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discordantwritings · 3 months

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Our Precious Assistant Pt. 4. 5 (Cross Guild x Reader)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, gn afab! Reader (but reader wears panties), dom! Reader, sub! Buggy, Buggy steals your panties that’s the whole thing, dry humping, oral, mentions of Mihawk/ Crocodile x Reader and Mihawk/ Crocodile x Buggy

WC: 2k

Summary: One of the leaders of the Cross Guild has been stealing your panties. It’s not hard to guess who.

Notes: just a lil interlude that focuses on a pervy Buggy

One of your skills that made you such a good assistant was that you were observant. You noticed when Mihawk’s wine or Crocodile’s cigars had to be restocked before they did. You noticed which days each of them preferred to do their paperwork- Buggy needed to get his on Monday so it would actually be done by Friday, Mihawk needed his on Wednesday since he was training or out on missions earlier in the week, and Crocodile got his Friday as he rounded up everyone’s files. There was a reason you were kept around before you started dating them.

So, all that is to say, you noticed when things were different. When, say, a pair of your underwear ends up neatly folded in your drawer. Folded, and not rolled up tightly like you normally tend to. It wasn’t anything at first- a pair of your panties probably ended up in someone else’s laundry pile and they nicely placed it back in your drawer. Easy enough to shrug off.

Then it happened a second time. A pair you had noticed had been missing for over a week, almost immaculately folded and placed on top of your other clothes. A few too many laundry cycles had gone by for it to have slipped into someone else’s… but it could have just been awkwardly missed in a corner somewhere after someone (Buggy or Crocodile) flung it across the room.

It was the third time when you put some pieces together. You remember the last time you wore these panties, it was a bright red pair you wore specifically to tease the boys. The pair stayed on you for most of the night until Buggy finally slid them off. And then you remember after your first night with all of them someone had taken your panties then too- a pair that was never returned.

It didn’t take long for you to narrow down which one of them was “borrowing” your delicates. Really, only one of them was both a pervert and sneaky about it.

All your suspicions got confirmed late on night at the office. It had been a hard week for you and Buggy since both Crocodile and Mihawk were gone, leaving the two of you to cover all the day to day work. Convincing Buggy to do just his share of work was an uphill battle- more than he was used to was near impossible. You loved him but he was getting on your last nerve.

You thought you were done for the day until you got home and realized you were missing a file from Buggy- something he promised he had finished and slipped into your bag. Tired and annoyed you stormed back to the office, hoping the clown had decided to camp out in his office again. When you got back you didn’t even bother knocking, getting good money he was already sound asleep in some godawful position on one of his plush couches.

You were wrong.

He was on one of his couches but he was sitting up, legs spread and head pressed back just over the top of the couch so he was looking at the ceiling. Well- would be looking at the ceiling if his face wasn’t buried in your panties.

A black pair- you remember it getting shucked off your legs after a long night of sitting in Crocodile’s lap while he worked- you had made a mess of them. One of Buggy’s hands holds it to his face while the other furiously works his cock. He was so caught up he hadn’t heard you enter, seemingly consumed by the smell and thought of you.

A whiny moan from Buggy has you catch your balance on the doorway, flushing from head to toe. He takes a deep inhale before dragging the underwear down his face and chest to wrap around his dick. You watch the fabric slide up and down as Buggy covers his face, hips bucking up into his own grasp.

“Fuckkkkk-“ His hand combs through his hair as his grip on himself tightens and in that moment he opens his eyes.

There’s a second where everything stops and the two of you are just staring at each other, both breathless and flushed. Then you see him retract a bit, shoving himself further back into the couch as his hand makes a feeble attempt to cover himself.

“Whatever you think this is- certainly isn’t.” It was a lame excuse and both of you know it.

“What should I think this is?” You tilt your head as you walk closer to him, door shutting behind you.

“Just- uh-“ You see his brain fumble for any kind of reasonable excuse. Which of course there isn’t. “Shit just don’t be mad-“

“Mad?” You finally are at the couch and you slowly position yourself on his lap. “I’m not mad.”

“N-No?” His voice is high pitched as he searches your face, his arms floundering at his side.

“I’ve known for a little bit about your borrowing habits.” Your knees are just outside his thighs and you hold yourself up so your hips aren’t touching his.

“You have- and you didn’t- you let me?” Less worry laces his voice, curiosity taking over as he finally moves his hands to your thighs.

“The thought of what you could be doing-“ You smile, an embarrassed flush covering your face. “It’s very hot.”

“Oh really?” That devilish smile of his is back on his face as his hands wander up to your hips, gripping tight. “So I’m not the only pervert here?”

You shake your head. “And you know…”

You brush some of that bright blue hair behind his ear and your hand comes to the side of his neck, thumb rubbing circles along his throat. “Crocodile and Mihawk said I was in charge while they were away…”

“Y-Yeah?” You feel Buggy try to push your hips down but you don’t budge.

“I feel a little bad that you didn’t come to me when you were like this…” Your one hand presses a bit tighter against his neck while the other slowly travels down his chest. “So worried that I’d think you were a nasty pervert…”

You bite back a smile at the way his breath hitches. His fingers grip tighter and you’re confident you’ll have some bruises later. “Baby- C’mon-“

He lifts his hips slightly and you debate with yourself how mean you were going to be. You didn’t have it in you to be cruel to him like Crocodile and Mihawk were but you did have some ideas…

You slide off him for a second and he whines at the loss but quickly cuts off any complaints as he watches you slowly remove your pants. You make sure to leave your underwear on before you lean back into him, fingers playing at the hem of the pair of panties still wrapped around his dick. The fabric is soaked through with saliva and precum and you lightly pull it off with one finger and set it to the side.

“How about we get you a new pair to ruin?” You ask as you slide back onto his lap, dragging your barely clothed core over him.

“That-“ Buggy tries to reply but he breaks off into a whiny moan as you grind down onto him.

You grip hard onto his shoulder to steady yourself, head resting on his forehead as you breathe deep. You can feel the size of him, the warmth of him, slotting against you and dragging against your clit. Dragging your hips back and forth slowly you tangle your fingers through his soft blue hair and use your grip there to angle his head up to expose his neck.

You place sloppy kisses along the column of his neck, occasionally pausing to suck a bruise into his pale skin. It clicks in your head why Crocodile and Mihawk torture him- the pathetic sounds he makes fill you with lust, your panties throughly soaked through at this point. He ruts up and you gasp against his neck as he slams against your clit just right.

“Fuck- just like that Bug-“ You grip his hair tighter and he repeats the motion, leaving you moaning into his neck.

Using his hold on your hips he forces you down as he thrusts upwards, his strength surprising you. Realizing he could have forced you down at any time, that he willingly submitted to your control pushes you over the edge into your orgasm.

You feel one of Buggy’s hands rub the small of your back as you refocus. You sit back up straighter and pull him into a sloppy kiss, your tongue practically jumping down his throat. Catching his moans in his throat you feel him throb beneath you as he still is jerking up into your folds. When you lean back to catch your breath you place a hand on his chest and hover you hips a bit higher. Buggy looks up at you, eyes clouded with lust and confusion.

“Saw how you loved shoving your face in my panties-“ You don’t even finish your sentence before Buggy is flipping you around to sit on the couch and he is on his knees in front of you.

His hands desperately shove your thighs apart and you watch as he just stares at you. You are soaked in your own slick, fabric drenched through and darkened. Buggy’s pupils are blown out as he looks at you, hands mindlessly groping at your thighs.

“Buggy.” Simply saying his name snaps him out of his daze and he immediately shoves his face between your thighs.

He is messy and desperate as he licks you over the cloth of your underwear, soaking it even more. You grab a handful of his hair and hike your legs around his shoulder all to hold his face as close as possible to you. You grind on his nose- his tongue- whatever he puts closest to your clit and moan unabashedly. You’re used to something a little more precise but something about how sloppy and depraved Buggy is right now has you immediately close to cumming again.

You straighten up a bit to try and get a better angle on seeing him and while you don’t have the full view you want you see his arm moving up and down in a distinctive way. It’s then you notice the first pair of panties- the one you caught him with- have mysteriously vanished from your side. It’s not hard to put it all together.

“You really are a filthy perv huh? Not enough to cum in your hand has to be in my panties?” You goad him on, grinding even harder down on his face.

He whines into your folds and you see his arm work faster but you yank on his hair in warning. “You know the rules Bug- get me off again first.”

He redoubles his efforts, teeth gently nipping at your clit through the fabric between letting you simply grind against his face. You mumble praises to him between moans but you’re pretty sure your words are incomprehensible. Already sensitive it only takes a few more pointed grinds before you’re screaming Buggy’s name as you cum.

You take only a second for yourself before you rake your fingers through Buggy’s hair, nails gently scraping against his scalp. “Did such a good job Buggy-“

At that simple praise and after holding his orgasm off for so long you see his hips stutter and he bites down on your thigh as he cums. Slowly he drags himself back up onto the couch, flopping next to you, breathless.

All of the slick and saliva starts to cool between your thighs so you reach down and shimmy off your panties. Absolutely soaked through you grimace slightly but you tuck the pair into a pocket on Buggy’s vest.

“mmmm you’re the best.” Buggy lays his head in your thighs and curls up. You smile and run your fingers through his hair.

“I’m too nice to you.”

You pause, and then remember why you were here in the first place.

“But if your paperwork isn’t on time for the rest of the week I’ll tell Mihawk and Crocodile about your habits.”

“TATTLETAIL!”

#one piece x reader #one piece x you #x reader #buggy x reader #buggy the clown x reader #crocodile x reader #mihawk x reader #sir crocodile x reader #dracule mihawk x reader #discordantwritings

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argisthebulwark · 9 months

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Severed Ties Part Two: Why You Came Back

summary: Time heals all wounds and somehow, you will find your way back to each other. gn reader, no pronouns or y/n used. Part One: Why You Left feat: Brynjolf, Miraak, Erandur, Teldryn, Vilkas, Farkas, Rune, Arnbjorn warnings: none, bit longer than usual.

Between all your duties and missing Brynjolf, it took time to find a comfortable rhythm. There was no escaping each other even after you put an end to your romantic involvement, only breaks coming in the form of jobs halfway across Skyrim. Through everything you worked together to get the Guild back on its feet. You entrusted Brynjolf solely with its care when Nocturnal came calling, reminding you that the Skeleton Key’s rightful place was in her temple. The Twilight Sepulcher drained your body and soul. Exhaustion sapped at your strength when you shuffled out, unsure how you were going to get back to the inn. Riften was another beast entirely. Chilly fingers shook at the prospect of your bed being so far away, ready to risk it all for a short nap in the forest. Brynjolf was planted a few paces away, hood thrown back and worry in his eyes. Your heart stopped at the sight. You’d never seen him so far from Riften. He took one cautious step as if you were a wounded animal, like you'd bolt if he came too close. Collapsing into his arms felt like home. Strong arms carried you when your muscles failed, tears springing into your eyes when he tucked you safely into his chest. You gulped back the words you hadn’t said in ages when he buried his nose in his hair, turning to carry you home. He'd left all duties behind to be there for you when you needed him most. “I promise, love. Nothing’s gettin’ in the way of you and I again. Sorry it took me so long.”

Tales of Miraak’s reign of terror over Solstheim slowed, the island calming and hesitantly returning to its normal life. It had been years since you’d left Apocrypha and you could only hope that he’d found the answers he’d wanted so badly or at least some form of peace. The last memory of him still pained you but you’d never forget it - robes wrinkled where he crouched over the ancient desk, eyes wild and fingers stained with dark ink. Being back on Nirn was a blessing and a curse. You had settled quite easily into your life but there was a constant nagging need to hear every rumor about him, to keep up to date on what he was doing. Your home was comfortable but quiet, interrupted by a harsh knock on your door. Seeing him again stopped your heart. His eyes were wide, blessedly free from the mania you’d come to know. The mask and gloves were gone, robes traded for simple armor. There he stood, the man who had forgotten you suddenly standing on your doorstep, that lovely voice saying words you’d craved to hear. “I gave it all up. I gave up everything to stand here and ask you for another chance and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, My Dragon.”

You didn’t recognize him in such normal, simple clothes. Erandur, who lived in robes befitting a priest and Mara’s regalia, took the empty seat across from you in the tavern. His fingers quivered when he offered you a hand, hope bright in his eyes when he introduced himself. “I had to come over here, I couldn’t stop staring. You’re stunning.” His attempt to sound nonchalant sent a nervous giggle bubbling out of you. “Can we put the past behind us and start over?” “Start over?” You didn’t release his hand and he didn't pull away, heart swelling when you saw his smile. All else was forgotten when you felt Erandur’s tattooed fingers climbing up your wrist. “I am just a man who very badly wants to kiss someone he saw across the crowded tavern. Nothing more.”

A compromise. That’s what he’d proposed. Teldryn sat at your table, eyes sparkling when he took in the house you’d built. It was far from the bustling cities, trees insulating you from the noise of nearby farms. After parting from Teldryn it had become a safe haven from the rest of the world. You’d never admit that building it with your own hands was fueled mostly by spite. He’d come with apologies and offers mingled together in a practiced speech. Some time at home, some on the road, all of it spent together. It was unsettling how easily you trusted him again after all the time spent apart. His helmet rested on the table when Teldryn met your eyes and for the first time he looked unsure of what to say. His mouth opened, closing again and you caught a glimpse of that annoyed furrow between his brows you’d missed. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to settle down in one place, but I could get used to this slow life with you. For a while.”

Loving Vilkas was easy, you’d never truly stopped. Learning to be gentle with one another was difficult. You struggled to learn how to look past your relationship and see Vilkas as more than your partner, acknowledging his role in the Companions. He worked on seeing you as more than his Harbinger, viewing you as his partner once again. It was a slow process - taking breaks and setting boundaries, but he was worth it. During the day you worked, creating healthier avenues for conversation. At night you were partners, nothing more. No work talk was allowed between dinner and breakfast. In those evenings you found one another again, softening and loving each other as you had so long ago. “Remind me, Harbinger. Am I permitted to kiss you during working hours? Are we allowed to sit this close, or are you worried I’ll distract you?”

Breezehome had been yours before Farkas entered your life. It was your refuge during the evenings when you couldn’t bear Jorrvaskr’s halls or the memories they held. A cool breeze whipped through your hair when you walked home, masking his footsteps until he appeared at your side. Neither one of you said a word when he took your hand, falling in step with you and allowing you to guide him to your doorstep. It didn’t happen all at once. Rather, it was small changes that slowly altered your life. It took work for Farkas to summon the confidence to live for himself, extracting his sense of self worth from the Companions. You reminded him that it was a balance, leaving wasn’t permanent. Dinners were often spent in Jorrvaskr before retreating to the peace of your home. “I didn’t think I was anything more than a fighter. Didn’t think anyone would want me to be more.”

Each day felt like a new opportunity for growth. You watched Rune from a distance hoping that he would make peace with his past. You didn’t want him to give up but it was too painful to love someone who lived entirely in the mysteries of what could have been, as if you were only allowed to love part of him. Luckily, Delvin and Vex had an endless catalogue of tasks that no one else wanted to complete. Jobs in other holds, jewelry to be stolen in Whiterun and planted on some poor sap in Solitude, the occasional trip to confer with the Dark Brotherhood. All the travel was good for your mind, allowing you time to think through everything far from him. Falling into your cot you stared up at the Cistern’s ceiling. Watery light from the early morning sun reminded you that you’d stayed up all night again. It had been difficult to sleep with Rune cramped into your tiny bed but without him the space felt too empty. His footsteps were silent when he knelt beside your bed, his warm hand on your shoulder the only warning that he was there. “I’ll never give up, not entirely. But it isn’t worth losing you over. Just give me some time, please don’t forget about me.”

