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cryptidofthekeys · 2 years

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Addison OC

I uh remade the sona I once had into a full OC and I like the redo SO much better than the old version like holy shit gkjfld;jkgfds is this a new comfort OC that Imma love and cherish for awhile? It is, it 100% is

anyways meet Purp, Purps, Addy, or Dison- whatever you wanna call him (...I was thinking of an ACTUAL name aside from just nicknames but I literally got NOTHING whatsoever)

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| Name: Purple Addison

| Nicknames: Purp/Purps, Addy, or Dison

| Gender: Trans FTM (He/Him)

| Age: I’d say… Mid 30s to 40s

| Height: 6’3” but technically speaking he has sizeshifting powers, they are just completely out of his control, the limit for shrinking is 5 inches tall, the limit for growing is 100ft

| Species/Race: Addison which- is p obvious I suppose

| Eye Color: Royal Purple

| Hair Color: Light pastel lavender purple (he usually keeps his hair up in a man bun)

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| Fur Color/Body Type: The same as his hair p much lmao (he’s got very plush fur, so soft that if you push your hand on him you’ll sink into him lmao) and he’s fat- Fat, wide, and tall! (he can be a bit insecure about how wide he is though, not being fat- I need to be VERY clear on that, he’s not insecure about his weight it’s just the width- he’s worried he’ll accidentally bump something or someone over)

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| Appearance: His main outfit (I don’t mind the Addisons’ main attire but I wanna do something different for Dison) but it's a sleeveless black turtleneck with a boob window (he has a rather large tuft of fur sticking out and honestly? It’s shaped into a heart thanks to the boob window) he wears a long dark purple trench coat (not leather) but he usually keeps the sleeves on it rolled up to his elbows (he rarely ever buttons the coat either), he wears green pants (not the green ones the actual Addisons wear, it's like a darker green tbh) and then finally he wears some simple black slip on shoes.

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He doesn’t have claws (it’d be really hard to make miniatures if he did) but he does have fangs, both on top and bottom- (god I hate describing his head shape bc the Addisons are all so… weirdly shaped jkgljfgdls) Imma just leave it as Octagon shaped so yeah, its wide n big enough to fit tbh- he doesn’t have a beard as he’s just got plush fur all over, he has a pointed nose like all the other Addisons, and the only other detail I can think to add is literally just his top surgery scars (the only scars he’s got actually)

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| Personality: Dison is literally super sweet, kind, polite, caring, and loving as can be- He isn’t like the other Addisons in a lot of ways tbh, seeing as he won’t just try to push his products and sell them all the time like he’ll ACTUALLY have a decent conversation with you, now don’t get him wrong he DOES still advertise his miniatures, he IS still an Addison …Or well he thinks he is? …H…He’s not sure what else he could be? He’s shaped like them n shit like that-

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He does get disappointed if you show no interest in his crafts but he’ll accept it and move on, he won’t try to push or force you into anything like that, after all you must have no need or no place to put something like these, he knows it’s… Very different from the other Addisons- but it’s something he’s actually passionate about and he figures if he’s going to advertise something he wants to actually like doing it and have fun.

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He’s kinda like a dad friend tbh, he’s very caring and can be concerned about others, whether it be Darkners or Lightners, he’ll make sure you’re doing okay and if you need to talk about something then come to him, he’ll help out in anyway he can- (if someone’s bothering you? Go ahead, tell him, he’ll sort it out) …Not with violence I should say, he HATES violence, honestly terrified because he can’t fight to save his life so he wouldn’t be very good in a situation like that (he’s a true pacifist, prefers to talk his way out of situations) …BUT… If he’s pushed to his breaking point he’s not just gonna let himself or the others he cares about die ya know?

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Is the type if he joins your adventures, like I said- VERY much a dad friend, brings plenty of healing items, definitely carries snacks in a lil fanny pack and mm various other items tbh (probs a good amount of comfort items like plushies, blankets, stress toys, etc) he literally just wants to make sure you’re alright in the end.

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Despite not knowing how to truly fight and sucking ass at it, he is actually fairly strong! …Which is why 1: He has to be extra careful when making his miniatures (has broken a l o t in the past with carelessness) and then 2: He gives BIG bear hugs, like he’ll wrap his arms fully around you and then just kinda twist side to side (you will be enveloped with the plush fur …just don’t sink too far) …He’d be devastated if he actually crushed someone with a hug and never forgive himself.

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Due to his size already in more ways than one, other Darkners are often intimidated by him and he absolutely hates it, the only time he actually loves being intimidating is when it comes to protecting those he cares about (he can be very overprotective)

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Despite asking and making sure everyone else is okay n shit like that, he’s… Not very good at that himself, making sure HE’S okay, he’s got dark circles under his eyes (he stays up too late sometimes working on miniatures and mm for... OTHER reasons...) he’s definitely got his anxieties and fears and VERY MUCH unlike the other Addisons he won’t deny, he does have a bit of social anxiety and he can be kinda awkward …But he tries to be as nice and polite as he can!

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| Side Facts: Alright I’ve mentioned the others SOOO very much, I have to state something- …Purps actually has no fucking clue what the other Addisons are like LMAO, he’s never personally met them, just saw them selling things and going about their business in the city but he’s never met them personally, honestly? Despite them probs thinking he’s intimidating bc of his size, he’s actually more intimidated of them than they are of him.

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Addy has no clue what the other Addisons are like but he has seen the products they sell…

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They sell much more… Normal things than he has so he wonders if he’s being too particular about this, he does want to fit in so badly, even though he’s never actually properly interacted with the other Addisons, he wants to be like them, he wants to fit in because if he’s NOT like them …Then is he just… a defective Addison? …He sometimes worries about that, that he’s not doing what he should be doing, that he’s going too far outside of the box by making minis and selling them.

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Sometimes he wonders if he should just give that up and sell something a bit more, in the norm… And even start being more advertise-y …and pushing his products more, etc- It seems like they all do that from what he’s seen anyways, he worries about that a lot because he really would like to properly meet them one day, but he’s worried they’ll see him as just merely some kinda glitch or flaw of an Addison because of what he sells AND the fact he’s not as pushy or anything with his products.

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And not even to MENTION the whole size shifting problem, that’s caused him to lose business before multiple times and still continues to do so as well, that’s also why he’s afraid to meet the Addisons bc if they see that well then it just proves that he really is a glitch, a flaw so to speak- …And plus another thing, being suddenly overwhelmingly tiny? Around now a giant place and giant people? …Not fun and even when he’s the one that’s giant? ABSOLUTELY NOT FUN- It’s just completely distressing and he literally freezes in place until the size shifting ability decides to fuck off.

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…I uh haven’t got the situation fully planned out as to why he does that but I’ll have something later on gfjkldkfgdf;s that’s not the main focus anyways- just,, trust the process- Likewise, all my ocs/sonas have the very tiny fine print that you need to zoom in to read! All things are subject to change in the long run (mostly that goes for personality wise and anything in the side facts, not really description wise)

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The one Addison he thought was strange was that one little guy, he was a White Addison and well, Purp hadn’t really seen him before- it’s like he just kinda appeared one day …Or maybe he just didn’t come out that much, either way, likewise- he didn’t know him personally but he knew that very same Addison went onto become the biggest name in all of Cyber City, his name was… Spamton, yeah- that’s it- It’s hard to NOT know about that guy, even now with him… Well, gone pretty much-

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He used to see commercials, ads obviously, etc all the t i m e about this dude, he just suddenly blew up one day it seemed- …While Dison never interacted with him (not in pre-big shot era or actua big shot era) he was happy for the lil fella nonetheless …He did notice the other Addisons seemed tense during that time period and even now, even though he still doesn’t know them personally and hasn’t interacted with him, there’s a certain energy, a certain… Tense aura in the air still surrounding those remaining four.

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…Bc I can say so, imma be honest- literally the most intimidating Addison of all the ones for Dison would be Pink, hands down- I can say that with confidence bc well, I mean he IS my OC- ...Also bc for reasons I won’t be explaining, I think it’s funny as hell that Pink would be the most intimidating for him.

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Lmao the Pink one would scare him the most. But ahem- aside from all that, back to the size shifting ability- if Dison could control it? He would actually fucking LOVE it! He did always wonder what it’d be like to actually be, well, miniature (way more so than a giant, he does not like being a giant period, his width and height already makes him nervous, he always feels like he’s one step closer to hurting someone)

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…He supposes even though he CAN’T control it, when he does become tiny or giant, the ONE singular pro of the both of them together is that it gives him s o much more perspective than what he once had, which definitely caused an increase in quality in his miniature sets.

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(btw I should say I do actually know how he’d feel/what he’d think of all the Addisons, plus Spamton, both pre-big shot and big shot era …And even n o w, I got that in my head) but the final bits I can think to add is just, when he’s not working on miniatures, he likes to relax with some calming music (most of it is instrumental music imma be honest) and or just go for a nice walk …Even though the City can kinda be a pain in the- …ahem- anyways, he has a deep voice + a southern accent (despite being in a city, sh-shut up, just let him have this) but is usually soft spoken (never raises nor wants to raise his voice) and finally…

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Dison is Pansexual and Polyamorous.

#deltarune oc #deltarune #deltarune addisons #deltarune addison oc #i fucking hate describing the head shape but I want him to have a funky lookin head shape like the others #so just- o C T A G O N-#oc #original character #i gave him a bit more... Depth if you will #and redid some of the way I phrased or said things #...also yeah yeah- I love large characters ..a l o t- large n tall

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bobzora · 2 years

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GUESS WHO BEAT PEE3 TODAY (fes, the journey at least)

(lengthy) final thoughts:

ryoji is kind of. um. "that was my name for a while. i didnt mind it." hes kind of trans. is the thing. also bro 100% drew the shortest stick in this game lmao

obviously ryo/mina isnt quite the same as some of the other insane peesona gay people (2,5. 4 is gay but not rlly insane) bc like. in that form at least we only know him for like...two months?or so? but. u know what. they r t4t and both (kind of) dead. good for them.?

jumpscared by "the arcana is the means by which all is revealed." ive been seeing that shit in like. youtube comments since the day i was born. insane

nyx was like. pathetically easy. to the point where i felt kinda bad about it lol. at least its funny. this is what happens when u have level 99 protag + black viper lucifer (+ messiah for salvation for ailment healing. i could just use me patra gems but its more stylish this way). nobody ever got below half health and most phases (minus last bc of the halved non-almighty damage + gown) were a 1/2/3 hit kill. guys who overlevel because they just love the velvet room so so much (and im prolly not gonna do ng+, especially with portable port on its way (femc!). so trying to experience most that i can)

i did cheese the reaper a while back. used thunder reign strat. was actually harder bc new moon rebalance nerfed the shock rate so its not 100% lol. but took advantage of its ai to get it stuck in a break skill loop (akihiko dekunda sweep) the money was nice, and i spent soooo much time in monad levelling personas. wont be able to do liz fight bc not doing ng+. (slightly related: ive played pee5 so many times and ive never actually tried the twins/lvnza/jose fights. vanilla 1 time, royal 1 time, royal again for a friends playthrough but its not ng+, ng+ for 100% royal but only up to exams...royal for another friend's playthru. lol)

yuka/mitsu is real. to me. theyre even the colors of the lesbian flag

i maxed most social links besides magician (bc hes annoying. surt wouldve been nice tho), mitsuru (got up to like 8 then ran out of time), fuuka (trapped at rank 1. dont like her enough, not enough time. sorry. i played with english voices u know how it is), yuko (accidentally reversed her), justice (i know. who would have thought. started her wayyy too late.), keisuke (hes soooo cute like. i wanna look like that tbh. but fortune isnt useful enough and i ran out of time)

speaking of social links i literally hate how they work in this game so so so so much. i dont want to date all these girls! let me hang out with other girls please... this is the biggest example of romance making all these games so much worse. like. what the hell. (aigis is like. the only good female social link (that i finished) (maybe bc she isnt very much a girl))

another mechanic i hate: NOT BEING ABLE TO PICK INHERITED SKILLS. is every ps2 era megaten game like this? i love love love 'sona/demon fusion but it is so much harder to make stupid crazy builds when u have to reroll over and over again. literally just a timewaster. what could have been...i cant believe my lucifer is still weak to ice. WHO USES PEESONAS WITH WEAKNESSES. IN THIS DAY AND AGE????

the extremely strange continuity with 1&2 is fucked up to like. nickelodean sitcom cinematic universe levels. u know.

im still fixated on 5.i make that very obvious. and i do like 5's overall story better (royal being a very big portion of that). but GOD i love love love the theming of this game.

those strega guys r definitely fucking. i literally do not care about them but thats kind of just a fact.

the concept of artificial personas (that kill you) (that u have to take meds for which eventually kill you) REALLYYYY fucks me up what a BANGER CONCEPT. JESUS! JESUS. gg kirijo group.

chidori...(wretched)

akinari... (very wretched)

i dont think i have a favorite. tbh. like i like mitsuru because i like women and shes hot but character wise shes not actually super my type. i like ken because hes the most fucked up ten year old in the world (justice bias). aigis is crazycrazy theres stuff to be said abt her (characters who give metatron bias). yukari is a mean girl and i like that about her (lovers bias). ryoji doesnt have that much screentime for obv reasons but thematically hes cool (guys who beg u to kill them bias). i like the protag a lot (protag bias). yeah

OBVIOUSLY i knew we were gonna die. and when. and where. and how. but :( head in aigis's lap, brushing away her robo-tears... didnt cry but wow this game.

joshua peefee christ figure moment

kimi no kioku is the best 'sona song. period. nyx (avatar)&nyx (nyx) songs go hard too. but man!!!! kimi no kioku!! LOVE how its kind of a motif in so many other parts of the soundtrack, especially near the end...a unifying melody, an overarching theme.

forever from now ill prolly watch the movies just so i can make an amv. this game needs an amv. and unlike pee5 the animovies should cover most of what id want to say in one!

after the answer, ill finally be able to finish eternalpun. im so sorry ive neglected you guys, my friends...my pee2s....

kimi wo i will never leave you <3

#bobtalk #good game #if i missed a censor and u see this in the tags. sorry. lol #at least its so long nobody will ever read this. except me. because i know

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ckneal · 3 years

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I know that it’s not the week for it, but you know what’s going through my head today?

Michael, going to Purgatory to fish out the Ghoul’s soul, just like he promised Adam that he would, and how annoyed he must have been when he realized he’d have to make the trip alone. Because of course the Ghoul couldn’t go, being soulless—that’s the whole reason Michael has to go in the first place, since Adam’s gone and enmeshed their lives together not just with the monster who had killed him in his first lifetime, but with the very part of that monster’s being that is tied to the earthly plane and incapable of traversing the higher levels of existence available to humanity and all its misfit offshoots only in the afterlife. And of course, with Adam now settled in his old, human body—having been painstakingly reformed from the ashes that the three of them had tirelessly rooted for in the woods outside of Windom—the Ghoul couldn’t very well be left on his own. Soulless and driven primarily by his id, there was no telling where the Ghoul would wind up or who he might hurt if left unsupervised.

And so, Michael begrudgingly has to go to Purgatory alone, possibly aware of the fact that no sooner would the portal close behind him (after all, Michael could open and close the door to Purgatory at will, there was no need to risk who knew what creeping out into their motel room), before the Ghoul leaned over to Adam and murmured something along the lines of, “So, you remember when Michael was dead, and how we’d get off telling each other all the things we’d do if we weren’t stuck in the same body?”

MEANWHILE, Michael was left with the nearly impossible task of finding one stray monster soul in the gruesome, ongoing battle royale that is Purgatory. His choices of strategy are to either assume his trueform and squint down at the souls scurrying over the realm like a swarm of ants in hopes of finding one specific ant, or to walk around in his human-looking form, hoping to find the one soul he needed to find in order to go home. Both were exhausting, and not helped by the fact that Michael had no idea if the Ghoul’s soul was even there—what with the way that the monsters were constantly murdering one another. Even the angels (as per Castiel in season 6) didn’t know where the shredded souls of Purgatory went after they died again here. On top of that, even when presenting himself as human, Michael’s grace gave off an aura that inherently attracted the attention of monsters and Leviathans alike, and while neither was a true threat to an archangel, the continuous fighting was numbingly tedious to say the least.

Especially since most of the beasts that Michael bested and offered to show mercy in exchange for information burst out laughing when Michael then revealed that he was looking for a ghoul from roughly ten years ago. Monsters on the more harmless end of the spectrum didn’t last long in Purgatory.

Eventually, Michael gets a lead about a cave rumored to be a djinn’s nest. Djinn were naturally highly sought after by the less violent souls who found themselves in Purgatory. With no way to escape, it wasn’t uncommon to pursue a gentler avenue to that second, inevitable death in a djinn’s trance. But some people had overheard telltale sounds of fighting coming from inside the nest, suggesting that something else might actually be hiding there.

Michael tracks down this nest, knowing that it’s a long shot. The Ghoul’s soul would have been living in this bloodbath for a decade, after all, but he steps into the alleged djinn’s nest and feels the solid impact of a club striking ineffectively against the back of his head, and sure enough, there stands the Ghoul.

One thing that Michael found unexpectedly jarring was how young the Ghoul looked. He hadn’t thought much of it when Adam had asked him to age up their shared body—supposedly to help him slip back into his old life if he came across anyone he used to know—but the difference was hard to ignore when he was looking at Adam’s face as it was the day they met, under the coating of grime that marked every moving thing in Purgatory. A face that was, additionally, staring at Michael in a mix of confusion and terror. And it was only then that Michael turned his head and realized that it wasn’t a club that had hit him, but an axe—made of silver, if Michael wasn’t mistaken.

It was an awkward first meeting. Naturally, having been in Purgatory over the entirety of his soulless-sona’s relationship with Michael and Adam, the Ghoul had no idea who or what Michael was, and looking between Michael and the now dented axe, could only reasonably conclude that whatever Michael was was a lot harder to kill than a shifter. He took about three seconds to assess the situation, and then did exactly what had helped him survive in Purgatory for so long: ran for all he was worth.

