laugh, hysterical, shattered her memory. Nicaise. Hatred was a spear, pointed and bloody, and Nicaise was at the end of it.

(Which end? asked Damen.)

(Shut up, said Jokaste.)

They stood in the grass on the side of the road, a body’s length apart. Jokaste had staggered back from him. Nicaise, the contents of his stomach on the ground before him, was pathetic in victory.

“He loves me,” Nicaise repeated. A whimper. A plea. Jokaste thought, the man who did this has had control of my son.

(Battlefields were not the only place where kings extracted their toll of flesh.)

Jokaste’s feet were a ruin. She had to preserve the mare, to carry her laughably meager possessions and to be ready to bolt if Jokaste needed to flee quickly. The fine sandals she had worn at court were useless on the dirt and rocks. Every night, whether they found an inn or camped outside, she tore strips from the undyed cotton she had stolen for her menstrual cycle and bandaged her feet anew.

She had been jealous of Nicaise’s covered boots until she looked closely one night and saw that all of his toenails were blackened, and not a few of them falling off. Pets, she recalled, like slaves, did not wear shoes.

When Jokaste put Nicaise up on the horse the next morning, for once he didn’t gloat. He did name the the mare “Old Grey Akielon Bitch,” but it was more to keep his hand in than anything else.

Whenever it was possible they spent the night at an inn, sneaking out again before daybreak. In a mining town deep in a series of foothills that never quite became mountains, they were crowded to a corner of the taproom by a boisterous group of traveling players who drank enough to topple a wild boar and incessantly tuned their instruments. Jokaste did not appreciate being jostled cheek-by-jowl with a large man and his rice drum, the coarse stone wall scraping at her other side. At least he had not been the lutist, who had leered and made leading comments about her cleavage before Nicaise had jabbed him in a sensitive area with his soup spoon.

As the night wore on and the players showed no signs of retiring, the call went up for entertainment. Obligingly—they knew a chance for advertisement when they saw one—the players cleared a central table to act as a stage and performed a series of capers and bawdies that had everyone but Jokaste and Nicaise howling. During the third round of a song featuring an improbably tiny green kerchief, Nicaise tried to throw his bowl at them. Jokaste stopped him just in time.

At last, when it was so late Jokaste was drawing up mental contingencies in case they didn’t have time to make their escape, the worst of the rabble and their audience stumbled out to drink or fuck or collapse in a heap until morning. A pair of women remained—sisters from their faces, perhaps even twins, dark-haired and pretty—one of them plucking idly at a curiously shaped wooden harp she held propped with one end in her lap and the other on a stool in front of her. The other woman glanced around the emptied-out taproom and smiled when she saw Jokaste and Nicaise. “What would you like?” she asked. She was wearing ropes of beads in her hair and down the front of her dress; all colors, blue and red and yellow and the rest.

“To sleep,” said Jokaste. She knew she sounded weary. She was. Nicaise shifted, his wooden stool creaking. He had been startled by her sincerity.

“I can help with that,” said the woman. Briefly, she consulted with her sister, who gathered the aimless notes she had been playing into a tune. She sang, like a soft wind:

My childhood Was a beaten copper bracelet that I wore around my wrist, it was My mother’s. My mother Had a beaten silver cup into which she poured her wine, the wine Was summer. The summer Was a woven rose-gold chain that I gifted to my true love When I held her heart in mine.

Her voice was low and had been trained by somebody who knew what they were doing. Jokaste closed her eyes and tilted her head back against the wall. After a moment she felt Nicaise slump forward, resting his head on the surface of the table. After two moments he was asleep; his breath stirred the hair on Jokaste’s arm. She wondered if her own son would trust her as much, when she saw him, or if he would shy away from the touch of a stranger.

They arrived at Bazal in the height of summer, which was cooler than summer in Ios but far more dry. Jokaste’s skin had reddened, flaked, and reddened again under the unrelenting sun, and her mouth was perpetually parched. Nicaise was no better. Before they could present themselves (to the younger Prince, most likely, lesser sons being somewhat of Jokaste’s specialty), they would have to make those selves presentable.

The bathhouse was very kind to a young Akielon noblewoman who had suffered her clothes stolen while she took a dip in a stream to cool off in the terrible heat. Her young cousin, who had heroically chased after the thieves but hadn’t been able to catch them (wasn’t it a pity he hadn’t gained his man’s height or strength yet, he hadn’t had a chance), was equally welcome. “Your breasts are saggy,” said Nicaise.

“You’re getting another pimple on your chin,” said Jokaste.

When they petitioned an audience before Prince Torveld (Jokaste had met him, briefly, on a state visit; Nicaise must have also, on a different one), they were washed, brushed, and dressed in gifted clothes equally foreign to them both. The high collar and full-length sleeves of the Patran dress were stifling, the hairstyle uninspired and severe. It made Jokaste’s nose look big. Nicaise, with his Veretian heritage, was more comfortable in his tunic and pants, but ruined the effect by glowering at the floor as if it had done him a personal wrong.

They had been on the road so long that the number of slaves was startling. In Patras, slaves did not go naked, but they were easily identifiable by their subservience and their tasteful docility. Jokaste had become used to having to do things for herself; to have a fingerbowl of water appear before her, unobtrusively held, was unsettling. It was less than she had been used to in Ios, Jokaste reminded herself. Rinsing her hands was a strangely self-conscious act. As was sipping the wine, provided likewise, and nibbling on the pieces of cut fruit.

Prince Torveld was himself speaking to a slave when they were let into his audience hall, their heads close together, postures intimate. The herald who announced them looked exasperated but not surprised. He cleared his throat. “The Lady Jokaste,” he said, “and the boy Nicaise.” It had been long since Jokaste had heard herself referred to like that, all together, both Lady and Jokaste. She breathed out, slow, and felt it settle around her. For a moment she was almost home.

(Foolishness. Her home had died when she had ordered the slave collar locked around Damen’s neck, and now it belonged to a cunning yellow Veretian and a man who thought of her not at all.)

(In the window that overlooked the sea, she had planted marigolds.)

Torveld looked up. He had a face inclined to kindness, but for the time being it had been overtaken by wariness instead. “You have asked an audience of me. I have granted it. What is it that you wish to ask of me?” “I know that one,” hissed Nicaise into Jokaste’s ear (he had to stand on his tiptoes to reach it). “The slave. He’s Urus—Eran—Erasmus. He came with Damen to Arles. He’s a limp fish. I poked him some, but it got boring.”

At the sound of Nicaise’s voice Erasmus noticed him and blanched, hiding behind Torveld. Whatever Nicaise had done to him had left a lasting impression. A feeling suspiciously close to pride fluttered in Jokaste’s chest.

Prince Torveld was less receptive. “The Prince of Vere is my friend,” he said. Unlikely, though you probably think so, thought Jokaste, recalling to mind a clever face, an intricately brutal tongue. People like that (like them) did not make friends. They made profitable acquaintances. “It does not please me to extend sanctuary to his enemies,” Torveld continued, stern. “If you have business here, other than baseless slander, I would have it now.” Half-hidden by the chair, he grasped Erasmus’ hand, and Erasmus quieted. Jokaste felt the pinch in her brow and smoothed it over.

