#she didn’t have the opportunity to work it into Calamity

[disasterparty]

Aabria Iyengar, known monsterfucker… 🤣

#I love her #she didn’t have the opportunity to work it into Calamity #achievement unlocked #Aabria Iyengar #an absolute legend #c3e58 #getting caught up #cr spoilers

[rosewaterandivy]

https://youtube.com/shorts/QuNRoe29bPA?feature=share

Something like that? PLS

Love you <3

Wow, thanks so much for the request! I tweaked it a bit to fill one of the prompts from here, hope that's okay. Love you 💜

83. “Stay there. I’m coming to get you.”

When you told him what you and Eddie would be up to Saturday night, Steve groaned so loud you could swear the couch vibrated.

You can’t be serious. And leaving me at the mercy of the gremlins?

“Yes,” you grin, “I’m sure the Harrington babysitting service can handle it.” And then you’re off to get ready for the party. “Knowing you, you’ll probably have some hot date booked for after you’ve dropped the gremlins off.”

It’s not that Steve worries, really he doesn’t, because you’ll be with Eddie and Robin will show up at some point, so at least you’ll be safe. But Saturdays were for movies with the party, taking full advantage of Steve and Robin’s (five-fingered) employee discount at Family Video and hanging out.

Recently, it’s been the only time when he can see you—busy with work and classes and helping Eddie with his GED. All your free time was accounted for, used up, leaving nothing left for him.

He tried (and failed) to be accommodating about it.

This resulted in frequent calls to your house, which your mother or father usually answered with thinly veiled annoyance (Sorry Steve, she just left. No, I don’t know when she’ll be back), interrupted study sessions at Forest Hills (Eddie’s exasperated, ‘Dude, what the fuck. You’re infringing on my right to an education here.’), and drop-ins while you were working at the diner.

In short, it was becoming a problem.

So when you mentioned, last minute mind you, that Eddie needed a hand dealing for a party this weekend and you’d agreed to help out, Steve took it about as well as could be expected.

Which is to say, not at all.

It’s bad enough that he’s making them watch Rocky IV, according to Dustin. But Steve pays him no mind and pops the tape into the VCR. The kids grumble and complain, but otherwise occupy themselves by half-watching the saga of Rocky and Drago.

His leg won’t stop bouncing as he reclines against the couch. It continues for the whole movie. When the film concludes with Apollo’s tragic demise, Max starts sorting through the rest of the tapes.

“What else is in here?” Throws out a few titles as she sees them, The Color Purple, 101 Dalmations, Out of Africa—

“Nope!”

Steve nearly hip checks Lucas in his haste to wrestle the tape from Max. They grapple for a bit, nearly coming to blows but Steve’s not about to hit a child and a girl at that. This sense of chivalry does not stop Max from smacking him upside the head, but he’s victorious in the end.

“And why can’t we watch that particular one?” Dustin ventures with a curious glance to Lucas before Steve settles back on the couch between them.

“I’ll, uh,” he stashes the tape behind the sofa, wedges its case against the wall. “Tell you when you’re older.”

Dustin and Lucas continue to eye each other warily.

Then El pipes up, “Friends don’t lie.” And before Steve can stop her from what will inevitably be an embarrassing calamity—

“It’s a … sad movie,” she continues, “The last time he watched it, he cried.”

Oh. Shit.

He wants nothing more than to bash his head against the wall, but can’t risk another concussion according to the doctors and literally everyone else. Maybe the earth could swallow him whole instead? Anything to end this humiliation.

“Didn’t you watch that with—” Mike begins, because he is an asshole.

“Oh yeah,” Dustin confirms, “They watched it like, a few weeks ago. I mean, her crying I get,” he turns to Steve, an incredulous look on his face, “But you—”

“Robert Redford is a good actor, okay?” He rushes to defend himself, “Very convincing.”

“Okaaayy,” Max drawls.

An uncomfortable silence ensues. The kids settle on watching Clue while Steve takes an opportunity to refill drinks and snacks. Tries to ignore the furtive whispers from the living room. Tries to focus on the popcorn in the microwave and not imagining what you may be up to at the house party with Eddie.

“Why don’t you just ask her out already?” Will says when Steve returns from the kitchen. 

The group falls silent, awaiting his response. Keep your cool, Harrington. He sets the bowl of popcorn on the table, doing his best to ignore Will’s probing question. Is almost successful until—

“Steve, you’re literally in love with her.”

He scoffs at Lucas’ blatant betrayal. Helped the kid practice everyday after school leading up to tryouts and this is how he’s repaid? 

“No,” he says with a tone to convey the end of this conversation. “We’re friends, just friends and that’s it.”

A beat of silence as everyone pretends to watch as Tim Curry greets the six strangers upon their arrival to the mansion.

Dustin coughs. “Friends don’t look at each other the way you look at her, Steve.”

“Oh my god.” Max looks like she wants to brain herself on the edge of the coffee table at the stupidity of it all. 

“Fuck off.” Steve huffs in annoyance, “Like I’m gonna take advice from a bunch of high schoolers.”

“Dude.”

“We’ve saved the world.”

“Like, multiple times.”

“And,” El annoyingly points out, “It’s good advice.”

Thankfully, Steve is saved by the bell. The phone trills its ring from somewhere beneath the couch cushions. Unable to find the cordless, he’s forced to answer it in the kitchen.

“Harrington residence.”

There’s music thumping and cross chatter down the line as he tries to make out who’s calling.

“Steve?”

“Rob, that you?”

A laugh, “Yeah, s’me. How you doin’ babe?”

Her voice has taken on that light, dreamy cadence it gets when she’s tipsy or high and, knowing her, it’s probably both.

“Uh, fine.” He turns to check on the kids in the living room, “Watching Clue. Did you need something?”

“Oh my god,” she rasps, “I love that movie!” A hiccup followed by a chuckle. “Nah, I’m good babe. I’m calling for someone else.”

He doesn’t know what to make of that.

“Rob, you know you called my house, right? The kids are here, if you wanna talk to them but—”

“Nonono Stevie,” she says in a rush, “M’callin’ about your girl.”

“My… girl.”

“Yep.”

The sounds of the phone being handed off to someone else. A few breaths and then, “Hi Steve.”

And oh.

Your voice is low and breathy through the phone, he can hear you giggling about something to Robin as you pull the speaker away from your mouth ‘I’m on the phone Buckley.’

He melts, just a bit. Because he knows that tone very well— when you fall asleep leaning against his shoulder during movie nights or take a brief nap sitting shotgun in his car, all raspy and sweet. 

“Hey honey,” he coos, voice incredibly fond. Steve turns, closing himself off from the din in the living room. “Y’doin’ okay?”

“Mmhm, tired though.”

“Is that right?’

A yawn. “Yeah,” he can hear the pout in your voice, “Rob doesn’t wanna leave yet and Eddie went upstairs with someone like, forever ago.”

Steve’s already grabbing his keys from the counter. “Stay with Robin, okay? I’m coming get you.”

“Thanks Stevie,” you sigh prettily, “You’re the best.”

_

Dustin (unhelpfully) advised him to get flowers before he left, so Steve put Max in charge, out of spite. Which unfortunately broke the levy for a barrage of romantic advice from literal children: hold the door, make eye contact, give her your jacket and be on the left side of the sidewalk.

It’d be endearing if it wasn’t so tragic.

He rolls up to the house to find not only Robin, but Eddie too, at your side seated on the sidewalk. He crosses the hood of the car as you stand with a soft smile, “Sorry Steve,” you say, less sloshed since the phone call, but still tired. “Didn’t mean to ruin your night.”

“C’mon honey,” he scoffs, “There’s no way you could ruin my night.” He ushers you to the passenger seat, arm around your waist. He can smell the beer from the keg and stale cigarettes on you, laced with the comforting scent your perfume. 

He shuts the door after reminding you to put on your seatbelt and turns back to Eddie and Robin. They look like they’re up to no good— Eddie’s smirking and got that glint in his eye that says he’ll be a problem, all the while Rob has a dopey grin on her face.

“She’s had water and we took the drinks from her a while ago,” Eddie says, waving back at you from the sidewalk. “Try to have her eat something.”

Steve rolls his eyes. Like he needs advice from a dungeon master on how to deal with a drunk.

Robin blinks owlishly, “Ooh, Hardee’s, get her that.”

Steve laughs as Eddie shepherds Robin away. Says something about not fucking it up and using protection. He can’t bring himself to care as he slides back into the car. The radio kicked on as he starts the car, David Byrne rhapsodizing about a girl as she was. 

He watched as you bop to the song in your seat, bringing an affectionate smile to his face— eyes closed, hair whipping back in the cool night breeze as you sing along. The axels squeak when Steve pulls into the drive-thru lane.

Try as he might to keep his gaze on you, to watch you a little longer, the intercom sputters to life—a young boy’s voice greeting mechanically but trying nonetheless to adhere to Hardee’s hospitality best he can.

The burger you’d gotten—medium, double meat, bacon, all toppings between—has completely fallen apart in a splat back onto the wax paper in your lap.

“Here, honey.”

He fumbles for napkins. But you wave his worries away, licking your fingers before diving in to deconstruct your food.

“Sorry—I promise I have my shit together.” Another giggle, “Not doing well here. Makin’ a mess your car and everything.”

“I, uh, I think you’re doin’ great.”

The words slip out before he can catch them and around a mouthful of fries, you thank him, and then you take a breath, and he can literally see you winding up for another enormous bite.

“Sorry,” you pause sheepishly, “M’ starving—skipped lunch on accident.” You take the enormous bite he saw coming, and then, “Also doesn’t help—mm—nervous.”

Steve chews on a fry and slurps his soda, driving with ease. “Nervous ‘bout what?”

You swallow and steal his drink, “Weren’t you on a date?”

He blinks.

You blink.

He blinks again.

“No, I was watching movies with the kids.”

His face is so hot that he thinks someone must have thrown a fire into him. Should he have just gone along with it instead? It’s old news by now that King Steve had turned in his crown for a walkie-talkie and chauffeuring a bunch of teens around.

A beat passes and he tries again, now at the end of the meal and the stain on your shirt starting to sink in and spread, heavy enough to dip toward the skin beneath. “Do you want to take your shirt off?”

You choke on soda and add another splatter down your chest, “What?”

“You can wear my jacket,” he clarifies. “Give it back later. I mean, if you…” He frowns. “Uh. Um.”

The beemer comes to a stop in front of he Harrington house. Lights still on in the living room signalling that the party is still there. 

You changed out of your shirt, ducking down in the front seat bashfully (“Look away, damn it.”), your old t-shirt in a crumple inside his pocket. His jacket hung a bit loose, but zipped up all the way and it was a good enough cover for a while.

There’s a smear of grease on your cheek from the burger and Steve knows it’s just a personality trait at this point. He laughs when you stick your tongue out, trying to find exactly where it is before giving up and asking him to wipe it off.

He shoves his hands in his pocket afterwards, thumb jammed inside his fist like a souvenir, keeping it there the rest of the walk up the drive, all the way up to the front door of his house before he wonders if he should have been trying to hold your hand.

Maybe not.

“I missed this,” he says, brushing his shoulder against yours.

You hum, knocking your hip against his. “Thanks for dinner,” you say, looking up at him.

“Yeah, of course.”

“And picking me up.” A beat passes. “And the jacket, too. It’s really nice… comfortable and, uh, smells… good. Like, cinnamon and… nice body wash and… trees.” You make a queasy face and close your eyes for a second, pinching the bridge of your nose uncomfortably as Steve looks on.

Oh, he realizes. You must be woozy.

Oh, he realizes. You’re gonna hurl.

“Steve,” Your voice is small and tight, and you look like you’re struggling to take steadying breaths. “I gotta sit down.”

“Right,” he replies. You laugh, rubbing the back of your neck before he turns and unlocks the door.

The kids are passed out on the sofa and reclining chairs in the living room. He locks the door and sneaks you upstairs, hands politely on your waist to steady you on your feet. Guides you to the left toward the guest bath and flips on the lights. 