On Michael’s part, he was realizing that he’d been so caught up on the headache of finding the Ghoul in the first place, that he hadn’t even considered what he would say to him when they finally met in this place. “No, wait!” were certainly not the first words he would have planned on.

The next hour or so was spent with Michael reminding himself over and over again that he loved Adam, and Adam loved the Ghoul, and he had promised to do this for both of them. He let the ghoul run outside the cage and then used his wings to relocate himself into the Ghoul’s path, the wayward soul crashing directly into his chest, and Michael’s arms springing around him to keep him from getting away. The Ghoul turned out to be surprisingly feisty though, and while Michael had no doubt that the Ghoul wouldn’t break free, his struggling was a nuisance. Michael wound up pinning the Ghoul against a tree—decidedly ignoring how his soulless-sona would likely have enjoyed that.

“WHAT are you?”

“I am the archangel Michael—”

The Ghoul’s struggling promptly resumed, along with a line of panicked cursing. “Okay, fuck, I know I wasn’t the best guy, but fuck, really? There are so many bastards in here, and you’re going after—”

“I’m not here to hurt you!”

“Okay, but I’m not looking to accept anyone as my lord and savior either! GET OFF ME!”

“Adam Milligan sent me.”

The Ghoul finally stopped struggling at that. As best he could around Michael’s hold on him, he started to gesture to his own face—then stopped and gestured to both his and Michael’s face. “You mean Adam Milligan as in. . ?”

“Yes.”

“WHY?”

“I will likely ask him that question every day for the rest of our lives.”

“Our—”

And it is at that point that Michael becomes aware that his grace—beacon that it is in the madhouse that is Purgatory—had attracted a horde of Leviathans. The Ghoul can hear it too, as whatever’s coming their way is big enough to topple trees. Michael tells the Ghoul to stay close so he can keep him safe, which elicits another strange look from the Ghoul, who had had very few experiences with people wanting to keep him safe, even before he and his siblings were killed. He reminds Michael that Leviathans are pretty high up on the food chain, and Michael assures him that he’s so far above them that he isn’t even on the food chain. The Ghoul winds up running anyway when he sees how big the horde is, Michael shouting after him.

Leviathans, of course, can’t actually kill an archangel, but that isn’t the Leviathans’ goal. They’d heard the rumor about a vampire who managed to make its way out of Purgatory smuggled inside a human soul, and wondered what their chances would be stuffed inside an archangel’s grace. And as such, they abandoned their humanoid forms and proceeded to throw themselves onto Michael as tar-thick liquid goo. Michael could blast them off of himself, but it was difficult with how they skittered around, and there were so many of them—and then all at once, a bottle crashed against Michael’s side, and his entire being was enveloped in fire. A startled, terrified noise burst out of his throat, realization triggering a memory that Michael usually kept firmly out of mind. Then something heavier crashed against Michael’s chest, and he tumbled backward with a splash.

When he opened his eyes, the Ghoul was on top of him. The two of them were laying in the bed of a shallow river Michael hadn’t even noticed before.

Scrambling up into a sitting position, the Ghoul asked, “You alright?”

“What was that?”

The Ghoul reached into a satchel he was wearing—which was now soaked through. What he held up was clearly a molotov cocktail, but when Michael looked closely there was something swirling in the liquid inside.

“Phoenix ash. Djinn who had the cave first, um, had one. I heard it took out Eve, figured it could help with those things.”

“I see. . .” Michael started to sit up as the Ghoul carefully tucked the bottle away.

Then the Ghoul cleared his throat and asked, “So. . Are we friends, or something?”

“Something like that.”

The look the Ghoul shot Michael was sharp. After all, phoenix ash wasn’t exactly a resource to waste on just anyone, and Michael begrudgingly offered, “You have memories waiting on earth that will explain all of this.”

“How do I have memories on earth? I’m dead.”

“. . .It’s complicated.”

“And what, I’m supposed to just trust you? No secret code, or sales pitch or anything?”

“It’s a long story. If I go into it, we'll likely be interrupted.”

The Ghoul frowns and stands up, water running off his clothes as he wades out of the river, thinking. Michael moves to splash water on his face, still shaken from having been set on fire, even though his grace is already healed. He’s interrupted by the Ghoul saying, “Alright, let’s go.”

Michael says, “Just like that?”

And the Ghoul looks uncomfortable, frustrated and vulnerable because he isn’t convinced, but he gestures around them, to the scenery that is currently calm but littered with bones sticking out of the mud left and right, evidence of past bloodshed that would only repeat again and again throughout eternity. “What else am I gonna do?”

And so Michael snaps his fingers, and the portal back to earth opens.

Outside of a body, a soul is actually a very small thing (see season 11), and so Michael actually winds up cradling the Ghoul’s soul in his hands as he steps back into the motel room. And then promptly drops it when he finds Adam and the soulless Ghoul in a state of undress in their king-sized motel bed.

“Oh hey, you’re back!” Adam says, rising out of the bed in a pair of shorts, as if he hadn’t been doing anything wrong—which, of course, he hadn’t been, Michael reminds himself as he let Adam kiss him in greeting. Even so, he finds himself having to draw in a long, calming breath when he looks over and sees the soulless Ghoul grinning at him, reclining on the bed, unbothered and completely naked.

Souls are immaterial things and not subject to the laws of gravity. And as such, when Michael dropped the Ghoul’s soul, it didn’t so much hit the ground as float gently toward the bed, inherently drawn to the other part of itself that resided within the Ghoul’s body. When it reached him, it fazed right through the Ghoul’s chest, without ceremony, and only then did the self-satisfied smirk leave the Ghoul’s face, as he bolted upright, looking like he was about to be sick. Adam was concerned, but Michael assured him that everything was fine. The Ghoul’s head was merely spinning as a decade’s worth of memories inserted themselves into his consciousness, merging who he’d been on earth with the part of him that had fought for his life in Purgatory.

“He should probably stay in bed. It will take him awhile to adjust.”

“Right. . .” Adam nodded and turned back to Michael. It was actually a little surprising how quickly concern disappeared from Adam’s demeanor, Adam trusting Michael’s assessment of the situation unequivocally. Heat replaced it as Adam’s lips found Michael’s again. “I know you don’t need to sleep, but do you want to lay down with us for awhile?”

Adam already had a hand lightly resting on Michael’s belt.

Still on the bed, the Ghoul was watching them with interest.

Later, when Adam was asleep, half sprawled on Michael’s chest with the Ghoul curled against his back, Michael opened his eyes when he felt finger tips idly moving over his stomach. He looked over and found the Ghoul, propped up on one arm, watching the movements of his own hand over Adam’s shoulder, with an expression on his face that Michael found unreadable. The Ghoul’s hand withdrew, and Adam nuzzled in closer to Michael when he moved incrementally, trying to get a better look at their third companion. And even as the Ghoul laid there, perfectly still when their eyes met in the dark, as an angel Michael was aware of how the Ghoul’s heartrate spiked as he seemingly sucked his tongue for a moment before saying, “Thanks for, you know.”

#midamoul #midamoul shared body au

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stars-self-ships · 3 years

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Well, that post I made last weekend regarding my thoughts on the first few episodes of Centaurworld really got quite a bit of attention, didn't it? Well, I'm pleased to report that on the Sunday of that weekend, I ended up watching the remaining five episodes of the series in one sitting, and... WOW.

As it turns out, as of writing that gush post, I REALLY hadn't seen anything yet. Not only did the lore start to really pick up after the halfway point, but I learned that episode six has one of my favorite songs, 'The Butt of the Joke', and episode seven is officially my favorite of the ten because it has such a big focus on Zulius!

Though, more on that later, because now that I've finished Centaurworld, I could finally start thinking about what a potential Centaurworld S/I would look like, and with a whole lot of attention to detail...

I've designed myself my very own Centaurworld self-insert!

(Stand-alone artwork and an overview of him are under the cut!)

When I knew that I eventually wanted to draw out a self-insert for Centaurworld, there was one thing that I wanted to keep in mind for when I got around to designing him— I hoped to make the end result look as close to the show's visual style as possible.

By that I mean I wanted his design to look like it could actually be plausible in Centaurworld, like you could stick him in the background of a shot and he wouldn't look too out of place. Of course, this meant that I had to try my hand at drawing in Centaurworld's artstyle, though thankfully that was less of a challenge and more of a fun exercise!

I mention in the post that I linked earlier that I was anticipating on my Centaurworld sona being modeled after some variety of fauna— luckily, deertaurs do show up for a brief moment in episode five, so I used that as a major reference all the while attempting to match the lineart and coloring style the show uses.

I think what I'm proud of the most is not the fact that I'm finally learning how to draw taur halves (Horse is going to make for a PERFECT reference for when I draw Miles again), but how the shading turned out. I very rarely shade my art because, in all honesty, I don't quite know how to, though the way I shaded the torso and the blush on his face makes him look like he's legitimately from Centaurworld!

And I couldn't just draw him without a background to go along with the standalone art.

While it doesn't match up 1:1 with the depth and beauty a lot of Centaurworld's background art has, this still is easily one of the best backgrounds that I've ever drawn, even with the fact that it wouldn't have been possible without numerous references I used from the first episode.

I noticed that there's quite a focus on gradients in certain aspects of the background art of the show, so I took that observation and ran with it, creating this Centaurworld-styled background in the span of a single evening. It was quite fun to draw and it looks spectacular with the art of my S/I paired with it!

With art specifics out of the way, I can now take a moment to talk about this particular self-insert— his name is Micah (I initially wanted to put a 'Centaurworld spin' on my name, like how 'Gebbrey' is derived from 'Jeffery', though I figured my name by itself sounds unique in its own way) and he is a droll yet reclusive deertaur. Due to his sheepish nature, Micah tends to prefer seclusion, and is more often than not seen in a large, deep blue sweater (Not pictured... yet) that covers up his top half completely, of which he is self-conscious over.

Perhaps his most unique magic spell is his ability to effortlessly replicate another being's voice, a talent he first learned he had when his voice one day shifted into that of a more feminine tone mid-sentence, making for an embarassing revelation. With enough practice, he was able to maintain when he could use the power at will, and can easily pick up on somebody else's voice and vocal mannerisms by just listening to them for a minute or two.

Micah is also extremely smitten with a certain zebrataur... Zulius. While he hasn't yet mustered up the courage to interact with him directly, he almost always dotes over him from afar. As a result of this, Zulius' voice is one of Micah's most accurate vocal replications, a power he uses to sometimes talk to himself in the zebrataur's voice... perhaps one day he will be brave enough to talk to Zulius.

All in all, I'm super proud of how this all turned out, and was just so excited to show it to those in the Centaurworld community here on tumblr!

#Self-Insert #Self-Insert Art #S/I #S/I x F/O #Self-Ship Community #Centaurworld #Centaurworld OC #I don't always go overboard when drawing something... but when I do #Boy howdy do I #It's a good thing that Centaurworld's artstyle is pretty simple to get a grasp of.#Otherwise there would have been no way that this would have turned out as well as it did #With that said you can bet that I ABSOLUTELY ship him and Zulius.#A lot of their relationship dynamic would be Zulius trying to get him to be proud of how he looks #Micah is in no way as self-aggrandizing as Zulius is so he very much appreciates the reassurance #This of course means that Micah will take any chance he gets to compliment Zulius...#... which then leads to Zulius complimenting himself...#... and then it's a no-holds battle of who can compliment Zulius better.#It's all in good fun though!#Also! If he were to have a musical number... it'd be a fast-paced big band/swing song #Seeing as that IS one of my favorite musical genres

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tigerkirby215 · 3 years

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5e Sona, the Maven of the Strings build (League of Legends)

(Artwork by Shilin Huang. Made for Riot Games.)

(Shit meme by yours truly.)

Revealing my Champion Mastery just to say that I play a lot of Sona. Don’t flame me for playing Seraphine and Yuumi I swear to god, and I have no idea why Teemo is in my top 10 highest mastery champs ngl.

Anyways you have no idea how happy I am as a Sona main that my girl is now top tier. I came to League of Legends from Overwatch (yes really) and I used to main Lucio in OW along with some of the more “techy” characters like Symmetra and Torbjorn. (Came to OW from TF2 where I mained Engineer and Medic.) Sona was a natural fit for me as a champion who was both easy to play and very similar to Lucio. It also helps that I joined the Rift during the single most engaging meta to ever grace this game. I was kinda too shit to play Janna but the Ardent Censer meta is also why I have such a high mastery on Lulu tbh.

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But enough about my history with League: Sona! Honestly when I think of an archetypical support Sona pops into my head a lot sooner than Soraka: a champion based on empowering their teammates in as many ways as possible with heals, shields, movement speed, and CC to hold the enemy team down. I’ve always loved playing her because she feels like much more of a macro oriented character than other supports, with team-wide support as opposed to keeping one person alive like Soraka or Yuumi or focusing on CC like Morgana and Nami.

I’m going to build most if not all the champions eventually but man I am happy to tackle Sona now. She’s always been on my mind as my main but it was pretty difficult to think of how to make her. I think this build is good enough though!

Wow that was much longer of an intro than I’m used to. You can really tell which champions I’m excited for lol.

GOALS

Everything in harmony - Sona boosts everyone on her team with her songs as they fill the air.

Triple time! - Sona’s ability to boost her whole team into a good position is always beneficial.

Crescendo! - Fun fact: Sona’s ultimate is canonically extremely painful as she forces you to contort your limbs against your will. Why is Sona needlessly macabre? Well remember that Riot also wrote Volibear as an Eldritch old god.

RACE

Sona is Human but if you want to be cool you can make her a Kalashtar for resistance to Psychic damage and advantage on Wisdom saves. Regardless we’re going to be making what’s known as a dollar store Kalashtar with Variant Human. Increase your Charisma by 1 as well as your Constitution because we kinda don’t need much else. You also get proficiency in one skill of your choice which will of course be Performance, and a language which you can pick as you fancy: you won’t be speaking it anyways lmfao.

That’s because “Only you can hear me summoner; what masterpiece shall we play today?” Grab the Telepathic feat to complete this dollar store Kalashtar package. Increase your Charisma score by 1 and get a 60 foot telepathy to speak while being mute. You also learn the Detect Thoughts spell and can cast it once without using a spell slot. "Did he want... four autographs? I don't understand."

ABILITY SCORES

15; CHARISMA - Charisma is tied to performance and all the other stuff a Demacian noblewoman is expected to be good at.

14; DEXTERITY - Something something medium armor; even if you wear a dress there’s no reason you can’t have some padding beneath it!

13; STRENGTH - Hey this isn’t something something medium armor!

12; CONSTITUTION - Sona may be squishy in League but I value not dying more than good skill checks honestly.

10; WISDOM - Speaking of not dying: Wisdom saves are more common, and Insight is more useful than most Intelligence skills.

8; INTELLIGENCE - We had to dump something so unfortunately Intelligence gets the short end of the stick. You may have studied under the illustrious Buvelle family but most of those lessons were music classes.

If you want a better stat array going 13 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 10 / 14 with Point Buy is perfectly viable, and if your DM is cool enough to let you multiclass without Strength then you’re more than welcome to dump it.

BACKGROUND

There’s two obvious backgrounds that fit Sona: the first is Entertainer for proficiency with Acrobatics and a skill of your choice (since we already took Performance lol.) You also get proficiency with Disguise Kits and your Etwahl! (That’s what Sona’s instrument is called btw.) Your background feature By Popular Demand allows you to play any stage once. "Some, just the once.” You can perform in exchange for a place to stay, and when you do so the local people will remember your wonderful performance!

But making an Entertainer Bard is kinda cliché, no? If you want to lean into Sona’s Demacian heritage go for the Noble background. This gives you proficiency with Persuasion and History as well as a gaming set of your choice: unfortunately Tellstones isn’t an option (unless your DM decides otherwise!) so a Dragonchess Set will do well enough. Oh and you get another language that you won’t speak: fun! Your Position of Privilege makes it easy for you to arrange meetings with other important people, and the commonfolk will be kind and cordial with you.

(Screenshot from the Tellstones: King’s Gambit trailer by Riot Games.)

I personally opted to go for Noble when making this build, but if you want to choose Entertainer go right ahead! Backgrounds don’t affect too much overall and it’s up to you (and your DM) to make your own Sona!

(Artwork from League of Legends Wild Rift. Made for Riot Games. RIOT PLEASE UPDATE MUSE SONA ON PC I’M BEGGING YOU!)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - BARD 1

I mean what else did you expect? Bards get proficiency in three musical instruments of their choice: a Lyre is the closest you’ll get to Sona’s Etwahl, though a Dulcimer is also pretty close. I’d also recommend grabbing a Lute since most magical instruments come in Lute variety.

You also get proficiency in 3 skills of your choice like Perception to watch wards, Insight to watch people, and Athletics for a bit of Tenacity to break out of grapples. (As well as potentially grab some people yourself! Although Acrobatics is also perfectly fine for escaping grapples.)

As a Bard you can boost your ADC with Bardic Inspiration, letting them add a d6 to attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. You have a number of these equal to your Charisma modifier and they come back after a Long Rest.

But of course the main reason to play a Bard is to do Demacian-banned Spellcasting! You learn two cantrips from the Bard list like Vicious Mockery for some diminuendo, making it harder for the enemy to hurt your allies while also cutting them down to size. (I don’t know if your DM will let you slap your Etwahl angrily and then point at them judgingly, but you may have to break your vow of silence every now and then.) You can also learn Prestidigitation for all sorts of general magic stuff that you really shouldn’t do in front of anyone important.

You of course also learn 4 Bard spells like Cure Wounds and Healing Word for the atypical healing spells, Dissonant Whispers for some Hymn of Valor damage, and Detect Magic which you’ll likely be expected to cast as the designated support. *Sigh* Always gotta buy wards.