“My Prince,” she said, modulating her tone to appear deferential, flattering, subtly sensuous. She sank into a curtsy in the Patran style, grace practiced to perfection. Nicaise made a grudging genuflection to her left. “I am saddened to hear that such tales of my reputation have spread so far. I promise you, I am here only to ensure the safety of that for which I love more than my life.” She paused, letting a ripple of sorrow across her expression. “My son.”

Torveld was still suspicious: he was not, unfortunately, an idiot. Still, he was a gentlehearted man, and she had caught his attention. “Your son?”

With an effort of will, Jokaste quelled the urge to wet her lips in nervousness. No; perhaps that would help her, in this case. She allowed it. “You may have heard of my…situation, when I was of late in Akielos.” “I have.” Torveld’s voice was as iron. Poor man, he probably thought it gave away nothing.

“I say to you now that I did not know of the plot to demean King Damianos so and take his country for him. I truly thought him murdered.” Jokaste let her eyes fill with tears. Only enough to threaten a few, glittering drops, not enough to redden her nose and affect her beauty. “I thought only of my child, and when he was taken from me, I realized the viper’s nest that had surrounded me.” “Enough,” said Torveld. “I know you trade in falsehoods. But your love for your child is the one sincere thing about you. You are fortunate that Patras is better at catching, and punishing, traitors than Akielos is. I anticipated this.” He gestured with a hand over his shoulder. A door opened behind him, and Jokaste felt Nicaise tense beside her as her own pulse sped. If this had been another miscalculation—if now they were to be brought to their deaths, after traveling so far— A woman stepped through the door, holding a bundle in her arms, and Jokaste

saw her son “He’s gotten so big,” she murmured. It was the only coherent thing she could manage. She ached for the loss of seeing each new millimetre of fat around his cheeks and his pudgy arms, every shaky movement that allowed him, now, to lift his head just enough to fix his eyes on her face. She was across the room. Her son was in her arms. He smelled exactly the way she remembered. Jokaste pressed her cheek to the top of his tiny baby head and rocked him against her. “I have no lost child to offer you,” Torveld was saying to Nicaise. “I cannot imagine a reason for you to be here, especially after how you have treated Erasmus. State your purpose.” Nicaise’s hands shook. He curled them into fists at his sides, “You knew what he was doing,” he said. His voice possessed the sharp, clear quality of shattered crystal. “You were in Vere. You were an outsider. He couldn’t have reached you, when you returned to Patras. You saw what was happening, and you didn’t stop it.”

In the back corner of her mind, where she was not kissing every inch of her son’s face and counting his perfect fingers and toes to make sure they were all still there, Jokaste heard the hall go silent. The courtiers that had lingered around the edges of the railinged balconies above had frozen. Torveld was as stone in his simply-carved chair at the end of the carpet; his face was bloodless. Somebody dropped a book, and the pages battered each other on the way down. Erasmus sucked in a diminutive, shaking breath. “Your Highness,” said Erasmus. Jokaste stared. Nicaise stared. The whole hall stared. It was unthinkable. He was a slave. Yet he had spoken. In the audience hall. During an audience. Out loud. “Your Highness,” repeated Erasmus. He knelt and kissed Torveld’s foot, and then his hand. Not only his breath was shaking now. His curls were honey, his complexion burnt sugar. Only fools worshipped the gods, anymore, but he looked every inch the son of divinity. “My Prince. Please. He’s younger than I am.” He spoke of himself in the first person, against the Akielon training he would have had. Was that the way of things, in Patras? Could a slave make demands of a prince? Torveld lifted his hand from under Erasmus’ lips and carded it through his hair with such tenderness that Jokaste almost had to look away. “He hurt you,” Torveld said, in a tone that outmatched the touch. “Please,” Erasmus said again. Torveld caressed Erasmus’s cheek, the underside of his jaw. Someone in the balconies coughed. “If it is your wish,” said Prince Torveld, “Then I will do for him what I can.”

“You should call him Stinky,” said Nicaise, as he and Jokaste were escorted to the rooms that had been granted them (Torveld did not want them let loose in his brother’s palace. Jokaste would work on that, though seduction was clearly out of the question. She had other talents). “For his most obvious feature.” Jokaste held her son closer. He did need a change of diaper. The female slaves had always handled that part, in Akielos, but Jokaste couldn’t bear to let him out of her arms for a moment so she would have to learn how to perform the necessary duty. “In Akielos, the prerogative of naming goes to the father,” she said, amused. “I’m too young to be a father,” said Nicaise, recoiling in disgust. “And I don’t give a fuck about Akielos.” He extended a finger into the blankets, and Jokaste’s son enclosed it in a tiny fist. “You could also call him Drooly. Or Leaky. Or Hideous.” Jokaste’s son was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, but she didn’t expect Nicaise to understand that. He was still, as he had said, too young. In another life, he would have been a king, she had written on a scrap of paper left in a cage. Jokaste looked down at the baby in her arms, and across at Nicaise, chattering at the child with a never-ending stream of insults. She felt a smile sprout and grow. In another life. Perhaps it was not too late for this one, yet.

Marigolds: Princess Marigold was the daughter of King Midas, whom he turned to gold. Also in Greek mythology, there was a woman (Caltha) who fell in love with Apollo and was melted by his rays into a marigold. In bright bursts of oranges and yellows, marigolds are cheerful flowers that embolden any garden.

Copper: In Greek mythology, copper is assigned to Aphrodite. It represents love, charisma, feminine beauty, and feminine youthfulness. It was the material used to make mirrors.

Silver: in Hesiod’s Five Ages of Man, the Silver Age was the second. The men of the Silver age were inferior to those of the Gold Age and were killed by Zeus. Apollo and Artemis each possessed a silver bow. Silver is associated with the moon, and symbolizes clarity, focus, persistence, and strength. Gold: Gold features prominently in Greek myth. The first, and best, of the Five Ages of Man was the Gold Age. The Goddess of Strife, Eris, provided a golden apple inscribed “To the Most Beautiful,” for Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to fight over. Golden apples again feature in the story Atalanta and the footrace, where Aphrodite provided irresistible golden apples to her suitor to distract her so he could win the race and marry Atalanta. Before this, Atalanta was the only woman among the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Gold represents the sun, perfection, purity, and authority. It is the metal of Kings.

And Queens.

Notes: I feel like after this Nicaise and Jokaste have a relationship where they each can pick at the other’s insecurities and it’s cool because it’s them? Post-traumatic road trips are weird.

What Nicaise did to Erasmus was extremely cruel but Jokaste doesn’t know that; she just knows that her boy got one up on that other guy. Also, Jokaste…has got no problem with collateral. <s>I love u bby ur doing amazing</s> Erasmus is a dear and is also one of the strongest people in the series, and eventually Jokaste realizes that.

Re: Nicaise to Torveld, even if Nicaise doesn’t completely understand he was the Regent’s victim, he’s starting to, and that was a big moment for him. (Nicaise has also noticed how adults react to how the Regent treated him, and is always down for manipulation and spectacle; but there was a bit of honesty there that he’s not going to admit to easily.)