“You alright?”

The fluorescents cast you in a hazy yellow glow, squinting at the bright light. You paw at the countertop for something, water? You turn to open a drawer and find a spare toothbrush— the blue one, yours, a freebie from a check-up and gloop some toothpaste on the bristles. With a nod in response, you begin to brush your teeth, faucet running as you fill a cup of water. 

Steve leaves you with a clean washcloth and towel, should you need them, and goes to check that his room isn’t a complete disaster. Bed sheets are clean-ish and he doesn’t have time to run them through the wash, though there’s always one of the guest rooms…

“Hey.”

He startles slightly, not hearing you walk in. You’ve toed off your shoes by the door and are looking sheepish, lip pulled between your teeth. “Can I borrow some clothes?”

“Yeah, sure.” 

Steve pulls open some drawers, rifling through for something for you to sleep in. Throws your top into his hamper while he’s at it. He turns back to you with a ‘Hawkins Athletics’ shirt that’s seen better days and a pair of flannel pajamas. Shoves them toward you awkwardly and then promptly turns around to let you have some privacy while you change.

“Thanks.”

He makes a strangled noise of confirmation and clears his throat. “No problem.”

Hearing the rustling of sheets, he turns back around and catches sight of your bare leg as you hunker down in his bed. Heat rushes to his cheeks when he spies the pajama pants neatly folded and placed on his nightstand. You turn on your side, burrowing and fluffing the pillows to your liking.

Steve makes quick work of brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed. Shoes by the door next to yours, jeans shucked into a pile by his desk, keeps his shirt on for the sake of decency, and slips in next to you. 

“I appreciate you coming to get me, y’didn’t have to do that.”

His arm drapes against your shoulder while you snuggle into him, casual affection being the norm between you two. He swallows thickly, tries to regulate his breathing when your hand rests against his chest.

“What’re friends for?”

“Hmm,” you consider for a moment. “Friends may not be the most accurate term.”

Steve bristles at that. 

“What do you mean?” He turns toward you, heart racing— did you not want to be friends anymore? Did he do something wrong?

Your face is impassive, blank. Steve couldn’t even begin to guess at what you’re thinking, is afraid to even try.

Then, you smile.

Fuck. That smile.

“S-so, not friends then?”

Steve is not a religious man, but he prays that your smile means what he thinks it does. Slowly reaching toward you, he brushes a lock of hair from your face, fingers grazing your cheek. 

Mischievously, you lean in, touch him soft on the lips and every beat of his pulse seems to be seeking out the sweet plush of your mouth. “If we were just friends, I shouldn’t wanna kiss you so bad, but we both seem to be … not good… at following decorum, so…” Your eyes light up teasingly, “What d’ya say?”

Steve makes a noise like a whimper. Wow. Babysitter extraordinaire with a bat of nails under his bed and it’s your smile that does him in.

You kiss him again, longer than the last, giggling softly and tugging on his bottom lip like you could pull his entire body toward you with just that. “I’m sure we could find a few more rules to break.”

#steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #stranger things fanfiction #reader insert #ways to say #steve harrington fluff

[keyleth-clay]

From the moment that Exandria Unlimited: Calamity was announced, everybody was saying that “we already know how it ends, what matters is how they get there. We already know it’s a tragedy.”

Except... it wasn’t tragic. Not really.

Nydas made sure that as many citizens of Avalir survived as possible. He made sure that the students of the Sorcerer’s Academy, his pride and joy, made it out of the city. His brother and his sister-in-law made it out of Cathmoira.

Zerxus got to see his husband again, got to see his son one more time before everything went to shit, He made sure Tempus got out, and because of that, they were reunited. And even though he ended up damning his soul and serving the Lord of the Hells, he did it because there was no other choice he ever would have made.

Patia realized as she died, 1 in-game second into the episode, that you can have all of the knowledge in the world, but it means nothing if it dies with you. Against all odds, she got a second chance, a grand total of an hour and a half before she ended up dying for good, and she fucking took it. She made damn sure that that knowledge didn’t die with her. And she always served Avalir, but Avalir is not the cobble streets or the ivory towers or any of the Rings. Avalir is its people, and she served them to the very end.

Loquatius was given the opportunity to leave, and he chose to stay with the woman he loves, with the world he loves, with the people he loves. He got one final message out, and with it, made sure that as many people were warned of the danger as possible, made sure that they knew to escape and where to go to do so. He got to be there to see Laerryn’s life’s work reach completion, and that was the whole point, wasn’t it?

Laerryn got to see her life work reach completion - not the way she thought it would, but in a way that mattered infinitely more. She did something brilliant and incomparable, surrounded by her loved ones, in and for and as the Heart of Avalir. She and Loquatius made amends and rekindled their love, and in the last few minutes of their lives were married again. ‘Til death do they part.

And Cerrit broke off from the rest of the party, one of the most taboo things in TTRPGs, and because of that he was able to find a way to make sure his family was safe, he was able to get to his children before things got too bad, he was able to get them out of the city. He fucking killed Vespin Chloras, saved his friend’s life, and made it possible for her to prevent the Primordials from re-entering the world. With one final telepathic map from Laerryn and a symbol of a broken pact from Loquatius, was able to escape and make it back to his family.

None of them died with regret. None of them wished that they had done things differently, there was no “would have, should have, could have”. There was more hope than anything else in this story.

#kc speaks #Critical Role #meta #EXU: Calamity #The Ring of Brass #Nydas Okiro #Zerxus Ilerez #Patia Por'co #Loquatius Seelie #Laerryn Coramar-Seelie #Cerrit Agrupnin

[marcynomercy]

Fate written in blood

I have a doubt, do you think the narrative is running? Something very shallow? Please tell me that I will improve the writing.

Thank you @tragedybunny for beta-reading.

Summary: The blood has always been her way until the day that fate changed, After being kidnapped by mind flayers and the fall of the Nautiloid Calamity had a new opportunity for freedom and strangely her fate crossed with that of Astarion when the elf put that dagger around her neck. 

 Their fate until now was written by others, but now they would write with their own hands in blood. 

Warnings: Violence, blood, game events, mentions of trauma, distress/comfort, mention of abuse, flashback of torture. (That’s it for now)

Ship: Astarion and Calamity (Tav), Shadowheart and Carniex (Tav), mentions of other characters.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3.

Chapter 2 - Pleasant cold

They got up early and left the camp to continue their search, Calamity had previously planned their actions and done it in a way that they could readjust quickly if something during the day changed the plans. It was  something she learned in her work. Never rely on a single plan, always have options and anticipate possible setbacks.

 So first she decided to go behind the place that had the letter she found in that hidden Kagha chest. The Grove didn’t seem to be a bad place to have as a "resource" and it was a safe place, so it would be very bad if it was closed because of that ritual of thorns. Doing so earned them a fight with some guardians, but that was no big deal as the answers were worth it.

"Oh, apparently Kagha was really getting involved with who shouldn’t be." Calamity hummed with a satisfied smile on her lips.

"So... what are you planning?" Astarion asked, annoyed. 

"Something that benefits us in the long term until we find this Halsin." She replies holding onto the letter. "Now let’s continue and take a look at the temple that was infested by goblins. It would be good to take a look to make sure what we will face when the time comes."

 They were relatively close to the site so it wasn’t a problem, just before entering the ruined village they found the group of adventurers who were in the Grove before whose leader was the same guy that Calamity had punched. After a little dialogue with him and getting the information about a reward for a treasure called "Night Song" they made their way to that temple. The first time she used the tadpole’s powers was in the entryway  with the goblins by reading one of their minds and using that to get in smoothly.Then in a few steps before crossing a bridge they fell to the ground being crushed by a terrible power and a voice that oppressed them demanding obedience. They managed to get rid of it thanks to the artifact that Shadowheart carried. 

 Shadowheart was revealed to be a follower of Shar at this point Being honest, Calamity didn’t really care much for it, only worried about the artifact. What was he? Why did Shar want him? Because he could protect them? Who were those people in the vision they had? What did it all mean? Without these answers she could only rely on the cleric oath to keep this artifact safe even if it cost her life.

 They passed through the party and the guards, the temple desecrated with the goddess statues broken and destroyed, that yielded depressive and sarcastic comments from Shadowheart now that she felt more free to express her beliefs. A goblin was branding the followers with hot iron and turned to them with a certain enthusiasm. She called them "True Soul" and offered the brand - something that was immediately denied. Then a familiar sensation, darkness seems to swallow the temple, leaving them with a vision of the goblin priestess, receiving instruction from a handsome young man. One of the Chosen… The vision dissolves away. They stand before the goblin priestess in the temple once again, Calamity severed the connection abruptly, now she knew that this goblin also carried the parasite.

 She said something about shadows in her mind and offered to help.

"That’s a bit particular..."  Calamity replied.

"Of course we go to my chapel, where it is private, we don’t let others interfere in the dealings between us True Souls."

 They followed her to the place, the door was closed and the priestess called them closer.

"Ready to clear your mind?"

 Until that moment everyone thought that Calamity would make the stupid decision to trust this goblin, Astarion himself was rolling his eyes at the situation.

"Actually, I changed my mind..." Calamity smiled sweetly saying these words calmly and in the blink of an eye her hand moved and the goblin’s throat was cut. "I’m gonna kill you now."

 The priestess fell to the ground,blood gushed, and everyone was staring at the atrocious scene. And when she pulled that blade? The most disturbing was the smile she kept on her lips, a sweet and innocent smile that became disturbing in this situation. Astarion was perplexed by the way she hid her murderous intent, none of them realized, HE did not notice. 

 "True Souls, they’re infected like us but think they’re thinking talking to a god." she commented, rifling through the goblin’s body.

"Was this the intended destination for us? Blessed in ignorance to think we could talk to a God? What joke of bad taste..." He mocked angry in the end.

 When the priestess tadpole abandoned her body everyone was disgusted, but this power... her body moved on its own from the influence of the tadpole. Calamity just accepted it and kept the tadpole for now. She knew she should not trust this, should not accept, but at the same time, something within her wanted this power and desired more. Unfortunately they could not go very far after finding the secret passage, they began to feel some symptoms and preferred to take a rest at the camp. The heavy air, the sweat and the sore fingertips.

That was not good. 

 Lae'zel attacked Calamity by putting a dagger around her neck saying they were transforming. Everyone told her to put down the blade and stop it. Tempers began to flare, mixed with pain, fear, despair and distrust. Calamity’s head hurt again... she hated this atmosphere, this feeling. She was drowned in the same for many years and now everything could end up that way. No, she wouldn’t let me.

  She used the tadpole to spy on Lae'zel’s mind and felt the uncertainty and disgust. She used it to convince her that it was just a fever and that it would pass with a rest. 

"Gah, I don’t trust my own mind. So I think I should trust yours. I will wait. But know this I will be watching. If the sickness does not pass, come dawn... I will end us all." 

That threat was a beautiful knot in the stomach for everyone and that night was difficult. But then a figure appeared in her dreams... with the face of her brother.

 The dream visitor was wearing his face and said he was protecting her, this was a very low blow to her as she only trusted him briefly because of the face he was wearing. He promised that when she woke up she would be better and... really he did not lie. More questions hit her mind and when talking to all her companions the stories hit, same dream same message. 

 Unmasking Kagha was easy and quick, getting rid of the shadow druids was simple and with that they ensured the Grove as a safe point. Calamity talked to the druids about Halsin who had not yet found him, but did not believe he was dead . Her suspicions were that he would  be stuck somewhere in that lair since if they had killed a druid who could turn into a bear the least they could do was have his head was stuck on  a spear and displayed as a trophy. 

 Astarion remembered the scene from the previous day, the way she kept that same pleasant and calm expression while slicing the goblin’s throat. The slight smile drawn on her lips, the smile she was now using to be friendly to the druids and the tieflings... he was impressed how vile she could be and still maintain the appearance of "good girl". 

