#learned a lot about the different types of feathers through this haha | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bigskydreaming · 3 years

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For @broimbi because their continued interest in By Lost Ways keeps me engaged, and prompted this slight detour into the notes of Roy on the trick behind crafting magical arrows. Not totally one hundred percent sure I’m ‘canonizing’ this as officially part of the story’s backstory, but it is all set before the start of it, and mostly just a humorous exploration of the magic. You don’t really need prior knowledge of DC to follow along, or even the story itself, as the important stuff all gets recovered in his own words anyway.

The notes of one Roy Harper on the magic-science of feathercrafting and fletching:

Herein lies everything I’ve uncovered, experimented and surmised on the subject of using magical feathercraftings in pursuit of archery. For posterity, see. So that future generations can bask in the brilliance of me.

Hey, that rhymed.

Now of course, people have been used feathercrafting to make arrows with special properties for centuries. But I always felt, from a very young age, that there was so much more to the artform than had been discovered so far, and so many more secrets within the Deck, specific to archery, just waiting to be unlocked. And thus began my own lifelong quest to seek out and uncover those mysteries, and leave my own mark upon the art of feathercrafting arrows.

It had nothing to do with me being bored, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar who should be ignored. Especially if their name is West.

To start off, a lot of feathercrafting is self-explanatory, when it comes to making arrows....sure, everyone knows that most feathers have more than a couple different properties, but arrows themselves tend to be a lot more finite in function, and thus there’s only so many ways - and so many reasons - for which people would modify them with feathercraftings. Thus any time you use feathers of all the same kind when crafting an arrow - say, much like you would if you were making a non-magical arrow - you’re pretty much only going to get one magical effect.....though that’s usually all you’re looking for.

So whether you use three or four feathers, it makes no difference if they’re all of the same type. Any arrow made with seagull feathers, for example, is made with distance in mind....to channel the magical properties of the Regent of Distance, and thus magically extend an arrow’s flight. Arrows made with sparrow feathers, its opposing Regent force, are looking to reduce distance, with such arrows often being utilized over the centuries by so-called snipers....the magic of their sparrow feathers ‘eating up’ the distance they cross at a much greater rate than they would non-magically, with gains made here to accuracy, impact, etc. But I’ll get back to that.

But similarly, tanager feathers are pretty much all you need for an incendiary arrow, something you just want to ignite upon impact, while canary feathers have long been used to make the kind of arrows West calls screamers, which is reason number five hundred and ten why he’s never allowed near my workshop. And also shouldn’t be allowed to speak, ever. Or at least not in civilized company. No, I had it right the first time, ever. Gotta trust my instincts.

So, that’s all pretty much a given. And when you use three different feathercraftings of all different kinds in your arrow, you suddenly get a lot going on all at once, unlocking a lot of interesting combinations, but its still fairly straightforward. All three feathercraftings lend their magic simultaneously, working in concert either in flight or upon impact, or at least not at odds directly. Unless two of those feathercraftings are of opposing Regents, at which point their magic will just cancel each other out, but why would you even do that, that’s stupid and wasteful, what’s the point. Opposing regents act in opposition to each other. They’re opposites. Everyone knows that, duh.

Unless....hang on, just had a thought.

Okay so technically, because its not like opposing Regents cancel each other out completely, or completely negate each other and the forces they embody, and in fact according to legend and acts of ridiculousness as witnessed by me, watching my best friend the Robin Regent be ridiculous, like when you consider that in a lot of ways and times and places the Regents and their respective forces are meant to act as limiting agents upon each other, not negating ones......okay, so theoretically, there could be purpose to combining, say, sparrow and seagull craftings to the same arrow, if you were able to in some way quantify how much their magic acts upon each other, and thus calculate say.....how to combine sparrow and sea gull feathers in such a way as to get a precise distance as an end result, with the sea gull feathers magically increasing the length of the arrow’s flight, but the sparrow feathercrafting being precise enough in....diluting the sea gull feathercraftings, for lack of a better word, that it ensures the arrow doesn’t overshoot its mark but rather while enhanced in distance, still is limited in how enhanced it is and thus can still strike a far off target with precision. Obviously, there wouldn’t have been much point to this line of thought in ages past because the greater issue here is there’s not much point to an arrow that flies significantly further than you can aim anyway, but with advances in telescopics and magnifying lens, that’s no longer the given that it once was, which means.....

Hang on notes, and by notes I mean self, and also future audiences of fans legion in number.....I’m about to go revolutionize the entire art of feathercrafting arrows!

****

Okay, after a looooot of experimentation, and I do mean a lot, I have concluded that yes, my idea here has merit, and no, I’m probably not the first to think of it. But rather, the reason its not a known thing practiced the world over is because getting the mitigating effects of one Regent’s feather upon another in arrow-making, like, requires precise calculations that are dependent on a math and units of measurement that I don’t think have been invented yet? Like, to do what I’m trying to do, or make it happen reliably rather than sporadically, one first has to have some system of measuring the magical forces embodied and contained within each feathercrafting, and so manipulate and cultivate the feathercraftings via their size, shape and combination, in such a way as to result in the precise magical output without getting in the way of the fletchings enabling the arrow’s flight in the first place, rather than hindering it. Its that last part that’s really the sticking point....obviously, people combining feathercraftings and manipulating their magical output via the shaping of the feathers themselves...this is something that’s been done in all sorts of ways in all parts of society throughout civilization....but usually its considered to be more of an art than a science. Something without hard and fast rules, something most feathercrafters say is more a matter of feel and intuition rather than looking to engineer - and replicate - precise results with each and every crafting. But archery doesn’t allow for that kind of thing.....it’s physics, its momentum and force and angle and lift and drag and all kinds of things that require knowing exactly what you’re working with when you notch each arrow to your string, otherwise, might as well shoot yourself in the foot. Its just not something that’ll work, at least not in any worthwhile way, without having that science for reliably combining feathercrafted fletchings in known ways, to act as a known quantity on the magical output.

So, guess I’ll have to admit defeat.

Orrrrrrrr, I’ll just have to invent that myself!

Ding ding ding, the roar of the crowds have it, the decision has been made, option two is the clear winner!

*****

Endless months, feathers, arrows and “you look so dumb right now, haha I love it”s from West later.....the secret to this still eludes me.

Whatever. I’m not bitter about it. I’m not.

I’ve figured a lot else out in the meanwhile, anyway, and I’m getting the hang of tricks no other archer I know of has even imagined. That I mean, I know of, anyway. Maybe they exist. Who cares, I’m still at the cutting edge of my field here is the point.

So, the mixing and matching of feathercraftings from two different Regents who aren’t in opposition, and thus whose magic can only add to each others.....

Turns out, there’s a lot more to even just that, than I ever imagined.

Looking back through the notes that were definitely a good idea to keep even if they’d probably be a more useful idea if I learned to remember to add to them more often, I see at one point I was about to expand upon what happens when you have three feathercraftings of all different types combined in one arrow. Well, as I said then, that’s not really a new idea either, so most everyone already knows how that works. As long as none of the three are from opposing Regents, they each by default seem to exert the same magical influence on the arrow, whether in flight or upon impact depending on the nature of each feather and their magic.

Say you take a dove feathercrafting, and an owl, and a seagull.....the seagull’s magic is naturally predisposed to arrow flight, being that of the regent of distance - unless there’s some way to tweak or delay the activation of its magic to ensure it doesn’t release until impact, and thus ensures it’s magic will actually be spent in some way upon its target, though not sure what you’d be looking to do to a target with distance magic, still, food for thought maybe, hmmm -

Where was I? Oh right. So the seagull feathercrafting is by default inclined to exert itself on an object in motion - such as the arrow in flight - and enhance the distance it travels. The dove feathercrafting, by contrast, is inclined to exert itself upon impact, with most dove-crafted arrows being termed things like ‘shockers’ by morons such as West, who are way too responsible for way too many of our colloquialisms in society, something really should be done about that, but delivering electrical shocks upon impact, channeling electricity in some way....or as people in past centuries often termed it, channeling lightning.

But I mean, you never know.....more than one place has a legend or story of arrows that ‘call the lightning’ and while a lot of people just tend to assume that was their ‘uneducated’ way of describing the electricity-generating properties of a dove-crafted arrow shocking someone it struck....given what we know these days about so-called electromagnetism, and the relationship between electricity - even in the form of lightning - and magnetism, specifically magnetic metals and alloys.....what if those stories weren’t just talking about your basic ‘shocker’ arrows at all? Imagine a battle that was say, taking place during a storm, and a dove-crafted arrow that upon impact didn’t just release an electric jolt of its own into its target....but rather acted as a kind of superconductor that was basically like a magical lightning rod, calling the next lightning bolt to zero in on it specifically? Now that’s what I would call ‘calling the lightning.’

Note to self: experiment with this immediately. Enlist West’s help, but do not tell him why. Need to know information only.

Y’know, Donna’s always saying that us humans of this world - as opposed to wherever the hell it is Themyscirans and Atlanteans come from - have forgotten more than we know. I really should remember to ask her what exactly she means by that one of these days, instead of just staring at her without blinking cuz she’s doing things like talking and gesturing and I mean....have you seen her? The way she just....talks and gestures....look you would get distracted too, notes, is all I’m saying, and don’t say I don’t know that cuz I do know that because you’re me.

Aaaaand I’m officially talking to myself. Great. Awesome.

Getting back to my point, heroically, and with effort that should be applauded, take heed legions of future fans......so as stated, the sea gull crafting is predisposed to exert itself upon an arrow’s flight, while the dove crafting defaults to exerting itself upon impact. The owl crafting, as most already know, is similarly predisposed to exert itself upon flight. With most owl-crafted arrows being termed ‘silencers’ and used to strike a target without warning, as the sound of the arrow’s flight is nullified by the silencing magic of owl feathers.

But does that have to be the case? What if - I can’t help but circle back to that idea of shaping a feathercrafting to almost time-release its magic - just saying, imagine if you could design an arrow with owl feathercraftings that don’t just silence the arrow in flight....but also create a silencing bubble upon impact, with their magic ensuring that the target makes no noise when your arrow hits home, even if you weren’t aiming for a kill-shot to the throat, say, but rather an immobilizing shot to a limb or appendage that wouldn’t in and of itself stop them from screaming or shouting?

Ugh, there’s got to be a way to do that, a trick to it somehow. There just has to be because....okay, yes, I know, its magic, I suppose it doesn’t have to do anything but just exist, but....I’m telling you, me, posterity, whatever.....there’s something to this, this is a question of how that just needs an answer, and the answer is me, that’s who, fuckers!

Look, obviously I meant to say this is a question of who’s going to be the one to figure out the secret, don’t be such a self-deprecating pedant, self. Nobody likes those.

Anyway, so the combination of sea gull, owl and dove fletchings is such that you’ll get an arrow that’s silent in flight, covers a magically extended amount of ground, and delivers an electrical shock upon impact.

Unless there’s a way to change whether crafted fletchings of certain types must always expended their magic in flight versus be delayed and only released upon impact.

Great, now I have to figure that one all out for myself too, since no one else seems to want to do the hard work. I better have the kind of genius that’s actually appreciated during my own time rather than post-humously, is all I’m saying.

Oh yeah, and also, so the ummm, thing about what happens when you combined just two different feather-craftings in specific, in an arrow with three fletchings. Ie that thing I never got around to detailing before and was thus what I was going to detail now this time but that I obviously did not do this and oh look, Garth is calling us all for supper and I have to go before Wally poisons mine, you understand. Next time. I’ll get to it for sure next time. Which will be uh....later this week, probably.

*****

So that was a whole fucking year ago, huh? Don’t hate me, future fans, I was busy saving the world with my friends, Dick lost his Robin regency and moped about it even though he was the Owl Regent then almost immediately and just didn’t fucking tell anyone for two months which what even is that about, I would like to know, except then it turned out well no, I wouldn’t like to know as actually that was mostly just him angsting about some deep dark family history of his with this secret society of Owl Regent worshippers or whatever in Gotham and like, can I just say, with emphasis, fuck Gotham and everything to ever come out of that place except for Dinah, who is amazing obviously, and thus too good for Ollie, also obviously, even if he’s not actually being the worst currently and we actually had a decent(ish) conversation the other day, and oh yeah. The Cult of Owl-Worshippers or whatever, so right, those are a thing, and they suck, and we had to team up with Dick’s replacement Robin Regent, who I of course was inclined to hate on principle, except he’s actually an adorable little shit that I gotta say will probably make a damn good Robin. Anyway, so that was a whole thing that took forever and a day, and then cheering Dick up and helping him adjust to his new station or whatever also took time, but was definitely worth it for reasons that are many and complicated and have nothing to do with me being like “in love with him or whatever” so just shut up, you have no idea what you’re talking about and you sound just like West.

Anyway. Moving on.

Right, so back to the whole thing about what if you have an arrow with three feathers and feathercraftings of two different types - hah! So turns out, its a good fucking thing I waited to tackle this topic, as I accidentally unearthed a whole shitload of new insights and approaches here over this past year, so. Y’know. Yeah. I definitely took my time getting back to that with reasons. That were deliberate, and well thought out, and also totally real things that exist.

So.

Imagine you have one arrow. Its got three fletchings. Two of them are feather-craftings of one type, with the third being of a different type. Now conventional wisdom previously would have you believe that the end result of this combination would prioritize one Regent’s magic over the other, but it being completely random which magic would be the one emphasized and either modified or amplified by the other....and with it making no difference whatsoever what feathers were used, which one was used as the stabilizer fletching, etc. The arrow that resulted from the combination of two different magics would be a combination of those two magics, certainly, but beyond that, its just down to the whims of Mother Sky.

Except, I have discovered, through thorough experimentation and keen insights and intuition and also intellect, hi, yes, I have all three, who is so sexy, yes that is me....

That this is not true.

Or at least, I don’t think it is.

I’m pretty sure, anyway.

Look, the takeaway is that far be it from me to pretend to know the mind of a goddess, I mean, I’m not trying to sound egotistical or anything, but I’m starting to be of the suspicion that Mother Sky is a lot less whimsical than the stories would have us believe. And that there is actually a pretty precise method to her madness, and it just lies in having a better understanding of the Deck than we actually do. But the answers are there! They just need. Insights. Delivered by the likes of yours truly.

So. Let’s get insightful.

The one constant with this two-to-one combination type of arrow, is that either the one feather will modify the magic of the other two, or the two feathers will amplify the magic of the one feather. But which results is not actually random at all, I don’t think, but rather, has to do with where the feathers and their corresponding Regents fall within the Deck.

As legends tell it, there is a definite order to the Deck, though different cultures and civilizations have had differing ideas over the millennia as to what that precise order is. But the idea is always the same: in the beginning, there was Mother Sky, who existed in a place that was not a place, as it was before places existed because she’d yet to invent them, basically. But then from nothing, she created her companions, the birds that embodied or contained within them or just inspired the various pieces of creation and fundamental forces, depending on which version of the story you go with. And when she was done, she created people, and then before she left to create elsewhere, she turned her companions into people as well, the first Regents, to watch over her creation in her stead, via the pieces of her own power she entrusted them with.

But the point being, she built the Deck - and creation - piece by piece, rather than all at once. And everything either built upon what came before it - acting as a modifier, you might say, if you were brilliant, and/or me - or else it amplified what came after it. Because creation got more and more complex the further she went with it, and so the ways the previous pieces existed and interacted with each other and later additions, got more and more intricate and complex.

See where I’m going with this?

Its okay. I’ll elaborate. I don’t mind.

So everyone agrees that the Sparrow is the first card in the Deck, that’s a given. No one disputes the order of the first full talon, the set of four complete Regents that make a whole. First there was nothing, and then Mother Sky called into being the first sparrow, and with it came space, so that the first thing that was not her had somewhere to exist. Like, she may not have needed existence in order to exist, but she was a goddess, they can do that I guess. Everything else? Existence required. So in order for her to have her first companion, that necessitated also creating at the same time the first piece of existence, so that something could exist outside of just her. And then from there, she created the seagull and more space, so it could exist too, and then she sent it forth to go as far and wide as it wanted to and thus created more space everywhere it went. And that’s why the sparrow and the seagull are less space and more space, the reduction and propagation side of the same thing, but you’re gonna want to pay attention in a second because I have an insight here that you won’t find most anywhere else, and it is stunning if I do say so myself.

But first, let’s continue. So after space, Mother Sky next created time. Calling first into being the hummingbird, the eventual Regent of joy and vitality, the encapsulation of time in an instant, existing with no need for anything beyond just that....and then to create more of it anyway, she created the crane, the eventual Regent of permanence and longevity.

And then, most agree, she created the magpie and with it, things, and then the kingfisher and with it, more things. The regents or forces embodying quantity. And then came entropy, or “things change.” First with the robin, and then things change more, with the vulture.

Now, let’s get insightful. As I was saying, conventional wisdom, that conniving old coot, would have you believe that the opposing Regents act as negating influences on each other. That they cancel each other out. Why? Different theories. Most popular ones being that it was to keep each other in check, so that none would get too powerful and thus imbalance all of creation, or try to usurp it and rule it in her stead.

I have come to believe, however, that this is hogwash. Perhaps even complete balderdash. Why would she need to? We also all agree that the reason Regents come and go is because periodically and at her whim, she takes back her power from one and gives it to someone else. So....who needs proxies to act to keep other proxies in check....when she herself can simply just....take back that power at any time, if she’s for any reason displeased at how a Regent is wielding it?

So I suspect the truth is not so complex, or rather, that there’s no complexity here at all. Its exactly as stated in every version of our creation myth.....these opposing Regents, while they may be in opposition, are not actually meant to cancel each other out or negate each other....something none of them actually do. No, they’re just the dual forces of each aspect of creation. The opposite sides of a spectrum that simply represent that each exist along a spectrum.

Granted, most theologians don’t have Dick Grayson for a best friend, so let’s not be too hard on them. But having witnessed him up close and in action since pretty much his first day as the Robin Regent, I can assure everyone: he has always been just as much a force of entropy as any Vulture Regent. And that’s why similarly, the Magpie Regent exists as one of the two regents of quantity, even though its magic makes less of things, it takes things away.

But the one thing it never does, is make no things.

Think about it. Unless I’m missing some legend somewhere, nowhere in history has a Magpie Regent or its magic ever resulted in something being just...completely nonexistent. Same with the Sparrow. It reduces distance, space, consumes it magically, eats it up, whatever...but it doesn’t ever result in the complete non-existence of space.