Arnbjorn consumed your every thought. Despite your best efforts to appear cool and indifferent you couldn’t take another moment. It was fairly easy to avoid him during the day, but every evening you struggled to not look at him through dinner. After all the others had left in search of bed or prepping for their assignment you found yourself alone with him, a few drinks deep and blood heating under the weight of his gaze. Too drunk to be embarrassed by the stumbling way you explained how badly you wanted to be loved by him again, how deeply you wanted him to love you. You didn’t want to be a replacement for the love he’d lost. Cheeks burning and tears spilling you gasped out the least graceful declaration of love and how much you missed him. Your name on his lips had never sounded better. Soothing kisses and careful hands sufficed when words failed. You knew he wasn’t comfortable vocalizing softer emotions. Arnbjorn’s lips were on your forehead, fists balled into his armor when you dragged him closer. “Just need you to trust me, okay? It’s only you. My past is my past, no changin’ it. I just need some time but I promise it’s only you.”

#skyrim #skyrim fanfic #skyrim x reader #x reader fanfic #writing #brynjolf #miraak #erandur #teldryn sero #vilkas #farkas #rune skyrim #arnbjorn

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cosmicmagicgirl · 1 year

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Do you trust me? - Comfort/Hurt/Fluff - Luffy x F/Reader.

@littleblueeyedmoon request: Hi! I saw that your request are open, and i thought I’d give it a try. Could i request some comfort/hurt ending with fluff with an insecure reader about her value with Luffy?

First he found her on that island, and obviously protected her from the Cidre Guild's attacks. It wouldn't be enough to just fall in during Empress Hancock's bath, Luffy also had to be oblivious to all the woman's advances. Not that you could get too mad at him, his laid back and innocent personality is what won you over in the first place.

Loving Luffy is not hard, in fact, it is the easiest thing. It's like breathing, you just do it. He was the sun itself, which is slightly ironic since his ship is the Thousand Sunny, but it's the truth, Luffy was easy to love and warmed the heart of anyone who was in his presence. However, being in the presence of someone like that makes you question your own worth, not that this is your captain's fault, but it is because he was an amazing human being in every sense of the word, it is true when we say that everyone is capable of loving Luffy to some level. That included all kinds of people, especially women.

This intensified after the two years you were apart, you trained hard, but not being by Luffy's side when he lost Ace made you feel terrible, you didn't want to imagine the extent of his pain...

And it only got worse when you learned that during this whole process the famous Empress Boa Hancock was present, and had a crush on your captain. You wish you could have been there, hugged Luffy and dried all the tears that might have run down your face during the nightmares of every night, but you weren't. You just buried it in your chest and moved on knowing that Luffy wouldn't take any of it from you, it seemed such a petty thing to feel jealous of the Empress at that point, and it was his order even that you all get stronger and get back together again two years later.

Would you be something after that time? Not that you had labeled your relationship, but before it was obvious to everyone in the crew that you were together. Was it a normal relationship? Definitely not, because nothing with Luffy could be normal. However, you knew he was with you and you were happy, but now what?

When you met again you decided to keep deep down that little insecurity that had settled in your mind during the period when you were apart.

But it has been a bit hard for you...

Luffy was never one to flirt with anyone, so that was never something you would worry about. The problem is that he was too oblivious and too kind for his own good....

You wanted to have been happy that Luffy had found the invitation to the Pirate Festival, but the interaction with Hancock looped through your mind, so nothing the crew talked about made you feel excited. However, you knew how to fake it well, you were always good at hiding your feelings, you just didn't know how far you could mask your insecurities.

So when Luffy smiled and announced "Let's set sail, our destination is Delta Island" you put your best smile on your face and agreed.

Well, the Festival couldn't have been worse for you, I mean, you even tried to have fun with the girls and Chopper while shopping, but your mind was away. However, nothing is bad enough that it can't get worse, that's what you thought when you were thrown to the other side of Delta Island by Douglas Bullet when you tried to protect Usopp and the treasure that would be Luffy's. You fell straight into the sea, and blacked out.

You woke up with Nami calling you and putting pressure on your chest.

- Thank God you're awake! - she sighed with relief. - What a fright you gave me!

You got up quickly and let all the water out of your lungs.

- I'm sorry - you forced a smile. - Is everyone all right?

Nami smiled and handed you a towel.

- Yes, I mean... Luffy is still fighting that thing - she pointed to the other side of the island.

You got to your feet with some difficulty and tried to hand the towel back to Nami.

- I should get back? - you said.

- Look! It's Shichibukai Empress Boa Hancock! - you heard Bartolomeo shout.

Nami and you looked in her direction from a considerable distance.

- Listen up! No matter what I do, the whole world will be at my feet. Do you know why? - said the woman. - Because I'm too beautiful!

Nami rolled her eyes.

A Navy captain shouted some order, but received a nervous response from the Empress.

- Shut up! - she shouted. - Where is Luffy?

Your body tensed, and you gripped the towel in your hands tighter when you saw Hancock heading toward where Luffy was supposed to be fighting.

Nami looked back at you and grabbed your hand.

- Hey... are you okay? - she asked worriedly.

When your friend touched your hand you automatically made a mental note to hide your reactions better, so you blinked at her and gave her a big smile.

- Yes, thank you for saving me, Nami - you shook her hand back. - I'll help with the Navy ships.

She frowned.

- I thought you were going back to help Luffy.

You forced a laugh from your lips.

- I'd only be in the way, the Captain doesn't need my help. - you tried to soften your voice as much as possible. - I'm going now.

- Hey, wait! - Nami shouted, but to no avail.

You were already gone.

It was no surprise to you when they said that Luffy had destroyed the Eternal Pose for Laugh Tale, it was just his style to do that. Everyone went back to the ship, Usopp was still sleeping because of his injuries, but in the end everyone was safe and sound.

It was quite an adventure.

And just when you thought you could finally calm your mind since the events with Boa Hancock and the Cidre's Guild, you couldn't be more wrong. The Empress decided to sail her ship side by side with Sunny for a few days, that meant she would be by Luffy's side the whole time and her dear captain wouldn't do anything about it, of course he wouldn't, why would he? Were you really something? Did you compare in beauty and strength to the great Shichibukai? God, you were sure you didn't.

Having to see all the moments when she declared herself and showed her affection for your boyfriend, while he just smiled and continued to play with Usopp only dug an even deeper hole in your chest.

It was here that you realized that your mask was about to come off, and it would be awful to have someone ask about it, you felt like such an idiot for letting your feelings get the worst of you. But gosh, it was so painful to think that you would never be enough for him, it would be easier to just feel an emptiness inside - like you felt before you met Luffy.

Looking at your pictures together in your little notebook reminded you of when you first met the straw hat. Meeting Luffy was like spending years in the desert searching for water and finding an oasis, it was like receiving a warm, cozy lap after spending years in a snowstorm alone, and most of all it was hope. Thinking about losing Luffy to someone who would probably be much better than you only made the shame of yourself increase - you were pathetic.

So you did what you thought would be best, you isolated yourself. As long as the Empress remained, you would avoid leaving the room and take any task that would get you away from everyone. Your insecurities took over your mind, and the last thing you needed was for any of your companions to feel sorry for you or just try to comfort you. You loved them, but you couldn't handle it now?

That's what you thought at least.

You walked up to the crow's nest and spotted the one you were looking for - Zoro was sleeping as usual. You kicked his feet gently to wake him up.

He opened one of his eyes.

- I was awake, you know.

You rolled your eyes and laughed.

- I just wanted to make sure - you said as you crossed your arms. - You can go to sleep, I'll pick up your shift.

Zoro raised one eyebrow.

- Again? - he said, getting up.

- Yes - you answered bluntly. - Don't you want to go to sleep?

This time the green-haired man crossed his arms.

- You've been taking all night shifts for three days now, and I ask you, don't you want to go to sleep?

You sat down with your back to him and stared at the Empress ship through the window.

- No, I'm fine - you stretched and picked up the new book Robin had given you as a present at the Festival.

Zoro stared at you, and scratched the back of his neck.

- You want to talk-

You interrupted him.

- Good night, Zoro - and began to read the book.

The swordsman sighed and walked away, leaving you in the company of silence and your newest book.

-Y/n! - called Luffy, smiling. - Come here!

You smiled and went toward Sunny's head, Luffy's favorite spot.

He stretched out his arms and wrapped them around your waist, and pulled you up.

- Luffy! - you exclaimed. - Careful, we might fall!

He laughed with a toothy grin.

- Shishishi - he hugged you tight. - I'll never let you fall, y/n! Don't you trust me?

You were surprised at his words, but then you smiled at him with all the affection your heart could muster.

- Of course I trust you, Captain. - you took his hand in yours. - The future King of Pirates would never let me fall!

And he smiled even wider as you watched the sunset.

You could already see the sun rising over the horizon, so you knew that Sanji would be waking up to prepare breakfast. Knowing this you dispelled the memories that hit you, went downstairs and straight to the kitchen to have your coffee before everyone else, and then stay in your room for the rest of the day.

As soon as you entered the kitchen Sanji welcomed you with a gentle smile.

- I see you've picked up the watch again - he said, handing you a cup of tea. - May I ask how long you will be doing this, sweetie?

You smiled at your friend thanking him for the tea.

- How long will I be taking shifts? - you played dumb.

Sanji went back to the stove and had his back to you.

- He can be pretty stupid most of the time - you smiled. - But he's not stupid, you know...

You picked up one of the muffins he had put on the table.

- Thanks for breakfast, Sanji - you finished drinking your tea and eating, and got up to put them in the sink since Sanji would never allow you to wash them.

And so you made your way to the girls' room.

Nami had probably already got up to take her shower, so she was not in the room, but Robin was.

- Picked up the watch again I suppose? - she said in her soft voice.

You put your things on the table, got into bed and covered yourself up.

- I wanted to read that book, so this is the best time - you replied. Robin agreed.

- Luffy asked about you all day yesterday - she reported. - But I told him you were asleep, because you spent the night on watch.

Your body froze.

- Right... - you curled up even closer under the covers. - Thank you, Robin.

Robin walked over to the table and picked up the book you were reading, you had read fewer pages than usual, she concluded by marking it.

- Perhaps you would like to know that the Empress will be leaving with her ship soon? - she stared at you, but you didn't move. - Perhaps tomorrow.

You sat up in bed.

- God, this is so ridiculous. - you rubbed your face. - It's so obvious to all of you, isn't it?

- Well, isolating yourself might not have been very subtle. - Nami's voice came, she had just entered the room.

- Maybe I'm just tired of being subtle - you muttered.

- It's about time, finally then! - she exploded.

Robin laughed.

You threw yourself back on the bed.

- You have to tell him. - Nami said.

You snorted.

- That's pretty obvious, Nami, thanks - you said ironically. - It hadn't even crossed my mind.

- Apparently it didn't even cross your mind since you're avoiding him like a plague! - she said nervously. - Consequently driving us all away together.

You sighed.

- I know, I'm sorry...

- Just get rid of whatever's bothering you - Nami ordered. - You always keep everything to yourself, if you don't want to talk to Luffy about it yet, at least talk to us. We're your friends.

Robin agreed.

- I feel so stupid about this. - you admitted. - I hate feeling this way, it's frustrating - you started to feel your eyes sting. - I just don't feel that I'm worthless to Luffy, not as someone special...

- Like a girlfriend - Nami concluded.

You agreed.

And it was a good few minutes of you pouring out your insecurities about how you felt compared to the famous Empress, and it didn't help that Luffy didn't seem to show any romantic feelings about you. Nami and Robin were kind enough to wipe away your tears and hug you to stifle the sobs that insisted on coming from your lips.

They stayed there until you fell asleep.

Nami looked at Robin and sighed in annoyance as they both left the room.

- How long do you think she has been feeling like this? I mean, it's a long time if it's been on her mind since our separation.

Robin paused for a moment to think.

- If it came up because of the Empress, then yes, it is since our separation. I'm not surprised she's like this - they approached the kitchen. - It's a long time feeding these insecurities.

- It's understandable that she doesn't want to see them - said Nami.

- Who doesn't want to see who? - a voice behind them asked.

Nami and Robin were startled.

- Luffy!

The boy let out a laugh.

- So, what were you two talking about? - he turned his head to the side in confusion, his typical confused expression.

Nami stammered.

- I was talking about a new book I bought at the Festival - Robin answered. - It's a novel.

Luffy stared at them for a moment and then agreed indifferently.

- SANJI!!! FOOD!!! - shouted the captain.

Everyone was already in the kitchen, ready to attack the food Sanji had prepared.

However, as soon as Luffy went to take the cookies to his mouth, he stopped for a moment staring at all his companions as if looking for something.

- Where is y/n? - he asked confused.

Everyone was silent.

Luffy blinked a few times in confusion, then Sanji spoke.

- Our dear y/n-swan has already had breakfast - he brought the cigarette to his lips. - She was watching last night.

Again silence reigned in the room.

- Again? - asked the captain. - Wasn't it Zoro's turn?

Everyone was surprised.

- She asked to take my place - said the swordsman, taking another piece of cake.

Luffy frowned and his face became serious.

- Is she having trouble sleeping? - asked Chopper. - She needs rest....

The poor reindeer seemed to be the only one besides her captain who didn't know what was going on.

- Y/n-san asked me yesterday to take my next shift - said Brook. - And my shift is tonight...

Luffy got up without even touching his food and went towards the kitchen door.

- Luffy! Wait! - called Nami. - She's tired, we let her sleep. Talk to her later, okay?

Luffy didn't stop and left.

Nami sighed tiredly, and Robin smiled.

- I hope they work things out - Usopp said with his mouth full. - No one can contain Luffy like y/n, he's been hard to keep up with these days.

- But with the Empress here, suuuper not cool! - Frank was sincere. - Poor y/n... our captain is very oblivious.

- Yo-ho-ho-ho - laughed Brook. - The Empress Boa Hancock didn't leave him alone for a second.

- That idiot! - Sanji whined with envy.

Luffy was determined to find you and find out why you were avoiding him, he could be very distracted at times, but it had been a while since he felt that you were becoming more and more distant from him. He was a straightforward guy with simple conclusions, so he just waited for you to talk to him about whatever was bothering you.

The thing is, you didn't do that, you just smiled back at him as you normally did, and that made him think that you were better. But he realized that he was a fool to think that, of course you were faking it, now what he wanted to know was why you did it. Did you no longer trust him? Did you not like him anymore?

Luffy was not an insecure boy, in fact, he was quite confident. That changed a little when he thought he had lost his crew and after Ace died. But he managed to turn it around and focus on coming back stronger to fulfill his dream and protect his crew - and protect you.

However, at this very moment a small spark of insecurity arose in your mind, could it be that you had grown tired of him? I mean, he knows that he is an energetic and difficult person to keep up with, but you always seemed to enjoy his antics. Why then would you show that you were okay, if in fact you were not.

He felt a little betrayed, as if everyone knew what you had - except him.

As he crossed the deck to head toward his rooms, a voice called out to him.

- Luffy! My darling! - Boa Hancock and her passionate eyes came toward him. - Good morning! How are you?

Luffy ignored it and went on his way - he had too much on his mind to listen to the Empress at the moment.

Boa Hancock froze, she seemed to have been deeply hurt.

- Luffy? - she called out in confusion.

As he turned the knob to go to the bedroom hallway one of Hancock's sisters shouted.

- IT'S THE MARINE!!!

And a thud hit Sunny - they were firing cannonballs.

Everyone came out of the kitchen and took their posts.

Luffy was annoyed, he would have to talk to you later.

It was two Marine ships, the Marines cornered them and soldiers stormed Sunny's deck. The Empress' ship was dealing with one and the Straw Hats with the other.

You woke up when the ship rocked and you rolled out of bed.

- Oh, shit! - you rubbed your lower back in pain. - What the hell was that?

That's when you heard Nami scream.

- Fucking Marines!

You ran out without even putting on your shoes, and when you opened the door to the hallway you found chaos on the deck. You joined Nami's side, knocking out one of the sailors who was trying to attack her from behind.

- Looks like you woke up just in time - she said, smiling.

Another thud hit the ship, and you almost lost your balance.

- We need to get out of the crossfire, Nami - you said.

She agreed.

- Frank! - she shouted.

One of the Marines aimed at you from a distance and fired, and you managed to dodge it just in time to knock him off the ship.

You looked directly at the bullet now lodged in Sunny's wood and thought it strange. You reached up and took the bullet by the fingers and were startled.

Kairoseki

You turned quickly and ran to warn Nami, but she had already changed position, everyone was scattered and with the cannon noises it was impossible for anyone to hear you.