"We chose a wolf in sheep’s clothing as leader." He commented.

"I don’t think it’s bad, I even like this side of her is practical and makes people lower their guard easily." Shadowheart argued, watching her too. "And she doesn’t really seem like a bad person."

"No?" Astarion questioned.

"Look at her well." Gale said watching her talking to the children. "She saved that girl from Kagha, that boy from the harpies  and was being kind to the others Look into her eyes, see the compassion reflected in her and that’s something you can’t fake Astarion."

  Astarion said nothing more, really she had this compassionate look at that moment while interacting with the children and he became even more confused. How could a killer like her have such a side? Be so ruthless and at the same time so kind.

 The village seemed to have good resources and while exploring ordinary conversations became natural.

"So Calamity, do you have  some love waiting for you in the city?" Shadowheart asked humorously.

"I don’t have time for romance." It was an anticlimactic response for the group.

"Really? So who were you looking for?" Astarion asked curious. "It was impossible not to notice you scouring the rubble of the fall."

"I was looking for my twin brother, we separated before I was kidnapped, and maybe he was taken too, but after not finding him I think he was lucky not to have been taken."

"Or in the worst case, he is one of those ignorant people we meet." Astarion replied, hardly interested.

"Hope that’s not the case." Calamity warned. " My brother is as skilled as I am and much more brutal. Even I would have trouble facing him in a fight... and I would hate that." Her voice became a weaker tone and had a lot of regret, her feelings were clear. 

"It’s understandable, twin ties are often very strong I can only imagine how painful it must be for you to be in that position." Gale laid his hand on her shoulder and even though it was barely noticeable, Astarion saw the way she trembled even for a second in aversion to touch.

"Thank you, Gale, well let’s hope he’s had better luck."

Unfortunately not everything was quiet after all. A devil appeared, playing his game with rhymes of a poem and dragging them to a banquet hall.

"Great now I have a devil in my pocket? Continue with your rhymes and offerings, I will never accept." Calamity was firm in her words. 

"Still, I’ve a feeling you’ll change your mind before it’s changed for you. Try to cure yourself. Shop around - beg, borrow, and steal. Exhaust every possibility util none are left. And when hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair - that’s when you’ll come knocking on my door. Hope. Hahaha! Such a tease."

"Keep dreaming about it, no matter how much despair I’m in, even if it’s death before me, I’ll NEVER make a pact with you." The certainty she had in her words and in her eyes made everyone be impressed, even Raphael.

"Hahahaha, I’ve heard those words before and only one was true to them... hum."  He approached her and held her chin to better see her face. 

 The way Raphael looked at her, that he looked in the back of his eyes as if he were spying on his soul. Calamity pushed him in disgust.

"What an interesting twist."

"Are you done with your silly little game?" she mocked.

"I believe your words, but what if it was to save someone else? Your brother perhaps?" Calamity was losing patience to the point of moving her  hand to pull her sword.

 Astarion was faster and held her wrist.

"Are you crazy?! Think well before you act." He warned as he received an angry look from her.

" What a sad situation perhaps I should do a little favor."

"Leave him out of this devil! You made your offer and I denied it!"

"For now." Raphael, with a gesture, teleported them back to the village and the group looked in.

 Calamity was very upset, that devil quoted her brother and he was right... If it were for him, she would make a pact without hesitation.

"Now there’s a bloody devil trailing after us? This gets better and better." Astarion commented angrily.

 I think he wants something from us. Badly. " Gale commented thoughtfully and worried.

"Sure he does, but apparently he’s devoted special attention to our dear Calamity."

"No matter. We’ve dealt with every other oddity thrown at us lately - we can handle this one too. Now, as for this “Raphael”... He knows our secret, he claims he can help… what do you make of him?" Shadowheart asked.

"We don’t trust him, simple!" Calamity responded adamantly. 

"No doubts at all? Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. He’s clever, my order uses the same tactic when dealing with enemies of Shar. You don’t need a scourge or a rack to break people. Fear and self-doubt are sufficient. When actual pain comes, the victim’s already done the heavy lifting for their torturer. There were no right answers with that devil. He was toying with his food - us."

"I didn’t realise you were so… well-versed in mental and emotional torment. It’s a good thing to know."

"And it seems that you are very familiar with this, did not doubt and did not hesitate even though you lost the line by having your brother cited."

"What can I say, part of the trade. I just... Never mind, we need to focus on the current goal and prepare to kick a devil’s ass if we have to." 

 Back at the camp after an exhausting day, Raphael returned to Calamity’s mind. Her concern was turned to her brother but maybe Raphael is the least of the problems, two days... she had been missing for two days. What would they be doing with him now?

 Were they torturing him? Or worse? 

 The best chance is he’s chained up in his room... Shadowheart is right, fear and doubt is sufficient. She was too thoughtful even now in front of the fire listening to the conversation of her companions, her attention was not really there.

"So we’ve all talked a little bit about ourselves at least enough for this group to work." Astarion said looking at Calamity. "But our leader hasn’t said much yet Sorry darling, but I think it won’t hurt to say a little bit."

She stared at him but without any hostility and sighed.

"Well, what can I say? I’m an assassin in Baldur’s Gate... I’m part of the Assassin’s Guild, being more specific."

Astarion raised a puzzled eyebrow.

"Are you referring to the Assassin’s Guild of underworld city? The one that clashes with the Thieves Guild over business?" 

She agreed with a nod.

"Me and my brother... well they called us Black Dogs."

 Silence. 

 Astarion stared at her in shock, even he had heard of them. A pair of terrible assassins who accept any job, the nickname came on account of their unwavering loyalty to the Guild Masters. Without question, without hesitation, they did the work, and it was always so bloody that even the cultists of Bhaal were impressed.   

"You are very different than I imagined." Astarion broke the silence.

"I don’t appear to be someone with blind loyalty? Of course not, I was bound to be so. They recruited us when we were very young, we had no other option to survive and they took advantage of that. They trained us, tortured us, they no longer wanted subordinates with ambitions and opinions of their own." She laughed. "No... They wanted dogs that would obey any order without complaining or hesitating. And that would be happy with it, well that last part we learned to pretend very well. Funny, it was thanks to all this confusion I finally managed to think more clearly for myself after years... I ruined the night apparently, I’m going back to my tent." She got up and left.

 It was dark, she was back in that place, chained to the wall. She was facing the floor... what are they going to do with her?

"Hello little girl." A dark-haired elf entered the room and stood in front of her. " Look at me!" He ordered and she obeyed. "Much better, you know you’re going to be punished for letting that child escape, right?"

 Right, they were ordered to kill a noble family of the city... all of them without exception, but when she saw that crying child cowering in a corner felt pity and guilt, she helped that child escape.

"Can we get started?" A Drow entered the room dragging her twin brother with her.

"B-Brother? Wait! I WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE MISTAKE! I SHOULD BE PUNISHED! PLEASE LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE!" She pleaded, begged in tears.

"Oh my dear doll..." the elf bent down and held her face. "It wouldn’t be an effective punishment if I just beat you or tortured you, no...  it hurts you much more if he suffers." She was trembling in despair.

 The Drow chained the half-elf boy facing Calamity so that she would be able to see his face perfectly while he was tortured in her place.

"Caly, don’t worry, it’s okay." Her brother tried to comfort her, but then he screamed in pain as he felt  the flesh of his back being torn by Drow’s blade.

 The first cut was made slow and very precise.

"NO!" She fought, pulling the chains that bound her arms. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

 It did not help, the Drow continued cutting him slowly and agonizing. He screamed at every cut scratching his back while his sister was forced to watch and see his face in pain. 

"See? Your brother is suffering because YOU made a mistake! You are to blame for his suffering, every cut of his back is your fault!" The elf grabbed and pulled her hair, forcing her to keep her eyes on the scene.

"Brother... Carnifex... Carn... forgive me..." She cried his name as she watched the torture. "FORGIVE ME PLEASE!" 

 

Calamity woke up with a suffocating a scream. It was just a nightmare... a nightmare and a memory. 

 She wiped the sweat from her face and sighed heavily... hell. He may be suffering again that same way alone now, and it’s her fault... it’s always gonna be her fault. 

 "Carnifex my brother... You forgive me, don’t you?"

 She got up and left the tent. Looking around, it seemed that everyone was still sleeping. She walked quietly to the river near the camp and felt that near the shore, the water reflecting the night sky was a calm sight for a disturbed mind. 

 After that day that she watched her brother being tortured she never dared to have mercy on anyone... even if it was a child. 

 She was tired, but  didn’t feel like sleeping anymore, so she just took off her boots and put her feet in the water, it was cold but pleasant. Calamity hugged her knees and took advantage of the calm and cold sensation of the water against her skin. 

"Oh... I didn’t expect you to be awake." It was Astarion’s voice, but she didn’t move. 

 Astarion had gone hunting and decided to come down to the river to wipe his face that could be stained with blood. But he did not expect to find Calamity huddled by the river.

   Honestly, he didn’t know what to think about her, but he had thought a little about what she said. She was shaped to be someone without opinions or ambitions of her own, practically an object so to speak... it irritated him. Now seeing her shrunk there without saying anything, out of curiosity he approached her and saw her eyes full of tears.

"Are you crying...?" he asked, surprised.

"Me? Crying?" She hadn’t even noticed the tears running from her eyes. "Oh... It’s been years since I’ve cried."

 Shit... she looked so helpless. 

 The expression so sweet and sad, but her eyes were empty and cold as a doll... it could drive someone crazy. 

"Astarion... Are you a vampire?" He froze.

"Why the question, dear?" He was sweating cold.

"Well... I don’t see your reflection." She replied tone innocent, as she pointed to the water.

 Unbelievable, he was caught by such an oversight because he lowered his guard to this vulnerable face?! He had to agree with Shadowheart, Calamity had a knack for keeping people off guard.

"Don’t worry, I won’t kill you." She declared at last.

"Excuse me?" he continued, perplexed.

"I have no intention of killing you, Astarion." She stated again with the same empty look and innocent expression.

 He just laughed it off.

"Hahahaha, gods... you really are a figure, dear Calamity." He sat next to her. "What will you have in return?"

"Pardon?" she tilted her confused head.

"Well, you’ll lie secret in exchange for what?"

"Nothing."  She answered automatically.

 Shock again, impossible! She wanted something, everyone always wanted something!

"Don’t be shy, darling, I know you want something." He insisted.

"I don’t want anything." She replied again.

 He looked into her eyes and saw nothing, ulterior motives, malice, lies... nothing but emptiness.

"You..." He held her face and kept looking into her eyes.

 Was that it? She was broken?

"Do you really not want anything? Even after being free?" 

"I want to remain free, and I want my brother to be free too, I want nothing more than that." This could not even be seen as ambition. 

"Gods below... I really thought you’d have some ambition, apparently I’ll have to teach you to be a little more ambitious." Her eyes lit up with these words.

 She looked like an innocent puppy.

 Calamity leaned back a little from his touch and wet her hands in the water and then wiped his face.

"Your face was a little bloody." She explained quickly, and then she held his face gently. "I like the touch of your skin, it’s cold and pleasant like river water."

 Was she serious? Few would say that the skin of an undead is something pleasant, but her words were so genuine and innocent. What was that feeling? For some reason he wanted to take care of her, why?

Well that’s it! Thank you for reading the second chapter.

@spacebarbarianweird @spacesquidlings@thechaoticdruid @vixstarria

Who wants to be tagged in the next chapters please tell me in the comments.

#astarion x tav #oc tav #tav bg3 #my tav #bg3 tav #baldurs gate 3 #astarion x oc #astarion bg3 #astarion romance #astarion x f!tav #astarion/tav #tav x astarion #tav #astarion fanfic #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 astarion #bg3 oc #oc tav calamity #oc tav carnifex #bg3 #FatewritteninbloodFic

[hestusjamsession]

I’ve been depressed so I decided to do what normal people do when they’re depressed and make a list of my favorite Legend of Zelda fanfics thus far. I think I’ll make a Linked Universe one next.