(Also, I’m sure pets wear shoes sometimes, like when they’re riding horses, Ancel, honey, please. But I always imagined that most of the time they didn’t?)

This piece is a bit of a different style than I usually go for, but I try to match the style of my writing to the narrator so I wanted to give it a shot *shrug emoji*

#captive prince #jokaste #nicaise #THINGS ARE GONNA TURN OUT OKAY #they rough at the beginning but they gonna be Okay

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magicrobins · 6 years

Note

Dare you to answer all 100 of those questions

Well shit man I feel challenged.

All questions answered under the cut.

1: Is there a boy/girl in your life?

As in boyfriend/girlfriend? Nope, single af over here :P

2: Think of the last person who hurt you; do you forgive them?

Uhh probs? I mean I don’t really remember but it probably wasn’t a big thing.

3: What do you think of when you hear the word “meow?”

My kitty, my little pumpkin, Freckles uwu

4: What’s something you really want right now?

To finish answering these questions? JK JK lmao!

I’d really like to see one of my best friends again, for like more than just one day but like I always really want that.

5: Are you afraid of falling in love?

In a way, yes. I’m afraid that I’ll fall in love with someone I’m not meant to be with and have my heart broken. I’m afraid I’ll fall in love with someone who won’t like that I’m sex repulsed, who won’t like that I don’t think I’d want to have kids, or at least little kids/babies. I know the right person won’t mind any of that, but I’m afraid of falling for the wrong person before I fall for the right one.

6: Do you like the beach?

Yes! I like looking for seashells but I stay the fuck away from the ocean.

7: Have you ever slept on a couch with someone else?

I haven’t fallen asleep on a couch, that I’m aware of, but one of my best friends and I cuddled on one while relaxing during a 24 film contest.

8: What’s the background on your cell?

A picture of Korrasami from the LOK comic.

9: Name the last four beds you were sat on?

Name the last four beds?? Uh my own, my dad’s, and my sister’s?

10: Do you like your phone?

Meh. It’s a good phone but since some iOS update, it’s been a real bitch. :/

11: Honestly, are things going the way you planned?

Ahahahaha no. Some things are nice, some things are… what they are. I didn’t plan to spend four years at MJC but I’m getting my AA degree at the end of this year. I didn’t plan to want to continue my schooling and get a Bachelor’s/Master’s in archaeology but that’s because I’d y’know buried that dream deep down ‘cause I thought I wasn’t smart enough (still sometimes feel like that but I got this, don’t worry). I didn’t plan to actually get into theater and want to minor in theater. I didn’t plan to get hella into Dungeons & Dragons and play in two campaigns, DMing one, and uploading the videos to YouTube but hey, I like how that turned out. I didn’t plan on being stuck with writer’s block majority of the time and restarting the same book over ten times. All in all, life’s not really going how I’d planned but at the same time, I hadn’t really made a plan. I just sort of let it take its course, I guess?

12: Who was the last person whose phone number you added to your contacts?

Oh a friend of a friend’s who joined this RPG campaign that’s based on the Dresden Files. She was added to the group chat so I added her number. :)

13: Would you rather have a poodle or a Rottweiler?

Uhh I’d rather have both, duh.

14: Which hurts the most, physical or emotional pain?

Emotional by far. I’ve dealt with physical pain for like four years now in my left shoulder (finally getting that fixed this summer) and while it can hurt so much that it makes me cry, I’ll take it over emotional pain. That’s probs not a good thing but that’s how I feel.

15: Would you rather visit a zoo or an art museum?

I like the zoo, but I’d rather go to an art museum. I adore museums and don’t go to them as often as I’d like.

16: Are you tired?

Who isn’t? It’s past 11pm rn so yeah, I am lol.

17: How long have you known your 1st phone contact?

My first phone contact was probs my parents and sister so my whole life lol.

18: Are they a relative?

Yep ;P

19: Would you ever consider getting back together with any of your exes?

I have one ex and I’d have to say no. Nothing against him, it’s just that I don’t have romantic feelings for him. I don’t want to date someone I don’t have romantic feelings for.

20: When did you last talk to the last person you shared a kiss with?

Not like a kiss on the cheek, I’m guessing? If so, then no one :P

21: If you knew you had the right person, would you marry them today?

Mm, I’d probs say yes if they proposed. A wedding takes time to plan though! ;P

22: Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

Haven’t ever kissed anyone -shrugs-

23: How many bracelets do you have on your wrists right now?

None, but I usually wear at least one on my right wrist if I’m not wearing long sleeves.

24: Is there a certain quote you live by?

No really, sorry.

25: What’s on your mind?

“Dear God, there’s a lot of questions!” lmao

26: Do you have any tattoos?

Nope. I’d like some but I’m terrified of pain and needles. ^^”””

27: What is your favorite color?

Red!

28: Next time you will kiss someone on the lips?

Shit idk? At this point it’s looking like never lmao

29: Who are you texting?

No one atm. Last person I sent a text to was my sis.

30: Think to the last person you kissed, have you ever kissed them on a couch?

…Y’all just keep wanting to rub in that I ain’t ever kissed anyone before lmao!

31: Have you ever had the feeling something bad was going to happen and you were right?

Probably. :| I also probably caused that bad thing to happen.

32: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?

Yep! uwu

33: Do you think anyone has feelings for you?

I mean there’s someone I’d love to have feelings for me but no, I don’t think so. It might be the insecurities talking, but no one, to my knowledge, has had feelings for me in a while.

34: Has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes?

Uhh aside from parents or family?? Shit I can’t remember, but y’know what? I have damn pretty eyes. I have pretty hazel eyes ok lmao.

35: Say the last person you kissed was kissing someone right in front of you?

Then that person would be kissing air ‘cause I haven’t ever kissed anyone lmaooo

36: Were you single on Valentines Day?

Every Valentine’s Day, yes. :’)

37: Are you friends with the last person you kissed?

Yes. I’m friends with Nobody. xDDD

38: What do your friends call you?

Depends on the friends and when they met me. Friends who I’ve known since high school called me by my full first name, “Briana.” Friends I’ve met online or at college call me by my nickname, “Anna.”

39: Has anyone upset you in the last week?

Not that I can think of… Irritated, sure, but not really upset.

40: Have you ever cried over a text?

Pfffffffffffffffffffffft…. Of course.

41: Where’s your last bruise located?

Uhh I don’t have any atm but probs on my leg?

42: What is it from?

Hell if I know -shrugs-

43: Last time you wanted to be away from somewhere really bad?

That hasn’t been for a while… I usually feel this way when I go to class in the beginning when I don’t really know anyone, especially if I’m put in front of the class to talk. (This happened a lot in the beginning of the acting class I took.)

44: Who was the last person you were on the phone with?

My dad. Called him to let him know the fucking hide away door was busted again… I hate that door.

45: Do you have a favourite pair of shoes?

All of my boots. uwu

46: Do you wear hats if your having a bad hair day?

Yep! Mostly depends on the outfit, but majority of the time I’ll wear this Code Geass hat I have.