That's when you heard Luffy's scream, he was about to take down a dozen sailors, but he didn't see when the navy captain had a gun pointed at his back.

Time seemed to have stopped, your throat knotted and your heart seemed to have stopped for those seconds. You didn't think for a second, your body moved on its own and your legs ached from the force you exerted on them, but you had to - you had to get to him in time.

When the sound of the gunshot reverberated, you screamed.

- Luffy! - throwing yourself on him.

- Y/N! - he smiled, thinking that you were happy to see him, but his smile disappeared seconds after he realized what had happened. - What did you-

Zoro watched as Luffy braked as he looked at one of his hands, he immediately set about knocking down the man who had tried to shoot his captain.

Luffy saw red, her blood now trickling down his hands as he tried to cover the wound on her back.

- CHOPPER!!! - he shouted. - FAST!!!

Luffy's chest filled with a fear he hadn't experienced in two years. He was terrified, you weren't opening your eyes and your breathing seemed weaker and weaker.

It was all over as quickly as it started, the Marines beat a retreat and the Straw Hat crew ran to see what had happened. Chopper picked up your unconscious body and ran towards the infirmary - everyone was left waiting for what would happen next.

- Why would she do that? - whispered Usopp. - After all Luffy is bullet-proof...

Everyone was silent.

No one dared to speak to their captain at that moment, not even the Empress, he seemed as angry as he was desolate. It had been almost an hour since Chopper came in with you, and no news had arrived.

Until the door to the infirmary opened and a gloomy reindeer came out.

- She's out of danger now... - everyone's breath seemed to have caught, as everyone let out a sigh of relief. - But there is no prediction for when she will wake up...

- Was it that bad? - asked Robin.

Chopper's voice came out apprehensive.

- The bullet passed close to the heart, if it was only a few centimeters to the side... - he swallowed dryly. - I couldn't save her...

Everyone choked.

- Another thing - Chopper stretched out his paws and handed a piece of cloth to Usopp - It's made of Kairoseki...

The relatively thick bullet was there stained with his blood.

Luffy stood up and stroked the reindeer's head.

- Thank you, Chopper... - he went towards the infirmary. - But I need to see her now.

Chopper agreed.

You didn't know how much time had passed, the last thing you remembered was your captain's panicked face and his voice calling you from afar, he seemed so far away - how tragic.

You felt your whole body burn for a few moments, and everything seemed to hurt. You opened your eyes and saw the clear ceiling that appeared to be the one in Chopper's ward, you tried to sit up, but the pain stopped you. So you just turned your head to survey the place.

Your breathing stopped when you saw Luffy's body sitting on the other side of the floor against the wall, he appeared to be asleep. You smiled with relief, he was okay after all.

Your sigh of relief was louder than intended, as Luffy's head rose from his sleep - he seemed surprised to see you awake.

- You're awake! - he smiled. - I'll go get Chopper.

A few days passed, and Luffy never left your side. Apparently the Empress had been on her way from the time you crawled into the infirmary until you woke up. You had slept for two days.

You were doing better, although Chopper insisted that you remain under observation. So, to distract yourself you began to read the book that Robin had given you, and Luffy listening intently - he insisted that you read it to him too.

- In exchange for your help, he said, I offer you something very valuable - you read aloud. - My freedom? asked the man. - You paused to watch the reaction of the young man next to you, he was involved in the story. - Freedom can be taken away from us, as you well know. I offer you my knowledge.

Luffy wrinkled his forehead and made a pout with his lips that you found adorable.

- They shouldn't have their freedom taken away - he complained.

You laughed.

- Well, I guess you're right. - You closed the book.

Luffy stared at you for a moment.

- I'm sorry - he whispered.

You looked confused.

- For what?

- For letting you get hurt - his voice came out so low you couldn't tell it was Luffy speaking. - I thought...

You touched his hand gently and your thumb made affectionate circles in his palm.

- Hey... - you warned him. - There's no reason for you to apologize, you know. I'd do it again to protect you. - A loving smile appeared on your lips. - After all, I love you...

This made Luffy's heart leap and he smiled.

- Do you love me...? - asked Luffy as if he had discovered something incredible. - Really?

You laughed at his reaction.

- Of course I do, you silly... - you put your hands on his face and stroked his cheeks. - Why so surprised?

Luffy leaned into the touch of your hands.

- You were avoiding me... - he said. - I thought you didn't like me anymore.

His hand stopped and you widened your eyes, surprised this time.

Your heart ached, he looked so desolate when he spoke. After all that had happened you had forgotten your insecurities, they had been replaced by the physical pain and worry that Luffy was hurt.

But now, all that came back again, the anguish you felt. You knew you should have talked to him about it, now he was the one who thought you didn't feel the same way. God, what a mess.

- Everyone seemed to know what was wrong but me. - he said in frustration. - I was going to talk to you that morning, but the Marines came, and - His voice broke. - And I almost lost you…

- Luffy, I...

- Don't you trust me anymore? - his eyes looked pleading, and it hurt your heart to see him so distressed. - You didn't look happy...

- Of course I do! - you answered immediately. - Of course I trust you, Luffy. I just... - you sighed. - This is so embarrassing...

Luffy looked confused.

- Then why didn't you talk to me? - he asked.

- Because I was afraid... - you replied, but before he could think it was his you answered. - Afraid that I was right.

- Right? - he turned his head in confusion, he was annoyingly cute.

- Luffy... - your voice came out fearful. - Are you my boyfriend?

He made a confused face and then shook his shoulders.

- “Boyfriend" is a stupid word, I'm not your boyfriend - he said. Your heart seemed to break, and then he continued. - What we are can't be labeled with words like that, even friends don't come close.

Your heart raced with anxiety.

- We are much, much more than that! - Luffy exclaimed. - You are going to be my pirate queen after all.

He smiled. Oh yes, he smiled, and may God have mercy on you, ‘cause that man was your sun. Your eyes filled with tears and you began to cry instantly.

Luffy became desperate.

-Oi! why are you crying? - he tried to wipe the tears from his face. - Did I say something stupid?

You laughed.

- No, it's nothing like that.

Luffy snorted.

- Don't scare me like that, y/n! - he crossed his arms as if in a tantrum.

- Sorry, Luffy... - you laughed as you dried your tears. - It's just, I thought you didn't want me anymore.

Luffy changed his posture.

- Why would you think that? - he said seriously.

- I thought you liked Empress Boa Hancock... - you admitted embarrassed. - I felt so weak and ugly compared to her. She's so beautiful and you always paid attention to her, and...

Luffy was silent.

- I wasn't there for you when you lost Ace - you cried again. - I wasn't strong enough on Delta Island and you didn't seem to be attracted to me anymore. I thought I wasn't enough, I never would be, you are amazing..., but she.... She is, and...

- Stop - Luffy's voice sounded more serious than usual, his gaze was fixed on you. - I think you're amazing, y/n! You wouldn't be my person, my future pirate queen, if I didn't! I would never change my mind about that, well only if you didn't want to be... - he rambled.

You were silent, your heart beating so fast.

- I love you! - Luffy shouted. - And you're strong as hell! And well... - he scratched the back of his neck. - I think you're so beautiful, and your smile... I love to see you smile.

Your eyes widened, Luffy had never complimented you like that, you were embarrassed, your cheeks were probably red.

- I chose you, I don't want anyone else, and I decide that I will love you! Always! - he said determinedly.

Tears again streamed down your face, but this time they were tears of joy. You smiled and agreed with your beloved captain.

After Chopper gave you your pain medicine, you lay down to sleep, but not before asking Luffy to join you. Now here you were, with your head resting against the chest of the man who owned your heart. You lifted your head to look at his face, and then your eyes met, and he kissed your forehead and smiled kindly.

You snuggled back into his arms and in a clearly harmonious, almost predestined harmony, your hearts beat as one, you closed your eyes and laughed to yourself - we are all fools in love. Whatever your insecurities were, they vanished like dust in the air. In that moment in Luffy's arms, all you felt was how loved you were.

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yandere-daydreams · 2 years

Text

Title: Clipped Wings.

Pairing: Yandere!Ayato x Reader (Genshin).

Word Count: 1.0k.

TW: Obsessive Behavior and Implied Imprisonment.

Ayato thought he might’ve loved you most, in moments like this.

Quiet and still, tucked safely into his bed, your eyes shut and your breathing steady and your body curled into his side. Your clothes had been left elsewhere, most likely in a heap on the floor or splayed across some inconsequential piece of furniture, allowing your skin to press against his without barriar, and he did what he could to savor your warmth without disturbing you, without doing anything to change the way your head rested on his chest or how your arms wrapped around his midriff – your hold on him growing tighter as you rested.

You were beautiful, exhausted and at peace, and he knew you’d be beautiful in the morning, too, as your rubbed the sleep from you eyes and buried your face in his neck, and the next day, when you’d take him by the hand and drag him off to do something that you’d never done before, whether that meant venturing into Inazuma City for another night of saké and street food or convincing an easily-swayed captain to ferry you over to Kannazuka Island to chase after vague rumors of abandoned mines and dead gods left to rot. Off to do something new, whatever that happened to entail.

If he had his way, this would last forever. Just the two of you, caught up in each other’s embrace, waiting for morning to come with a tempered sort of excitement. Together, with you by his side and him by yours, until the Gods eroded into nothing and all of Teyvat ceased to be.

Hah.

As if you would ever be so merciful.

You’d been clear about your intentions from the start. An adventurer, you’d called yourself, despite your refusal to associate with any recognizable guild or clan – a thrill-seeker travelling with the sole intention of seeing everything and doing everything. You’d been so blunt, admitting that you’d only come to Inazuma by chance, openly regarding his title and his disposition as little more than eccentricities to be examined and adored until something else, something more interesting came along. He was sure you would’ve loved Ayaka’s modest valiance, fawned over Thoma and all his many contradictions, but Ayato thought it would be wise to keep you to himself, for the time being. To protect his own pride, if not to draw out the remnants of your fleeting attention.

You were like a bird of the isles, flitting from place to place, satisfied never to build a nest of your own. Tonight, you might be content to perch yourself on his shoulder, to sing your sweetest song for him and no one else, but the moment something more rare, something more captivating, something more interesting caught your eye, you’d be off, looking for another place to roost – all while Ayato faded into little more than a distant memory. If you'd even remember him at all.

You’d been honest enough about that, too, speaking at length about all your many ‘friends’ in distant nations, comparing his estate to the sprawling manors of Mondstadt and the shinning chambers floating above Liyue’s harbor. You were happy to find yourself in his bed now, sure, and he had no doubt that you held some form of fondness for him when he felt your fingers in his hair and your lips on his, but already, he knew you were making other plans, wondering aloud if they accepted weary travelers on Watatsumi Island or how difficult it would truly be to make the acquaintance of the priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine. He knew it was only your nature, that you meant him no harm by planning your departure so plainly, but he couldn’t help but feel just the slightest bit hurt. He couldn’t help but feel like his precious songbird was simply biding its time, waiting for an opprotunity abandon him.

A small, prying part of him was tempted to panic, to rush, to try and hold your attention for just a few more days, whether he had to plan an impromptu festival or burn the Almighty Shogun’s palace to the ground with his own two hands. If he gave you something to do, if he made sure you were well-occupied and, more importantly, well-entertained, then you might stay, might continue to let him bask in your bright laughter and sun-like warmth for just a while longer. It was a childish kind of hope, born of an adolescence with too little company and too many burdens. He knew better than to think it would be so easy. He knew better than to think that simply delaying your withdrawal would make it any less painful.

No, no. Ayato wasn’t so naïve. Ayato knew this wouldn't be so simple.

Ayato knew that, even with the most guilded cage he was able to provide, his songbird would still eventually fly away from him, and he'd be the one left longing for your music.

A longing he knew, already, that he wouldn't be able to endure.

You stirred as he sat up, but your eyes remained closed and you didn’t wake up. With no small amount of hesitation, he called out to the man he knew would be on the other side of his bedroom door – just where Ayato had asked him to be, should he make up his mind about just what to do with you before sunrise. “Thoma?”

There was a slight delay, a muffled voice. "Lord Kamisato?”

“Find a healer. Bring them to my door and keep them on standby, but don’t let anyone in until I tell you to do so.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Ayato waited until Thoma's footsteps were completely out of earshot, then raised his right hand - watching as a thin stream of water climbed his wrist, curled around his fingertips, and began to take shape in the palm of his hand. Such literal hydro manifestations had never been his specialty, but he was willing to push the limits of his abilities, if only for a few minutes. And a blade was such a simple tool, made to fill such a simple role – even the most inexperienced of vision users should’ve been able to summon one at will. He was sure he could manage, for your sake.

After all, the was only one way to truly keep a songbird caged, and that was to remove its wings entirely.

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nightmare-before · 7 months

Text

There is no me without you

"You should have left me behind".

Helmeppo started at the sound of his best friend's voice. The mood on the ship was low, the celebrations about having successfully rescued Koby quickly ended on the realisation that Garp was staying behind. After that everyone just ….It was now dark and other than those on the night watch in the crows nest, they were the only ones awake.

"What?" Helmeppo asked, turning to Koby.

"You should have left me behind" he repeated, "this is all my fault".

"Koby" Helmeppo started, but Koby continued.

"If I hadn't been so stupid, Garp wouldn't have been injured. He could have been able to keep up and come back to the ship." Koby bent down and buried his face in his hands. "If I was a better captain, I would have been able to have fought better against Hancock and taken her down before Blackbeard even got there. "

Helmeppo was silent for a moment.

"Do you think Garp is stupid? That he has no idea about battle?" He asked.

Koby's head snapped up "Of course not, I just-"

"Am I and the rest of our crew useless or fools because we got turned to stone?"

"NO," Koby shook his head furiously, "I don't mean that at all"

"Then why" Helmeppo continued "would you be saying such shit." He turned and began to pace.

"Garp and every single person on this ship knew the risks. Every single person came of the own free will and were willing to do whatever it takes to get you back".

"But they shouldn't…" Koby started.

"But we did, we fucking did!" Helmeppo yelled, with tears streaming down his face as he turned to face Koby.

"Do you have any idea about how fucking worried I've been, about how worried we've all been? 'We should have left you behind' what bullshit is that? You are the beacon of hope and the proof that marine means something good and worthwhile, everyone damn well knows it! We need you. I need you."

"Helmeppo-san" Koby spoke gently. The anger left Helmeppo's face, replaced with a loom that was both sad and tired.

"I would die for you, I live for you. Please," he begged, "Don't make me be alone, there is no me without you. "

Koby's eyes welled up with tears as he rushed forward, wrapping Helmeppo into a tight embrace. He could feel the taller man shake as he sobbed. It took a while but the crying started to slow down and then eventually stopped. He took a few deep breaths in.

"It's going to be alright". Helmeppo promised "If anyone is going to get away it will be Garp. You'll see. Knowing Garp he'll be back before we are, asking what took us so long."

Koby laughed into his shoulder and then leaned back.

"Your right," Koby admitted "Garp will tell me off for being so silly when he gets back."

"Let's go to sleep. We'll need our energy tomorrow. Garp says we are the future of the marines, so we'll need to think of a plan going forward. Blackbeard, Cross Guild, they need to be stopped for good."

Helmeppo matched his grin and saluted. "Yes, sir." The two then walked together, ready to move forward and stop looking back.

#one piece #helmeppo #koby #coby #fanfiction #kobymeppo #cobymeppo

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theresattrpgforthat · 6 months

Note

do you have any recommendations for crunchy games with good magic item / crafting systems? Or anything that has a between clouds or salvage union esque home base / transport design system?

Theme: Crafting/Journey Crunch

Hello friend, I did a little bit of digging and I've got a few games that hit one or the other of your requirements, and possibly a few that do both. I hope something here tickles your fancy!

SCRAPS, by Cezar Capacle.

Ayera is a hopeful world built among the ruins of a long lost ancient civilization. It is a place of harmony and symbiosis, in which unimaginable flora and fauna is to be found by anyone who leaves their settlements and travels unexplored paths. You are a Scrapper, an adventurer who devotes their life to exploring the land, finding special ingredients, bringing them back to their workshops, and crafting their wondrous personal and community projects.