Almost all of these fics are finished and most are multi chapter. Some are quite long too. I also tried to include a variety of ships and stuff. I’m a multi-opportunity shipper, what can I say?

I know a few of the authors are here on Tumblr but I can’t for the life of me find them. So if anyone knows the usernames of the authors so I can tag them I’d appreciate it.

Anyway…

*cracks knuckles*

1. Make a Wish, Make it Count by LiliansMalice

Three very different people get forced to work together to find a powerful relic that can grant them wishes and solve their (admittedly pretty bad) problems.

It’s got angst, it’s got humor, it’s got found family vibes. And demons. Lots and lots of demons. Such a good read y’all need to check it out. Also, if anyone knows of any more fics like this let me know!

2. Honor Among Thieves by DawnTheRithmatist

The Master Sword has been stolen and as things start to go missing around the castle Zelda decides to do some digging which ends up with her becoming pen pals with a wanted thief.

Zelink fic which Link goes full rogue and koroks are eager accomplices.

3. Beating Around the Bush by Umbreonix

Revali retires from the air force and becomes a remote bush pilot. His life is all well and good (if boring) until a slightly feral researcher from the University of Central Hyrule derails his entire life.

This fic is genuinely hilarious and also heartwarming. Umbreonix writes Revali so well. Revlink fic with a modern spin. (Side note, the fic “Finding Link” by the same author is also really good)

4. Displaced by Socksock

What do you do once you’ve saved the day? Yeah, Link and Zelda don’t know either. But Link has monsters to kill and cool new outfits to find and Zelda has massive bridges to rebuild and loyal knights to smooch so they’ll be ok.

This was one of the first fics I read after beating BOTW. Novel length Zelink goodness with lots of humor and healing and Link dressing up like Tingle because he’s like that.

5. K.K. Love Song by Socksock

Anything by Socksock is gonna be great but this fic literally kept me sane while I was working on site during the Pandemic. Oklahoma be like that.

Modern Zelink fic where the hot new Shiekah Slate game Animal Crossing brings a Princess and a cook closer together. Link apparently does a good KK impression.

6. Nothing More, Nothing Less by Farbsturz

Ravio, Bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, must head to Hyrule to help it’s Hero defeat the Calamity. Ravio, Bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, is not sure about this.

Ravio plays Breath of the Wild. Or- the Ravlink fic you didn’t know you wanted.

7. The Queen’s Tournament by AshleysWrittenWords

In order to become Queen, Princess Zelda must marry. Zelda’s plan? Part 1: Host a tournament were the winner gets her hand in marriage. Part 2: Enter said tournament in disguise so she can, to quote Merida from Brave “shoot for her own hand”. And it all goes according to plan until Link decides to enter the tourney as well.

I THINK I might have read this, or something very similar, once upon a time on Fanfiction.net. Twilight Princess-ish Zelink.

8. Branded by Embyrinitalics

In a land haunted by war, two lonely people find solace within each other.

This one’s got a somber vibe to it, but it’s beautifully written and it hits me in the shipper feels so yeah.

9. The Wolf of Farore by Wayward_Chronicler

The Legend of Zelda meets The Witcher in a fic that is technically not finished but has 71 chapters and more character cameos than you can swing a sword at.

Long fic fam this one’s for you. 😘

10. Interim by Starkraving

Link and Zelda have just defeated the Calamity and are wandering Hyrule when they meet a strangely familiar Gerudo who wants to buy Link’s giant horse and has no idea what he’s about to get roped into.

The Link/Zelda/Gan fic filled with angst, humor and lots of Gerudo grammar lessons.

This was the other fic I read right after beating BOTW. Fair warning- its rated E so it’s got spicy parts to it. But if you don’t mind that it’s a fantastic read.

11. Re-Domestication by AnthemXIX

The description says it best: “A semi-feral amnesiac and his wolf guardian try to get along with the locals.”

A really good BOTW Link and Wolf Link fic that isn’t Linked Universe related (Though the author has written several really good LU fics as well). It’s part of a series and they’re all really good.

12. Secrets of the Shadows by @skyloftian-nutcase

When Link goes missing, Rusl finds a wolf instead of his adopted son and ends up making a terrible mistake. Hopefully he can make it to Kakariko in time to rectify it.

Papa Rusl angst because it’s good for the soul.

#hope you guys enjoy! #and please let me know if any of the authors are on tumble #make lists makes me feel less like banging my head against the wall just to release endorphins #long post #Legend of Zelda #The Legend of Zelda #LOZ #BOTW #Twilight Princess #fanfiction #AU

[elydition]

Party Time

“Master Tighnari!” Collei called out excitedly, stumbling into his room with her clumsy charm on full display. There was no calamity that occurred with his decorative vases this time, so Tighnari kept his eyes on his hands.

“Master Tighnari,” Cyno echoed flatly. If one didn’t know Cyno, they wouldn’t have picked up on the slight teasing in his voice. Tighnari could hear a sharp smack, a clear indicator that Collei reprimanded him.

“I do hope you know I don’t have to turn around in order to throw something at you, General Mahamatra,” Tighnari was focused on mixing the last of a salve a child needed after sustaining some burns. His mother was waiting patiently and Tighnari rarely ran behind. If Cyno and Collei were here, there was a chance he could get swept into something time consuming. “Is there something you two need?”

“No! Not at all,” Collei slid up to the desk Tighnari was working at, peering over his shoulder carefully. “Cyno asked me where you were so I brought him here. I can deliver the salve to the kid’s mom so you can chat! I want to check up on him myself, anyway.”

“You know the usage instructions for this salve right? I made it a little less potent since children are usually sensitive to it, but still relay the usual information to them.” Tighnari said. He neatly capped the salve and packaged it within a dark bag.

“Apply three to four times a day, keep watch for any irritation, wrap with bandages for the first day to maximize effectiveness, and keep it stored in this bag to prevent it from spoiling in sunlight?” Collei listed off, counting on her fingers.

“Perfect. Now go on before it gets too late, I know how much you like to play with the children.” Tighnari dropped the bag in her hands, smiling at her softly before she strolled off to find the family she needed.

“Such a warm welcome, Tighnari,” Cyno muttered after Collei was comfortably on her way. “How your bluntness wounds me.”

“How your jokes take several years off my lifespan,” Tighnari bit back, smiling at the slight chuckle from Cyno. “What brings you to the forest?”

“Are you not aware what day it is?” Cyno furrowed his brows, bringing his arms over his chest. “It’s your birthday, Tighnari.”

“Oh- It is?” The botanist brushed by Cyno to look at the calendar hanging on his wall. Neatly written next to the current day, in Collei’s handwriting, was a note about Tighnari’s birthday.

“Have you been nose-deep in your research again? What have Collei and I told you about taking breaks?” Cyno stood next to Tighnari, who was still staring at the calendar in dazed silence.

“I- I thought I was,” Tighnari’s gaze dropped down slightly. “I didn’t realize so many days had passed. I’ve been working with Karkata and helping Hapaysia recover- I genuinely have been taking breaks, Cyno.”

“You may have been thrown off by staying up through the nights sometimes,” Cyno turned to face Tighnari. “It happens, but you shouldn’t be this surprised. That tells me enough on it’s own. From now on, please let Collei assist you. Her internal clock is nearly mechanical so there will be no mistaking when it’s evening.”

“I shouldn’t have to rely on my student to take care of me when I’m perfectly capable on my own. Time shouldn’t have slipped away from me like that, and we both know it.” Tighnari’s ears folded closer to his head, his body language turning more defensive in an instant.

“You recognized your mistake, now it’s just going to take some time to recover from it. That lightning strike did you no favors either. Dehya has constantly been checking in on you discreetly.” Cyno reached out, rubbing Tighnari’s arm gently. “Just forget about that for now. I’ve come to invite you to your birthday party.”

“A party? Really?” Tighnari’s enthusiasm was nonexistent.

“Those of us that helped Lesser Lord Kusanali regain her freedom wanted to celebrate your birthday after your display of courage at Pardis Dhyai. A few of them would like the opportunity to get to know you better as well, namely Nilou,” Cyno explained.

“I see,” Tighnari finally turned to face Cyno in return. “It seems I have no choice in the matter.”

“Collei and Aether will be there?” Cyno attempted to make Tighnari feel more comfortable with the crowd of relative strangers there.

“It’s fine, I’ll go. Especially if Alhaitham is bringing Kaveh, I love to see how creative they get with insulting each other.”

“Such loving words.”

– – –

“Oh! I see them!” Nilou exclaimed with her face pressed against the glass of the door she was peering through. They decided to host the party in the Grand Bazaar due to it’s relative privacy. “Cyno and Tighnari are almost here!”

“You’re quite excited, Nilou,” Aether said, carrying over a crate of wine Alhaitham and Kaveh were kind enough to bring for the occasion.

“I love celebrating!” Nilou swayed gently, a smile gracing her features. “Birthdays are important milestones in life. Whether it’s the first or the hundredth, they’re all important to me. Some people have a hard time showing their appreciation for someone outside of these occasions. So, I like to help create an environment to encourage love and kindness.”

“Sounds about right to Paimon! Nilou sure does know how to sling together a party. Just look at all the food!” Paimon said, hovering over to the table crammed full of Sumerian specialties.

“Here, let me help you organize the wine then,” Nilou said once Aether placed down the crate. As soon as she crossed the room, Dehya’s booming voice caused her to turn around once again.

“Tighnari and Cyno! Glad you two could make it,” Dehya approached them both, slinging her arms over their shoulders. Tighnari jolted at the sudden contact, but relaxed when Dehya made no move to touch his ears like some heathen.

“Kaveh, where’s the gift we arranged for Tighnari?” Alhaitham asked the man next to him, who scoffed in response.

“You do know that was your responsibility, right? I bought it and it was you who arranged for it to be delivered,” Kaveh bit back. “Don’t tell me the Scribe forgot something.”

“Mind your tongue, it was bought with my money. And yes, I did arrange it, but the man did not like me and requested to deal with you on the day of the delivery,” Alhaitham’s neutral expression did not change. Dehya snickered, covering it with a cough so the Scribe didn’t fix her with a glare.

“Deal with me? First, that’s incredibly rude. I am a pleasure to interact with,” Kaveh said, planting his hands on his hips. “And second, you did not make me aware of future plans with the guy. How was I supposed to know?”

“I left a note on your desk since you don’t listen to a single word I say.”

“The desk I cleaned?”

“Well, yes. It’s not my fault you didn’t pay attention.”

“There are the roommates I know and love so much,” Tighnari dead-panned. “Would you mind keeping your bickering matches to a minimum? Nilou is visibly stressed right now and Collei will be in attendance. I’m sure you don’t want her refereeing your arguments.”

“Apologies, Nilou,” Alhaitham conceded without anymore fanfare.

“Collei enjoys us! Don’t you dare turn her on us,” Kaveh said, face flushed. He had a soft spot for Collei and didn’t enjoy arguing with Alhaitham around her. Tighnari knew he would only complain about Alhaitham if she was in the room, and he definitely used that to his advantage.

It’s his birthday, it’s not a crime to wish for peace among his friends for a few hours.

“I’m so glad you could make it!” Nilou said, approaching gently. “I managed to get into contact with Collei so I could get some of your favorite foods for today! She was so excited to help, so I hope she’s able to join us quickly.”

“I must say, the rain forest is gorgeous,” Candace spoke up, finally joining the little circle they had created. “You tend to it, do you not?”

“I do. I’m the head Forest Watcher, and Collei is a student of mine. Perhaps an apprentice would be a better title for her now,” Tighnari rolled the thought around in his mind. She was well respected and a reliable pillar for Tighnari to lean on. He’d have to make some changes to her status soon, then.