LEVEL 2 - BARD 2

Second level Bards could be called a Jack of All Trades, as you get to add half your proficiency bonus to any skill you aren’t proficient in. This means even if your ability scores are bad the skills you don’t have proficiency in are still good enough! You also get Song of Rest, letting your allies recover an extra d6 of health during Short Rests. And if you have Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Magical Inspiration will let your allies add their Bardic Inspiration to the damage or healing of a spell they cast!

And finally you can learn another spell: against as the designated support you’re expected to take Identify.

LEVEL 3 - BARD 3

Third level Bards get Expertise in two skills: Performance is an obvious must and Persuasion would probably be good as well.

But more importantly you get to choose your Bardic College and if you want to both shield your allies and speed them up look no further than the College of Glamour! That’s because Mantle of Inspiration grants 5 temporary hitpoints to a number of creatures within 60 feet of you equal to your Charisma modifier (which can include yourself by the way!) Additionally those creatures can move up to their movement speed as a reaction without provoking opportunity attacks, making this a great tool to reposition an ally who’s caught in a dangerous position!

You’re also capable of creating an Enthralling Performance: if you perform for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to inspire wonder in your audience. At the end of the performance you can choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a maximum equal to your Charisma modifier. Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you.

While charmed in this way, the target idolizes you, and speaks glowingly of you to anyone who talks to them. They also hinder anyone who opposes you, although they avoid violence unless it was already inclined to fight for you. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour unless they take any damage, you attack it, or it witnesses you attacking or damaging any of its allies. If a target succeeds on its saving throw the target has no hint that you tried to charm it, and you can use this ability once per Short or Long Rest.

Finally you can learn second level spells like Hold Person, for a one-man version of your ultimate.

LEVEL 4 - BARD 4

Ah the first of many Ability Score Improvements. You may have noticed our deliberately uneven Charisma modifier: that’s because I’m going to be taking the Fey Touched feat for +1 to your Charisma, the Misty Step spell (for Flash, of course), and the Gift of Alacrity spell from Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount for a Song of Celerity! Accelerated movement? I concur.

You can also learn another spell as well as another cantrip! For your cantrip take Mage Hand for help warding those hard-to-reach areas, and for your spell take Lesser Restoration, because yeah it’s also your job to buy Mikael’s. *Sigh.*

LEVEL 5 - BARD 5

5th level Bards get a Font of Inspiration that lets their Bardic Inspiration come back after a Short Rest as well as a Long Rest. That’s good because your Bardic Inspiration increases to a d8, which also boosts your Mantle of Inspiration to grant 8 temporary hitpoints!

You can also learn another spell like Hypnotic Pattern: while it won’t do any damage and your allies can’t hit the dancing enemies it’ll still be the best recreation of your ultimate for now.

(Artwork by Katie “TeaTime” De Sousa. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 6 - PALADIN 1

I hope you weren’t expecting this to be a pure Bard build, because then I’d just be building Seraphine again! Grab your something something Medium Armor as well as a shield (well technically you need both hands free to play a musical instrument) it’s Paladin time, master of auras!

Paladins get a Lay on Hands pool equal to 5 times their Paladin level for some more healing. You can touch a creature to give them any amount of health from your Lay on Hands, or use 5 hitpoints from your Lay on Hands pool to neutralize a poison or disease affecting them. You also get Divine Sense to locate any Celestial, Fiend, or Undead as long as they’re within 60 feet of you and not behind total cover. Don’t worry it gets a lot more exciting later.

LEVEL 7 - PALADIN 2

Second level Paladins can choose their Fighting Style and you’re still more of a mage than a warrior, so Blessed Warrior will give you two cantrips from the Cleric list that use your Charisma! Guidance is an obvious must for a support and Toll the Dead is a great option if you want to go full AP.

Should you have options for attacks to target enemies who have high Wisdom? Yeah probably: Sacred Flame might be a good choice.

Of course cantrips also imply more Spellcasting! You can prepare a number of spells equal to your Charisma modifier plus half your Paladin level (rounded down) which is currently a freaking lot of spells. Let’s just go down the list, shall we?

Bless is great to buff your team and make them harder, better, faster, and stronger.

Command is a mostly harmless Enchantment spell that will force your foes to do as you, well, command. I’d argue “dance” is a reasonable Command.

Protection from Evil and Good is never bad to have in your back pocket in case you’re fighting either Kayle or Fiddlesticks.

And Shield of Faith will let you boost your ADC’s survivability with Ardent Censer!

I know you can prepare more spells but there isn’t much I want from first level of Paladin. I am contractually obligated to mention that you can also turn your spell slots into a Divine Smite if you hit an enemy with a melee weapon, but you aren’t really going to be using weapons in this build. That’s right boys hop aboard the caster Paladin train!

LEVEL 8 - PALADIN 3

Third level Paladins get to choose their Sacred Oath and Oath of the Watchers may seem weird but it’s really good at defending your allies. That’s because you get two different Channel Divinity options: Abjure the Extraplanar works similarly to the Cleric’s Turn Undead feature except it affects Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, and Fiends.

Watcher’s Will meanwhile lets you choose a number of creatures you can see within 30 feet of you, up to your Charisma modifier. For 1 minute, you and the chosen creatures have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. This means that in a party of 6 this ability can give your whole party advantage on all mental saves, which is huge for keeping everyone alive against nasty casters! See? Demacia can use your magic!

Speaking of magic you get Alarm and Detect Magic as Oath spells. (Might want to swap Detect Magic from your Bard list with Mass Healing Word ty Tasha’s.) You can also use Harness Divine Power to regain a spell slot equal to half your proficiency bonus a number of times per Long Rest. And you get Divine Health, because you don’t take a sick day to stop complaining about Seraphine.

LEVEL 9 - PALADIN 4

4th level Paladins get another Ability Score Improvement: cap off that Charisma for maximum AP scaling!

(Artwork by Kelly Aleshire & Esben Lash Rasmussen. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 10 - PALADIN 5

5th level Paladins can finally prepare second level spells! As a Watchers Paladin you get access to Moonbeam as well as See Invisibility, both of which are very good for dealing with incoming gankers.

You can also prepare spells like Aid to boost your allies’ HP, Prayer of Healing (ty Tasha’s) for some out-of-combat healing, and Warding Bond for a Knight’s Vow.

Oh and you get an Extra Attack, which sure would matter if you were actually using weapons.

LEVEL 11 - PALADIN 6

6th level reasons get the main reason Sona’s a Paladin: Aura of Protection! All your saving throws are increased by an amount equal to your Charisma modifier, which is a full +5 currently! But what’s special about this ability is that it also applies to your allies within 10 feet of you, letting you give out auras a plenty to keep your allies safe!

You can also prepare another spell but again: not much I really want. So we’re going to be waiting a little while longer once again.

LEVEL 12 - PALADIN 7

7th level Watchers Paladins get Aura of the Sentinel, or as I like to call it: Song of Celerity. When you or any creature of your choice within 10 feet of you roll for initiative, they gain a bonus to initiative equal to your proficiency bonus. While this may make positioning a little difficult (everyone’s going to have to huddle around you) this ability guarantees that you can speed up all your important allies to make sure they get their powerful abilities off!

LEVEL 13 - PALADIN 8

8th level Paladins get another Ability Score Improvement or a Feat. You may have noticed your uneven Constitution score: grab good ol’ Resilient Constitution for a boost to your health and even more insurance on your Concentration checks. With your Paladin aura and proficiency you’d have a +12 total to your Constitution checks currently, meaning that if you take 24 damage or less you won’t even have to roll for Concentration!

LEVEL 14 - PALADIN 9

You are probably the only Paladin who cares about spells, so it’s nice that you get 3rd level spells now! Watchers Paladins get two very strong third level spells: Nondetection will help you deward and keep your allies safe from enemies that may try to sneak a peak at you, but Counterspell is the true best choice to stop danger from befalling your allies. What’s very good about Counterspell is that as a Bard you get to add Jack of All Trades to the skill check, meaning it’s far easier for you to deny an incomming spell than any other spellcaster! “Mages have enough problems without you.”

Of course you can prepare some more spells like Aura of Vitality for Aria of Perseverance, and Revivify for an ADC’s Guardian Angel. But having access to spells like Remove Curse, Dispel Magic, Crusader’s Mantle, and even Daylight on the Paladin spell list are all extremely useful to be able to prepare. Remember that you are doing yourself a disservice by not taking time to think about what the best spells to prepare would be for your current quest. "Every note is important."

(Artwork by Kelly Aleshire & Esben Lash Rasmussen. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 15 - BARD 6

Now that we’ve got all our auras it’s time to go back to Bard for Mantle of Majesty! As a bonus action, you cast Command without expending a spell slot as you take on an appearance of unearthly beauty for 1 minute. During that minute you can cast Command as a bonus action on each of your turns without expending a spell slot. Additionally any creature charmed by you automatically fails its saving throw against the command you cast with this feature. You do have to concentrate on this feature (like a spell), and once you use it you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

You can also learn another spell but there isn’t much I want from the third level of Bard, really. Oh and you get Countercharm which is awful and I hate it, but since you didn’t take a 10th level in Paladin I suppose you have to use it. Spend an action to give allies advantage on their saving throws against charms and fears, I guess.

LEVEL 16 - BARD 7

7th level Bard; 4th level spells. Freedom of Movement will let you help either yourself or an ally with Mikael’s Crucible, and Dimension Door is great to get into lane fast, or back to base fast!

LEVEL 17 - BARD 8

8th level Bards get another Ability Score Improvement, and if you don’t like the look of something something Medium Armor then the Eldritch Adept feat might be able to help. Take the Mask of Many Faces invocation to be able to cast Disguise Self at will to change your skins as you please.

Could you have taken this earlier? Absolutely. Are there better invocations? Yeah probably, but by level 17 you can make some of your own choices. Build your own Sona: this is merely a guide and you can make your own choices.

Speaking of own choices: take whichever spell you want at this level. There’s plenty of great ones for a 4th level Bard and I can’t recommend anything in particular to you. Every musician has their own style, and it’s up to you to find your own!

(Artwork by Yan Li. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 18 - BARD 9

9th level Bards get to pretend that increasing Song of Rest from a d6 to a d8 by total level 18 is helpful.

You do get access to 5th level spells like Mass Cure Wounds, which is like Mass Healing Word but better! "Harmoniously."

LEVEL 19 - BARD 10

10th level Bards get Expertise in two more skills: Perception is an obvious must to watch over your wards but beyond that? Honestly pick your poison with whatever skill you want since by level 19 you can make your own choices. (Though my personal choice would be Athletics to hopefully give some more safety against grapples.)

But of course the main boon of reaching level 10 in Bard is the Magical Secrets! ...I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you again: there honestly aren’t any spells in particular I want as Magical Secrets. Sure I could recommend spells like Haste or whatever but are they really going to be that great by total level 20? To be honest even the spells on the Bard list like Animate Objects, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Rary's Telepathic Bond, Scrying, and Synaptic Static are very good (although I’d sooner replace some of your old spells with them.)

Again I know this is supposed to be a “guide” but most people won’t hit level 19 anyways, so I don’t think it’s that bad for me to recommend you take your own steps to make your own Sona. Hell, build some AP if you want! I know I would!

LEVEL 20 - BARD 11

Our final level is the 11th level of Bard and I’ll be honest: it’s just to add Otto's Irresistible Dance to your spell list. It can only affect one person but it’s still your ultimate by total level 20.

Oh and you were supposed to get a cantrip last level. Uhhhhh I dunno take Mending lol.

FINAL BUILD

PROS

The rhythm connects us all - You have dozens of spells to keep your team alive and active during a fight, not to mention that all your Paladin auras and abilities really help them give 110%. It’s worth mentioning that Gift of Alacrity combined with Aura of the Sentinel is a d8 + 6 to an Initiative roll, which will almost always guarantee that whoever you want to go first will be going first!

A true masterpiece should celebrate living - Despite your somewhat weird level split you maxed out the only stat which matters for you: Charisma. And woah holy shit turns out Paladins are really good with maxed out Charisma! +5 to all saves means even your lowest save is a +4, and the saves your proficient in vary between +13 for Dexterity and Constitution (both very common!) and a whopping +16 save on Charisma!

Curtains up; I'm ready - Jack of All Trades also does quite nicely to help your middling skills. Even though I dumped most of your mental skills you’re still proficient enough that you won’t be completely helpless when caught off guard. And when you’re in the zone with Persuasion or Performance you are easily the best girl around!

CONS

Don't make me get off stage - It was my intention to recreate Sona’s positional gameplay with this build but it does present some gameplay issues when trying to maximize your effectiveness. Where do you position yourself as a character who’s still primarily a squishy caster despite your good saving throws and AC? Can you give everyone in your party support, or are they too spread out to get value out of your 10 foot range auras?

Quiet, please! - You have a damn good concentration check, but what do you concentrate on? Not only do you have a ton of spells but they all scale very good with levels and you have spell slots that go far higher than your maximum level spell. It can be hard to choose what to do with those 7th and 8th level slots.

The world is cruel... Until that changes, I'll never stop playing - One of many “meta” problems with this build was my choice to focus almost entirely on support. Sure Toll the Dead is a great damaging cantrip but your only two damaging spells are Moonbeam and Dissonant Whispers. Again: you don’t have to follow my build point-for-point and while you’ll be flamed in League for building Sona full AP I don’t think your friends will mind if you take some damaging spells.

But if you can’t tell it was really hard for me to come up with those downsides. With the exception of the positional requirements a Bardadin is a very strong build and Sona is a very strong support. Boost your teammates with your own amazing power and make sure everyone’s alive and jamming! Your power may have been forgotten over the years but no one’s ever upset to have a great support at their side. And remember: Seraphine may be in K/DA but you’re in Pentakill, and you have your own label! No one can replace DJ Sona!

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#dnd #dnd 5e #dnd build #dnd guide #League of Legends #League of Legends Sona #Sona #Seraphine didn't replace her #shut the fuck up #dnd bard #dnd paladin #music #Youtube

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cosmiceverafter · 3 years

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My @malexsanta Secret Santa gift for @gra-sonas 🎁🎄 I was thrilled to give you a Malex gift this year. You're one of my absolute favorites and such a dear friend. You wanted all the holiday cheer: Christmas ornaments, cookie recipe, market, and FLUFF! I hope this domestic fic truly delivers, brings joy to your holiday season, and fills your heart with warmth during the hiatus. I love you, hun! Xoxo. ❤️️💚

(PS: there's a little surprise in this fic, just for you, inspired by you)

***

Christmas Cookies & Holiday Hearts

"You know, this will be our first Christmas together. Officially."

As Michael says the words, Alex glances over at him, and his heart skips a beat. How is it that his alien still manages to take his breath away after so much time?

Alex smiles and gradually runs his fingertips up and down Michael's strong arm, feeling the smooth skin there. "You're right, even though I know you've tried to get me under a mistletoe for years."

"I mean, yeah...." Michael beams. His tan shoulders shrug as he kisses Alex's chest softly, "You aren't wrong, babe. Who could deny those luscious lips?"

Michael's fingers slowly trail up Alex's chest, which currently has imprints of his lover's glowing handprints left lovingly due to their intimacy with each other.

When he sees them, Alex knows with certainty that their love can move mountains and is capable of expanding through galaxies.

As Alex feels the calluses of Michael's hands on his body and now his lips, he closes his eyes to embrace the effect it manages to bring. It's as if a spark of electricity courses through his veins and ignites his soul. That's the only way he can explain it.

Nothing ever compares to this—what they have together in these silent moments. Alex will always cherish this peace with his loved one.

After a moment of soft loving caresses, Michael's smile disappears. Alex knows he's traveling deeper into that intelligent mind of his, the way he always seems to do these days. "But here's the thing, I want it to be special, meaningful. Christmases were never something to be excited about for me, you know? Just another shitty day."

Alex holds his breath but nods. Unfortunately, he knows precisely what Michael means. Though different, the events of their past, parallel each other in many forms worth forgetting. Alex's upbringing was painful in its way. Still, Alex wishes Michael, his sweet, brilliant alien, could have been spared the misery.

All Michael Guerin has ever wanted was a home, to feel like he belongs on this planet, and Alex wants to spend the rest of his life giving him precisely that.

"So, you've never done anything memorable during the holiday season? Not once?"

Michael raises an eyebrow as if to announce come on, but then he suddenly laughs as a memory resurfaces, "Well...there was that one time Sanders and I attempted to bake Christmas cookies for his customers."

Alex smirks as he imagines how that scene played out. A younger Michael Guerin, who was in-and-out of the foster system, and the older man with one good eye, baking in a small trailer. "And uh, how did that turn out?" Even though he can take a wild guess.

Michael shakes his head as his golden curls bounce and sway. He holds up his arm, "Badly, I have a battle scar from the process."

There is a slight white mark on the inside of Michael's arm, which looks a bit like a four-leaf clover. Alex has always wondered about it. "Damn, and here I thought that was a lucky birthmark."

"Darlin', the only good luck charm in my life is you. Never forget that." Alex feels his heart flutter in his chest at Michael's words, and Michael gently kisses Alex's forehead. But before Alex can return the sentiment, his love continues, "But yeah, Sanders' oven was old as hell at the time, and I guess no one taught me not to stick my whole damn arm right on the rack. Sanders felt awful about it. Poor guy."

"Were the cookies at least good?"

There's a sparkle in Michael's eyes as he says, "You know what? They were. I need to find that damn recipe—it has to be somewhere. Then maybe I can take the old man one, even though you are the better baker." His fingers lace together with Alex's, and Alex gives him a loving squeeze.

"You're right, I am," Alex smirks as he wiggles his eyebrows. "But I would be happy to help you. Sanders would seriously love that!"

Alex looks down at their hands still together. He is so happy that Michael now spends so much time with Walt. It is not a boss-employee type of relationship, but more of a familial one. After everything they had both been through, this progression felt natural. And if he's honest, Alex loves seeing Michael finally opening up to others, the way he does with Alex.