47: Would you ever go bald if it was the style?

Fuck no.

48: Do you make supper for your family?

Pffft no.

49: Does your bedroom have a door?

Yes.

50: Top 3 web-pages?

According to Chrome, the top three I go to is YouTube, Tumblr, and Facebook.

51: Do you know anyone who hates shopping?

Maybe? I’m not sure.

52: Does anything on your body hurt?

My left shoulder. For the past four years. :’)

53: Are goodbyes hard for you?

Depending on who they’re with. Saying “goodbye” to one of my best friends when he moved to Arizona was… that was painful.

54: What was the last beverage you spilled on yourself?

Probs Dr. Pepper.

55: How is your hair?

Fine atm. It’s not combed but I don’t mind how it looks rn.

56: What do you usually do first in the morning?

Check my phone.

57: Do you think two people can last forever?

Yes, anythings possible.

58: Think back to January 2007, were you single?

When aren’t I? Lol yes, I was.

59: Green or purple grapes?

Meh either is fine with me.

60: When’s the next time you will give someone a BIG hug?

Idk, when they need it?

61: Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?

…I’m not sure, tbh.

62: When will be the next time you text someone?

Tomorrow? Idk.

63: Where will you be 5 hours from now?

Home, in bed. :P

64: What were you doing at 8 this morning.

Sleeping ;P

65: This time last year, can you remember who you liked?

Yes.

66: Is there one person in your life that can always make you smile?

Absolutely.

67: Did you kiss or hug anyone today?

My cat lmao

68: What was your last thought before you went to bed last night?

I don’t really remember, sorry :/

69: Have you ever tried your hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?

Probably.

70: How many windows are open on your computer?

Two - five tabs in Chrome though.

71: How many fingers do you have?

…Ten?

72: What is your ringtone?

Just some generic ring tone.

73: How old will you be in 5 months?

Still 23 :P

74: Where is your Mum right now?

At her house probs.

75: Why aren’t you with the person you were first in love with or almost in love?

Let’s go with “almost in love” ‘cause idk wtf falling in love feels and idk if you can fall in love with someone who you have strong feelings for but never dated.

To answer the question, though: ‘cause I was a closeted af idiot. I mean, in all honesty, I understand why I was closeted. I was refusing to admit to even myself that I wasn’t straight. I get why I was so scared but like… in hindsight I wish I’d been open with myself and open with this person.

76: Have you held hands with somebody in the past three days?

Nope.

77: Are you friends with the people you were friends with two years ago?

Absolutely!

78: Do you remember who you had a crush on in year 7?

…Wtf is year 7? Is that 7th grade? If so, I was homeschooled then so didn’t have a crush. :P

79: Is there anyone you know with the name Mike?

I have a few family members with that name.

80: Have you ever fallen asleep in someones arms?

Nope.

81: How many people have you liked in the past three months?

Mm one person but that’s just ‘cause I legitly don’t know how to move on, like no one’s really told me a good way to move on so my brain is just like “What to do with these unrequited feelings fuck :|”

82: Has anyone seen you in your underwear in the last 3 days?

I have ;D lmao

83: Will you talk to the person you like tonight?

Mm probs not? Not unless they text me. I texted them yesterday, didn’t get a response but I know they’ve been busy.

84: You’re drunk and yelling at hot guys/girls out of your car window, you’re with?

Idk? I don’t drink so idk why I’d get drunk.

85: If your BF/GF was into drugs would you care?

Yes.

86: What was the most eventful thing that happened last time you went to see a movie?

I saw Black Panther. Enough said. uwu

87: Who was your last received call from?

Probs the hospital to schedule an appointment?

88: If someone gave you $1,000 to burn a butterfly over a candle, would you?

Wtf no!! DDD:

89: What is something you wish you had more of?

Either money specifically to pay for school, or filming equipment so I can film the D&D sessions how I’d like to film them. :|

90: Have you ever trusted someone too much?

Maybe? Idk.

91: Do you sleep with your window open?

Nope. Door open but window closed.

92: Do you get along with girls?

Lmao I like to think so.

93: Are you keeping a secret from someone who needs to know the truth?

Um idk? I mean I’ve never told the person I had (have?) strong feelings for that I’ve had those feelings and how long I’ve felt that way but like idk if they need to know that?

94: Does sex mean love?

No. You can have sex without love and love without sex.

95: You’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, is that a problem?

I’d be alone. :|

96: Have you ever kissed anyone with a lip ring?

Idk does Nobody have a lip ring? lmaoooo

97: Did you sleep alone this week?

Nope, I have my cat and my dog. uwu

98: Everybody has somebody that makes them happy, do you?

Yes. I have my friends, my pets, and someone special to me.

99: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes. I don’t believe everyone experiences it - everyone falls in love in different ways - but I believe it’s possible.

100: Who was the last person that you pinky promise?

Uhhhh idk? That was probs years ago?

#i dID IT #-collapses-#ask anna #magicanon #my life

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dorianhellfire · 7 years

Note

I'm a new Love Scramble player with very weak Japanese and your tutorial has been a god send. I have all sorts of questions but the one that I'm stuck on is how to get the books to evolve certain cards. Specifically the pink books with the little icons in the bottom left corner. I think they're related to events (2 of the cards are from the Shields as cops gacha and have the same icon) but I have no idea how to get the books to evolve. Can you please help? Thanks!

Hello! I’m happy to know this was well worth the effort (and temporary loss in sanity) in doing. My crapanese is strong so I feel ya *pats shoulder* I’m lucky to remember anything I learned when I took those 2 semesters of Japanese many, many beans. Now, to your question~ (WARNING: Photo heavy!)

These are the books you’re talking about:

>.> Yes, I hoard and so should you! Why? Because you can only get them from the event at certain point levels. Once the event is over, that’s it. This is the sad, but genius financial ploy that the Voltage gods have set before is all to spend gems to get energies and point boosts during that time. For iOS users not in the Japanese market, it is a cursed blessing not to be able to spend for gems (because who has money like that?). But, for those that got the app through the Android third party markets, it is a cursed blessing to be able to actually spend for gems (because who needs food right?).

I recommend you save all the books you earn as you must learn from this terrible moment I gave myself. Remember that you can still possibly draw an event card after the event has passed. After the Alice in Wonderland event, I decided to use my 3-star bunny books to level up some cards. The next day, I drew The Mad Hatter Ishigami in he gacha and discovered I used the 4 crucial books I needed to awaken him. Don’t me like me. Use those gems for space or sell the extra juice bottles and coin cards they keep giving us at event these days. Once you finally use those books, you’ll gain back some space. Space in the card inn is so important! T-T *ahem* Moving on…

Now, you can replay select events of the past! However, there are some things that are different from the initial release. I explain.