“I took a rather quick stroll with Nilou when she went to meet Collei and could see it was well tended. I’d love for you to visit Aaru Village when you get a chance. We could use your knowledge on identifying some plant species that have started to appear. I would feel better knowing if they were safe due to the many children around,” Candace extended her invite sweetly.

Even if Tighnari hated the heat of the desert, her reason was kind. He had no reason to refuse.

“I’m sure I could make some time within the next week or two. Perhaps I could drag the General Mahamatra with me since he seems to believe I can take a break, while he can’t,” Tighnari cut his eyes over to Cyno. The man only shrugged in response.

“Seems Cyno is in the doghouse, am I right,” Dehya slapped both of them on their backs before strolling off. “I’m with Paimon at the food, so if anyone wants any, chop-chop!”

“Leave some for Collei!” Nilou said, scampering off behind her. Tighnari couldn’t help but laugh as the people around him grew more lively with chatter.

Perhaps it would be a rather nice celebration.

#tighnari #cyno #cynonari #collei #nilou #aether #happy birthday tighnari #subtle cynonari #nilou is cute fight me over it #genshin impact #genshin

[fatefulfaerie]

Overgrown

Linktober 2022 prompt #10/31

Word Count: 1,432

Incarnation: Breath of the Wild (pre-calamity)

Trigger Warnings: None Applicable

“It’s overgrown,” Purah said as she looked into the microscope. “I think your hypothesis is correct.”

Of all the moments for Robbie to finally acknowledge he had feelings for the zany young woman from Kakariko, this was probably the strangest one. She was hunched over the mechanism, her left eye practically glued to the cylinder that allowed her to observe upfront how the blue flame affected plant life. It was weird how quiet it was as she withdrew to jot down her notes. Of all the situations over the past month of them studying here at the Akkala Citadel, the shouting matches, the accidental spills, this was a rare bout of silence, a calm realization that made Robbie lightly smile.

Purah’s ink-dipped feather froze mid-sentence and she furrowed her brow. Robbie’s expression turned to one of alarm and confusion when her head turned to him.

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked.

“Y-yeah,” he stammered, shifting in his seat. He felt heat in his cheeks. Was this blushing? He had no idea. “Of course I am.”

“It’s just you love being right so I expected a big ‘ha told you so’ when I confirmed your hypothesis,” Purah explained.

“Ah yes,” Robbie said, standing up with his hands on his hips. “Ha, I told you so.”

Purah narrowed her eyes, the skepticism in her brewing like steeped tea.

She stood up.

“Are you sure you’re not running a temperature or something,” she asked as she came towards him with a hand ready to check his forehead, yet he ducked out of the way of it before she could, with a nervous chuckle as he swooped around her.

“I am not,” he said, his hands held out as if she were a Lynel. “Everything’s fine.” He forced his nervous laugh into a smile that he gestured to. “See?” he asked as he backed away.

“Is this about the other day?” she said. “I am really sorry about slapping you with an Octorok tentacle. You said it didn’t hurt.”

“I did,” he stammered. “A-and it didn’t. Just don’t worry about it. Keep working, okay?”

Purah was flabbergasted as he watched him scurry off, and soon she felt the presence of another scientist next to her. Purah saw him out of the corner of her eye. With crossed arms Budoh, a fellow researcher that was twice the age of Purah, eyed the oddity that was Robbie.

“I bet I know what that’s about,” he remarked. Purah had no idea what he could be on about, and so she looked over eagerly.

“What?”

Budoh hesitated, his lips warring with themselves as to whether or not he should divulge his knowledge. This was Robbie’s bunkmate, after all, so Purah hung on to every second.

“He got a letter a few days ago,” Budoh explained. “The King is very pleased with our progress here, so pleased that the construction in North Hyrule Plain is meant to be a new lab. He wants Robbie to run it.”

Purah didn’t know what to say at first, stuttering over her vowels and consonants.

“Well that’s amazing!” Purah exclaimed. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“He hasn’t told anyone except me because the King told him he can bring along whoever he wants. It’s going to be the forefront of Sheikah tech research and if he’s acting like that around you, then he probably feels bad because…”

“Because he didn’t choose me,” Purah finished, Budoh nodding.

“If it makes you feel any better, Robbie’s probably not going to choose me either. My rupees are on Nashi and Kyu.”

“The strongest mathematician and the smartest engineer,” Purah agreed with nods. “Yeah that checks out, I wouldn’t blame him. I’d probably do the same.”

Purah hugged her arms close as Budoh left her to her thoughts, letting her heart think of what she would do in his place. It wasn’t long, however, until her thoughts drifted to her own inadequacies. Had she known about this opportunity she would have spent the last month proving her worth, heck her invaluableness at that. Or had she already? She was, after all, a nobody from Kakariko, who hadn't touched an ancient screw until the King permissed it last month. What could she offer him, a guy who had been illegally researching Sheikah tech with his parents basically his whole life.

Later, when tears began to fall where she sat in her designated quarters, she told herself she was overreacting. Akkala was a very nice place, and there were far worse problems in the world than her not getting what she wanted. Calamity, just a few years ago a thirteen year old had pulled the Master Sword, not to mention the poor princess living with the pressure of not yet accessing her sealing power since before she reached double digits.

A few knocks rapped at her door and she quickly composed herself, wiping away her tears and making herself look presentable.

“Robbie,” she said in a breathless surprise when she opened the door.

“Hi,” he said. It was all he said. Whatever he had come to talk to her about flew over his head.

“Look, I…” Purah bowed her head. She looked back up. “You don’t have to say anything, it’s okay.”

“What’s okay?” Robbie asked, confused as to how she could know.

“The Royal Lab,” Purah specified. “It’s okay you aren’t taking me. I understand.”

“Goddesses, of course I’m taking you with me,” Robbie said, as if she were crazy. “You’re one of the best people here.”

“Well, Budoh…”

“Budoh?” Robbie interrupted. “Budoh doesn’t believe the world is round. Never listen to Budoh.”

“But I’m not as smart as Kyu or Nashi or…anyone really.”

Robbie grabbed both her shoulders and locked her eyes into his, making sure she understood.

“You overgrew this place after your first day here and you don’t even know why.”

Purah pursed her lips and a lack of knowledge danced in her eyes.

“You’re insanely creative,” Robbie said. “And ruthlessly inventive. You come up with ideas I wouldn’t have dreamed of in a hundred years, and in an hour you already have a prototype. You’re the most hardworking person here. When I got that letter, you’re the first person I thought of. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want it getting out how quickly I picked you. If I let the letter breathe a bit and then announced my picks, then people would think I really thought about it.”

“Then why were you acting so weird earlier?” Purah asked.

“I really wasn’t,” Robbie said in defense, sliding his arms off her shoulders.

Purah tipped her head and smiled, and just that made Robbie blush.

“You’re hiding something, that’s for sure,” Purah said, “your face is so red you look like a blossoming daisy with that hair.”

“I’m not hiding anything,” Robbie insisted, playfully this time, turning around.

“Come on!” Purah exclaimed, catching up with him and bounding onto his shoulders. She turned him around and Robbie let her. “Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!”

She was jumping up and down like a child, and yet Robbie’s eyes followed her lips. He went for it, closing his eyes and daring. He caught her nose instead, and Purah backed away slowly, shocked.

“Did you just try to kiss me?” Purah asked.

Robbie inhaled to respond, but there was no good excuse for what he just did. No smudge on her nose that he couldn’t have just wiped away with a thumb, no cut on her nostril that he could say he was trying to heal (she wasn’t five, after all).

“I love you,” he said. He shrugged his shoulders. “That’s my only excuse.”

Purah looked behind her and then back to Robbie.

“Come on,” was all she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him goddesses knows where.

“Uhm…where are we going?” Robbie asked, ignoring the fact that he had literally confessed his love for her and she didn’t dare a response in return.

“We’re almost there,” she said, before opening a closet and shuffling inside.

“Purah, what are you doing?” Robbie said. The closet was so small that their chests were practically touching.

“Eliminating any impression people might have that you choosing me for the Royal Lab was because of bias.”

“It’s not, I told you, I–”

Purah interrupted him with a kiss. She had to lift herself onto her toes, but she didn’t care, breathing into the exchange much like Robbie was beginning to. He cupped her cheek gently, and by the end of the night, Robbie was wiping cherry-colored lipstick off of his pale neck.

#linktober #linktober 2022 #purobbie #botw #breath of the wild #pre calamity #cherry blossom #purah x robbie

[autumnalfallingleaves]

What are some of your favorite headcannons on Anne?

Anon, you have great timing, because I just watched some Amphibia with my roommate and her friend >:D

I love headcanoning her as romance-favorable/sex-rupulsed aroace and transfem :D

She has sciatica in her right leg- this is totally projection (because I also have sciatica in my right leg), but it also makes sense because she’s bound to walk a bit funky because of the one shoe, right? And my theory is that I have sciatica because I also walk a bit funky so now Anne has sciatica, too. I gift this to her lovingly.

Other than liking K-Pop, I headcanon that Anne likes indie rock- stuff like Vampire Weekend and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, maybe. I’m basing this off of the vibe of No Big Deal, which she wrote.

She’s literally such a good chef. Maybe even better than her parents/grandfather. If she wasn’t a herpetologist, she’d be a chef.

Speaking of a herpetologist- for her job, she gets a green pickup truck. If the worlds aren’t seperated, she gets one with a bench seat in front so she can fit her entire family. Two humans and a frog up front, and two frogs and a human in back. Frobo can ride in the bed of the truck.

Sprig names it the Frogmobile. Much to Anne’s chagrin, it sticks.

Her first name is actually Annabell but she hates it. She goes by Anne at every opportunity.

She eventually gets her name legally changed to Anne Savisa Boonchuy-Plantar

When she still had her Calamity powers, leaves would actually grow in her hair, due to her powers. This is why her leaves and sticks visibly grow when she uses her powers. If she didn’t lose her powers, she would need someone to help her trim all her plantgrowth. In a world where Earth and Amphibia aren’t separated, the only two people she trusts to actually clip her leaves are her mom and Sprig.

Related, if the worlds were able to stay together, Anne and Sprig would develop a relationship that’s a mash up of best friends/siblings/QPPs. They’re idiots who share one braincell (affectionate).

She can’t keep her right shoe on to save her life. This is a lifelong thing and not just an Amphibia thing.

She uses the Plantar Family Hunting Dance to capture specimens for the aquarium and also to fend off large predator animals.

She can make actual frog noises. Related, Sasha does a terrifying Toad battle cry.

She becomes a lot more acrobatic after Amphibia and actually starts doing a little gymnastics as a hobby after she gets home.

I know it’s canon that she legitimately likes eating bugs, but I’d like to think she starts eating them as snacks at school and work. She, Sasha, and Marcy all gain reputations as the girls who like eating bugs as snacks. Anne will also cook with them and has roped in her parents to liking them, too.

On a slightly angstier note: if we follow the canon ‘verse, Anne finds it really damn hard to sleep alone after she gets back for good. She slept with the other Plantars in the same room for upwards of seven months during a war (they probably had to share a room in the tunnels), so it’s hard to sleep alone, after that. She keeps waking up with the fierce need to check on her frog family. She can’t do that anymore.

She uses her phone a lot less after Amphibia. She really enjoys getting outside and going to the forest and stuff. Swamps are her favorite and she’s actually a pretty decent fisherman, now.

Nobody she knows can rival her greenthumb. She starts a vegetable garden when she gets back from Amphibia.

Anne becomes an accidental internet celebrity after the invasion and she doesn’t even really notice because she uses social media a lot less. She mostly posts pictures and talks about amphibians and her garden.

Not as much as Marcy or Sprig, but Anne is an artist, too. She likes keeping it as a hobby, though.

She writes songs in her spare time and plays them on her guitar.

Man I should probably stop now huh alfsdhjlkdfsh

#I am constantly rotating her in my brain 🥰 #I did not expect to get into 'amphibia' as much as I have but this one character in particular makes my brain go brrr #beans answers

[bymwrites]

I don’t have anything for WIP Weds so have this Sashannarcy eSports AU write-up I’ve been thinking about instead

-

Marcy is an Epic Competitive Gamer best known for being the world's best Vagabondia Versus player, an older but still technically live service 1 on 1 pvp game. She's sponsored by Calamity eSports and streams, but rarely and without voice, but she's still pretty popular just for her gameplay that's several cuts above anyone else you could be watching.

When Vagabondia United, the next entry into the online versus Vagabondia games is announced, Marcy's fan base is excited to see her dominate ANOTHER game; and Marcy's happy to oblige them... Until she learns it's a 3v3 game. 

Marcy isn't known for making friends in the community. She doesn't make tutorials, she hasn't done a collab for a decade, her organization has no other competitive VBV players signed because *why would they when they already signed the best*?

So the announcement passes and Marcy remains stoic about what her plans for VBU are because she doesn't have any... Until she gets an email from the eccentric owner of Calamity saying they've found some teammates for her to play with. She immediately writes back that she's not interested, and the owner responds that they aren't interested in using Marcy's contract to force her to play BUT they will be using it to at least force her to meet her potential teammates. Grumbling about lawyers, Marcy gets ready to meet the two idiots that Cal wants her to play with.

-

Frannie is a household name in the VTuber scene and has been for a couple years now. Of course, Anne Boonchuy isn't nearly as famous a name, even though they're one and the same. Rising to stardom in the VRenaissance, the duality of Frannie's positive attitude while playing rage inducing online games paired with her vicious temper when she did rarely get mad or, as happened more often, when someone fired the first shot at another member of her team, put her in a difficult to find and extremely popular niche.

But Anne wanted to keep her anonymity, which got harder and harder to do as she got more and more popular. She'd deleted all her oldest collabs, before she had adopted the Frannie avatar, to keep her friends (some of whom were her IRL friends rather than online ones) protected from the horde of her fanbase, the size of which frankly terrifies her, as thankful as she might be for them too.

Eventually though she thought she'd have to stop, that the struggle to keep herself hidden would become too much and she'd have to give up her fame, her face, her fun.

Until a curious benefactor made an offer she couldn't refuse; retain her anonymity, they'd take care of all that, and in return she'd work with their collection of creators. They didn't even want the money she was making beyond some extremely sensible maintenance costs; just for her to play with a pretty all-star list of creators, some of whom she hadn't even thought herself in the same realm as yet.

So began a perfect symbiosis, as far as Anne was concerned, and so it was that when her benefactor, who in five years hadn't once failed to hold up their end of the deal, asked to meet with her in person to discuss a potential opportunity, she agreed readily.

-

Two years. That's what the doctors said when Sasha asked them when she could play again. She'd asked them to repeat that, she must've heard them wrong. Two years. There must be something they can do?! Two years. Fractures can't be rushed if you want a return to peak performance; cheat the recovery and the bone will never be like it was again.

No Olympics, no WBA, no nothing. The sport of basketball had taken her temporary retirement from the court bleakly, but not nearly as hard as her team; or Sasha herself.

She sat in her hospital bed watching them lose matches they could've won if she'd just been there and when it came time to leave the hospital, four months into two years, she'd already decided she wouldn't blame them if nobody came to see her off. She wasn't even sure where she was going, really.

What she did not expect was a car waiting for her with the owner of the Toads in it, but that was what was there outside the hospital that day. She'd expected a polite but firm "renegotiation" of her contract; but again, what she expected wasn't what she got. 

The news her contract had been sold to someone else and for a real, albeit discounted, price apparently too, wasn't expected either. But that’s what the team owner told her, and when she asked WHY someone wanted her contract, he said they have a game for her to play. Without legs? She’s skeptical, but, well, what else is she gonna do for a year and a half, right?

#amphibia #amphibia au #sashannarcy #sasha waybright #anne boonchuy #marcy wu #Calamity eSports #this is pretty selfindulgent #but i have a lot of ideas for stories #wipwednesday?

[concealeddarkness13]

WHG 19 Prompt 1 Mal

Content warning for parents verbally and slightly physically abusing their child. Tagging: @ratracechronicler, @maple-writes, @pen-of-roses, @drabbleitout, @clocksandchaos, @knmartinshouldbewriting, and @forthesanityofsome!

I carefully made my way back into District 12 as the sun rose. That was the one thing that was gorgeous about District 12: the sunrise. I was heading back from District 13 after having searched through the ruins for about a week.

Unfortunately, it was the day of the Reaping, and I had to be back, since my name was in danger of being called. Again. President Snow had decided to open the Reaping up to a larger age group, and of course I fell under that. That meant also that my parents would find me again.

I headed over to the Hob to trade with the valuable things I had found in the ruins for food for a few extra days. I waited until getting to my house, if you’d call it that, before pulling out my breakfast, but…fuck.

There was a Peacekeeper standing at the door, glaring at the people who passed on the street. When his eyes landed on me, he walked over and grabbed my arm. “You’ve hidden long enough, Andalori.”

I stiffened as any of the people who were around heard that and stared at me, cowering away. My mother was the mayor of District 12, and her and my father were strict and cruel to the people under them. There was no way to hide from them now, and no one would want to help me anyway. So, I just let him take me to the government building.

And sure enough, there were my parents, waiting for me as if I was a lost puppy. My mother watched me with disapproval as my father walked up to me and fussed over my appearance. “Malice! Where were you? We were worried sick about you!”

I didn’t say anything. They knew where I had been. There was no reason to try and lie. They knew I didn’t like them. My mother looked down her nose at me. “Do you know where Seethe is too?”

My older sister who had also run away with her girlfriend. Yes, my parents named us Seethe and Malice. Because they were so pissed off at the rebels because the Capitol had punished them for letting a rebellion grow just next door in District 13. So, they decided to name their children accordingly. My sister went by Lori, and I went by Mal.

She did send me letters, but she was smart enough to not tell me where she was. And I wouldn’t tell them even if I knew. I just looked her in the eyes, glaring.

She sighed and walked over to me, slapping me when she got close enough. I just let it happen. There was no reason to fight against them. It wouldn’t help anything. “You had the nerve to run away after we made a deal with those Celestials? You made us look like fools! We would have been killed if we hadn’t found you at this last opportunity. Is that what you want?”

I just stayed quiet, not sure what I wanted. At least besides wanting to get as far away as possible from them. She sniffed and snapped her fingers, and some servants took my arms and pulled me away to get cleaned up and “presentable”. Supposedly, clothes dirtied with mud and dust and dirty hair wasn’t presentable enough for something that celebrated killing children.

I zoned out while the servants worked on me. Seven years ago, my parents had decided to make a deal with some high-ups from the Capitol. They called themselves the Celestials. Before I was born, they had been part of an operation to completely destroy District 13 with a calamity, as they called it. And my parents agreed for me to become a new calamity weapon for them. I had no fucking idea what that meant, but I couldn’t let that happen. That was why I went to District 13 so often, scouring for clues for what the calamity had been. I hadn’t figured anything out, just clues that it was something sudden and completely unexpected. Someone had been filling out a diary when it had happened. I believed that the Capitol would take me this time and use me whether I won or lost as the weapon.

When I was finally “presentable”, I was dressed up in a full suit, with my hair down, not in its usual braid. The servants escorted me over to where the Reaping would take place, but once they left me, I braided my hair. I wouldn’t be fully how my parents wanted me to be.

#tw verbal abuse #tw physical abuse #whg #writeblr hunger games #writeblr

[valkyrie-of-the-rising-sun]

I feel like talking about Artemis’s past in pre-Calamity Aevium here, since it’s not something I usually cover. Long post ahead, so I’ll put a ‘keep reading’ here.

No one in Aevium knew where the child Artemis came from. To them, she had one day fell out from a strange rift in the sky and landed right into the heart of Spotlight City, unconscious but miraculously unharmed. And if anyone were to ask of her origins, she’d either refuse to answer or claim amnesia and coldly dismissing the conversation. It was obvious to everyone that the past - however little she remembers if her claims of amnesia held true - was a sore topic for Artemis.

Meanwhile, Artemis was still freaking out over her new de-aged form. As it turns out, being exposed to the anomalous energies of a space-time rift had affected her, even though she had not remained for longer than a mere moment. She was only fortunate that her mind and memories were still intact, though perhaps it is more misfortune as it meant she was now an adolescent trapped in the body of a young child. A fact that only she knew to be true.

Before long, Artemis - having nowhere to go as people were unwilling to take in a child as reticent and sullen as her - was placed under the guardianship of the city’s orphanage: Phoenix Academy. Despite the name, it is both a prestigious trainer’s school and a home to the orphans of Aevium (especially to those left orphaned by the Miera Disaster). One thing led to another, and she was transferred into the ‘A’ class due to her first name.

Initially, Artemis kept an arm’s length from her peers and classmates. It hadn’t been done out of ill-will, despite what everyone believed; if anything, it was a mixture of incompatibility arising from the difference between their mental ages, a fear of rejection, and a desire to avoid/lessen the inevitable heartbreak as she knew of the cruel fates awaiting them. Moreover, she hadn’t originally planned on staying in Aevium, wanting no part in the chaos and strife that would soon befall the region.

That plan went out the window when she met her partner, Kali the Zeraora, for the first time and took her first steps as a trainer with her. Whenever Artemis had the opportunity, she would sneak out into the nearby woods where Kali inhabited and trained with her, challenging any willing wild Pokemon to a spar in order to hone their skills.

For a while, Artemis was able to keep Kali’s existence under wraps, even after she had received her “starter” - a Popplio she named Persephone - from the Academy. However, it was inevitable that her classmates grew too suspicious and curious of her mysterious ventures into the woods, and hatched a hare-brained scheme to uncover the truth by following her.

It worked as well as anyone could have expected: horribly. Needless to say, Kali didn’t take kindly to the presence of unwanted guests and tried to chase them away with some warning shots. Before anyone knew it, it quickly escalated into a battle, which turned into a one-sided massacre in Kali’s favour and would have taken a turn for the worse if Artemis hadn’t intervened. Once she had calmed everyone down, she begged them to keep Kali’s existence to themselves, terrified of losing her first partner.

Much to her relief, everyone agreed to it and promised to help her. What she didn’t expect was her classmates to give her a Quick Ball as an apology gift weeks later, purchased using the funds they gathered by pooling in their scant allowances. Moved by the sincere gesture, Artemis slowly warmed up to them, eventually developing a close friendship with her classmates.

It was because of this unexpected friendship that made her change her mind, choosing to stay in Aevium to help them weather the impending Calamity. 

Half a year has passed since Artemis had fallen into Aevium. Around this time, Artemis met the Protectors of Aevium. Or rather, Nymiera and her three Protectors-in-training. The immortal immediately recognised Artemis for what she was and offered to train her alongside the Protectors, after revealing her lost heritage. She accepted the invitation, and thus began her tutelage under them. Over time, she became close friends with them, who they affectionately referred to as “junior Protector”.

Three years after her fall, Artemis became interested in the creation of custom moves. However, dissatisfied by the quantity and quality of resources provided by the Academy, she looked towards the region’s most extensive library - Kugearen Library - in the hopes of finding the resources she needed to further her personal project. It was in that library where she met and befriended Erin, or Eriena as she was known at the time, though their friendship was doomed from the very beginning.

Even after their objectives for visiting the Kugearen Library had been fulfilled, the two continued to meet each other there, having become nigh inseparable despite their recent meeting.

Artemis was fully aware of Erin’s fated imprisonment, yet she could do nothing to prevent or avert it as the event was crucial to the timeline’s natural progression into the Aevium she was familiar with. Despite this, she was loathe to watch it happen from the sidelines and decided to at least give her an escape route for her. With the assistance of the Caretaker of Phantasmal Arboret, Artemis crafted a second key to the illusory realm using one of the Caretaker’s feathers and a few strands of Erin’s hair, in the form of an innocuous-looking bracelet.

Dubbing it the Mirage Plume, she gifted it to Erin as a token of their friendship. Only two days later, Erin disappeared without a trace, signifying her failed rebellion and subsequent imprisonment.

Clouded by grief and irrational guilt, Artemis parted ways with the Protectors of Aevium in favour of solitary training and cut off all contact with them. Since then, she redoubled her efforts in training herself and her team, in the hopes of cultivating the strength she’d needed to face the Calamity. Yet, despite everything, she felt like her progress had plateaued, unable to improve any more given her current environment.

In desperation, Artemis enacted a backup plan: in the occasion where she was unable to save everyone, she would ensure that at least one could be spared from death. Whoever makes it to the fateful cliff, she will entrust Kali to them and have her take them as far away from the epicenter as possible with Superbolide. After that, it falls to her to hold the Nihilego back with everything she has at her arsenal, to increase their chances of survival.

Ten years after her fall to Aevium, came Storm-9. In the end, she was only able to save two of her classmates: Alain and Crescent. Entrusting Kali to Alain, she watched the Zeraora carry them away to safety, turning a deaf ear to their frantic cries of protest, and prepared her final stand against the waves of Nihilego. While she and the remainder of her team fought valiantly, even managing to take down several of the Ultra Beasts, they were ultimately overwhelmed by the Nihilego’s superior numbers and fell. One after the other. Artemis was the last to fall at that cliff, surrounded by the petrified remains of her loyal Pokemon.          

#pokemon rejuvenation #chroniclerverse #interceptor oc: hauyne #ok this is a tad dark #but I've been wanting to tell this for a while

[masterofmajora]

Kingdom Come Chpt1 pt1

In the Beginning there was time. once flowing Time Begot Space. For without Space, Time had no structure. It would branch into dying existences with no way to control or know when, why, and what beholds of time. As Space and time continued, Twins of two different aspects were born. Light and Dark, Light was born as a beautiful Feminine figure. Her body is shaped round and plump for she would bring life to many and give birth to a new existence. "Solles'' was the name given to her by Time. Her twin brother would be a lanky and feeble man Shaped figure, almost skeletal. "For he was the beholder of Darkness. Calamity." Was uttered nervously by Space. "She will give life and prosper to her light but he will take life and be embarrassed in his darkness" Proclaimed by Space forewarning Time of what the two will bring to the new day and age. As Time and Space flowed and prospered into existence, Solles gave birth to the skies, Lands, and all elements accustomed to this world we know. After she gave birth to fire she laid in rest in the river to cool herself off, she rested her head upon a mountain and stayed in slumber for eons. Calamity admired his sister's creations. He always stood by her when she would give birth to comfort her in her time of need. During the creation of earth and wind. Earth got very jealous of Wind and tried attacking Wind while in Solles`s arms. The Phantasmic figure decided to build his powerful sister a weapon of protection.This Artifact would provide her with coverage during her child birth and creations so no one would attack her while bonding with her new child. The shield made out of the strongest metal shielding his twin from any attack. His sister admired his heart and thoughtfulness even though his body is of death and despair. The brother, keeping his heart for his sister strong in his sleeves, watched his bet her birth of the world as time passed on and on. Once the sister finally birthed the last element she asked her brother to teach her the skill of forgery, but didn’t tell him it was to make him a gift. Solles wanted to repay her grim brother for his protection and love. She proclaimed “I have birthed all things into existence. Alas brother, you have created the purpose for my creation. For it was the dark that created love.” Calamity smiles and takes the material out of his sister's hands and shows her the processes he has created with her new life. He shows her how to melt the material with fire. Maintain the fire with wind. Shape the material with the earth making molds in the ground. As well as using water to cool the molten material. The sister carefully studying under her brother patiently worked till she created a weapon of mass destruction. “My brother. Your soul weeps for your power is to bring life to its end. But please do not fall into despair about this fact. For you have given me the purpose of reanimation to continue the next age and era of the recreation of life. Take this. It is Scythe in a new direction. Its name is Soulbrand. For each soul you strike with this weapon comes back to me and allows me to reform and recleanse the soul making them anew. Go out my brother. And find those whose souls are at their end. Allow them a new opportunity in the next day and age.” The brother looked upon the Blackened blade with its long and coarse Snath made out of a pitch black wood strengthen by brimstone and darkness. “My dearest sister.” Muttered the Phantom “Your kind words. Your soft heart. I don’t deserve a sister as yourself. For as you see I have made you your shield to protect you but no weapon to aid you in your battles. I wanted to give you these gifts. I appreciate the gift you have given me and I wish to show my gratitude with this.”

#Kingdom Come #please dont let this flop #constructive critism welcome #don’t be mean #❤️ #KingdomCome Chapter 1 #KingdomCome Chapter 1 part 1

[avionvadion]

I am now haunted by the image of Iliana in Age of Calamity, noticing Revali's crush on Zelda (because whilst it may be subtle, it's definitely there) just, acting as his subtle wingman. Wingwoman? Either works.

Iliana: “This guy clearly has a problem with me but won’t stop challenging me to archery competitions. What the heck.”

Also Iliana: “…Oh my goddess, he’s totally crushing on Zelda. *gasp* I must help. How to help? Aha! Revali! Archery competition, right now! Zelda, Zelda! Come watch!”

Revali: “So you FINALLY learned some ambition? It’s about time- wait, no, you missed that shot on purpose! RESTART.”

Iliana: “…Well, this didn’t go to plan.”

Revali is subtle, Iliana is NOT so subtle. It’s bound to be chaos. 🤣 Her first plan to help Revali impress Zelda fails miserably, but afterwards she manages to create opportunities for Zelda and Revali to spend time together. Zelda has a question? Oh, Revali might be able to answer that! Oh no, Zelda dropped an ancient gear- why don’t you take it to her, Revali?

Whether it works and they get together or not I dunno yet, but! It’s the thought that counts, lol.

Iliana: “Revali likes Zelda, Mipha likes Link… hmm…”

Our girl gonna be having a lot of match making to do while stopping history from repeating itself.

#ask #BotW #botw oc #Revali x Zelda #zelda botw #botw revali #botw aoc

[rijomu]

It’s thursday and the Calamity is starting soon! So I’ll take this last opportunity to speculate on Cerrit’s wife.

The boring option is that she really is just away on a work trip of some kind because Travis didn’t want to explore the relationship. Which is a valid choise even if it is a boring one.

It gets less boring if the work she’s doing is dangerous. My personal favourite guess is that she’s a spy. Now we get to stress about whether where she is is a safe place to send the kids to.

For extra angst: she’s spying in Aeor.

One of my previous guesses was that she was evil but I no longer think that’s likely since Brennan made a point of giving Cerrit the means to send the kids to her. But it’s still possible that she’s not so much away from the city as she’s away from Cerrit ’cos they’re getting a divorce and Cerrit just hasn’t had the heart to tell anyone.

Another ”fun” option: She’s a druid and could have told the Ring of Brass what the tree was about.

I just hope we get to find out in game.

#critical role #cr speculation #cerrit agrupnin #critical role exu calamity #exu calamity

[derekscorner]

Fiery Opinions: Warrior Hopes~

haha It’s been nearly a year since I’ve done one of these but not for lack of playing Fire Emblem but because I haven’t played anything new. It’s my own fault for not tracking down older titles but that’s a bridge I’ll worry about another day.

Well, okay, that’s a half truth. I have played both Warrior spin offs since then though I never made a post for the first Warriors game because I didn’t get too far into it. Something about the game just did not hook me.

I actually had a similar issue with the first Zelda Warriors title. Something about the first LoZ and Fire Emblem Warriors titles do not draw me in. I almost started this by saying that the stories they offered were dull but I didn’t play them far enough to truly judge them on a subjective level.

In fact, it wasn’t until beating the main endings of 3 Hopes (with and without Byleth recruited) that I realized the issue. Focus.

More Focused Outings

Age of Calamity and 3 Hopes take an established, specific, entry in those series and expand it. This is what I needed since I am more interested in seeing what these specific groups do in new settings as opposed to making a new setting then throwing series legacies into it with time/space excuses.

I also think I gave this title more love than the others because 3 Houses was my first Fire Emblem. I have a greater investment in seeing what lives these kids live and what new interactions I will get.

Granted, I am still a little disappointed that this spin off was a warriors title. Even if unlikely I had hoped for a spin off similar to the base game, ie a tactical rpg. An alternative story to take Byleth through but that didn’t happen or even just the devs picking one route to flesh out.

Alas, this did not come to pass but speaking of story~

3 Hopes Story

Despite what I had hoped to get this game had a decent story. Shez offered a believable break in the timeline and I do think the way each route plays out from that break works.

Shez’s presence not only causes Byleth to miss their fated meeting with the house leaders but causes ‘Those who slither in the dark’ to be exposed far earlier due to Edelgard seizing that opportunity.

From there each leader has to rush home for events sparked by Edelgard’s actions as she forced the Agarthan’s to retaliate. The only leader that feels a bit weak in this regard is Claude.

I’m sure the Agarthans are the cause but it still feels random for an Almyran invasion to happen in this timeline when it didn’t in the base game. I only say that because I find it hard to believe that the Agarthans would have a means to spark such action when both they and the church of Seiros only care about Fodlan.

To the extent that the church’s doctrine pushes isolationism. Agartha itself only cares about revenge and leaving Fodlan in chaos as well. Oh well, it’s a minor issue at best since I do know they’re masters of infiltration and instigated incidents in Duscar and Sreng respectively.

I just find it hard to believe that someone as pathetic/desperate as Shahid would even need Agarthan prodding to invade I guess. If he invaded in 3 Hopes for vanity I see no reason he wouldn’t have in 3 Houses for similar.

Likewise, I highly doubt there’s any Agarthan that’d bother to infiltrate the Almyran upper class based on what I just listed.

More Story yet Less

I also do not wish to sound like I’m complaining. I do think the story was good. The whole point of this spin off was familiar cast in new situations and I enjoyed it for that reason.

However, I also can’t deny that 3 Hopes (like 3 Houses) suffered a little from splitting the story three ways.

Sure, on my first route (I chose Golden Deer) I enjoyed seeing Claude reshape the Alliance into a Federation. I liked the side mission that ended with Claude telling Judith the truth and I liked Nader’s bullsh*t excuses to keep tagging along whenever he could even if I found his presence unbelievable for most of them. (he fully broke my suspension for disbelief when he “borrowed” a navy lol)

I even liked seeing cast in situations they didn’t expect or didn’t want. Ignatz is a good example since he couldn’t follow his painter dream in this timeline.

Next I chose Edelgard and enjoyed routing the Agarthan’s early. I enjoyed Monica’s down bad lesbian antics and I even enjoyed watching Bernadetta’s father squirm in constant panic. (As Hubert said; it couldn’t have happened to a better man)

However, it was half way through Edelgard’s story that I noticed that the major story beats weren’t all that different.

The stories will have differences along the way or different endings but they do not truly diverge. For example, in Claude’s route he becomes a king and the alliance a federation.

Yet in Edelgard or Deimitri’s route the major actions Claude takes are the same. He’s just not a king in those timelines. It’s still an alliance but the major outcomes the nation takes do not differ.

House Glauster’s betrayal is always temporary, Arianrhod still swaps hands a few times, there’s always a distraction that forces the leaders to rush home, etc.

Hell, even the endings technically end on the same note whether you recruit Byleth or not. The war doesn’t end with only Claudes story ending on a possible note that they will.

Some characters will live or die based on you, and Rhea’s fate may vary, but the major plays are always the same and Fodlan stays locked in war in all endings.

It was only on Dimitri’s route that I realized the story is the same and what’s really changing is your perspective in that war. Whoever you side with as Shez gives you a front row seat and thus exposes you more to each nations dealings but the major events won’t shift.

Even recruiting Byleth only seemed to save one key support character each route. You’d get more supports and minor stuff but nothing world shaking.