Scraps is a feel-good game about sharing, about harmony with nature, about bewilderment and curiosity.

This game uses polyominoes and d6s to help design things that you’ll be crafting throughout play. The entire game loop revolves around crafting - you draft a plan, gather materials in the wilderness, and then come home and craft. The game is also non-violent: your obstacles don’t require combat to bypass. It is both solo and multi-player friendly, so if you want to play this game and don’t have a good group for it, lack of other players is not an obstacle. This was the winner of the Best Solarpunk DIY game in the Applied Hope: Solarpunk & Utopias Jam, and I can see why.

Mectors, by Chubby Crow Games.

In Mectors, players take on the role of a farmer, miner, fisher, carpenter, or some other worker in a labor intensive field. Mector Owners come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some own a Mector that’s been in their family for generations. Others came across theirs recently, through purchase or luck. And a rare few have managed to piece their own together using scraps from decommissioned Mectors, but this is even harder than it sounds. No matter how they got it, they now have a powerful tool with a long history.

This game has a few elements that might fall into what you’re looking for. First is the creation of your community. This is a fairly simple process in which you decide what kinds of guilds and political forces might affect your community, the names of specific NPCs who live there, and points of interest connected to your character playbooks. The second element is the use of Scrap, a resource that can be used to improve your community or improve your Mechs. There’s not really a lot of picklists or option sets - much of what you decide will either be determined by the pre-written setting or created wholesale by your crew.

Buried Treasures, by iotsov.

Buried Treasures takes place in a dangerous setting without modern-day tech. It contains two suggested settings: Whitewater, a town surrounded by danger, and “Let Me Out” a post-apocalypse.

At the core of this Renaissance-inspired TTRPG is its recipe system. Recipes are non-magical spells, and can be anything from combat maneuvers through invention schematics to actual cooking recipes. Players are slowly eased into creating and upgrading recipes, allowing them to design unique characters. Recipes also typically become the source of greatest power – in the unlikely event that the characters survive that far into the game.

I’m not a big fan of the Whitewater setting, and I’d recommend taking some time to write a bit of your own history and world instead, if you want something more similar to fantasy. The “Let Me Out” setting includes the idea that you have a bunker from which your characters have merged, with some questions you can answer as you create your colony. From there you will adventure into a landscape that references the SCP website for encounters.

What this game does have, however, is an interesting advancement system. All of your skills are based on “recipes”, which require research and various ingredients if you are to level up your skill. These skills can be magical or non-magical, and while they affect your character’s abilities, the in-game conceit is that these abilities are granted through crafted items. Some of the details of those items are left to the character’s imagination, but if you want a game with meticulous inventory and record-keeping required, you might want to check out Buried Treasures.

Cast Away, by Afterthought Committee.

Cast Away is the definitive tabletop survival RPG. Its Diminishing Dice mechanics reflect the ever-worsening condition of survivors in the aftermath of a disaster—without tracking Hit Points or burdensome injury tables. Death is permanent, therefore, we've created a Haunting system that keeps players engaged long after their characters pass away. Cast Away contains a modular set of guidelines and is easily adapted to any setting, environment, or circumstance.

Survival games will either necessitate travel or a home base to keep yourself safe. Cast Away contains recommendations on how to facilitate role-play in hostile environments, and also makes passing reference to building shelters. If your characters are stranded, I can imagine much of the game will revolve around how they use their resources around them to stay alive. There’s very little to no mechanics for combat here - instead you have skills related to crafting, cooking, hiking, navigation and more.

The rules themselves are very simple, but I think including a pre-generated setting may help with the sensation of discovery and danger. One such setting might be Backwoods Cartography, by Backwoods Cartographer, which includes plenty of dangerous flora and fauna - although the NPC encounters might be best left for a different style of game.

Cosmos, by Neoth Games.

As a resident of the Belt you’ve seen exploitation, you’ve seen struggle, you’ve watched those around you be slowly ground into shells of their former selves. Now you’ve had enough. Its time for someone to do something.

Your crew has set out to make a difference, to be the fly striking back at the giant corporation that has seemingly set out to single-handedly ruin life in this sector of space. Struggle will not be easy, but any difference you can make counts for something.

But just remember, Oracle is watching.

Cosmos features all you need to play a game of resistance within the corporate controlled asteroid belt. Inside are all the rules, advancements, example journeys, locations, and adversaries.

In Cosmos, you’ll have a spaceship that carries you from place to place, and if you like the idea of improving a home base, this game has options for you. You can increase available space, as well as add medicine and weapons. You’ll have to maintain the hull if it sustains damage, and running out of fuel sounds like a possible problem as well. There’s also different size ships, which don’t just play into what’s available to your crew - it also shows you what kinds of craft you could end up fighting as well.

Cosmos also has Journey rules. Each Journey has an origin, a destination, linked encounters, difficulty levels, how stressful it may be, and example obstacles or events that may occur as you travel. As rebels and renegades, travel is fraught and dangerous, and it looks like the journey rules are meant to reflect that.

Games I've Recommended in the Past

Reclaim the Wild

The Wildsea, by Felix Isaacs.

Numenera, by Monte Cook Games (Especially the Destiny book and the Building Tomorrow supplement.)

#tabletop games #indie ttrpgs #dnd #game recommendations #asks #crafting #journeys

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hattafan2593 · 11 months

Text

Buggy x Reader Fic Part 1

This is my first time doing this. This was actually based on an ask I sent to @count-alucard-tepes, but for whatever reason it got deleted.

So without further ado...

-------------------------------------------------

You knew something was wrong when you saw Buggy's face. His fanatic crew had misinterpreted the tears on his face as tears of joy, but you knew better. And worse, his "partners" weren't even trying to hide their hostility.

You had only just wrapped up a long and tedious mission and was heading back to Kari Bari Island when you saw the poster for Cross Guild. At first you were in disbelief - you couldn't imagine someone like Crocodile or Mihawk willingly serving under your boyfriend. Then again, Buggy did have a way with words. Maybe he managed to sway them to his side somehow.

But as you looked up at the balcony as Buggy gave his speech, you immediately recognized that, once again, Buggy had gotten in over his head.

Oh Buggy, what have you gotten yourself into this time?

As you waited for him in his tent, you could hear him approaching, whimpering and muttering to himself. He didn't immediately notice someone in his tent, and when he did, he jumped back with a high-pitched scream, his head separating from his body.

"Wha...(Reader), is that you?! You almost gave me a freaking heart attack!"

His head zoomed into your personal space as he raved in indignation. You reached up and stroked his cheeks. "I missed you too, Buggy."

His faced flushed red as he pouted like a child, his anger snuffed out. Ordinarily, you'd find it adorable. But considering what you were about to talk about...

"I saw your speech. Cross Guild, huh?"

You saw Buggy's eyes shrink in fear, before he started to put on an act, one you saw right through. "Gyahahahahaha! So you saw that, did you? Of course, it's only natural that the likes of those two would want to team up with the great Buggy-sama! Admittedly, I was a little hesitant to take them on, but then I thought, 'eh, why not?' I'm sure those two have their-"

"Buggy."

Buggy stopped immediately at your tone, and his face fell. He knew that you knew he was bullshitting, you always saw right through him. As his lips started to tremble, you noticed that there were bruises underneath his make-up. Fairly recent ones. You reached out and gently ran your fingers through his hair.

"Oh sweetheart. What happened while I was gone?"

Buggy burst into tears, and buried his face into your chest, his body slumped to the ground on the other side of the tent. Through his sobs, he told you everything. His debt to Crocodile, his attempt to pay back that debt, his followers naming him the leader despite it being Crocodile's idea, the Government making him Emperor because of this, Crocodile and Mihawk's indignation and the brutal beatdown they gave him as a result, his crew turning on him-

"They what?" you snarled.

Honestly you weren't surprised Galdino sold him out. You never did trust that uppity creep, no matter what Buggy had told you. And as for the others, Alvida, Mohji, Cabaji, Richie...

The thing is, you did understand where they were coming from. It wasn't as though they'd be able to take Crocodile or Mihawk on in a fight. And if the roles were reversed, you knew Buggy would have done the same thing. But even so, Buggy had known these people for years, some long before he even met you. They sailed together, ate together, got drunk together. Did all of that mean so little to them? Did they have to be so callous?

But that was a thought for another day, and you had bigger problems to deal with. You gestured for Buggy to continue.

He told you that the two ex-warlords had decided to place him as a figurehead of the company while they ran things from behind the scenes, so that if things went south, they could leave him to take the blame.

Buggy's words were reduced to ineligible blubbering as you stroked his blue locks. Your boyfriend really did have the worst luck, didn't he?

You pulled his head away from your chest as you comforted him. "Listen Buggy. You've gotten yourself in tight spots before. And you always managed to get out of them. You'll get out of this one, too."

"B-b-but-"

You grabbed a handkerchief and started wiping the tears and snot from his face. "Seriously, you survived Impel Down. You survived Marineford. You survived Gold Roger! Compared to all that, this is nothing." You planted a soft kiss on his forehead. "It'll be okay."

You could tell that he had calmed down a bit as he reattached his head to his body. "Y-yeah. You're right. This is just a minor setback! Nothing can stop the great Buggy-sama! You'll see!"

He sat down on the bed next to you. "Anyway, why don't you tell me about your mission. Share all the flashy details!"

And you did exactly that.

Later that night, as Buggy snored peacefully next to you in bed, you sat upright, quietly seething.

Those two motherfuckers thought they could get away with using your boyfriend as a punching bag, all for something that wasn't even his fault, and making him their scapegoat?

Oh, no. Oh hell no! Absolutely not!

As quietly as you could, you slipped out of bed and out of the tent.

It was time to call in some favors.

To be continued...

#hattafan2593 #one piece #buggy the clown #sir crocodile #dracule mihawk #cross guild #reader insert #gender neutral reader #buggy x reader #spoilers for chapter 1058 #buggy pirates #second person pov

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teleiapotami · 9 months

Text

NaLu Week Day 7

Prompt: New Adventures

The Grand Magic Games are over and Fairy Tail is back at home. In the aftermath of Future Lucy's death, Natsu is loathe to let his Lucy out of his sight. Cuddling can be platonic anyway, right?

@allaboutnalu @thenaluarchive

Lucy tilted her head out through the canvas of their covered wagon. The ride back to Magnolia was a long one, and even she was beginning to get tired of the constant rocking and jolting as their cart rumbled along the uneven path home. The sun on her upturned face brought a warmth to her that she hadn’t realized she’d been missing. Natsu let out another low moan, drawing her attention again. He was slumped over against Wendy who was pressing against Lucy’s side, trying to escape the jerks and twitches that kept wracking Natsu’s frame.

“Come on Wendy, I’ll trade you spots. You feel bad enough without having to deal with his sweaty mess up against you.” Lucy giggled at the badly concealed look of relief on Wendy’s face and stood up to switch spots. She leaned down to Natsu’s level and brushed her thumb over his cheek.

“Sit up a bit and I’ll let you lay on my lap Natsu,” she said softly. He let out a whine but shifted his arm under him to lift himself just enough so she could slide under his head. The moment she was beneath him he let himself flop back down onto her legs, making her yelp and glare at him with annoyance. Still, his misery pulled at her sympathy, and she let her fingers begin their usual dance along his scalp.

The events following the games had been intense, and though peace had returned, Natsu wasn’t sure he would ever feel entirely at peace again. Certainly not until he managed to avert the future that led to Lucy’s death. He wanted to sleep, to escape the pains he was experiencing from the movement of the torturous vehicle he was trapped in, but every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the blood spraying from Lucy’s body as it was pierced by Rogue’s projectile. He saw her collapse into her own arms, and he watched her die over and over again in his dreams.

He buried his head into her lap, choosing to deal with the pain instead of the nightmares. At least while he was awake he could feel her warmth against his skin as life pulsed through her, and her scent surrounded him, untainted by the cold, metallic undernotes of death and blood.

Once Magnolia’s homecoming parade was over, the members of Fairy Tail went their separate ways to recover, rest, or return to work. Happy flew off with Carla and Lily, leaving Natsu and Lucy to walk toward her apartment together. Natsu was grinning with his hands behind his head as they walked along the canal.

Lucy smiled at him. “You certainly look like you feel better.” He just grinned at her brightly, making her heart skip a beat. “Well, good. After all, you achieved over the last two weeks, you deserve to be happy.”

“Pretty sure we both do, Luce. Cause there’s no way any of us would have survived if it wasn’t for you……er…her? Both of you.”

Lucy nodded solemnly. “Yeah….She was pretty amazing, huh? I’m not sure I could have done what she did….Losing the guild….Losing you…and still finding the strength to look for some way to fix it?” She wasn’t sure of her own strength, but she knew without a doubt that her Natsu would die for her, just like the other Lucy’s.

“Well, good thing I made sure to smash that gate to bits, so it’ll never happen. And I’m gonna keep on protecting your future, just like I promised.” He didn’t feel like he could tell anyone what else Future Rogue had warned him about. Not even Lucy. She smiled softly and wiped her eyes where tears were threatening to form.

“Thanks, Natsu. Hey, let’s grab some food and stuff and have a sleepover tonight. What do you say?” Natsu punched the air with a fiery fist and whooped. She giggled at his infectious enthusiasm. Natsu wasn’t ready to let her out of his sight yet anyway. A sleepover just meant he wouldn’t have to break in later. He held out his hand to her with a toothy grin. The moment she took it he took off with a cackle, dragging her along to the restaurant district.

“And that is why I think Cana should be the centerfold instead of Mira,” Natsu crowed triumphantly. He shoved another muffin into his mouth whole.

“Natsu…. Gildarts wouldn’t come to fight you just because Cana modeled. She’s been in Sorcerer Weekly before, remember? Besides, why would he fight you and not Cana or even the magazine people?” Lucy twisted a lock of her hair around her fingers, trying to figure out his logic.

Natsu sat back and stretched out. “Ah fon hink oo—” he swallowed hard and started again, “I don’t think you understand how much he loves those bikini girls. If Cana was the only girl in those things, Gildarts would come straight home to make her stop. And then Cana would tell him it was all my idea and BAM! Gildarts gets a beat down.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “You’d think after all those battles we just survived you would think about something other than more fighting.” When he didn’t respond she looked up from her hair twisting. He was staring at the wall with a faraway look that hurt her heart. “Natsu?”

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I’m here…” Wherever he was, it was certainly not next to her on the couch Lucy knew. She scooted over and leaned against his side, nervously pushing a piece of cookie around her plate.

The sudden contact startled him, and he looked down finally. Finding her curled against him as though she was made to fit there made him happy somehow, and a contented hum resonated through his chest.

“Natsu…” Lucy spoke softly, “We’re just friends, right?”

“Uh, as far as I know…why?”

She giggled softly at his response, then continued, “D’you think you could….maybe come to bed with me tonight? You know, platonically.” The words tumbled from her mouth a bit faster than she intended.

“Er- What’s that mean again?” he asked with a grunt.

“Platonic means just as friends. Not romantically,” she clarified.

“Oh, sure. I don’t mind if you don’t. To be honest….I don’t want to be too far away from you right now…. you know…” he trailed off.

Lucy nodded and laid her head against his neck. “I get it, and I feel the same.” She let herself snuggle deeper into his warmth and tugged the blanket off the back of the couch over her legs. “Start the movie. Unless you have more to say about Cana in bikinis.”

He chuckled and did as she asked, settling into his role of warm pillow. Even though he had been the one to choose their movie lacrima for the evening, he found himself far more interested in the way the lights danced across Lucy’s face. Her expressions were more adorable than he’d ever realized. Especially the way she scrunched up her nose at certain moments. He was always the one in her lap and now that the roles were reversed, he wanted to enjoy it. With that goal in mind, he gently slid his fingers through her golden hair. It was like silk, slipping between his fingers easily. Lucy made a small sound of contentment that made him smile. Following an instinct he couldn’t explain, he tangled his fingers into the hair at the back of her head and gave it a gentle tug.

Lucy let out a gasp and a soft moan escaped her before she pressed her hand over her mouth and glared up at him angrily as she sat up. He smiled sheepishly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Sorry…I just wondered what would happen.”

She pouted at him warily. “Not nice, Natsu.”