First off, you need to find this banner: (sorry, boss! I get you new shirt and jacket! XD)

That banner with Epic Saizo on it will lead you to the list of currently available past event. This is also where you’ll have to go to get to the event you plan to redo: (Please excuse the squished fuzziness of this, but I didn’t want to have a huge list of banner things. Gomen…)

As you can see, there have been a lot of events since the beginning and they include the birthday ones and some even I missed because taking breaks is important. Now, each one can be replayed for 25 gems and you get 10 days to get through it as best you can. And you can replay more than one event at a time! For those of us that aren’t made of gold, playing a current event and a replayed event would be well beyond our means as it is. Thankfully, there is no event at the time of this post, but more power to those that will attempt more than one replay event AND current event. *dies just thinking about that*

Here’s how the list will look like with the current past event you’re replaying with the day you it ends.

Each event has the info page for that one with the cards related to the event listed. There’s also a points list to show what you get at which point level before you spend the preciously hoarded gems.

Here is how the event screen looks like when you redo one. Yes, I spent the gems to do this since it was asked. I need the books for these cards so it’s ok :)

As you can see, there’s no rank here. It’s all solo work so all you need to concern with is the amount of points you gain as you go on. Again, the day and time of expiration is also there so you can keep track of your 10 days.

This is the list of points and items for those of us that can’t read Japanese. This can be found poking the purple button next to where your points are shown.

These are the random items you’ll get for each round.

Here’s the caveat to repeating a past event:

Event card still count in these do overs. If you or someone you know have them, they will boost your point count but the percentage won’t show like in the event. (I’ll post the photo of that when I get to work)

No fever tickets will be gifted. You have to purchase them if you want that gung ho kick to boost your pointage.

Reading the intermission stories WILL NOT give you gems. If you did it once before, good. If you haven’t, that’s not good but that it the suckage we must bare for these second chances.

One thing I have yet to determine is if you restart if you attempt one of these second chances for a 2nd or 3rd time. Most likely yes, unless they do that kindness and save your progress in that event. I’ll check back in 10 days and update this post regarding that.

So, I hope this helps. I feel like I went way beyond what you asked, but this just couldn’t have been done half-assed. If there’s anything I missed in this, please submit to the Ask Box so I can update this post. And, again, I will update come the 10 days and if I didn’t get all the books. I did try the event with the Epic Saizo card as a rank prize so that might reveal more.

To Be Continued~

#dorilovescrabbletutorial #love scramble #loveスク��ンブル #love スクランブル

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i-mweakforchangkyun · 7 years

Text

92 Statements Tag

ahhh thank you @paopuguk for tagging meee~! ilysm xo 💜💚

Sorry that there aren't 92 djsbkjrg BUT CLOSE ENOUGH

Rules: You must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 (or however many you'd like) people!

The Last :

1. Drink: Tea!

2. Phone Call (*drumroll* I am what I.M man I got a ph on e ca l l): Manager jbfsdkjzg

3. Text Message: A fave loser telling me to come visit them ❤️ @keenonkino

4. Song You Listened To: Fools but the cover by Namjoon and Kookie

5. Time You Cried: A while ago

6. Dated Someone Twice: yeh

7. Kissed Someone And Regretted It: unfortunately,,,,

8. Been Cheated On: yeh

9. Lost Someone Special: I guess it depends on how you mean but yeh

10. Been Depressed: ,,,,,,

11. Gotten Drunk And Thrown Up: Drunk yes thrown up nope

List 3 Favourite Colours (12-14):

Green, Blue and Purple! :D

In The Last Year Have You:

15. Made New Friends: yeeess~! (somehow)

16. Fallen Out Of Love: :??

17. Laughed Until You Cried: Y E S

18. Found Out Someone Was Talking About You: lmao yeh

19. Met Someone Who Changed You: nah

20. Found Out Who Your Friends Are: I suppose?

21. (S h ES TWENTY TWENTY TWENTY ONE N O W) Kissed Someone On Your Facebook List: yeh

General:

22. How Many Of Your Facebook Friends Do You Know IRL: pretty much all of them don't add randoms kids

23. Do You Have Any Pets: A cat and a pupper the cat reminds me of toothless from how to train your dragon and the dog is named after a chocolate bar, Chokito

24. Do You Want To Change Your Name: Not really, the other name I could have had when I was born would have been cool but also difficult lmao

25: What Did You Do For Your Last Birthday: WENT TO SUSHI TRAIN + ATE CAKE IT WAS G8

26: What Time Did You Wake Up: ,,maybe like 9 idk

27: What Were You Doing Last Night: Being murdered with Monsta X scenarios :))) (THANKS @officialyanan)

28. Name Something You Can’t Wait For: The new Spiderman man game yoooooo

29. When Was The Last Time You Saw Your Mum: hoooo maybe about 3 years ago??

30. What Are You Listening To Right Now: SH-SHAWTY GIMMEEE w h ip- whi p la shh lov NCT

31. Have You Ever Talked To A Person Named Tom: have indeed

32. Something That Gets On Your Nerves: When my feet just wont get warm they refuse to heat up and yet t h e re s t o fm e is warm???

33. Most Visited Website: Probably Youtube tbh

34-36 were missing!

37. Hair Colour: blue binch woop wooooop

38. Long Or Short Hair: Short!!

39. Do You Have A Crush On Someone: haven't had a proper c r u s h before tbh

40. What Do You Like About Yourself: my hair is pretty cool I guess

41. Piercings: firsts and seconds on my earlobes and a conch piercing in my right lmaooo

42. Blood Type: not a diddly dang clue my friend (hopefully blood type AAYYYEEEEE)

43. Nickname: most common is just Rom tbh but the second most common is RomCom

44. Relationship Status: Single Pringle

45. Zodiac: Aries ♈️

46. Pronouns: she/her 🙂

47. Favourite TV Show: hoooo man thats difficult I probably enjoyed Game Of Thrones the most of all the TV shows I’ve ever seen

48. Tattoos: none but definitely want to get a few

49. Right Or Left Handed: I'm right handed

50. Surgery: never had any

51. Piercings: already done lmao

52. Sports: none atm used to do netball

53. Vacation: uhh I mean I wanna go to Canada one day

54. Pair Of Trainers: usually just converse

55. Eating: Subway cookies heck yeh

56. Drinking: Melon ramune

57. I’m About To: Go play the crash bandicoot remastered game bc hoooooly sHIT CHILDHOOD

58. Waiting For: Cherry Bomb and Shine Forever albums to get the frick over here

60. Want: a lot of things but mainly a hug or something idk

61. Get Married: yes, to Hyuna

62. Career: A Sandwich Artist™️

Which Is Better:

63. Hugs Or Kisses: hmmm depends but usually hugs

64. Lips Or Eyes: eyes

65. Shorter Or Taller: taller

66. Older Or Younger: once again it really depends but im gonna say older?

67. Nice Arms Or Nice Stomach: don't really have a preference tbh

68. Hookup Or Relationship: r e l a t io n s hi p

69. Troublemaker Or Hesitant: both are good

Have You Ever:

70. Kissed A Stranger: ,,,,yeh

71. Drank Hard Liquor: yup

72. Lost Glasses Or Contacts: LMAOOO LOST GLASSES

73. Turned Someone Down: yess

74. Sex On The First Date: nope

75. Broken Someone’s Heart: yes 😔

76. Had Your Own Heart Broken: unfortunately,,,

77. Been Arrested: nope

78. Cried When Someone Died: yes

79. Fallen For A Friend: nope

Do You Believe In:

80. Yourself: LMAO I WISH MAN

81. Miracles: sure as heck do

82. Love At First Sight: no

83. Santa Claus: yeh boi

84. Kiss On The First Date: it really depends

85. Angels: yup :3 (i.m exists sooooo)

Others:

86. Current Best Friends Name: Yasmin, Maiah, Desmond and Jade love them all sm 💜 10/10 would fite 4

87. Eye Colour: Grey/Blue

88. Favourite Movie: hooo boy thats rlly hard and its never gonna be just one but the Avengers is fkn awesome

I tag: @officialyanan @keenonkino @artificialskyway @sugalamb @monstajaebum 🙈 Feel free do it if you’d like but if not thats fine too :3 💚

#tagged #this took longer than I thought omg

3 notes · View notes

halfwayanywhere · 6 years

Text

Hello and welcome to the results of the 2017 Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey!