The closest I got to a divergence was Edelgard being left mind-broken at the end of Dimitri’s route. In other routes Rhea and/or Thales always die, the war never ends with a clear victor.

And I admittedly found that disappointing. I had fun going through each story and seeing the personal shifts but I could not escape the feeling that I was just replaying the same story from different angles. I wish the house I picked at least won the war in their respective endings...

As for the Byleth aspect, I thought I’d complain more but it’s fine really. I hoped they’d impact change more and there’s even some routes that make more sense with them dead or alive.

But I just can’t bring myself to nitpick it because I enjoyed Byleth the most. I liked all the new interactions and situations the characters were in but Byleth was by far the best one.

They have an actual personality now. I genuinely can’t tell you how much I liked having Byleth speak, express stuff, try to human, or their supports with Jeralt.

Byleth

It was weird at first but good lord I wish this was the Byleth I got in 3 Houses. They still do not talk or emote on what you’d call a normal level but that is within the confines of their backstory.

Byleth is a plank by circumstance. What made it tolerable in 3 Hopes as opposed to 3 Houses is that they visibly try. They talk. They have likes, dislikes, etc.

The supports with Jeralt make it even more endearing as he elaborates on Sitri and how alike Byleth is to their mother. Both even remark on slight changes or being recruited to your army.

There’s even a paralogue where Jeralt, Byleth, Alois, Leonie, and Shez go on a mission and banter is made among them. Alois and Leonie mostly blow smoke up Jeralt’s ass but Byleth does chime in and all three agree how they’re akin to siblings due to Jeralt looking after them at some point.

I also enjoyed seeing Byleth talk to Sothis. They weren’t fully amicable nor hostile. Just them having shared voice lines was nice.

Of them all, I enjoyed Byleth talking to Shez the most. Their C support is hilarious!

Speaking of Shez~

Shez

As far as insert characters go I genuinely like Shez but I’d also argue they’re their own character. In fact, I’m glad that could be.

The insert characters seemed to grow weaker each title starting with Robin who had a semblance of a personality all the way to Byleth who flat out didn’t speak. I found this a shame, I won’t lie.

Sure, Corrin also had a personality but they’re so naive that I just can not place myself in their shoeless steps. This made Shez easy to play in the story. There may be a few optional dialogue prompts here and there but they act more like chances to increase support than anything else.

For the entire game Shez expresses their own personality, dialogue, and goals. Shez and Arval both are actual characters in my eyes and it made me wish for future leads to be their own character.

Hell, I finished my first route with Byleth recruited and wished that the Byleth I got in 3 Hopes was the Byleth I played in 3 Houses. I’ve repeated this desire once but that’s just how much I preferred the emotional stunted, but vocal, Byleth.

Fire Emblem truly should have actual characters as leads in my opinion.

Arval

All that praise said, I do have issue an with Shez’s role in the story and it boils down to Arval. I do not feel they properly explain what Arval is. Sure, I now know he’s a creations of Epimenides, an Agarthan. Arval’s desire to slay Byleth is rooted in that creation.

You even get hints that Shez was possibly implanted with Epimenides “core” at some point. My issue is that you learn little else beyond that. We get hints or comments about Shez’s adoptive mother and we can assume she’s Agarthan due to in-game dialogue but they never expand on these facts.

Did Shez’s mom implant Arval into Shez? Was Shez made into Epimenidies vessel only for their foster mother to disagree and runaway with Shez? Or was Shez and their adoptive mother some part of a long term plan Epimenidies himself created?

We do not know. All that we know is that Arval is Epimenidies method to escape death. We know that Shez’s biological family does not exist and we know that the woman who raised them was Agarthan or served them.

The very fact that the Agarthans themselves do not know what or who Shez is also raises flags. The only one to recognize Shez’s powers is Myson and even he doesn’t understand why Shez has them.

The two extra chapters you get when recruiting Byleth also answers very little. Epimenidies just...randomly appears? Decides he’s going to fulfill his goal and essentially hijacks Arval. Annoyingly, Arval doesn’t even resist it.

Then Shez and the house leaders get sucked into the darkness of Zaharas to battle Epimenidies, you win, and go home. It’s this random ass detour in the plot and doesn’t answer anything.

Shez, somehow, keeps the powers and everyone goes back to their war all hunky dory. The only one who remarks anything substantial from this is Byleth themselves. Having their own inner voice to fend off they at least offer kind words and forgiveness.

It all just feels so random and I felt like it obstructed the story flow with no reward. Even if they offered DLC later I don’t think it’ll fix this issue.

If anything, I wish Arval was a non-factor. Shez on their own would’ve been a fine way to split the story.

Did we even need Shez?

Is a question that my feelings on Arval kept instilling in me. I do not hate Shez, I hope I made that clear, but I do wonder if they were needed. They’re easily the best player insert in ages precisely because they have their own personality but I also felt their (and arvals) backstory weighed it down.

At times throwing the story off beat randomly.

I also have this bias of 3 Hopes Byleth. The Byleth 3 Hopes gave me was so welcome that I just wish Byleth was the lead of this spin off. I can’t help but imagine how fun it’d be to have this story and it’s three routes but with a Byleth that talks.

However, given that “fighting the Ashen Demon” was a draw of this spin off I also feel like this would only be a slightly better change.

Objectively, I finished my final route wondering why the house leaders themselves weren’t the leads of this spin off. It’s not like 3 Hopes needs a deep reason to branch it’s timeline. The house leaders just have to avoid meeting Byleth in Remire village.

There’s lots of ways to make this not happen. You could’ve still have Byleth as an enemy you could recruit as well since the Jeralt Mercenaries are hired by opposing armies several times.

I think I would have preferred this the most. Three routes in which I control the actual leaders of those routes. Seeing more of their backstories first hand, seeing their characters in new situations without their professor to guide them.

Most importantly, since the story is nearly identical in all three routes it would’ve made more sense to just be seeing each route from the leaders eyes. Shez works perfectly fine but if you’re going to do the same story from three perspectives I’d rather just be the central characters of those perspectives.

I wanna be Claude trying to change Fodlan, I wanna be Dimitri seeking the truth, I wanna be in Edelgards shoes as she plots her war. etc.

It’s weird since I like Shez but I earnestly think the story would’ve worked better to just have the house leaders as...well the leads of their routes. Or pluck out the Arval subplot and I think the story would’ve flowed fine with just Shez.

Still, as is, Shez and the story are fine. I think such ideas would improve it but my only objective gripe is the lack of diversity in the story or that said story doesn’t really end.

I did very much enjoy the new supports or situations these characters were in so I’ll end the story impressions here.

Game-play

As for game-play I feel that I can’t add much. I suck at Warrior games. I often play them on easy due to this. There’s just something about the panic that makes it hard for me to enjoy the game-play.

I literally can’t stand or resist minor panic when I’m doing one thing only for the game to scream at me that some objective on the opposite end of the map needs attention. I will rage quit if this objective is mission ending because I feel like I got blindsided.

I also find it difficult to manage the vast cast a Warrior title gives you. One reason I stopped Fire Emblem Warriors was due to the sheer number of characters, stats, and rpg elements it threw at me all at once.

Thankfully 3 Hopes takes some pity on me by restricting your roster to the route and those you recruit along the way. But even then I felt overwhelmed at first. I am not a man meant to micromanage or control large groups.

I also have to praise 3 Hopes for it’s classes since I could swap out a units class if I didn’t like the gameplay style. (I hated playing mage classes)

Then there was the three renown characters. You can buy them after finishing one run but I quickly abandoned them because they’re limited to your mission select.

You can’t buy Arval and take him through a story route meaning you can’t use the Training Center or Activities to increase his supports or class levels which disappointed me greatly.

I know they aren’t technically story canon but if I’m on NG+ and have unlocked them I want to use them. I simply do not have the patience to grind their supports and classes in mission replays.

This only hit me harder when I unlocked the Gatekeeper and seen that I could use him in any route. I was both happy and sad at the same time.

I hope they remedy that one day but who knows if this game will even get DLC. If it does get DLC I think it needs story related updates more urgently anyway.

Another thing I am of two minds on is the base. On the one hand, I like having a hub to walk around and talk to characters. On the other hand, it’s a real grind to get your base facilities all leveled and I was often drug back to base in the early game which irked me.

My only gripe with the 3 Houses hub was the calendar but 3 Hopes hub wore me down over my play-thoughs. Looking back I think it’s a game that would’ve benefited more from having a menu navigation similar to what Age of Calamity or FE Warriors 1 did.

Some tedium would remain but it would’ve been a bit more snappy. Perhaps it would’ve also been wise to not lock some base functions behind a leveling system.

I didn’t manage to unlock the effects of relics until the end of my first route which was sad in terms of mechanics and my own ability managing the facilities.

To be honest I feel like I should add more but, as stated, I suck at these titles and only play Easy so I don’t have a grander grasp to judge deep mechanics. At best I can say that I really like how 3 Hopes and Age of Calamity make the hallways of maps more narrow.

Trying to manage the vast expanses of FE and LoZ Warriors 1 added to my stress. So their successors having more narrow hallways helped. lol

Conclusion

I think it was a fun what if but I have trouble enjoying Warrior game-play. I wish the story was a bit more varied and while I like Shez I question the necessity.

In the end, there is one thing that I truly loved from the entire experience, and that was seeing Byleth be an actual person.

I wish I had a 3 Houses game or even another spin off with this Byleth. Let them be their own being. Let me see them slowly become more lively like how Jeralt said Sitri did.

At the very least, give this game another story route so that I can play this Byleth. Please, I am literally begging here!

P.S. My fave unit to use was Gatekeeper btw. Truly best boi!

P.S.S. Also the new designs for the Fodlan crew are so good, why didn’t Byleth get one!?

======================================================

Editors Note: This is part six of my trip through fire emblem. You’ll find the others here: Fiery Opinions <–(link)

#fiery opinions #fire emblem #fe #fe warriors three hopes #fire emblem warriors

[truckreincarnation]

Bombs Away || Theophania || Trial 4.1 || Re: Vee || Attn: Everyone

This sucked. This trial room was the last place Theophania wanted to be right now, and her emotions were only worsened by the fact the King decided to grace them with his rancid presence. So that's what he wanted, huh? To watch them rip each other apart in person. Disgusting, hideous creature that he was. No wonder his mother died. It was to escape him.

"Filthy monster..." Theophania muttered to herself and cast Callum a dirty look, using Calamity's definition of the word. But as much as her heart swelled with hatred for that insipid waste of air, they had a trial to focus on. That...was harder. Focusing on her hatred for Callum was a distraction from her pain, but now that she didn't have that, she actually had to consider the lives lost.

Frank and Luz... She should've been dead too. Only her domain kept her alive. Why? Perhaps it was for this.

"...If any of you want to take a closer look at my injuries or the state of my body, you have 5 minutes to do so. Avery has already done a thorough check of my body and pockets during our investigation, but if you don't trust their word, this is your opportunity to look closer. I purposely neglected healing myself until now. I'm aware my remaining injuries are evidence. So...take a good look. Once that time is up, I'll be healing my injuries." She glanced at Avery. Hopefully, that would make them feel better.

There was so much more to go over, but Theophania already felt so exhausted and overwhelmed already and she'd barely started speaking. She just...didn't want to. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to talk to these people, with the King watching with giddy glee. She just...

"...Earlier...got dinner with Avery. They fed me, because I can't...couldn't eat on my own. It was...nice." If only she could travel back to that blissful moment. "Then I went to the Training Area. I checked out that slingshot and practiced with it a while. Then I went to the Gate, and I used it on the barrier. I wanted to see if there were any weak spots in the barrier I could find, so we could escape." She frowned. Clearly she hadn't found much. "...Then the explosion happened. I...don't really know what happened after that. I saw Frank. I sent my Phoenix Blossom over to him, but it didn't work. I...still don't understand."

Right now, that's all she really had the strength to say. If anyone had any further questions, they could figure it on their own.

#Theophania #ch4 #trial4 #submission