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ssnowflowers · 7 months

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Catching up to Krows Pirates POV is incredible because Kuervo (P!Krow) is genuinely savage.

"I was hoping you'd bump into your shipwreck and die" "Well I suppose I should find someone who doesn't care about money and actually does something with their existence. Have fun being a waste of space." "Well fuck you Finn. Find your own shit." "The Kites all laze around and get drunk, the Nightingales are embarrassing, the Kestrels are all rich assholes." "Fans quiet down you are so annoying with your pussy-ness." "You all sit down on your asses, complaining that I need to hurry up because you need to go watch the Barbie Movie." "You speak your truth. Which is a lie. Some peoples truths are just incorrect."

Like why aren't we talking about Kuervo more? He's awesome!

#pirates smp #krowfang #kuervo #scurvyblr

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diary-of-a-mad-man · 9 months

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Alright I have a 6 and half hour playlist of sea shanties and bard tavern like tunes. Therefore I will be assigning said songs to the pirate smp memebers, this list will update and change with the story. I accept opinions and thoughts for those changes

Current List

Pirate SMP Sea Shanty List

Herons

ZombieCleo - All for me Grog

Olivesleepy -

OwengeJuice - The Last Shanty

SoupforEloise -

Smajor - Farewell Wanderlust

Watermunch -

Kestrels

Scar - The Flying Dutchman

Oli - Leave Her Johnny

Guqqie - Under a Violet Moon

Kyle -

Sausage - A Drop of Nelson’s Blood

Martyn - Bones in the Ocean

Kites

Aimsey - You and Me and the Devil Makes Three

Krow -

Reddoons - Drunken Salior

Bekyamon -

Tubbo -

Puffy - Captain Crow

Nightingale

Willowmvp -

Acho - Inkpot Gods

Graecie -

Roscumber -

DarkEyebrows -

Apokuna -

Oli’s Wife - Jolene (kisstrels lmao)

Songs I definitely want to add but I don’t know where yet;

Loreley, Savage Daughter, Touch the Sky, The Horror and The Wild, Teir Abhaile Riu, Santiana, Fish in the Sea

Playlist Link

#pirate smp #sea shanties #mcyt #mcyt smp #I know way too many shanties by heart #I have a problem lmao #Spotify #kestrel #nightingale #kite #heron #kisstrels

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nlghtcioud · 1 year

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Finchwing snuck out of camp to track down Kestrelwing while the rest of the Clan slept. They were surprised when the trail led them to a twoleg den.

A kittypet stepped outside, and Finchwing jumped in front of them. They froze and looked a little scared, but Finchwing didn't bother with pleasantries.

"You. Have you seen a calico cat named Kestrelwhisker around here?" They asked.

"U-uh, yes? Well no. I mean she doesn't call herself whisker but she does call herself Kestrel." The kittypet stuttered.

"Whatever. Where is she?"

"Inside." He nodded towards the twoleg den. "Sometimes she stays the night here since my housefolk likes her."

Finchwing's pelt prickled. They knew what he had to do to get to Kestrelwhisker, but they didn't really want to do it.

They scratched at the door until a twoleg finally answered it. It cooed at them and left the door open. They cautiously entered the den. This was new, they had never been in one of these things before. And with good reason. Without the sky above them, Finchwing felt anxious.

It seemed much bigger on the inside. The twoleg sure did have a lot of junk cluttered around their den. Everything looked very strange.

They padded down to another part of the den, where a strange box sat.

On closer inspection, a lizard sat inside. How strange! Perhaps this is where twolegs kept their prey? Either way, Finchwing could find no way to get to this lizard, and padded off to search for Kestrelwhisker.

Finally, they found her! She was eating twoleg kibble like a kittypet when they did.

They unsheathed their claws. "Kestrelwhisker! Or is it just 'Kestrel' now?"

Kestrel lifted her head and glared at them. "Finchwing. Calm yourself. We can't fight here. This is a neutral zone."

They didn't listen, and lifted a paw to strike Kestrel. His attack was interrupted by a gruff brown cat.

"Hey, put it away before I put you away. The den is a place for all cats. Leave your issues at the door." He mewed, nudging Finchwing out of the way.

While they were distracted, Kestrel had padded off. She was no where to be found now. Likely somewhere else in the den.

"Hey there, Clanner." One of the kittypets stopped Finchwing before they could reach the door. "Next time perhaps you should try and talk things out, and not leap immediately to mindless violence."

Finchwing shoved their way past the tom.

"Hmph. Typical savage behavior from a Clanner." He rolled his eyes and let the stranger go. Perhaps next time this tom wouldn't be allowed entry.

#sims 3 warriors #scorchtail challenge #warrior cats #kittypet time

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ariesgamesandminis · 1 year

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Restocks are up from Iron Wind Metals!

20-207 Stinger STG-5R 20-247 SHAMASH RECON (2) 20-285 Harasser Tank (2) 20-299 SCHILTRON MOBILE FIRE SUPPORT 20-337 Thor "Summoner" Prime 20-353 ZEPHYR HOVER TANK 20-385 Scarabus SCB-9A 20-423 JI-100 MECH RECOVERY VEHICLE 20-426 Dark Age Galleon Tank 20-434 VEDETTE MEDIUM TANK (2) 20-485 Balius Prime / B / C 20-5008 Flamberge Prime 20-5016 Apollo APL-1M 20-5019 Kestrel VTOL 20-5025 Mad Cat IV "Savage Wolf" 20-5068 Pillager PLG-4X "Anvil" 20-5081 Rokurokubi RK-4K 20-5082 Gyrfalcon (Standard) 20-5141 Shadow Hawk SHD-2H 20-5143 Sarath SRTH-1O 20-5163 Mongoose Gunslinger MON-66GX 20-5166 Prey Seeker PY-SR10 20-5173 Scourge SCG-WF1 20-5183 Locust LCT-1V 20-5187 Dominator 20-611 RYOKEN 'Stormcrow' PRIME 20-679 Raptor RTX1-O 20-702 CORSAIR AEROTECH 20-724 MECHBUSTER FIGHTER 20-727 Karnov UR Transport 20-816 VEDETTE TANK (2) 20-860 Victor VTR-9A 20-905 Blackjack BJ2-O 20-931 URBAN MECH IIC 20-933 Viking VKG-2F 20-960 SAVAGE COYOTE PRIME 20-9122 Battleforce Hex Base 99-201 Large Flat Top Hex Base #1 99-202 Large Flat Top Hex Base #2 99-203 Extra Large Flat Top Hex Base BT-006 Phalanx Battle Armor BT-027 Union C BT-030 Sylph Battle Armor BT-078 Slayer Micro Fighter BT-081 Rapier Micro Fighter BT-110 Sholagar Micro Fighter BT-120 Sabutai Mech Scale Fighter BT-129 Infiltrator Mk I Battle Armor BT-130 Hauberk Battle Armor BT-133 Corona Battle Armor BT-134 Gray Death Legion Battle Armor BT-151 Turk Mech Scale Fighter BT-188 Nighthawk Battle Armor BT-189 Kobold Battle Armor BT-202 Rogue Bear Heavy Battle Armor BT-211 Malak Dominus BT-222 Tau Wraith BT-223 Tau Zombie BT-224 Heavy Jump Infantry BT-239 Jump Support Infantry BT-241 Resgate PAL BT-252 Blood Asp E BT-261 Coyotl Prime BT-298 Ares ARS-V1B Hades BT-299 Ares ARS-V1C Aphrodite BT-301 Poseidon PSD-V2 BT-335 PWWKA S-PW-1LAM (Air Mech) BT-336 PWWKA S-PW-1LAM (Fighter) BT-348 Centurion CN9-D / CN9-AL Resculpt BT-364 Gabriel Hovercraft BT-372 Savannah Master Hovercraft BT-381 Basic Inner Sphere Battle Armor (3) BT-383 Longinus Battle Armor (3) BT-386 Undine Battle Armor (3) BT-387 Gnome Battle Armor (3) BT-388 Salamander Battle Armor (3) BT-390 Fa-Shih Battle Armor (3) BT-391 Fenrir Battle Armor (1) BT-392 Raiden Battle Armor (4) BT-393 Kage Battle Armor Squad (4) BT-413 Marauder Battle Armor BT-434 Leonidas Battle Armor BT-436 Buraq (Standard) Battle Armor BT-439 Black Wolf Battle Armor CE-005 Wraith TR2-X LTD-Omega Omega Super Heavy Mechs OP-102 Inner Sphere PPC's OP-109 XL Launcher Plates OP-110 XXL Launcher Plates OP-112 Inner Sphere XL and XXL Launchers OP-116 Equipment 20-741CRB J-27 Thumper Tow Vehicle Cargo Bin 20-741AMO J-27 Thumper Tow Vehicle Ammo 20-996H Scylla Laser / Waste Sprue

https://www.ariesgamesandminis.com/index.php/shopping/category/12-iron-wind-metals.html

#battletech #alphastrike #ironwindmetals #battletechalphastrike #miniatures #catalystgamelabs #battlemech #battletechminiatures #battletechpaintingandcustoms #mecha #tabletop #tabletopgames #tabletopgaming #wargaming #wargames #hobby #scifi #sciencefiction #miniaturepainting #mech #hovertank #6mmminis #6mmscifi #feldherr #dougram #gundam #robotech #armypainter #thearmypainter #chessex

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literalnobody · 3 years

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A perfectly average man who is definitely not a vampire~

Tag list!

@baileyspams @beercheesecasserole @bred-by-insanity @ dapper-comedy @darealbellabelleoftheball @nahthanks @sudenpentulintu @writing-with-melon

#vampire mafia ocs #my art #mine #vampire art #my ocs #oc art #kestrel savage #devlin tempest #long post #long comic #terato

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shewholovesvillains · 4 years

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Favourite female characters p.2!

Kate Harker from this savage song by V.E scwab

Nina zenik from six of crows by leigh bardugo

Kestrel trajan from the winners curse by Marie rutsoski

Bryce quinlan from house of earth and blood by Sarah j mass

Drusilla blackthorn from lady midnight by Cassandra Clare

Nadia zhabin from shadow and bone by leigh bardugo

#Kate Harker #This savage song #Nina zenik #Six of crows #Kestrel trajan #Bryce quinlan #House of earth and blood #drusilla blackthorn #Lady midnight #Nadia zhabin #The winners curse #Crescent city #Shadow and bone #Leigh bardugo #Ve schwab #marie rutkoski #sarah j maas #cassandra clare

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h0riz0nstuff · 4 years

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youtube

Sunfall is SUCH a wonderful place, with wonderful people who welcome you with wide arms and warm words /s

#hzd #hzd photomode #horizon zero dawn #ps4 #guerrilla games #ps4 games #video games #Relentless Shivin #Merciful Yusis #Savage Tarav #a random guard xD #kestrels #sunfall #hzd video #high priest bahavas #aloy

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lvncher · 5 years

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📂

During Aidan’s seventh year at Hogwarts he received offers not only from his home team the Ballycastle Bats , but also from; the Caerphilly Catapults , Montrose Magpies , Kenmare Kestrels , Pride of Portree , Wigtown Wanderers and Falmouth Falcons .

After careful consideration of leaving for another team to make a substantial mark for himself outside Northern Ireland ( including playing overseas for a brief stint ) he ultimately chose to play for Ballycastle , surprising nobody .

Also unsurprisingly , Kenmare were very last on his ranked list of teams , under the option marked “ would rather never fly again “ .

send “📂“ for a random yet completely useless headcanon i have

#sniperwithasmoke #HEADCANON.#me: also made aid play for the magpies straight out of hs for that same reason #me: also will never forget that the bats hate the kestrels with a fiery fucking passion #rivalries dont u love them #ALSO. LETS BE HONEST MOST TEAMS WANTED AIDAN TO PLAY FOR THEM BUT EITHER COULDN'T MAKE SUBSTANTIAL OFFERS #OR WEREN'T WILLING TO PUT HIM STRAIGHT AWAY AS STARTING SEEKER #THE ABOVE TEAMS ALL WERE #kenmare shadily trying to poach aidan. the savages

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shishkamoosh · 2 years

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Seeing Nil with his beautiful treasure trail, and hairy arms has given me some great new headcanons for Carja beauty standards:

• That it is culturally expected throughout the Sundom that men shave all their body hair

• This practice started well before the Derangement amongst noblemen and Kestrels

• However during the Red Raids, it was made law by the Mad King... an insidious propaganda to instill an "othering" of tribes

• It was also a punishable offense in the military if you were caught sporting a hairy chest/legs/arms

• Nora/Tenakth/Oseram/Banuk were "savage", "boorish" and "bestial" because they did not shave

• After the Liberation, this practice lingered on due to continued xenophobia amongst the Carja towards other tribes

Nil, when we meet him in HZD, still very much partakes in these Carja beauty practicies despite being ostracized and feared by his peers - ostensibly an outsider.

His journey to the Forbidden West, and assimilation into the Tenakth is incredibly liberating for him, as he not only begins to let his body hair grow, but he also shaves off his Carja styled facial hair, and covers his tattoos.

He is able to embrace his "otherness", both on a physical and mental level, and find solace and kin. Which is possibly another reason why he doesn't have the same bloodlust/sociopathic tendencies that came across in HZD.

IMO he doesn't undergo transformation as much as he has an amazing catharsis.

#nil #hzd nil #nil hfw #horizon: zero dawn #horizon forbidden west #headcanon

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b-else-writes · 3 years

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the tiger shark and the sun

New chapter posted for my Star Wars/Avatar the Last Airbender RebelCaptain fusion AU! Plus a bonus Luke chapter with a sprinkling of Cassian angst!

Read on AO3 | Read from the start | Read bonus chapter

Pairings: Jyn/Cassian, minor Han/Leia and Baze/Chirrut, random minor background pairings

Rating: T

Summary: Star Wars/Avatar the Last Airbender fusion AU. When exiled firebender Jyn Erso lands on his doorstep the day Cassian, last southern waterbender, meets the Avatar, she seems just another obstacle in ending the War against the Fire Nation. An obstacle he would willingly remove. But as their paths keep crossing, and the twins discover that destiny and balance are more than they expect, Jyn and Cassian find that they are more alike than they ever thought possible.

Snippet under the cut!

Savareen was a dusty desert port to the South of the Earth Kingdom. The buildings were weathered and decayed. What little remained was concentrated around a few squat buildings servicing the port and its travellers. It was a detour from Jedha, but they needed to find the airbending master. At the very least, it was an opportunity for Cassian to contact Bail and Fulcrum, the mysterious rebel handler he had never met.

Outside the town was a large bulletin board, freshly constructed. There were multiple wanted posters pinned. In the centre was the Avatar, the painting showing two pale twins with blonde and brown hair. None for him and Han yet. There was one for Kestrel, for liberating the Avatar (Cassian recalled the horrible taste of river frog), and to his shock, two for Erso and Bodhi. He read: wanted for aiding the rebellious Northern savages against the glorious occupation by the Fire Nation.

The painting of Jyn looked much younger; it had probably been based off an old painting left in the Fire Nation. They had gotten her eyes wrong.

Cassian made sure his water skin and knives were secure as they entered Savareen. Luke and Leia threw their hoods up, sticking close. “Any ideas?” Luke said.

“Find a bar, and start listening,” Cassian said.

The bar was as dusty as the streets outside. The wooden ramshackle building had several low tables, and a grizzled bartender. Customers sat on the floor and drank, ate, and gambled on Dejarik, Sabaac, and some local game using round wooden pieces. Most looked like off-duty Fire Nation soldiers, as well as downtrodden local port workers, and bounty hunters. Sad-eyed local women in wisps of clothes spoke to some of them, thin and hungry. He saw Luke and Leia slip coins into the hands of those that approached them. Relief, perhaps the first they had felt in a long time, fell across the women’s faces. The desolation left by the War sickened him, especially to those most considered worthless in most places.

Cassian scrutinized the menu, skipped over the top-seller – diluted cactus juice? – and ordered four liquors. They drank slowly, and listened. Soon, Cassian and Han found themselves playing a game of sabaac with two Fire Nation soldiers, while Luke and Leia blended into the walls. Cassian was decent, but Han was clearly an old hand. He let the other man lead. Savareen was used by the Fire Nation as a point to ship out raw materials from parts of the middle, mostly desert and grassland Earth Kingdom. The men asked few questions. They would rather be anywhere but here.

“Must be boring business,” Cassian said, his voice dim-witted and friendly.

“You’d think,” one of the soldiers, a hulking pale blond man. “But there’s the Cloudriders.”

“Cloudriders?”

“Airbenders. Maybe from out West, or the South, who knows? Those savages are nomads, aren’t they?”

Cassian shuffled his cards to conceal his disgust. “Whatever it is,” the soldier continued, “I always thought they were about peace and love and banthashit. But that Enfys Nest and her bitch mother – they’re a bunch of masked pirates. They keep attacking the convoys.”

“Surely the might of Fire trumps Air,” Cassian said innocently. Han’s jaw was white with tension.

“You ever go up against a horde of ten ton flying bison?” The soldier shook his head. “We keep losing convoys, and the Fire Lord isn’t happy after we lost the North Pole. And if it’s not them, it’s Crimson Dawn, one of the Five Syndicates.”

Before Cassian could speak, he heard the floor creak behind them. A knife slid across Han’s throat.

Han froze. Standing behind him was a pale-skinned man with mottled skin, dressed in tattered brown robes. One of his eyes was glass. “Hello, Solo,” he purred. “Jabba’s gonna pay me well for this.”

Cassian stabbed the man in the thigh. The bounty hunter howled. Han snapped his head back. The bounty hunter staggered. Grabbing the hunter’s knife, Han put it right through his chest. Nobody in the bar flinched. “Bounty hunter after you, kid?” the soldier commiserated, chugging his liquor, “Tried to sell to the crime lords?”

“Something like that,” Han said through his teeth. Luke and Leia had leapt to their feet. Cassian folded, gripping Han’s arm.

It was only when they were in an alleyway that Leia burst out, “What was that?”

“Bounty hunter. Means Jabba’s put a price on my head,” Han snapped.

“Who in the Moon’s name is Jabba?”

“The guy I was supposed to pay off when I delivered you to the North Pole.”

“Oh, so this is our fault now?”

Han scowled and stormed back towards where they’d left the animals. “You’re thinking of leaving?” Leia continued, “Han, we need you!”

“Well I’m not going to be much use if I’m dead!”

“Enough!” Luke said. The two stopped short, breathing hard. Leia’s cheeks were bright red, as were Han’s ears. “Like it or not Han, we don’t have the money to pay off Jabba. You’re better off staying here with us to watch your back.”

“Oh, not because you’d miss me or anything?” Han said. The tension eased from his body, though. He looked down at Leia and muttered, “Sorry for yelling.”

Leia grunted. “It would do you some good to remember we’re on your side and not jump down our throats.”

There was a short pause.

“Sorry, Leia,” Han said, more sincerely.

“Well alright,” Leia said with dignity, “Let’s get back to camp. I think there’s a messenger station here, Cassian.”

Nodding, Cassian separated from the group. The messenger station had several hungry looking birds roosting. Tossing a few coins to the attendant, Cassian selected the two healthiest ones. He scrawled out two messages. To Bail Organa, he wrote: Found airbending master. No intel on weapon. En route to more information.

To Fulcrum, he wrote: Potential alliances to be formed in Yavin Swamp and Savareen Cloudriders. Also, Sana Starros.

As he tossed the birds into the air, he wondered again on Fulcrum’s identity. There were rumours that Fulcrum was a woman, but hardly anyone had ever met them in person. Then he walked to their camp, listening to anything he heard. Two pieces in particular sounded promising.

Han was stoking the fire as Luke and Leia prepared dinner. Artoo and Kay were napping as Chewie kept watch on the horizon. Threepio sat on Leia’s shoulder. The map was spread out on the ground. Han’s eyes kept flicking over it. It was a few days sail to Wohbani, from which you could enter the Tatooine desert. Leia glared at Han at every twitch he made towards the map.

“So…” Han drawled, “What’s our plan?”

“We find the Cloudriders,” Luke said.

“And how do you suppose we do that?”

“They attack the convoys, don’t they?” Leia said, “We stake out the route, we wait, we find them. We just need to find out where the convoys go.”

Cassian smiled thinly. “I might have an answer there.”

#rebelcaptain #dailyrebelcaptain #jyn erso #cassian andor #jyn x cassian #star wars fic #my fic #writing #au: atla

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rhotanored · 4 years

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FFXIV WRITE #10 - a v a i l

prompt#10 - A V A I L character(s) - Crific Storm, Ashk Nha (NPC) masterlist - [x] warnings - violence, gore

An unintelligible scream of denial tore from Crific’s throat, cut short as a gauntleted fist cracked against his jaw; his head snapped to the side, leaving him dazed. His form went limp, held up only by the unyielding wooden shaft of the polearm braced across his chest, pinning him between it and the knight at his back. When he seemed about to begin his struggle anew, another fist crashed across his cheek, and he felt his skin split, rent between unforgiving steel and the bone beneath. His vision went dark, and when they let him drop to the hard-packed earth, barely dusted with the first kiss of winter’s frost, it was all he could do to wheeze out a groan as a boot fell on his spine, heel grinding down sharply to keep him in place.

As his consciousness slowly returned, he immediately wished it hadn’t--and still, he couldn’t bring himself to tear his gaze away. His own laboured breathing rose and fell in sync with the rumbling wheeze of the massive dragon several yalms ahead, the snow rapidly turning crimson all around him. A myriad spears had torn asunder a wide swath of the glittering, blue-green scales across his flank, leaving behind a great gaping wound that even Crific could recognize as mortal--but the dragon’s indignity didn’t end there.

They’d severed one wing and pinned the other to the dirt, and as though nearly gutting him hadn’t been enough to guarantee his immobility, he’d been wreathed in heavy, spiked black chains. The dragon lifted his head just enough to look at Crific for a moment, his golden gaze still sharp with clarity despite all that had been done to him.

Though Crific’s left eye had by now swollen shut from the trauma, he could feel them both stinging with tears he struggled not to shed; he wouldn’t give the knights nearby the satisfaction--and yet he could nearly feel all the words Ashk Nha would say to him through his gaze alone, and they weighed almost too heavy for Crific to bear.

“Get him up,” the toe of a boot wedged itself beneath Crific’s chin, forcing him to crane his head upwards--but his good eye remained on the dragon. The pressure on his spine eased, and as soon as it did, Crific was up and running, adrenaline surging through every muscle. He shouldered past the knight commander with enough force to send the man staggering to the ground, shock hastily twisting into outrage as he scrambled back to his feet.

“SEIZE HIM!” He bellowed, but Crific had reached one of the discarded halberds scattered around Ashk Nha before any could stop him, and he began to fight as a man possessed, howling the ragged madness of his fury as they charged towards him.

All of his movements were jagged, sharp and heavy; there was no finesse, here, only rage. Three of the knights fell before any could register what had happened, and there was no hesitation in him as he turned on the rest. Crific swatted aside an wavering sword strike, sliding his grip up the haft of the halberd to make a short thrust that bit through armour and slipped between the knight’s ribs. Yanking his weapon free, he barely felt the bite of a short stab that skittered across his hip; he whirled back and brought the blade of his halberd down on the knight’s yet-extended arm, severing it at the elbow. The man’s screams gave the remaining knights pause, and Crific pressed his advantage--oblivious to the seething aether that had bled out from his very shadow. It still echoed his every movement, and yet seemed to pulse and flicker with a life of its own, guiding his hand as much as it followed in its wake.

Nine had become five (from the twelve that attacked, four had fallen first to Ashk Nha’s claws before the pair were overwhelmed), and no longer were they a confident, cohesive unit. Crific could see the whites of their eyes in the shadows of their helms, and his onslaught was relentless. One savage blow cleaved a man from his collarbone nearly to his sternum, and Crific placed a boot on his chest to dislodge his blade, stuck fast in the man’s bone. As he turned wildly to face whoever was left, he saw none left standing; the rest were yalms too far for him to reach, now, but he took a step in that direction regardless. He couldn’t let them go.

...His legs, however, betrayed him, knees buckling suddenly beneath a wave of dizziness and exhaustion. The searing fury that had surged through him only moments before now left him feeling hollow, bereft, and weak. He let the haft of the halberd go and caught himself on trembling arms, staring at the crimson-spattered earth while shadows danced in what little of his vision remained.

He drew a shuddering breath, mustered his strength, and made to stand--to no avail. It seemed his body had nothing left to give.

Thou hast done enough.

A familiar voice, though heard not by his ears, but something more, reached Crific and gave him pause. Slowly, he lifted his head to find Ashk Nha watching him. The dragon’s breath was heavy and laboured, but his golden gaze remained piercing, and Crific felt pinned to where he knelt as surely as the dragon’s wing was pierced by Ishgardian blades.

Hie thee from this place. My brethren wilt come, and in their grief mark no difference between children of men.

Crific hung his head, fingers numb from the cold still digging into the frosted ground beneath them.

“No.” He answered with barely a whisper, but he knew the dragon could hear him. A guttural rumble was his only response in what was otherwise a silence that seemed to stretch between the pair for an eternity. In that time, Crific summoned a reserve of strength he didn’t know he had, rising unsteadily to his feet. He wrenched at the buckles of his breastplate, letting fall one piece of his armour at a time as straps and ties eventually yielded to his fumbling fingers.

He tore gauntlets from his arms and shucked the padded undercoat, leaving him in a threadbare tunic ill-suited for the weather. Unarmed and unarmoured, Crific made his unsteady way to where the dragon lay, tearing up every stake that secured the chains keeping him in bondage.

Ashk Nha kept his own counsel on Crific’s efforts, offering him nothing more than his slow and ragged breathing even when removal of the chains meant sliding the thick spikes from his hide. Careful as the half-Elezen might try to be, it was inevitable that he left more oozing wounds in his wake even as he discarded the last of the massive chains aside. He offered no apology, nor any explanation for his actions, and the dragon did not ask.

Crific made his way around to the dragon’s far side, wrenching the weapons that had skewered his wing to the ground, and was met with what sounded to his ears like a long sigh of relief as the final blade was plucked up from the earth and flung as far away as Crific could get it. His breath was coming dry and ragged in his own chest, now, lungs burning with the effort. Blood oozed from his own wounds and sweat between his skirmish earlier and the exertion now had slicked his orange hair to his brow and dampened his tunic.

Shuddering, Crific finally collapsed to the frozen earth, rolling onto his back to stare at the grey skies above. He was past the point of caring whether he’d die exposed to the elements, or at the mercy of dragonflame--but should Ashk Nha succumb to his wounds before his kin arrived, let it be said at least that he did not die in bondage.

Thy deeds wilt go not unanswered.

Crific opened his mouth to mutter that he didn’t expect any thanks, but darkness had taken hold of him, dragging him down deep into slumber before even he could respond. When later he woke, it was to his great confusion he found himself swaddled in a bedroll and warmed by a fire, surrounded by the din of quiet conversation and the scent of slow-roasting meat.

Movement nearby made him scramble into an upright position, which was a mistake, from the way every muscle in his body immediately protested.

“Oho, he’s awake!” A woman, clothed in warm furs chuckled from her makeshift seat on a stump nearby chuckled. He recognized the style; hunters who frequented the chocobo forest, and entertained an extremely uneasy truce with every faction that deigned to travel through it--Dravanian, dragon, and Ishgardian alike.

“...How?” He croaked, only to find a canteen being waved in front of him. He took it with a grateful, albeit still wary nod of thanks, tipping the contents back until the container was empty and he was left gasping for breath--but at least his thirst was sated.

“I’d like to ask you the same question, friend. Found you conveniently collapsed straight in the path of one of our hunting trails, which don’t get used real often. Makes our finding you quite the happy coincidence, if you catch my meaning.” Her brows rose.

“...You’ve my thanks,” he mutters. He was malms and malms north of where he and Ashk Nha had been caught in the Highlands. Malms from where he and his people had been sheltering. ...And malms still to go from where the dragons would have taken Ashk Nha, to their fabled Anyx Trine, where Crific had only just heard tales of. If they’d been able to make it. He’d need supplies, and at least a week to backtrack. From the exhaustion that weighed on his limbs, however, and the wounds he could feel had been tended, he’d need longer than that to recover before attempting the trip. He needed to get back, inform everyone what had happened--tell them the area was no longer safe. His jaw tightened as his thoughts turned briefly to Kestrel.

“I’ll not impose longer than I must.”

“Pull your weight around the camp, and you can impose as long as you like. In your state, I doubt we’ll expect too much out of you for a few suns, anyroad.”

Crific bowed his head, and thought about asking after food--but weariness was creeping back into his bones, dragging down the lid of his uninjured eye. He mumbled something, and the woman only smiled in response; he was asleep again before his head connected to the extra blanket rolled up beneath it. His sleep was blissfully dreamless, for the most part--though he could never quite shake the glint of golden eyes hovering on the edge of his awareness.

#FFxivWrite #FFxivWrite2020 #;ffxiv writing (mine)#crific storm #crific insp #uh wow yeah this one got away from me #late again but idc #the timing is just really bad with my schedule and sleep habits and patch stuff #but at least im still gettin em done!!#gonna try to crank out the next prompt before i do anything else here #also idk what the fuck dragon names are so WINGS IT #timeline: somewhere before the Calamity

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lonelypond · 4 years

Text

By Moonlight

Love Live, NicoMaki, 1.3K, 1/1

Summary: A breakfast meeting, a bold thief, a balcony... and Nishikino Maki and Yazawa Nico sparring.

Nishikino Maki smiled at her father. And his recently promoted Chief of Security, Captain Yazawa Nico, glaring from behind his right shoulder. Her weekly breakfast visit had been providing an amusing opportunity to tweak both of them since she’d moved into her own private, midsize city tower. They were never happy to be left out of her planning. Maki’s head of security, Sonoda Umi, rolled her eyes whenever Yazawa suggested elaborate schemes or messaged over pages of diagrams and just invested in really solid locks. Yazawa had really bought into the Nishikino overdo everything aesthetic, Maki thought as she stared at the tiny, toughened soldier with gold epaulets the size of a fist on her uniform shoulders. The table in front of Maki was a poignant illustration of her privileged origins. While children starved outside the walls, the menu her father had ordered had food enough for 8 people, of which she had eaten not even enough for one. Maki preferred dining experiences that left out the advice “for your own good.”

Her father cleared his throat, knowing his daughter well enough to realize he’d lost her attention. “It’s too dangerous. That jewel thief is still out there, mocking everyone. A party will draw attention to you.”

Maki laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder, dramatically, knowing she would capture Captain Yazawa’s eye. “I like attention. And I trust MY security.”

Yazawa growled as she gritted her teeth. It was adorable, the way her luminous crimson eyes narrowed, a caricature of the intimidation she might be hoping for. But there was no real threat behind them. Maki had seen those eyes in nearly every mood, and never had she felt anything less than safe.

“Well, at least lock up your jewels.” Her father continued in his most serious voice, “This ‘Crimson Kestrel’ deviant took the entirety of the Minami heir’s jewel case while she slept last night.”

That was news. Maki tapped her spoon impatiently as her glance flashed to the right, her own eyes narrowing as Yazawa started fidgeting. Last night. Maki had had plans, but nothing had come of them. Now she had a clue why. She cleared her throat.

“Is your promotion keeping you busy, Captain? I rarely see you anymore except at these appointments. Does my father allow you any free time? You must remember you now have a position in society. Leisure activities allow one to keep sharp and maintain the necessary social connections.”

Nico flinched. Maki felt a twinge of guilt, but it she had been up very late the night before. Waiting.

“I assure the Princess that once I have everything here running on my standard, I will once again be making sure her dance card is not just full of the silly scions of overbred bloodlines.” Nico bowed. Maki grimaced.

“Military uniforms were a sure way to land a spot on a young lady’s dance card in my youth. Fortunately, your mother had different standards.” Maki’s father had his smuggest look. Maki grimaced, eating the last of her scone. She’d had enough of this conversation.

“I could lend you a few of my best for this party, ill advised as it is.” Nico’s casual at ease stance was belied by the twitch of her eyebrows. “I’m sure it would ease your father’s mind.”

Maki curled a twist of hair, “Umi isn’t worried.” Maki glanced at her watch and stood, “As a matter of fact, I’m a little behind schedule, so I must run. Thank you for breakfast, Papa.” Maki leaned down to kiss her father on her way out the door, swooping in so swiftly Yazawa didn’t have a chance to back up, “Please take care of yourself, Captain.” Maki stumbled slightly, but avoided an outright fall into Nico’s arms, only brushing her shoulder, “Sorry.”

“Not a problem, my Lady.”

###

Maki hadn’t been pacing the balcony for long, when it happened. The kestrel call, the swoosh of the tiny kestrel flying across her view, and then, when the distraction was over, the Crimson Kestrel, perched on the balustrade, balancing somehow, short skirt blown shorter by even the slightest puff of wind, a grin that carved out a mood of pure midnight mischief, beaked mask adding a predatory thrill matched by the sharpness glinting deep in the crimson pools smirking at Maki.

Maki leaned next to her late night visitor, “No sleeping maidens to creep on tonight?”

“That happened while the family was at dinner.”

Maki shrugged, enjoying the breeze. The band was playing one of her favorite tunes in the ballroom behind her and the Crimson Kestrel had scooted just a little closer, puzzled.

“You’re never this relaxed at a party.” “I cancelled the party.” Maki yawned, humming.

The Kestrel tilted her head, midnight black tendrils flying out, her voice soft, as if eavesdroppers lurked, her tone suspicious. “I hear the band.”

Maki chuckled, “I kept the band” She leaned her head, nudging the Kestrel’s shoulder, “Dance with me.”

The Kestrel stared for a long moment, taking in every detail Maki had spent so much time one but then shook her head, “Oh, you’re tempting, Princess. A lovely dress to lure Nico, such an enticing offer to join hands, but stepping inside that room is the most dangerous thing Nico could do.”

Patience was a quality Maki was cultivating. Since the Crimson Kestrel had first flown into her life, Maki had slowly realized there would be no taming the stubborn, strong willed, open hearted hero. That wasn’t what either of them wanted. “There’s no door out here, leave when you want.”

“But I don’t.” Fingers gentle under Maki’s chin, the lightest touch at the choker around her neck, “You are the real gem.”

Maki held the glance that Nico had finally allowed, her ardor bright as a beacon.“That’s not what I see.”

Nico swivelled her legs over the balcony, her gloved hands light on Maki’s shoulders, one sliding toward her cheek, the other down her left arm. A whisper, sensual, drifting along Maki’s bare shoulder, lips barely brushing, “Nico could do this every night.”

Maki’s sharp musician’s ears heard a wistfulness in Nico’s voice and suddenly desperate for a kiss, she fluttered her eyelids closed, as their game required when lights shone.

Gloved fingertips traced two quick ellipses, around her eyes, just like their own orbits, never quite overlapping, “My Princess, too bold for a mask.”

Maki shook her head, trembling, as Nico’s hand weighed heavy on hers, “I won’t hide.”

“I know.” The kiss was savage, sudden, Maki backed hard against the wall of the tower, Nico’s deft control the only thing keeping either of them on their feet in this dizzying surge of sensation, of want.

“Soon.” Nico whispered a wish, then a name, the rarest of gifts in this joust, “My Maki”.

The kestrel cried a warning as it flew back, and when Maki’s eyes opened she was alone. One hand reached back to the wall to steady herself, the other reaching up to the lighter pendant at her cleavage and the missing choker at her throat. The jewels were gone. Maki smiled. Fewer empty tables outside the walls tomorrow.

Raising her hand to her hair, blowing out a long sigh, the candlelight glinted off the thinnest copper band around her wrist, a quartz charm carved into the tiniest red feather hanging.

“Soon!” Maki laughed, knowing it had been a promise not a wish, and whirled into the ballroom, tears a diamond flourish as Sonoda Umi frowned from the door she’d been barring.

“Your father won’t like it.”

“No.” Maki hugged herself, imagining dancing here, with Nico, free of subterfuge, spending their nights together and their days fixing the society that men like her father had broken. “But I will.”

Maki laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder, dramatically, knowing she would capture Captain Yazawa’s eye. “I like attention. And I trust MY security.” Yazawa growled as she gritted her teeth. It was adorable, the way her luminous crimson eyes narrowed, a caricature of the intimidation she might be hoping for. But there was no real threat behind them. Maki had seen those eyes in nearly every mood, and never had she felt anything less than safe.