Now that I’ve hiked the Continental Divide Trail, I feel it’s a good time to begin disseminating free information on the internet to make the CDT more accessible to people who will ultimately end up ruining the trail (just kidding…but not really…sorry, everyone).

Although this is my first year conducting a Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker survey, it’s my fifth year doing the same thing for the Pacific Crest Trail. I used my PCT survey as a template for this one, but made some adjustments to the questions and answer selections to try to capture information that would be especially helpful to CDT thru-hikers.

That being said, this is the first year I’m doing this, and despite having hiked the CDT this past year, I’m certain I missed a lot of potentially useful information. Once you’ve had a look at the data, I would love to hear your thoughts in the form of a comment or email.

Lastly, know that the following should be looked at skeptically; there’s nothing scientific about this data. I did my best to make sure this accurately reflects the data collected from this year’s Continental Divide Trail class and I tried to remove any obviously bad data (“guy who got attacked by wolves” you’re not helping anyone). My hope is that you find the following thru-hiking data (the best kind of data) entertaining, educational, and/or interesting.

Here you are, the results of Halfway Anywhere’s 2017 Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey:

JUMP TO A SECTION

NOTES ON THE DATA

THE DEMOGRAPHICS

THE BASICS

THE HIKING

THE RESUPPLY

THE GEAR

THE HEALTH

THE LIKES AND DISLIKES

THE FEAR, REGRETS, & ADVICE

CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR

Mexico

Canada

NOTES ON THE DATA

This year we had 85 completed surveys.

The responses to some questions have been sorted and colorized to normalize the results and (hopefully) make them more useful (e.g. northbound vs. southbound).

Not everyone meticulously documents the stats of their thru-hike. Therefore, the data is not 100% accurate. However, I am hoping people gave their best guesstimates when answering questions.

For simplicity’s sake, I refer to the survey respondents collectively as this year’s “class“. Remember that this is only a fraction of this year’s CDT hikers and is not necessarily representative of the entire CDT Class of 2017.

If you’re that kind of person and you find some small discrepancy in the data, get over it – may I remind you we aren’t dealing in exactness here. However, if you find a significant error, please let me know.

Here are the labels used to differentiate hiker segments:

THRU: Thru-hikers (all)

FINISH: Thru-hikers (all) who completed the entire CDT

NOFINISH: Thru-hikers (all) who did NOT complete the CDT

NOBO: Northbound thru-hikers (all)

NOBO-0: Northbound thru-hikers who did NOT complete the CDT

NOBO-1: Northbound thru-hikers who completed the CDT

SOBO: Southbound thru-hikers (all)

SOBO-0: Southbound thru-hikers who did NOT complete the CDT

SOBO-1: Southbound thru-hikers who completed the CDT

If NO LABEL has been appended to a data point, then I used all data collected.

SOUTHBOUND DATA: I received responses from FIFTEEN southbound thru-hikers. An additional THREE section-hiking southbounders responded as well, but their responses are not included in the SOBO-0 and SOBO-1 groups.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS

First, a look at some information that won’t help you prepare for a CDT thru-hike, but that is nonetheless interesting: HIKER DEMOGRAPHICS.

SEX | 71% Male, 27% Female

AGE | 0% 70

AVERAGE AGE | 38 (σ = 14.9)

RACE | 74% Caucasian, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic, 1% Black

EDUCATION | 5%

COUNTRIES | Canada, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA (8 TOTAL)

US STATES | AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY (27 TOTAL)

TOP FOUR COUNTRIES

USA 82%

(T) Germany 4%

(T) United Kingdom 4%

Canada 2%

TOP FOUR STATES

California 16%

(T) Arizona 7%

(T) Colorado 7%

(T) New York 7%

THE BASICS

Here we take a look at DATES for thru-hikes, whether hikers were on their FIRST THRU-HIKE, what trails people ALREADY HIKED, whether hikers BEGAN ALONE, and what everyone thought about TRAIL DAYS.

Of the thru-hikers this year, 92% had ALREADY COMPLETED another long-distance trail and only 8% were on their FIRST long-distance hike.

The trails most commonly hiked by those with experience were:

78% Pacific Crest Trail

55% Appalachian Trail

22% John Muir Trail

16% Colorado Trail

11% Arizona Trail

10% Wonderland Trail

10% Long Trail

5% Camino de Santiago

5% Te Araroa Trail

4% Florida Trail

3% Continental Divide Trail

12% Other Long-distance Trail

THRU – DID YOU BEGIN ALONE? | 60% Yes, 40% No

THRU – WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME DID YOU HIKE ALONE? | 63%

THRU – WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME DID YOU CAMP ALONE? | 46%

THRU – IF YOU BEGAN/ENDED YOUR HIKE AT CRAZY COOK MENUMENT (NM) DID YOU TAKE THE CDTC SHUTTLE? | 76% Yes, 24% No

NOBO – WHERE DID YOU BEGIN YOUR HIKE? | 100% Crazy Cook Monument

NOBO – MONTH STARTED?

6% March

53% April

41% May

NOBO – AVERAGE START DATE | April 23

NOBO – MOST POPULAR START DATES | April 13, 14, 21 | May 2

NOBO – AVERAGE DATE ENTERING SAN JUANS (LEAVE CHAMA, NM) | June 4

NOBO – HAPPY WITH START DATE?

68% Yes

8% No, would start earlier

21% No, would start later

NORTHBOUND START DATES

NOBO-0 – AVERAGE START DATE | April 22

NOBO-1 – AVERAGE START DATE | April 24

NOBO-0 – AVERAGE DATE ENTERING SAN JUANS (LEAVE CHAMA, NM) | May 31

NOBO-1 – AVERAGE DATE ENTERING SAN JUANS (LEAVE CHAMA, NM) | June 5

NOBO-1 – AVERAGE END DATE | September 15

NOBO-1 – AVERAGE COMPLETION TIME | 144 days (σ = 15.9)

NOTE: All the northbound thru-hikers who said they would have liked to START LATER began BEFORE APRIL 26.

SOBO – WHERE DID YOU BEGIN YOUR HIKE? 71% Chief Mountain, 29% Waterton

SOBO – MONTH STARTED?