Michael nods and grins, "Done." His caramel eyes gaze at Alex, and he turns over to his side. "But I want new memories, too. Truthfully, besides the cookie disaster, I've never had anyone to share the holidays with."

Again, Alex knows all too deeply what he means, "I know the feeling, my love. I've always admired Christmas from a distance, and it seemed...well, always on the outside looking in." He squeezes Michael's hand tightly through the sheets once more, "I'm thankful to have you by my side. We're both on this journey together."

"Baby, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather share the memories with." Michael brings the back of Alex's hand to his lips, "Always and forever."

****

The next day, Alex and Michael decide to go Christmas shopping for their friends, who were more like their found family at this point.

Roswell had turned festive overnight, and it warms Alex's heart as if he were sitting by the crackling embers.

Truthfully, he loves the magic that comes with Christmas: The twinkling lights aglow; the cheerful, upbeat, and often, repetitive music; the smiling faces of those who don't wait till the last minute to shop; the smell of cinnamon sugar baked goods; and the falling snow—when they were lucky enough to get some.

For the first time, Roswell has even set up a Christmas Market like the ones you'd see in Europe. Alex's desert town has turned into a quaint storybook village.

Somebody has strung up multicolored lights between the small buildings, with brightly colored booths, side-by-side. There are reindeer attached to strings high up in the air, and a magnificent tall Christmas tree is sparkling within the town square. Above the tree is a halo of orange lights, symbolizing their golden desert sun.

It brightens both their spirits to witness the magic created. As Alex and Michael walk around, they hear the soft holiday music surrounding them, which only rekindles their melody passion.

They travel to each booth as they look for treasures to buy for their loved ones. Alex also keeps his eyes open for something unique he can get his Michael, but nothing quite captures his glance.

"Look at this!" Michael calls in the distance. He's standing in front of a lovely booth with peppermint designs on the awning and dangling glimmering white lights.

Alex sees what Michael is holding—it's a beautiful guitar ornament. Painted on the guitar are swirls of green, blue, and black, sparkled with stars symbolizing the night sky.

"Wow..." he says in response. "It's breathtaking."

Michael winks and bumps his shoulder lightly into Alex's, "Pretty cosmic, eh?"

"I'll say," Alex agrees as his grin widens.

"It was clearly made for us," Michael acknowledges as he wraps a strong arm around Alex's waist, "I think it would be the perfect ornament for our first tree together."

Alex kisses Michael softly on the lips, "I couldn't agree more, my love."

****

"So, you have no idea what you're getting him?"

Michael looks over at Isobel feeling exhausted, not at all how he felt when shopping with Alex, "Obviously not, that's why we're here, Iz."

"Michael, Christmas is less than one week away, and we're sitting in some random store, shopping for the love of your life, and you don't have a clue about a special gift for him?"

"Yup, that sounds about right."

Isobel shakes her lengthy blond hair back-and-forth. "Have I taught you nothing over the years?"

Michael groans, "Remind me again why I asked you to come with me?"

His alien sis just shrugs, "Because I'm brilliant, and it's obvious you need me. I would even add the word 'desperately.'"

"No...I don't recall that being the reason," Michael teases as he slings his arm lovingly over her shoulders. "You just love this stuff."

"You're right, I do. It's the best holiday these humans celebrate!" They both laugh, but Isobel kisses his cheek, "Listen, deep down somewhere underneath that dirty white tee of yours, you've gotta have an inkling of what you want to get him."

Well, if he had a clue, he would know it, wouldn't he?

But then Michael freezes as he sees something across the store, "Um, wow...that was fast, but you're right, I do."

Isobel pops a hip out, "Told you so."

"Yeah, the only problem is I'm not sure how he'll react to it."

Isobel smiles genuinely, "You know your man; you always have. Go with your instinct, Michael. I mean, word around this town is that they call you a genius or something." She gives him a look as she ruffles up his curls. "But pull away from that mind for once and go with that heart of yours. I, for one, know it's a pretty damn good one."

Michael snickers but truthfully feels loved, "You could write a self-help book, you know that?"

She winks and bites her red-stained lip, "Who says I haven't already?"

"Give your brother a signed copy. He'll appreciate it."

"As if," Isobel rolls her eyes, "You know Max wouldn't read it. That poor miserable fool who I love dearly." She pauses but adds, "So, Mr. Guerin, what'll it be? You going to listen to your heart?"

Michael narrows his eyes at the prize. Already knowing the answer to her question, he decides to let his heart follow the lead.

****

"A little to the left, babe!" Michael calls out to Alex as they attempt to fit the oversized tree through the cabin door. "Darlin', my left."

They spent the evening looking for the perfect tree, as it was their official first Christmas together. However, they ended up going with a taller sparse, and lopsided pine because, truthfully, life wasn't perfect, and neither were they.

Life is what you make it, and Michael is confident they can make this tree as bright as his heart feels when he's around Alex.

"There, perfect spot by the window," Alex smiles beautifully, pulling Michael back into the present moment as he nods in agreement.

"I should've tried harder not to get it through the door, though. Those muscles of yours are worth staring at a bit longer."

"Well, hold that thought, Guerin, because I'm hungry for food at the moment," Alex replies as he wraps his arms around Michael. "I'm thinking of soup; it's chilly tonight. Maybe it'll even snow."

Michael runs his fingers on Alex's thick biceps, feeling hungry for something else, "I doubt it. The forecast didn't show it. And knowing our little city, we'll probably end up having a heatwave tomorrow."

"Hey now," Alex remarks, looking deeply into Michael's eyes, "you never can know future outcomes."

Michael smiles mischievously, "I dunno...I think your future looks pretty damn bright tonight, babe."

"Is that a promise?" Alex asks, clearly flirting back.

"Always, darlin'.'"

They lean in to share a long lingering kiss, but before it turns too heated, Michael's belly moans in betrayal. Alex pulls back as he chuckles, "Raincheck for later, okay? I'm going to start dinner. Can you set up the tree so we can decorate afterward?"

Michael glares down at his stomach for the interruption but nods, "Absolutely." He moves his fingers, "I do know how to use these hands."

Alex grins in that sexy way of his as he walks into the kitchen, "Don't I know it."

Michael loves this. He loves that he decided to take the leap of faith and move in with Alex. This cabin has become their oasis, his true home. And here with Alex, he feels like he finally has a place here on earth.

Everything they had been through, even the pain, was worth it to get to this moment. Michael can't help but feel tears form in his eyes as he feels overwhelmed in gratitude.

While Alex moves around in the kitchen, Michael cheats a bit to get the tree set up. His powers hover the pine in the air as Michael uses his hands to set up the tree stand. As he moves the small box of ornaments and lights over from the closet, Michael smiles as he hears Alex humming a new song as he cooks.

Michael wants to live here in this domestic bliss forever.

Alex brings out his home-cooked meal, and damn, Michael thinks as he eats, his man knows how to cook. After they eat the delicious soup, Michael scrubs the plates as Alex makes them each a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows, just the way Michael likes it. When the kitchen is clean, they sip on the chocolatey warmth as they string lights and decorate their tree.

"Here's our new one," Alex says as he holds their new cosmic ornament in his hand.

"That's a special one that needs to go right in front," Michael replies, as he hangs it up, hand-in-hand with Alex. "There."

Alex leans over and kisses his cheek, which warms Michael's heart. "It's perfect."

"You're perfect," Michael states as he leans his head onto Alex's shoulder. Alex slides his arm around his waist. Their movements are continuously in sync, and they are always somehow touching.

As Alex's fingers softly graze over the skin on his hip, Michael knows what kind of touch he desires right this moment, "Now, how about we curl up by the fire, and I show you just how talented my hands can be?"

"Yes, I could use the reminder," Alex responds with a slow grin.

They quickly light the fire, then Alex gives Michael the look as he pulls him towards the couch.

Being so helplessly caught up in each other, they miss the first few snowflakes that fall in Roswell.

****

It's cold out, but worth the trip. Alex gives the nod towards Michael, who taps gently on Sanders' trailer door.

Michael shifts uncomfortably, but Alex is proud of him for facing the emotions he knows his love feels inside.

After Sanders admitted to trying to adopt Michael, it indeed did something to Michael's heart. He opened up more, and Alex knew that Michael slowly realized he was always wanted and truly loved where it counted. It did something to Sanders too. Alex could almost see the young boy Walt coming through when they spoke now. There was a twinkle in his eye, and he would share memories with a smile instead of sadness.

They felt like a family.

That's why they had talked before coming to the old man's house with the cookies. There is something big that Michael wants to do, but Alex knows he's scared.

Alex is by his side the entire time.

Sanders opens the door with a smile, "Oh, Michael! Alex! Welcome! I wasn't expecting you." He shakes his shirt with a look of embarrassment.

"We wanted to surprise you!" Alex says with a grin. He shakes the old man's hand.

Sanders pats the back of his hand lightly, "I'm glad you did. Please, come in, you two. It's actually cold out."

Michael takes a big breath and follows Sanders inside.

When inside, Michael hands him the cookies, "Merry early Christmas."

"Oh! These look delicious," Sanders says admiringly.

"I'm not sure if you remember, but these are the exact cookies we made that one Christmas together."

Sanders looks up at Michael with surprise, "Truly? The... 'burn on the arm' year?"

Michael nods with a jokingly wince, "The very one."

Sanders blows out hard, "Well, it always pained me that you got burned on that damn old oven of mine, but I must say, those cookies were superb, weren't they?"

"They were, burned and all."

"And you baked these all by yourself? Uh, should I be scared?" Sanders teases with a nudge.

"Nah, I had some guidance," Michael mentions as he casually puts his arm around Alex.

Alex shrugs, "I barely helped at all. Michael here did an excellent job. I tried one, so I can promise you that you'll survive." He winks at Michael.

"Oh, phew! That's a relief," Sanders chuckles. "Michael, where did you find the recipe?"

"In the garage, it was in a wooden box on one of your shelves. The one that's slightly tilting. I remembered you putting it in there." Michael taps his head, "I'm pretty observant if you haven't already noticed."

Sanders sighs with a lopsided grin, "You get it from me, I think." He pops one in his mouth. "Wow, absolutely delicious." After he chews, he looks towards Michael with an expression of gratitude. "Well, thank you, son, this means a lot to me."

Alex knows what the word son does to Michael, its effect on him, and Michael shifts awkwardly. He looks over to Alex for reassurance, and Alex holds his hand, comforting him the best way he knows how.

His strength, after all, is linked to Michael's. They go together in every way that matters.

"That's not the only thing I brought for you," Michael whispers. He reaches into his back pocket and hands Sanders the envelope.

"Oh, a Christmas card?"

"Um, well, not exactly," Michael replies as he squeezes Alex's hand tighter.

Sanders puts on his reading glasses and switches the lights on brighter in the trailer. He opens the envelope and starts to read. The small smile on his face begins to fall, and he becomes nonplussed.

Alex acknowledges that Michael gets uncomfortable, maybe even nervous, but Alex knows that Sanders is touched.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Sanders looks up, and his eyes are full of tears. His voice comes out raspy and hoarse as he asks, "You sure? You want that?"

"More than anything," Michael responds, his voice also full of emotion. "If you'll have me, of course."

"It would be an honor, son." Sanders sets the adoption papers onto his small wooden table and pulls Michael tightly in his arms. "You've always felt like mine, anyway."

"I think my mom would be happy about this," Michael cries, letting the tears fall down his face. It's the most beautiful sight to witness, and Alex can't help but let go, too.

Sanders nods and closes his eye as he holds his son, "You know, my boy, I think she would."

****

A few days before Christmas, Alex and Michael decide to throw a little festive party at the cabin. They spent the morning stringing up lights outside, getting the drink station ready, and preparing their friend's gifts around the tree.

It was perfect.

Isobel is the first to arrive, of course, and she brings so many gifts, she can hardly get through the door, "Hello? A little help here, Michael?"

"I'm coming. I'm coming!"

Alex finishes up in the kitchen, and even though the feast smells delicious, Michael's man looks good enough to eat.

Soon after Isobel has her martini in hand, the others follow suit.

Liz and Kyle come together, hand-in-hand, and Michael prays it won't be awkward with Max. Gregory shows up, and Isobel immediately wraps her arms around him. Michael and Alex share a knowing smile, especially when she holds a mistletoe above his head. Then Maria and Mimi head inside with a few bottles of wine. With holes in the top, Rosa brings a large box inside, making Michael wonder what it is, but Arturo follows with a banana cream pie from the diner, and the rest is history. Sanders joins, of course, and Michael can't help but hug him longer than the rest. And finally, his boy Max.

Luckily everyone gets along perfectly. The group has been through so much together that they make a toast for a fresh new beginning.

Everyone at the party finally knows about the aliens being, well, aliens, and swore to protect them. The secret has bonded and united them in ways Michael never expected.

The group mingles as they sip their drinks, and Michael looks around the room at his friends and family, feeling lucky. He made a life for himself in Roswell, and as he looks towards the love of his existence, Michael knows it's time.

He takes a moment to just stare at Alex, and suddenly he's beyond grateful he listened to his heart.

Alex is the one for him. Michael now understands that this human was his reason for coming to this planet—they were written in the stars long ago, destined to be together.

This is why Michael stands up bravely, walks towards Alex, and gets down on one knee.

Michael opens the little black box he got in the store with Isobel and reveals a silvery gray tantalum band, one he knows will fit Alex perfectly.

Isobel hushes everyone down and clasps her hands together as she sends Michael a wink from across the room. Max also gives Michael an encouraging nod, which provides him with the strength he needs at that moment.

Michael stares up at the man he adores, and Alex's perfect mouth falls open. Taking his love's hand, Michael finally finds his voice, "Alex Manes, you are my whole world. When we were teens, you looked at me in music class and sparked something deep inside me; something I didn't quite understand, but it was there with me all along. And when we kissed for the first time, you woke me up to the life I had always dreamed of having. You are that dream, Alex. You are my family, and you've given me a place to call home. I have loved you from the beginning, and I'll love you to the very end." Michael takes a deep breath, "I would be the happiest alien on earth if you would yes. So please, darlin', will you marry me?"

Alex gleams as tears fill those beautiful eyes, "We truly are linked...."

"What...what do you mean?" Michael whispers, but Alex immediately joins him on the floor, kneeling in front of him.

Alex pulls out an emerald velvet box and opens it. Inside is an engraved bronze band that matches the color of Michael's eyes. He holds his breath as the rest of the world fades away. "I mean, you beat me to it even though I've had this ring since we officially got together." Alex places his hand to Michael's face and strokes his cheek gently. "I was waiting for our first Christmas together because I wanted to give us both a happy memory to erase all the bad ones. The plan was going to ask Walt for his approval, which he wholeheartedly gave." They both look at Sanders, who nods with a loving grin. "And then I'd get down on one knee in front of all our loved ones and ask if you'd continue to create this life together with me, a true home." Then Alex holds Michael's hand again, "All I can say is that I love you more than I could ever begin to put into words, and I'm asking you if you'd do me the honor in marrying me?"

Michael doesn't realize he's crying until he feels the drops land on his outstretched hand. "Oh my God, Alex...."

"Is that a yes?"

Michael laughs softly as he strokes the back of Alex's hand gently, "I believe I asked you first, darlin'."

Alex nods with a breathtaking smile, tears flickering those beautiful dark eyes, "Of course I will. A hundred times, yes!" He leans in closer to Michael, "And you?"

"That would be a hell yes, baby!" He hears a whoop from one of his friends in the background, but then Michael gets serious. "It's always been a yes for me." Michael cups Alex's face, "You're my human, Alex Manes."

"That's Alex Sanders if you don't mind."

Michael looks over at his adoptive father again, who's now wiping his eyes and positively glowing. Michael kisses Alex's lips, "I don't mind a bit."

As they finish their first engaged kiss, their friends cheer, cry, and hug them both tightly, then Isobel giggles, "Is now a good time to give you two our gift?"

"Go for it, Scooby Squad," Michael exclaims as he takes Alex's hand in his own, never wanting to let go.

Isobel looks to the room they had closed, "Okay, Rosa, bring her out!"

Michael and Alex exchange a look. Bring who out?

And before Michael can overthink it, Rosa comes out holding a beagle puppy. "It's a rescue. The shelter I volunteer at found her abandoned on the side of the road."

"We thought it would be perfect for you two, plus, remember that dinner we had a couple of weeks ago?" Isobel says as she looks towards Alex. "You practically said you were going to start looking for one. I remember you saying, 'the cabin is much too quiet, I think we need to get a dog.'"

Alex laughs and takes the small puppy into his arms, "I don't recall those were my exact words, but it doesn't matter; she's perfect."

"Lost without a family," Michael says, petting the puppy's long ears, "sounds like the two of us all right."

"You mean a found family!" Liz calls out. "Just like all of us."

Alex looks at Michael and nods. Michael smiles back, "We love her. Thank you, everyone!"

"I knew this pup would be a part of your future," Mimi exclaims, and Michael watches Alex wink at her. "She's a gentle soul. I'm happy she'll have you two."

"Best dog daddies ever," Maria smiles happily. Everyone in the room has what seems to be permanent heart-eyes. "We will miss her, though! She's been staying with us."

"Well, you know you all are welcome here anytime!" Alex says.

"What will you name her?" Gregory asks as Isobel leans back into his arms.

"How about Kyletta?" Michael laughs as he looks towards Kyle. "Kyletta Barklenti."

"Real funny, alien boy," Kyle responds, as he rolls his eyes looking reasonably amused. He looks over at the food, "How about Bagel? You seemed to be pretty obsessed with those today, Guerin. I mean, how many did you actually eat?"

"I was hungry!" Michael retorts, "You didn't bring nearly enough to share."

"Okay, okay," Alex intervenes as he shakes his head. Michael enjoys ruffling Kyle's feathers, but Michael doesn't mind the guy beneath his human annoyances. He's a good friend to Alex, making him a good man in Michael's book.

"So, what are you going to name her then?" Max asks from across the room.

"Yeah, I mean, you don't actually have to name her after a food," Kyle teases.

"No," Michael grins, "you know what, Doc? I like it. Bagel. It has that—"

"Bagel! Yes, call her Bagel. I love it!" Isobel interrupts.

"Not again..." Michael groans quietly. Isobel + anything bagel = interruptions, which is a no-go, especially when it comes to Alex.

After they finalize the name, everyone gushes over the puppy and their rings. They eat, share stories, and finish opening gifts.

The day is perfect in every way. Even on the Hallmark channel, they don't make them better than this.

Michael holds Bagel in his arm and takes a break from the crowd. He sits on the couch in the living room, and the puppy folds up into his lap, falling asleep as Michael rubs her ears.

After a moment or two, someone strokes his shoulder lightly, and he looks up to see his fiancé's beautiful face. Michael feels immensely grateful, not for the first time this holiday season.

Alex scoots in close and whispers in Michael's ear, "So, my love, would you say this Christmas is worth remembering?"

Michael pulls Alex in his arms, "Yes, darlin'. I've never been happier in my life." He takes Alex's hand with the ring and kisses it. "Our family is already growing."

"It sure is," Alex says, putting his forehead against Michael's as he strokes Bagel's soft fur.

They sit there for a while, just the three of them, with the comforting hum of loved ones surrounding them.

"Wow...Look, Michael." Michael looks out the window to see it snowing. The snowflakes fall to the ground in a swirling dance. It reminds Michael of their life together, new and old memories, coming together in a story of love.

Michael feels complete peace in his heart as Alex says, "Merry Christmas, my love."

It was merry, and their future, well, Michael knows it will be very bright as long as they always have each other.

"I love you," Michael answers.

Alex's reply is the kiss they share and would continue sharing for the rest of their days.

#malexsanta #malexsanta2020 #malex #roswell new mexico #malex fic #alex manes #michael guerin

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lamesiscanon · 3 years

Text

Mistletoe

Day 5 of the holiday prompt list posted by @remus-john-lupin I also did not read this again for mistakes so pardon those... anyways,

The plan was christened as Sirius Black’s Five Step Method to Get Remus Lupin to Date Him. Or as James called it, Desperation at its Finest. It came together on a rather ordinary Wednesday evening in the dorm, where Sirius was lazily flicking sparks at James’ feet as the other boy slept. The appeal came from the quiet giggles and words like “Lily, stop that tickles” James would mumble sleepily, delighting Sirius to no end. This was prime blackmail material that Sirius would most definitely use as an advantage in the next coming weeks.

Sirius had to bite his sleeve to keep his laughter from waking him up when James started puckering his lips against his pillow. Though, it turned out to be all for naught when Peter threw the door open with a bang.

“Whazzat?” James sat up on his bed with his wand held out, though he held onto the wrong end. Sirius quickly hid his own under his duvet and turned his attention towards Peter, who was out of breath and full of sweat.

“SIRIUS!” Peter shouted in a way of greeting, dumping his bag on the floor and slamming the door shut once again.

“PETE!” Sirius met his words with equal enthusiasm, though he had no idea what this was about.

“JAMES!” James joined in, always ready to match his friends energy. Peter ignored him.

“Sirius, I just overheard a conversation in the library and Emmeline Vance is planning on asking Remus to the Christmas dance.” Peter let out in one breath as he searched through his trunk, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill.

“What?” Sirius and James both yelled in a panic, to which Peter explained everything he had overheard in the Library. Emmi’s Hufflepuff roommates had apparently talked her into asking Remus to the dance after Emmi herself complained about not knowing who to go with. Sona Pearce had suggested Remus because he was tall, kind, smart, and most importantly, mysterious as hell. The rest of the Hufflepuff girls had giggled at that, talking excitedly about how quiet and secretive Remus was. It was decided then, and declared by Emmeline that she would ask Remus Lupin to the Christmas dance. Peter had immediately run out of the library all the way to Gryffindor tower.

And so that’s how Sirius Black’s Five Step Method to Get Remus Lupin to Date Him was born. Peter, as the scribe, James as the voice of reason, and Sirius as the anxiety ridden idiot in love. Together, they came up with the perfect plan to squash all of Emmeline Vance’s hopes and dreams. (Though, Sirius didn’t think she’d be too sad in the end, since she apparently didn’t have an actual crush on Remus.)

Sirius Black’s Five Step Method to Get Remus Lupin to Date Him (Desperation at its Finest) ((Shut the fuck up, James))

Step 1: Make sure Remus avoids running into Emmi Vance at all times.

Step 2: Subtly show Remus that I, Sirius Black, am perfect boyfriend material.

Step 3: Ask Remus to the Christmas dance.

Step 4: Get Remus under the charmed mistletoe and kiss him until he forgets his name. (Stick your tongue down his throat) (Gettin’ Jiggy with it) (Peter, for the love of God, please never say that again.)

Step 5: Ask Remus on a date, become boyfriends, fall in love, get married, live happily ever after.

The first steps were surprisingly easy. Sirius managed to execute them without any complications, which was rare for a Marauder’s plan. The map came in handy when the first step was still in motion. All it took was a quick glance at the map after each class to make sure that they wouldn’t run into Emmeline on their way to the next class. A couple of times it was unavoidable, but Sirius would usually engage Remus in a conversation so he wouldn’t notice Emmeline trying to get his attention. And for the one time that Emmeline actually tried to come up to Remus and talk to him, Peter set off a well-timed dung bomb that set everyone running for fresh, clean air. He’d gotten detention for that, but Sirius was grateful enough to finish his potions homework for him for the next week.

Step two was just as easy since Sirius usually complimented Remus on a daily basis and would help him with Transfiguration and Runes (the only classes Remus didn’t have the highest marks). He stepped up the game just a little by giving Remus his favorite sweets from a secret Hogsmeade run and organized his part of the dorm room before and after the full. Remus hadn’t acted like it was out of the ordinary, but he did thank Sirius and even gave him one of those secret smiles the two usually shared, so Sirius counted it as a very successful win.

Sirius was almost sure he failed the whole thing when it came to the third step, though. Actually asking Remus out brought up nerves that he usually only felt right before quidditch games. It ended up being a spur of the moment thing when the two were alone in the dorm, when Remus was getting dressed and Sirius was pretending not to watch. Sirius blurted the question before he could prepare himself for it. He thought the plan was completely fucked when Remus had only stared at him for a moment, confusion and concern evident all over his face. Sirius almost took it back, was about to play it off as a joke when Remus smiled and said “Sure, Pads. That sounds like a lot of fun.”

In the days leading up the the Christmas dance, Sirius learned that the fourth step wasn’t going to be as easy. Regular mistletoe wasn’t proving to be enough, so Sirius had to resort himself to charmed mistletoe, which backfired horribly when Peter had accidentally gotten stuck with him. Much to both of their disappointment, the charmed magic on the stupid plant didn’t settle for any cheek kisses.

The one who the charmed mistletoe was actually meant for had jumped out of the way at the last second, but Peter hadn’t been so lucky. It frustrated Sirius, that Remus seemed to have memorized the layout of all mistletoe decorations around the castle and avoided it well. So far Sirius had been resigned to kissing Both Prewett twins (separate occasions, thank Merlin), Dorcas Meadowes, Sona Pearce, Isaac Ure, and poor Peter all because Remus was apparently afraid of mistletoe.

The actual day of the Christmas dance made Sirius feel excited, nervous, and frustrated in one go, but his hopes were up that tonight would be the night he could get Remus alone and under the damned magical plant.

Remus was getting ready in the boy’s dorm while Sirius was dragged up to Lily’s because apparently it was “more romantic” to wait and see each other until they met up at the common room entrance. At least Sirius got the perk of having Marlene do his eyeliner.

As reluctant as he was to admit it, Lily was actually right about the extra romantic thrill of seeing Remus after walking out of the Fat Lady’s portrait. He cleaned up well, with a set of dark maroon robes that went well with his dirty blonde curls and honey eyes. Merry fucking hippogriffs, Sirius could barely manage from swooning straight to the ground when those eyes met his. And that stupid, beautiful smile that Remus gave him when those honey eyes took in every inch of Sirius. He was completely fucked.

Sirius was fucked when Remus laughed as the teachers took the first dance, he was fucked when Remus ate a sugar quill from the refreshments table, and he was fucked when a hand grabbed his to pull him out on the dance floor for their own dance. The night was one of the best of Sirius’ life, yet he still hadn’t managed to get Remus under the mistletoe. He got distracted by dancing with Remus once the music turned into more upbeat stuff, and then they met up with James, Peter, and their dates and sat around for hours laughing and talking about other couples they could see on the dance floor.

James nudged Sirius at one point, motioning to where Emmeline was dancing with Benjy Fenwick. Apparently Emmi Vance had a type, which was tall and smart bookish boys.

Sirius got so caught up in joking with Remus and Lily that he didn’t hear the announcement for the last song. Lily had been dragged away by her date, leaving Remus and Sirius alone at their table near the refreshments.

“Come on, let’s finish the Christmas dance with a bang.” Remus said, holding out his hand for Sirius to take. Sirius was so excited to dance with Remus that he didn’t even process the fact that this was the end of the night and he still hasn’t kissed Remus.

In the middle of their jumping around and screaming, Remus pulled out his wand and made an unrecognizable motion to Sirius, but before he could ask, Remus put his wand away and continued to dance. The crowd cried for an encore when the song ended, nobody wanted to leave just yet. The band relented, though they announced that this was going to be a slow dance. Sirius shyly took Remus’ offered hand and led them both across the floor in twirls and slow sways.

The night was actually perfect. Even in Sirius didn’t get to kiss Remus, he always had tomorrow, or the next day, or even the next. He just wanted to be in this moment with Remus as they swayed and laughed, completely oblivious to everyone else around them.

“So I found something interesting today.” Remus spoke, jolting Sirius from his thoughts.

“Oh yeah?” Sirius asked, curious as to what Remus found and thought interesting enough to bring up during their dance.

Remus smiled, reaching into the pocket of his maroon dress robes and pulled out a small piece of parchment that was torn at the edges. It sort of looked familiar...

“Sirius Black’s Five Step Method to Get Remus Lupin to Date Him.” Remus read aloud. “I thought it sounded quite interesting, so I picked it up.”

“Moony, no! You weren’t supposed to see that!” Sirius let of Remus’ waist to grab the parchment out of his hands, but Remus was quick at dodging the attempts.

“Oh Merlin...” Sirius groaned, completely embarrassed. He wished that whatever deity was above would just smite him right then and there.

“Well, it has my name on it so I didn’t have any qualms about reading it...” Remus cleared his throat and shook out the parchment to prepare reading the rest.

“Step one, make sure Remus avoids running into Emmi Vance at all times. This one was interesting, since I have no idea what Emmeline has to do with any of this.”

“She was going to ask you to the dance...” Sirius muttered. He was pretty sure this is the reddest his face has ever been, and there was no way to stop this torture.

“Ah, I see. Step two,” Remus continued, “Subtly show that I, Sirius Black, and perfect boyfriend material.”

All Sirius could do was smack his hand to his face and keep wishing that he could somehow disappear from this whole mess.

“Step three, ask Remus to the Christmas dance.” Remus read, sounding more amused as the moment dragged on. “Now, since we’re both here at said dance, I can only assume you deemed the first three steps successful, right?”

Sirius didn’t answer, but Remus apparently wasn’t actually looking for one, he just continued reading.

“Step four, get Remus under the charmed mistletoe and kiss him until he forgets his name.”

They had stopped dancing at this point. Sirius was pretty sure it was because of him being to embarrassed to do anything but cover his face and listen as Remus read his own plan aloud to him. He felt rooted to the spot, no matter how much he wanted to run away and hide until graduation. Maybe the room of requirement would be a good place to live until then...

“I laughed and James’ and Peter’s inputs here. And suddenly, all your mistletoe mishaps made sense. It was hard to watch actually, nearly crushed all my hopes, but when I found this it all started to make sense.” Remus waved the parchment again and Sirius heard it flap.

“Remus, please stop. I’m so sorry, okay? I promise I can just avoid you if you want that, but- wait? Did you say I crushed your hopes?” Sirius finally took his hand off his face, looking at Remus for the first time since he started reading. He expected to find disgust, but instead he saw Remus smiling that same, sweet, secret smile that they shared between the two of them.

“Well, duh.” Remus shrugged, still holding that damned piece of parchment. “I don’t think anyone would like to watch the guy they fancy kiss six other people.”

Sirius could only gape while his brain floundered for words to say.

“You- you fancy me?” It came out as a whisper.

“Of course I do, you daft mutt. Only for the past two years or so. How could I not?” Remus smiled again, and Sirius realized that the way he was looking at him was the same way Sirius would look at Remus when he thought the other boy wasn’t looking. Oh. This revelation brought back all of Sirius’ confidence, it seemed. He put his hand back on Remus’ waist to pull him just a little bit closer and plastered a smirk on his face.

“Well then, what am I going to do about step four? It’s been bloody hard to check that one off, you know.”

Remus laughed, and then pointed at the ceiling above him, revealing a single spot of charmed mistletoe. Well, that explains why Sirius felt so rooted to the ground earlier, then. And it explained Remus’ random wand movement earlier.

Sirius’ thoughts were cut off again, but he was more pleased by the cause this time. The pair of softest lips he’d ever felt were pushed against his own, and he hummed, perfectly content.

Remus was kissing him, Remus was kissing him!

The song ended, and people around them applauded the band for their night of well-played music but Sirius and Remus didn’t even notice. Their own thought were filled with only each other. It was the best night of Sirius’ life.

“Well,” Remus broke away, breathless from their kiss but still smiling, “You’ve already asked me out, and you got your kiss, so what’s next?”

Sirius laughed and pretended to think about it for a moment, head tilting side to side. Remus smacked him on the shoulder to hurry him along.

“I’m pretty sure the next step was to become boyfriends.” Sirius beamed.

“And happily ever after will come later.” Remus agreed, and then his lips were back on Sirius’ while both boys were completely oblivious to the rest of the people around them.

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theheartsmistakes · 3 years

Text

Any Other Name- Chapter 3

Once the dishes were all dried and put away— dishes that didn't even belong to them, to begin with— and the kitchen cleaned, Cordelia helped Sona unpack a few more boxes of kitchen supplies and pack away some of the things that Tessa left behind. They labeled the boxes storage so no one would throw them away and tucked them into the empty hall closet.

When it was only half an hour to ten, the Inquisitor and Consul finally left, leaving the Carstairs family once again alone in the house that felt nothing like home.

At some point during the hour and a half discussion spent inside of the study, her father had loosened his tie, abandoned his jacket, and rolled his shirt sleeves up to his elbows. Dark circles etched around his eyes and a distinct shadow appeared along his jaw and neck flecked with silver amongst the black.

Cordelia stared at the door they’d just left through and silently sent a prayer to the Angel that they both died in a terrible, albeit ironic, accident on their way home.

“Well,” said her mother, her voice echoed in the empty foray. “What did they say?”

As much as Cordelia wanted to stay and listen to her father’s debriefing, she only had twenty minutes left to meet with Lucie and she still had no idea how to get to the location Lucie left her. She’d never ventured alone around London before and with all the buildings and streets and mundane vehicles, it might as well be a maze to her.

“I think I’ll wait to hear the overview over breakfast,” said Cordelia as she turned towards the stairs. “There is only so much nonsense the stomach can handle. Too much is just not good for the digestion.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” said her father. “Thank you for tonight. They were both quite impressed by you.”

With her back towards her parents, she rolled her eyes and ran up the rest of the stairs.

Once back inside Lucie’s bedroom, she peeled off the cotton dress and tossed it on the bed. She pulled on a pair of black jeans, a black long sleeve shirt, and her favorite leather jacket that she zipped up to her chin and flicked the hood over her head. She tugged on her combat boots and tucked in the laces before grabbing Cortana, a stele that she tucked into her inside jacket pocket, and a couple of daggers before she shoved open the window and climbed out on the roof.

A fine mist had started just enough to make everything wet. Cordelia’s rubber soles gripped the tiles as she snuck across the tile until she found the trellis that usually had delicate pink roses clinging to a climbing vine this time of year. It was long dead and fallen to the ground in a pile of brown sticks and thorns.

Cordelia hooked her foot into a hole in the trellis and began her descent; the toes of her boots taking purchase in every nook they could find until her feet landed in the flower bed outside of the now dark dining room window.

Cordelia shook the water from her hands and shoved them into her jacket pockets to keep them warm before heading out to the main road.

The rune her mother gave her before they portaled to London still burned and kept her invisible from the mundane eye and her relatively mundane clothes wouldn’t attract the attention of any Shadowhunters that might be out on patrol. As she strolled through Mundane London, which remained surprisingly bright and alive at almost ten at night, with loud vehicles motoring past on narrow roads, horns blaring, or someone’s obnoxious bass beating into the night, Cordelia found that in some ways it did remind her of the city in Tehran. When she’d go out on patrol with Hettie and Minu it would often look quite similar to London.

If she hadn’t been running late, she might have lingered to ogle at some of the buildings or traveled her preferred way over the rooftops. High above the crowds, where she could see the gabled peaks of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the moon glittering off the River Thames. But tonight she was short on time.

Once a few miles away from the Institute, Cordelia took out Lucie’s note and her stele and drew a tracking rune onto the sheet. It burned to life in her hand and flapped in an invisible wind. She followed its lead down Fleet Street until they reached the corner at Ludgate Hill and it tugged her down St. Paul’s Churchyard.

She had to run to keep up with the possessed page. Cordelia began to wonder if it was some cruel trick Lucie was playing on her as it turned down Cannon St, then Queen Victoria St, then Mansion House, and Cornhill. She nearly gave up when it took a slight left from Leadenhall to Aldgate when the bells of the old clock tower began to chime the hour.

She could see the clock now. Its round face was bright in the night and its ancient wooden structure looked decrepit as it titled slightly towards the left. The paper tugged itself stubbornly towards the tower nearly ripping itself out of Cordelia’s hand.

Cordelia tucked the paper back into her jacket pocket even as it continued to twitched and force itself out. She picked up a jog and jumped at the iron gate protecting the park where the old tower stood in the center. With little effort, she was able to clear the gate and land back on her feet on the other side.

The park was empty except for an oblivious security officer staring at his phone from his odd-looking golf cart. The angle of the phone and the light reflecting off his face gave him an unattractive double chin. She never wanted anything to do with mundane technology, it served as too much of a distraction. That mundane might as well offer himself to a demon for dinner. If Shadowhunters allowed themselves to be that vulnerable, there’d be far fewer of them.

Minu, she knew, would want to mess with him. Minu enjoyed teasing mundanes when given the chance, especially if what the mundanes were doing was dangerous and negligent.

But she didn’t have time to think about what Minu would do or that the security guard was distracted by his phone.

Cordelia walked the rest of the way to the clock and carefully ducked under the yellow caution tape surrounding it. By the burning runes etched into the wood, she knew it was glamoured. She wondered what it looked like to the mundane eye when they walked past.

Cordelia spun around looking for a shadow or a shape that might be Lucie waiting for her. She hoped she wasn’t too late and Lucie left.

“Lucie,” she whispered into the night. “Lucie, I’m here. Where are you?”

After a moment when the only sound that responded to her was a pigeon's coo, she circled the base of the tower until she found a back door propped open with a brick.

Never one to need a moment of courage, Cordelia took a deep breath to calm the tightening in her chest and opened the door on its senescent hinges.

A serpentine staircase twisted its way up the tower for what looked like miles where Cordelia stood. A few field mice scurried away to their burrows at the sudden intrusion, their droppings and mess littered the wood stairs that groaned under Cordelia’s weight as she started her slow ascent, testing each beam before trusting it. She skipped a few that bowed in the middle and those that were already missing and wondered how Lucie hadn’t fallen to her death climbing her way to the top.

London and their pride over their ancient structures, Cordelia thought to herself. It was no wonder the whole building had to be cautioned off. It would only take one idiotic mundane with a death wish to climb these and plummet to their doom.

She began to wonder what would happen if she were to fall and be found dead at the bottom of the tower. Surely she’d disgrace her family who would wonder what would bring her out to an abandoned old clock tower in the middle of the night. The Clave would think the reason was something scandalous most likely. One thing was for certain though, she’d become the Bridgestock’s personal poltergeist in her afterlife.

Nearly at the top now and clinging to the unreliable railing, she could see the light from the watch face and feel the reverberating beats of the mechanisms through the wood underneath her feet as each hand of the clock moved half an inch for each second.

Once at the top, the paper in her jacket pocket went still. She stepped into the empty room and took in her surroundings. The clock face was a window that looked out over London. She could see the points and peaks of Buckingham Palace and Big Ben’s watchful eye in the distance. The lights from Regent’s park lit up the night as well as the red and white traffic lights around King Cross station. She had to admit if only to herself, London was beautiful from up high. Looking down on it, she felt how Pip might have felt in Great Expectation. From down below, London appeared ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty. But from up above, it represented the ultimate milieu in terms of success. The equivalent of civilization; a world where only the most successful go; a tireless city of possibilities; and a bit romantic.

“You came,” said a soft, familiar voice behind her. Cordelia turned, her hood dropping away from her face, as she faced Lucie standing in the dull shadow the clock face made on the floor. She held something in her hands pointed directly at Cordelia. It wasn’t a knife or a sword or even an ax-- Lucie’s preferred weapon-- but a gun.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” said Lucie, her hands steady. The barrel of the weapon never once dipped or swayed. “Give me your weapons.”

Cordelia raised her hands. “Lucie, I’m not here to hurt you—“

“Remove your weapons and toss them here,” said Lucie firmly. “I won't ask you again.”

Cordelia wasn’t sure if that meant Lucie would shoot her or leave if Cordelia refused, but she didn’t prefer either outcome. She removed Cortana first and laid it on the ground at her feet and kicked it gently towards Lucie. Then the duel blades from inside her jacket and her stele.

“Now remove your jacket and your boots,” said Lucie, eyes still locked over the barrel.

Cordelia unzipped her jacket and dropped it to the floor. Then she kicked off both of her boots and tossed them into the pile too.

“Put your arms out to your sides,” said Lucie as she took a step towards Cordelia, “and spread your legs.”

Cordelia did as she was told watching Lucie carefully as she approached, holding the gun in one hand now while the other quickly patted Cordelia down for any more hidden weapons.

“I’m clean.”

“Don’t speak,” said Lucie, feeling around in Cordelia’s pockets.

“I thought that was why you asked me to come here,” said Cordelia, as Lucie pushed the gun into Cordelia’s side and frisked both of her legs. “To talk.”

“Then why did you bring the weapons?” Lucie stood and took several steps backward once she was satisfied Cordelia had no more weapons.

“I’m a Shadowhunter, I brought them in case I needed to defend myself,” said Cordelia. “Why did you bring the gun?”

“For the same reason.” Lucie hissed.

“Guns don’t work on demons.”

Lucie’s gaze narrowed. “Not all of them.”

Cordelia dropped her arms back down to her sides and took a moment to appraise her friend— though she wasn’t so sure she could call her that anymore. She looked nothing like the girl Cordelia used to clash pretend swords with or make chains out of the wildflowers that would grow in the fields of Alicante when they’d visit during Spring. Her eyes changed in the five years since they last saw each other. Once wide, excited, and curious, they were now focused and on guard, like an expert gambler waiting for an opponent to show their tell, and lined in thick black ink that bled down to her lower lash line. She cut her mousy brown hair to her narrow shoulders where it curled in an uneven pattern, similar to her brother’s.

“Lucie, it’s me.” Cordelia exhaled and stepped forward.

Lucie pulled down the hammer on the gun until it clicked into place. “What nickname did my brother give you when we were children and why?”

A test, Cordelia understood. A question only the real Cordelia and not some imposter would know the answer to. “Daisy. He called me Daisy because when we were little girls we were playing and you fell from the edge of a cliff. I caught you and held you there until help came. James said that when they pulled you up, I collapsed from exhaustion into a pile of daisies.” Tears sprang to her eyes at the memory. “It’s me, Lucie. I’m not here to hurt you.”

The corner of Lucie’s mouth twitched right before she lowered the gun down to the floor and disengaged the hammer, her eyes never leaving Cordelia.

“I had to be sure,” whispered Lucie. “I’m sorry for being this way, but you have to understand the precautions are necessary. It’s incredibly dangerous for me and you to be here right now, but I had to speak with you and I knew that if anyone would be willing to meet with me, it would be you.”

Cordelia nodded and took a tentative step closer. “I understand. No need to apologize. How did this happen, Lucie?”

“Bridgestock finally got his way." She shoved her gun into its holster at her hip. “We can’t even use angelic weapons anymore. He had them be remade by the iron sisters so that they wouldn’t respond to anyone with even a little bit demon blood, the bloody tosser. It wasn’t enough that he stole our home, he had to take our one form of defense away.”

“That’s awful,” said Cordelia and looked down at the pile of weapons on the floor.

“He believes that we cannot be Shadowhunters because of our linage,” said Lucie.

“But why?” asked Cordelia. “It doesn’t make sense. Your family has never done anything to deserve this kind of treatment.”

“He believes our blood to be dirty,” sneered Lucie. “He always had something to say about my mother’s paternal side but he didn’t fight anyone on it until my mother became pregnant with James. Then, he really started to build his whole agenda around the purity of Shadowhunter blood. No one paid him any mind until James accidentally disappeared into the Shadowrealm in front of Augustus.”

“He what?!”

“It was an accident,” shouted Lucie. “Augustus was saying horrible things about my mother and James retaliated by punching Augustus in the face. When Augustus grabbed him to throw a punch, James just disappeared out of his grasp. Of course, Pounceby ran home to his father to tell him of the situation and that seemed to be the last straw. They gathered enough votes to remove Charlotte from her position as Consul and have us banished.

“No one cared that Augustus said my mother was nothing more than a Shadowhunter’s whore that my father knocked up on accident because he couldn’t keep his—“ Lucie shuttered and her whole face turned red. “He said some nasty things, but no one cared about that. No, they only cared that James’s demon blood gave him abilities that were not gifted by the angel. They didn’t want to risk anymore of the blood being passed on when James or I married, so they banished us. They fucking banished us.”

Cordelia fought the urge to run over and hug her. Even words failed her, what could she say that could fix any of this. To say “ I’m sorry” felt disingenuous because she wasn’t sorry, she was livid. She wanted to ask Lucie who she wanted her to murder first.

In the end, she decided to say nothing and let Lucie speak.

“It’s also partially punishment,” continued Lucie, “because my father continued to refuse Bridgestock’s and Pounceby’s advancements on the separation of Shadowhunters from Downworlders. Downworlders are also not from the Angel and therefore we should not have an alliance with them. We should govern and control them. He wants us to disassociate ourselves from our friends, Cordelia. He wants us to manage and control them like they’re beneath us. He wanted to strip them of their rights, rights that they earned from the truce created between us so long ago. He’s a dictator, Cordelia, and he’s going to start a war.”

Cordelia nodded. “I know. I agree. What can we do?”

Lucie closed her eyes and exhaled. “Nothing. He has the majority of the clave so wrapped around his finger that he can manipulate them to do his work like little marionettes.” She imitated the movements with her hands.

“What about your Aunt Cecily and Uncle Gabriel? Charlotte and Henry? Sophie and Gideon?” asked Cordelia. “They make up a large part of the Clave surely their opinions have some sway.”

“He threatened them,” said Lucie. “When they banished us at the Clave meeting, they told everyone that disagreed with the decision that they could be exiled as well and they would be forced to give up their Marks. Christopher, Matthew, and Thomas were willing to do it, but their parents stopped them and then forbid them from seeing James or me! Did you hear what they did to Matthew?”

Cordelia nodded and felt like she might be violently sick.

“I can still hear James screaming in my mind when they removed the mark from Matthew.” A far-off look washed over Lucie’s face. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to erase whatever had taken over her vision.

“What about Brother Zachariah?” asked Cordelia. “Jem and the rest of the Silent Brother’s. Surely, they wouldn’t agree to this.”

“Brother Enoch’s exact words were ‘they do not doddle in the affairs of mortal men’.” Lucie rolled her eyes. “Just another way of saying it’s not their problem. We haven’t heard anything from Jem because to try to intervene would be going against his vows. We have been utterly abandoned.”

“No,” Cordelia stepped forward again until she stood only a few inches from Lucie. “I’m here. I won’t abandon you.”

“You can say that now but you haven’t been here the past six months,” said Lucie. “If anyone knew you came here to see me tonight you’d be publicly punished, possibly stripped of your Marks, or something worse. I shouldn’t have ever asked you to come. It was selfish of me, but I don’t have very many choices and you’re the only one that can help me with this.”

Without hesitation, Cordelia blurted, “What do you need from me? How can I help?”

“When you go to the next Clave meeting in Alicante, there is a book from the library there that I need you to find,” said Lucie. “It’s the first volume of the Shadow Codex ever written. You’ll most likely find it in—“

“I know where I can find it,” said Cordelia, the warmth from her skin drained. “Lucie, it’s forbidden to touch that book, you know that. It’s protected with wards and a glass encasement. It’s an ancient relic for us. To look at that book is a privilege; to touch— to steal it— would be cause for punishments we haven’t even heard of.”

“I know, I know,” said Lucie. “I wouldn’t be asking you this if I had any other choice. I can’t ask anyone else because they’re all constantly being watched by Augustus and his friends. You have less of an affiliation with us than anyone else. They won’t be watching you as closely and you’re incredibly clever.”

“Flattery will not work right now, Lucie,” said Cordelia as she began to pace. “What do you want with the Shadowhunter Codex anyway? What’s in the original that isn’t it one of the hundred volumes published for public access?”

Lucie averted her eyes. “I can’t tell you.”

Cordelia huffed. “Why not? If I’m to do this I deserve to know what I’m doing it for.”

“You’re doing it to help me and my family.” The hardness returned to Lucie’s gaze and tone as she looked back up to Cordelia. “If you believe what’s been done to us is wrong and needs to be stopped then you will help me with this, no questions asked.”

Cordelia let out a deep breath and tried to make sense of her racing thoughts. If she did what Lucie was asking and stole the very first Shadowhunter Codex written and illustrated by the first three then it wouldn’t just mean her punishment, but her family’s punishment as well. They’d be humiliated by her, disappointed, and possibly cast out. But if she wasn’t caught and within this book was a way to help save the Herondales and tear Bridgestock and Pounceby down from their reign of power, then the risk may be worth it… as long as she wasn’t caught.

“I’ll try,” said Cordelia. “I’m not promising anything and I’m not risking my own family, but you were a good friend to me when I had no one else, so I will try.”

Lucie’s eyes swam as she gave Cordelia a tentative smile. “Thank you.”

The shadow outline of the clock on the floor of the shack reflected it was forty-five minutes past the hour. She should be getting home for tomorrow she would be training with Augustus and she needed all of her sanity not to club him in the nose with the blunt end of Cortana.

“The meeting is going to be held in two weeks,” said Cordelia as she walked to her pile of clothes and weapons. “I will meet you back here on the Saturday that follows at the same time. If for some reason I don’t make it then it will be the next night or the following. If I don’t show up after three days then it’s safe to assume that I was caught and thrown in prison; in which case I hope that you find a way to win and take those bastards down.”

She shucked on her jacket and slid her feet into her boots.

“We were supposed be Parabatai,” said Lucie and handed Cordelia Cortana. “It would have been an honor. I would have been lucky to have a warrior partner like you.”

Cordelia took her sword from Lucie. “I still believe we will be. Until then, we will continue to treat each other as such.” She placed a hand on Lucie’s shoulders before turning towards the stairs and began her descent back into the night.

---------

A heavier rain began to fall as she made her way back towards Fleet Street. Cordelia pulled up her hood and shoved her cold, wet hands into the front pockets of her jacket as she walked, Cortana nudging her back with each step she took. The city had finally quieted some: the roads were less crowded except for the occasional bright yellow taxi.

Without Lucie’s runed letter to follow, all of the roads and buildings looked the same to Cordelia. She hadn’t exactly been paying attention to landmarks or street signs when she was following a possessed page down dark streets in corners. She did the best she could by memory but found herself growing less and less familiar with her surroundings.

It may have been her growing frustration with herself or her paranoia after seeing Lucie, but she couldn’t shake the odd sense that she was being followed. Though every glance she threw over her shoulder, she found nothing to be lurking in the shadows even with her night vision rune still burning on the inside of her arm.

She found herself wandering down a road that was still rowdy for this time of night. Flickering lights of red and yellow flashed from signs hanging over doorways where loud music and shouting filled the streets. The air smelt thick of spilled ale and magic. As she passed by, she could have sworn eyes followed her from the patrons standing outside of the clubs. She hid her face deeper within her tunic and tried to keep her gate casual to not draw attention to herself.

When she got to the end of the road, she took a right but found that it was a darkened alleyway that came to a dead-end only a few feet in. Frustrated, she turned around and nearly collided with a man.

No, not a man, a Fae warrior. His long black hair was tucked behind each of his pointed ears and when he flashed her a predatory smile sharp incisors glistened in the lights that lined the roof.

Cordelia regained her balance quickly and looked at him then the two other warriors standing on either of his sides.

“You’re a long way from your side of town, Nephilim,” he said in a deep gravely voice. “And all alone.”

“What makes you assume I’m alone?” said Cordelia, fighting to keep her voice even.

“We’ve been following you for the past half hour,” said the Fae. “You seem a bit lost.”

The Fae were not their enemy. She had nothing to fear from them, but for some unknown reason, she felt uneasy in their presence alone. Her hand itched to reach for Cortana, but to do so would show her apprehension and she didn't want to appear as a threat.

So she told them the truth. “I'm a bit lost. I’m new to London and my escort seems to have abandoned me. I’m looking for Fleet Street. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?”

The Fae took a step forward, forcing her to take a step backward farther down the alley. “A Nephilim alone in our side of town is fair game. Perhaps we should make an example of her the way her kind make an example of us when we wander too far into their parts?”

The other two warriors grunted their agreement.

Cordelia did reach for Cortana then and with a sharp pull, removed the sword from its scabbard. “I don’t want to harm any of you. I’m here by accident and I’d like to leave without any unnecessary bloodshed. If you would kindly move, I will be on my way.”

The Fae warrior removed two blades from the scabbards at his sides and glided them across each other so they made a spark. “She is a lovely thing. Perhaps we could take turns with her and return her back to her people used.”

Cordelia swung Cortana and positioned herself to fight. “You can try, but I strongly advice you let me pass.”

“Or what?” grinned the head Fae. “You’ll cut all three of us down by yourself with that little blade in your hand?”

He moved towards her again, and this time Cordelia refused to give one step.

“Oh, I wouldn’t doubt her, Bevan,” said a voice from the opening of the alley. “I’ve seen her take down men twice as skilled as you.”

As the three Fae men turned to look behind them, Cordelia took her chance and lunged for the lead Fae.

A/N: Comments, likes, and reblog are my main source of motivation so please let me know what you think.

Next chapter comes out: Fri, June 11th.

#the shadowhunter chronicles #jordelia fanfiction #james x cordelia #james herondale #cordelia carstairs #the last hours #chain of gold #chain of iron #chain of thorns #alternative universe #shadowhunters #cassandra clare

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arcadequeerz · 4 years

Photo

Sona: Arcade!Rabbit Artwork drawn by my friend @jumbledthemes!

youtube

-Yes they were inspired by Cabinet Man-

Arcade Rabbit is some kind of monster that lives inside of a arcade cabinet. The game they live in is called ‘Rabbit Bounce’ and is much like frogger, but as you play the game its colors will get increasingly eyestrainy and becomes very flashy, so most can’t finish it because of this, and the game is very difficult regardless of it simply being a frogger clone.

The arcade cabinet looks fairly plain, A solid black cabinet but has the words ‘Rabbit Bounce’ on either side of it in bright rainbow, pixel styled letters. There’s a simple pixel rabbit with lop ears on either side under the writing.

During the night the actual entity, Arcade Rabbit, comes out.

They’re quite tall, standing about 7ft tall. Their head is the screen from the arcade machine, Nothing else but just the screen, with two lop ears that aren’t attached to their head, but hover close to the sides of their ‘head’. At the point where the ear would connect to their head, there’s electricity that sparks. On their screen they have a pixel heart which is constantly shifting between neon rainbow colors. They can change the heart on the screen into many different shapes, including into ‘eyes’ but regardless of what its changed into, it’ll shift through rainbow colors like on the gif. The ears are covered in a soft, floofy faded black fur that has markings on it much like this(Though the stars are instead a neon yellow). Their head isn’t attached to their body, instead it floats in the space between their shoulders, where a neck would be. Like their ears, electricity sparks from where their head would be attached.

Their body is quite Chubby, And like their ears is covered in a faded black, soft and floofy fur. The markings on their fur are like these but more brightly colored. The fur going down their spine is longer and fluffier, and this longer fur goes down their spine and onto their tail, which is quite long. The tip of their tail is broken, because of this it ends in a tangled mess of frayed broken wires. Their hands are made of tangled wires that end of which are frayed and torn, the coiled copper inside of it is twisted to make curved claws at the end of their fingers. Their legs are digitigraded, and the paws on them like their hands are a tangled mess of wire, and the coiled copper inside of it twist together to make claws on them.

Wires stick out of holes on their sides and on their back, a few of which being long enough that they drag on the ground, some of which they can actually move like tendrils. On their chest they have a hole where their heart would be, its in the shape of a heart and inside of it is a mess of wire tangled around a faintly glowing, neon purple crystal. This is their heart.

>-lil extra info-<

What i mean by ‘coming out of the arcade cabinet, i mean the screen comes loose, and pushes outward as they pull their body out of the cabinet, essentially the screen on the arcade cabinet is Their head! You wouldn’t think they’d be able to Fit in the cabinet but the inside of it is MUCH bigger then it possibly should be, making it something like a different dimension on the inside of it.

Arcade!Rabbit’s blood is static, their blood is essentially 'liquid’ static. So if they were to get Hurt they’d bleed a liquid that looks like static you’d see on a tv.

Arcade!Rabbit cannot talk, so instead they use the heart on their screen to communicate by turning it into words! Sometimes they’ll speak through pictures, or emojis basically by using the heart on their screen.

Arcade!Rabbit can eat! They do this by turning the heart into a Mouth, and simply..putting food into it by shoving it into the screen, the food simply going through it so they can eat it! Favorite food is sweets like candy and other junk food.

They may not be able to speak, but they can make screech like noises and loud blasts of static, and various arcade game noises.

The markings on their fur glow in blacklight very brightly!

Occasionally Arcade!Rabbit will eat people, mostly those that they deem 'cheaters’ or 'bad players’. This basically means, people who try to cheat at Rabbit Bounce, or those that have hurt other people.

#Cade's Sonas #HERES ARCADE RABBIT FEATURING RLY GOOD ART DRAWN BY MY FRIEMD UNKNOWN #tHIS WAS drawn a while ago- n is from my old main!

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themerchantlovesyou · 4 years

Text

THEMERCHANTLOVESYOU FAQ

q: what kind of questions should i ask?

a: anything that you think would be interesting!! honestly, theyre just characters, so go crazy!! maybe even events will occur...?

q: what kind of questions should i NOT ask?

a: there are a few! heres some:

1. nsfw/suggestive asks (these will either be answered publicly to remind people i dont answer them or just answered privately. the only reason why these are not answered is because the mun, me, is not comfortable with acknowledging them. sorry, horny people! look elsewhere!

2. very broad and cookie cutter questions (ex. how are you, how do you feel today, can i get a hug, etc. the only exception for this is if there is something explicitly unusual about the character youre asking the question to. so please read the room!!)

3. paranoia inducing asks (this is put here simply for my safety and wellbeing, as im a person with very bad paranoia and delusions, so please respect my triggers, thank you!! <:3)

4. anything regarding why the mun chose to draw/hc/write a character a certain way (ex. weight, body shape, race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, etc, even if youre asking the character about the features. just dont!! be respectful of diversity in fiction)

5. lastly, PLEASE dont put events into my inbox! im new to doing ask blogs, and i plan events myself, so putting off my events for random ones makes me feel bad ): please only do it if i explicitly ask for them!! thank you so much!! :3

q: can ocs/sonas interact with your blog?

a: yes! i’ll let you know if i ever get overwhelmed and restrict it to oc/sona specific events only! if you’d like for your oc/sona to interact with my characters/hcs of the off characters, please see these rules and stick to them:

1. no nsfw/suggestive interactions please (of course, for the admin’s comfort)

2. please keep the interactions short (3-4 asks max, i dont really want them to clog up the inbox, sorry ):)

3. no inserting your oc/sona into the timeline/lore, please (i spent a long time working on it, and im actually still workshopping it, so id appreciate it if no one confused me from my goals with it)

q: what characters can i talk to?

a: well, it all changes with events, but whoever's conscious, you can ask them anything!! go wild!

q: who is the mun?

a: you can call me cupid if youd like!! im just a little man that has liked off for a very very long time, but only recently started hyperfixating on it!!! ill get around to making a (creator) sona for this blog at some point probably <:3

q: what are your plans for this blog?

a: hmmm...... a lot! i want to be a big part of this community, if i can! ill most likely be doing animatics, comics, events, paintings, maybe even aus that interest me! :3 the only thing ill say for the main chunk of this blog is that there is a plot lol, ive been working on it for a while and its got a lot of love in it!!!! i hope you enjoy it as we unravel the story together hehe!!

q: is this blog still active?

a: oh yes! we are just getting started, i promise!! most likely, if i dont post for a while, im just dealing with personal things and still thinking about the blog and working on it without publishing anything!! i promise that this blog means a lot to me, so im not gonna let it go down that easy!! >:3

#faq

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dilfsdotnet · 5 years

Note

Yo you should answer all of these scene questions👀👀

:OOO

you think so lad???? shit dawg i was thinkin just a few at a time but if that what u want my dear nonnie i will supply

1. wats ur scene name?

i was thinkin maybe ‘gods mistake’ would be a good one but then. i found a way to make it both danganronpa related, and, even better, a fucking pun as well. ‘kamukura kamukura jasqueen’, or just ‘kamukura jasqueen’ for short is good k thxxx

2. describe ur dream outfit!

oooo gosh this ones trickyy!! there are so many good outfits out there, especially in the scene community!! but it’d have to have a few tiny elements of dr cosplay to add a lil of my dangan-weeb culture in there ofc! more specifically, id really love to get one of kazuichis jumpsuit and just wig out and add shit like this just because i could:

(id just rlly love going out in all those glowy/shiny things at night like all that haha..and yes the shoes would probably kill me/my fuckin feet if i tried to walk in them but shut up i love them theyre cute as fuck)

3. describe ur dream haircut!

oo another tricky one!! i do like my regular hair, and honestly id be lying if i said i didnt love ibuki’s hairdo too but id defs have to go with something like this!!

yaaaassss, so pretty and spikeeeey! maybe id dye my natural hair colour black and/or add some funky colours if i ever actually got this style down!

4. describe ur dream room!

i have a lot of ideas for dream bedrooms actually, but heres a visual image of one of them i found!!!

MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM

(this specific idea arose mainly just for the aesthetic but i also find it super cute and a good environment to be in general hhhnnggg)

5. if u could make anything out of kandi, wat would u make?

oh you mean those colourful beads and bracelet things??? i love those man!!! theyre so visually appealing to me aaaaa…id probably just make a fuck-ton of those and most probably use the little letter beads to say random words/phrases like ‘aubergine’ and ‘despacito’ knowing my shitposter self lmaooo! id definitely make a sansmaeda themed one too thoo fr

6. wat would u write on ur shoez?

it’d probably range from things like a simple kaomoji doodle to something randum and stupid like ‘seesaw’ bc yes asjnd

7. wat kinda piercingz/tattooz do u hav/want?

i dont think i rlly want any real piercings (at least not atm) but id totally go for those fake stick-on gemstone lookin’ ones! and as for tattoos, i cant rlly see myself gettin one of those rn either, but id want something like a mario power-up, preferably the bell one/cat suit powerup!!! its my favorite powerup and its sooo cute!!!

8. fave genrez?

i dont rlly have a specific genre, i like most kinds of music, but i rlly like energetic music that i can dance tooo!!! >w

9. fave bandz?

im a big fan of gorillaz and botdf!!! i like p!atd as well but havent listened to it in a while.. gatta catch up loool

10. fave songz?

my favs alternate a lot, but atm im super into ‘slow dancing in the dark’ by joji!!! so much emotiooon quq…also rlly hooked on botdf and jefree star’s ‘sexting’ tooo lmaooo

11. fave lyricz?

‘The world keeps spinning Among this sinning Oh what a cruel and disgusting place The purest moonlight Is bloodied by plight And screaming resonants But somehow I know That it’s all for show The world will reveal it’s true beauty soon And we’ll all reach towards the moon ‘

its so deep but its from a fucking kaito momota fansong and i love that asnkjdnefe

12. hav u evr been to a concert?

not in a damn long while my lad,, rip australians not havin many artists they like from other countries tour there ;-;

13. do u wanna be in a band?

ive always thought thatd be pretty cool ngl!!! tourin around with ur bandmate friends, makin awesome fuckin tunes, people lovin u and ur music, just livin the dream in general,, nice

14. wats da best soda/energy drink flavour?

havent rlly had any as of rn my lad so i wouldnt know :/

15. wat do u miss most abt old internet?

i loved that we could all just be ourselves and act like the kids we are inside without bein reprimanded at all.. it aint rlly that much of an issue for me but i still think itd be a lot nicer if it was like that again sometimes,,

16. wats da best old meme?

ooohhh there are so many i still miss man! numa numa ermagerd and doge still remind me of the glory days…when old animeme was good and you could still haz ur cheezburgers in peace. also rage comics! rage comics were good what happened

17. best place 2 buy clothez?

i dont think theres any hot topics in australia but if there is. i will hunt it down you hear me

18. wat r ur fave accessoriez?

OH THERES SO MANY GOOD ONES??? as i stated b4 i rly love kandi bracelets and other glowy/led things!!! also rlly love ties with cute and fun patterns and long colourful and/or ripped socks like ibuki’s too hehe

19. wats ur best tip fr ppl that just got into scenecore?

im not rlly the best at advice, but my main point would be-just hav fun here dudes!!! dont let anyone else bulli u abt it, we’re supportive people, u can talk to me or anyone else whos willin to listen an/or help for reassurance ofc

20. opinion on furbiez?

oOH MY GOD YES. FURBIES. MY BABIES I WANT 10 OF THESE CHILDREN…I ACTUALLY HAVE A FURBY HE LIKES SLEEPING IN HIS SPECIAL DRAWER AND HIS NAME IS TINGLE I ADORE HIM I’LL POST A OF PICTURE LATER MAYBE

21. opinion on funko popz?

i like em and ive seen lots at eb games, but i dont buy em much..i do have a megaman pop with a broken arm tho loool

22. wats ur fave pattern? (zebra/leopard print etc)

i looove a lot of patterns but not gonna lie im always a sucker for rainbow checkerboard patterns yknow hehe!

23. fave color combo?

i dont have one rlly…soooo many possible comboooos…cx

24. sumthing u liked as a kid dat u still like?

im still going on girlsgogames and recently, ive finally mastered sues beauty machine!!!! its so good and fun all of ya’ll should try it my dudeeees

25. wats ur most used emoticon? 0w0

as most of ya’ll probs alredy know i spam ‘:O’ a lot, but one of my bigger favs is actually ‘x3′ and my fav kaomoji is ‘ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧’ (both of them are so kyooot >w

26. wats ur fav typin quirk?

i luv talkin like dis, but i dont rly do it that often loool…i awso wuv tawking in ‘owo’ speak wike dis >//w//>

27. do u wish ur fllwrz talked 2 u moar?

hellz yeaaa!!! i luv followr interaction my dudee! it makes me super happi when u all talk to me heehee! x3c

28. tag ur fave scene blawgz!

:O !!! oh gawd!!! i dont know many atm but heeereee!

@xxadam-antidotexx (op of the ask meme)

@glitchkichi (not sure if this counts but their stuff’s rlly cool >v

@otonashi-banana (scene boyf…wuv im more than anythin >///w///>

29. wat got u into scenecore?

i dont remember exactly how it happened but i’d always sorta wanted to go back to the glory days that was the old web and the scene era, and that, coupled with a bright, colourful aesthetic that i could really enjoy, drew me in like a moth to a neon colored flame ig looollll

30. how long hav u been scene?

i’ve only been officially apart of the community for about a few months now (at time of writing) i reckon so some things are still a lil new to me ig ^^;;

31. wats da best thing abt being scene?

the freedom of bein able to express myself 4 one thing, and its just so fun being so ‘out-there’ yknow???? it feels so great really

32. do u hav a fursona?

i…actually used to but ive moved on from the furry fandom and ive grown more attached to my human sona anyway sooo :/

33. r u in sum “cringy” fandomz?

YEA man!! i dont rlly think dr is inherently considered ‘cringey’ but undertale is and im in that one for sure!!! i also kinda technically never left the skylanders fandom(?) so theres that too ig??? oh yeah and who wants to let me draw my old moshi monsters characters COWARDS

34. do u liek plushiez?

YASSSS QUEEEN!!!! i have HEAPS of them in my room on my desk with my gonta shrine

35. do u liek stickerz?

also a big yaaassss from me dawggg!!! i love them and i love those ones that you stick on your fase like this!

its so cuuute!!!

36. do u hav a friendproject?

i dont, not at the moment a least, actually! didnt even know what it was til recently but it looks kewl haha

37. do u hav any other scene account?

well, i haz this one, and i also have an emowire account for shuichi if that counts!!

38. do u make art? (drawingz, blingeez, etc.)

YES!!! i love to draw and i also make blingee edits sometimes!!! ITS SO FUN XD !!!

39. wats da most scene thing? (anything!)

hmmm, weeell…i think the most stereotyped thing would be that kewl, suuuper big hair like this;

its really prettyyyy, and i love all that colouuur!!!

40. ask ur own randum question!!

hm, oh wowie, since the anon didnt specifically ask this one…POTATOES!!! X3

phew, finally done, that was a lot of typing! this was so fun to do though, so thank u nonnie!!! :3

#ask #ask meme #scene revival #scenecore #scene kid #scene #anon #oh god what now jasu

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richincolor · 5 years

Photo

Everyone, please welcome Swati Teerdhala to Rich in Color! Swati’s debut novel, THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT, is out today, and we are thrilled that she was able to stop by to answer our questions about her book!

Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.

Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.

Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.

Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology, the first book in Swati Teerdhala’s debut fantasy trilogy captivates with electric romance, stunning action, and the fierce bonds that hold people together—and that drive them apart.

THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT sounds so exciting! Tell us more about Esha and her life as the Viper.

Esha is the leader of The Crescent Blades, the main rebel group in Dharka that’s committed to bringing balance back to the Southern Lands and getting rid of the false king on the Jansan throne. The Viper was a persona she created as she went on missions as a spy and it’s a pretty lonely life, actually. While she really believes in what she does and she loves it, the Viper is sent on missions that are particularly dangerous or require a special touch. By the start of The Tiger at Midnight, that loneliness and separation from her team is beginning to weigh on her.

Kunal has trained to be a soldier since childhood. What can you tell us about his relationship to his uncle, a general, and the government he’s loyal to?

Kunal has a complicated relationship to his uncle and the King, though he doesn’t quite realize it. His uncle took him in after the death of his mother and he’s always tried to be the best soldier for his uncle. That includes sticking his head in the sand sometimes when it comes to the King he works for and the Red Fort he is part of. Meeting Esha starts this journey of realization and awakening for Kunal, one in which he can’t ignore all of the horrible things his uncle and the King have done.

Can you introduce us to the other major players in THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT?

Sure! Though you don’t meet him in this book, King Vardaan casts a large shadow over all the events of The Tiger at Midnight. He’s the one who usurped the throne in a coup ten years prior and set the whole war between Jansa and Dharka in motion.

Kunal sets out with a group of soldiers–Rakesh, Amir, and Laksh–to find the Viper after the murder of his uncle. While Kunal and Laksh are best friends, Kunal isn’t so friendly with Rakesh. He doesn’t trust him at all. Amir is just along for the ride, more interested in the story than in actually finding the Viper.

Esha’s team, who you meet later in the book, are her found family. Harun, Arpiya, Bhandu, Farhan and Aahal. I can’t reveal too much about them without spoiling, so I’ll just say to keep an eye out for them!

What are some of the stories or characters from Indian history and Hindu mythology that THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT draws from?

I pulled from a number of stories rather than one in particular and there are a lot of “easter eggs” within the novel and the trilogy as a whole. I based the magic and history of the land around the story of the Ganga (Ganges) river and how it was brought down to the earth.

What did you enjoy most about building the world of THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT?

It was so much fun to pull from the stories I grew up with and to do in-depth research on India and its ancient history. I actually really enjoyed the research and weaving together those threads with my own imagination.

I saw that THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT is your debut novel. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to publication as an author of color?

I’d been writing and querying without much success for a while when I first heard of #DVPit. The bi-annual Twitter pitch contest for diverse and marginalized authors was really the turning point for me in my publishing journey. My first time pitching didn’t result in representation but I built a great community of writers who I still am friends with to this day. My second time around was after I had written The Tiger at Midnight and this time, my pitch received a lot of interest and a month later, I signed with my agent. About six months later, I went on submission and sold The Tiger at Midnight. I don’t think I’d be here without #DVPit, for a number of reasons!

What 2019 YA books by or about people of color or people from First/Native Nations are you looking forward to reading?

So many! I’m particularly excited for Rogue Heart by Axie Oh, With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, Wicked Fox by Kat Cho, Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, There’s Something about Sweetie by Sandhya Menon, Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno, Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra, A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy, and SO many more!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT?

The Tiger at Midnight is my homage to the myths and stories I grew up with as an Indian-American child and I’m still absolutely over the moon that I get to write a fantasy world that reflects my heritage. I hope you enjoy it!

Swati Teerdhala is a storyteller and writer. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Finance and History, she tumbled into the marketing side of the technology industry. She’s passionate about many things, including how to make a proper cup of chai, the right ratio of curd-to-crust in a lemon tart, and diverse representation in the stories we tell. She currently lives in New York City.

#swati teerdhala #the tiger at midnight #WeNeedDiverseBooks #young adult books #young adult fantasy

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reelybadfnafocs · 6 years

Photo

My old man-sona xx

Honestly I’m pretty sure this blog is in its death throes right now but I’ll try to do reviews on top of my other stuff so get over here -Mod Bright

Name: Wilson the Wolf

I love him

Age: no ones completely sure, way over 10+ years though. (He was made in the original Fazbears pizza)

Voice: think of Brandon Rogers grandpa character and you’ll be there 👌

Original Purpose: Story teller, help keep kids calm and distracted.

No problems here, I like the original purpose! It’s believable and the ‘storytelling grandpa’ is one of my favorite things in any story/backstory tbh.

Programmed to be: (originally) enthusiastic and witty like a cool grandad, even keeping parents entertained with some jokes to safely go over kids heads. A fantastic story teller who could keep the attention of any little hell spawn. (After he got dunked on) An old cook(NOT COOK as in cooking!) can no longer tell a coherent narrative and can barley stick to a sentence, short tempered with a low attention span and ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANYTHING.

I think you mean ‘kook’, not cook lmao. But the original personality is good! The personality ‘after he got dunked on’ is also good, it kinda makes sense for a glitching and deteriorating animatronic. Did he just get shut down because of the original Fazbear’s pizza closing, or did he retire...?

Who did this.

He used to have a story corner filled with books if children were inclined, generally helped kids wind down after big performances if they got too riled up.

That’s really good man I love this

While he was being kept in storage, his legs had slowly deteriorated because of termites and moths, his lower half completely paralyzed. This also spread internally to his circuitry, causing his spastic actions (like animatronic brain damage) they gave him elongated arms with more joints to help him move around, possibly trying to salvage him in some way.

Question! Was he one of those halfbody animatronics or a fullbody one? If he was a halfbody animatronic it wouldn’t make sense for him to have legs in the first place, but I couldn’t really see the point of making a fullbody animatronic if its just there to tell stories because why would they want him to move?

This is okay, though. He’s literally got moth brains rip.

Twitches uncontrollably, voice cuts out, sometimes lashes out completely randomly, constantly confused. On rare occasions, he can switch back to his old self to tell a short story (nothing compared to what he used to), but it’s not reliable and they don’t know how to trigger it.

This is good!

He was going to be the main animatronic in a venture the company would take to stray from their sullied name, but his bad condition led them to bring in “Bailey the Beagle”, making her the main and dubbing the restaurant “Baileys Icecream Emporium”.

See you later....space cowboy...

They keep him around out of desperation and a small hope he may change back some day.

He’s not gonna simply ‘change back’ without repair, but them keeping him as a kind of ‘backup plan’ or in case they can get someone to fix him without it being a waste of money might work better.

I THOUGHT PF ALL OF THISNRIGHT NOW AND CREATED HIS DESIGN YESTERDAY AND I ALREADY LOVE HIM.

THANKS FOR READING AND CRITIQUING WHOEVER DOES THIS, if you still do lol

I RLLY LOVE HIM TOO AND I’D SIT DOWN TO HEAR A STORY FROM HIM HE’S A GOOD FRIEND AND GRANDPA AND HE GETS A 8/10 FROM ME

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

-Mod Bright

#turn around bright eyes #submission

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water-hates-learning · 7 years

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Hey guys look at this ancient unfinished angsty shit fic I found starring my Red Army sona. This is at least a year or so old. Yikes.

....idk why I’m posting this.

------

It’s easy to break people when you know them.

It’s easy to break them because Tord has known them for years.

This would have been so much easier for everyone involved if they had just said yes.

He’d asked one question. All they had to do was say yes.

But they hadn’t.

So now he had to break them.

***

Matt’s the easiest.

He’s nothing but a puppy that desires attention. Give it to him, and he’s yours. For the most part.

Tord finds that Matt’s ego creates a stubbornness he hadn’t anticipated. Matt loves himself. Tord has to make him love working for the Red Army instead. It takes longer than he thought but Tord is nothing if not determined. He just has to be Matt’s hero, he just has to be the person Matt will turn to no matter what, he just has to give Matt exactly what he wants.

It begins with solitude.

“Let me out!” Tord stands in front of the door locked and sealed against Matt’s pounding fists. There is one slot at the bottom of the door, locked right, only open to allow food and water to pass. On the other side, in a dark, cold room, Matt is begging and screaming, “Let me out, please! Where are my friends!? What do you want with me!? Let me out! Let me out! I’ll do whatever you want! You can even have some of my novelty toy collection! Please! Let me out! I’m scared!”

Tord walks away without saying a word and lets the door to solitary confinement slam closed behind him.

He returns a week later to find the hall quieter. His boots echo as he marches to the only shut door in the place and he stops in front of it, listening. At first, there’s nothing and Tord wonders if maybe he pushed a little bit too hard. But then a tired voice calls out,

“H-hello? Hey, is someone out there? I heard you walking down the hall. Look, chum, I just want a shower. A-and maybe a brush? A mirror? Please? Hello?”

Tord waits a moment longer and then walks away again. He thinks he hears a choked off sob as he goes.

An hour later, he’s back with Paul in tow. Tord takes a breath, straightens his coat, and snaps his fingers, nodding towards the cell door. Paul steps forward with a jingle of keys, unlocks the door, and pulls it open, swinging his rifle over his shoulder and aiming it into the cell as he does so. The light strikes Matt full in the face and he falls back with a cry, hands over his eyes as he tries to get his barrings. Blinking tears from his vision, he raises his head, sees the barrel of the gun in his face, and pales dramatically.

“Matt? Matt! Matt, my old friend, it is you!” Tord steps into the cell, smiling just enough to look relieved but wary, “I had heard we’d caught some traitors but I hadn’t given it much thought untili the reports landed on my desk. If I had known it was you, I would have come and gotten you out sooner. Are you all right? Have they been feeding you?”

Matt stares at him a moment and then his expression bunches up into hurt confusion, “You…you punched me in the face!” He accuses, voice cracking, “And blew up my stuff! And our house! You hurt Tom!”

Tord withdraws somewhat, brow furrowed, “Yes, I…I did. I lost control of myself. I am not expecting forgiveness, I just wanted to get you out of here. I don’t know how such an important friend of mine ended up in solitary.” He casts a sideways glare at Paul, as if accusing him of the transgression, and turns his attention back to Matt, “Come on, let’s get you out of there and cleaned up. And get some decent food in you! Goodness, you look half starved! Were they even feeding you?”

“Uh, just bread and water. Not even GOOD water!” Matt scowls, accepting Tord’s offered hand so he can pull himself up.

“Bread and—!? Unacceptable! My dear friend deserves a princely meal!”

Matt perks up a bit, “Princely…?”

“Tell you what, old friend,” Tord hums, completely ignoring Paul and looping an arm around Matt’s shoulders as he leads them out of the hall, “I’ll get a hot bath running for you so you can get all cleaned up. Then I’ll get you dressed in some clean, comfortable clothes, set you up with hearty meal, and send you on your way. No harm, no foul, yes?” He smiles up at Matt, all warmth and open honesty. He really isn’t lying.

Matt, on the other hand, looks hesitant, “But…what about Tom and Edd?”

Tord’s confident stride falters a little, “Don’t worry, you can see them when you leave! I’m sure they’re very worried about you.”

“No, no, ah, T-Tord, they were captured with me!” Matt’s fidgeting with his sleeves as Tord steps them both into an elevator, pressing the button to shut the doors in Paul’s face as he tried to follow them, “We were all taken together! They’ve got to be here!”

A frown flickers briefly across Tord’s face but his promising smile is quickly back, “If that’s the case then I’ll look for them while you clean yourself up. You just relax and let me handle everything.”

“Really…?”

“Of course! Who’s a brave soldier, mm?”

“….me?”

Tord beams and nods and Matt’s smile brightens somewhat. The doors to the lift ding open and Matt shrinks away from the uniformed man snapping a salute in the hall beyond. Tod gives Matt a comforting pat on the back and nudges him towards the waiting soldier,

“Patryk here will take care of you. Just ask him for anything you need and he’ll get it. You just relax, old friend. I’ll go look for Tom and Edd. I’m sure this is all just a big misunderstanding.” Tord steps back, letting the doors slide closed and keeping a reassuring smile on his face until Matt is out of sight. As soon as the lift begins its descent, the smile drops into a thoughtful frown. He knows exactly where Tom and Edd are and he was hoping to keep Matt distracted with good food and a warm bath so he wouldn’t ask about them. It alters the plan a bit but it’s nothing Tord didn’t anticipate. He’s being cautious now; he’d lost his cool around Tom before and he’s determined not to let it all fall apart on him again.

The doors slide open on a basement level and Tord marches into the room, trading a salute with the guards on duty. They’re tough old soldiers, people Tord knew from the time he joined the British Army. They need to be tough to be down here. This is where Tord keeps his more…unsavory pursuits. Only a few trusted people have access to this level of the main base, though Tord readily spreads terrible rumors about what goes on below. Fear is more apt to keep away unwanted attention than orders are.

He makes his way through the main room and turns down a branching hallway, his single working eye flickering from holographic display to holographic display. Some of the displays are off, the rooms beyond empty. Others are marked with bright red exclamation points against the soft blue glow. Only one is marked with a “dangerous chemicals” symbol in sickly neon green. Tord stops in front of this door and pulls one of the gas masks off the sanitation racks nearby, snapping it over his mouth and nose and cringing at the rubbery smell. A quick fingerprint scan and typed in code and the door hisses open. There’s a small room just inside the door, made of thick concrete with vents on the floor and ceiling. As the door closes behind him, the vents hiss and the steel door in front of him slides up into the ceiling.

“Tom?” He rushes into the room and lets his wandering gaze fall upon the man slumped against the wall, ‘Tom!”

Tom’s breathing is shallow, his eyes unfocused and lidded. He twitches at Tord’s voice and his pitch black eyes swivel around to focus on the man before him. The gas constantly circulating with oxygen through the room has done a number on him. He looks sick, his movements sluggish, his limbs splayed about him as if he’s been thrown there like a ragdoll. His shirt is stained with sweat and the chains clamped on his wrists and around his neck have left red marks against his skin. Tom’s eyes narrow and his lip curls into a snarl he barely has energy for.

“Tom, thank god, I’ve been looking all over my base for you!” Tord skids to a halt and crouches down in front of Tom who shrinks away from him as much as his worn out body can, “No, no, Tom, I mean you no harm, I swear.”

“T-tried to…kill me you c-commie bastard…” Tom wheezes, head lolling on his shoulders as he struggles to pull himself up.

“That…I lost my temper, Tom. That’s behind me. You are not meant to be here, I never intended to involve you in any of my plans ever again, let alone see your stupid face. But you are here—all three of you for god only knows what reason—and I will not tolerate it. Not in my base.” Tord frowns at Tom who returns his frown with a confused glare, “Matt is already being taken care of. I can get you out of here to see him but you have to swear not to fight.”

Tom growls.

“If you fight, you will be shot.” Tord says seriously, meeting Tom’s eerily black eyes without flinching, “I am serious, Tom, if you put up a fight you will be gunned down. Do you promise to come quietly?”

Tom struggles with himself, his jaw clenched, his body trembling. But eventually he nods. Once. Sullenly. In defeat.

Tord doesn’t respond, just leans forward and unlocks the chains binding Tom to the wall. Then he loops one of Tom’s arms over his shoulder and heaves, staggering as he tries hold the taller man up. Tom’s trying to get his feet under him but the gas in his system doesn’t let him cooperate and he ends up dangling off Tord’s shoulder like a half melted stick of butter. They make their way out into the wall where Tord pauses to sling the gasmask off and call for help. One of the big guards comes belting down the hall, doesn’t blink at the sight of his leader supporting a sweaty captive, and gently hoists Tom up into his arms. Tom whines, struggling weakly, but eventually gives up when all it does is sap his already drained energy reserves.

Tord smiles, beckons, and heads back towards the elevator.

This is going better than he expected.

****

Tom is asleep on a couch in the suite Tord usually reserves for high rollers who come to visit. Matt is lounging in a chair, half asleep himself with the television volume low. Both of them are showered, well fed, and dressed in clean sweaters and sweat pants. Tom had protested the red turtleneck vehemently but there is little else for him to wear at the moment so he’d taken it. It was too big on him and the sleeves flopped over his hands but it worked; he currently has his chin tucked into the wide collar, snuffling in his sleep.

Tord’s watching them both through the cameras he’s had installed, making sure they’re both comfortable. No doubt they’ll both be wondering where Edd is once they’ve had some rest but Tord will deal with that in due time. Edd was always the leader of their little group, the one who generally got them into and encouraged trouble, the one who could either diffuse or set off a bomb amongst them. Tord needs him out of the picture for a while until he earns Matt’s and especially Tom’s trust. He hates to do this to Edd, honest Edd, but he needs to protect his friends. Even Tom.

Tord doesn’t have much. An army might seem like a lot but that’s all they are; soldiers who follow his orders. Those three…they had been his family.

The short man pushes his chair away from his desk, snaps his eyepatch back over his ruined eye, and heads out the door. Soldiers snap sharp salutes as he passes and he returns them with a nod of acknowledgment; they trust him, are loyal to him, respect him. He, on the other hand, may not trust them but he certainly respects them. It takes guts to do what he has his soldiers do. What he wants them to do. He respects that. It’s what he always respected about Tom; Tom has guts and lets everyone know it, even if those guts are poisoned by years of alcohol abuse and negligence. Tord will clean him up. He’s good at cleaning up broken pieces. Especially if he broke them in the first place.

He takes an elevator a few floors down below the level that contains his first office (there’s one down below used for shadier things than public meetings) and the suites containing his friends. This floor is for people Tord wants to keep comfortable but captive. It’s quiet, cozy, but is well within reach of any necessary tools. Not that Tord plans to use any of those tools on Edd. At least, not in the typical sense.

There’s a person in an overly large, signature blue coat lounging outside the door to Edd’s room with a briefcase beside them, waiting for the Red Leader. They instantly straighten up when they see Tord coming, a wide smile stretching across their face as they snap a salute with a floppy sleeve, nearly knocking the goggles on their head askew,

“Red Leader, sir!”

“At ease, Vee. You read my orders carefully?”

“Yessir. Four times, sir.”

“Repeat them.”

“No permanent damage. Minimal scarring. Just enough to scare.”

“Excellent. Now, he’s been alone for a week with only food and water coming into the room. He hasn’t seen another person. Do not answer his questions. Speak to him as little as possible. Only ask him for information. And under no circumstances are you to mention me. Are we clear?”

“Very clear, sir. Crystal clear, sir. Clearer than air, sir.”

Tord squints at the expert interrogator, “When’s the last time you slept, Vee?”

“No idea, sir!” Vee replies brightly, pulling their goggles down over their eyes, “PVAK reckons it’s been a week, sir!”

“Yes, well, after you’re done here you’re under orders to get some chamomile tea and go the fuck to sleep, soldier. Is that understood?”

“Understood, sir! Should I proceed, sir?”

Tord nods, gestures, can’t bring himself to actually say the words. He backs away as Vee enters the room, hesitates, and then leans against the wall nearby. He will wait here, rather than returning to his office. He will wait here and when the time is right, he will step in. Tord brings his legs up to his chest and tucks his chin into his knees.

It’s going to be a long wait.

****

Vee gives him a questioning look the first time they step out of the room. They were taking a break both for themselves and for Edd. When they opened the door, Tord heard hoarse sobs that wrenched his heart. He had never heard Edd make such desperate noises like that before.

“Red Leader.” Vee is still standing and Tord rolls his eye, gesturing for them to join him sitting on the floor. This is no place for formalities, “Sir, I know you planned for these sessions for once a day, two weeks. But I don’t think he will last that long.”

“You don’t think?” Tord prods, raising an eyebrow.

Vee’s brows knit together ever so slightly, “I know he won’t last. He’s already breaking. If I keep pushing, he may not come back.”

Tord looks at the floor. He’d planned on keeping Edd apart from the other two for as long as possible but it seemed he had overestimated the man’s strength. He drums his fingers on his upper arm, thinking hard. There was no other choice.

“All right, Vee. Go back in there. I will step in shortly. Same plan, we’re just stepping up the timetable.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Wait, Vee.”

“Yes, sir?”

“One major injury. Nothing permanent. Enough to land him in the ICU. No broken bones.”

“Are you sure?” Vee’s fingers twitch at the prospect of doing their job but they know who that person in the room is. Or they have an inkling.

Tord swallows the lump of dread in his throat and it sits like a rock in his stomach, “Yes, Vee. You have your orders. Do not question me again.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”

The door closes again and Tord hauls himself to his feet, tugging his uniform straight as his does so. This is severely screwing his plans up.

#8ball fics

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