We refer to there being a reduction and a propagation side to each Regent and their corresponding force....but reduction simply means to reduce. Nowhere does it say “all the way to zero.” Instead, I believe, the point of the various reduction regents and forces is that they push creation back along the spectrum more towards their side of things.....where they exist as the only unit of that particular force or aspect....but they still very much do exist. The Magpie might reset things back to one, emblematic of when it and what it represented was the only ‘thing’ that existed other than the goddess and her other Regents, the first unit of quantity rather than a time/space continuum full of possibility but nothing more finite or existant than that. But it’ll never - can never - push things past just that unit of one. It can’t negate something out of existence entirely. That’s a power only Mother Sky has, and that she’s never delegated to anyone else.

And that, I believe, is why whether feathercraftings act upon one another to modify or amplify each other, is not random at all, but just has to do with where they fall in the Deck, in relation to each other. When you view the Deck as being about opposing forces contained within spectrums, rather than negating forces existing outside of spectrums, it makes sense - just like the creation myths all talk of her building upon creation and adding to it, widening it, making more....of course magic isn’t going to be about undoing all of her hard work, but rather just more of the same.

And thus, lower-Deck cards will always exert themselves upon higher-Deck cards, and not the other way around....because all of creation is geared towards making the most of its upper reaches as it builds and builds upon itself.

Creation reaches upwards, as if to the sky, is what I’m saying. This just is sometimes more obvious than at other times.

So take a sparrow-crafting and two hummingbird-craftings, as an example.

Its not actually random, or about which you use two feathers of and which only one: the sparrowcrafting or craftings will always act upon the hummingbird, and never the other way around. Additionally, you’ll see what appears to be the same result either way, but this is because of the close connection between time and space. They’re part of the same talon, the same hand of four. They exist upon the same continuum. Either way, you result in an arrow that seems to cross a short amount of distance much more rapidly than it otherwise would.

And what actually results is the sparrow’s magic acts upon the hummingbird’s magic....so that how much space is consumed in relationship to the hummingbird’s rapid-rate of time....that’s what goes up.

So what the extra feather decides, really, is which magic gets two parts magic for the one part magic brought to the equation by the other feather. It just really makes no particular difference in this specific instance, due to them all still being on the same specific continuum. If you have two sparrow feathers for one hummingbird feather.....you’re essentially requisitioning two times a magical rate of distance to be consumed in correlation to the speed-up effect brought on by the hummingbird crafting. Ergo....an arrow that crosses a short amount of distance far more quickly than otherwise possible. Now reverse that, and use one sparrow crafting accompanying two hummingbirdcraftings....what you’ve done here is requisitioned two times a magical rate of time to be consumed in correlation with the space-consuming distance magic of the sparrow crafting....thus resulting in....an arrow that crosses a short amount of distance far more quickly than otherwise possible. Not just different perspectives of the same phenomenon....but the same phenomenon resulting from different manipulations of the same forces....and all those forces being closely linked enough to make the precise nature of what’s happening seem less distinct than it actually is.

Now let’s progress to combining two craftings from different hands, to make the differences more distinct.

Take here, for instance, a combination of swan and crane. Now you might be surprised, legions of future fans, as swan-craftings are rarely used as fletchings. Due to there being little use for arrows that make things float upon impact. But this is only true of people who don’t have housemates who frequently yell at you for experimenting with arrows that do things other than just make something float harmlessly. And there’s not much harm that can result in using pillows for target practice even if the pillows then just float aimlessly for various periods of time afterward.

Who knew annoying housemates could have such a beneficial impact upon science? Yes, even a West may have a purpose. Its true. What a strange and wonderful world we live in.

Anyway.

So after much experimentation, and even more experimentation to replicate the results reliably....I can safely confirm that regardless of how you combine the craftings, the swan magic will always be prioritized, with the lower-Deck magic, that of the crane, acting as the modifier upon it. Meaning one way or another, what results is the effects of the swan’s levitation magic being extended by the crane’s longevity magic.

The only thing that changes, results from whether its two crane feathers used, or two swan feathers. Here’s where two parts magic for one part....other magic, I guess....comes into play:

If its two cranecraftings per one swancrafting, the cranecrafting will still modify the swan, and what will actually be amplified, the magic you get more of, is that the rate of the cranecrafting’s modification of the swancrafting. Basically, the result you’ll see is the target floating due to the swan magic, but for longer than would normally happen, as the crane crafting extends the duration of the swan magic’s effects.....and with the second crane crafting essentially doubling the time-extending effects.

In comparison, if you go with two parts swan for one part crane, the cranecrafting again modifies the swan, but for a shorter period of time, as what’s actually amplified here is the swan magic. The amount the arrow can levitate upon impact, the weight of the target struck, that’s what’s doubled, with the overall effect simply magically extended by one unit of magical time modification.

Now this opens up a ton of possibilities all on its own, but it did seem to sound the death knell for my time release magic arrow idea.....or so I thought....until insight once again struck like divine inspiration. Which seems to masquerade as sleep deprivation an awful lot. But as I said, who am I to understand the ways of a goddess? Ah well.

So, its no surprise this didn’t occur to me earlier, as the archer in me balks at the very thought....but what about combining hummingbird and cranecraftings with a third? Hummingbirdcraftings have been used for centuries as crossbow bolts, if you’re working with a small enough one, and its been proven possible that while not advisable from a purely physics-prioritizing standpoint to shorn the feathers of much larger birds to small enough sizes that they can be utilized as fletchings on the very same, very small crossbow bolts.....but the combination of magics that unleashes has proven worth it on some occasions. Still, I don’t think anyone has ever tried utilizing both a crane and a hummingbird-crafting on the same crossbow bolt...but that’s largely because nobody sees much point in calling upon the magic of two Regents thought to cancel each other out.

But if its not actually in their nature to cancel each other out entirely, but rather at most to be mitigating factors or influences.....and if my theory about feathers always modifying the magic of higher Deck cards, never lower, is correct, as it clearly is for I am brilliant and also sexy, don’t forget that last part, its critical.....

Then cranecraftings, as low in the Deck as they stem from, still can be modified by three specific craftings themselves: those of sparrows and sea gulls....and also hummingbirds.

Which means, it might be possible to create a crossbow bolt with a combination of one cranecrafting, one hummingbird, and one other.....where the hummingbird acts as a mitigating agent upon the cranecrafting, before the latter acts upon the third. Basically, if I can crack the secret to definitively quantifying or measuring the magic of each crafting, down to a decimal point, and thus deal in fractions of a whole crafting rather than just units of one.....then I could mix and match hummingbird-craftings with cranecraftings that are measured to have more magic than the former. Which if my theory is right, would mean that the hummingbird and cranecraftings would essentially ‘cancel each other out’ but only until the hummingbird’s magic was fully consumed.....but the cranecrafting still having some magic left in it that only then at that point, once no longer held in check, would act upon a third feather. And thus resulting in the time release phenomenon I’m aiming for.

Look, its possible, and I will figure out how to make it happen, or my name isn’t Roy “Look how awesome my butt is” Harper.

Will look into this and report back.

****

Still have not cracked that secret. Still not allowed to use West for target practice. Still not saying these two things are in any way linked, just putting that out there.

I keep telling the rest of them its for science, but do they care? Noooo. Ugh. Barbarians. If this was ten thousand years ago and it were up to them, we would never master the tool that is fire, all because they’d never let me set the tool that is Wally on fire to demonstrate how useful fire can be.

Why do they hate progress? I just wanna know.

****

Still working on that time release magic thing. Still being thwarted. Revolutionizing archery by way of magic is hard. Why did nobody warn me that was a thing?

But you know what else is a thing? Physics! Its a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Obviously I already knew about physics, hello, but I didn’t know so much about physics until Dick wandered home with a new best friend named Victor Stone. He does that an awful lot. He swears its not a Regent thing, but I think its definitely a Regent thing. None of the rest of us seem to manifest magical friend-summoning fields that call weirdly attractive and also nice and also knowledgeable friends to flock to them like they’re some kind of magnetic north. Which is a physics thing, that my new friend Victor Stone taught me.

I’m just saying, I go out to get dinner for the bunch of us, all I come home with is dinner. Dick goes out to do the same, and he comes home with first an Atlantean, then a Themysciran, and then a Wally, and still no dinner. And even West, for all his.....West-ness, is descended from a hummingbird Regent and thus possessed of innate magic coloring his personal association with time, so he’s not totally useless even if he does a great impersonation of useless ninety percent of the time. And thus doesn’t exactly disprove what I’m getting at here.

One of these days, he’s gonna wander in like “hey everyone, come meet my new best friend, she seems completely normal and boring but that just means she’s probably Mother Sky herself in disguise for some absurd reason. Nothing about this has anything to do with me or how sexy my stupid face is.”

And shut up, that still doesn’t mean I’m in love with him, I just have eyes and I use them, that’s it.

Anyway, this time Dick brought home my new best friend who is Vic and thus I shall magnanimously let it go and not make a big deal out of it, for reasons that as you can see, have nothing to do with anyone’s face, no matter how stupidly sexy it might be.

So! Physics!

Most of it seems to be just unnecessarily complicated ways of saying things everybody already knows, so, basically what I always claimed it was despite baselessly having no real way of knowing this. Hah! Validation to me.

But some of it happens to be ways of saying things that might already be known, but are here put forth in ways they aren’t usually spoken of or pictured as, and thus spark new thoughts and ideas. And thus there does appear to be some merit to some of it, which is not validating in and of itself, but is inspiring, so I’m calling it a lateral move and counting it as still being a point for me.

(Look I may not know how or why or when, but one day, these points will come in handy and mean something, I just know it.)

Anyway, so there I was with my new friend Vic discussing abstracts theories of physics like the learned intellectuals that we are, just us, nobody else, shut up Garth, go eat a fish, nobody asked you.....

When Vic says something about force equaling velocity times mass. And I sat up and said wait, what was that thing you were saying a minute ago about velocity equaling.....and Vic says velocity equals distance over time? And I snap my fingers and go that’s it, that’s the very one. Vic, you beautiful balding genius, you’ve done it again!

Wait, what have I done again, Vic asks, and also how, we’ve literally only known each other twelve hours, and I explain to him all about my uncanny intuition and valid predictions of the future meaning that this is obviously just the first of many fruitful collaborations and thus totally counts, all while I busily make sketches and do math.

Because its occurred to me, see, that for centuries archers have used distance magics to shorten or extend the amount of space an arrow covers in flight, for a variety of purposes that still ultimately just revolve around accuracy or distance simply as an obstacle to be overcome.....but what if distance is treated not as the focal point for which an arrow is feathercrafted, but rather simply a means to an end that otherwise has aims other than just crossing distance?

Basically, as I explained while setting up a target of considerable durability and a small crossbow bolt fletched just with sparrow-craftings....what if distance magic is utilized not for the distance, but solely to magnify the force that results from how much - or how little - a distance it crosses over time?

And then from thirty paces away, I smashed a tiny crossbow bolt through the target with as much force as if I had fired that same bolt from a mere two paces away. The boom was quite satisfying. Also the validation. Again, that’s always just nice.

And then I modified another crossbow bolt with a mix of sparrow and hummingbird to increase that rate of velocity even further, and I did it again, to an even bigger boom.

Which means, notes and future fans alike, I may not have quite cracked the code of fractional but reliable increments of magical implementation just yet, but I now have more material to work with....because as I already suspected due to my awareness of their link via continuum, but hadn’t quite yet put a specific named connection to myself, distance over time equaling not just velocity but the key to time-lapsed magical effects means its not just hummingbird and crane feathers that could make all the difference there, but also sea gull and sparrow.

Force multipliers, Vic named our breakthrough. Or said was already the name for them. Hard to say, my ears were still ringing, but I err on the side of whichever gives us credit.

Either way, its a great name.

******

Vic and I have been experimenting with triple-compounding the effects of three different feathercrafted fletchings per arrow. Or tri-parting as I’ve been calling it. Try-harding, Dick calls that. I kicked him out of the workshop after that. I will not be disrespected within my own personal space like that, not even by his stupid sexy face. Besides, I can still see it well enough from through the window, so its fine.

Anyway, the triple threat combinations. At the base of it all lies a lot of trial and error with different manipulations of time and space, ie our force multipliers. So first, we started working with just those, to see what else we might be missing or overlooking in regards to these base-layer feathers that have had all kinds of other uses just lurking right under peoples’ noses for millennia.

Its not like they aren’t used for plenty already, of course. Take hummingbird-fletched crossbow bolts for starters. Plenty of archers throughout civilization have utilized them in conjunction with bolts tipped in different sedatives or poisons. Shoot a bolt at someone from close enough away that its magic isn’t consumed entirely in flight, and the temporal acceleration effects of the hummingbird magic then exert themselves upon the next nearest thing....the poison or sedative coating the bolt, which from there spread through the bloodstream of the person it impacts....now at a magically expedited rate of time. Similarly, plenty of assassins have used bolts or arrows coated in poison and fletched with crane.....to extend the effects of poison and whatnot upon the person shot with one.

Same thing with combinations of two types of craftings, both of which are known to default to exerting themselves on the same thing: arrow’s flight or arrow’s impact. Obviously we’re not reinventing the wheel with something like combining crane and canary, with both magics working in conjunction on the same things at the same time.....thus extending both the flight and the magical effect in-flight of a canary crafting’s ear-splitting shriek.

So its not as though we were expecting to uncover a lot more along the way to what we were really looking to explore, just us doing our due diligence until that point. And in no way were we delaying our experimentation out of nervousness that this wasn’t the long-sought next step in my lifelong pursuit of Science-Magic: The Roy Harper Way, and worrying that this theory like so many others would simply fizzle into failure. No. Don’t be dumb. That absolutely wasn’t a thing here.

So was the real hold-up all along just us stalling and killing time until Donna left on mysterious Themysciran missions because the night before she’d looked at us theorizing excitedly and decided to douse that flame by sighing and saying, ‘you’re going to blow up the house’? To which we naturally replied ‘don’t be daft, we’re not going to blow up the house.’ And to which she replied ‘oh yeah, you’re totally going to blow up the house’? Were we basically just tarrying and occupying ourselves with lesser experiments of no real value until she was gone like the ill omen she insists on being and that we simply refuse to see proven right? At least not when she’s around to witness it?

Right, so...yes. It was definitely that last one. That was literally the entire reason.

Look, if you’d ever had Donna sighing and despairingly shaking her head while listing totally understandable reasons why you shouldn’t do the thing that you were still going to do regardless because well, duh, you had to, obviously.......you’d understand.

The point being, the second she was out the door we quit wasting time with that load of crap, and brought out the real toys. Or....test subject....thingies ...prototypes! That’s it, that’s the word.

So first off, we started with the combination hummingbird plus sparrow plus shrike feather craftings. Shrikes, of course, being the magic of bindings and battles, and with the Shrike Regent being Boone, some sort of love-hate friend-nemesis of Dick’s past that he refused to ever elaborate on, no matter how much ranting he did on the subject of the man when he came up even tangentially. This of course, was our first real mistake. This was about the time when I kicked Dick out of the workshop, the timing here being a total coincidence, even if I did happen to mutter in passing that if he love-hates the guy so much he should just marry him already. Or kill him. Whichever. Preferably the killing thing though.

Unfortunately, adding insult to injury, or potentially injury to West if he interrupted us one more time, the shrike combos were getting us nowhere. Like the true friend he is, and sensing my dwindling mood and also its corresponding effects on West’s future, Vic suggested we switch gears and try combining just time-craftings with dove and something else.

Which is what brought us to the hummingbird-dove-kingfisher combo, and our first real success.

You see, as I’ve mentioned before, tanager-fletched arrows aren’t anything new....they’ve been used as incendiaries for thousands of years....but the why of it, with Vic’s additional physics insight, brought up some interesting theories. Same with the way dove-fletched arrows had been used for their electrifying properties for ages.

The reason dove-fletched arrows carry the properties they do, as he explained it, is that by channeling the electromagnetic force embodied by the Dove Regent - specifically, the propagation or amplifying side of that spectrum - its like the arrowhead becomes a magnet drawing electrical impulses to it out of the air it passes through. The whole atmosphere contains what he calls ionized particles, which is not apparently, the same thing as baby lightning. Even if its really just the potential for lightning, and thus totally fits in my opinion. But what our eyes perceive as simply an arrow slicing through empty air, in terms both scientific and magical, in another sense the arrow is swimming through a sea of ionized potential, collecting some of that to itself along the way, and delivering the totality of that through its arrowhead upon point of impact.

What tanager-fletched arrows do is apparently not hugely different in theory, even if it does tap into different physical properties. Essentially, tanager feathers, embodying the amplifying side of the thermodynamics spectrum, act upon the combustibility of oxygen, which is all around us in the air we breathe. Oh, also, the air is just fire waiting for a big enough match, apparently. That was good to know. So again, two different forces, two different kinds of particles which are not the same thing as molecules except when they are, and actually, what happens when dove arrows do what they do is only a little bit like what happens when tanager arrows do what they do, but still mostly not at all the same, even if they do happen to sound totally the same but whatever Victor....anyway, the point is physics is great and useful but also at the same time totally confusing and annoying, but what happens when you combine all this information with my contribution that is the keen scientific observation that the lower in the Deck will always act upon the higher in the Deck?

Something actually useful, not that I’m trying to rub it in or anything.

But the way I understood it, if the combustibility of a tanager arrow comes from how much and how combustible the oxygen it draws to it is, upon striking a target and delivering the additional magical spark of a tanager-crafting....and if the electrical impact that results from a dove arrow comes from the nature of a dove arrow to draw enough particles to it in abundance, with the combination of tanager and dove meaning its the latter that will exert itself on the former....the end result is you’re going to get a super-combustible arrow, instead of merely a combustible one.

And the drawback of an incendiary arrow, as any archer knows, is that it can only do so much. Firing an arrow that will burst into flame upon impact is all well and good....but if the place of impact is largely wet and incombustible, that first flicker is still going to die out before ever becoming more. But if that first burst is more than just a mere flicker....and if its immediately fanned and fed and magically fueled by say, the existence of a third crafted fletching, that of a kingfisher, whose magic by nature creates more.....

Well, apparently muddy beaches go up quite nicely when lit by an arrow of this variety. Particularly if you then follow it up by a swift volley of kingfisher arrows aimed purely at magnifying the resulting fire itself.

I might have gotten a bit carried away with the fire-lit cackling with which I celebrated our success, but on the other hand, I made West wet his pants, so. Worth it.

*******

Bit of a rough-weather atmosphere in our house this past week, as apparently the rocks I set on fire with our little tanager-fletching experiments happened to be Garth’s favorite rocks, and he’s a bit perturbed with me as a result. Nobody seems to care, no matter how often I point it out, that its just weird to have favorite rocks, and who even does that, because Garth that’s who and I guess I was supposed to somehow just....know this?

Anyway, it was ‘advised’ emphasis on my skeptical assessment of that last word there, that I avoid fire in my experiments for the time being. Which is fine by me.

On to....magical ice arrows!

Now ice isn’t a force, its not a thing that you can make more of like fire, as I explained to Dick and Wally earlier. Its the reduction side of thermodynamics, the less than....essentially, you don’t so much make ice as you do...remove heat. Thus a tern-fletched arrow isn’t really a frost arrow, its more accurately, a heat sink.

They didn’t need to know that it was basically Vic that explained it all that way to me about an hour or so earlier. Besides, the heat sink bit was all my addition, and that was the really important part, clearly.

What was mostly of interest to me here, was its prospects in magically replicating what happens when you get metal cold enough, fast enough. Which brought me to the hummingbird-tern feather crossbow bolt combo, two parts tern feathers and only one hummingbird feather as a modifier. What I was after was double the heat-sink properties of tern magic, sped up by a hummingbird-crafting.

It mostly worked.

The tern feathers drew in heat well enough, and the hummingbird-crafting sped up the process enough that more cracks would have spread through the metal the bolt was embedded in....if the bolt had.....actually embedded itself into the metal. I’m pretty sure, anyway.

It was the damn force side of the equation that was still getting in my way. Even when I did get a bolt to sink home in something that was already brittle enough to lodge into even if it couldn’t penetrate all the way through on its own, the force still was lacking without magical amplification. But there was no fletching I could add to magically modify the force of the bolt itself that wouldn’t also exert itself elsewhere, even upon just the hummingbird feather. I even tried adding a sea-gull feather and then firing the bolt from merely a foot away, trying to maximize the force without using up the distance modifier during actual flight time, and that was the biggest find of the day and it was a total accident as I realized two seconds after firing it that I was supposed to be trying to amplify the force by reducing the distance, and thus I meant to use a sparrow fletching, not a sea gull!

But then what actually happened is my crossbow bolt embedded itself and ended up magically making enough more space for me to follow up with two more bolts, and then the combination of multiple bolts all drawing heat from around them at a magically enhanced rate led to the whole thing growing brittle with cracks all the way through it, which.....was not at all what I was going for but was still useful to know, so, I’m calling it a win. It counts.

Look, it just does, okay? You’re my notes, I’m not supposed to feel judged by you. You’re doing this all wrong.

******

Dick brought home a new friend today, named Kory. She seemed like a perfectly, nice ordinary girl at first glance. Then she took off an illusion-casting crow mask and revealed she’s actually a seven foot tall, golden skinned, ‘battle priestess of X’Hal,’ whatever that means, but the rest of all that sounds about normal.

Oh and also, what that means apparently is she’s from a whole other world and she voyaged here in a ship that apparently travels between stars which is a thing that can happen, and also she has green-glowing eyes but that’s just because she can make magic green fire that can burn through anything, no big deal. Also, she can fly. Also, also, did I mention she’s a princess? Because duh, of course she’s a princess, why wouldn’t she be a princess, haha you sound so dumb right now.

Dick’s eyes glazed over and he stopped paying attention at “she can fly.” Not that I noticed. Or cared.

Anyway, apparently ships that can travel between stars being a thing that can happen is not actually the new information that I thought it was, as then Garth tried to insist that he’d totally mentioned that before which umm, lie. I definitely mentioned it before, he said, like a liar, and I think I would have remembered if you had, I said because hello, and then Donna said she and Garth had always been clear about Atlanteans and Themyscirans originally coming from worlds other than this one and okay fine but nobody ever said that involved ships that fly between stars I said. But of course its not like I had anyone to back me up on that because Dick was too busy trying to marry Kory with his eyes which will probably even work because obviously his eyes are very marriage material everyone knows that and West was busy being West so its not like he counts, and in conclusion, all my friends are either aliens and/or assholes. Except for Vic, who did say he’d run away with me and get married, but I’m pretty sure he was just humoring me. He wasn’t even drunk.

Whatever. The big takeaway here is that clearly I am like, this close to unraveling the mysteries of all magic everywhere and that’s why Mother Sky has decided to be mean to me, because she is threatened and also, like. Just mean.

*****

Turns out Kory’s actually a lovely person. So I guess I just can’t have anything, huh?

****

Also none of this still has anything to do with being in love with Dick, which I’m not, because obviously, and Wally’s still wrong about everything, because also obviously. And if he doesn’t shut up, I’m going to make a magical Wally-smiting arrow just for him. I don’t totally know what its going to do yet, but just see if I don’t!

*****

So over dinner last night, Kory was telling us all a bit about Tamaranean magic and how it works and what being a battle-priestess of X’Hal means.

So on her world, its told, their creator goddess X’Hal created everything out of herself, and so is herself in everything. With there being some kind of corresponding connection between the emotional or spiritual side of things, and the physical or material. And Tamaraneans have a periodic table that’s actually all about emotions rather than physical elements, and their magic is called spirit-alchemy and its about manipulating the elements or physical world by being in control of their corresponding emotions?

I don’t think I’m explaining it right. Okay, so basically, the way Kory described it is everything on their world was created by X’Hal, like, feeling a specific thing. From her passion, X’Hal created fire. From her hope, light. From her joy, weightlessness. And all the way up and down the material and elemental plane. So when she refers to the thousand names of X’Hal, its because of the whole “X’Hal” is in everything idea, and thus when speaking of each of those things, one’s also speaking of X’Hal.

But where the magic part of things comes in, is if like Kory, you train from a very young age to be what’s called a priest-adept. Or priestess. You get it. But the idea is all things are part of X’Hal and she’s in all things, and her people, the Tamaraneans, are all like X’Hal....enough so that they can manipulate parts of the world around them, wholly by manipulating the parts of themselves that are...spiritually resonant with those things, I guess.

So with Kory, the reason she can fly, and glow, and create soulfire which is what she calls the green glowing fire she makes that can blast through anything.....all of this derives from her spending most of her lifetime training to have a total mastery of three specific mental and emotional states. The ones that, in reflection of X’Hal, correspond with fire, light and weightlessness. By mastering her passions, broad sense of the word, she manifests soulfire which she creates much like X’Hal created...fire fire. Via her own mastery of and understanding of hope - not totally sure what that all entails, but that’s the connection - she similarly is able to manifest light, and her flight and weightlessness come from her control and knowledge of her own joy, for just...herself, life, everything. The battle-priestess bit is just her own kind of vocational calling rather than a specific group, but her magic only works because her own mastery of self is so extensive that she’s able to find even the joy in battle, the passion in fighting, the hope for victory, that let her still tap into the specific emotions that lend her this magic, even while in the midst of fighting for her life.

Obviously what she’s talking about is easier said than done, and the Tamaranean idea of self-control goes a fair bit deeper than get up and take a lap when someone, not naming names, says something particularly dumb.....but from the sounds of it she’s kind of a big deal back on her homeworld not even for the princess thing so much as for having mastery of three different states, no matter how connected. Like a lot of people spend their whole lives attempting to master just one, and she just happened to be adept level at three already.

I asked if anyone’s ever mastered all thousand, which apparently was a really funny joke, so looks like I’m hilarious in Tamaranean, but seems that’s not really a thing. “We’re like X’Hal,” was how Kory put it. “But only X’Hal can be X’Hal.”

Which does make sense, when you put it like that.

**************

Okay, so I was just picking Kory’s brain about spirit-alchemy a little more, specifically about her super-strength and where that comes from, since I thought joy, passion and hope were her three focuses. Except she didn’t know what I was talking about first, as she said that wasn’t one of her powers. Except I know for a fact that I saw her punch through a solid stone wall once, and said as much, and then she was just oh, that’s just part of my mastery of joy.

Which needed a little more clarification than that, because....what.

Basically though, it sounds like their emotional table is a lot like the spectrums between two opposing Regents throughout our Deck. Like a lot of what they work on mastery of is as much the absence of its opposite side as it is something in and of itself. Apathy is the opposite of passion, the negation of soulfire, but its not something someone seeks to master, so much as its an extension of their mastery of passion. After all, if one summons a form of passion within themselves in order to create soulfire, then by banishing the soulfire, even if just because they no longer have use for it, isn’t that and the emotional equilibrium that results in that....isn’t that effectively apathy? Same thing with hope....just because the goal of mastering that wasn’t to create an absence of light, that doesn’t mean that being able to put out the light she herself creates isn’t still connected to that emotional field and something requiring her awareness of it.

Which brings us to weightlessness. Her flight is a manifestation of joy, even when using it in battle, but utilizing it most effectively, as in changing elevations rapidly and with precision, often requires the inverse just as much as creating weightlessness for herself in the first place. So her control of self has to be so absolute that she can be a thousand feet in the air and then just let herself plummet, carrying with her all the force that entails, and only at a hundred feet in the air summoning her inner joy and using spirit-alchemy to instantly transmute that into the weightlessness that once again keeps her aloft but now at that new, lower elevation.

But the point being.....up until that last split second when she comes out of a dive and re-engages her magical weightlessness.....she and any strike she’s delivering, contain the full force its opposite.

Not at all unlike how you could describe swan and ostrich craftings.

So that’s when Vic and I just looked at each other and yelled: Force multipliers!

Forget time and distance modifiers, its the mass! The key is the mass! The propagation side of gravity even if applied not to go up or down because the gravitational force is only being applied magically, to modify other forces, not the physical mass of the arrow itself! This is it! This is the key!

Our first attempt put a crossbow bolt through an inch of solid steel. Now just waiting on Vic to get back with all the hawk and dove and tern and tanager feathers we have, we’re so close I can taste it!

Ugh, if Dick doesn’t marry this beautiful alien warrior princess, I’ll marry her myself! Or both. I could just marry both of them I guess. I mean, its for science.

Okay, Vic’s here, will report on findings later!

******

So, we accidentally blew up the house. I don’t want to talk about it.

Still think I’m right though. Just needs fine-tuning.

Might wait a bit before I bring that up. No reason. Just seems the sort of thing that can wait until we find a new house.

#by lost ways

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forestofschwarzwald · 3 years

Text

More swallowed asks, I’m so glad I keep docs with the questions lol.

ANONYMOUS: Wow Victoria x Reiji sure have a lot of kids and they are all gorgeous! Any headcanons of their kids? What are their favorites and hobbies and how well do they get along with each other

And do they have a favorite uncle? I am really partial to Demetria I think.

I couldn’t help myself after I started figuring out how much Reiji wanted to top his father all ways possible. After the first 3, I ended up wanting more children… heh I guess he charmed me.

As for favorites... they are all special to me in some way, let’s say to each of my babies I have a special but different link that cannot be compared.

About their uncles, Reiji killed the triplets a long time ago, before Gin was born. So they never met them, in case that it seems strange that they’re not mentioned!

Here’s what they have to say about your question:

Hah I feel like you humans sometimes are interested in very trivial stuff… aren’t you?

Most of my free time is spent training and studying, even if it’s tough to keep up with a strict schedule, my parents don’t micromanage every minute of my day so… it feels nice. For a long time I was a prisoner, so most of my hobbies are simply habits of escapism where I put my mind away.

I like crafting bijouterie.My mother has been nurturing it for a while now, she goes out of her way to pick up the items I want.

The earring I wear is the first I made, I’ve always loved feathers.

As for my uncles… I… don’t know. Dmitri’s father, Shu, is a music teacher but I was never interested in learning, so we don’t talk.

Uncle Subaru is nice, he wasn’t too good at swordsmanship so Dmitri and I had to teach him. Despite being a weakling he has spirit, and he likes me to make bijouterie pieces for his little girl, so I’d say I get along with him the most.

When it comes to my siblings… Dianthe and Damien were always hard to get used to, up until they grew older I couldn’t really… “fit in”. When I returned to my parents I was an adult and there were two little kids I should call siblings?

I preferred to keep my distance and rebuild the relationship with my parents. The older they became the better they understood my space but they still feel like “classmates” or “roommates” more than siblings. I don’t particularly dislike them, Dianthe used to set my cape on fire whenever I accidentally made Damien cry… but gladly she grew out of that habit. Sadly she still nags me about my language… It’s irritating…

Dorian. Demetria and Dante always chased me around when they were young, and they still do when they need help… I guess they’re scared of Dianthe’s reaction so they use me as their shield. I think they’re nice, but Dorian and Demetria get in trouble on purpose often.

Dante and Damien are… a bit weird though, they’re so calm? I’m not saying I myself am annoying, but… it feels like they’re not even vampires. I think I prefer spending time with the rest of my siblings… those two make me feel like an oddball faster.

Hobbies… I believe this heavily depends on my mood.

When the weather and the atmosphere is peculiar, I enjoy writing poetry.

Our uncle, Shu, taught me how to play the violin and sometimes I play alongside Damien when our parents organize a ball at the mansion, I must say I find it pleasurable.

But… fufu ~ of course, there are things I learned to indulge in.

We were all home-schooled, however, we have a duty to attend high school as a way to keep a human cover. Humans are very interesting, what they call sins are things they are quick to indulge in with no hesitation… a little pull and I have a dog for weeks…

They quickly get greedy and want my attention for themselves… ~ And there is no better feeling than the tears of a heartbroken pet that couldn’t help but want more of me.

Ah… of course, this is a secret. My parents hold me in high regard when it comes to school behavior, trying to tell them that I’m bullying other students will get you killed ♥

About a favorite uncle, I certainly prefer uncle Shu. He is well cultured and knows quite a lot about music, he has never been mean to me or my siblings… despite clearly disliking my father. I am unaware of the tensions between them however I know it’s a centuries-old story. Because of this I never talk about it with my father, and to be sincere… I feel more comfortable talking to uncle Shu than I do with my own father…

No matter how much he says he loves his children, I can’t help but think he only sees us as… the product of him and my mother. It irritates me… even if perhaps that’s what parenthood is… I feel Shu-sama’s appreciation for us is far more sincere, and unconditional. Father also thinks he can control how we look and how we behave at all times… we are not his little toys for him to try and mold us to his taste! We are individuals.

Ah… I may have gotten carried away… I have a bad habit. I picked it up from both my parents… I just keep talking and talking about things that irritate me. Fufu… well it doesn't matter anymore.

For my siblings, I would appreciate it if they were all like Damien, well behaved, well mannered, able to follow the rules and quiet. However this is not the case.

Gin may have been excused by our parents, even spoiled in my honest opinion, but I believe he needs to be properly educated in how to address formal situations! Despite me heavily disliking the imposition of a mold to adapt to, I understand its importance. Gin could have some consideration and at least not make the whole family look weak! He rolls his eyes, does not stand straight and eats like a caveman!

I don’t care how much he says he was a soldier, a prisoner, and whatnot! He is not anymore, he’s a prince and he should behave as such!

Damien is the one I get along with the most. He’s adorable and always looked for me for help, he was always interested in learning etiquette, and everything my father and mother taught us. He was always a respectable part of our family and he is the cook at the mansion! Our father is still far more skilled, but Damien makes very nice… “homemade” looking food. It has a loving warmth to it… I love my little brother.

Dorian… he thinks he is so much better than everyone else… he keeps competing with me at everything and, of course… he fails miserably. He is a mediocre number 2 that does not realize that being royal is about meeting goals, not just being born it. I would burn his eyebrows off if our parents weren’t so keen on reminding us not to fight. Despite this fact, he is quite the skilled dancer and always stands at parties, I am below average at this, and that is the only thing he’s allowed to win at.

His vanity will catch up to him one day, however. My mother has always expressed her concern about Dorian’s extravagant behavior, she believes he will be one day shot down from the skies and he’ll fall deep, and if anyone is to be believed… that is my mother. She knows how vampires are… or perhaps, Dorian has a bit of my father in him.

Demetria is quite the impressive lady, she meets all expectations… but she doesn’t talk to me much. As her older sister I have always offered my help, but she is… cold. Most of the time I can’t tell what’s going through her mind.

And our baby boy Dante… he was always a sick child. He was so weak when he was born that our mother decided to curse herself to not bear any more children. I know the word “curse” sounds strong… but worry not, she merely magically sterilized herself, it is a “curse” because it is irreversible.

Anyhow, Dante is the weakest among us and we all feel generally protective of him. However, I suspect there may be more to him than just… weakness. You see, Dante is usually calm and… quite tolerant, but when enraged… even I have trembled at the sensation of his aura. I think Dante may have explosive powers that he is unaware of… so I keep a good eye on him, we do not want his overwhelming power to hurt his weaker body. Despite that… he really is a brat, he likes to mock my manners as if I was some grandma roaming the mansion, and that is quite irritating! I know he is having fun whilst teasing me, but can’t he shut up for one millisecond as I talk to my mother?!

Hm… Ah… I have spoken for so long that my throat feels dry… You should be paying for this, you know? I have given you such a thorough explanation… blood is the least you should be offering right now.

Oh good evening, that is an interesting question. I always enjoyed gardening, the castle has many different types of flowers, even flowers you won’t believe existed are in underground hidden gardens, so I can confidently say that is my hobby.

I keep a diary where I draw each flower and study its properties. Being sincere, my father gives me the details since I personally am not fond of chemistry.

I also enjoy making bouquets for decor when there are parties at the mansion or as gifts, Aurora enjoys them a lot.

I don’t think I have a favorite uncle, both of them are nice to me.

As for my siblings, hm… —he sighs— I wish they weren’t so closed about their feelings. Dante and I agree that half of their problems are because they don’t admit how they feel.

Gin is very distant… We don't know what really happened to him before he attacked the castle years ago, and when I tried asking I got punched in the face haha… —he scratches the side of his face, smiling awkwardly — He apologized so many times afterwards, I’ve lost count of it. I learned not to ask about that. My older sister Dianthe is always treating me like I am her baby, and always pretends everything is okay, but I think something about Dorian and Demetria wanting to be the next head of the family is bothering her. She doesn’t talk about it and keeps acting like she is the eldest and in charge… but I think she’s having a hard time, she should realize how much of a perfect fit for a queen she is.

She’s a really gentle person… She may have some really weird hobbies… but I think deep down Dianthe is a kind soul, like our parents.

Dorian and Demetria both keep competing with Dianthe because they see her excel at so many things, that they feel like they’re less than her. They simply are insecure and they crave attention. I have to keep an eye on the kitchen or they’ll try to cook and blow it up… Our father is very sensible about the kitchen so I have to guard it.

I think Dorian and Demetria will have the hardest time coping with immortality… I sincerely worry but they don’t listen to me! They think that because I’m soft spoken I’m simply weak… —he sighs again.

Dante is usually quiet and I would say he is the most healthy mentally. However, he has some anger issues… whenever he is extremely angry his aura will rise… I never saw Gin and Dianthe scared before… so I’m aware they felt like not even them could handle Dante’s power. I worry about him since he is very frail, I’ve seen our father check on Dante’s physical condition regularly.

If he gets injured he takes longer to regenerate, he doesn’t drink live blood… he drinks donated blood from a plastic bag. I can understand how disturbing it is that we have to sink our fangs and hurt someone to feed… but… I worry he is deteriorating his state… He’s not interested in relationships so the chances of him having someone personally feed him are low as long as he does this.

He’s nice… he always keeps Dorian and Demetria in line by calling their attention or advising them. Despite being the youngest, he acts like he’s older than those two troublemakers.

We often find ourselves shaking our heads at the behavior of our siblings, I think he understands me the most, although I don’t think I understand him fully.

I hope to have answered all of your questions.

Usually I would request for you to be on all fours and kiss my boots before you try to get any personal detail from me… but out of whim, I will be lenient. Just know that the rest of my pets won’t like you and… if they bite you, I won’t take any responsibility —he fixes himself on the sofa, legs spread in a relaxed manner — Anyway… what were you asking me about? Ah yes yes… Well I enjoy creating poisons. My father expanded on this with other types of chemicals… but I just like the good old slow burn of death… of course, I was prohibited from killing animals and people on purpose… so I simply focused on antidotes as well.

I don’t use them often however, they’re harder to make than you’d think.

As for my siblings… they’re unavoidable and a nuisance. Dante is extremely creepy with his aura bursts and Dianthe keeps nagging, I could do without them, but if I had to choose the least of nuisances I would say Dante is good enough. The older three have a tendency to exert authority over the rest of us and I am frankly not a fan.

When it comes to a favorite uncle I of course have none, the only reason they are around in the first place is thanks to my mother’s incomprehensible kindness and my father’s loyalty to her will. Whenever they visit I rather spend my precious yet limited time somewhere else.

Well, what are you waiting for? Either bow down to me or leave, I have plenty of hungry pets to discipline already so don’t waste my time.

Your favorite, huh ~ I am not surprised. After all, who wouldn’t fall for my charms ;)

Anyway, let’s paint a clearer image of myself for you, shall we? In my free time I like to design BDSM instruments and sextoys… fufu~ Humans rarely ever openly embrace their sinful nature, but beasts like us shamelessly embrace our darkest thoughts in a “heartbeat”.

As for my siblings… I wish Dianthe didn’t exist. She thinks she’s special and every time I get to impress our parents she shows up, almost like she has a timer set for it.

Her facade sickens me… one small poke at her and she will blow up and drop her “perfect princess” mask. Yet our parents think she is deserving of the crown?! She does not have true manners if all of her manners are fake!

Anyway… Gin is quite the brute… and Dorian gets on everyone's nerves quite fast. He is the reason we are all afraid of our mother in the first place, he has managed to somehow make her furious once. That day we knew she could kill us if we defied the crown.

Dante is… —her lips curl into a soft smile— while he is a bit younger than me he has always behaved like my older brother. He helped me whenever I struggled, and he always tells me I’m good enough.

About my uncles, there is not much to say about them is it? I am not interested in the non-royal side of the family.

Hobbies...I love videogames, and I have a favorite character that I love and cherish. I also enjoy streaming and speedrunning some games, sometimes my mother joins in for some quality content.

With the exception of my mother, I think my entire family is crazy… I don’t hate them though, I think they’re cool. But… they’re weird.

Uncle Shu is always donating to my streams, he’s really supportive. Despite his and father’s terrible relationship, he seems to be willing to stay a family figure for all of us.

#AVictoria #AGin #ADianthe #ADamien #ADorian #ADemetria #ADante #Diabolik Lovers #OCs #Self shipping

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lia-the-potato05 · 4 years

Text

Revenge

Reader (Ler) x Jungkook (Lee)

Description: Jungkook loves scaring the crap out of you and you just had enough of it. After an interesting information you heard from Jimin you decided to take revenge

Author: Eyyy I'm back...with another fic. I feel like this is a mess because I didnt even bother to proofread this (Im hella lazy sorry mate). Uhm anyways let's get on with the fic

✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦ ✧✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦ ✧ ✦ ✧✦ ✧

"Boo!" You turned back and screamed, falling to the ground scared as hell after you saw a scary clown infront of you.

"Haha got you!" The clown then removed his mask revealing your best friend Jungkook "Oh my gosh have you seen your face? That was Hilarious" He started laughing his ass off

"Ugh!" You grunted as you stood up fixing yourself "Jungkook!" You screamed at him

Jungkook ignored you and continued laughing as he turned around, walking away from you.

"That f*cking prick" You said through gritted teeth.

Jungkook just recently knew how easily scared you get. And because he is known as the Evil Maknae he has been scaring you every now and then. He was a fond of your reaction when you get scared. You were extremely annoyed of his doings and worst of all he manages to get away from it aswell

•••

Up until now you were still upset with what Jungkook has been doing to you. Your arms were crossed and frustration was written all over your face. "Y/N are you ok?" You turned your head to owner of the Voice which was Jimin's.

"I'm good" You said. Knowing it was a lie Jimin sat himself next to you

"C'mon Y/N I'm your friend, I know you better than that. Now tell me what's wrong"

You sighed "It's nothing, really...Just so f*cking annoyed with that muscle bunny!" you slammed your fist against the table in front of you startling Jimin

"Chill" Jimin said

"How can I?! Ugh! He does it all the damn time! and gets away with it aswell" You pouted with your arms crossed

"Since we're friends I might have something that can surely help you" You tilted your head in confusion. Jimin then gestured you to come closer for him to whisper something into you ear.

After hearing what Jimin has said a smirk formed on your face as began mentally planning your revenge on Jungkook

Oh Jeon Jungkook you are so gonna get what's coming for you

•••

It was a Saturday morning. Jimin has given you an extra key to Jungkook's apartment. You entered his place and found him asleep like you expected him to be. You were lucky he was the type of person who wakes up late aswell. Perfect for you to continue your plan

You cleared out his bed making sure only Jungkook was on top if it. You then positioned him into an X position (which was hard by the way because he had an odd sleeping position and he was hella heavy). You then took out the straps tying his wrists and ankles to the bed post making sure he wouldn't be able to move once he woke up.

Once that was done. You took out items from your bag such as Feathers, Baby Oil and an electric toothbrush. After everything was all set all you have to do now is to wait for the muscle bunny to wake up. I mean you can start right now if you wanted too but where's the fun in that? You wanted to see his reaction first.

•••

After what felt like years (it was only an hour actually) Jungkook finally woke up. The boy tried pulling his arms down only to find them stuck above his head "What the f*ck?" He tugged on both his arms and ankles only to find out that he was strapped

Jungkook turned to his side to see you sleeping on his study table. "Y/N!"

His yelling suddenly woke you "Huh what?" You said, you wiped the drool off your mouth, letting out a yawn then stretched a little. "Oh your finally awake" You looked at Jungkook with a smile

"What the hell is this Y/N?!" Jungkook asked glaring at you

"Why that's my revenge dear friend" You stood up walking towards him

"You know if you wanted to f*ck me you could have just asked" You looked at the smirking bunny in disbelief after hearing his snarky remark.

"Eww no, What I had in mind for you is something different" You smirk back at him "Just you wait"

Without further a do you then sat on stomach. "You sure you don't plan on f*cking me?"

"You pervert!" You slapped him, not too hard though and he just laughed at your reaction "Oh laugh all you want, I'm gonna make sure of it"

You took out the baby oil and started rubbing it against his exposed stomach (He was shirtless). "Nice revenge there" You rolled your eyes at him, you ignored what he said and continued on

Once you finished you took out a feather. Jungkook looked at you now aware what this little revenge you planned is all about. But he is Jungkook the Golden Maknae he does not show fear well...that failed today

"What's wrong Kook? Afraid of a feather?" You smirked at him. It didn't start but I know this will be so much fun

"What? No! It's just a feather what's there to be afraid of?" The maknae said with confidence laced in his voice but oh how nervous he felt inside. I am so gonna regret this later on

You raised your eyebrows at him expecting that kind of attitude "Ok, then you won't mind me doing this then" You then slowly dragged the feather around his toned stomach drawing random patterns

Jungkook started biting his lip trying to hide his laughter. But it was so damn hard, it felt too ticklish.

"What's with the face Jungkook? You seem rather ticklish" You smirked

"I am not ticklish!" He yelled

"Oh I see" You then stood up

Jungkook thought it was over but boy was he wrong. He suddenly felt you rubbing oil over his foot. "I wonder what will happen if I do this?" You said wiggling your fingers on his bare sole.

"S-stop that!" Jungkook said a small giggle escaping his mouth. His eyes widened after realising it

"What's that? Is that a giggle I heard?"

"Nope, you heard nothing! You're just crazy!" He spat out making you gasp

"Well that wasn't nice, we can't let that slip now can we" You started using your nails scratching his bare two feet fastly.

Jungkook balled up his hands into fist, eyes tightly shut trying his best to bare it "C'mon Kook laugh for me" You teased

And just like that he realized he couldn't take it any longer so he decided to let it out "Oohohohohokaaayyy I'm tihihihihihicckliiisshhh nohohohoww pleheheheheaaseee stopppp!" He laughed loudly wiggling around the bed like a mad man. He tried tugging on his ankles to escape your wiggling fingers but sadly it stayed in place

"I know you are sweetie, look at how well you are reacting. But this is just the beginning" You finally stopped tickling his feet as you then went to get the electric toothbrush, two electric toothbrushes

"Now Y/N let's not have any of that please! I'm sorry! I won't mess with you again" Jungkook pleaded

"Hm let me think for a second" You said looking up, tapping your chin as if your thinking "Nahhh I'm having so much fun I don't think I wanna stop" You then turned on the two electric toothbrush with an evil smile as you went to his feet again using the electric toothbrush on them.

"NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO" He let out a cackly laugh as he began wiggling once again wanting to escape.

Already having enough with his feet you then positioned yourself back to sitting on his stomach and roaming the electric brushes around his upper body, from his sides to his tummy then to his ribs. At this point Jungkook's face was red as a tomato and warm tears were streaming down his cheeks.

Because you are so kind you turned the two electric toothbrushes off and set them at the side. Allowing Jungkook to have a quick break.

You watch Jungkook catch his breath heavily panting "My my Jungkook you are the most ticklish person I have ever met, Even Jimin can't beat your level of ticklishness (it's not a real word but eh😂)"

"I've never been tickled this much before" He said

"Yeah? I bet you enjoyed it"

"Did not!" Jungkook lied. He unexpectedly enjoyed it. He didn't know why but he just did. Of course there is no way his gonna admit that.

"You know there's this one spot I haven't tried yet" You smirked, you decided to use your fingers this time. To tease him you started wiggling your fingers above his face then slowly you bring it down to a specific area

Jungkook realised where your fingers were going. He looked at you in horror "No Y/N! Don't you dare!"

"Oh I do"

"Y/N no no no no no n-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH" You were now tickling Jungkook's armpits. And so far you received the best reaction out of the other areas you tickled

Jungkook was harshly tugging on the straps and head shaking side to side "IT TIHIHIHIHICKLES SOHOHOHOHO MUHUHUHUHUCCHHH" Jungkook screamed through laughter

You giggled "I can see that"

It's been 20 since you were torturing his armpits, poking them, scratching them, using the tickle tools on them."I cahahahahan't tahahahake it aanymohohohore"

"Almost done!" You blew raspberry on his left armpit

"Stohohohohop" Then u blew again on his right armpit "Pleheheheheaaseee"

"Last but not least" You said then did a final blow to his tummy. Jungkook's laughed has now turned silent.

After that was over you then untied hus wrists and ankles.

Jungkook was extremely exhausted. His hair was messy, he was sweating, his tummy was hurting from laughing, his cheeks were hurting from smiling a lot. but nonetheless he still he enjoyed.

"Hey Look Listen..." He looked at you scratching his nape "I'm sorry for scaring you the past few days, I have totally learned my lesson and I wont do it again"

"Don't worry I already forgive you" You smiled at him

"I-I don't like like admitting this but you're right...I did enjoyed it" You looked at him surprised.

"Really now?" You grinned at him with your eyebrows raised "Guess I have to do it more often then"

Maybe you should

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codevassie · 4 years

Text

5 Awesome APH Fics

[***Let me know if I’ve missed anything on the Content Warnings!]

[**Do Not Ask Authors for Updates!]

[*Leave these authors Comments, please and thank you!]

Burn the White Flag by CoffeeJay

Status: Completed on Ao3

Summary: With Italy gone and the key to their escape nowhere in sight, those left in the mansion struggle to hold onto hope as they search for freedom from the mysterious creatures that hunt them.

Relationships: HRE/Italy, GerIta

CW: Memory Loss, Alcohol, Hallucinations, Blood and Violence, Psychological Trauma, Horror, Existential Angst, Major Character Death (Temporary)

My thoughts: I’d recommend watching/playing HetaOni before reading this one, since it’s a continuation of it and all. So, I don’t read a lot continuations like this, I will say. HetaOni is already such an iconic story that I’m afraid to dilute the experience. We’re not going to get a part two for the game, and I’m fine with that. I’d rather have experienced part one without part two than never have had part one at all. Getting to experience part one was sick as fuck. But I had recently replayed the game and, for once, was looking for something more than my own contemplation over what might have happened (the use of many types of fics). So I found this one, and WOW I was blown away. I could not put it down until I was finished. It was so emotional, and included the threads from the game into a very clever speculation on what the heck might have been the rest of their story. It took all the characters into consideration, and considered the trauma of the mansion. If you love HetaOni, check it out!

Magnet by A Winter Dreamer

Status: Completed on FFN

Summary: For life after life, lovers Alfred F. Jones and Arthur Kirkland have been together. From the royalty of Spades to countries and beyond, crossing universes, Alfred and Arthur have always been together. But a century ago, Alfred made a mistake, and Arthur paid for it. A century ago, their souls diverged for the first time. And now, Arthur must face the demon Alfred has become.

Relationships: USUK

CW: Death, Murder, Blood and Violence, Demons, Imprisonment, Alcohol, Non-consensual Kiss, Torture, Toxic Possessiveness/Jealousy, Homophobia, Suicide, Vomiting Mention, Unhealthy Dynamics, PTSD, Panic Attacks

My thoughts: Y’all are gonna think I’m really fucked up for recommending this one. It’s dark. And their relationship is... a bit... unhealthy for a good part of it. But it’s impossible to put down when you’re reading it and it’s an excellent story. I always love a story that leaves me with question after question because it provides excellent tension and engagement. And there is Character Development, y’all. If there wasn’t, it’d be way more concerning that I like it haha, but the characters learn and grow and I love that stuff. It makes you think about second chances and the extent to which someone deserves one and how that varies with different people. Everything about this is just very interesting and makes you think. And also want to cry. Beautiful story!

Tesoro Mio by Spinyfruit

Status: Completed on FFN

Summary: Antonio's the charming, handsome farmer with an infuriating Spanish accent, and Lovino is the mysterious wine entrepreneur who comes and goes. When Antonio falls in love, he throws society, expectations, and religion to the wayside, but can a strict Catholic like Lovino do the same?

Relationships: Spamano

CW: Internalized Homophobia, Religious and Sexual themes, References of Child Abuse, Claustrophobia

My thoughts: The master of Spamano: Spinyfruit. This author writes them so well, with such interesting, heart-wrenching stories. Tesoro Mio takes place largely on a vineyard Lovino’s family owns, and where Antonio works. It’s a beautiful slow burn. Like the type of romance that leaves you giggling and your heart big and then angst swoops in and your clutching the phone tight bc shit you can’t handle this why did you think you could handle this- It’s about falling in love and accepting that love. I don’t know how else to explain it other than... it’s beautiful.

It’s just going to be you and me by ButterFish

Status: Completed on FFN

Summary: Alfred thinks he's going insane; he keeps dreaming about a green-eyed guy, he hears voices and he keeps finding long, white feathers everywhere. Is the angel Arthur that is haunting his dreams real or is he making it all up?

Relationships: USUK

CW: Suicide and Suicidal Ideation, Bullying, Homophobia, Internalized Homophobia, Homophobic Slurs, Death, Mental Illness, Nightmares, Headaches, Smoking, Hallucinations, Blood and Violence, Guns, Medication Side Effects, Existentialism

My thoughts: I don’t know how to review this one without giving major spoilers. It’s... dark. It’s really difficult to read at times because there is a lot of talk and depiction of death and suicidal ideation. It’s one of my fave fics ever, but it’s super triggering, so Do Not Read It if you’re even a little unsure. It’s super mysterious, leaving you guessing what is going on and what is to come throughout the entire thing. It’s very suspenseful. I’m always on the edge of my seat when I read it, despite knowing what’s going to happen in rereads. It’s just as impactful on a reread as it is during the original. This is one of those fics where you’re screaming the entire way through, and, if you’re not, then you’re in deathly silence. The kind of silence where you feel like the world is going to shatter if you break it. All of Alfred’s thoughts and feelings just feel so real in this fic and it’s captivating. It’s a big time recommendation for me, so, if you think you’re in the right headspace for something dark and stressful, check it out.

Fifty-two by ectodreaming

Status: Completed on FFN

Summary: Lovino, a lowly con-artist, is in love with a police officer. Antonio, a police officer, finds out that he's in love with a con-artist. Will a couple of plane tickets and two-thirds of the Bad Touch Trio help their situation?

Relationships: Spamano

CW: Crime, Alcohol, Smoking

My thoughts: I remember when a friend of mine recommended this fic to me, and it’s been with me for so long that I must recommend it to you! These boys are so sweet on each other, and it’s easy to tell, even when they aren’t in the same room. And that’s crucial to this fic. There is so much longing in this omg. If your heart doesn’t explode by the end then idk what to say. And there’s so many spots in this fic that will make you scream. For various reasons. Like, I’ve reread it a lot and I never stop screaming, even while I know what’s going on. This one’s the shortest on this list, but not necessarily Short. If you want something to occupy your evening, I’d say give this one a go!

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fae-fire · 4 years

Text

Eo Sul (LFRP)

basics ––––

NAME: Eo Sul AGE: 24 RACE: Elf GENDER: Non-binary, they/them, androgynous presenting SEXUALITY: Pansexual MARITAL STATUS: Single, not looking SERVER: Balmung

physical appearance ––––

HAIR: Stark white, like alabaster. Their hair extends past their shoulders and is usually adorned with gems and feathers. Some chunks are longer than others Since Eo Sul cuts their own hair with a knife, so it’s not the neatest. EYES: A deep, ruby red. Their left eye has been cut out and a material is in the socket that is sewn shut. They usually wear a black cloth over their eyes to hide the extent of their corruption. HEIGHT: 5’0” BUILD: Small frame, lanky with more of a lean cut to them. They are by no means frail but they don’t doesn’t look like they’d do well in a fight…but they are built for speed and agility, not a fistfight. DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Gold tattoos across their body and face. Arcane-like with the lines intersecting around gems inlayed in their skin. The tattoos are magic in nature, mimicking the leylines of their body. When they learn a new spell, a new tattoo is added. COMMON ACCESSORIES: Jewelry on their wrists and ankles, bits of feathers hang from their hair and clothes and ears. Sometimes they may wear so much jewelry that it clanks together when they walk. They carry a ceremonial sword. It’s purely just that. It has never seen battle.

personal –––-

PROFESSION: Elf whose lineage can be traced back to Il Mheg. However, the survivors escaped to the the Greatwood and have long-since lost their old customs. Seer of prophetic visions and divinations of the past through people and objects. Village odd-ball and prophet, though rarely they are visited and have taken to wandering and poacher murdering. Druid. HOBBIES: Playing a wooden flute, charcoal painting, talking to birds, annoying people, studying magic and the land, herbs. Bird worship LANGUAGES: Common, their tribe’s language RESIDENCE: Rak’tika Greatwood, tribe origins can be traced back to Il Mheg. FEARS: A new moon, not dreaming at night, their power disappearing, snakes, shoes (wearing them), eating meat

relationships –––-

SPOUSE: None. CHILDREN: None. PARENTS: Birth parents are alive, but not of consequence SIBLINGS: None. OTHERS: A porxie named Dirt. A hawk named Gael.

traits –––-

extroverted / introverted / in between

disorganized / organized / in between

close minded /open-minded / in between

calm / anxious / in between

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient / in between

outspoken / reserved / in between

leader / follower / in between

empathetic / unemphatic / in between

optimistic / pessimistic / in between

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

cultured / un-cultured / in between

loyal / disloyal / in between

faithful / unfaithful / in between

additional information –––-

SMOKING HABIT:

never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS:

never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL:

never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

In-Depth Details –––-

Aesthetically, I will be pulling from fire, etherial scenes, birds like hawks and owls, some gaelic druidism with some shinto and buddhist inspiration (thanks, dad >.>). Additionally, I will pull from nature, witchcraft, autumn colors, gold, alabaster and other things of the like.

Eo Sul is not their real name. They traded their name to a pixie and tricked that pixie into trading them their name. Due to their time learning from pixies and other races in Il Mheg, they have slightly gone mad. Their mannerisms are a bit strange at times and they do like to play tricks and make trades.

Eo Sul is a seer and druid. They have visions of the past and present and can divine from objects. They have no name for this ability or why it occurs but because of it, they have a specific, special place in their tribe. They’ve always had this divination ability, as long as they can remember. Their tribe is very magic and mystic based, and a lot of their druid-like magic comes from the markings on their body. Each symbol can invoke a specific element. Some can even summon small weapons made from their own aether. They have a small gem set into their forearm as a channel for such magic.

Eo Sul's reveres animals as gods, each one serving a different purpose in the world. Eo Sul in particular has a specific affinity for birds.

With their seer abilities and affinity for birds, Eo Sul–in a quest for more power–cut out their own eye and fed it to a Hawk. With that, they can transfer some of their own aether to that bird. They can use the bird to scout or spy ahead and see through its eyes.

Due to their tribal belief and their own connection with animals, Eo Sul doesn’t take lightly to poaching or killing of animals. They eat entirely plant-based (they’re vegan haha), and if they come into possession of animal remains, they will deal with them as one might deal with human remains with proper burial. Despite their own beliefs, if traveling with someone outside their tribe, while they won’t eat meat they will make sure that all the parts of the animal see use. Eo Sul won’t hesitate to hunt down poachers and those that defile and tread on sacred land and will kill them.

Eo Sul does have a bit of a morally superior, “I’m better than thou” attitude about their view of their world. Their visions, natural gift for magic and “connection to the world” make them believe that they are always right. That they can do no wrong and that they have the answer to any problem–or will be able to come up with the right answer if they can get a moment to think of one.

Due to Eo Sul's attitude, they don’t deal with failure well and have been known to be driven to do some….pretty insane things to either stop their bad visions, make sure better visions come true and keep things on or off the path they foresaw.

Despite their prophet-like nature, I don’t see Eo Sul being very well liked in their tribe. They would be someone who people would go to for an emergency but not because they want to interact with them. They would be seen as very strange. And they are.

Eo Sul would be the type to randomly wander around, fall asleep in random places. Not wear shoes ever. Their movements would be eerily graceful, almost haunted.

In regards to their tattoos. Since it’s all magic, they’d add tattoos as new spells came to their mind. One spell I want is one that can shift their form to small/medium-sized animals like wolves, dogs, birds, etc. it’d be a difficult spell and one for extreme circumstances.

They cannot travel to the source as of right now.

what I’m looking for ––––

Anything really, though this is more of a profile post than actually LOOKING for new RP since I am busy IRL. I’d like to delve in to some plot based rp a bit more, make some connections, friends, enemies, contacts. Not looking for ships. I am open to other mystel RPers reaching out for headcanons and plotting, but I am not open for RP at the moment. Still getting my life together...

oocly, I am ––––

A nerd who Rps? Mostly darker RP that gets in on mature themes, etc.

I have a 9-5 job, pacific time and I run and exercise regularly. Replies from me won’t be instant.

I am a multi-paragraph RPer. I will usually match who I am RPing with, but I DO type a lot. You have been warned!! I don’t do one-line RP. If that is your style and you are annoyed by multiple paragraphs, I may not be the right partner for you. ��

I do a lot of darker RP with a lot of questionable themes. I am not the person to go to for tavern RP and constant casual RP. While Eo Sul can be social, I do have an FC for lighter RP and that’s not what I am looking for.

My rules for RP are still being made, but you can call me Rae. Pronouns are they/them.

you can contact me via ––

Tumblr DM. Discord upon request. Contacting me in game is not a good idea probably since I’m either afk or offline a lot.

@crystalxivrp @balmungrp @mooglemeet @ffxiv-crystal-rp

#ffxiv #ffxiv lfrp #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy xiv lfrp #lfrp #elf #wood elf #pixies #first shard character #ff14 #final fantasy 14 #shadowbringers #5.0 character #Eo Sul

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confusedhost-archive · 4 years

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part 2 to the cupid fic with a happy ending: the song birds from ultimate storytime? maybe remy and emile going on an outing to watch the birds together and becoming queer platonic partners?🥺

I listened to the thing for the first time, and damn that song slaps, and also Terrence has a very pretty voice and I can no longer breathe because pretty, but I tweaked the rules a bit to add to my personal flavor because reasons and also I’ll add an explanation for all these things at the bottom.

Part one

Warnings: I don’t believe that there are any, but if you find one, just send an ask in!

-----

Remy sighed. Goodness, he was bored, and there were quite a few things he could think of that he didn’t want to do, but not one that he did. And so, as any normal person would, he grabbed his phone and typed in his best friend’s number.

It rang only once, and Roman’s voice streamed through the line. “Hello Remy! How are you?”

“I’m a bored boy,” Remy explained, glancing at the blue bracelet circling his wrist.

“Oho? You’re bored? Why don’t you come over!” Roman laughed.

“Nooooooooo,” Remy wailed, dropping onto the couch. “I don’t want to be inside right now, it’s too nice of a day outside!”

“You’re on speakerphone now, Rem!” Emile called distantly. “Tell me what you don’t want to do and I’ll tell you what you can do. Okay?”

“Yes! Thank you! This is why we’re friends, Em,” Remy thanked, lazing on the couch.

“I feel so used!” Emile joked, eliciting a laugh from their boyfriend. “Now, what don’t you want to do?”

“Gosh, where to start? Honestly, babes, this is just not fair- I don’t feel like going for a drive, or go out for a jog, but I also don’t want to be here at home, and I would also like to not do something too extra?” There was a beat of silence. “Did I mention that I don’t want to be here at home yet?”

Roman chuckled. “You two are hilarious.”

“Thank you, dear!” Emile called. “Also, Remy, didn’t you have that feather obsession recently?”

“Oh! Yeah, actually! Feathers are actually so awesome? Like, they’re really pretty and just- yeah.” Remy shrugged.

“You’ll need to tell us more soon!” Roman hummed.

“Yes you will, but right now, you’re bored, and bird watching is an open option.” Emile reminded.

“Bird- Fuck, you’re right!” Remy exclaimed, jumping up. “If you lovebirds want to come- haha, birds- I’ll be at the park in twenty minutes.” He hung up the call, filled with excitement.

He ran about his house, collecting items he thought he might use. “A foldable chair and, uh, binoculars, maybe? Oh, I need a portable phone charger, that’s a fact-” He rushed, stuffing everything in a gym bag, slipping into some casual clothing and running out the door.

Remy slipped into a coffee shop for a quick latte, getting into line to order “My regular, please, babes.” There was a laugh from the barista, and they nodded. “I’ll get it to you in a second, Rem.”

Remy settled into a chair, looking out the window. “Literally all I want,” He groaned, sinking into his seat. “Is to relax, watch birds with my phone and a latte and maybe some binoculars.”

“Remy! Latte for Remy?” Remy sighed, dragging himself up to the counter.

“Hello, thank you very much,” he hummed, grabbing the caffeinated drink and turning on his heel to walk out the door.

---

Remy pulled his fold able chair out, grinning. The park was empty, but that was better, honestly. “Alone here with the doves, sparrows,” He hummed. “The ospreys, owlets, eaglets,” He pulled a book out of his bag, flipping to the middle. “Mr. Finch, robins, kingfishers, snipes-”

“I heard that those don’t exist!” A loud voice called from behind him.

Remy turned around, finding himself looking at Roman and Emile. “Oh my goodness, babes! Hi!” He got up, opening his arms up to hug one of them.

He saw their eyes trail to his blue bracelet before Emile jumped into his arms. “Hi!”

Emile pulled back, grinning. Roman pulled him into his side. “Hey bird-nerd,” He chuckled.

“Number one, babe, never call me that again. Number two, how long will you two be staying?” Remy asked, shoving Roman away.

“Oh, uh, I think it’ll be around...” Emile looked up at their boyfriend, eyebrows furrowed. “Twenty? Twenty minutes?” Roman shrugged.

“Well, I’ll be happy to have you here for as long as you stay,” Remy hummed, settling back into his seat.

Emile and Roman sat in the grass beside him, a moment of silence going by before Roman whispered excitedly, “Look at that one!”

---

“Gosh! That was a lot of fun, Rem! Maybe we could do that again sometime!” Emile said, clapping their hands together.

Remy nodded. “Maybe! Bye babes!” He waved them off, smiling all the while.

He smiled in the quiet, laughing to himself. “Quiet, calm, still,” He shook his head. “Can’t get that with those two around.”

He watched a bird swoop from one tree to the next, tilting his head. “I think I just like to be alone,” His lips twitched into a grin. “Just want to be alone.”

-----

I decided to not have them end up being in a qpr because Remy is comfortable with themself, and also, some aromantic people don’t want to be in a qpr and I have seen someone ask for there to be a fic where the aromantic person doesn’t end up in a qpr, so I decided to have that here. I know that this isn’t for everyone, but I felt that perhaps it would feel nice for some people to see themselves represented here. If I make something else with an aromantic side, I’ll put a qpr in it. Maybe.

Emile uses they/them pronouns in this part! The reasoning behind this is that time has passed since the first part, as shown by Emile’s boyfriend. Emile ended up learning something about themself in that time, realizing that they were non binary! They are not genderfluid, as it happens, and that is not the reason for them using different pronouns.

Roman! Our dear friend Roman, a cis male, is Emile’s loving boyfriend for the sole reason of you requested him in the ask for part one, and I didn’t give it, but! I love you and in other news I thought it would be nice to add him in! After all, Remus got a quick mention in the last part, so Roman certainly exists and is known by our dear queers (Remy and Emile).

#Roman sanders #Emile picani #Remy sanders #friendlyyalienn #Hosts lovely spouses #what's emile x roman ship name?#Oh! Yes!#Romile #Thank you spouses for telling me!

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warmbeebosoftbeebo · 4 years

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Truth or Dare? 1/3 probably

much of the details about him in this fic is from things b has said in interviews, on periscope, twitch, twitter... see if you can guess what is true vs details/things i made up. other things, like most of his friends being girls (at least as a kid and teen) i don't think he's ever stated outright but i consider so damn obvious as you learn about him eg the bullying, his best friend in 8th grade was a girl. hopefully, all the things i remember him saying he's actually said and i didn't dream it/imagine it haha. also i love this fic so fucking much if i may say so. one of my faves, to be a braggart. in this universe, he never got introduced to spence or ryan, hence no mentions of them or panic! and him going off to arizona for cosmetology

tag list @greatheromuffinpalace @paypoulterer1 @anyh0w @anobsessioncalled @panicsinning @queerbrendon @prettyoddfiction @iwriteficsnottragediesladies @uriellybrendon @pageoftheclouds @brendonuriesbubblyass @ier0-must-die @itriedallthenamesiwantedaretaken @xfoxtalynx @spacesams00 @satanspuppet-x @1-800-hallelujah @ryrostan @tacobelltylerr @urie-dreams [just message me to be added or taken off the tag list]

----

You're watching Aladdin with Brendon, after Alice in Wonderland but before Bambi because you don't want to wind up crying yet. He's totally like Flower and Bambi. Loves flowers, flirty and doe-eyed, for starters. He's an Aladdin too, and is singing along with you as you're cuddled up on your bed with him, him absentmindedly playing with, brushing your hair. He stopped styling it a while ago, but you love having your hair played with, scalp massaged, neck too, as much as he does... Even that has arousal spreading, tickling over you.

You don't have class tomorrow, but he has a cosmetology one in the morning. He's still excited about not having someone telling him to get to bed though, and you're too relaxed, and uh... you like how you feel around him too much, how simple things, touches kind of turn you on, to suggest he get to sleep or leave your room. Besides, your roommate went home for the weekend. And these blankets and pajamas are comfy. You wind up getting into A Whole New World though: dramatic actions and singing, batting lashes at each other, giggling, pretending the bed is a magic carpet like the dorks you two are...

You offer your lap for his head to get pets in once the song ends... You love touching his hair. Watching his lashes, eyes, lips in the television light. Hearing his breathing deepening, his sighs, a couple mmms when you stroke the nape of his neck, tug his hair, scritch his scalp. You've only known him a couple months, but... whoo boy. Too bad he's gayer than the day is long. And kind of has a boyfriend from his program, George. Well, a friend with benefits.

“Truth or dare, B?” you ask when the movie ends, but neither of you move.

“'M sleepy from all those pets, y/n, so for once, I'm going with truth.”

“Were you like this as a kid? Was it musicals and wanting to do cosmetology and stuff back then too? Like not being... being... different. From how boys were supposed to be.”

He chuckles. “Pretty much. Did skateboarding for years, and some soccer, but that was pretty much the extent of the manly shit. Well, the heavy metal too. And lots of people did pot. But mostly the kind of things people thought boys shouldn't do. Most of my friends were girls. Still are. Liked making people laugh, entertaining them. Gymnastics, dance; just messing around not pro. Did sets for the drama kids in high school. I fit in with some guys, mostly chill stoner or art types, guys who weren't straight, but not many. Sometimes I had to fake it to get by with guys, if it even worked. But mostly stuff like the dress up box.”

“What'd you dress up as?”

“Different musical roles, like Maria and Cosette, Jean Valjean. I remember being about five and wrapping curtains around myself like a dress and singing Sound of Music. Cheerleader with the miniskirt and all from my older sister Kara. Uh... pirate, cowboy, or cowgirl. Elvis, Carly Simon, Gwen. Wanted to sound like her so bad. Beyonce. David Bowie in Labyrinth, without a proper wig though. And a few of the personas he had different eras too. Jareth was mixed up in a crush on him. Like I wasn't sure how much I wanted to play that role versus liked David... At twelve, with Jessica Alba, that was a lot clearer. Make up too, some wigs. Lots of my mom's clothes. I'm sure you can tell on that last one.” He still wears women's jeans now. And hoodies, shirts, a couple pairs of sneakers...

“Oh, a weird flower boy version of Rambo,” he laughs. “Like the headband, but my mom's blouse and jeans, a bouquet of flowers, heels, dad's sunglasses... Still have a picture of that one. And we have lots of home movies of stuff. Me being a lounge singer with a feather boa and gold dress... seducing my mom. Oh, shit, can't believe I just admitted that aloud. Anyway, there was firefighter, seamstress, servant, scuba diver, vet... Vampire, fairy, witch. Playing a mom or sister in plays, like sometimes one of my sisters would be the dad, I'd be the mom, or we'd be three sisters. Or they'd be the mom and dad and I'd be their baby. I remember one where I was pregnant—pillow and doll baby, haha—and Kyla was the pirate doctor helping me deliver on the ship. Or the damsel in distress being rescued by them. Or kidnapped by them. Or we had to save our mom, the queen, from a dragon or evil king.”

They were imaginative too! You're picturing them, little Brendon in these outfits, roles. So cute, and silly, and did you say cute? He must've been adorable, playful and an entertainer back then, too. He's done an open mic a few times and sings and plays at parties with friends. You've seen him do it last Saturday, nervous but eager to sing and play guitar, or keyboard. He said that music was his favourite hobby, that he loves doing it, especially for people, but you had no idea how deep it went.

“Me in my sister's gymnastic leotard, but over my shorts because she didn't want it so close to my crotch.”

The crotch part makes you think of it: if he wears... uh, panties too? The thought makes you flush and feel embarrassed. You haven't seen him in a dress or skirt either, but he used to wear those. You wonder if he still does and you just haven't seen it. You think they'd suit him for some reason. The lavender hoodie, the pink sneakers, plus a miniskirt? Denim, or black. God, you bet that he'd look even better, draw you to him more.

“Wish we had dress up stuff to play with here, B. Bet it was fun. And I bet you looked so cute.”

He gets up, but it's to turn on the lamp; the tv had gone dark. He bats his lashes. “Oh, I did.”

You both laugh as you throw a pillow at him. “Goofball. Don't ever let me tell you you still look cute, then. And that I actually would want to see you with a dress up box.”

“Truth or dare?” he asks. You'd forgotten how this started.

“Truth?” Neither is a safe bet, so you just go with what he went with to even it out.

“Would you want to see me dressed up? Like... in things here... of yours?”

Your breath catches. Are you that obvious? You nod, asking “Truth or dare?”

He grins. “Whattaya think, y/n? Dare.”

“M-maybe... uh... a skirt? On you, I mean?”

“That can be arranged.” He practically bounces over to your closet, sorts through, deciding on a long soft blue and lilac hippieish flowery one that goes to your ankles, a purple plaid one that comes to your knees but would be two to three inches shorter on him, and your denim one that's so short it would be a mini on him. You wear it with black tights or other pants it's so short. Really, he picked most of them; you only have two others. He holds them out one by one, then places them over his hips: “Which one would fit me best?”

You get flustered, because you want to see the denim one most, but worry it would be too short for him. The plaid one? It gives “naughty schoolgirl” vibes to boys and men, older pervs included, so you don't wear it much, even though it reminds you of a newly formed coven of witches stuck at a Catholic school for some reason (you blame The Craft). You wonder what'd look like on him. You bet he's worn skirt school uniforms before, and that he'd get cheesy with it, calling you Miss and asking hammily but flirtatiously about extra credit, asking you to teach him, maybe bending over... which not going to lie, you do want if it got sexily funny, but you know it couldn't mean anything.

He grins. "Warning ya, my legs are really hairy, so you might wanna go with the longest one. What can I say, I've got Jewish legs."

You snort. "Guess I've got Jewish legs too: my hair is a light brown, but there's lots of it below my knees. I stopped shaving now that it's November." You can't help wondering if he's dressed up for Hallowe'en in a girl's costume, or in drag, and what he'd look like; even some guys who are kind of sexist and homophobic do that for Hallowe'en, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary even outside of the gay bar you and he were let into a few times, because George knew the bouncer. Both of your first one, bar or gay bar.

"Oh, I bet I've got more than you," he jokes, and slides his pant leg up a bit, doing a "banananana" strip tease music thing, shaking his leg, making you both giggle.

"Go with the shortest one, B. Bet you'd look super sexy," you reply, hammily winking.

"No peeking!" he admonishes teasingly, hiding behind your closet door, but he pops his booty out and sways it before hiding again. His jeans quickly get flung towards you to him laughing, "Hey, you ever see that British film The Full Monty?"

"It's kinda tight on my ass, but loose on my hips. What can I say? I bring the booty. But your hips are more womanly than mine, alas," he sighs dramatically. “And your thighs are damn. Um. At least it covers my underwear. Pretty much.” He peeks out, excited. "Ready? I just wanna make sure you're prepared for my hairy ass legs, oh and my stunningly gorgeous ass."

"Pshaw, I know that that booty brings all the boys to your yard, you tramp." He's really a tease at that bar. Both guys his age and kind of older, but only one creep. He always drinks for free, gets you drinks too, and you alternately keep close and watch from afar and let him do his thing with said boys. He only talks with most, often dances, but if he likes the guy, the dancing goes beyond pg territory, kissing too, and he even went home with one of them.

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thewrittenpost · 4 years

Text

10 Questions Tag!

Thanks for sending me this @feathered-quill! These are so much fun, and I’m sorry I’m so slow that I often feel it’s too late for me to join in, so I was so happy you asked me if I wanted to! :D I’m going to throw this under a Read More to keep it small, and since I don’t know who’s been tagged, consider this yours! If you want to do it, feel free to say I’ve tagged you!

Okay, under the cut are the ones for me to answer!

1. Do you conciously take inspiration from authors or books you love, or from your genres? Or do you actively try to avoid it?

I don’t consciously do it, but I suppose a lot of my inspiration for things come from things I loved; I try to put in my favorite things from those books/series, like Found Families, or how much fun worldbuilding is, and stuff like that! I don’t try to actively avoid those kinds of things, unless what I do begins to be too similar to what some of my favorites have already done!

2. Do you write fanfiction, do roleplaying, or other kinds of fan activity? How do these things influence the way you create original work? Do you feel they’ve given you valuable “tools” in your “creative toolbox?”

I do! Well, sometimes; I’m behind on RWBY, which is what I write for these days, so it’s been a while (unless you count practically plotting a whole thing through discord with a friend). But I’ve done fanfic for years and it’s absolutely influenced how I do my things now! I’m way more comfortable sharing online for one, and it gave me a way to practice with characters I knew so well before trying to write scenes between characters I was still learning about! Plus, it was always a fun experience (except that one time I tried writing smut, back when we were still calling them lemons) and I feel every bit helped! (I also roleplayed here on tumblr, which should have helped me be more comfortable talking to people online, but it did not... more a me thing, it wasn’t them, so like... not everything works as planned!)

Also, I’m just a big fan of fanfiction, reading or writing. Even now, it’s like going home... although I did start getting random PMs on FF.net from porn bots (I think, I wasn’t checking too deep into it) so I guess even there wasn’t safe.

3. Do you use WorldAnvil (or something like it) for worldbuilding purposes, or do you prefer to use your own methods/systems for worldbuilding?

I don’t, but mostly because I just never looked into it! I mostly just keep them written on paper or here for my worldbuilding!

4. How do you choose your characters’ appearences? Do you use generators, choose face claims, make sketches, or something else?

I start with coloring! Hair, eyes, stuff like that, and then describe further based on that! The image is generally pretty simple until I do find a face claim (something I started here on tumblr) and that’s about it... vague pictures in my head that I attempt to put on paper. Haha, but then I play with dress up games to see if I can get something more solid!

5. What are your favorite tropes to read about or watch? Are they the same as the tropes you yourself most like to use in your writing?

Found Family is a big one! And I blame that on the Circle of Magic series, where it’s just beautiful and I love it, and I’m not going to rave about it because I do that a lot and could do it for hours. Um... I love Slow Burn romance, or two people who obviously care for each other frantically trying to deny it to themselves and others, for various reasons. (The Caraval series by Stephanie Garber made this clear to me) Tension, whoo hoo!

I do try to use them, but romance isn’t my strong suit (though I love reading it) but definitely the found family!

6. Do you have a network of writer friends offline, such as a school club, writing workshop partners, etc.?

I do not! I stopped asking my mom to read my stuff and help me bounce ideas around a long time ago, and the neighbor I would tell about my Frog Prince WIP moved away.

Oh, but I have my friend to talk fanfic with, so I’m not totally alone! Just not my original stuff!

7. When looking for inspiration for a story, are you more likely to be drawn to visual or auditory elements? (Ex: would you browse through picture prompts, listen to music, seek out a written prompt, or something else?)

If I’m looking for inspiration, definitely looking for a written one! I get too distracted with pictures and music, haha! Although I got some inspiration once staring up at the sky at school one day, so sometimes images work great!

8. Are the names of your characters and the places in your world important to you? How do you choose them?

I find them important because I get attached as I build them up! But honestly, most of my names come from baby name books, or they’re adapted from name generators.

Altheria and Thearial are close to my heart though, because I adapted them from a fantasy name that I came up with in elementary school, and they’re just shuffled from each other’s names. (Is that anagram? Pretty sure). They’re one of the few names that came from me, besides Wispa which no one goes to in story, so I’m attached to them!

9. Do you utilize any personality types or tests to determine your characters’ personality, like Meyers-Briggs, enegrams, character archetypes, the four temperaments, alignment charts, the elements, Hogwarts houses, or even various types of astrology (Western Zodiac, Celtic tree, Chinese zodiac, etc.?)

I don’t; I kind of just decide those things after! But I enjoy doing those things regardless, and sometimes those tests help me figure out new things about the characters!

10. What is your favorite part of worldbuilding? (Ex: building cultures, mapmaking, history and timeline work, making conlangs, religion and mythology, plant and animal making, magic and technology systems...)

I have to pick a favorite? Oh no! Um... if I have to pick one thing, it’s plant and animal making! I mean, religion and magic stuff is cool too, but I love coming up with plants and creatures and then attaching religion/magic significance to them! ...Plus, I love my Igniliths, so my pride there won’t let me pick something else.

Questions for You!

How much of your WIP do you share with people offline, or is it solely an online thing?

Is there a trait that makes a character more likeable/more likely to end up as a favorite to you?

Do you have any writing guilty pleasures?

Did your favorite authors/stories inspire your favorite tropes? What is your favorite trope in reading?

Do you think there’s a minimum/maximum amount of worldbuilding that should be done, or is the sky the limit?

If people were to write fanfiction of your story years from now, what is one thing that you would absolutely love to see?

Referring to six, what is one that you would not want to see concerning your characters/plot?

Do you have a favorite point of view to write in?

What is one thing that cannot change in your OC without making them a completely different person?

What comes first: your character’s appearance, or your character’s name?

#feathered-quill #thanks for asking!#the writer speaks

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ontsider · 5 years

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Something about my fishes

It'll be about mermaids, whom I have created for D:bh AU. However, as a species, they are completely beyond the scope of this AU.

upd: links! Refsheet with Connor and Nines.

So you can perceive it, like I'm talking about my species of mermaids!

Please forgive me my English, it’s probably incorrect in some places. But I try very hard!

I decided not to complicate and took the canony canon - image of mermaid and next I did upgrade it a little to my liking, because it’s too boring to take just fish tail and human body.

Well, let's walk on the main facts!

Mermaids don't have gender difference outwardly

In fact, they do not even have human markers that distinguish a woman from a man visually and not only. However, I admit presence of women’s tits (for example), because sometimes you want to emphasize femininity, without slipping into femboy and all of that. This is purely “cosmetics”. And not related to what is inside fish.

Some difference may be inside! That's - hermaphrodites

This is convenient, because fish will simply adapt to partner and there will be no unnecessary problems with finding a partner.

I thought about it for a long time and came to conclusion that such a feature is quite logical, cause mermaids have absolute disregard their children and they have absence of maternal instinct. Found something to learn from people, haha! In a sense, they take "quantitative-quality". Thus, they never think about family, they live in group for fun, and mostly prefer to surf their waters alone. They are not monogamous, although I will lie if I say that this is 100% information. Everything has its exceptions. In the end, we have non-animals and non-people in conjunction. This is something average, they brain is quite well divided into instincts and self-awareness in this world. And a characteristic feature that distinguishes them from ordinary fish - their preferences and likings.

About posterity

This is simple! They are like super parents - throwing their child almost immediately. But it's worth making a reservation that, ofc everything depends on a type of mermaid itself and her personal preferences on children’s account. But for the most part on 7 days after birth, mermaid loses interest and stops taking care of lil' fish at all. Mermaids chase children away. Mom (only one parent brings up a kid) hint that they are no longer happy to see child and "that it is time for you, son, to look for your place in life". And those 7 days that lil' fish spends with mama - he actively eats, learns what he can to eat and whats not, hunts and copies behavior of parent; in the same time mama protects child from predators that smell newborn flesh. After month skin and scales become harder and more durable, which coupled with claws and teeth makes young mermaid a perfect and formidable duelist, with shark for example. But this is a month later. Which he still have to live. How to live first year and first decade. In general, judging from a purely human point of view, fish “grow up” in 8-9 years. And at 17-19 they may well wouldn't afraid anything, including their fellows. This means that in times of Great hunger, they become a cannibals.

Mermaids grows to 30-40 years. Depending on type of fish, they can grow up to 2-2.5 meters. After the end of growth, they can change color skin. Cool!

With regard to development of their social skills and everything else - something is laid before birth, but something is acquired through communication with their own kind. In general, they are not talkers and prefer to remain silent. But ofc we have some nuances.

Mermaids can be divided on coastal and deepwater

This is only conditional. Coastals - mermaids with more human features in communication, behavior and emotions. It is trite because they spend their time in company of people for quite a long time, or just watching them. And deepwaters on contrary - wild creature, living by natural canon and extremely rarely swim around people, and if they do this, then most often solely out of curiosity or hunger. All fishes are different and this is influenced by a set of genes and process of their childhood. So this is quite a flexible loophole for customizing them into what do you want. You can create as something alienated and wild, and on another side - absolutely human and peace-loving. And all of this covers by canon!

Inetersting fact: Connor is coastal, Nines - deepwater. Just because the first one was among the people and stayed there.

Further more specific facts about their appearance, behavior, etc.

Their body covered by delicate skin, in some places with scales. All fins without exception are mobile and have either cosmetic or auxiliary functions. There may be as many of it on body as necessary, or not at all.

Gills are located on neck, smoothing it, like fatty folds or pillows. Actually, they have a certain percent of fat, which makes neck soft and pleasant to touch. Gills are hidden inside. I do not advise you to stick a finger in it, as well as trying to touch gills feathers!

Mermaids are viviparous, like dolphins. Kid after birth is like a little crocodile - he eats what he sees and is ready to stand up for his right to life (although very badly). Plastic body allows you to give birth to lil' fishes of sufficiently large sizes. I think you know how it works.

They live to 80-90 years. For people mermaids are not hostile, if not very hungry. Coastals - like to hang out with them, and deepwaters - just watching and avoid contact. You must learn one important rule! Do not swim with mermaid. On occasion, they can drag you to bottom and throw, purely out of curiosity and just for fun and play (a very interesting game, yes), dragging you down until you runs out of power to swim back every time or until you punch fish, what provokes him to bite. Next on situation: either mermaid will throw bitten or will drag off and eat. Fish bite is very dangerous. Not even with it strength (although I still would not advise taking risks, you may well lose half of your face) but with saliva, which mermaids use like toxin, relaxing and disorienting bitten one. In fact, you just turning into a "vegetable", you can still thinking, but can not move and resist. In small doses - makes things like that. In large - makes sleepy and dream. Lethal bite would be unlikely, too much of poison is needed to completely shut off. Toxin is useful on hunting for large fish, human and for defense.

Mermaids don't blink like us. They have a third eyelid, I think everyone knows how it works. It protects eye. On land this eyelid serves as a humidifier. In Basically, this can be called a classic blink. Under water they don't blink at all.

Contact with earth gives fishes stand up on feet! Acquiring appearance of a full-fledged person, and not a piece of bream with hands. However, they are still not humans, and this buff only gives them legs. Skin, fins, gills, scales and their natural color - stay here. Only gills can disappear completely under skin, leaving barely visible lines, it's unallowing them to turn into crackers. Organs of reproductive system are hidden in both forms.

They often change shape only when they come contact with land or water - otherwise there have a risk of damaging skin, gills or even suffocating (well, this is hard). However, if fish wants it may well take its canonical shape and lying on couch, yep. But we have some important things here - situation around, humidity and temperature. In more humane form dry air and high temperatures are easier to carry. Cause mermaids still needs moisture and coolness.

They eat all meat and fish. Vegetation less often, but they can. Fishes have super hunt tactic - float and kill. Miracle! If mermaids suffers from a great hunger, they killing indiscriminately - theirs-others. They acually may even go on land for searching meat. Great hunger - term for a very difficult period of life when mermainds literally have nothing to eat. This happens of course very rarely, but with development of human civilization many species of forage fish have declined or have shifted their habitats, forcing mermaid to either follow people or suffer. Hungry mermaid is an extremely dangerous creature, reminiscent of something like Wendigo. Only one goal stands before his eyes and he will do everything to finally satisfy his hunger, otherwise he will die of exhaustion. Quite often on land, by the way. It can be said - they are throwning to coast in despair and die because of ignorance of banal fact that they dry and roast well on sun. Ignorance of this is more characteristic of deepwaters guys, they generally know a little about strange Outside.

Their body temperature is unstable. It depends on environment. Heat is contraindicated to them, as well as hot water, but frost drives them into hibernation, forcing to find a place to hibernate and digging a hole somewhere like a frog. They can freezing, but survive winter (probability 50/50). Their wintering skills not perfect and why the hell are they to for them? Only if one stupid mermaid decides to spend time on land, celebrating Cristmas. In water they have more or less stable indicators and they rarely expose themselves to changing waters, only again if they do not run for people, which destroy their feeding points. In fact, their instrument of adaptation to two completely different habitats is unique for this kind of humanoid fish. After all, when they go on coast, not only their form but also some of foundations in their head will change. For example - hibernation. In the sea mermaid does not hold such a thought, moreover, he does not have a fad in his mind "winter has come - it's time to sleep." They are active all year round, while on land - winter, as the season, affects them very much, forcing them to be more passive and sleep a lot of time. If mermaid have a lucky to find a warm home and care, then instead of the frozen ground he will sleep in heated blankets (this is necessary, otherwise he will be cold - fishes are not warm-blooded)! And here is a funny fact that their content at home is equal to the content of a reptile or froggy. Only too clever creature, but still cautious and somehow living in half with their mind, feelings and instincts.

Thus, mermaids are no longer even fish, but some sort of amphibians, hah. On land they breathe fully, with oxygen, while in water they get it through up with gills. Unfortunately, they cannot combine two types of breathing at the same time, but can harmoniously switch from one to other. That allows them not to change shape every time they are pulled out of water.

These are my fish. Simple but with its own features. As always, I do not pretend to be super originality. All my species are created purely for stories and fun, so don't be so angry.

Thank you, buddy, for your time! Peace x

#dbh mermaid #mermaid au #mermay #information

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leoninapelliolovesconchitawurst · 4 years

Text

ENGLISH TRANSLATION ( Jeannette Nobbe)

VOLSKRANT.NL 31/01/20

by Mennon Pot

https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/conchita-wurst-sorry-dat-ik-zo-n-wandelend-cliche-ben~b0477817/

(Conchita) Wurst: 'I'm sorry I'm a walking cliché'.

Above all we know Conchita Wurst as the bearded 'female 'singer who won the ESC in 2014. But we've moved on and are a bit wiser. It´s just Wurst now, but the beard is still there.

With light feathered steps, Thomas Neuwirth (31) enters the conference room of the hotel in Groningen where he is staying: black combat boots, black leather pants, tight black T-shirt, the black beard and the perfect short trimmed jet black hair..

He introduces himself as Tom. It's not difficult to recognise the bearded drag queen Conchita in him. (Kopenhagen, 2014, remember?) but the dress and wig are stowed away for a while. Conchita has a sort of sabbatical, so to speak.

Neuwirth is on tour as a man. Stage name: Wurst. Yesterday evening he performed in Groningen; the next concert will be 7 february at the Melkweg in Amsterdam. His new album 'Truth over Magnitude' also carries the artist´s name Wurst.

Let's get this straight: when the subject is Conchita Wurst, the word 'transgender' sometimes comes a long. Wrongly. Neuwirth is a man, ('but incredibly gay, of course'), who has a choice from now on: being on tour as a drag queen (Conchita) or as a man (Wurst) .

´a lot of fun, being a masculine stage persona', he says. Conchita will turn up again somewhere else.

Holland appreciated Conchita's 'Rise like a Phoenix' with the highest score, almost 6 years ago.

Neuwirth didn't forget: twelve points, douze points from Holland for the bearded diva from Austria.

Then hectic years followed. 'After the Song Contest I thought, I have to make the most of it now, build my fame and cash it in. So I surrounded myself with all kinds of experts, managers, stylists, make/up artists, the whole circus. After 3 years I was exhausted. I couldn´t do it anymore. I told my audience every nigh, be yourself, believe in yourself. But along the way, I forgot myself.´

He got rid of the experts’ circus and is having a relaxed tour now, with a small entourage. He feels good again, although in 2018 he had to announce he is infected with the HIV virus. His manager politely asks, almost in an humble manner, not to talk about that.

Tom doesn´t appear to be very worried about that. There has seldom been a star who starts an interview so cheerfully. ´A great photo shoot and after that talk about things I find beautiful and fun.

Terrific, I was already looking forward to it when I came out of bed.´

´Curriculum Vitae'

1988 – Born as Thomas Neuwirth in Gmunden, Austria

2007 – Candidate at the talentshow Starmania, and boyband Jetzt anders!

2011 – Debut as female persona Conchita Wurst, the debut single `I´ll be there´

2012 - Second place at the Austrian Songfestival

2014 – ESC winner with ´Rise like a Phoenix

2015 – First album ´Conchita´, co-presenter ESC

2018 – Second album ´From Vienna with Love´

2019 – Debut as male stage persona ´Wurst´, third album ´Truth over Magnitude´

2020 – Wurst ´Trust over Magnitude´ Sony Music

Wurst will be performing in the Melkweg in Amsterdam on February 7

SOUNDTRACK

Music from the Motion Picture Titanic ...1997

´My first CD. I was 9 years old when I bought it. `My heart will go on´’changed my life´. As it were, Céline Dion gave me permission to be utterly dramatic and to be over the top. When I came out of the closet, I heard that song in my head.

It was also a liberation for me as a singer. My mom always sang with a thin, high falsetto voice. I thought that was how it should be. Dion taught me, you may yell as hard as you can, with all the power you have in you. When you sing so loud, you can’t fake it. The sound you push out of your body, is the sound of your body, unique and by definition authentic. Céline Dion taught me that singing is something really physical.´

SERIES

The Crown ..Netflix..., 2016 until 2019

´For me it´s getting difficult to watch a movie to the end. I guess that´s because of all the series on Netflix and HBO. My favorite is `The Crown´.. ´the intro alone is so beautiful, that liquid gold that forms a crown, such art. I used to watch it twice. Ít says something about the fact that I can´t choose between the two women who play Elizabeth and the two men who play prince Philip. All the actors are great. The costumes, the stories, the palaces, it´s so delightful. The history also intrigues me, after every episode I checked on Wikipedia if it was really what had happened.

PARTIES

´At Christmas I always come back to Vienna. I love the lights, glitters and decorations, my inner Mariah Carey is looking forward to it every year. Christmas 2019 was extra special because it had been a long time since the whole family came together at my grandmother´s house.´

I would love it to be like that every year... A couple of days being together in one home. Talking, getting to really know my family. Maybe now you think, days on and on with uncles and aunts, such horror! It is easy to say that I don´t really have much in common with these people. But I do, Really. They all have a story and similarities with your stories. Ask them about your life and tell them about yours.´

That´s what Christmas is all about to me. To me, the birth of Jesus has not that much to do with it.´

ISLAND..

I have an agreement with my best friends to go on vacation at least once every two years. We have been to Mykonos a couple of times, THE especially gay island. I´m sorry I sound like a walking cliché.´

The sun, the sea, the beaches, the small streets, so cosy. We rent a house with a pool and for a week or two we live in our own little paradise, actually being a bit tipsy the whole time. Go shopping and cook.´

`What´s also very important, on Mykomos, the wind is always blowing the right way. I love to watch the women, because their dresses and their hair flutter so beautifully.´

STYLE ICON

Victoria Beckham

I was and still am a big Spice Girls fan and I especially admire Victoria Beckham, because she lives her life the way she wants. She appears in tabloids every day, but has survived a crisis in her relationship and has stayed happy with the love of her life and her family. I think that it´s really strong.´

In regard to her style, she can go from very classy to very trashy, I like that. One day she´s wearing a designer dress, the next she and David Beckham are walking in identical jogging suits. She couldn’t care less. I think that it´s inspiring.´

´I think she is utterly authentic, raging through the glamour. Although I have never met her, I´m sure that I could have a lot of fun with her. I´d love to drink some tequila with her for an afternoon or so.´

AGE

´I thought becoming 30 was really special, I lost my wild behaviour, came to be more restful. Some way or another I think a lot about some things my mother said: in my twenties, I ignored those lessons, but now I´m 30, I suddenly realised she was right for example how important family and friends are.

I´m 31 now, I have inner peace and my life in order, but I still feel young. I´m convinced that this the best period of my life´. My advise to everybody... be 30.´

ALBUM

Recomposed by Max Richter / The Four Seasons ..2012

I don´t play any instruments and until not too long ago, I didn´t really know much about music. I really found that a pity sometimes. Fortunately, my good friend Martin studies at the School of Musical Arts... !! He´s studying the history of music intensely and tells me about a lot of great composers. I learn a lot from that.´´I never understood classical music and didn´t really know anything about it, but thanks to the listening sessions with Martin I fell in love with Vivaldi..

The pop artist of the classical artists.

´Max Richter interpreted Vivaldi´s Four Seasons and composed it in a modern fashion. It´s a modern, post minimalistic piece, completely different from the original one, but you still recognise it. Greatly done, at the moment it´s my favorite album.´

BOOK

Friedrich Schiller « Ueber die aesthetische Erziehung des Menschen ». About the aesthetic upbringing of the people..´

´A good friend advised me to read the philosophical letters from Friedrich Schiller ..Letters, 1794-1795)

That´s a hard job to do. Because of the old fashioned German I had to read some sentences 5 times. You always have to wrestle yourself through a thick layer of 18th century sexism.

´But further on you´ll find something beautiful. Schiller writes a lot about finding your inner beauty and your own truth. Dare to be yourself. Embrace your darker sides. Those are important as well.´

´At the same time he preaches self-perspective.. don´t take yourself too seriously, you´re not the center of the universe. That is very worthy to me. Namely because I DO think I´m the center of the universe, haha.

`Still it´s very wise of him, to send a message from 1795 to a 21st century queen with a Mariah Carey complex.´

CLUB

Circus in Vienna

´The Arena is a huge complex in Vienna, a concert building with a mega discotheque. A couple of times a year they organize Circus, my favorite gay club night. I always go there with my group of closest friends, but it´s actually a bit of a rule that we lose each other and disappear into the crowd.´

´I roam around all night- Every room, every floor has its own musical theme and decoration. I love the types of people I meet there, their clothes, their fetishisms, everything.´

….Arena Vienna, Baumgasse 80, Vienna

CITY

Amsterdam

´I live in Vienna, I love Vienna and I will always come back there, but the greatest city I´ve been to is Amsterdam – since then I traveled all over the world so I know what I´m talking about.

´Of all the cities I visited, Amsterdam is the only one where I would want to live a period of time. So that´s what I´m gonna do, this summer, for a few months to begin with.´

´I can see that Amsterdam also has the flagship stores from all known store chains. And a lot of tourists, like every special city. But I see all these small jewelry shops where they sell their self-made jewelry. Little bakeries. Cosy streets. And a lot of water. I love water. I love cities with lots of water.´

#conchitawurst #wurst #tomneuwirth #artist #singer #esc2014 #escwinner #music #performer #lgbt #celebrity #interview #translation

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write-on-my-wayward-author · 6 years

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Laid to Rest

Commission for @damekiatailios starring their original characters in the world of Eorzea from Final Fantasy 14.

Word count: 2,640

Summary: Taashiel and Damekia take a visit to her family’s farm to retrieve some grapes so they can go and meet up with a very old friend. A light-hearted story of family and letting go of the past to move on the future

It had been many years since Damekia had gone to her parent’s farm. This visit was a little bit more special, as she brought her husband along with her. The world of Eorzea had calmed lately and Damekia felt it was high time that Taa, his nickname, had met her parents and someone else very important to her. Plus, this was an ideal way to relax from the recent liberations of Doma and Ala Mhigo. The two countries now free from the Garlean Empire were working toward rebuilding and that was another reason for visiting her parents. Damekia, originally from Doma, grew up in the world of Eorzea but had long since returned to her home to free it along with her husband. With the recent success, it was time to tell her parents.

The scaled tail of the woman swayed behind them as they walked through the grassy green fields of Outer La Noscea. Not as green and lush as the forest of Girdania, but the sea-locked country was equally as vibrant and perfect for growing fruits of all kind in its nutrient-rich soils. The sun was as hot as ever, but considering they had been fighting in the scorching deserts of Ala Mhigo, they would take the sun of the beach country instead. Taa fidgeted with his large and boisterous feather hat as the sea breeze blustered and flustered his feather.

“Taa, just take it off,” Damekia said turning to look at the blonde cat man. His ears poked through his hat and the feather was tickling the insides of his curry ears.

“If I take off my hat then everyone is going to see my ears,” Taa had a different upbringing but that was a story for a different day. The short version was he originally hated being a Miqo’te but had grown used to it. Though, his instilled hatred of his ears was still a fight he was dealing with. With a huff, the Au Ra yanked his navy blue hat off his head and ran off through the vast open plains with a laugh.

“Damekia! Get your scaled arse back here!” Without hesitation, the man made chase, his large coat flapping in the wind and his tail flicking along behind him. Damekia didn’t care. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her tail bounced up and down along with her skirt during the chase but she didn’t care. She was determined to get to the farm before he could catch her.

Success! She saw the small house appear in the distance. All the while her husband was still calling and shouting her name in protest. From the bushes outside, a small but rather busty woman with white scales stood from behind the shrubs. The shouting had caught her attention, worried it was some guards or ruffians that come to mess with her crops again. The sight before her though was one she hadn’t expected. When she rose above the green, she saw her daughter standing over the fallen body of a Miqo’te. A triumphant and shite eating grin was plastered on the young woman’s face as she twirled the hat while one foot rested on the back of her husband.

“See, Taa told you that you didn’t need the hat,” she said before laying back on his head just to spite him. A muffled complain came from where the man laid on the ground. But Damekia had no time for that, she turned to her mother and the two AuRa women embraced each other in a fond and long-awaited hug. Sure, Damekia did send letters to her parents, but nothing was as special as being together face to face. While Taa stood up and dusted himself off, the two women began to chatter about how each other had been, where they had been, how were the crops, and blah, blah, blah.

“I’ll get the grapes,” Taa said even though he knew his wife hadn’t heard him. She was too busy being with her mother. Taashiel, having lost his parents during the original war with Garlemald, grew up in an orphanage. Like a lot of other young adults, he had very little memories of his youth except for death. Damekia was lucky. She still had both of her parents and they were happily living a simple life, rather than fighting wars. Maybe someday, they would be that lucky to settle down and raise a family. But the world was in their fate. Literally. Gods and Primals were popping up left and right. Taashiel, help us! Taashiel, kill the primal! Taashiel, my shipment hasn’t arrived! It felt like the world wouldn’t be able to function without their help.

Taa, lost in thought, hadn’t realized he was already amongst the grape vines. With a small basket he pulled from his bag, he began to gently pick the grapes and place them in the holder. Damekia hadn’t mentioned what they were going to do with the grapes, just that she needed them. If she was going to make wine, then Taa would be all about that! He hummed along to a little tune, seeing he was a bard and all, songs were always playing inside of his head.

There was a slight shift within the vines followed by a low growl. The vine’s movement seemed to follow a pattern, a row even, headed straight for the unknowing man. His tail was too busy swishing and flicking to the tune he was happily humming. A shadow slowly formed and overcast the kneeling cat. Seeing the shift in light, Taa looked up at the sight before him. Was this a man or a dragon?! What he saw was a dark-skinned and scaled being with bright red eyes and a stern glare where there seemed to be no passion. The scales continued from patches on his face, to cover parts of his chest and arms. He was unmoving, a statue almost as he breathed steadily while he kept his glare on Taa. Taa, on the other hand, felt his heart racing and his instincts were to reach for the bow on his back, but Damekia made him leave that at the inn room. He regretted agreeing to it now. Who was this, or what was this? The formidable foe moved out from the vines, which he towered over, to move next to Taa. He knelt down at a slow pace. Although his actions were slow, Taa was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.

“Not ripe.” The man’s voice was deep but incredibly soft. Not the kind of voice a person would expect to come out of a man of his size. He moved his hand from the grapes that Taa was picking to another vine which held plump, ripe and bright grapes on its vines. The tension eased when he began to pick the grapes with such delicacy. His fingers barely pushed in the sides of the fruit when he plucked them off. A gentle giant. Wait, wasn’t Damekia’s dad like an ex-mercenary or something?!

“I see that you two are getting along fine,” Damekia walked with her mom toward the two men. Now with the two of them standing side by side, Taa’s mind was boggled. He looked at Damekia’s mom, a voluptuous woman with a sizeable bust. Then he looked to his wife. Flat as a board with small curves. He looked between the two for quite some time, wondering solely on how was this Damekia’s mother!? How did this woman, give birth to a board? Not that he minded. Flat justice and all, but still! The Genetics wasn’t adding up in his mind. Then-

WHACK

Taa felt a hard smack to the head from the leather-bound tome book Damekia always carried with her. She must have known what he was thinking and she wasn’t too happy with him silently pointing out what she was lacking. He groaned to himself, but Damekia switched from a scowl to smile in order to make introductions.

“Mom, dad, this is my husband Taashiel,” she moved to hug his arm, as though she didn’t just leave a lump on the back of his head, which he was working to rub away. She then let go and moved to stand between her parents. “Taa, these are my parents. Akihiro and Hina.” The small white scaled woman waved with a foreign greeting, and the large black scaled male nodded with a gruff. The strong silent type and the bubbly small one. Fitting.

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Taa greeted with a small and humble bow to the both of them. “Damekia has told me much about you and it is an honor to finally meet the both of you.”

Hina nudged her daughter with a coy smile, “Nice manners, you could learn something from him, Damekia.”

Damekia rolled her red eyes, obviously from her father, with a scoff. “Don’t be so sure. He is only acting this way because he has mastered first impressions.”

“Something you still haven’t done,” Taa joked knowing full and well Damekia’s terrible times with first impressions. Whether friends, important political figures or even the enemies. She had the worst time with first meetings and embarrassing herself or them in some fashion. Damekia raised her book for another whack, but he shielded himself with a laugh.

“Anyway,” she lowered her book and turned to face her parents rather than stand next to them. “We can’t stay long, we have to catch an airship back to Girdania.”

“Leaving so soon?” Hina asked with a regret-filled tone. Her blue eyes softened from joy to sadden surprised when she heard the news from her daughter. “You just got here. Stay for a while.”

Damekia shook her head in response. “Sorry, Haha, but there is someone waiting for us in Girdania and we have to meet them today. That was another reason why we needed the grapes.”

Hina looked to Akihiro who, again, merely nodded. Hina let out an exaggerated sigh before forcing a smile on her lips. “Well then, tell us everything while we help you pick some grapes.”

They settled on that and while they picked the fruits, Damekia informed her parents of everything. The liberation of their home country, of Taa’s home country, their marriage, their journey across the world, even to the smallest of details about their friends they had made along the way. The glories of defeating the empire and the hardships of losing friends along the way. It was amazing how everything had happened in less than a year, it felt so long. The story Damekia wove to her parents made it seem just as long, if not longer than it felt. Hina and Akihiro were overjoyed to learn of the liberation and Akihiro actually laughed when Damekia told him that she won the fight in the Azim Steppe against the other AuRa clans of the Steppe. This small petit woman was able to defeat the Khan of the Steppe in a battle royale. It was amazing and unbelievable, but it was all true.

After the story, the group finished picking the basket of grapes and Akihiro gingerly wrapped them up in a small cloth with ice shards to preserve them in the basket for the long trip ahead of them.

“It seems like you have been through a lot,” Hina walked over and hugged her daughter tightly with a smile. “Next time you come over though, I expect our usual scrimmages.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Damekia said with a fond laugh, to which her mother joined in. She then moved to her father, who towered over the small AuRa woman. He picked her up in both arms and hugged her close to his chest. She did her best to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders, but there was no way in the seven hells that her hands would touch. He sat her down and went to Taa. The cat man wanted to back away, not so much that he didn’t like hugs, he just felt he was going to get crushed. He should’ve known better though with the way Akihiro treated the fruits. When he picked Taa up, it was a gentle embrace, one that filled Taa with a joy he didn’t know he had been missing in the past. When Akihiro sat the man back down, the blonde was smiling ear to ear. He gave a curt nod to the man and a bow of respect to them both.

“It has been wonderful to meet you, and don’t worry I will make sure Damekia comes back to see you again soon,” the married couple turned to leave from the small farm.

“Thank you, son,” Akihiro said with his calm and kind voice. Taa hadn’t expected that response and the feeling that he felt while being hugged, came back to hit him full force. A tear almost formed in the corner of his eye, but he held it back. There was no time for tears now, there was someone Damekia was desperate to meet in Girdania. When the two were far enough away, Taashiel’s curiosity got the best of him.

“So, who are we going to see exactly?” He asked with an arched brow as they made their way through the fields.

“An old friend. I’ve wanted you two to meet for a while, but I was afraid to take you there,” She said with eyes that lowered to look at the basket in her hands. The corners of her mouth drooped along with her tail that tucked between her legs.

Taa reached over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. If they are a friend of yours, then they are a friend of mine.”

A grateful smile danced on her features. How was she so lucky as to have him for a husband? She was never sure of that, but she was thankful each and every day. As was Taa. He felt he didn’t deserve Damekia, but she was exactly what he needed. The two boarded the airship for Girdania and rode through the clouds toward the forest city.

Instead of the salty sea air, they were greeted with the scent of heavy oak and maple as well as the smell of a multitude of animals who lived within the city limits and outside. Girdania was one with nature and it was obvious to see. The two made their way through the forest and toward a deeper part of the woods just outside the main city. In a grove of trees, there was a rather large one sitting in the center. Just beneath the tree sat a gravestone. Engraved in the stone read, “Emmalin”. Taa knew just then why Damekia had hesitated. Not because she was afraid because she didn’t want to let go.

“Taa,” she said through choked back tears. “Meet Emmalin.”

“Hello, Emmalin,” he said as he knelt down to the grave to talk with her. He went on and on about how amazing Damekia was, and how much he would’ve like to meet Emmalin. Damekia watched with a half-smile as her husband sat before the grave of her fallen lover. Talking as though she was actually there. What a dork. “We have one heck a girl don’t we Emmalin? She sure is amazing though. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. Thank you for protecting her.” He laid some grapes at the base of the grave. “Heard these were your favorites. I hope you enjoy them.”

With the past fully laid to rest, Damekia felt a sense of relief raise from her shoulders. Taashiel wasn’t a replacement for Emmalin like he had originally thought. He was just another page in Damekia’s life story. A story he would gladly tell over and over again.

#ffxiv #writing commissions #one down #who's next #taashiel tailios #damekia tailios #au ra #miqo'te #final fantasy #Final Fantasy 14

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the-voice-of-hell · 3 years

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Rent is Theft, part 18

Read from the beginning here, read the previous chapter here. Note: My MC is a Filipina trans woman and I am not. If you have notes on that or anything else, hit me up.

***

I heard the soft sound of another glass door opening behind me. The tall doors were of frosted glass indistinguishable from the walls but for etched stainless steel handles and hinges. Perhaps they were held shut with magnets because there was no noise from a latch opening, just a hollow pop and slight vibration of air as the door swung. I only heard it because I wasn’t walking at the moment, and I turned to see it.

A lady with a corporate version of rockabilly style flashed whitened teeth at me, her face framed in big phony burgundy hair, and waved me in. “Ms. Marquez,” she said, “I should have had the door open for you when you walked by, I’m silly. Easy to forget what this must look like for visitors.” She flapped a hand at the sterile hall, then turned it into another beckoning gesture.

Time for me to mirror her pleasant falsity with a smile of my own. Her teeth were ringed with candy apple red lipstick, mine with an eccentric but unobtrusive matte rose. We shook hands and went into her office. There was mustard yellow plaster on the wall up to about six feet, above which the exposed brick resumed. Her framed diploma from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago hung there between meaningless matted black and white photos of parts of classic cars. A curvy wheel hub, a tail fin.

I sat on a low stool that felt like a sawed-off version of something from Johnny Rockets. I sat my purse on the floor, folded my hands on a knee, and tried to engage her face. “You have me at a disadvantage.”

“Ah, sorry. No name on the door because we just moved in. I’m Diana Whitford, human resources coordinator. Pleased to meet you.”

“Likewise. Does the Selman Design Group have a lot of human resources?”

“You got me. Small building gave it away? I’m the whole department. Also assistant CFO.”

“Nice.” I gestured at her fancy little office. “It looks nice.”

“It is! Not so much for decor, right? Just a lil’ fishbowl under the bricks where we work, but it helps keep us focused. The meeting rooms are much nicer, and there are so many amazing restaurants around here for lunches. And the art museum... It’s a good neighborhood to work in.”

“I know. I’d love the job. What can I say to make you love me for it?”

“Haha, can’t give it away so easy, can I?”

“Shoot. Thought I had you on the ropes. So,” I nodded coquettishly, “I’m ready.”

She leaned back and cocked her head, considered me. I didn’t love it. She asked, “Alright. Tell me about yourself. What makes Courtney Marquez who she is? I bet that’s interesting.”

“Mm, I don’t like to settle for ordinary. I’ve been working in tech for a long time now, and felt it’s time for a change of scenery.” Sound rich, baby. “The boys are so drab and provincial. A graphic design firm, now that’s interesting.”

“And what interests you about Selman Design Group?”

“The code we worked on was for purely functional purposes - moving cloud data around, secure networks, server switching in massive arrays. Here you are dealing with all kinds of businesses, right? And at a level where the clients are going to be interesting people, cosmopolitan. I feel it would just make for a nicer atmosphere.”

“I can hardly imagine. I’ve had some friends marry tech guys but they are in a whole other world.”

“It’s not really that interesting. The other world. Smells like energy drinks and sweat.” Play to stereotypes, Courtney.

“Hohoho,” she said, “But we sweat too sometimes. How do you handle a challenging day?”

“When I read this job posting, I imagined it would be coding UI, animation, things to assist with graphic design. Those were the prerequisite skills listed, right? But here I am with the human resources assistant CFO and I can tell this is a company where you have to wear a lot of hats. That’s the kind of challenging day I’m confident I can handle - a little tech support here, a project pushing deadline there.”

“You don’t have any weaknesses, as a worker?”

I hate these things a lot. “None, hahaha. Of course, I’ve just come from the world of maladjusted boy genius types. Getting used to a different workplace vibe, it might not be a perfectly smooth transition. But I promise not to crush cans on my head and play noisy videogames on break.”

“OK. But what’s a challenging situation you’ve had in the past, and how did you handle it?”

I cleaned my ass and walked through the door to have this horrible dance while a dozen people are depending on me to keep our asses off the streets. “There was a new handshake system we’d been developing functions for, a few months at least, when hackers discovered an exploit in it, rendering the whole system a massive liability overnight. The biggest stress was for the sysadmins at companies using it, but there was talk around the office our company might have to declare bankruptcy, dump us all to cover debt from damage control. It had us working under a lot of uncertainty, right when housing prices were shooting up all around the city.”

“Like, two years ago?”

“Another time they were going up, about seven years before that? So it’s work quick and come up with genius solutions while you could end up homeless at a moment’s notice. We really used all of our team skills on that one. And that was me. The genius stuff was for enfants terribles and people like me would try to make their solutions workable in practical space, documenting the code, translating it for other people in the pipeline. I probably cried in the bathroom at least once? But we got through it.” Pathos, girl. But not too much.

“Wow. That sounds like a hard time.”

“Hard times come and go. That one is gone. But lessons learned?”

“I can’t imagine. Well, just one more thing. What kind of compensation would you be expecting here?”

“Better than a grad but worse than I was making, I’m sure. I understand I’m starting over, but I am bringing a competency of experience you won’t see in a new kid. I could go as low as forty-five, if it’s strictly necessary.”

The fake rockabilly’s eyebrows moved. What did it mean? Don’t let them know you care.

“Thank you, Courtney. Now do you have anything you’d like to know from me?”

“Do you have anybody here doing tech support at all, or would that become part of the job description?”

“You got me. We did not include IT in the listing, but you know we’ll be asking for it.”

“I’m OK with that, Diana.”

***

I got out as fast as I could without making it too obvious. I did not like how that went. Usually I’ve done better. Maybe the head wrap was making me lightheaded. I found a metal pole to lean on, tried to slow my breathing.

It didn’t help that this was not far from Walter’s stomping grounds, but I had to make myself stop worrying about that. The late morning sun was bright white, the shadows electric blue. Every scrap of garbage, eggshell, feathers, plastic, paper was clearly visible in the cement, joining its constituent stones like the skin of an endless lizard. People walked around me.

I finally shook it off, put on my sunglasses, and strolled. Knobby had eluded me long enough. The full moon was going to happen that night. If he and Olivia were out walking the streets every day, when did he have time to be taking shits in front of old ladies? I was going to catch his ass. If I could cure his werewolfism, maybe anything was possible. Cures for twisty hair and headmouth, why not?

I switched from pumps to sneakers and walked back to the Myrmidon Apartments with purpose. I was getting used to walking, even with the uphill-downhill of it, and if one picked the right streets, this route was mostly downhill. I was on the block, eyes open for the off chance of seeing those kids on the street, and peered into the window of the Subway behind the building. I didn’t see the kids, but I did see a lone sub-muncher in the uniform of the pest control company that was investigating the bed bug situation.

I stepped in. The people at the counter really didn’t care about short stay loiterers - lots of things to do in keeping an urban fast food joint from exploding. I went confidently to his table and looked down with arms folded over my chest.

“Hey, young fella. Don’t worry, I’m not a cougar or a hooker. Just a resident of the Myrmidon.”

“I really shouldn’t talk to residents, ma’am.”

“Don’t worry about it, kid. I’m cool. It’s not my apartment that’s getting sussed out, and not my problem. I’m just curious about how this works, in case it becomes a problem for me. Down the road.”

“Hmm.”

We had a moment, me smiling, trying to convey a sense of fun-loving criminality, speak to the young man inside the professional. He pondered it for a moment, then assented. “OK.”

I sat down across the table from him. “Alright. So this is the new reality, they’re saying. All the DDT that squished those bald eagle eggs wore off, bed bugs are moving back into the cities. What all have you heard about that?”

“Not a lot, honestly. There’s the experts and then there’s guys like me who just move shit around, work the tools. What was that about eagles?”

“I don’t know much either, but somebody told me there’s this pesticide we used to spray on crops, but also indoors. It made eagle eggshells thin so that when momma tried to incubate them, squish. Bald eagles became an endangered species and the stuff was banned. According to the guy I talked to...”

“That’s why nobody had bed bugs until last year. What a trip.”

“Well what do you know about them? Has to be something.”

“Heh. Now this is hella gross. I heard the females don’t have a... well, they don’t have a vag. So to get inseminated, basically, the males got a gnarly spike for a dick, and just stab ’em with it. Is that too much?”

“Hahaha, no, that is horrible. Thanks!”

“A way to keep ’em out of your bed is to keep your bedding from reaching the floor and put the feet of your bed inside, like, a ring of laundry detergent.”

“Nice, nice. So what’s in store for my unfortunate upstair biddies?”

“Our company is high end, so... uh...”

“Promise, I’m cool. You can tell me anything.”

“Basically, everybody we deal with is insured out the ass, so we come up with services just to charge more money. It isn’t a total scam, right? The services do something. But is every last one of ’em necessary?”

“So you’re gonna milk this thing? Hell, everything in this town is so fucking expensive, that doesn’t bother me at all. Do it to it. But that isn’t the reason you told me, is it?”

“OK, we basically already know there are bed bugs. Boss man stabbed her bed with a bowie knife and found black dots - like digested blood.”

“Euggh.”

“I know. But we’ll be like, this is suggestive but it isn’t a clincher, and run another test.”

“A more expensive one.”

“You got it. And man, it is the real trip. We bring in a trained animal to sniff ’em out.”

“Is it an expensive dog breed?”

He was smirking and enjoying this too much. “Not a dog.”

“Aardvark?” I remembered what Grime had told me about the animal, but didn't want to ruin the boy's fun.

“A pig.” His expression dimmed a bit. “But now that you say that, I wish it was an aardvark. That sounds fun.”

“No, no, that’s pretty fucking funny. You’re literally gonna get these apartments to pay them to have a potbelly piggy running through the halls.”

“Oh it ain’t no potbelly, ma’am. It’s one of the big boys.”

“What do they call that, a boar?”

“Yup. A male pig, big as fuck. Maybe you’ll get to see it. It’s like three feet at the top and I swear at least five hundred pounds.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”

“Well, here’s hopin’ those sons of bitches stay upstairs.”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, for sure.”

He must have known that wasn’t likely to happen. Shit. “So the boar confirms what you already know. Then what?”

“That’s our part. We help the lady treat and isolate everything in her apartment. Anything that can’t take the heat is moved out. The sprinkler heads are packed in coolant, and then we heat the place to a hundred twenty-five degrees for three hours.”

“Holy shit. Big space heaters?”

“Custom, industrial motherfuckers. It’s pretty cool stuff. No poison involved.”

“Except the laundry detergent.”

“The laundry detergent? Oh yeah, the laundry detergent. We don’t tell most of our customers about that one.”

“Because they’ll be more likely to get reinfested. Sharp.”

“You never know when they’ll bring that pesticide back and put us out of a job, right?”

“Well thanks, man. That was a real thrill ride.” I shot him a finger gun and stood up.

“Hey, ah... You don’t have to go so fast..?”

“Heh. Charmed, but I do have to get going. Enjoy your sandwich, son.”

“Yes ma’am.”

***

I made a mental note to line the baseboards with borax at the earliest opportunity. I was getting a mental picture of the shit. They boil the granny floor and fleeing bed bugs come down through the walls, end up on our floor.

I decided to take the stairs up, and at each floor get out and walk the hall. If Knobby was doing his doggy deeds, I’d catch him. I tried to listen for sounds in the stairwell, in the halls, but the exertion made my pulse pound in my ears. Not terribly, but enough to mute the quiet noises of the world.

The first ten floors had a different layout from ours - a little bit larger, with more variable apartment sizes. The smallest ones were even smaller than ours, judging by the distance between doors, and the largest might have been larger. On the tenth floor, another variation - a gym I had never used.

I used my prox key and got in. A redundant nuisance - anybody on this floor had already badged in downstairs, or been badged in by somebody else. Did they want to keep visitors out of the precious fitness center?

The outer walls were surely floor-to-ceiling glass, like on ours, but they were masked completely by drawn vertical blinds. Interior lights were weak in competition with the daylight that gave the blinds an unappealing amber glow, the room washing out to a dim grey-green.

Still easy enough to see by, and I found myself looking at myself. One of the inner walls was pure mirror. Watch your beach bod take shape while you ride the stationary bikes. Or stand alone and watch yourself fade in real time. All the dolling up I did for the interview was coming apart, and the shadows added ten years to my face.

Even with the wrap clamped down on my head, I had forgotten it was visible. It changed me, made my reflection alien. And remembering this, I remembered Reverse Courtney was waiting under that grip for any chance to rat us out. I touched the back of my head and felt her shift underneath the cloth.

Get out. No way Knobby was in there anyway. As I stepped away, I noticed the floor beneath my feet was raised and discolored. No allergy medicine here. Get out.

The eleventh floor was, to my knowledge, one of several completely unoccupied ones. On seeing no Knobby, it occurred to me that if the monster in him had the same motivation as Reverse Courtney, he would only visit floors with people on them.

Our floor. The ritual wasn’t really complete yet. I had prepared my potions and talismans and such, but I still needed to set up the magic circle. It was far from midnight, so time remained, but who knew how long it would take to catch the boy?

I realized we needed to talk to everyone at once. Patrick and Graeme would be at work, probably, and Deandre and the kids probably out and about. Still, better to get as many people as possible on the same page as early as possible. I started knocking on doors.

Patrick was indeed at work, and I decided to leave Perry alone. With that and less anybody out on the town, I was only able to convene Mike, Momi, and Marcie, in her apartment. Mike looked lively, but greener than ever.

The three sat on the couch and I sat across from it.

“What’s this about, Courtney?” Mike was the only one with no prior knowledge, that I knew of.

“Marcie and Leimomi already know some of this, but not all of it. Like the allergy situation, it’s important for all of us to know. Mike, have you noticed that you’re not looking... well?”

“The green? Yeah, and I’ve seen that Knobby kid hunchbacked, and his girl’s neck go weird.”

“So you have an idea what this is about. I think the building is trying to make us lose control of ourselves, make us get ourselves caught. I have a mouth on the back of my head that has basically said as much to me.”

“Does Leimomi have a head mouth too?”

“No,” she said.

“Let me get to the point. The neighbors talked about seeing a dog, or a dog-like man, in the halls on their floors - causing trouble. It has to be one of us. We know what our problems are, and Knobby is already hunched over, so safe bet it’s him. And I have a plan.”

Mike smiled, green hands on his knees. “Great! And here I was worried. You’re so good, Courtney.”

Marcie said, “What are you going to do, Courtney?”

“Ehh, I don’t...” Maybe they’d feel better if I didn’t express my doubts. “Sorry. Remember how wearing the allergy pill necklace was helpful? It’s kinda like that. I’m setting up a thing... OK, a magic spell. In my room. We get Knobby inside the magic circle and do an exorcism.”

“The power of Christ compels you! Haha,” Mike said, “I can do that.”

Marcie nodded in admiration. Momi knew what I was thinking, gave me a sensitive smile.

“Yeah, so here’s the deal. We all do our best to find that kid, get him and everybody else in my apartment by midnight. I’ll write up everybody’s instructions for the spell. You’ll have to read some words, do some things.”

“Any of that cool shit from Exorcist in there?,” Mike asked.

“No but there may be some room for improv. Just make sure you do the spell right first.

And in the meantime...”

“We’ll try to find Knobby.”

“Richie’s been trying,” Marcie said.

“Unless he has a hot lead, call him home,” I said. “It’s a full moon, and if I’m right - that the werewolf is trying to get us in trouble here - he’ll be in the building somewhere.”

Momi said, “Oh good, I didn’t wanna run around town anyways. Should we start looking now?”

“Eat lunch first, get plenty of water. For my part, I’m gonna turn my apartment into a magic circle.”

***

In my initial pass at the exorcism material in Werwolves, I didn’t notice the shin-kicking ritual involved some worse tortures besides. We weren’t going to whip him until he was drenched in blood. I did my best to come up with ways to symbolically accomplish anything I was unable or unwilling to do in the prescribed method. For example, where it called for whipping the “werwolf” I thought we could just give him a few whacks and then cover him in some kind of blood. Unsanitary, but not torture. I’d paid for blood from a butcher, because there’s no good way to shoplift it, and sanitized it by boiling. That made a blood pudding which I intended to reliquefy when we got closer to midnight. Grody.

Another thing I couldn’t do was follow hyper-specific astrological instructions. OK, I might be able to sync the ritual to a night of the full moon, but learning enough about astronomy or astrology to even know when Mercury was seventeen degrees on the cusp of the Seventh House? Not happening. The text said Mercury was the “most bitter opponent of evil spirits,” so I thought, hang some liquid mercury from the ceiling above our boy. I poured my mercury into an emptied bottle of some micro-brew with a white stag on it, to honor St. Hubert.

***