5% May

53% June

42% July

SOBO – MOST POPULAR START DATE | July 1

SOBO – AVERAGE START DATE | June 27

SOBO – HAPPY WITH START DATE?

45% Yes

65% No, would start earlier

0% No, would start later

SOBO-1 – AVERAGE START DATE | June 26

SOBO-1 – AVERAGE END DATE | October 15

SOBO-1 – AVERAGE COMPLETION TIME | 111 days (σ = 23)

NOTE: All the southbound thru-hikers who said they would have liked to START EARLIER began AFTER JUNE 26.

If you’re into this kind of stuff, I will taking a deep dive into the differences between hikers who finished and those who did not in a future post. If that sound like something you would be interested in, enter your email below to make sure you don’t miss it.

TRAIL DAYS ATTENDANCE

75% Did not attend

2% Would NOT attend again

23% Would attend again

Now let’s look at whether hikers TRAINED for the CDT. I had everyone RATE THEIR FITNESS on a scale of 0 (Overweight, lazy waste of life) to 10 (Godlike superhuman) with “Average Joe” in the middle at 5.

THRU – DID YOU TRAIN FOR THE CDT? | 55% Yes, 45% No

THRU – AVERAGE FITNESS LEVEL | 6.8 (σ = 1.4)

FINISH – AVERAGE FITNESS LEVEL | 6.9 (σ = 1.4)

NOFINISH – AVERAGE FITNESS LEVEL | 6.5 (σ = 1.5)

THE HIKING

How much time did this year’s CDT class spend actually hiking?

Here are the HIKING STATS, including DAILY MILEAGE, number of ZEROES/NEAR-OS taken, and whether hikers FLIP-FLOPPED, hiked the ENTIRE CDT, or would hike the CDT AGAIN.

I also collected data on which ALTERNATES CDT hikers took this year. There are countless alternates along the CDT, but there are a few notable either official or defacto official alternates for hikers to choose from.

FINISH – AVERAGE DAYS ON TRAIL | 134 (σ = 24)

FINISH – AVERAGE LONGEST DAY | 41.6 mi mi / 67 km (σ = 8.6 mi / 13.8 km)

FINISH – AVERAGE DAILY MILEAGE* | 24 mi / 38.6 km (σ = 5.6 mi / 9 km)

FINISH – AVERAGE ZEROES | 19 (σ = 11)

FINISH – AVERAGE NEAR-OS | 13 (σ = 7.7)

WOULD CONSIDER HIKING THE CDT AGAIN? | 70% Yes, 30% No

THRU – DID YOU FLIP-FLOP? | 26% Yes, 74% No

THRU – DID YOU HIKE A CONTINUOUS/UNBROKEN FOOTPATH OF THE CDT?

48% Yes, and I did not NOT skip the fire closures.

4% Yes, but I skipped the fire closures.

26% Yes, but I may have missed a few miles here or there.

2% No, I hitched past/skipped some small sections.

0% No, I hitched past/skipped large sections.

*The AVERAGE DAILY MILEAGE was calculated by dividing the number of days it took hikers finish into 3,100 (the official length of the CDT). However, hiking all 3,100 miles of the official CDT is a very rare thing for thru-hikers to do. Instead, take this average daily mileage number as an upper limit instead as a rule.

As much as we all like to think that we’re going to succeed, I can guarantee you that not every would-be CDT thru-hiker will make it to the end. Here’s what’s probably going to happen to you.

DID YOU COMPLETE THE CDT? | 64% Yes, 36% No

WHY DID YOU NOT FINISH?

18% Fires

14% Injury

14% Work

14% Personal

7% Family

7% Snow

4% Financial

4% Illness

4% Didn’t enjoy it

4% Lost equipment

11% Declined to responed

NOFINISH – AVERAGE MILES FINISHED | 1,586 mi / 2,552 km (σ = 773 mi / 1,244 km)

Now for the ALTERNATES! Many CDT hikers use an app appropriately titled “CDT” (aka “Guthook” aka “Atlas Guides”). This app shows the trail as well as many of the alternates, which are colored within the app to distinguish them from the official CDT. I’ve included the colors of each alternate below since many hikers simply use these colors to refer to/identify these other trails (e.g. “The brown alternate south of Grants”). If you’re interested in the app (and if you’re hiking the CDT, you should be), you can find it here: iOS/Android.

The colors used to identify the popularity of each alternate are as follows: OVER 66%, 33-66%, LESS THAN 33%

NEW MEXICO

Columbus Alternate (Teal): 4%

Gila River Alternate (Pink): 79%

Gila River High Route Alternate (Orange): 34%

Pie Town Alternate via Mangas Mountain (Blue): 52%

Cebolla Wilderness Alternate (Brown): 47%

Bonita-Zuni Alternate (Blue): 47%

Mount Taylor Alternate (Purple): 64%

Ghost Ranch Alternate (Green): 74%

Other: 3%

COLORADO

Great Divide Alternate (Green): 10%

Elwood Pass (Blue): 14%

Creede Cutoff (Brown): 33%

Mirror Lake Alternate (Purple): 18%

Silverthorne Alternate (Teal): 40%

Montezuma Alternate: 5%

Argentine Spine (Pink): 10%

Rocky Mountain National Park Shortcut (Orange): 44%

Other: 3%

WYOMING

Ley Alternate south of Rawlins: 41%

Cirque of the Towers (Blue): 48%

Knapsack Col (Pink): 25%

Leeds Creek (Teal): 7%

Other: 1%

IDAHO/MONTANA

Mack’s Inn Alternate (Blue): 71%

Anaconda Cutoff (Blue): 64%

Butte Connector (Brown): 3%

Spotted Bear Pass (Orange): 38%

Chief Mountain (Pink): 56%

Other: 10%

“Let Alternate” refers to an alternate route on the Ley Maps – maps produced by CDT hiker Jonathan Ley. More on the Ley Maps here.

THE RESUPPLY

For those of you thinking about setting off on a Continental Divide Trail adventure, you’re probably wondering about resupply (aka how and where do you get your hiker fuel aka food).

Here’s this year’s RESUPPLY STRATEGY, including the number of BOXES sent, and where hikers SUGGEST MAILING a box.

RESUPPLY STRATEGY

8% mailed ALL boxes

82% mailed SOME boxes

10% mailed NO boxes

REMEMBER that you can mail yourself boxes from ON THE TRAIL and don’t have to have ALL your resupply boxes prepared ahead of time. Many towns have large supermarkets.

FINISH – AVERAGE RESUPPLY STOPS MADE | 27 (σ = 4)

FINISH – AVERAGE BOXES SENT | 9.6 (σ = 8.4)

What locations would hikers DEFINITELY MAIL a resupply box?

Doc Campbell’s (New Mexico)

Pie Town (New Mexico)

Ghost Ranch (New Mexico)

Leadore (Idaho)

Lima (Montana)

South Pass City (Wyoming)

Where would hikers have prefered to MAIL A BOX instead of purchasing locally?

Doc Campbell’s (New Mexico)

Encampment (Wyoming)

CHANGES to your resupply strategy?