“I dunno, the sound was pretty nice. I won’t do it again, promise.” He shrugged and chuckled at the blush that colored her cheeks. She tried to hide it from him by returning to her position against his chest. They finished the movie in comfortable silence. Natsu busied his hands drawing slow patterns lightly along the exposed skin of Lucy’s midriff. Another action that drew adorable shivers and squeals from her every so often, he noted.

Later in the evening, Lucy sat curled up in her bed reading a book. Natsu pushed out of the bathroom with her towel wrapped around his hips. He crossed the room to her dresser without a word. “What are you doing Natsu?” she watched him over the edge of her book.

He opened her underwear drawer and replied without looking up. “Grabbing my spare pants, obviously. Why has your panty collection gotten even bigger?? Who needs this many? Ooh, that’s a new color, I bet it looks great against your—”

“Natsu!! Get out of there! You don’t have any pants here!” She launched off the bed and tried to snatch the sapphire pair of lace panties off the finger he was dangling them from, but he held them above her.

“Shows what you know. I hid some here weeks ago for when I sneak—I mean when I stay over.” He continued digging through the drawer, letting her grab her undies out of his hand when he pulled a pair of black sleep pants out from under the mountain of her lace collection. “Haha! See?”

Lucy wasn’t paying any attention to him now, as she stuffed her clothing back into the drawer he had so rudely invaded. She turned around to scold him some more but was met with Natsu’s completely naked backside as he dropped the towel and pulled up his pants. She yelped and covered her burning face. “NATSU!”

“What now?” he whined.

“You could have done that in the bathroom!”

“Oh, come on. It’s not like we didn’t just spend ten minutes bouncing around Crocus in a bell together while you were naked. This just makes us even.” He laughed at the horrified expression on her face. “Don’t tell me you forgot about that!”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. “I was trying to. You are seriously making me reconsider having you stay over.” He laughed and pulled her against him for a hug.

“No, come on. Let’s go lay down and be…pantolic or whatever.” He flopped onto her bed and patted the spot beside him. Lucy snorted as she followed him. “It’s platonic, Natsu.”

He shook his head with a grin. “It’s cuddling Lucy.” He laid back against the pillow and stretched out his arm, giving her a pointed look. With a roll of her eyes and a stifled giggle, she crawled up the bed and settled into his side with her head on his bare chest.

They lay quietly together for a while, the sound of Natsu’s heartbeat drowning out everything else around her. Then his chest rumbled, and he started telling her about dragons. Did she know his dad was known as the Fire Dragon King? She shook her head gently in response and he continued. Most of what he said she had heard before, either from him, Mira, or Erza, but she let him talk. As he did, she trailed her fingers over his skin, tracing the line of his collarbone and down the center of his chest. She paused at the beginning of his abs and looked up at him, but he was still talking, looking at the ceiling.

He was telling her about his uncle now, Atlas Flame, whom he’d apparently met during the dragon battle. Lucy listened with more interest this time but resumed her tracing of the lines along his muscled stomach. She sat up on her elbow to follow the line until it met his pants, then dragged her fingers along their edge to the pink skin of his newly healed wound from Rogue. His breathing hitched and he paused in his story to glance down at her fingers against him.

“Sorry,” she said hurriedly, and made to move her hand away from him, but he caught her wrist. He pressed her hand flat against his skin again. “Don’t stop. I like it when you touch me.” Her hand twitched under his as her cheeks warmed, but she didn’t pull away. When he released her and returned to describing the taste of his uncle’s fire she resumed her tracings. She followed the line of the scar down to trace along the lines of his exposed hip bones, then followed his pants back across his belly to begin the journey back up his body in reverse.

Natsu felt like her fingers were leaving trails of sparks dancing along his body. He felt every brush of her skin against his more intensely than he had ever felt any attack in all his life. He finished telling her about Atlas Flame and fell silent, closing his eyes to bask in the sensations her fingertips were leaving behind them. He jumped a little when she began to outline the features of his face, and when she reached his lips he licked her hand with a grin.

Lucy recoiled instantly and wiped her fingers on his chest with a disgusted sound. Natsu cackled gleefully. “That’s what you get for tickling me.”

She glared. “I wasn’t tickling you, and you said you liked it either way.”

“I did. Still tickled.” He mirrored her position, sitting up on his elbow and facing her. “Your turn. Lay back and tell me a story. We’ll see if you still think it wasn’t tickling,” he challenged. Lucy frowned a little, feeling distinctly baited, but she refused to back down from a chance to prove him wrong. She rolled onto her back and studied the ceiling. “Tell me how you ended up naked in that bell, I bet that’s a good story,” he teased, laughing at the pout she put on again.

“I’ll tell you, but you don’t get to interrupt to make fun of me.” After securing his promise, she relaxed a bit and settled into telling him what happened to her after they parted ways. Natsu settled in beside her as she had, and traced his finger around the shell of her ear, then down along her jaw. He followed the line of her throat down, then came back up her collarbone. He found himself mesmerized by her lips as he let the backs of his fingers trace down her arm.

Lucy shivered under his gaze but tried to stay focused on her story. He returned his focus to his hand and walked his fingers along the bottom edge of her cropped sleep shirt, smiling when her breathing hitched momentarily. Her skin was so smooth under his fingers that he worried his rough hands might irritate it, but she didn’t seem interested in stopping him, so he continued.

He followed the centerline of her stomach to the waistband of her shorts. Following the same path she did, he traced the edge to one hip, then back across to the other. She squirmed under his touch slightly and he grinned. He sat up and shifted to sit at the foot of the bed and pulled her legs up to rest in his lap.

“Natsu?” Lucy paused in her story to give him a curious look.

“Keep going.” He waited until she resumed her story before he dragged his fingers slowly up from her ankle to the gentle bend in her knee. He traced the lines of her kneecap before switching to the other and following the same path back to the ankle. He caressed the top of her feet, then returned slowly to her knees. Lucy trailed off as she finished sharing and watched him, her lips parted slightly.

He glanced up at her. “I can stop.”

She shook her head, blushing. “I like it…w-when you touch me.” He wet his lips and let his fingers continue their gentle exploration up Lucy’s outer thigh. Again, he followed the bottom of her shorts around to her inner thigh and trailed his fingers back down. He repeated the action on her other leg, smirking when she trembled against him.

“Told you it tickled,” he said as he shifted her legs back down and crawled over her to lay down beside her again. Lucy couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. Platonic or not, his fingers felt good against her skin, and she didn’t want them to stop. As though he could read her mind, Natsu murmured against her, “Sorry. I ran out of places to explore that aren’t under clothes.”

Lucy smiled and made to settle against his side again, but he rolled over and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer. Finding her face pressing against his throat, she turned her head slightly and nipped at his collarbone, making him grunt and loosen his grip just a little. She looked up at him just in time for him to press a soft kiss on her forehead and bury his nose into her hair. She closed her eyes contentedly.

“God Luce, you smell so damn good. It drives my instincts haywire when you’re so close like this.” Lucy felt her pulse speed up a bit and she tucked her head under his chin again. With her ear against his body, she could hear his heart thudding almost as fast as hers.

“You could let me go then if it bothers you so much,” she said. His arms tightened again, and she giggled, pressing a kiss to the base of his throat. She was so comfortable curled into his embrace, his warmth chasing away the chill of the night air creeping into her window, that it wasn’t long before she felt herself begin to doze off.

Natsu felt her lips against his skin, he felt her body grow heavier as she relaxed, and he felt her breathing slow to the steady rhythm of sleep. Relaxing his grip, he rolled onto his back and looked down at her, studying her. Natsu, we’re just friends…. Her words echoed through his mind. It was a true statement, though they had never said it aloud before. Once it was out there, Natsu realized that it didn’t sit right with him anymore. Lucy was much more than his friend. But if he didn’t like the idea of them being just friends, then what did he want?

Lucy let out a soft moaning mumble in her sleep and he glanced down at her lips. He wanted to be more than friends…but what exactly did that mean? He began to study the relationships of those closest to them for some clue as to what he wanted. Levy and Gajeel were more than friends, but that seemed to be the same situation he was in now. Neither of those two had made any move to change their relationship one way or the other. His thoughts turned to Bisca and Alzack. They had always been awkward around each other, and everyone had known that they would be together eventually. Come to think of it, wasn’t that what he’d overheard said about him and Lucy anyway?

He thought about Biscan and Alzack’s relationship overall. They were married and had sweet Asuka, who brought more light and joy into the guild than Natsu had ever felt before. Was that the more than friends he wanted? Having kids was not something he was ready for yet, but spending his life with Lucy was something he liked the idea of. He rolled over to wrap her in his arms again and let sleep claim him at last.

Several hours later Lucy jolted awake when something shook her sharply. She sat up quickly and looked around. Natsu was beside her, his legs tangling in the sheets. His face was twisted in a grimace of pain and anger, and his arm came up as though he were trying to grab something. All he managed to do was hit Lucy in the lip. With a hiss at the pain, Lucy tried to shake him awake but it didn’t help. Her shaking only seemed to upset him further and his legs began to kick.

Relying on her instincts, Lucy ducked under another swipe of his arm and swung her leg across his hips to pin him down. She caught hold of his face and shook him again. “Natsu! Wake up, please! Natsu!!”

He jolted under her and sat up suddenly. She yelped and grabbed his shoulders to keep from falling off the bed when his momentum threatened to dislodge her. He caught her by the hips and settled her back against him. “Luce?” he blinked up at her.

“You….you were having a nightmare,” she mumbled, running her thumb over his cheek gently. His eyes were still slightly unfocused, and she wasn’t sure if he was even seeing her properly. “Natsu, are you okay?”

His fingers tightened on her hips, and she felt his finger slip under the waistband of her shorts slightly. “Lucy…” he murmured, letting his head fall forward to rest on her shoulder. She could feel his pulse pounding against her where her arm was resting against his neck. His voice was hoarse when he spoke again. “I love you.”

She thought he was talking in his sleep until his arms slid up her back to pull her against his chest and his lips found the hollow where her neck met her shoulder. His tongue darted over the sensitive skin there before he kissed it gently, sending shivers up her spine. Her skin broke out in goosebumps under his hands. She licked her lips lightly and tried to swallow the trembles that his tongue was trying to draw out of her. When he bit into the soft flesh, she lost her concentration and moaned, dropping her head back.

He sucked gently there for a moment before moving his mouth up to kiss along her neck slowly. Lucy squirmed as his breath tickled against her but went still when she felt something hard beneath her. Natsu let out a low groan and his hips lifted against hers slightly. She whimpered when he bit into her neck again, sucking harder this time. “N-Natsu….”

In the span of a heartbeat, he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. Her legs wrapped around his hips instinctively, and she rolled her hips up to meet his again with a gasp of his name. His tongue traced along her collarbone, and he nibbled at it the way she had at his just hours before. “Natsu…..t-this is all….starting to feel – ah!

His hands slid up her sides and under her shirt to rest against her ribcage. She didn’t know anymore whether she wanted him to stop or keep going. His teeth dragged along her neck until he bit her earlobe and tugged lightly at it. “This doesn’t feel…very platonic anymore….” she breathed. He drew his nose along the shell of her ear before pulling back. He gazed down at her. “I already told you I don’t know what that means.”

He leaned down to meet her lips with his softly. She let out a breathless giggle and he pulled back to look at her. “I’m not sure I remember either anymore …” She pulled him down to kiss him again. There would be time to figure out their relationship tomorrow. If meeting Future Lucy had taught her anything, it was not to waste any of the time they had together.

A/N: And there you have it! I had such a great time working on my first NaLu Week, and I hope you all enjoyed reading!! <3<3

#naluweek2023 #fairy tail #fairy tail nalu #natsu dragneel #fairy tail fanfic #lucy heartfilia #natsu x lucy #ao3 #ao3 fanfic #creative writing #nalu #archive of our own #nalu fairytail #new adventures

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mommyofkittens · 2 months

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A Court of Fallen Heroes - Chapter 8: Jane Doe

𓆩✴𓆪

" So, do we have a deal? " Impatience. Impatience was written all over King Draegan's voice, like a child ready to receive his Christmas present. " As you can see, our lands are really going to waste. There's almost nothing left to save. Our fields are barren, our rivers are poisoned by irreparable amounts of waste, our birthrate has plummeted and our workforce has dwindled alarmingly. We're no longer a threat, if that's what's stopping you from making a decision. "

I look at the copper-coloured ornament that protects his toes and think of all the poverty he described. Those perfect boots, cleaned by the hands of a man whose salary wasn't even enough to feed himself and his children.

Sell all your gold to those who need it, save the nation from poverty, do something to prevent it, not increase it, you fools!

I was expecting Eris to say something similar to what I was thinking, I wanted him to be a good character in this situation, to finally fight for this cause, but I knew there was more to it than a simple gesture of kindness between continents.

" The best I can do for now is to send someone to help you with the water, it would be a first step towards restoring the wells and rivers. " The redhead steps sideways, blocking the bed with his tall body. " My father will be happy to help you. I believe there's still hope between us, the new generation of rulers. "

I press my face to the ground, trying to catch a glimpse of the man who made Aoife pregnant. The tassels caught by the guild hung low, blocking most of my view. I could barely see up to their knees.

" It would be an immeasurable honour to have High Lord Beron in the palace. He and I have shared some grand ideas for the future of our lands, for the best use of the consumable races that seem to multiply every day. " I grimace, feeling the dark, malicious smile spread across Draegan's pleasant features. " And with the scientist your father sent me, it would be much easier to test the limits of our horizons. Wouldn't it, Lord Vanserra? "

A ball of thorns blossoms in my stomach, accentuating the guilt, feeding my anger. I bite my inner cheek, tasting blood on my tongue. What did he mean by 'consumable races'? What's the horizon that both Draegan and Beron aspire to? I struggle under the bed, waiting impatiently for Eris's answer, hoping he wasn't involved in this plan, wishing he was faking it.

Eris's silence is loud. He was caught on the wrong foot. Is what I needed for him: let him be shocked by their own wickedness. He remains near the edge of the bed, forgetting that he had to follow Draegan inside the antechamber.

" Excuse me, yes, it would be. " Eris takes a deep breath, steadying himself. " I was just thinking about the stability of Prythian. Politics have gone mad lately, my father is buried under all the paperwork and I believe he will not be able to honour any of your invitations to dinner. "

Draegan's laughter chills my blood more than the icy black marble. " I've heard about it too. A friend of mine from Vallahan informed me about all the damage. We are all suffering, right? Why not suffer together, strengthen each other's weakness. "

" But curiosity gets the best of me: what do you mean by consumable races? "

" Ah... " The King's black boots, perfectly fitted to his muscular calves, turn towards Eris. " It's just something I mentioned to your father on his last visit. It's a delicate subject, I can't discuss it with you between so many hungry ears. I'll tell you when the time is right. And the soldiers of your court have done a wonderful job with the new recruits to our army. "

Eris takes a few cautious steps towards the small wooden table where I left the white linen sheets. He seemed to be looking out over the balcony at the vast gothic empire, as if realising the damage already done. " And the soldiers... Of course. "

His tone was even, cold, an unmistakable tension in his words, as if he had been slapped across the face several times in the space of ten minutes: his father, the cursed friendship between their kingdoms, all the help Beron was sending behind his back. These soldiers could be seen as a sign of betrayal to Prythian and their shared interest in these consumable races was a bad omen, too.

As far as I remember, the Autumn Court was to the east, on the outer side of the continent. It probably wouldn't be much of a blow to the continent, given its external position. The only problem is that, with the right help, they could easily split Prythian in two, all they needed to do was wipe out the weaker surrounding courts. At the moment, that weak link was the Spring Court, which, with few inhabitants and a seriously ill ruler, would be just the place. And most importantly, it was on the border with the people they wanted to enslave.

Something is boiling in my chest, sour and malicious, threatening to consume me completely: injustice and weakness. Two feelings I'd become familiar with, but still not used to. This wasn't about the unfairness of my university, about working my ass off just to get the same grades as another kid who didn't work half as hard as I did. No, this was worse, it was about people's lives, innocent people who didn't even seem to know what was about to happen to them.

I try to steady my breath as best I can, afraid that his sharp hearing might catch me sneaking inside his bedroom. It was difficult to breathe properly anyway, due to the fact that I was lying on my stomach with my weight crushing my lungs.

" You mentioned earlier that... we were expecting guests? " Eris asked carelessly, strolling noisily into the waves of grey light pouring over the open balcony. Waves of dust rose into the air, whirling seductively. I place my hand over my nose and mouth, hoping to prevent any of those particles to activate my allergies.

" Are you afraid of being seen here? " There was something strange in his tone, as if he expected Eris to betray him in any moment.

"Under no circumstances. My business is mine alone and no one has the right to accuse me of anything. I don't really give a flying fuck about other people's opinions, Draegan. I'm just curious who I'm going to meet tonight. An Illyrian, then? "

I don't dare move closer to the edge of the bed, to watch the exchange of glances that pierce the silence of the room. Clinging to the frozen floor with my entire body, I felt my heart beat wildly, accelerating at the mention of the winged man. If it was someone I knew, was there any chance of talking to him? Could I catch him alone?

Draegan chuckles slightly and I hear him bang his fist on the door the way I died earlier. The key doesn't fall as it should and I swallow dryly as he bangs another fist, waiting for the familiar clang of metal, "Very peculiar. "

His brief comment makes my mouth drool and the bile rises in my throat, bringing with it a bitter taste.

" Is something wrong? " Eris pauses with his heels turned towards me, summoning his nonchalant demeanour.

" You didn't happen to notice if anyone was here before us, did you? " His tone changes completely in the blink of an eye, his words flowing through his teeth, full of violence and tension.

" Perhaps one of your maids? She forgot these old sheets as well. " The redhead sugests warily, feeling the wave of negative energy coming from Draegan.

" Hmpf... As for you question... " He abruptly changes the subject, stopping on command his other personality from rising to the surface. " I have no clue, either. The letter I received doesn't mention a certain name. A precaution for highway robbers. I guess the both of us we'll be just as surprised. "

Draegan steps into the antechamber, then seems to signal Eris to follow him, because after a few seconds, the door closes behind them, leaving me alone under the bed.

This is the time to get out of here and run for my life. I follow the corridor back to the central room, where most of the servants leave their clothes and bags and take on their servant personas. Rivers of words flow through my mind, trying to make connections, to link what I learned to what I already knew from the books. One of my problems was that the next book in the series wasn't written yet, so I had not idea if the Autumn Court would really betray Prythian, and secondly, It didn't matter what the book said, I changed the course of events. From now on, it depended on the choices everyone was going to make, including me. Our fate was sealed.

I felt blood on the tip of my tongue. My old habit of bitting my lips came rushing back. I found the map and lost it in less than ten minutes. I had to get it back, and that meant following Eris closely, which also meant getting too close to Draegan.

It wasn't a secret that I was terrified of these people, of fae and their dumb ways. Draegan and his ill mind was one of my greatest fears, for now, and not just because of his slippery fingers and overly suggestive looks, but apparently he was smarter than he seemed. I'd rather be trapped undergroung and suffocate than feel this man close to me, touching me.

For this reason only, Aoife was a hero. She endured too much and only because she needed those money for her family. Could I ever reach this level of devotion?

My fears weren't even my main problem, Eris Vanserra was. I can't begin to comprehend what has gotten into him, what sort of devil possessed him to help me. I knew he wasn't totally evil, like some people around here liked to portray him, but he wasn't good either. He went to great lengths to hide me, to conceal the scent I left on the objects I touched. I knew faes where michievous, their help was never to be taken for granted. Was I prepared to offer him what he wanted?

Failure after failure, I couldn't even find out who the winged visitor was. There was a clear antipathy between the kingdoms, even before Prythian gutted the former king. This meeting would not end well.

I hide my hands between my skirt and make my way through the servants. Niven and I had certain hours when we could sneak in here, when most of the servants would go up and prepare the main room for the upcoming guests.

I do my best to arrange napkins and to clean their silverware, waiting for the clock tower to ring three times to announce lunchtime. A breeze of fresh grass and sunflowers makes me aware of the presence next to me.

" Have you found anything? " Niven's whisper is so low, that I can barely grasp the sentence through my stupid hat.

I nod, slowly raising my head to see if there are more people around. " There's a detailed map in Draegan's antechambers. " I point my finger at the brunette before she has a chance to scold me for going into the king's wing. " But there's another problem that has arisen. I'm trying to solve that as well. "

" Don't tell me you've been caught sneaking around his chambers! " Her doe eyes are wide open, black and dilated with shock. " Fuck... Did he?... "

" No! No... Don't worry, everything's under control. "My lie caused her eyebrows to touch slightly and if I didn't know her better, I would have known that she was scolding me with that look. " I have to meew with someone to get the map back, that's all. "

" Who caught you? "

I smack my lips together, tasting that bile from earlier still lingering between my teeth. " Eris Vanserra. "

A napkin flows to the stone floor, slipping from Niven's gloved hands. The tension in her body makes her tremble slightly and I see her swallow. " I'll go after the map. "

I can't hide the surprise written all over my forehead and eyebrows, the only visible parts of my face. " No. Never in a million years. Your familly has already done their part. I'll be the one to do the nasty things from now on. "

" You're not a spare part of this mission. " Niven bites back, glaring at me furiously. " You can't put yourself in any danger! "

" I beg your pardon? If anyone has to come out of this hurt or dead, it's me. You have to keep your family under their radar and safe. "

" Under their what? " Niven asks skeptically and for a moment i forget that we're not in my old world, where a ' radar ' was a common knowledge.

" Under their curious eyes. I lost the map, I'll get it back. " I declare, throwing the silverware back in their baskets.

Niven rolls her eyes and catches my shoulders between her rather strong palms. " If you die somewhere along the way, we're doomed. You need to get that through your head, Cyan. You die, we all die. Finished. You can't throw yourself around, hoping it'll work out in the end. You must stay alive untill the end. "

Good God. How do I talk her down of this bullshit?

" Look, Eris saw me in those rooms, he knows me, he will only give me the map. Not you, not anyone else. Let me fetch it and then you can do your part of the job. I won't interfere... "

I can see her thinking deeply, her eyes moving frantically around the stone chamber, focusing on every small detail of this cold room. Her dark lashes were so long that they were shielding almost completely her eyesight, resting beautifully on her cheeks.

" Very well. Do what you know you need to do, but it's the last time. "

I smile behind my mask and without thinking if anyone could see us, I throw my arms around her, embracing her warmth and the feeling of familiarity. She wanted to carry my burden, but she had her own and for that I could only love her more than I already did.

It hit me just then how deeply I was about to miss this woman, my sould sister.

𓆩✴𓆪

Author's PoV

' The Three Dead Kings are waiting for their Daughter. '

Somehow, Elain had managed to creep back into his mind, like a persistent trickle of water carving a path through a rock. She hadn't done it on purpose, the lone fae had been tending to her garden all morning: watering, digging holes, moving flowers from place to place. She hadn't sought the attention of anyone in particular, nor had she struck up a conversation with any of them, as if her noisy mind was enough to seek refuge in the peace of her safe space.

And the winged man, like any respectable spy around town, was content to watch over her from the window of his room, satisfying his need to have her from afar. Even if he was only making a fool of himself, putting salt on a wound he never knew he had.

In the light of recent events, Azriel understood why she was acting more strangely than before, and that left him with a bruised ego. In the small remnant of hope he had so carefully guarded, the Shadowsinger thought that perhaps, deep down, she was suffering from his dangerous journey, that perhaps she was plagued by worry and dark thoughts, for him, for his safety.

But he was a selfish prick, utterly blinded by the need to project his desire for belonging onto someone else.

Azriel huffed from under his black hood, disgusted with himself. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else in the world, it was begging someone for attention. After all, that's what he did for eleven years, trying in vain to win his father's affection and what did he received? A dark, cold cell, under a house full of happy laughs. He despised that with all of his wicked, hollow heart and funny enough, that's what he always found himself doing: begging to eat trash.

Elain's strange behaviour was later explained: her gifted power demanded to be let out. She kept it under control until she lost her ability to keep it in check. It seems that for both sisters the benefits of becoming Fae came at the cost of less desirable things.

The sun's head slowly peeked out from behind the Night Court's sacred mountain as he left his chambers. Azriel glanced back many times, his weary eyes resting on the sleeping city he used to call ' home '. Lately, he wasn't sure if ' home ' was Velaris anymore, ravished by the feeling of not belonging, of missing something he longed for for nearly three hundred years. He understood the message his body was sending: he would rather be away from the House of Wind than with his family.

He'd left before six in the morning, having been awake from his sinful thoughts since four. He had time to warm up his muscles in the ring for half an hour, then cleaned up and got something to eat. Azriel never said goodbye to anyone, he never did that before a mission. It was what motivated him to keep coming back.

Besides, there was no way he could: Cassian was fast asleep, tired of his futile attempts to get Nesta to train and their bickering. Rhys had given him the task of extracting information from Vassa, Jurian and Lucien, which somewhat compensated for the fact that Azriel was now busy with something else. Even Nesta wasn't awake at those hours, his hearing was far too fine and his brave shadow, who often chose to be his companion through sleepless nights, knew everything that went on in the corridors. So the reason the older sister slept late was the delicious wine she stole from Rhysand.

Two days had passed since he landed in the vast and desolate western continent, two days of hopeless searching, of questions with no answers. The nights weren't any better. He camped in the woods, with no fire to warm his flesh, only his shadows as friends to watch his back. It was good when he could steal thirty minutes of sleep. It was even better when he didn't have that tingling sensation that he was being watched when the night fell. He was thankful that the amber perfume vanished. Amren was right when she told him it will pass. But the one who followed him closely through both cities he visited was another presence, someone who smelled of berries.

Azriel ignored it. He wasn't the one to do that with his problems, but he already had too much on his plate. This seemingly deserted land, with all its goods left to rot, was already a threat to his life.

The words from Elain's vision were on a loop in his head, keeping him aware, trying to focus on solving that riddle. Amren was contacted in an instance, she was the only one with enough knowledge on this obscure spectrum. After all, she was the one who discovered the fallen woman.

Squeezing his wings tighter around him, Azriel slipped through the crowded markeplace of Nyzim, the second vilage on his list. He was disgusted every time his massive wing touched another civilian, feeling their filthy clothes brush against the thick membrane. The man tried to think of them as harmless people who hadn't had the good fortune to wash often, due to the lack of water in this place or the lack of hygiene that seemed to be a basic rule here. He tried his best to watch over them with patience and serenity, but it was almost impossible when all he got in return were frowns and dirty looks.

He'd grown accustomed to the more than shocked, even horrified, stares of the surrounding humans. Still, he thanked himself for the view, and enjoyed the fact that all the people ran away from him, making room for him between the shabby stalls. It was better for his wings.

With the hood of his cloak pulled low over his piercing eyes, he watched every movement without having the need to turn his head. His shadows waited meekly on his round shoulders, also hidden beneath the black cloak that covered his Illyrian costume and weapons.

There was no need to ask questions, not always. His loyal companions would bring him all the information he needed, both wanted and unwanted, without him making too many moves that would attract more attention. The squinting looks he received were not uncommon, nor were the mean whispers his braver shadow provided him, coiled in his ear like a domesticated snake.

Azriel was used to being insulted and treated inhumanely since childhood, so he knew how to fend off all these unspoken attacks, shutting himself behind an iron, impenetrable mask.

His far too long activity in the field had made him a calculated, well-behaved and, above all, rational man. So the fact that Azriel already passed through two villages without anyone noticing anything out of the ordinary was an expected and already digested knowledge. Nothing surprised him. Azriel also suspected that the palace was already announced by the winged silhouette that haunted the villages around the kingdom and that made him stand stiff as a bow, ready for any approach from the new rulers of the continent.

Azriel shifts his gaze to the village priest, silently directing his shadows at the old man's temples. The Shadowsinger could sense him from a few metres away, even without the aid of his dark tongues. He noticed his slippery hands, his red nose and the rhythmic ticking of his head: a chronic drinker who had suffered a heart attack. He also seemed to love the villagers' money more than his children, who lay barefoot and dirty around him.

The shadow came back unnoticed, rippling faintly in the damp atmosphere. Azriel closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing the base of his nose. No one sensed a change in time, no one noticed a woman who didn't belong, no one slept more than usual on any given night, and no one smelled the haunting scent of amber.

The other day, he sat for hours on several rooftops, enveloped in total darkness, listening, analysing, sending several shadows around the place, inside these people's houses, intruding their privacy, searching under every rock, only to find nothing. He realised soon after that this was not the place he was looking for.

All the women looked the same: pale, hungry and dirty. He even read statistics about the female population of Hybern, looking for a pattern to help him distinguish the one he was looking for from the rest. They all had brunette features: dark-haired, tall and well formed enough to carry the hard work of the field, brown or black eyes and their foreheads wrinkled with worry. Many couldn't read or speak, all had two or three children behind them, and when Azriel tried to read their minds, they seemed just as confused and burdened by their daily lives. His attention was heightened when he spotted a rare blonde, and watched her with interest, but soon realised that her energetic imprint was deeply rooted in this place.

It was harder than he expected.

Amren tried several solutions to the problem of finding the woman. She searched hard for spells and even insisted on bringing Nesta to help them, relying on her connection to the Cauldron. To no avail, for they had absolutely nothing that belonged to the stranger, and since she was apparently not yet 'formed', as Amren had put it, they could not track her at all. She could be in the depths of Hel itself, they wouldn't know, and they couldn't help her.

For once, luck had somehow smiled upon them. When Elain appeared the other day, at exactly seven in the morning, hands raised above her head as if waiting for a ray of sunshine to slip through her slender fingers, everyone seemed to be biting their tongues. Her eyes were filled with a bright white smoke and her face was set in a grimace of satisfaction. It was as much relieving as it was terrifying. Her voice had taken on that mystical hue as she pronounced the syllables, thickening a few octaves and capturing a shuddering effect on all who wittnesed the event. Even his shadows went mad, swirling around him like a dizzy vortex.

" When the remaining ruins bathe in her blood and the Onix Oasis cries out her name, the earth's womb will open and darkness will flow. She leaves with a promise, returning with a crown carved from the ancient bones of her fathers. There are three dead kings waiting for their daughter. "

Azriel was there to catch her when she collapsed, exhausted of her own strength, touching her almost tenderly on her cold, supine cheeks, silently encouraging her. Rhys was the first to prick his mind, waking him from his reverie. He felt as if someone had thrown cold water on him.

This prophecy was bigger than the ones she had uttered before, broader, more difficult. Everyone in the room knew what it was about, or rather who it was about: the Comet Woman. Amren almost danced with joy, glad to have something new to decipher, like a dog with a bone, running to find everything she could while the sentence was still fresh.

The dreary weather in Hybern did nothing to improve his low morale.He couldn't understand how people could live in such conditions, without natural sunlight, without colourful, ripened fruit. Azriel slipped nimbly through a group of men, tempted to grab an apple from a blind woman's stall. He reached for his silver coins and took three between his gloved fingers, more than necessary, and threw them on the woman's counter, so that she could hear the clink of each coin.

" It's too much. " She mutters hoarsely, seeming to watch him very closely with her strange, purple, parasitic pupils. " The guards will come and collect them if I make more than what my shop has to offer. "

Azriel considered the old woman for a while, his whiskey-like eyes boring into those of the fourth-aged lady. A strange smell rose to his nose, old and pungent, of medicine and strange potions. Berries, he sensed, but it seemed highly unlikely that a sixty something woman could follow him through the forest. Her wavy white hair was covered by a wool hat and she had several layers of blankets and petticoats folded on her back.

" If they come, tell them that I stole from you. They'll be too busy coming after a thief and you can take some of your food back home. "

" Then be a good boy and cover me. " The old woman gave him a wry smile and took the money from the counter, stuffing some of her vegetables back inside her rusty bag.

Azriel used his magic to darken their position, creating a nice glamour for those around. " Go now, and keep your pets close, there's something bad waiting at the end of your journey. "

The man didn't have time to process as some children's cries pierced his sensitive ears, causing him to nod in the direction of the sounds. He turned back to the mysterious woman, trying to get more information from her, but the place where she stood only moments ago, behind the stall, was now empty.

Azriel clenched his fists, calling upon every rational cell of his body. The shadows hidden beneath his travelling robes murmured, equally dazed, unable to sense the old woman's aura. The situation was uncomfortable for a spy, as if he were talking to a ghost. But it was impossible, the conversation had taken place, all her vegetables and fruit lay untouched in baskets, but the furs and money were gone, as was the smell of dead leaves and berries.

Maybe she was the one following him, after all.

The people around eyed him. Azriel felt like an animal in a cage. An imaginary circle formed around him, like a shield, which everyone tactically avoided, not wanting to challenge him.

" Have you seen the woman sitting here? " Azriel directed a question towards the peasant sitting right across him.

The man he was addressing quickly went from shock to horror and backed away a little. With outstretched hands he reached for a knife hidden under the counter and whispered, " No one was ever here, sir. "

Azriel looked shaken and took a few minutes to recalibrate. Since the comet had fallen, the universe seemed even more enraged against Azriel's being, as if what he had to endure was not enough. He nodded resignedly, trying to maintain an outward calm. How did she vanish into thin air? He couldn't ever trace her using her stench.

There were few things that stretched his patience to the limit, and being taken for a fool was one of them. He had no idea who the old woman was or what she was trying to tell him. Maybe she was a spy for the kingdom, maybe she was a witch, or maybe she was just a simple woman trying to play a trick on a man who had shown her a mediocre amount of kindness. That seemed to be the pattern in these places.

He hurried his pace, eager to escape this damned village as quickly as possible. This place was forgotten by the saints.

Next on his list was Thaibar, a few kilometres to the east, a distance he quickly decided to cover on foot, hoping that he might still find something interesting, something that would lead him to the woman.

Amren mentioned that the place where the comet struck should be turned into a monument of some kind, from which ancient magic would flow. It could be anything: a temple, an oasis, a hole, anything energetically charged to the brim. Azriel relied on his senses to locate the place, but nothing of this magnitude had appeared. Surely the one who had fallen was no longer there, if she was conscious and able to walk. Even though they had speculated that time had looped around her to help her survive, her unharmedness was not a certainty.

Azriel crossed the dense forest that separated Nizym from Thaibar without incident, allowing his shadows to spread freely between the slender trunks of the trees. He enjoyed the oppressive silence that hung over the thin branches, using this hour of travel as a kind of mini-vacation before facing the outside world. A few metres to the right lay a vast and barren plain, as if the earth had been cursed so that no fruit would live long in this area.

He came to a halt and frowned, feeling like there was something amiss with that meadow. There was something... peculiar in the air, as if the dust particles were full of their own life, floating into those little rays of sunshine, bathing in that small, warm glow. Azriel could hear it, buzzing like a million bees in the distance, like a song hummed by the birds. The Shadowsinger was suddenly overcome with serenity, his companions danced around him, thrilled by the same mute music. But there was nothing on that field, only a lonely dogwood tree marking the middle of the land.

Azriel knew in that second that this was the place he was looking for, Thaibar.

He became slightly optimistic, bewitched by that intense feeling.

The trees, no matter how many they were, were thin and dry inside, with few leaves hanging almost withered from the branches. He removed his hood for a few seconds, letting his brunette hair fall loosely on his forehead and bravely looked around. Listening carefully, he came to the interesting conclusion that this forest was home to an impressive number of animals: bears, wolves, foxes, squirrels, including snakes, as if they had all been attracted by something.

Azriel became interested in this place, sending a silent question to his shadows that now stretched across the forest, hidden in every dark corner. One thousand three hundred species of animals had left their hibernation and come here almost a month ago. A time that coincided perfectly with the Summer Solstice and the fall of the comet. Most of these wild animals were female.

However, they had not attacked, killed or caused any harm to each other, living in total harmony. Perhaps even the people of the village were unaware of the danger that lurked in the forest. Maybe they had just gathered here to watch, to... protect?

As he approached the edge of the forest, Azriel noticed the dense mixture of smells in this place. Nearly a hundred people had gathered here, repeatedly. The yellowed grass was stuck to the wet ground, trampled as if someone had been dancing here for hours. In the centre were the logs of a campfire, with many more improvised chairs and to the left was a thick tree trunk, cut in two and placed in the shape of a table.

He walked around a few times, looking at the area where the party had been held, noting in his mind that it had been held near the edge of the forest, avoiding the dense part of the woods as if they knew it was not a safe place at night. Azriel stopped, planting his heavy, muddy boots on the ground. The murmur of his shadows suddenly died in his ears, as if they felt the same thing as their master. He took a few steps back, careful not to tarnish what he felt.

Azriel felt the blow in his neck before it reached his lungs. He took a deep breath, sniffing again and again, trying to kick some ration into himself. He tried to convince his body that it was not true, that someone was still spying on him, tricking him, but there it was, that devilish, atrocious smell.

But instead, it was his brave shadow that admitted it: Green, green amber...

Those tongue made of darkness dissipated around him and took the form of a person, a woman, a few metres in front of him, small and faceless. He felt a pressure settle on his chest, heavy and poisonous, bringing Azriel's bad temper to the surface. He swallowed hard and spun around his shadows, as if to imprint on his retina the body of someone he had not yet met, of that someone who haunted him nights after nights. Only then, amidst the mixture of grass, flowers, jasmine and ashes, did he detect the distinct scent of amber. The perfume that held his nightmares on a leash, who ruled over his mind for far too long, this woman was the one who, for who knows what reason, had sneaked into his house and stolen from him: his knife and his sanity.

Azriel wanted them back.

The man could barely contain the hatred and contempt that was now rising in his chest, as if it would overtake any logical thoughts. This woman would be brought to justice, with the same cruelty with which she commanded over his restless nights.

As he left the place, he tried to unravel the traces of other people's scents one by one, to follow only the amber, like a mad dog on the hunt. The scent did not go very far, stopping at a more secluded farm on the crest of a hill. He glanced cautiously at the lone woman going about her work through the fence, quietly carrying several sacks of flour, unaware of Azriel's dangerous presence.

It's not her. One of the shadows spoke harshly, wrapping itself around his muscled forearm as if to stop him from slaughtering anyone on sight.

The truth was that the man's mind was drowning. Amber floated everywhere around the farm, like a shield, trying to protect the houses from any unknown, uninvited guest. He could see all the routes that woman had taken inside and outside the farm, which houses she entered and which stables she visited. Azriel watched the tall mare graze peacefully, black as night and shining like a lucky fish just caught from the river. His gaze was immediately drawn to her companion, a grey cat, thin and attentive to everything that moved around her, carefully watching everything that happened around the mare as if she were her protector.

A shiver ran down his spine as the small animal suddenly turned its questioning gaze on him, as if to ask him what he was doing in her territory.

What piqued his interest was the fact that both the mare and the cat were wrapped in the scent of amber and bergamot, as if they belonged to the one Azriel was looking for.

The Shadowsinger had too many thoughts in his head, he couldn't find any logic in any of them either, his mind too foggy and heavy. By the Mother, he was going to snap. This was where the woman in question lived, these people had brought her here and taken care of an unknown woman. But why? How much trust can you put in a stranger? It is not difficult to recognise a person who does not belong to the place, so how did this part of the story unfold? Azriel suspected it was much more than an act of kindness.

A muscle in his jaw twitched at the thought that maybe they weren't the only ones who knew about the woman's identity, what she was supposed to become and what powers she could gain. If that was the reason, it was clear who had already earned the individual's trust.

" Sir? " A soft voice addressed him, " Are you all right? What are you looking for? "

The woman who took care of the farm, who had been watching him from a few metres away, had noticed him sitting there, staring at her awkwardly. Her small face was elegant with determination written all over her delicate features, but she was too pale and rather ill-looking. The woman was about forty years old, she had a palpable tension in her forehead and her fingers were clenched, ready to strike if necessary. She was gifted with a subtle maternal air and a special gentleness, it felt like flowers could bloom only by her touch only. She didn't approve of his presence so close to her own home and was about to pull out her claws. Azriel appreciated her ferocity.

" I was wondering if you could show me where the palace is. " Azriel spoke in a steady tone, " I think I got a little lost on the way. "

The man knew he couldn't trick her, not when she was watching him like she was about to bit his head off if he made a wrong movement. Azriel bowed his head, trying to show her that he was no threat to her.

" I find it rather hard to miss it, with those... wings attached to your back you can spot it easily from a distance. " There was no fear in her tender eyes, only vigilance. Azriel looked at her for a long time, reading her from the inside to the outside, noticing the sorrow that had settled over her features, deepening the slight wrinkles, along with another feeling, helplesness. She looked him in the eyes and smiled with restraint as she pointed to the barren plains and some distant towers beyond. " But I'll endulge you, sir. You should also know that people around Thaibar are not fond of your kind, maybe you should watch your back. "

" It means you can understand why I can't use my wings to my liking. Arrows are hard to duck and even harder to get out. "

" My son is a good archer. "

" Do you have any other child good with bows and arrows? " Azriel dared to ask, sensing the warning in her tone.

" Three, actually, all very skilled in their own way. " The woman hapilly announced, ready to return in the safety of her garden.

" All yours, I supose... " The man made a simple guess, trying to find more about where the stranger could live.

" Born with blood and sweat. Mine. " She smiled, but that smile never touched her eyes completely. For Azriel was enough of a sign.

" Then I shouldn't keep you from your duties any longer, have a nice day, madam. "

The woman only bowed her head, then returned slowly inside her house. Azriel knew she was watching from her window.

Also, there was something else laced around her being, something he grew familiar sincer Elain became a fae. The same trace of magic linked them both, the same tormenting and sad air enveloped around them: a seer? Azriel raised his eyebrows in surprise, but it was the grey cat that surprised him most, scrutinising him with her yellow eyes. She stood inches away from his boots, sniffing him. Azriel could swear the animal was frowning as well.

The shadows deepend, trying to get closer to that strange cat that now started to circle him. Azriel ordered his companions to retreat, but that brave one came too close to the cat's round head and tugget at its sharp ear. The animal spat, surprised by the sudden attack and bared its claws.

Azriel chuckled, leaning down. " I'm so sorry for their behaviour, they're not used to meeting cats very often. " He tries to pet it, but to no avail, the cat was already running away, frightened by his shadows. " You should tell your master I'm coming for her. "

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adumbcloud · 1 year

Text

How they met you

I did tags 3 times and it didn’t save so I give up on them

1.2k words r=romantic p=platonic but both can be seen as platonic

Diona (p) Qiqi (p) Hu Tao (r) Fischl (r) Jean (r) Sucrose (r) Yoimiya (r)

Diona

You met Diona while you were walking around Mondstadt simply wandering around. Diona was in the middle of preparing to go to Springvale at night, alone. So when you noticed Diona (whose name you didn’t know at that moment) at the entrance to Mondstadt preparing to leave for Springvale, you quickly walked up to her asking where she was going. When she answered that she was going to Springvale you decided to walk her there, after a while it became a daily thing that you both enjoyed. She’d talk to you about her day while you listened, and sometimes commented on what she was talking about, or something you saw. After a while of you walking her home she became a bit territorial of you. So whenever you were together and she saw whatever gender you’re attracted to/someone that flirts with you, or just diluc she would glare at them. It was kind of funny. Actually, she was able to scare off a lot of people (including Diluc somehow). Once while you were walking her to Springvale you both decided to take a break and she accidentally somehow fell asleep on you. So you sat there for a small time and let her rest because she seemed exhausted. (she was embarrassed when she woke up and refused to ever talk about it) <3

Qiqi

Qiqi you met the first time at Bubu pharmacy after getting a cold and needing medicine. It took a bit for Qiqi to remember what medicine there was for colds, and if they had it. So after she found your medicine and you paid, you left and didn’t see her for a while. The next time you saw her was when you found Hu Tao “harassing” (the fandom website said that Hu Tao stopped bothering her after a few times, but oh well) her, and trying to convince Qiqi to let Hu Tao bury her. Which you quickly stopped Hu Tao from doing, causing her to pout and Qiqi looking at you trying to figure out if she knew you. After that from time-to-time you would find Qiqi trying to find herbs and other things for Bubu pharmacy. Why she was the one given that role you didn’t know, but you tried to help her whenever you were able. After a while she slowly started to remember you from sight. Whenever she saw you she would walk over to you, and start to hold your hand. <3

Hu Tao

You met Hu tao after trying to find a job, which she offered to employ you at the Wanshang Funeral Parlor. It was interesting to have Hu Tao as your boss. She made sure that there was never a dull moment, when she was around. But when she wasn’t around it was a bit boring if you're being honest, even though you always had a bit of work that you needed to do. Though who knew that a Funeral Parlor would have so much paperwork? Whenever she decided to drag you around Liyue looking for customers she always somehow found Qiqi while you weren’t looking, and tried to convince Qiqi into being buried. You always had to drag Hu Tao away from her while apologizing for your boss’s actions. Hu Tao would pout at you afterwards while trying and failing to ignore you. <3

Fischl

Fischl (& Oz) you met at the Adventurers’ Guild in Mondstadt. Katheryne assigned you both together to wipe out a hilichurl camp that was a bit too close to Mondstadt for comfort, and a bit too big for only one person to wipe out. Your first impressions of Fischl were “that’s a lot of fancy words,” “wow she’s really skilled in combat,” and “she’s really pretty.” Though it was a bit difficult to understand what she was saying at first, you eventually started to understand her words without the help of Oz. After your first commission together you both were partnered together often, it was mostly because your fighting styles worked well together. Sometimes after a commission you both sit down on the grass and stare at the sky together. Watching the clouds and pointing out what you think they look like. Or staring at the stars while she shows you constellations that she learned from Mona. <3

Jean

You met Jean when you were both young because your parent(s)/guardian(s) were friends with hers. You both got along very well and were fairly good friends. Although you both never had the chance to interact very much because you were both training to become knights of Favonius. When Barbara was born and her parents eventually separated you both started to spend more time together. Most of it was because your parent(s)/guardian(s) and her mother decided that both of you training together was a good idea. When she got the title of ‘Dandelion Knight’ at 15 you were both at the big tree at windrise (The symbol of Mondstadt’s hero) celebrating it quietly, while she also calmed down from the other celebrations. When Jean got her vision you were the first person to find out. In response to her getting her vision you got her a new romance novel which to this day is her favorite book. Jean tried to keep you from meeting Amber, Lisa, and Kaeya because she didn’t want them to interfere with your work. They met you pretty fast after Jean became the Acting Grand Master, and quickly they started to use you to help stop Jean from overworking herself. <3

Sucorse

You were studying to become a scientist and while you were studying you met Sucrose, Both of you working under Albedo. Sucrose was extremely shy when you first met and only spoke a few words, stuttering the whole time. After a few weeks of working together she slowly became less shy around you, talking with more words then before. Still stuttering sometimes but stuttering became less common, remarkably. She was still fairly shy around you but she was less shy of you then most others. But that also tends to happen when you work together for a while. After about a year of working together you both grew fairly close together. To the point that you managed to get her to ask Diona if they had shared any ancestry, and got her to talk to Jean once. <3

Yoimiya

Yoimiya you met at a fireworks show while at a festival in Inazuma. She was running around playing with the children and accidentally bumped into you. Yoimiya bumping into you caused you to fall down and scrape your knee. She felt so bad and apologized almost a million times in less than a minute. You accepted her apology quickly because she was apologizing too much, and she was seemingly really nice. After this event whenever she saw you around Inazuma she’d talk to you for around an hour, but you only saw each other once or twice a week. She was always great company so you both quickly became good friends. When the next festival came around Yoimiya made a firework just for you, and she also made sure to get candies from each stall to give to you. Both of you also sometimes would play with the children that live in Inazuma City and you became an older sibling for the children too. <3

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fairytail-whathesays · 6 months

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Strauss siblings headcanons? I like all of them but I mean more focus on their relationship with each other. They have so much history and the potential for their developing (familial) feelings towards each other to be explored is ridiculous: before Mira’s arm was taken over, when they were travelling to find answers, when they were in the guild together learning takeover magic and Mira because S-Class eventually, when Elfman lost control of his full body beast soul and injured Lisanna before she ‘died’/went to Edolas against her will while Mira was overseeing them (it was an S-Class one and she was the only S-Class), when Lisanna was gone (but missing Earthland siblings while acting for her Edolas siblings) and Mira worked in customer service and admin type roles rather than use her magic while Elfman only used his arm as they all grieved, when Lisanna came back and Mira and Elfman were both using magic their magic to its full potential, after the 7 year timeskip (they were all on Tenrou) and then after the one year timeskip. Thanks so much. I love your Lisanna, Elfman and Mirajane appreciation posts.

Elfman is actually a lot stronger than his usual battles tend to imply. The Beast was a serious threat in its day, enough to have S-Class Mirajane so badly on the backfoot that she said herself she was getting beaten pretty badly. However, Elfman is still extremely cautious about how much he taps into his Beast Soul forms due to the experience of being unable to turn back and what happened to Lisanna. On raw power, he's definitely S-Class, but he holds back a lot due to restricting himself very stringently to what he knows is safe to use.

Speaking of Lisanna, the canon scenes imply (because Mashima had no plan when bringing her back) that when Anima took her as she was dying, she just...kind of glowed and turned into light particles, when it was previously implied Lisanna died on the spot and was buried. We're gonna tweak this slightly: Mirajane and Elfman actually buried Edolas Lisanna, who Anima swapped with Earthland Lisanna as they were both dying in unrelated incidents and who is actually the one Mirajane knelt with as she was dying.

All of the Strauss siblings are magnets for attention. Elfman and Lisanna are both a little dense about it and both unsure how to proceed when it's brought to their attention, but they have about the same amount of admirers as Mirajane. Strauss genes, man, they're just really pretty.

There are some secret Beast Souls Elfman's got access to but that's not for here or now. 🤍 I don't give away my fic plots that easily.

The whole family loves animals and I know that's already apparent but listen, there's never gonna be anyone you can trust more with animal care than Elfman and Lisanna. It's at least canon those two outright helped incubate/raise Happy, okay? They regularly volunteer at animal shelters, too, and anytime there's a mission involving animals, they take it.

Elfman is especially good friends with Natsu, Gajeel, and Laxus, while Lisanna is especially close to Wendy. Elfman, because he knows what it's like to share a part of yourself with a powerful entity that affects your body, and Lisanna because she's very serene and really gets Wendy's pacifistic nature, they're both very in touch with the natural world around them.

Lisanna has a natural aversion to Beast Soul and Demon Soul takeovers, she's simply too gentle for them. However, she is remarkably gifted with Take Over in general. She's able to rapidly chain different Take Over forms one after another when this would exhaust a lesser wizard, and can even mix-and-match certain elements of them.

Anyone wanting to date literally any Strauss sibling has to pass at least two checks, one from each remaining sibling. Elfman thinks he's the one who takes it most seriously and is most aggressive about it. He is not.

I'm glad you like my posts! 💚

#mirajane strauss #elfman strauss #lisanna strauss

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throwaway-yandere · 1 year

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Some details about the Apotheosis Upon Your First Feast fic so spoilers

Perhaps there's some things you might've missed from the fic in here >:))

Gets incredibly unstable whenever someone wastes food. They don't waste a single grain of rice whenever they eat. Suffice to say, it's possible that the aranaras peer pressured them to eat the entire bowl even when they know who the ingredient was.

Reader had to bury siblings at a young age. Malnourishment + other incidents caused them to go deaf, which amplified Pantalone's distaste for the archons. Lived off salt and rice for a long time. No meat, no anything. They're obsessed with food and solving world hunger because of it. Finds out the solution to world hunger is cannibalism.

They not only missed the fight because of poor hearing (and it's also meters away to be fair), this is also the reason why Scaramouche felt strangely drawn to them. They're imperfect like him. They get to live their life not worrying about how they're essentially discarded by society at one point while he's out there trying to prove that he's worthy of becoming a divine being.

Alhaitham-(Y/n) friendship is actually so real but there's no point in adding my brainrots. Wasn't included in the fic, but they trained together, that's why they have the same "character kit" (skill & burst). Alhaitham also bought them hearing aids at the same time he got his headphones so people will think he has hearing problems & that they're friends because they have the same condition. He did it so that people can stop approaching him to ask stupid questions... It was (Y/n)'s idea. "Trust me, Haitham, it works" hAHAHAHA–

Also for the record: Alhaitham sent them there because he knows they're as lazy as him. If he didn't send them there, the Akademiya would suggest making (Y/n) the acting grand scribe. Alhaitham would rather spare them the trouble and make them relax in a forest. Yes, Alhaitham is a good friend. He just... Sucks at letting people know he's a good one. I mean, look at his situation with Kaveh.

The reader can see aranaras because they're still a child at heart and haven't properly "grown up". Perhaps it's also the reason why they brazenly ask somewhat naive questions at Scaramouche...

Funny that (Y/n) is Scara's first sage while the traveler is Nahida's. Both have siblings. One lost their entire family and the other is on the process of finding them.

And yes: Pantalone genuinely doesn't remember Scara in this fic. He just decided he'd try out using the guns Dottore made. And it's effectiveness depends on your choice.

And also yes: the reader did leaked Nahida as the one controlling Katheryne on accident lmfao. Reader knows about her cause she collaborated with the Adventurer's Guild before in a project and it's once again, food related (that's why Baharak is friendly with them).

This project isn't explored in the fic– I'm already passed my word count. Comrade this commission is for a 1.5k fic but I ended up writing 7k 😭

–But most importantly, perhaps you might've missed this line:

“The Doctor and I had a deal. He’ll recreate at least 80% of a regular Akasha’s functions while I help him track down a few… crops.”

That line?

It's about the aranaras.

The eyeglasses are a damn prototype made by Dottore to see if it can record aranaras.

You know how when Scaramouche's revised the irminsul to remove him, the fate remains the same for most things? Niwa still dies, the clans still fall, and all that?

Yeah :]

Remember how the reader begged Scara to spare the forest before?

Y e a h : ]

Maybe it won't be Scaramouche that destroys them, but someone else will.

#ansy-addendums #tag: AUYFF

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supermarine-silvally · 4 months

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Hellooooo, it's meeeeee (remember that song?). I'm here to ask for all of the Relationships asks for Yara. Hope you're having an amazing day!

All of them? Hell yeah! (I've had so much fun with these asks you can't even imagine lol)

Ask game here!

1. What is your OC's relationship to their family - biological or found?

She has a great, very close relationship with her found family on the Whitebeard Pirates. She loves and adores Whitebeard as if he really were her biological father. There’s a line Marco had in the anime about why the WBP call Whitebeard “Pops” -- something along the lines of “Because he calls us sons. We’re all hated by the world, so it makes us happy.” And in Yara’s case, this is very true as well. She’s Whitebeard’s youngest “daughter” and gets spoiled by her “father” as such. Yara doesn’t know anything about her biological mother and only finds out about her biological father because of an old bounty poster issued before the creation of the Seven Warlords. She spends a lot of time resenting Mihawk and denying their connection until he saves her life at the end of Marineford and takes her back to his castle, where they finally have a chance to reconnect. (It’s at this point Yara learns about her biological mother, too). Post-timeskip, Mihawk and Yara have a much better relationship. It’s still a little strange, but a lot of the resentment seems to have faded away. They have the sort of relationship where they won’t talk for months at a time but then one will call the other out of the blue (probably Yara going “You let that CLOWN be in charge of Cross Guild??? Wtf were you thinking???”) and they’ll spend the next five hours on the den den mushi doing nothing but shit-talking Buggy.

2. Does your OC act differently around different people?

Not really? Yara is Yara. The only real factor on how different she is around other people is how much she likes them.

3. Is your OC a good leader? Do they like to lead or do they prefer to follow?

Yara prefers not to lead (though she’s just as skilled as the division commanders on Whitebeard’s crew, she refused to take a command position even when it was offered to her because she didn’t want one) but can and will step up in a pinch. She served as Acting Commander of 2nd Division in Ace’s absence during his Blackbeard hunt and after his capture in the Paramount War. She fully intended to relinquish the position upon Ace’s return, however.

4. Who influenced them the most on their journey?

Whitebeard. He saw promise in Yara as a young teenager and has been fostering her development ever since while also giving her the paternal love she never got growing up.

5. Do they have any siblings?

Not biologically, but she counts the other WBP as being like her siblings (except Ace, for… obvious reasons lmao). Marco is the person she’s closest to and openly refers to as a brother, despite their 20-odd year age difference. (In the anime, she would refer to him as “Marco nii-san”). Once she and Zoro train together during the timeskip, he becomes like a brother to her, too-- and Perona has decided that she and Yara are sisters now as well.

6. Are they more dominant or submissive in their relationships? (Not just sexually if even at all - Do they give in easily? Are they demanding? Are they stubborn?)

She’s very dominant and can be quite stubborn. Once she has her mind made up about something, it can be difficult to persuade her otherwise. That being said, she’s practical enough to know when to back down. But she’s no pushover and there are many things on her list of stuff she would rather die than do.

7. What type of friend are they?

Yara is fiercely loyal to her friends-- the kind who will help someone move and bury a body, lol. But she’s also brutally honest with them when she needs to be. If she thinks one of her friends is making a huge mistake, she’ll tell them. She might then proceed to go along with the mistake (i.e. allowing Ace to pursue Blackbeard while his other crewmates tried to stop him) but will at least not lie and say it’s a great idea.

8. How loyal are they?

Extremely so. Her loyalty is one of her defining character traits. Even long after the WBP disbanded, she still identifies herself with them and refuses to remove her tattoo or renounce her allegiance to Whitebeard. As mentioned above, however, that loyalty can be her undoing, particularly when she chose to remain true to her loyalty to (and love for) Ace in supporting his decision to go after Blackbeard.

9. How far would they be willing to travel for a loved one? What would it take to convince them?

Travel as in physically? Yara’s loyalty would definitely take her anywhere in the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and the New World, no questions asked. If someone that she’s loyal to asks her to be somewhere, she will be. As for how far she’d go for a loved one… Well, she was more than willing to jump right into starting a literal massive war to rescue Ace, so there’s that. The world could burn to the ground for all she’d care. All she wanted was Ace back, repercussions be damned.

#oc: bravada yara #my ocs #asked and answered #chats with evie

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vreuss · 2 months

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tma x oc's cards, finally

after many days of boredom in class it is complete, the full the magnus archives fear entities x my oc's cards! some of these are a definite stretch with how they associate with the fear but hey, its cool and finally done. mostly done in class, enjoy these blurbs of context, not in any particular order:

Elliot O'Rourke: The Dark

One of the oldest fears, the dark has always been fascinating. Its mysteriousness in what it could hide, or simply just the lack of light, has been a topic of fascination for her for as long as she could remember. What could hide in there? Who could hide in there? What is darkness, exactly? All these questions craved answers, and what better way to get them by becoming one with the darkness?

Micah Lycan: The Buried

The warm embrace of cramped spaces, being hugged by your surroundings, acts almost like a blanket from the outside. The ability to wield a forcefield allows him to enter such spaces without fear of his surroundings collapsing on him, but after finding comfort in the compression he learns he doesn’t need such protections. Being in a place that gives a hug that well just makes him sleepy, as if he could fall asleep in its embrace at any time.

Marshall Woods: The Vast

Anywhere but here is where he wanted to be, and having the ability to manipulate the sky’s air as he sees fit makes him feel closer to the emptiness of sky blue as ever before. He wishes to show others the sereneness of the open, and cant help but find a little fun in doing so. What’s the harm in increasing the breeze just enough to where you feel dizzy with vertigo, eventually making you fall off his precious sky island? It's alright though, the Vast will catch you.

Kima Makarov: The Flesh

Being affiliated with such a fear seems almost ironic as a healer, but her connections lie in how her healing works. When you have a cut, she uses her patron’s mobility to move the flesh around the cut to fuse the torn flesh together, creating an almost perfectly sealed wound. She only asks for you to freak out a little more than you already have by seeing your damaged flesh move about unnaturally as a payment.

Leona von Orii: The Lonely

As the youngest of four siblings, she feels like she has to put her own feelings aside for the sake of others. Being a part of a notorious thieves guild doesn’t help too much either; all you do has to be for the collective, nothing for yourself. This guild prioritized those who had ties to the supernatural, such as her mutant sister, so even when it came to her own family she felt subpar. The one time she was trusted with leading a mission, she got herself and her sister caught. Loss after loss affects you. In the place she was locked up in before her rehabilitation, she had plenty of time to reflect. What else did she have to lose now? Beaten to submission, she now finds loyalty with the Lonely, to have others feel what she felt to feed and repay her patron, who acted more as a supporter than anyone else in her life.

Raquel von Orii: The Web

As a mutant, all she knows is who she isn't. A spider monster fusion which upon completion of the transformation gave her some otherworldly violet eyes that should not exist here, but it also gave her a sense of connection to almost everything around her, especially how locations connect to each other. Sometimes, she wonders what it would be like if she wasn’t ever a mutant, never had creature DNA fused with her own, but sometimes she remembers that’s all she knows. Everything she did in life happened because of that one key moment, and why not embrace the spidery side of her by putting her loyalties to the Web, where she can learn to utilize the connections she feels? It even feels like she was born for this; it seems too perfect.

Minu Kanara: The Hunt

The thrill of the chase is what keeps her employed. As a member of a prestigious bloodline, reputation is all she has. Why not use it for a cause? Becoming a royal guard was no easy feat, but hey, you can’t help but relish the feeling you get for chasing after a criminal with such a title as yours.

Maxine Clemace: The Spiral

Having the ability to mess with a short period of time as you see fit already has moral issues, but it causes quite the mess mentally too. When you could have sworn you saw that person behind you a second ago, just to glance over and see them in front of you right now, how did they get there? Was it your eyes playing tricks on you, or was it that, somehow, time itself stopped for that one person? You have no idea for how long, and what they did while time is stopped, but you hope that assumption is false, that your eyes are just playing tricks on you. No one should ever have the ability to mess with literal time, or else all you know would be false, right?

Axon Makaia: The End

He has a very interesting relationship with death. He was born on a small island, with a small family, just them against the world. As his mother became sicker and sicker, his family became more distant, afraid they’ll catch what she has and succumb to their inevitable fate sooner, like her. He wondered if this trail of death is what is really against them in the world. He wondered how it would feel to rest like them, to end, to end this cycle of death while, ironically, feeding into it more. Perhaps it would be for the better.

Eramana Maar: The Slaughter

Being an avid dimension traveler means you see the best and worst of both worlds, the hellish landscape may repulse other visitors, but that is what she liked about it. The calmer weather in the other dimension made it the main one, but it attracted a lot of attention. When the hellish landscape receives more attention than it wants, things can get messy, like the hiring of mercenaries to keep it civil. She couldn’t help having heritage from both locations, but she used both for a cause, to keep the primordial balance between what belongs in one world versus what belongs in the other.

Austin County: The Eye

Mind reading opens so many doors to knowledge. Who cares about breaching privacy or other morals in order to hear the deepest thoughts and secrets of others? Having the mind be as open as hers makes one wonder how far she is willing to go to fill its open spaces, even if it means using morally questionable methods of doing so.

Katelyn Lawrence: The Corruption

There’s something comforting about knowing you share blindness with others, even if they fall outside of your species. You don’t always need eyes to see, the presence of others can be good enough guidance already, even if those others are insects.

Melissa Steilahn: The Desolation

When you have been touched by violence since childhood, there will always be some sort of deeper rage desperately trying to crawl out. When the manifestation of fire abilities came early, for example, how else did you expect to use them? By showing others the same pain you were forced to feel as a child, of course, as a sort of revenge. How was it fair that you felt the worst pain of your life, while everyone else was comfortable? It simply isn't fair.

Chase Woods: The Stranger

Despite having airborne abilities like her brother, she was never one to flaunt them. In fact, she loved using them for deception. Her favorite pastime was seeing how many people she could fool into thinking the mannequin behind them was the source of a gust of wind, or perhaps a whisper that felt like one. Sometimes she will think too hard about the almost human, uncanny nature of them and think how easy it would be for them to be human, if only for the alteration of a few traits. Perhaps, with her new loyalty, she can make that happen. Besides, what’s the difference between a mannequin and a human if both move and act alive?

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