Send MORE VARIETY in boxes.

Send HEALTHIER FOOD in boxes.

Prepare NO boxes ahead of time.

Send FEWER resupply boxes.

Mail boxes from ON TRAIL instead of ahead of time.

The average number of boxes sent by hikers who said they would liked to have sent FEWER boxes? Twelve. The average number of boxes sent by hikers who said they would liked to have sent MORE boxes? Six. The average number of resupply boxes sent? Eight.

So if you’re taking this advice and looking to send EIGHT resupply boxes (which also fits with the strategy of only sending yourself SOME boxes), the places you should send them – according to this survey – are (from Mexico to Canada):

Don’t forget to check the hiker box before you resupply!

Doc Campbell’s (New Mexico)

Pie Town (New Mexico)

Ghost Ranch (New Mexico)

Encampment (Wyoming)

South Pass City (Wyoming)

Leadore (Idaho)

Lima (Montana)

Benchmark Guest Ranch (Montana)

NOTE: From South Pass City it is possible to hitch to Lander and from Benchmark Guest Ranch it is possible to hitch (or arrange a ride) to Augusta. You can resupply locally in both of these towns.

I also asked where hikers resupplied. I have used the following colors to indicate the popularity of each stop: In geographical order, starting at Mexico, here are the most popular resupply stops (aka everywhere at least 70% of respondents said they paid a visit to): OVER 66%, 33-66%, LESS THAN 33%.

NEW MEXICO

Lordsburg (90%)

Columbus (12%)

Deming (12%)

Silver City (96%)

Doc Campbell’s (90%)

Pie Town (98%)

Quemado (6%)

Grants (98%)

Cuba (94%)

Santa Fe (18%)

Ghost Ranch (92%)

Taos (8%)

Chama (Cumbres Pass) (90%)

COLORADO

Pagosa Springs (Wolf Creek Pass) (92%)

South Fork (Wolf Creek Pass) (27%)

Platoro (10%)

Del Norte (6%)

Creede (43%)

Silverton (Stony Pass) (41%)

Durango (1%)

Lake City (Spring Creek Pass) (53%)

Monarch Mountain Lodge (Monarch Pass) (25%)

Salida (Monarch Pass) (86%)

Buena Vista (16%)

Twin Lakes (16%)

Leadville (84%)

Copper Mountain (51%)

Breckenridge (55%)

Silverthorne (49%)

Dillon (18%)

Winter Park (41%)

Fraser (27%)

Denver (24%)

Grand Lake (92%)

Steamboat Springs (Rabbit Ears Pass) (88%)

WYOMING

Encampment (Battle Pass) (73%)

Riverside (Battle Pass) (22%)

Rawlins (100%)

South Pass City (76%)

Atlantic City (35%)

Lander (63%)

Pinedale (53%)

Dubois (Togwotee Pass) (82%)

Jackson (Togwotee Pass) (12%)

Brooks Lake Lodge (22%)

Grant Village (Yellowstone) (47%)

Old Faithful Village (Yellowstone) (92%)

IDAHO/SOUTHERN MONTANA

West Yellowstone (29%)

Island Park (Mack’s Inn) (76%)

Lima (96%)

Leadore (Bannock Pass) (92%)

Tendoy (2%)

Salmon (18%)

Jackson (8%)

Darby (Lost Trail Pass) (65%)

Hamilton (Lost Trail Pass) (2%)

Wisdom (33%)

NORTHERN MONTANA

Wise River (14%)

Anaconda (84%)

Butte (24%)

Helena (90%)

Elliston (4%)

Lincoln (75%)

Bemchmark Wilderness Ranch (43%)

Augusta (47%)

East Glacier Village (96%)

Two Medicine (67%)

Many Glacier (75%)

So what about hitchhiking? I asked hikers which resupply stops they had difficulty making it to from the trail. The top responses were:

Lake City (Colorado)

Lander (Wyoming)

Leadore (Idaho)

Lima (Montana)

Keep in mind that hitchhiking can be a very subjective experience and sometimes people can get lucky (or unlucky). Personally, I think waiting two hours for a hitch isn’t terrible. Others would probably consider this to be the worst hitch ever.

Need help figuring out where the cool places to go are? Here are hikers’ FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE resupply points (for each section):

FAVORITE RESUPPLY POINTS

NEW MEXICO: Pie Town

COLORADO: Salida

WYOMING: Lander

MONTANA: Helena

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Leadville (Colorado)

Steamboat Springs (Colorado)

LEAST FAVORITE RESUPPLY POINTS

Leadore via Bannock Pass (Idaho)

Doc Campbell’s (New Mexico)

Grants (New Mexico)

Cuba (New Mexico)

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS

Benchmark Wilderness Ranch (Montana)

Chama via Cumbres Pass (New Mexico)

THE GEAR

If there’s anything that can compete with resupply for “most time spent thinking about before a thru-hike”, it’s gear. Getting gear together for a thru-hike can be a challenge, especially if you’re in the majority of hikers who haven’t attempted a long-distance trail before.

So let’s take a look at the PCT Class of 2017’s gear, shall we?

THRU – AVERAGE BASE WEIGHT (START) | 19.49 lb / 8.84 kg (σ = 8.7 lb / 4 kg)

THRU – AVERAGE BASE WEIGHT (END) | 16.51 lb / 7.49 kg (σ = 6.6 lb / 3 kg)

THRU – AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT ON GEAR | $1,560 (σ = $912)

FINISH – PAIRS OF SHOES USED (AVERAGE) | 4 (σ = 1.2)

FINISH – AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT ON ENTIRE HIKE |$6,221 (σ = $2,548)

For more on PCT costs, check out How Much Does it Cost to Hike The Pacific Crest Trail?

AVERAGE SLEEPING BAG TEMPERATURE RATING | 18°F / -8°C

AVERAGE BACKPACK SIZE | 56 L

Here are the MOST COMMONLY USED “Big 4” items: PACKS, SHELTERS, SLEEPING BAGS, and SLEEPING PADS (I know it’s the “Big 3”, but I like to include sleeping pads; and I like symmetry). This year, I’ve added a SATISFACTION RATING for each piece of gear (based on responses from hikers).

THE MOST POPULAR BACKPACKS

ULA Circuit (92%)

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest (100%)

Osprey Exos (88%)

Zpacks Arc Blast (100%)

Gossamer Gear Mariposa (100%)

THE MOST POPULAR SHELTERS

Zpacks Hexamid (87%)

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 (100%)

Tarptent ProTrail (100%)

Zpacks Soloplex (100%)

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 (100%)

THE MOST POPULAR SLEEPING BAGS

Western Mountaineering UltraLite (91%)

Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20° (63%)

Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20° (63%)

ZPacks 10° Sleeping Bag (77%)

Western Mountaineering Versalite (100%)

THE MOST POPULAR SLEEPING PADS

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (100%)

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (100%)

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol (91%)

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Short) (90%)

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol (Short) (100%)

But in addition to the big ticket items, hikers also need to consider what they’re bringing in the STOVE, WATER TREATMENT, and SHOE departments. Here’s the most popular gear: