#this man is a treasure that we don't recognize enough

[zedif-y]

It's been a long day, Jimmy thinks idly, watching the sun set over the ranch. His legs feel heavier than usual underneath him, and he wipes a bead of sweat off his face with an arm.

The sky is painted in streaks of color, the warmth bleeding into the cool shades of the night. A tiny smattering of stars are visible if he looks close enough, twinkling as if welcoming him back home.

Exhausted as he is, Jimmy can't help it, he smiles.

"This is where we part ways, then." He says to his companions, who snort.

"You say that like we'll never see each other again," Grian smirks. "You can't get rid of me that easily, you know."

"Us, I think you mean." Joel interjects, nudging the other with his elbow. "Kind of a dramatic goodbye, isn't it?" He laughs.

Jimmy rolls his eyes, "Get out of my ranch," He tells them, but it's too fond to have any heat to it. "Thanks for looking out for me."

Grian shakes his head, "Don't mention it. With the Warden around, you can't be too careful."

"Can't have you becoming a red life because of it," Joel snickers. "I think Tango might actually explode."

Jimmy beams, as he always does when Tango is mentioned. "Speaking of Tango!" He chirps, bringing out his horn.

Joel recognizes it instantly, "You gave it back to him!?" He nearly shrieks.

Grian winces, then shrugs. "I wanted to be unbanned!"

"You could've just broken the sign-"

Ignoring the two, Jimmy blows into his horn, letting the familiar sound wash over the Ranch, a message.

"I'm home!" It says, "I'm back to you!"

Jimmy puts the horn away, pleased. "So are you guys just gonna argue there all night, or-" Is all he manages to say, before he's knocked straight off his feet, tackled from the side by an unseen force. His wings flap in panic, not enough for him to fly, but enough to cushion his fall.

Jimmy lets out a startled noise, something caught between a yelp and an actual shout. He twists to see what got him, eyes focusing, and-

He wasn't expecting a lapful of Tango.

The man is bright as the sun when he sees him, eyes alight like rubies caught in the warmth of a fire. There's a blush high on his cheeks, pink from exertion. He's breathing a little heavily, as though he'd just run a marathon to see Jimmy, which in turn makes his heart do a series of complicated gymnastics.

"Sorry!" Tango says, snapping him back to the present. There's a breathy finish to the word, Tango looking at him in wonder like he can't believe he's there. He looks about as sorry as a... As a not-sorry thing.

Did he mention Tango's on his lap?

"I think that's our cue to leave!" Joel announces loudly, steering Grian away. Jimmy swears his face is about to melt.

Tango pays them no mind, instead reaching forward to cup the side of Jimmy's face, looking like he'd just won the lottery. "You're back." He says, voice dripping with the kind of reverence reserved for deities and treasure.

Jimmy feels like the wind has been knocked out of him, heart constricting in a squeeze from being on the receiving end of such love.

It makes him feel giddy inside, his insides turning into warm honey as Tango smiles at him, open and tender all because he'd returned home.

"I'm back," Jimmy repeats, kissing the palm of Tango's hand in the hopes of expressing the way all of this is making him feel.

The way Tango makes him feel.

Without warning Tango is surging in for a kiss, passion like a wildfire as he kisses Jimmy within an inch of his life. Jimmy holds him close, kissing him back to the best of his ability as Tango holds him like he's something precious, holds him like he'll never let go again.

Red eyes meet brown when they pull away, catching their breath. Jimmy brushes some hair away from Tango's face, breath hitching when it causes his eyes to flutter shut, leaning into the touch.

"Missed me that much, huh?" Jimmy says quietly, in awe. Tango smiles, looking a little shy now. It's adorable.

"You were out the whole day," Tango protests weakly. "I didn't get to see you at all."

The admission takes the ground under his feet, making him feel weightless and almost disoriented as he comes to terms with the fact of how much he's wanted, by Tango.

Jimmy almost starts laughing, elated by the thought. He's wanted just as much, and isn't that something?

He guides Tango's head forward, pressing a kiss on his forehead in lieu of a reply. Tango sighs under his touch, and Jimmy decides right then and there that there's nothing he wouldn't do for the man on his lap, who's tail is waving sluggishly in contentment behind him, looking for all the world like there's nowhere else he'd rather be.

"We should head inside," Jimmy murmurs into his skin. "It's getting dark out."

Despite having said that, he almost protests at the loss of contact between them as they stand, dusting themselves off and entering the ranch.

"I'll throw you to the Warden if there's grass stains on my pants." Jimmy grumbles as they lock the gate behind them.

Tango laughs, and it's his favorite sound.

Maybe we won't win, Jimmy thinks as Tango leads them inside their home. It's achingly familiar, a routine practiced a dozen times before.

In a few moments he's got Tango in his arms again, slotting perfectly in place. They hold each other, and nothing else matters.

Maybe they won't win, but at least he'll have this.

#team rancher #rancher duo #trafficshipping #dlshipping #dlsmp #dlsmp jimmy #dlsmp tango #double life #team rancher fic #rancher duo fic #solidaritek #solidaritek fic #double life smp #double life fic #ryan's writing #if youre wondering why im writing nearly every day thats bc im challenging myself <3 and also practicing #enjoy!

[teecupangel]

okay, we chatted about Desmond in otome games. Let's me give you one called KIssed by The Baddest Bidder.

Let's say Desmond got burned by the Eye indeed and his body is taken by Abstergo and next thing Desmond woke up, revived and full of rage in an empty operating room. He wants to hide and settle for something normal but the bleeds of his ancestors' tragic life makes him wanna avenge them some way and he disappeared. Thus leading what begun a mysterious purge to those certain people who work in Abstergo, huge headlines in the news and articles about it.

In the global crime underworld, an uprising faceless individual, mysterious and ominous with an alias name " The Grim Reaper". Mafias and criminals can gain a favor from him as long it aligns his goals. After the purge that went for 2 years, he once again disappeared like smoke.

Desmond starts his retirement as a cleaner in the day shift and a bartender at the night shift in the Tres Spades Hotel. He also ended saving a girl from strange men and now he's being sold in a black market auction as replacement for the girl who broke some glass statue. Sold 20 million is that he worth and they are VIPs in the hotel???? so much for peace and quiet.

Love interests in the game:

Eisuke Ichinomiya - mmmmmm. boss x worker that piques his interest. what if Coralina and her father recognizes Desmond a lookalike of a lord in Monteriggioni

Soryu Oh - used Desmond for some sort of escort or servant for Mei Ling. Yet Desmond acts a bodyguard like wtf how can he shoot with perfect accuracy and track people easily.

Mitsunari Baba - master thief x retired master assassin / hitman. Baba found the perfect partner in stealing albeit by force. what's this he walks silently, can find the target treasures easily. Why does his eyes seem to glint gold in the faint light at night? Baba is a flirt and womanizer yet Desmond is unexpected with witty sexual innuendos that makes Baba blush

Ota Kisaki - a scene where that two faced artist might sneak a peek Desmond's small notebook that he dropped accidentally. Ota opened to see beautiful pencil and pen drawn sketches of people and places. A castle, a fortesss, a homestead. People with a cowl and some don't. Cue Ota felt a chill and turned to see Desmond looking at him with a neutral face but his eyes are furious.

Mamoru Kishi - police man x retired assassin. enough said but make it mamoru aware of the a cold case of abstergo purge and look at Desmond's behavior like he can't... can he??????

Shuichi Hishikura politician x retired assassin. Desmond philosophical talks might make him think twice or shock him with small hints of secret history as playful jokes. Jokes right?????

Hikaru Aihara - working assassin x retired assassin. Desmond knows definitely about his work. Would be a nice scene where Hikaru knows the Grim Reaper or had heard or seen him work. Made a positive remarks in the strory telling and Desmond just internally laughs cos that's me but shhhhh

Luke Foster - probably angst and slow burn cos he's a doctor and desmond already have too many bad experiences with doctors and scientists

Rhion Hatter - the mad hatter.....maybe friends to lovers...

Basically just the bidders get a whiplash of what they thought is a normal and simple man named Desmond meets more than the eye HAHAHAHAHA

I’m kinda thinking of how this wouldn’t just end with Desmond going ‘fuck this shit’ and running away from whichever route he is in and the first thought I have is to stop him by pushing into his sense of duty and responsibility.

So we’re going to make Desmond have a desire for vengeance on this one.

He had simply been a retired Assassin, just living his life, when he learned that one of his coworkers died the day before the auction because he had been snooping around to find something.

Desmond learns that the killer is someone connected to the auction.

He saved the girl and agreed to be auctioned because he needs to find a way to get close to these VIPs to learn which of them killed his coworker.

Because his coworker?

… was one of the Assassins of the Japanese Brotherhood.

And that coworker was looking into the auction because one of the VIPs is actually one of the few Templars that escaped the ‘purge’.

When he learned that he was sold for 20 millions by multiple VIPs, he tried to sus them out using his Eagle Vision.

But they all glowed gold.

And that’s when Desmond has to pick one of them.

.

The idea is: the killer of the Assassin can be one of them or someone connected to them, the killer’s identity changes depending on which route Desmond takes. The Templar also changes into someone in the route, maybe even the main love interest.

The main point is that this keeps Desmond into keeping up the appearance of the being a ‘bought’ man, all the while having his own agenda.

Eisuke Ichinomiya – Carolina and her father are the Templars. To be more exact, her father is a Templar but she’s being ‘educated’ as one. This would have an alternate ending of Desmond being able to get to Caroline and she becomes his ally. Her father knows who Desmond Miles is and mistakes this to mean that Eisuke has allied with the Brotherhood.

Soryu Oh – The Templars would be after Mei Ling and Desmond gets to the bottom of it which ends up being messy af because Simon Lee actually has connection with the Assassins in China for some reason. The Ice Dragon is also connected with the Japanese Brotherhood.

Mitsunari Baba – Mitsunari’s next target turns out to be a POE and his informant is the Templar and killer. Desmond taking the POE instead of him will be the main cause of conflict between the two of them.

Ota Kisaki – This is one where Desmond would probably end up taking a more aggressive role because he’s not going to be a pet after the hell he went through from Abstergo and William Miles. Ota trying to talk to him like an unruly dog (maybe even call him a mutt) would end with Desmond punching him which will surprise Ota but also make Desmond interesting.

Mamoru Kishi – Mamoru is super sus of Desmond from the get go and Desmond thinks of him as a dirty cop so they’re not off to a good start. Part of their relationship arc would be Desmond finding out why Mamoru is more on the morally dubious side than plain dirty and Mamoru’s main conflict would be learning about Desmond’s past as the spree killer that singlehandedly taken down Abstergo and plunged the company to ruins by killing high ranking members after he had already fallen in love with Desmond.

Shuichi Hishikura – He and Desmond gets into debates more often than not. Desmond doesn’t have a good track records with politicians and people in power to govern the people so Desmond certainly pretends to be polite but he’s wary of Shuichi. Shuichi sees him as being bright though and thinks he might have a knack for politics which makes Desmond shiver in disgust.

Hikaru Aihara – This one would be more on Hikaru knowing there’s something more about Desmond but he can’t be sure but Desmond has heard of him. The Brotherhood had actually given him a head’s up because he’s a ‘freelancer assassin’. They were coworkers before he bought Desmond so they know each other and Desmond is suspicious that Hikaru might have been hired to kill the Assassin by a Templar.

Luke Foster – Desmond’s probably going to be flirty with him, might even slip and call him dottore more than once. Since he works in a secretive clinic that does back alley surgery, there’s a high possibility that Luke is actually an ally of the Brotherhood, not that Desmond knew that. He's comfortable with Luke sometimes because Ezio's Bleed makes him remember the doctors who didn't ask too many questions and simply healed him. Luke is actually keeping it a secret from Desmond because he believes Desmond is just caught up in all these because he’s trying to protect a girl and Desmond believes Luke is hiding something which means he needs to be cautious about him (this would be angst + slow burn + misunderstanding galore XD)

Rhion Hatter – considering he’s half English and the son of a duke, we can make him a Templar. If you don’t want a Templar x Assassin drama for this one, his grandmother could be the Templar and he ran away from her which makes him and Desmond have similar… family ‘problems’. XD

#desmond is in an otome game #assassin's creed #desmond miles #ask and answer #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed #fic idea: kissed by the baddest bidder #fic idea: crossover #kissed by the baddest bidder

[iono-zone-official]

[A long video is attached to the post, with the normal Iono Zone logo]

(video text below the cut, it's a long one)

"Your eyeballs are MINE--Caught in my electroweb! Whozawhatzit? It's me, Iono! Ello, ello, hola! Ciao y bonjour! And welcome to the Iono Zone everybody!!"

"We've got us a VERY special guest today! One of the Paldea Elite Four members... IIIIIIIIT'S... RIKA!"

"Hey hey, Rika here, at your-!"

"So! Rika!"

"did you just interrupt me."

"Why don't you tell us about yourself! Liiiike... favorite color, favorite pokemon, aand... Oh, and type specialty!"

"Well, alright then. My name's Rika, I'm 26, an Elite Four member of the Paldea League, my favorite color is dark green, and I love ground types. Especially Clodsire. Their little faces are so squishy and adorable! I've yet to meet anyone that doesn't like 'em!"

"Oh yeah, Clodsire! It's your strongest buddy, ain't it? How'd you two meet?!"

"Well, I'll tell you. I was wandering around Paldea during my own treasure hunt one day, without a pokemon of my own yet as the school didn't hand 'em out back then. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, and I slipped into a lake near Los Platos."

"Whaaaat?! That's crazy!"

"Yeah, I tried getting out on my own but those Flamigo are terrifying, man! They kept kicking me down, but then this little Wooper, the loveable goopy boys they are, attacked one of the Flamigo by splashing mud at them! I was able to use that distraction to climb out of the lake, and I helped the Wooper get away by throwing some rocks."

"So you two became friends after that?"

"Sure did! My little Clodsire is so smart, he knew exactly how to blind those Flamigos with one shot! They're smart, adorable, strong, and resilient! If someone doesn't like Clodsire... Well, I'd have to refuse to battle them."

"You can DO THAT?!"

"You betcha! Larry turned down someone a few months back for being one of the teachers involved in covering up that big student harassment scandal at that Academy in Mesagoza. Apparently he knew because he has some sorta ties to 'interpol' or whatever, and recognized the guy right away?"

"Larry's a cop?"

"Detective, I guess."

"..huh. I just thought he was some boring guy that hated us."

"Yeah, every League is required to have an interpol agent working for 'em. I think Sinnoh has some exception with that Argenta lady being a high-ranking detective for them?"

"Oooh, speaking of other regions! Do you got any interregional gossip for the peeps listening at home?"

"Hoo boy, where do I start? Oh, let's go with Sinnoh since it's on topic. Did you know that the new champion-ranked trainer, Dawn, is related to the new professor, Lucas? There had to be a whole investigation to make sure it wasn't nepotism that got either of them their jobs!"

"Wowzers! That's real interesting! Ooh, you got anything about Johto? I know it's got ties to Sinnoh, right?"

"You betcha. Apparently Champion Lance has held private investigations, and even assaulted several members of criminal organizations in order to solve cases. Interpol can't do anything, though, due to that part of the world having laws preventing them from entering the Kanto and Johto regions."

"They can DO THAT?!"

"Yeah there's been a whole lot of scandals and cover-ups with that, but I can't say any more. I've probably breached my contract with the league already, so interpol won't protect me if anything happens. But hey, I got Clodsire to protect me so who cares?!"

"Wow... There's a whole lot the elite four get to know that the public doesn't! It's craaazy!"

"Yeah, don't get me started on some of the relationship drama... The interregional group chats are bad enough as it is, I don't want to talk about some of the extremely weird things people talk about in those. At least Poppy ain't in 'em."

"Yeah, that's rough..."

"Oh! We're nearly out of time, Rika. Is there anything else you'd like to say before we gotta wrap things up here?"

"Hm... Well, let's see."

"Kiddos, stay true to yourself. Stick with your dreams until the end, and enjoy the life you've got. You've only got one, so don't go throwing it away with unethical crimes or anything bad like that. If you hurt anyone else, expect to be hurt back. Life is all about give and take, so be kind to others and they'll be kind to you."

"Accept different points of view that conflict with your own, and use experiences in life to build yourself up to be a better person!"

"Wow, Rika. That's SO touching!"

"Hah! You think so?"

"...oh, and another thing. Trans rights are human rights. If I see anyone insulting Iono or Tulip again on the Paldea League forums I'll be cracking skulls. You all hear me?! Don't hate people for who they are, hate them for disgusting actions they make, like murder. If someone hasn't done anything that harms others, don't attack them over it."

"..thank you, Rika. This has been a great interview, and I hope all our little friendos and challengers at home enjoyed it too!"

"I bet they did, it had the best members of the Paldea League in it, kiddo!"

"Yeah! I'm sure they enjoyed it!"

"Well, if any of you found this to be--bzzt!--shocking, go smash that subscribe button!"

"Your eyeballs are MINE--Caught in my electroweb! Whozawhatzit? Iono, the supercharged streamer! Catch y'all later!"

[the stream cuts off, and the video ends]

#pokeblogging #pokeblr #poke irl #pkmn irl #gym leader iono #iono zone #pokeblog rp #iono #pokemon irl #elite four rika #rika pokemon #pokemon rika #iono pokemon #Iono Zone Interviews!

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Free Day Thursday

By the very scientific method of "flip a coin", it was ultimately decided that today would be another Splinter Cell follow-up

Sig strode through the makeshift mess hall in the weapons factory with a confidence that drew eyes to him immediately. He swung himself up onto a chair and placed two fingers in his mouth to shatter the quiet with a piercing whistle. Instantly, he had everyone's attention.

"Listen up, rebels!" Sig barked, "There's been a change in operations! Jak’s just secured the backing of the Wastelander nation in this war."

A foreign ally? The motley gathering began to whisper amongst themselves. The majority had never even heard of Wastelanders having an entire nation. But they did know that Wastelanders had a reputation for finding rare treasures and selling them to the highest bidder. Having them fund the war against Praxis could either spell victory or trouble, depending on what they wanted in return.

"What's this gang-"

"Nation," Sig corrected.

"Yeah, that. What's their angle?" A woman named Kloe demanded.

Sig's eye glinted dangerously. "Payback. Praxis thought he could kidnap Wasteland kids and let the Marauders take the fall for it."

He slammed a fist into his palm.

"They're gonna help you shape up into a real fighting force. We Wastelanders will take point in any heavy firefights and strategic planning. You'll be crucial for intel and evacuation routes. We work together, maybe we'll bring down the Baron before he gets half the city killed with his stupidity."

Bran, a barrel-chested tailor, folded his thick arms and scowled. "And what happens when the war is over, eh? These Wastelanders planning to leave peacefully?"

"Fair enough," a youngster agreed from across the table. "That's how we ended up with Praxis in the first place, right? How do we know these people don't want to take over?"

From the side of the room, a new voice scoffed, "Oh you need not worry. I have no desire to rule this city again."

A grizzled man sat in the corner, arms folded across his chest. Half in shadow, he observed them all with keen eyes. On the scaffold above him, others in the garb of Wastelanders stood, feigning disinterest. Jak, Daxter, and Tess leaned against the railing, watching the man below with curiosity.

"I may not respect the choices you've all made in my absence, but I'll respect your rejection of the House of Mar."

He raised one brow.

"Personally, I disagree with the notion that a bloodline is what gives someone the right to rule."

Damas leaned back and let his eyes wander over the twenty or thirty individuals at the fold-out tables. The younger rebels seemed confused by his appearance. Those closer to his own age sat frozen, shock coloring their faces. They remembered him. They recognized him, even after 16 years of change. It was gratifying, in a way.

"If you mean to ask whether there is a "catch" to my aid, I will not lie to you," he said. "We are not helping you for free. But when the Baron’s head has been freed from his shoulders, you will all do with the city as you see fit, and we will return home."

One of the older members of Daxter's "Fight United" division stood up. Her eyes weren't what they used to be, but she could still operate a Titan Suit with deadly efficiency. Now she squinted across the tables to the corner.

"It really is you, isn't it?" she asked, "King Damas? Most of us were afraid Praxis had murdered you in secret."

"He would have," Damas answered bluntly, "but the Precursors have always taken a bizarre and not entirely welcome interest in the fate of my House, to the point of several Council members deeming it blasphemy to kill an Heir of Mar before the Precursors can do something absolutely ridiculous to them."

Above him, Jak choked on a laugh and hastily pulled away from the rail to hide his smirk. He knew there were enough devotees of the Precursors in the Factory Cell that laughing could step on some toes. Normally, that wouldn't have mattered to him. But since most of the devout were in Daxter's Titan Suit squad, he didn't want to make his best friend's life any harder than necessary.

Kloe leaned out from her seat, as little less confident now that she knew the leader of this foreign ally was the lost king of her own city. Among her generation, there were still a lot of mixed feelings about his reign. Most agreed that he'd been a failure as a leader during the Metalhead War, but sixteen years had softened blame into an acknowledgment that he'd come to the throne a boy, forced into manhood too soon. To throw the weight of an entire city of innocents onto such young shoulders without offering a hand in support had led to catastrophe. He hadn't been ready to rule, but after seeing the alternative, the older generation didn't blame him anymore.

"King- King Damas." Kloe swallowed her nerves. "You didn't answer my question. What's your angle? Can't just be payback, or you'd probably have assassinated Praxis by now. What is it you want from us?"

Damas didn’t take his eyes off the gathered crowd. He pointed upward, right to where Jak stood with Tess above them.

"Him," he answered bluntly. "I'm taking Jak."

The room burst into an uproar.

"You can't just "take" Jak! He's our best fighter!"

"Jak?! Why the heck would you want him?!"

"King or no king, we don't trade kids for favors!"

"What do you even want him for?"

"Dude, that's a bad idea! Have you seen what that guy is like?!"

"Sig, you're not letting him take our tank, right?"

Sig cut through the protests with another sharp whistle.

"Everybody zip it!" he shouted.

When the room had quieted, he stepped down from the chair and walked between the tables.

"I understand your concern. Nice to see y'all showing more concern for Jak than some cells. But let me remind you that, like a couple others of you here, Jak’s a kid. Not a soldier. When this whole mess is done, you rugrats deserve the chance to go where you want. See the world. Don't you think?"

Some of the younger members exchanged glances. Well. That was different, wasn't it?

Jinx ground his unlit cigar into the tabletop. "Bull. Prettyboy, you ain't cut out for the wastes, believe me. You really gonna go with them when this is all over?"

The boy looked away.

"Yes."

"Jak?" A round-faced teen from the Scout Flies division frowned up at him. "Are you...are you really okay with this?"

Jak was quiet for a moment, like he wasn't sure what to say. Then he raised his eyes, and with an almost guilty expression, he croaked,

"Yes."

"Jak, you can't-"

"Yes I can!"

The sharpness in his words caught them all off guard, himself included. He winced slightly.

"Look- I can take care of myself, okay? It's fine. We get the numbers and firepower to take down Praxis, they get me, and I get to go as far away from the Baron's labs as possible. Everybody wins."

It seemed selfish to tell them that he had always planned to leave once the Baron was dead. Not everyone in the Factory Cell liked him, or saw him as more than a walking weapon of mass destruction. But four weeks of operating as a splinter cell was enough to forge at least a sense of camaraderie. They were all wary of him, even the ones that liked him -- except for a couple senseless kids who looked up to him for some godforsaken reason -- but they depended on him. They had expectations of him, and knowing that he couldn't fulfill them turned Jak's stomach and tightened his chest.

He pushed off of the rail and swallowed.

"I'll um. I'll see you at the next briefing."

Phobos turned and followed him up the scaffolding, through a short antechamber covered in buttons and dials to what used to be a testing room. She wasn't wearing her wrap in her hair anymore: currently it was functioning as a sling to hold Mar on her back. Bored by the adults talking and talking and talking, Mar had fallen asleep until the shouting started. He blinked sleepily over his mother's shoulder at Jak, then dropped his head back down with a tired grumble.

"So you've decided for sure?"

Phobos frowned at Jak.

"I don't want you to feel that our help is dependent on you coming home with us."

Jak tilted his head. "Would you still help if I didn't?"

"We wouldn't wait for your cell to be ready." Phobos bounced Mar a little higher on her back and glanced back towards the hall.

"If this was the city you'd chosen to live in, Da- your- your father would already be on his way to kill Praxis without you, to make the city safe for you."

"Why?"

The boy spun on his heel and forced himself to look this Other Mother -- as if he'd even known one mother -- in the eye.

"You don't know me."

"Not yet, no. Is that a requirement for wanting you to be safe?" asked Phobos, with a hint of a wry smile.

Jak shut his mouth quickly. That was a hard question to answer. Usually, knowing him meant people started throwing him toward danger. Made sense that the strangers were the ones being protective if they just saw some random teenager playing soldier. Once they saw him in action, they'd change their tune.

"But Jak-" Phobos seemed to glide forward, reaching up to tuck a loose curl behind Jak's ear. "Do you actually want to come to Spargus with us?"

He leaned into her touch the slightest bit, like a skittish crocadog. If Sig was right, Phobos realized, he was likely starved for affection. What kind of life had this Other Mar led? What, exactly, had the Baron done? The boy had mentioned laboratories. The very word made Phobos's blood curdle.

What have they done to you, child?

She eased closer.

Jak's eyes darted this way and that. He opened his mouth, but the words faltered on his tongue. After a few false starts, at last he gathered himself and looked up. His resolve broke the instant he glimpsed Mar's curls over Phobos's shoulder.

Mar was safe now. But what about him?

"I have to get out of this city," he whispered, as if afraid of being overheard. "I have- I have to- to see the sky again. The real sky."

The words spilled out despite his attempts to stop them.

"I'm not- I'm not going to leave Mar. Where he goes, I go. Please- please don't leave me here."

What a pathetic plea. Jak cringed internally. Two years -- two and a half, now -- he'd managed without ever begging for escape. Not from his captors, not from his abusers, not even from the Underground. But after the glimpse of the Wastes Sig had shown him, after the possibility of freedom had been dangled before him, how could Jak ever go back?

He couldn't quite interpret the emotion in Phobos's eyes. But she opened her arms and held her hands palm up, where he could see them. She made no moves towards him, instead asking, "Jak, may I?"

No one had ever asked him that before. He either got hugged, or he didn't. Usually, with the dark eco running under his skin, he didn't like hugs. He was wary of sudden movement, and even when it was telegraphed, the eco made his skin so much more sensitive than it would be otherwise. Which often made tight squeezes unbearable. But ever since Mar's father had used the light eco on him, things felt more...more settled. Restrained.

Did he want a hug?

He wasn't a baby, or some helpless victim. He was a monster. A survivor. An ex-hero.

....a kid.

Just a kid.

"I...uh, okay."

Jak grimaced and sternly told himself not to look desperate.

The embrace lasted for only a moment or two, but for those brief heartbeats Jak wondered at how safe he felt. Was this how Mar felt when he carried him around after nightmares? How Keira felt whenever Samos used to hug her when they were kids?

Jak had told himself often that he had plenty of human contact in the form of Daxter. But now he wondered if Tess was right about that "touch-starved" thing she was talking about the other week.

Phobos released him gently and stepped back to hoist Mar higher on her back again. Sympathy lined her eyes, but Jak didn't feel pitied. He felt seen.

Mar yawned and Phobos clicked her tongue and hummed quietly. Nine notes, rising and falling, only a snatch of a tune, but it was familiar to Jak.

Stay with me, the seas are dark and wild-

"Mar hums that, too," he said.

Phobos looked up. "He remembers?"

There was just a hint of a tremor in her voice, but her eyes lit up.

"Er...I think so. I don't think he knows the words though." Jak shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Well." Phobos bit the inside of her cheek and reached back to run her fingers through Mar's hair. "I didn't always sing the words to him."

A gage on the wall began to click rapidly, startling them both. Jak banged a fist against the panel and a jet of steam burst out from the seams.

Phobos jumped back and raised her eyebrows.

"Is it supposed to do that?"

The boy shrugged. "I dunno. But it stopped clicking, right?"

That earned him a snort. Phobos shook her head.

"Oh dear. You really are just like Damas, aren't you?"

Wary curiosity crept into Jak's eyes. "Am I?"

It was something he'd always wondered about. Did he get his eyes from a parent, or share their need to explore? Was he an outlier, a freak even as a child? Or would he have been enough like a parent for people to know who he was?

Did it even apply when those parents came from a completely different timeline?

"Ohhh yes." Phobos chuckled and tapped experimentally on the gage. "Your father has a lifetime ban from the mechanics' corner of the city garages."

"What did he do?" Jak breathed.

The slight awe in his voice and eyes suggested that he found the idea at least somewhat inspiring. That was...mildly concerning. But at the same time it was a little poignant. In the two days since their meeting, Jak had been holding back around the Spargans, like he was afraid to let them close. This was the first time the lonely boy had asked them a question. He sounded tentatively hopeful, like he was desperately looking for some kind of connection to make between them. Phobos could empathize with that.

"I'll tell you what," she said, glancing around conspiratorially, "Why don't you help me get Mar settled for a nap, and that way I can tell you the whole embarrassing story without Damas stopping me."

A shy, crooked smile peeked out from under the boy’s tough facade.

"Fine. You, uh, you want me to carry him?"

"No, that's alright. I'm...I'm not ready to let go yet. Thank you, though."

Phobos nudged his arm.

"Not that I doubt you could carry him easier than me. Huh. That friend of yours is as big as Mar and you just carry him around on your shoulder!"

She strolled out of the corridor with a mischievous look. "Let's pretend you got that from my side of the family, for the sake of my pride."

#jak and daxter #splinter cell au #free day thursday #fic prompts #writing prompts #jak and daxter sig #jak and daxter mar #dadmas #king damas #jak's mother #captain phobos #jak gets bonding time with his mom #damas is not above theatrics. man was definitely hiding in the corner like aragorn For Effect #Jak is about to be the focal point of the custody battle of the century #lullaby is based on Stay With Me from Into the Woods because its been stuck in my head #and Mar still doesn't know what's going on

[viatagrinner]

Silvio Ricci. Dramatic Route. Chapter 23 + Letter

The heroine is used to everything about Silvio screaming for power and money. But this party was different. And the prince came out to the guests in a simple outfit.

_________________________________________

A few days before that.

The girl is in shock.

Silvio: I'm not kidding at this stage of the game.

Silvio: The old man is old enough to get off the throne.

Silvio: It's no good holding on to something forever, so I'm going to kick his ass.

Carlo calls him a "bandit" and a "usurper."

Silvio: It's already happened, so it's not a new thing.

MC: ...How can you even take the throne?

_________________________________________

The system of succession in Benitoite.

There is no "Belle" in this country.

The king appoints directly his heir. This requires "the accumulation of many accomplishments". The current king then passes the ring, the Treasure of the Sea, to the future king.

_________________________________________

The girl asks if Silvio wants to steal this ring.

Silvio: Dumbass, do you have a brain?

MC: I have brains!

The prince, sighing and embracing the heroine, replies that the people will not accept him if he steals the ring.

Both the Belle system and the Ring system allow the King to be recognized.

The captain is in charge of the ship.

If any of the sailors do not accept/acknowledge the captain, discipline is broken.

 (...Taking the throne is pointless if you don't convince people.)

Silvio: It would be ideal if the old man announced that he was leaving the throne.

Silvio: It doesn't matter how to do it. If I can create conditions in which the old man is willing to give me the ring, I win.

MC: ....This is difficult.

But the prince has a plan. He remembered the illegal auction. And he found out who was behind it.

(We must gather more evidence to incriminate the king.)

Silvio: There's no way a king who breaks Benitoite law can stay on the throne forever, right?

There is hope. But it's not that simple. The king is no fool.

So, what did the prince come up with:

1. Physical proof that the auction items were made in Obsidian.

2. This would also require:

A) Researching the import route with the help of merchants.

B) Negotiating with the auction organizer.

If he offers the auction organizer some benefit and gets him to testify directly about the old man's involvement, the prince will get lucky.

It's not as easy as it sounds. Silvio laments that he has nothing to put pressure on the auction organizer.

Silvio: ...I think we should start by getting the merchants to check and gather materials for the exchange.

Silvio: In normal times, money would help, but this time it would be complicity in the crime of treason.

The girl disagrees. She believes that many merchants will want to help the prince.

Silvio: What do you mean?

MC: It's a hunch!

The prince ruffled her hair irritably.

Silvio: It's all intuition, but this is no time for jokes.

MC: My intuition is Belle's intuition in choosing the King.

Silvio: Ha! You've finally admitted it.

MC: There's no point in hiding it now.

(And Lord Silvio is not the man to try to take advantage of my status as Belle.)

(He's a tyrant, but he has a good heart.)

The girl reminds the prince how all the merchants cheered him on.

MC: I think Lord Silvio is very popular.

But Silvio laughs at her and himself.

MC: Do you lack confidence?

Silvio does not answer this question directly. Instead, he calls Carlo and asks him to make a list of merchants to invite to the party.

There are risks that Silvio will be found, but he needs to meet with everyone before his father breaks the alliance with Rhodolite.

_________________________________________

After that, Silvio goes off to his office to write letters, to make lists. All a girl could do to help was bring food.

But the prince was not in his study. Alone, he stood on the balcony looking at the moon.

1. Hug from behind. +4/+4

2. Call

3. Stand beside me.

Without thinking long, MC hugged him from behind. He shuddered and grunted.

The girl apologized; she didn't think it would surprise/scare him so much.

Silvio: If you think it's bad, let it go!

MC saw the prince turn bright red. And instead of letting go, she hugged him even harder.

The prince's arms hugged her back.

MC: Lord Silvio?

Silvio: When you disturb people, be prepared for appropriate retribution.

The heroine's entire body heats up as his lips approach her ears and his breath touches her skin.

MC: I'm so sorry, please let me go!

Silvio: If you do it next time, it won't be enough.

As usual, the prince ruffled her hair.

Realizing why the girl had come, the prince thanked her.

(I can't believe Lord Silvio sincerely thanked me.)

MC: What's troubling you?

Silvio doesn't want to admit it.

The prince reminds her that she didn't seem to want to talk to him.

MC suggests a "temporary truce."

Silvio: Ha! How convenient...

Feelings can't be thrown away so easily.

She wants to help Silvio.

Silvio: Just listening to my words, how can you help me?

MC: Doesn't it make you feel better when you tell me what's on your mind?

MC realizes that Silvio has never told anyone about her problems.

She promises not to tell anyone.

Silvio sighs sadly, looking at the moon.

Silvio: I don't know about that.

The prince spoke in a voice so weak, so unlike his own.

Silvio remembered Rio.

Silvio: He always knew how to win people's hearts.

"By wagging his tail," Rio got people's love.

Silvio: If you are loved by people, chances are they will listen to you, even if it's a little unprofitable negotiation.

Silvio: But that's not my case.

Silvio: Unlike Valerio, there is no one beside me who wants to collaborate with me at a disadvantage.

Silvio: .....In fact, I understand that there are things in this world that money can't buy.

Silvio has always been lonely.

His younger brothers, Emidio and Rio knew how to pick up words and were polite and courteous, but Silvio is not like that.

Silvio: The damned old man used to say, "A lonely prince doesn't have what it takes to be king.

MC: ....But that's not the case now, is it?

Silvio: Yeah. I once used my pocket money to start a business.

Silvio: It was an unexpected success and I made a lot of money, even though I was a kid.

Silvio: When I got carried away and expanded my business, before I knew it, people started gathering around me.

The more Silvio got richer, the more people looked at him, although he didn't change anything about himself.

But the king paid no attention to him or his accomplishments.

Silvio: The bonds of money are fragile.

MC: Lord Silvio is simply invisible because of his great wealth.

MC: You are a tyrant, but a good man. There's no doubt about that.

Silvio: Huh? What part of me is a "good man"?

MC: You've helped me many times, haven't you?

MC: And in every word and deed of Lord Silvio there is always a conscience.

The girl is sure that many are attracted to Silvio's "humanity."

For her kind words, she was rewarded: the prince stroked her on the head. And hugged her.

Silvio: By the way, do you have any tips for gaining popularity?

_________________________________________

About 50 merchants come to the meeting. The girl hides behind a column, but she sees familiar people. They are a pastry chef, a florist, a street vendor, and a bookstore clerk.

Silvio: Guys, I brought you an important deal that could change the country.

Letter.

(A letter that was rolled up and thrown away.)

I don't think it's wrong to buy people's hearts for money.

But you wouldn't call a guy like that a "good guy" at all.

He's got a dirty mouth, and his character is the same. You're the first person to say I'm a "good man." Even if I don't have any money, I can build a reputation... Belle, who was being tested on how she sees people, slapped, didn't she?

If you don't read it, I'll have a good laugh at you.

Honestly, it doesn't matter if it's true or not.

What matters is that in your eyes I am "good enough to be popular". Didn't you just show that you're attracted to my humanity?

I'm not going to let you withdraw it now.

I know I'm not the person everyone loves, like Valerio.

So... that...

I would say that your words were valuable, or rather that I was happy.....

Oh shit, just like I thought, stop writing the letter, stop it!

I don't feel like I can write anything but creepy/evil/bad things.

Silvio Ricci

Silvio's Masterlist

#ikemen prince #ikemen ouji #ikepri #ikepri translation #silvio ricci #ikemen silvio #ikemen prince silvio #ikemen silvio's route #ikepri silvio #ikepri silvio's route

[stella-facem-ducens]

I think I don’t hate red.

my fic for zutara month day 7 “touch Starved” 

Summary: When Fire lust for Water and Water desires Fire (this is a smut fic :3)

@zutaramonth

The situation is more than bizarre, for the very first time Katara doesn’t how to feel, usually when it comes to Zuko she has two moods she is piss off with him or she is tired because of the endless chasing now under the tight bind that keep her in place, tied in a pole Katara feels something different she is curious, the cause, they way Zuko is looking at her, there are so many emotions in his eyes she can see anger, confusion and desire.

Zuko is doing the same to her, he is staring deep into Katara’s eyes, and he see the same thing instead of anger Zuko sees curiosity which makes an unfamiliar feeling burst in his chest, Zuko is accustomed to see in people’s eyes repulsion but not in hers, gradually Zuko is closing distance getting near to the waterbender, the girl who confused Zuko so much.

  “Why are you looking at me this way, why are you not disgusted by me ?” Katara could feel the heat irradiating from Zuko's chest, his hot breath near her cheek, those amber eyes looking at her, like a dragon looking at his treasure.

  “Zuko I am not sure if this is how you flirt…. what do you want me to say”?

“The prince of the fire nation is the most handsome boy I’ve ever seen, the way he masters his element is outstanding and those eyes are beautiful, they are like the sun.”

  Katara bit her tongue she absolutely didn’t want to recognize that and Zuko couldn’t stop blushing, Mai has never told him such beautiful words and this water tribe girl is boosting his ego but the feeling vanishes as he remembers the necklace inside Zuko’s pocket, a reminder this girl is not single.

  “Peasant, do you enjoy play with men? or is just with the avatar.”

“You don’t seem that kind of girl, so tell me Katara what is with you? Why is your precious fiancé not here with you?”

  “What on Earth are you talking about, what fiancé?!.”

  “Don’t lie to me peasant, I am sure you have one, after all it is your people's costume to give this kind of thing, I am not a fool.”

  Katara couldn’t believe it was her mother's necklace.

  “I am not sure what you are talking about Zuko.”

“If you remember and I am sure you do after all you raided my town.”

“I am from the south, we don't do that. The most important, why are you holding a dear memento from my dead mother!?”

“Please give it back…. I miss her every single day… please I beg you it is the only thing left I have from her.”

  The sound of Katara's sad voice, how she is at the brink of tears certainly doesn’t make Zuko happy in fact he is fighting his instinct to hold her and hug her. 

  “I lost my mother too, I guess that is what we have in common “

“So Katara let’s make a deal, you get your precious memento back, but you have to answer some of my questions.”

“You already talked about my face, what do you think about my chest where my mighty flames reside, tell me how the power inside the crown prince of the fire nation feels.”

  At first the question seems odds but the desire in zuko's eyes makes it clear what is his intention 

If they have to put a name of what is happening; is not love at first sight, this is desire at first sight and that is more than enough for the crown prince, if he wants something he is going to get, it is that simple, this waterbender is going to be his. 

dragons only have one mate, this girl is the one, Katara just need to realize her future is already decided, he is her future, and she is his

Katara can feel in the air the beating of Zuko’s heart, the heat coming from his chest. 

when ropes finally come off, she rests her head on Zuko’s chest, the fire inside him calls her.

Zuko can barely contain his lust, his body is burning in desire, his cock hard as steel, ready to please his future lady, tame her, show her pleasure no other man can replicate.  

He kisses Katara fervently, his hand slowly reaching his waterbender’s butt, the young prince is on fire he is eager to burn her, to make her lust fire to make her see they can burn everyone. he will be the flame heating her steam, a steam so hot it will burn everyone who dare to challenge them.

Katara couldn’t hold it either. She is moaning, the waves of pleasure Zuko is making her feel. how deep Zuko is pushing his tongue into Katara’s mouth, for him she tastes like heaven, like the most pristine water. 

  “You are beautiful, my raindrop" says Zuko, watching Katara moaning under his touch. 

  “Zuko, I.. I”

  Katara couldn’t form any words, not because she is basically betraying everyone; what her father taught her, he told her she must never be with another man until marriage, she must never let a fire nation get close to her and she must always harbor hate for the ashmakers those are the words her father said to her before he sailed beyond the horizon.

The real reason why she can’t form any sentences is because her body is missing Zuko’s heat, she wants to lean into his fire, feel again his hot breath, the sensation of his kisses how they felt like drinking hot tea so hot it numbs your tongue, she missed the burning hand in her butt, claiming it as his.

  “Zuko if in my life I have to regret something I want to regret this please don’t stop.”

  “Oh, dear Katara you are going to regret everything except me and what we are going to do”

  And true to his words the next thing the fire prince do is burn every claims any men may have on his treasure, the collar on Katara’s neck clearly crafted by the avatar is quickly yank away and burn, burning it near Katara so his princess can feel the flames, they are burning the gift the avatar gave her, the collar claiming Katara as the avatar ’s girl is finally burnt into ashes, the colors of the air nation doesn’t fit in his dear Katara ’s   neck

as the final dust of ash falls into the ground a sense of liberation fills Katara, she is free from a future that doesn’t longer exist, she will never be call avatar ’ s girl and with this new gain freedom katara takes the initiative she kisses Zuko hard, with her intense kiss she summons small sparks coming from inside Zuko, invading her mouth, her entire mouth is in pure ecstasy, those amber eyes now filled with lust, makes her fire prince sexier but is not enough for Katara, she needs to feel more, she needs to touch more with one hand slowly moving, too timid to do it faster she reaches Zuko ’s armor and trying her best to take it away, Zuko couldn’t feel happier and quickly succumb to his lady desire.

on the river bank the only thing dominating are the sounds of kisses, moans and heavy armor falling into the ground, the sounds of raw untamed lust, that is the perfect description. 

  “Zuko please let me touch you more… I need to feel more of you… I need to feel your hot skin against mine.”

  “You are a lewd lady but as your prince I am more than happy to fulfill your selfish desires.”

  in an instant both benders finally embrace each other, the friction between their bodies, the hands greedily moving from Katara ’s butt to her tight teasing her with his fingers, enjoying the sounds Zuko ’s little Katara makes, how the waterbender ’s legs start to fails her, how she voluntary open her legs a little to give him more access and he reciprocated by rubbing his manhood in her virtue, his rod pushing in desperately agony, he wants to go inside her so much but he is going to make her beg, a prince never beg

  “Say it Katara, you know what you want, you can barely stand under my touch.”

“You are surrendering your body, your strength to me” 

“Give your mighty dragon what he desires, you know what you have to say”

“Serve me”

  “Zuko, make me yours.”

  “You have to try harder, waterbender, don’t you remember, I am not a peasant, I am not just Zuko, you know who I am.”

  “My Prince, my dragon, I need you.”

  with eyes fills with devotion Zuko pushes deep into Katara not even caring if it hurts or not because Zuko is absolutely sure she is made for him, they are compatible in every level he will never hurt her, they are made for each other and he is not wrong the most beautiful lustful scream confirmed it, Katara inner walls fit him so right so tight, her entire body is eager to accept him, her body was made for him and only him

overwhelmed by the warring sensations, the burning, the needy emptiness, the want for friction, the intrusive stretching. He feels like a hot flaming steel rod as he finally breaches her maidenhead, sinking his length slowly inside of her, his hands shaking as they hold her hips tightly in their grasp, a groan punctuated by an exhilarated growl.

Katara was still adjusting to the sensation, her body feeling stretched and full, almost  too  full. Eased with each thrust, Zuko begins to growl rhythmically, in time with his thrusts.

Zuko struggles to keep the flames inside his chest, fire is dangerous, it is rare for a firebender to release their fire during mating, it requires a full trust in your partner's abilities.

Katara, she is different, katara lusts for his fire, she lusts for every single part of him, the proof of that is the kisses she is giving him in Zuko ’s neck, going from his chin to her chest forcing the flames inside him burst. unable to keep control and like a beast Zuko releases his fire, the sky turns red with Zuko's flames and as he breathes fire Katara keep kissing his neck

the deepest form of trust between the mate and her firebender

with each thrust Katara loses more and more the strength in her legs, not even the pole behind her can support her. 

the beast, the crown prince Zuko, he is devouring her with his dick

  “on four Katara, your prince's desire to make you feel his entire length.”

  Yes… yes… yes… My Zuko, claim me.”

  with a smile Zuko release his lady from his possessive hold, the sight of his lady quickly collapsing to the ground clearly her legs are unable to hold her, the view of her now in four, how beautiful she, with a wicked smile Zuko thrust his entire length inside her, both of them can’t keep it in, the emotions are too strong they can't keep it quiet  Katara screams Zuko name to the world to hear while he, like a dragon jet fire flames so hot they are almost white, sparks erupts from his feet burning the tiny bits of wood nearby, the water boiling, hot steam soaring, surrounding them, steam so hot anyone near it would get their lungs burn but water will never allow her mistress and her mate be hurt

  “Katara, you feel so good”

  “Burn everything, my fiery beast, let me feel your flames” an excited Katara screams in pleasure the sensation of Zuko inside her, the beauty of the flames around her, Zuko for her is the personification of the sun, her mighty sunshine.

  The words Katara said to her prince with such love, lust and desire do trick, Zuko ’s dick is pulsing in anticipation, ready to mark her as his, fills her, in a primal grunt Zuko grabs Katara waist and carefully change the position, he wants to do it in the missionary position, he wants to see her face. 

  “I am going to mark you Katara, fill you with the seed of the dynasty that will rule this world” as he is about to cum Katara grabs him by the neck and pull, kiss him, both of their bodies are shaking in pleasure, in what it can almost be described as dragon ’ s roar Zuko marks his princess, his lady, his waterbender.

like river of lava with a force only a fire bender can master Zuko cum, aiming to Katara very core, so hot and consuming, Zuko fills Katara deep inside making sure Katara ’s womb belongs to him, her walls contracting, each drop of her dragon ’s seed finds rest deep inside her, a new addicting feeling is forming inside her, she will never forget how it feels. her entire womb becoming a pool of magma. Katara wants Zuko’s cum so much, neither earth, water or air can compare to what fire is doing to her.

She loves every part of him, the flames, those yellow eyes, her body, everything about him. Katara is like the ocean, her body want to pull Zuko ’s body to the deepest part of the sea 

During their orgasm Zuko sees the beauty of love in her eyes he is not sure how long it will last but he will never forget what he saw, he saw the pure raw form of love in Katara ’s eyes.

For a moment they stay in silence, neither of them wanting to separate from each other, katara ’s core is greedily milking each drop of Zuko ’s cum and his dick is possessively refusing to go soft, she is his to fill. 

So both of them opted for the second best thing, they sit with Katara on top, still connected but the fire prince is not done, not even close he needs to consume his Katara until the last piece

“You know waterbender I haven’t punished you for kyoshi island”

before Katara could even respond or complain her prince sucks her nipple, kisses her breasts trying to kiss her heart too but he needs more, from her breast he goes up, to her neck covering her in love bites.

The moans are a blessing to Zuko’s ears like a symphony of lust and love, he will never forget how a celestial ’s symphony sounds. 

He isn’t expecting an angry Katara, did he do something wrong? The answer comes quickly, she starts kissing him passionately this time she is the one claiming him, her tongue deep inside him trying to reach the flames inside Zuko, searching eager to find that burning sensation. The sensation of their first kiss, she is looking for those sparks of lust.

she is not done she can tease too; a dark idea comes to her mind she starts grinding zuko ’s massive dick against her inner walls, he is still deep inside her and she is going to take advantage of that, she is the one this time to make Zuko scream her name.

Her mission is complete, finally from her prince’s mouth those sparks come again, the ones she is starting to love, the proof of Zuko’s deep desire for her, those flames are finally free.

  After the kiss ends, Zuko is proudly proclaiming a simple truth.

“You greedy waterbender, if I knew better, I would say you are from my kind after all your people is all about community and sharing but it appears you are eager to consume me”

“don’t worry my fire lady, I will provide you with the fire your soul desires.”

“You will find no better men in those filthy dirt-benders, you will find no better in the punny breeze-bender you called avatar, you will not find no better men on cowards from the north, no puddle-bender will be better than me.”

  After the proclamation, Zuko lie down letting Katara ride him, a perfectly opportunity for her to escape, Zuko already made his choice, he chose her, it is time for her to decide the answer comes as expected, the greedy waterbender is riding him good with each thrust she is not leaving a single inch outside, she is taking Zuko’s massive dick completely which is amazing because Zuko knows how big he is and he also knows his princess love it, the lust in Katara’s eyes are the evidence, it showed when she saw his cock the first time

Zuko is about to reach his climax and Katara knows it too, the final decision is in her hands.

Katara doesn’t stop when she hears Appa coming closer to her location, she doesn’t stop when she hears her friends calling her, she doesn’t stop when she sees the shadow of the giant bison in the horizon, at this moment everything she needs is Zuko

“I want your seed Zuko, I want all of you, I need to feel your heat inside me again, I want to feel the warm sensation in my belly, I want to feel your pulsating dick releasing your cum in me, the seed of the fire nation in me…. Please turn my womb into a pool of fire and magma, mark my insides with your cum. 

As she says this she grabs Zuko hands and place them in her hips with a final movement she push down and let the must lustful sound leave her mouth to the world to hear, she let Zuko seed remind her she is now fire nation, claimed by the crown prince whatever she like it or not her body will always remember the fire nation ’s prince claimed her, she is forever his. she let Zuko burning hands mark her hip, a red handprint, it will disappear in few days but it will a reminder of what happened today for days 

She is undeniably his and for the look in his face he is undeniably her.

  Katara ’s body is sore and with Aang near, it is obvious they can’t keep doing it, as she stand up Zuko grabs her and place a big kiss leaving a love bite in Katara lower belly and then soft tender kisses following a pattern, the fire nation ’s symbol 

  “You know Katara, this world can know peace when my nation wins, when I am fire lord the world will find and know peace.”

  Katara is sure Zuko means well, she knows her sunshine, the prince, truly believes that but for her, is Aang the hope for the world, she has to go with the avatar and stop Ozai

The look on Katara's face tells Zuko what his princess is thinking, a little angrier Zuko continues.

  “I will keep chasing the avatar and I will keep looking at you with the same eyes I am looking at you now.”

saying the last part softer, hopeful Katara feels the same, hoping she will look at him with desire too

Katara stays silent, she truly doesn’t know what to think, the groan of a flying bison reminds her she must go. 

“You should dress yourself; I will not tolerate the avatar looking at you while you are naked”  the crown prince commanding it with jealousy, Katara has no intention of letting neither Aang nor Sokka see her naked, covered in Zuko’s love marks not because she is ashamed but because she is not that kinky

Before Katara could leave, a still naked prince showing off how handsome and big he is, grabs something from his pants on the floor. It is Katara’s necklace, but the fabric is different. Instead of blue it is dark red.

Before leaving Katara does something unexpected, a kiss, a short but meaningful kiss, a kiss that feels and is a promise.

  A few hours later now with Katara on Appa, her friends get curious about her necklace.

  “Katara what happened with the collar I gave you.”

“Yeah sis, and now your old one is red… as soon we land you should totally change it to blue.”

  Katara tries to agree with her brother or be sad about Zuko burning the gift aang gave her, but she refuses to lie, for her it would be dishonorable, she won’t lie about something she doesn’t regret. 

“The collar was burnt and about changing the color” Katara makes a solemn pause this is important for her.

I think I don’t hate red.

#zutara #zutara fanfiction

[jinn-mori]

SDS Thoughts | S1 E13 (Part 1)

I've got lots to talk about with this episode!

Enough to have to split this post into two parts.

Hehe... heh...

Can y'all tell the autism is winning?

Howzer

My boi is starting to have his 'Are we the baddies?' moment. HE'S SEEING THROUGH THE PROPOGANDA! He's starting to question the goodness of the Holy Knights and the villainy of the Sins... all because of Diane. Diane put herself at risk to help a civilian while the other Holy Knights were wreaking havoc. And when a Holy Knight attacks both Diane and the civilian, Howzer rightfully calls bullshit on that guy as Holy Knights are supposed to protect the citizens of Liones. And who did that instead? One of those 'horrid criminals', one of the Sins. And it was Diane specifically, whose sin is envy. And envy is a sin rooted in tearing down others, a very selfish sin.

It's here that we see a prominent theme in SDS: Things aren't always what they seem. We see it through Diane and Howzer, a Sin being selfless and a Holy Knight not snitching on her.

While I am more than willing to call Nakaba out on his more... questionable writing decisions, I will definitely give this man his dues when appropriate.

Diane

And speaking of Diane... Good fucking Lord this was definitely Diane's time to shine with Gideon. And King wasn't kidding with that lake analogy for Sins and their Sacred Treasures. While we've seen the power a Sin can wield with their Treasure through King, Chastiefol's strength is in its versatility. Gideon's strength is in its sheer destructive power, which really shows you how fucking terrifying the Sins are.

I fear the day someone lets Diane play Whack-A-Mole.

Helbram

So I recognized Helbram's English voice right off the bat as the same VA for JJBA PT3 Joseph, which is Richard Epcar. Well, the VA for Human!Helbram anyways.

Also, I don't remember much of Helbram's backstory, but I do know that he had a love for humans but that love was ultimately his downfall and his tipping point into hating humans. And Links Skill, his magic ability, works best when a lot of people are lending themselves to the user of their own free will. And magic is a reflection of the user, so maybe Helbram's magic reflects a desire for connection.

Elizabeth

Anyone who says Ellie is weak is full of shit. She doesn't need to be kicking ass to be strong. How is she strong then? Her conviction. Elizabeth Liones is many things, stubborn and determined are two of them.

Heck, even Griamore comments on how strong Elizabeth has become. Not physical strength but strength of character.

Ban and Spell Beads

I wrote down some notes about the spell beads which also happened to include notes about Ban. Now, do note that I'm watching SDS in the English dub, so I'm quoting from there.

My general observation regarding spell beads is that they seem to be used for more supportive things. Magic users specializing in healing and defense don't seem to be very common, the only ones we see with those specialties throughout the series being Griamore, Hendy, King, and Elizabeth. So, my little crack theory is that due to that lack of supply, spell beads fill in the demand. They're a lot easier to carry with you than a healer or defense person and much less on resources.

But where does Ban come into this? He fucking steals Jericho and Guila's spell beads. He comments "You have some fun little toys" in reference to the spell beads. Now, this could just be taken as him being an ass to Jericho and Guila - particularly Jericho - but there could be another way to take it. Ban's magic and immortality basically cover him in all the areas that spell beads cover, so to him, they are toys.

Now, as for the rest of the episode... Ban is losing his shit. It's enough for even Hawk to comment on how Ban has lost his usual cool. Why? Because Demon Meli, that's why. Up to this point, Ban is the only Sin we know to have interacted with a Demon. So while Meli is far above a Red Demon, Ban knows enough to grab Elizabeth and King and book it out of there like a bat out of Hell. It could also have to do with the fact that Ban's immortality was having a malfunction due to Jericho having Demon Blood in her and imbuing her weapon with Demon magic.

A lil' sidenote here: During Cursed By Light, we find out that the Sacred Fairy Tree is closest in elemental stuff to the Goddesses' magic. And it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to say that the Fountain of Youth is in the same ballpark. So it makes sense that Demon stuff wouldn't vibe with it and thus it fucked up Ban's healing factor.

#sds #seven deadly sins #nanatsu no taizai #nnt #sds howzer #nnt howzer #sds diane #nnt diane #nnt helbram #sds helbram #sds elizabeth #nnt elizabeth #nnt ban #sds ban #ban the undead

[galactia]

kaeya isn't found by crepus as a boy; he's happened upon by a group of treasure hoarders, who take him captive and intend on selling him

Treasure Hoarders were indiscriminate in the quality of treasure they would steal, thus when they happened upon a young, azure haired boy alone, drenched and hiding from the rainstorm lashing the borders of Mond, their avarice overwrought any sense of ethics. There were those among the group whose consciences pricked them, but the greed that had driven them to their path won over, and the crying and squirming of the child as they tossed him on their cart was ignored.

On closer inspection, he resembled no citizen of Mondstadt they'd ever seen. Blue eyes revealed starry pupils, and his skin and hair both were of a shade none of them recognized. In the damp left by the rain and by the light of the fire at their camp, they shoved him between them, inspecting him as merchandise. Exhausted, but nonetheless overcome with fear for his life he couldn't even put words to, the boy struggled, biting, kicking, and when they caught him by the hair, screaming at them in broken, common tongue.

"Eh-... even his words are different. This boy isn't from Mond. He isn't from anywhere I know." The Hoarder, who had wrenched his hair until his eyes pricked and he'd stopped struggling for fear the man might make good on tearing it from his scalp, jeered. "What's your name, you little urchin?"

The boy, whose name was Kaeya, but who had no intention of telling them, spat in his face.

The Hoarder's palm flew, the strike hard enough to send Kaeya's small body to the ground. His face felt like it was on fire, and there was mud, on his knees and in his hair. Kaeya bit his lip, determined not to cry. With his lower lip trembling, Kaeya crawled through the mud and ash beside the fire, away from the Hoarder who chortled, "What a miserable wretch."

"Don't damage him, you numbskull. He'll be worth less that way." A taller, wiry Hoarder interjected, jabbing a finger toward the boy, "Go lock him up. We'll ask around tomorrow to find out how much we can get for him."

Kaeya was hauled up by his stomach, an aborted cry falling from his lips, and though any strength he had was evaporating quickly he slapped a small hand against the arm keeping him captive.

"Enough of that. You aren't going anywhere."

The tent where he was taken was filled with crates and barrels, and it was into a small cage in the back where he was tossed. The door of it swung with a shriek of metal, and he scrambled into the corner, curling up as if he might hide.

He was hungry and cold; his face ached and despite the discomfort and pain, his body wanted nothing more than to sleep. With no one left to mock him for his tears, Kaeya hid his face in the shelter of his arms and cried until he was too spent to stay awake.

#kaeya//rp #tw: child abuse #[ The Potential. O.O #Any adult who might have a run in with the Treasure Hoarders could find him #This could also be anywhere in Teyvat tbh #because they might take him wherever they can turn a profit #and that might not be Mondstadt #or it Could be. O.O #Or Crepus finds him THIS way instead #Literally Anyone could find him #either way!! #I.... would be up for any kind of interaction related to this #this can be an open or a drabble spring board #I am incredibly flexible with the potential ] #open//kaeya

[honeyed-obscenities]

Fourth Charge; A Threads of Fate fanfiction Chapter 1

My Ruecian focused semi fix-it fic. You can also read this on my AO3. Features an original doll made specifically for this fic. I inferred a lot of details about the world of Threads of Fate for this, as well, so if something doesn't match personal interpretation... That's why.

Full chapter under the cut

The box was kept on the deck of the ship. The crew had no shortage of trouble raising it up from the sea and had informed Doll Master before its extraction they'd be unable to fit it through any doors to get it below deck. It was massive, making it difficult to navigate the deck with any amount of haste, and made of some sort of opalescent white stone. When the chains were loosed to lower it down the ship rocked so violently some feared that even this, one of the largest ships in East Heaven Kingdom's fleet, would break down under its immense weight. After ballast was redistributed and the diving bell brought back aboard they departed cautiously.

“She appears to be holding, my lord.”

“I'd expect nothing less from our finest.”

“You appear upset, my lord?”

Doll Master turned on his heel, moving past Psycho Master without sparing him a glance. “Don't be presumptuous. I'm only interested in seeing what we've spent all this time to recover. Have you discovered how to open it?”

“Not yet, but I don't anticipate much trouble. Avital was rumored to be a very wary Aeon, but one who valued ease of access in her own creations. The most difficult portion of this endeavor is past us.” Psycho Master nodded toward the bow of the ship where a flag of mourning was being flown prominently. They had lost five men in their efforts to enter Avital's atelier and retrieve the treasures within. “I expect its mechanisms will hold no traps of any kind, but I will have Trap Master inspect it before we break the seal.”

“Prudent, as always.” The magician exhaled tightly, Psycho Master recognizing the minute air of irritation about him. “Can we not travel any faster? We've been on this damnable ship for two weeks already. I'm not interested in doubling that number.”

“The captain says that, provided fair weather, we will return to East Heaven within a week.” The lack of improvement in Doll Master's disposition encouraged an addendum to his answer. “If we empty the box of its contents, we might be able to discard the outside overboard and travel a touch faster? Perhaps I will retrieve Trap Master and set to work opening our bounty.”

“If you would, Karwyn.”

Although Doll Master did not relax completely, Psycho Master knew when he was fighting a losing battle. With a prim bow he disappeared, leaving his master alone on the quarterdeck.

It would be a full day before Doll Master was informed his subordinate's success was imminent. In the fading light the box seemed to glow from within and shadows accentuated the intricate carvings swirling over its surface. A similar glow possessed Trap Master's fiery red hair, though Doll Master found less beauty in the effect when the man had chosen to seat himself atop the box.

“Only good news, I hope?” Doll Master's voice cut clear over the deck, and he was pleased to see that, although the question was directed at Psycho Master, Trap Master had the sense to slide off the box with haste.

“Indeed, my lord. Trap Master reports there to be no traps within the box's contents or in its mechanisms.”

“Well,” the boisterous voice of Trap Master cut in, grinding like the strike of stone on stone. “It's got one, but we ain't gotta worry about it.”

Although his face remained covered by his mask, the questioning gaze Doll Master gave him did not escape notice. “Explain.”

Trap Master grinned. “S'only protected against strikes. Anything hits this thing hard enough and it's gettin' sent through the walls... And maybe to the next country over,” he shrugged with a chuckle.

“What a great stroke of luck that we'll be opening it far from the Crown Princess.” The unexpected joke got a barking laugh from Trap Master and an amused smile from Psycho Master. Princess Mint had only just turned ten and seemed to become more abrasive and violent as time went on, such a clear contrast to her younger sister in all her grace and sensibility that it was hard to believe one would soon be running the kingdom. The thought sent a shudder through Doll Master, enhanced by the memory of how hard Mint had kicked him when informed she would not be accompanying the prestigious mission no matter how much she threatened and demanded. A spoiled brat though she may be, the young Princess could kick like a mule.

“Perhaps it was a precaution; should the atelier collapse and cover the box,” Psycho Master mused.

Trap Master scoffed. “I didn't know Avital was such a shit Aeon that she couldn't even trust her own atelier to stay upright.”

“The coral sea can be treacherous, and every Aeon stood to lose more than just a home should anything go awry.” Doll Master ran a hand over the box's surface, feeling the sharp edges of the carvings beneath the leather of his gloves. “Psycho Master? If you'd care to demonstrate how to open it.”

The man bowed low before turning to a crewman on standby. The crewman straightened under Karwyn's attention, offering him a metal pitcher with care enough not to spill the contents. “I must apologize for the wait, my lord. The trick to our quarry was so dreadfully simple that it did not occur to me until I considered what we know of Avital.” With delicacy he began to pour a stream of water into the carvings, letting the water slide through the natural paths of its own accord until it became clear that the setting sun was no longer what was creating the light that danced through the liquid. Burning orange rivers flooded their way through the carved trenches until every swoop and curve was filled with the glow. The light grew and flashed, sending shocked cries from the watching crew and forcing all present to shield their eyes.

Doll Master was among the first to recover, rubbing his eyes and growling before taking a clear look at the box. “Oh.” The lid had disappeared completely- not an uncommon occurrence for something retrieved from such a location. The contents, however... Among the seemingly random assortment of items within the box there was a figure visible. The sea breeze ruffled a shock of black hair over a serene face, almost anything more of them hidden and covered by trinkets and housewares.

“That is... abnormal?” Psycho Master ventured.

“To say the least.” As though triggered by his words, the eyes of the figure within the box snapped open. They sat up with a clatter, shocking the crew and sending them moving back in uncertain fear. “...Everyone but my subordinates: Below deck.” There was a hesitation. “Now.” He had no need to raise his voice. A command from Doll Master was understood to be absolute.

The figure within the box watched the crew route along the sides of the box and toward the stairwell to the lower decks, raising themself further and tensing the longer silence reigned. Their hair was little more than that black shock when uncovered- far on the shorter side and spiking back save for two thick tails that hung in front of their ears and all of it mussed lightly by their slumber. When the captain descended last, Doll Master nodded to Psycho Master. The latter bowed and moved aside so his master could take his place directly in front of the figure.

“Can you understand me?” Dark eyes snapped to him. They moved swiftly, pulling themself from the clutter and crouching on top defensively. Barefoot, oddly, with black and green mottled pants patched with red fabric, the wide billowy legs of which secured in a wide band at their ankles and torso covered only by a form fitting sleeveless top with a high neckline, with a long black furred tail pulled free after them, swinging back and forth erratically. They nodded once. “Very good.” He reached up as he spoke. “You understand that you are a doll, I trust.” Their eyes narrowed, but he only smiled as he released his mask. “I am Doll Master. You may-”

They growled, showing their teeth- sharper than average in their entirety. Animalistic. “I have only one master. You are not Mistress Avital.”

Psycho Master frowned, flickering out of sight and appearing beside them. With a hand on their shoulder, the two disappeared and returned to Doll Master's side. The fur on the doll's tail rose and they scrambled for the nearest rail, crouched beside it with posture like a feral cat. Though obscured by the rising hair, a wide silver cuff glinted on their tail as it lashed violently.

“Don't get fresh, newbie,” Trap Master snapped.

“Narcius,” Doll Master hushed. He kneeled, setting his mask on the deck. “You may call me Ruecian. This may come as a surprise to you... Avital is no longer of this world. We brought you up from her atelier. The Aeons are no more.” Their expression dropped, their fur beginning to lay flatter.

“Brought you up, sure. Along with all this junk.” Trap Master sneered and picked up a metal plate from the box, turning it over in his fingers.

The dolls fur rose once again with more urgency and they snarled. “You don't touch her things!” Before any of the masters could intercept them, they'd leaped between Ruecian and Karwyn and across the expanse of items, crashing into Narcius and knocking him to the deck. In a flash Psycho Master transported himself and Doll Master to the other end of the box, both of them grabbing one of the doll's arms and pulling them off Trap Master. They thrashed, evenly matched in strength against them, but after dragging them a distance away they were released. Once more the doll clamored as closely to the ship's rail as possible and bared their mouthful of fangs, small licks of flame bursting from their throat and between their teeth. “Don't touch her things!” they yowled again, the flame sparking and snapping as they spoke.

“Crazy bastard!” Trap Master panted, rising to his feet. “You better count yourself lucky, cause I-” A pointed glare from Ruecian silenced him quickly.

“No one will touch her things without your permission,” Doll Master assured. “Is that reasonable?” The flames from their mouth died down as they nodded slowly. “... Do you have a name? You remember it?”

This they seemed readily interested in answering but as they opened their mouth their eyes flooded with worry. “No, I-I... Mistress gave me a name, I know she did!” Their posture relaxed less from ease and more from their mind becoming occupied with other matters.

“It's alright. After so long you've undoubtedly lost quite a bit more than your name, I'm sorry to say.” Ruecian offered them a small smile. “The reason I'm known as Doll Master is not out of a desire to control you.” He raised a hand to the jewel embedded in his forehead, lacking the glow of life but clear in its purpose. “I am a doll myself. As are they- Karwyn the Psycho Master and Narcius the Trap Master. I found them, much like you. I gave them names and a purpose. I can give you the same.”

The doll glanced away, considering this. “A... Avital is really... gone?” They choked, slightly, on the last word.

“For quite some time, I'm afraid. The loss of the Aeons is why I take in dolls like us. Many have little else than long forgotten masters.” He tilted his head. “I may have a name for you. If you'd care to have one.” With a great amount of hesitancy, the doll nodded twice- once haltingly and once in a more definitive manner. “Then from now on you will be Suren. It's a pleasure.”

#threads of fate #dewprism #oc insert #my writing #my fic

[whaleofatjme1920]

Finally got the guts to do mine, so here ya go. You already know her well but for the sake of the format — Nadine, she/her, romantic. Either SCP or Assassin's Creed works fine. Surprise me! <3

- 🇧🇻

****

Yue Lao, 

How do you pray to a god you do not worship? I write to you from a place of desperation — of loneliness. My situation is… complicated. I've had lovers before — soulmates even, but I always had to leave them behind when their time came to pass on. I have something they don't, and because of that, I can't join them.

I don't know how to describe myself; I've been so many things over the years it's almost like I can pick and choose who to be, but that doesn't feel right. As such, I've attached a few things to this letter to try and explain who I am. Who I was. 

The Sekhmet figurine is a childhood toy; one of few things I have left of that life. I was a child of the sun; born at midday and the eldest of three. It's my most treasured possession — take good care of it.

The nordic rune comes from a place of healing, where I learned that despite the cruelty of the world, there are still people out there who care. People who will listen to your troubles and aid you in your darkest moments.

The bullet, I suppose, is my way of trying to explain who I am now. A guardian, yes, but also a weapon. I am fiercely protective over the ones I hold dear, despite my more… recent fears of attachment. My trust isn't so easily gained — it never has been, but once it does, I can be counted on to put my life on the line for you, if that's what it takes.

This is a last ditch effort on my end, but I hope it will work — others have tried and failed; I really hope it won't come to pass this time. Perhaps fate isn't such a bad thing after all?

Yours, Nadine

[Disclaimer: The Red String of Fate event is a special event I'm running from August 12th, to whenever I feel it necessary to end - right now, I'm giving it to the first week of September! Check out rules HERE]

The mentions of a goddess not part of his own pantheon make Yue Lao smile. The lines near his eyes wrinkle as he remembers the beauty that is Lady Sekhmet, and the gods of Egypt. He has not spoken to them in quite some time, and this is not because of disinterest, but rather their jobs keeping them far, far apart. It is not easy being a god, and with the lady of war protecting sacred lands, himself guiding people in their love in all its forms, well, it's been quite some time!

No one that's written to him recently actually worships him. These are people who heard about his works from someone who loves him and decided to send him a message just to see if their romance problems could be solved. His followers, he knows who they are, and while you are not one of them, he vows to treat you well. The things you've gifted him are quite interesting, that much he must admit. The figurine of the great goddess Sekhmet is placed out in his gardens. Yue Lao is a deity of the night, the opposite of the Lioness herself, and hopes the moonlight she now bathes under is good enough to keep her satisfied. The Nordic rune is held deep in his pocket, just a reminder of one of the many people who have asked for his help. The bullet - he keeps that for further use.

The god knows that he can't pair you with any normal human, that's just not possible or fair, is it? You've had many partners throughout your life and so many of them have passed due to the thing we all recognize as the human condition. He hums softly as he strokes his beard and his cat, letting her soft purr spur his thoughts on. He looks into an odd Foundation that he's placed a few people with and looks at the humans who don't quite act like humans, the humans that are just a little odd and wonderful.

Bao mews when her god's index finger slides over the face of a man who's lost in thought, a man that, even without the whole 'living too long' thing seems to be a very good match for someone like you. His first name is Jack, last Bright. Dr. Jack Bright, the man himself, who is the living definition of "fuck around and find out." It almost makes Yue Lao laugh, in pity that the man lives as he does and the hilarity of the situation. He knows you're going to be what this man needs, and he what you need.

The kind of thread that the god of love and marriage uses is something classic, tried and true. It was given to him by the beautiful, powerful mother goddess Xiwangmu. Woven into this thread are shavings from the peach trees of immortality. It's almost a little pun on his end as he smiles and attaches it to your pinky and Jack's. Bao's ears flick upwards as she watches you and Jack look down in real time at the thin red thread that materializes on your hands, connecting the two of you together. The scent of peaches and jasmine fills the air, almost compelling the two of you together.

Yue Lao chuckles deeply as he watches the two of you stand, more than ready to meet. His moonlight clouded eyes glance over to a thick pile of letters. Resting on top is a letter Jack wrote to him only a month or so ago, praying for someone like you.

#red string of fate the event #dr bright x reader #dr jack bright x reader #scp x reader

[kitsunesfandomtime]

His escape from hell - Ch 1

Characters: Yoichi Shigaraki, Second One for all User, Third One for all user

Warnings: Hallucination, truama response, and Yoichi just a bit frazzled.

Summary: Sequel to Treasure Vault. Yoichi has escaped the vault with the help of these rebel forces but he is still suffering the truama and effects of the vault. He refuses to let that stop him, one way or another even if no one on his side. He has a goal he wishes to achieve.

Yoichi had escaped his prison and it was supposed to be the start of a new life. The beginning of his story of finally becoming a hero despite what his brother says.

He was more than happy to tell the rebels everything they wished to hear. They fed him, they clothed him in something other than slacks and even were kind enough to give him a doctor. When he wasn't a mess it was only natural that he wanted to help they were even saying he could join the fight if he trained.

They were a group that was angry at the lack of government action against All for One instead claiming he doesn't exist. Just random groups that weren't at all related to each other all because the leader was hiding in the shadows or possibly too afraid to admit someone that can gather so much power in one person existed.

So Yoichi learned that the government would rather cover up and hide All-for-One existence. They were trying to bury his brother but as a result, it allowed people to get hurt in the crossfire constantly. It left a bad taste in his mouth unsure if he should be more repulsed at the government for their indifference or his brother for not backing down.

He could understand how a rebel group unaffiliated with either could form. Though they didn't tell him everything as it seemed, they had different intentions when they broke into the base. There was still distrust and they hadn't even told him their names. It was a chance to connect with them.

So why...?

"Ah...." his voice seemed to crack when they asked for his brother's name. A strong feeling of dread hit him as if suddenly everything had become real.

That these men he called heroes were in fact after his brother's life for all the terrible crimes he had picked. They looked at him puzzled at his reaction but his hero seemed kind enough to move on.

"How about your brothers main location...?"

Another thing but this time one he doesn't know. A strong sense of helplessness at the fact he has no idea how to help. That if he could have given at least something maybe they wouldn't feel like he was a waste.

The one who extended his hand to him stared intently waiting for him to tell them just as eagerly as he had his name. The weapon at his side gleamed reminding Yoichi of one thing he tended to ignore.

These men likely wanted his brother dead.

They told him how many atrocities his brother had committed and how the government did nothing. How their goal was to stop any more victims from being made by this power-hungry man.

They were honest. They didn't claim the title of heroes even if saved Yoichi out of the goodness of their hearts they exposed the blood on their hands.

"I'm sorry," Yoichi can't provide them with anything despite how much they were risking to help him. He was useless to them. Nothing more than a liability just like his brother always acted like he was, "I don't know."

The man besides his savior let out a loud frustrated groan. Yoichi honestly agreed feeling frustration and annoyance at himself as well.

"Are you SERIOUS? Nothing? Nada?" His hands dramatically gesture toward Yoichi as he looks at the head of the rebel command, "What are we suppose to tell the others? They will definitely be recognizing him and they are going to throw a fuss."

The white-haired male can't deny that. Even though Yoichi was grateful to be saved he hasn't done anything.

"I promise I can help! I will fight for your cause I am against my brother," Yoichi was quick to interject wanting to make it clear that he wasn't useless and can still contribute.

He couldn't bring himself to say his own brother's name. As if saying it would make this reality more real that his brother was right about joining those that 'wish him dead'.

Even though his brother was the reason he went this far! If his brother just stopped no one would be here in this situation!

"I really don't know anything else," Yoichi's voice was firm yet uneasy unlike when talking to his brother he didn't know how they might take this.

He wasn't on his brother's side maybe at first had thought it was good. But he now knows it was a lie that he refused to be a part of still he expected more contempt. More harsh words and interrogation.

Unconsciously he looks over at the man who reached out his hand to him. He wasn't much of a talker though he had been quite clear that Yoichi wasn't to be harmed. Saying he's as much of a victim as anyone else under AFO.

"Come on we need something. The other guys aren't going to believe you are on our side if don't say anything," the ponytailed man sighs as though it was clear he was losing faith.

His hero finally spoke up in that calm and stern tone, "He was locked in a vault for who knows how long. You can't expect him to say anything after that even if he did hate the man."

"I don't hate him!" It was a knee-jerk response. Standing on his feet as his hands slam on the table, "He's an asshole, and a villain that he needs to be stopped but I don't hate him!"

Liar.

His body was shaking as the two stared at him like he was insane. Yoichi then realized how he must sound, not hating the man that literally locked him away from the world while destroying his sanity.

"I-I'm sorry. It just... This is a lot," Yoichi moves his hand through his hair feeling like an idiot.

"...Are you guys going to use me as a hostage? Make deals with him?" Yoichi mutters softly feeling uneasy.

The two glanced at each other then his 'hero' gets up and walks over to his side to place a hand on his shoulder. Their expressions were of concern almost worried even which he hoped didn't mean they had been considering it.

"You should go rest we won't ask you about your brother anymore. We really appreciate you talking to us and don't worry we know you are genuine," the interrogator seemed to have softened his stance looking at him with something akin to pity.

...Even though Yoichi wished it why did it feel like he shouldn't be treated so kindly? Able to feel himself about to shout about how they can't just trust him when they don't know him. "You-"

"Go rest, Shigaraki-san. You need it if you want to get better," his hero stopped him with a firm voice as if somehow able to know exactly what he was about to say. Cutting him off before could end up making the conversation worst.

There was no arguing with them. Slowly he leaves the room but he couldn't help but stop just outside the door. Leaning against it after closing as he felt like he needed to hear them.

"He really got fucked up by his brother huh?" It's the second in command, "Like yikes talk about stockholm, family or not I would be running for the hills. Man was basically skin and boneswhen we saw him! Even if we done some terrible stuff even I couldn't bring myself to shoot someone on death's door even if was the plan."

Yoichi feels his heart drop learning that the original intention was to kill wasn't a surprise. Still remembering the weapon pointed out his face staring down the barrel as his 'hero' had been moments from pulling the trigger.

And yet it never came. Instead, that weapon lowered and held a hand out to him despite knowing exactly who he was. In their eyes, it likely really was just childish and nativity to be unwilling to hate his brother despite everything he has done. Especially since his brother has done so many things that crossed the line. His big brother was bad but it because...

"We don't know their relationship prior to him being trapped but we know his name and he is sincere. We will just have to convince the others he deserves to be here and help him out," his hero was kind. "If he wants to help, he is allowed too."

Yoichi takes a sharp breath as his chest tightens knowing he is being a burden unable to trust them it is only natural no one would.

He needs to make himself useful. He needs to make sure to eat and get stronger with the stockpile quirk he should get strong. He just needs to train.

...He can't listen to any more of this.

With this in mind, Yoichi straightened himself up feeling a surge of determination. Returning to his room he was going to rest and make sure that he was ready in the morning to eat and possibly train.

And then kill me?

That voice keeps plaguing him!

Despite leaving that vault he could still hear the whispers of his brother always in the corner of his eyes. Watching and looking at him with pity or amusement.

"You're not there," Yoichi whispers mostly to himself as he returns to the room his heroes were so kind as to give him. Least anyone sees him talk to these hallucinations that have not left him since entering this rebel camp.

He walks toward his room as he suddenly feels like everything was too loud. His hands moved over his ears as he wanted to turn back and ask why they weren't pressing harder. Why aren't they using him like he expected? Why are they being NICE!?

Seriously, do you believe they actually care about you? It's called buttering you up

Hiding in the room at first sight he slams the door to finally look at the assailant out of his mind. "Shut up! You aren't here, did you steal some telepathy quirk!?"

God he hopes not. He didn't want that to be real. He doesn't want it to be because of him that everyone here dies... But the figure that looks like his brother just hums.

The whole place felt different. Dark, gloomy yet so very very real just like that vault as if was still trapped there.

"Who knows," his brother feels... too real. Yet also not at the same time slowly looking around with a lazy smile. It felt... Like this was a version of his brother from long ago his presence wasn't as terrifying. So familiar-

"Get out of my head!" Yoichi shouts and like that suddenly he was back in his room feeling his chest aching while his vision was blurred. Feeling almost shaky knowing the doctor told him his condition was bad.

He takes a heavy breath as he stumbles to his bed barely able to resist throwing himself upon it. Tears in his eyes as he slowly realized he had lost his mind every part of his body ached and hurt. Wondering if it was even ok to relax knowing so many others might die.

He has to ignore that voice.

His brother wasn't there. He was going to make sure his hero didn't regret taking him in.

He was going to escape this hell of his brothers making one way or another. He will become a hero.

#yoly's fanfics #all for one bnha #all for one mha #yoichi shigaraki #Second One for all user #third one for all user #his escape from hell

[nyxthejinx]

"… shit…" -the redhead woke up in an unknown location, she was able to recognize that she was in some underground clinic, but that was all she could reason before a tremendous headache left her spinning around her vision-

"Take things easy, let's go one step at a time" -the voice of a girl made her look to the side of the bed, there was the Archon Dendro, the goddess smiled at the Fatui when she saw that she took it easy- "your friend did most of the work, but you still need to rest a bit more"

"The stupid things you get into start to evolve into something worse every time, Scarlet" -oh yes, Dottore was there too. The scientist seemed annoyed, perhaps the Archon was the cause-

…..

"At least you should have concealed, those little glances that are given between the two of you are more obvious than the fact that snow is white" -the scientist seemed to be busy with his body on the operating table-

-A few days ago they had already returned from Sumeru to a Dottore laboratory in Liyue. Scarlet's situation is summed up as follows: by absorbing another good-sized fragment of the god's shadow, she underwent a transformation similar to Childe's, in which the orange-haired self-proclaims her final boss phase. This gave her the extra boost to kill all the robots and also to create an obsidian wall, product of her pyrotechnic energy and the sand in the place, since she created this to give Collei the opportunity to escape-

"Leave my husband out of the conversation…"

"Let's see…. WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"The artery burst" -he pointed to the body in the month, which now had a small leak with enough pressure to look like a water source-

"Yes yes… that's it, don't evade the subject"

…

"My sweet raspberry!~ Treasure of my heart!~ Scarlet!~"

"….wonderful, simply wonderful"

-The redhead had decided to go out to Liyue Port, she was bored so she decided to challenge some people to TCG duels. She knew that this was Childe's territory, but she didn't expect him to find her so quickly-

"It's been a while since we saw each other! Come on, I'll buy dinner this afternoon!" -he didn't even ask, he just dragged her to the biggest and most expensive restaurant in the city, he ordered things that were on the menu for couples in love, yep, the place was involved in that cheesy celebration, although it was normal considering the day of the year-

….

-If someone asked Scarlet to describe Childe, it would be in short: psychopathic, hormonal, cheesy, clingy, single womanizer bitch, with mommy complexes. He was her friend, just that. Perhaps once when she was young Scarlet had a crush on Tartaglia, but it never grew into something more intense, but that was something that the Eleventh would never understand, not even if they gave him a thousand lives to reincarnate.-

-If you were asked to describe Cyno, the summary would be: Virgin but not Saint, desert cutie, nerd with muscles and… The most dedicated and loving man of all the Seven Nations. At first it was just a slight physical and chemical attraction, but after continuing to interact the feeling became deeper, Scarlet got to the point that she dreamed of those bright crimson eyes and soft white hair, too often every time she slept or sometimes I only daydreamed.-

-Very in encounter with a certain Fatui colleague who seems to be easily distracted by that traveler. Luckily Scarlet escaped the field of vision of those three as soon as she spotted that floating girl.-

-That was enough excitement for a whole month, it was time to return home and go shopping that afternoon that Columbina promised.-

Dottore is so fed up pls😭but he could also be best wingman if he only wanted to. Nothing beats reader's love-hate when it comes to childe though, he's an extreme golden retriever 🙄and the "virgin but not saint" killed me WHWH so true

#no matter how much i bully him though #childe's always n1 snookums #| genshin impact 🌓 | #| nyx answers ✨ |

[midnightnotegem]

The Overlooked, Invisible Thread

TW! Mentions trauma, emotional + sexual abuse

The Ego.

Freud's definition of Ego has been one that's more often than not, misconstrued. His definition does not mean self-centeredness or selfishness. Here's a definition from Merriam-Webster that I'm going to explore in a bit, "the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world".

Although, despite the fact that I know there are differences, I'm pretty guilty of using it as such. ʚ ♡  ♡  ♡  ♡  ♡ ɞ

On August 12th of 2022, something radically changed. No, nothing particularly life-altering happened that day. In fact, I was having a really great, fun and happy day until the late evening-early night arrived.

I had been waiting for 3 weeks and 6 days since the final argument began. There were quite a lot hurled at each other, however, it felt more appropriate to receive first, then give mine after, given there was gonna be a wait. What I read coming from ex was unbelievably apathetic. Actually, not just that. Some sort of assumption flew out, as if I must've known the religious implications of what I said. Straws were pulled from the hat with that "offense" though.

So there I was, confused and dwelling on decisions about our relationship for nearly one month. Not that one month was even long enough for me to have been solid in any. But, I had one idea mapped out and likely would've gone with it … except of course what happened on the 12th.

My ex claimed he had a busy life anymore, his supposed reason was work. Well, knowing it was yet another Friday, my mind got more curious as if this was gonna be another week where I wait or if I finally receive anything. As it turns out, he was actually hiding himself away from me and presumably, he was opening and closing Steam games, such as Sonic Origins or Sonic Mania, to work on one of his bazillion artwork ideas he has. … Wonder how long stuff like that has been going on, huh?

Steam, being his traitor, told me plenty. Even as him and I were confronting this exactly, he didn't care. We said our goodbyes after some talk.

I truly don't believe he believes this is the end, but it is. Confused?

I had been too, not able to pinpoint what it was. No matter how hard I searched or thought of, it didn't face me. Instead, it hid underneath my nose where I admitted plentiful times, yet didn't recognize it as a core reason.

Beneath the tangled weeds of being broken up with, while forced to make the breakup official, being in despair for so long, so much so that I became overly self-sacrificial, the emotional abuse, the sexual abuse and many moments of toxicity … there was something more.

Something I treasured so deeply.

So deeply, I could not hold onto that thought long enough to look at it.

It didn't occur to me what it was, until I found relief:

I wanted to be perceived as "the innocent", "the one that got away" … no thanks to his failures. The "how could you"s, I wanted to hear that spill. It… caught up. To me.

A simple mistake, that everybody knows a child doesn't mean, was taken too literal. We get angry, we say things we don't mean. When you're 15 years old, you do stupid shit. Not even just children, adults do it too. It was a heated argument and I said "I want to kill you". … How's this possible? We were thousands of miles apart. Either way, his parents were too bothered by a simple sentence, an admittance to his parents my ex supposedly regrets. Well.

Long story short, I learned very quickly to reign-in that anger when it felt like a miracle happened, that we could repair everything. Similarly reliving nearly a couple years prior. I was faulted for it all, no matter how it started, what he said, and even if he was the one who told his parents. I took it all. I ran with it, just so I could have a chance. A chance to prove myself, some redemption. I thought, "I loved this man so much. I couldn't have this happen again".

I did the very best I could, as the years went on. To make sure nothing got that out of control. Wasn't the greatest effort, I'm aware, but I was growing too. The fault in my own upbringing, my own behaviors and reactions, suddenly I had to own it and do something productive about it.

I grew into a person of chaos on one end, and gradually chaos into the other. All I cared about, was bettering myself for the relationship. It became my mission. As things fell apart more and more, that mission was more for him and I, than it was for his family's view of the relationship.

It was more apparent, after I came home on September of 2021, just how much I valued his mother's opinion specifically.

Hearing how she couldn't wait for me to be there during a video call when I already changed my mind about going, how she was a bit anxious to buy the tickets, how I would be viewed once I was there.

And when I heard these complaints about me from her once I was home, I broke. I didn't compliment their home, I didn't eat brownies I supposedly had, it was assumed I'd ask to help clean their dinner dishes.

… It didn't matter that I was sick the entire trip. To no one. No, I wasn't sick actually. I was far gone and lost into Collapse. I ate more than I normally could, I barely went to the bathroom, I hardly owned a voice, every waking moment was uncomfortable from the lack of bowel movements, I could hardly keep up with what was going on around me each day, I felt guilty and apologized for "being sick" to his face. … I should've seen it coming, as he passed it off as "it's okay". Nothing before the trip was truly acknowledged with care, despite it being totally alarming to the average.

I never loved anyone this hard, but I also never met anyone so dangerous.

ʚ ♡  ♡  ♡  ♡  ♡ ɞ

…

Some way, some how. It was torn apart. That… sense of "I need to prove myself".

What I didn't realize, was it had evolved yet again.

No, I didn't JUST need to know that I was rightfully and justifiably viewed as the innocent one and the victim.

Like a beachball, "The Final Say" was bounced back and forth. He played it off as I was the one who had the final say in whether or not our relationship lasted. Though it's not obvious, it is possible he meant it differently than I did. A common thing, that he doesn't grab the same message as I, from most texts. No matter how clear it is explained.

I had many go-rounds to accomplish this. To my perspective, I failed. From December all the way up until now. …

Vanish.

I meant it this time, and everything felt as if it hit directly. It hit well, it was said well. Directly, no bullshit. Came across as "I'm finished here".

Maybe because I factually meant it. That it felt like peace.

As time went on that month-long wait, I began to see how unbearable sticking around was. I saw how much help he needed, and what I needed right now. Then some thoughts led to how apparent his need for help will become after some time, to his family.

… Must've been the easygoing solution, because I didn't think about that at all. No recognition on any level.

I now know what my ex is capable of, both in negative and positive terms.

The pedestal I kept him on was crumbling in front of me, and it combusted instead. No longer do I see him as someone special, nor do I see him as someone who I can imagine wishing to be in the right direction to turn our life together around.

All that bound me, died. For that, I am happy and free. There was the peace I yearned for. I didn't have to die for it, I had to play the long game… just as I promised myself I would. ❤️ ❤️‍🩹

#midnightnote3 #healing #trauma #healing journey #personal #abuse tw

[thewriterghost]

Tag Game: Find the Word

Thank you @autumnalwalker for tagging me!

I haven't spoke about my WIP's here on Tumblr before, mainly because they aren't fully developed yet and because I write in my native language. So this was both a challenge in translating my work and finding the words, both of which was fun!

My words were: look, rain, stand, drop, reach.

Passing the tag to @human-still-developing, @nicole0anne, @j-1173, and everyone else who wants to join! New words: age, wonder, pride, drown and morning.

Look & Rain: (this is also the prologue of my main WIP -- Luminits: The Children of Light)

As the young man made his way down the path, chirpings of the birds echoed in the cloudless sky. Grass was surrounding the path he walked. He looked up, eyes as blue as the sky above him. Despite the peaceful setting of his surrounding, the young man’s head was full of anxiety, and his heart was filled with sadness. A voice inside him whispered, reminded him to be prepared. He could feel it, this was only the calm before storm.

As confirming his concerns, the blue sky suddenly painted gray. After a thunder that would make the one hear it shake to the bones, rain started pouring down. It didn’t take long for his night-black hair to stick to his forehead. He looked up once again, calmly. He’s been living for long enough to know that panic wouldn’t help anything.

Lightning illuminated the sky for a moment. Then, a voice, like thunder itself, was heard out of nowhere.

“It’s over.” It spoke. “It’s over now. Days of the light are over. It’s time for darkness to rule now.”

He didn’t need to see the face belonging to the voice. He recognized it well enough. Still, his eyes scanned around but couldn’t spot anything. The sky roared once more, as if it was splitting in two. As he stared at the sky that flashed and dimmed non-stop, his eyes suddenly fell on the horizon. Something radiated from where the lush grass met the now gray sky.

Darkness. Darkness was rising from the horizon.

Stand: (Also from Luminits)

The painting… It was a painting of a man, standing between a green meadow and a blue sky. I realized I had taken a step towards the painting when Redwood also took a step to stand next to me.

“One of the most famous paintings decipting Hyperion, ‘The First Light’.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the painting. “Is this Hyperion?”

“According to a rumor. No one who claimed to have seen him is alive now, so there is no source we can confirm.”

That was him. The same deep blue eyes were looking at my soul from inside the painting. I was sure. He was standing in that same meadow, where I met him in my dreams. How could this be? How could I be meeting him in my dreams?

Drop: (I had to turn this one to slip. This is from a different WIP that doesn't really have a name yet.)

I stopped on the steps to look at the list hanging on the dormitory door. They had listed the rooms and their owners, and for me, who had already forgotten the room number, it was a treasure. I pulled my suitcase out of the way as far as I could and bent over to check the list. I was looking for my name when my suitcase, which I was still holding by the handle, suddenly slipped from my hand, making me jump back with shock. Even though I had pulled it out of the way, someone had still managed to hit it.

"Sorry, I wasn't looking."

When I turned to the voice, the face I encountered was no stranger. Nick Leitner. Son of the town president Thomas Leitner. It was hard not to recognize him, as he and his twin sister were the town’s well-beloved golden twins. And when I say golden, I don't mean it figuratively. They were given this name by the townsfolk because they both had blonde hair that resembled gold. Not very creative, in my opinion. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I realized that he was waiting for an answer. "No problem."

Reach: (Also from Luminits)

“This is great news, honey!”

“Yes, yes, I think so too.” I said, smiling, even though I knew she wouldn't see it. Barely an hour after I reached home, I got a phone call from my mother. It turns out that Redwood had indeed made the necessary calls.

“So, you have to move soon?”

“Yeah, they said it has to be within this week.” Sensing that she will start a speech about how I should immediately start packing my things, I quickly added. “But what about Jonathan?”

She sighed deeply.

“Honey, Jonathan has been saying for a while that he wants to move in with your father.” I wasn’t surprised. The fact that he was spending more time with my father recently, had brought this possibility to my mind.

“Well then. I guess there is no problem.”

"Yes. Oh honey, you have no idea how happy I am for you. The woman on the phone said the school was pretty prestigious.”

"It is." I didn't know who she was referring to as the woman, but whoever she spoke to wasn't lying about prestige. The school looked like a pretty important and popular place. At least among Luminits and elves.

#tag game #writing tag game #find the word tag #wip stuff #writing

[theadventurerslog]

King's Quest VI: Heir Today Gone Tomorrow | Part 1

The Adventurer’s Log

King’s Quest VI: Heir Today Gone Tomorrow Part 1

Release date: 1992 (1993)

Introduction

King's Quest VI puts us back in the shoes of Alexander. It's been a few months since Graham saved them from Mordack and Alexander is pining for Princess Cassima. He's heard no word of her and has found nothing to tell him where the Land of the Green Isles is.

Valanice tells him it's been months and he essentially should move on and think of other things to which he sort of reluctantly agrees and she leaves. But then the magic mirror activates! As it does.

And Cassima's voice can be heard calling for Alexander and then he gets a vision of her. She 'feels so alone and doesn't know what to do. Alexander...'

You know, the chest of infinite gold and the shield that were the other two treasures Graham got back in the first game never come up again, but this mirror is sure getting its use. It's been in every game in some capacity except for V.

I'm about to get cranky for a moment, and I don't want that to give the wrong impression because I am excited for this game and have already had a great time with my first session, but this is one of the reasons I was cranky about the ending of KQV. They were deliberately building to this game, so why did they make the meeting between Alexander and Cassima that rough with such a poor first impression of Alexander? I can suspend my disbelief for this game for love at first sight (as silly as it is), especially for this series where it's a very common thing, but from Cassima's point of view, especially with the trouble currently going on there as we'll learn about, what is there for her to think about in regards to Alexander now? Just argh.

Anyway, this is enough to get the smitten Alexander going and he gathers a crew and ship and sets sail to find the Land of the Green Isles.

After three months of sailing certain lands are spotted, but when they get close night falls and a storm starts raging. They're dashed upon the rocks and ship wreck...

Title screen! Look at the 3D text.

And the adventure begins as Alexander wakes up on the shores...

He got his men safely to lifeboats but wasn't able to make it himself. And we have text again! Voice and text thank goodness.

I poked around a bit and lifted the plank to find a broken chest underneath that contained one single Daventry copper coin. Alexander's insignia ring was also on the beach.

Then there was one tradition to fulfill. Out into the water you go, sir!

It actually warns you of the undertow when you first enter the water, so you have a chance to back off, but you know. Gotta do it once. He gets swept out to sea and...

Well, down he goes. Sorry Alexander.

Fancy death screen in this game!

And snarky narrator message. I really quite like the narrator in this game. Did I mention this game has actual voice actors now?

Once I was done drowning poor Alexander (what do you think of your choices now, Cassima?) I set off down the path to find a branching path.

I've got a town in one direction a castle in the other. I went for the town first.

We've got a pawn shoppe, a book shoppe and an old man selling old lamps for new. I talked to him and Alexander questions his business practice to which he explains that 'there's always a chance he'll find a genie and be richer than a king! And there's always a roaring business in antique illuminaries.'

Unfortunately, newly washed up and all, I have no new lamps for him, so there's nothing to be done at this point.

I went to the pawn shoppe next to a very familiar voice because the shop keeper is voiced by the same person who voices King Andre in The Curse of Monkey Island and it's a very recognizable voice. When I first heard it in the let's play I perked up like 'I know him!' It might be silly but I always get happy recognizing a voice actor. It's just fun.

Like this pawn shop is fun!

There are so many things to examine and so many good descriptions.

I love this hatchet spiel. It's just an axe lodged in the floor, but off he goes...

And then! Examining the shelves brings up all kinds of jokes relating to the past games such as:

And

And a 'golden bridle finder, for finding those nearly-invisible golden bridles', a box of 'cat-cookie mix. "Play tricks on your friends," the box says' and 'self-adhesive emeralds. "What you use when you don't have honey." and something I greatly needed: "stairs traction pads; "Stop slipping off those narrow staircases." And there were more! But I won't list every single one.

There were also potions and things like "a bottle labeled 'Owl Courage Potion," for spineless owls.' and 'a small box of "Enchanted Sorcerer's Flea and Tick Collars." Among other goodies.

The shop keeper was surprised to find Alexander didn't know where he was and explains he's landed on the Land of the Green Isles. We made it! And Alexander explains how he reached here, following the stars...

He sure is. With Princess Cassima! For the best reaction.

He has a little more information: Cassima is in a dark time, things aren't well between the islands and the ferry is no longer running. Otherwise there isn't much info to get from him but he does have items on the counter the copper Daventry coin can be used on. Get one item but able to exchange it for one of the others any time. There's a mechanical nightingale, a flute, a tinderbox and a paintbrush. None of which there is currently a known use for, but I snagged the flute for fun. There's also a bowl of free mints for customers and I grabbed one.

I moved onto the book shop next.

Books! And more information to be had! But first there was a little table with bargain books.

Of course I had to take it, especially being free and everything. What could it be?

Very very confusingly boring. When I later tried to give it back to the owner he was aghast--he was trying to get RID of it.

The cloaked man wouldn't talk but examining him notes that he seems to keep watching you. He may have refused to talk, but the fire will be friendly instead.

I tried talking to it. There's a number of things that give you some kind of response if you use the talk command. I'd tried it on the Daventry coin earlier too and being a coin of Daventry had King Graham's face on it, so the message was something like 'only if King Graham were here to ask for his advice.'

Anyway the little book on the table was about court entertainment. One shelf had some silly guide books and the next had a book of poetry that Alexander had to read. There were a few he seemed to appreciate but then one in particular 'hit close to home' and he was quite taken by it. The page falls out when putting the book back the shop owner lets you keep it because he's already had to repair it twice and doesn't want to do it.

The poem in question:

I wanted to record it because this narrator reads it with so much gravity. And this boy is truly lovesick.

The shopkeeper had some more information. He also notes the ferry no longer runs between the islands. There's been much political unrest and it's been too dangerous to travel. He also mentions at least three islands but there may be a fourth. And that the Land of the Green Isles is said to exist on the boundaries of this world and the next. He mentions a ferry man to talk to and that's all for now here. Time to find the ferryman.

Passing through the archway in town led to this house with many roses along its gates and walls. There was a lady outside tending the flowers.

Before I could talk to the lady another woman came out and berated her a bunch and she went back insider after her. Very Cinderella and evil step-mother situation there.

The screen after has the dilapidated ferry. And a boy swimming in the water who tells Alexander to come on down. He claims he can show Alexander the way to the other islands.

Surely there's nothing suspicious here and we've had no bad experiences with the water already. What could go wrong? Obviously I jumped in after.

Yeah, it goes about as well as expected. Alexander drowns.

Reload! The boy keeps nagging you to come in but if you wait just a little he'll disappear in time.

Nothing to worry about there I'm sure. Ferry time!

The ferryman is willing to talk and invites Alexander inside. We learn a little more about the seeming weirdness of this place, though he doesn't much believe some of the wilder stories. He speaks fondly of Cassima and her mother Queen Allaria and how he used to take them to the other islands to help people. The King and Queen served their people. Then things got bad between the islands and the vizier shut down travel. Even if he wanted to travel now the ferry isn't seaworthy anymore. However, there is word of a map that may help that the pawn shop owner may know something of... He also let me take his old rabbit's foot and with that I left.

I stopped in at the book shop again and this time the robed man was gone, but a newcomer was there.

He wouldn't talk at first until showing Alexander's insignia ring and he recognizes the name thanks to Cassima telling him of a Prince Alexander of Daventry. He's the clown to the royal court and had seen her briefly when she returned. Unfortunately, Cassima's parents, Queen Allaria and King Caliphim, died a few weeks before her return. They say it was due to heartbreak and he's afraid she's blaming herself. She's sequestered in mourning, an apparently outdated tradition that isn't required, but the vizier says she insisted out of respect. He doesn't trust the vizier and is only staying at the castle to keep an ear to the ground. He wishes he could get a message to Cassima, but the only way he knows to do so would be through her pet nightingale, Sing Sing, but he doesn't know where she is, so he can only wait. He'll try to come back here in the future so we can talk more.

We have information and a contact!

With that I carried on to the pawn shoppe where the robed man was also. He still wouldn't talk.

The shop keeper indeed has a magic map that will enable one to teleport to the other islands as long as the user is near the sea. He would normally want a magic item in return, but with business bad due to the islands being closed off to each other, he's willing to simply take something valuable instead. Alexander offers his insignia ring :(.

It's enough, but the shop keeper does offer to keep it for him for a few days, so that if he finds something else valuable he can get his ring back.

After the exchange the robed man darted forward and snatched a mint and ate it. Then he started wobbling and acting drunk, staggered out.

Leading me to a "Seconds later, in the castle..." and a scene elsewhere!

The Master here gets mad at him for eating mint and had told him to stop that. With some effort he gets the information out of this fellow, who's name is Shamir, that Prince Alexander of Daventry is here. He knows that's the man Cassima met at Mordack's castle, so he knows of that, hmm. And that Alexander found a magic "smap". He's not happy; he thought he'd taken care of the only mode of travel. He orders Shamir to 'go to the other islands and tell them...' and the scenes fades.

Trouble is afoot!

But for now I have a magic smap, er, map, as well as a castle to go check out, which will be my tasks next time!

--

Points: 22/231 Deaths: 2 Time: 1:15

#king's quest vi #heir today gone tomorrow #KQVI #king's quest #KQVI_Log #adventure games #sierra

[realityhelixcreates]

By Talos, This Can't be Happening pt 8: Shell Game

It's not like he did anything wrong.

@cardwrecks @captainbaddecisions @whocares-idont

?~?~?~?~?

Nobody ever got to tell him that sex and dancing didn't count as good exercise. Sure, he did more than that, but not quite as frequently. Still, his legs carried him to the city gates far enough ahead of the angry minotaur that the gate guards had time to call in reinforcements and get a few arrows off before engaging, so Swag just hid out behind them. The monster held its own even against three fully armed and ready guards, but once the robed reinforcements reached the gate, the battle became a foregone conclusion.

Blasts of fire and lightning, blades of ice, and flashy bolts of unidentified energy filled the air, all of it eventually overpowering the beast and bringing it down.

Swag located Helix amid the mages, embracing her as fervently as a concerned lover should...

...and slipped the pouch full of treasure into her hands.

“Go back to the T&T, and wait for me there.” he murmured.

Helix recognized the serious tone in his voice, and left without argument.

Good timing too, as the guards hauled him aside for questioning.

“You damn fool!” one snapped. “You led it right to the city! What were you thinking?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Swag snapped back. “Just stand there and let it gore me? Of course I ran, what else could I do? It had already killed one of you guys!”

“What? Who?”

“Man, I don't know his name! He was one of the prison guards.” He showed them the mushrooms. “See? I was out getting these things for my...my...”

Oh god, Helix had actually called him her husband, right in front of a lot of people. They all thought...

“My...”

It was just a story. Just acting. Just say it you coward!

“My wife, she needed mushrooms. For magic stuff. And he was out there, I don't know why. Not my business. But this monster came outta the trees and dropped him. Of course I ran!”

“Did you see-”

“Sir!” Another guard rushed up the stairs to the gate. “Sir! There's been a murder! I just found Arnora Auria dead in her home!”

“Stendarr's mercy! Post someone at the door, don't let anyone in. You!” he pointed at Swag. “Take us to the body.”

“I can't find Tyrellius!” Another guard said.

“I have a sneaking suspicion we'll find him soon. Damnit! Two in one day? C'mon traveler, lead the way.”

Swag lead them out, skirting wide around the minotaur's corpse, and down the trail where the murderous guard still lay.

“That's your guy, right?”

“That's him.” the guard said grimly, kneeling next to the body. “Damnit Tyrellius, what were you even doing out here? Traveler, tell me exactly what you saw.”

“Uh, well, I was out getting the mushrooms, you know? The, uh, the missus really likes her plants, right?”

“Yes, she was wearing them off her shoulders when you two came in.”

“Yeah, well, I heard a scuffle, and I saw this guy fighting that big monster. It got him real bad, and then it turned around and saw me, and I just ran like hell. Not much I could do if one of you guys couldn't take it on.”

“Weren't you in jail last night?” Another guard asked.

“Yeah. Unfortunate misunderstanding at the Tap and Tack, don't worry, won't be happening again.”

“They put you in with Jorundr, didn't they? Is that why you went to Arnora afterward?”

“You were with Arnora?” the first guard demanded. “When was this?”

“Ah, well.” Shit, he really had been seen. Well how was he supposed to know she was gonna die? “This morning, actually. Damn shame really. She seemed really nice.”

Seemed.

“She saw me come out of the jailhouse and paid me to deliver a message to that guy. Said she would forgive him everything if he would just come clean about the money. Dunno what she meant, I just assumed it was between them. But I did it. Honest pay for honest work, right?”

The guard groaned.

“That damn money! Jorunder turned out to be a highwayman. He raided an imperial shipment and killed one of the escort. Poor Arnora never even knew until we came to take him away.”

Doubt.

“Tyrellius had been trying to get the location of those stolen goods out of him for days.”

“Sir! There's an imperial strongbox over here!”

“Really? Jorundr must have cracked then!”

“It's empty though!”

The first guard-their leader?-gave him a sideways glance.

“Okay, that's a few too many coincidences. Turn out your pockets and purses, traveler.”

He did, the perfect picture of cooperation. Of course, they found nothing but fresh mushrooms, the hygiene kit, and a scant handful of coins-ostensibly paid for the delivery of a message. It all checked out.

“Then where did it go?”

“Do you think Jorundr lied? That this might be a plant, and he hid it somewhere else?”

“He was so angry with Arnora. And he liked taunting Tyrellius. What if he sent him out here on a wild goose chase?”

Swag stepped back, silent, to let them lead themselves to their own conclusions.

“Uh, sir? This...doesn't look good.”

They had located Arnora's amulet, hastily stuffed into the dead guard's money pouch.

“Why does he have that? No, why does he have that? She was never without it! No, no, no, Tyrellius, you couldn't have...”

He turned to glare at Swag.

“Go back into town. Don't tell anyone what you saw here, and don't leave town until our investigation is over. We will hunt you down if you try to leave.”

Swag held his hands up.

“Whatever you say man. I'll be at the T&T if you need me.”

He booked it back, to find that Helix had already paid for a room and was organizing their precarious windfall. Little stacks of small gold coins, a handful of lumpy silver nuggets, a large pearl, a gold ring, and three faceted green gems he was sorely tempted to keep.

Well, he probably couldn't sell them in town. Not now that the guards had him in their sights.

“Dare I ask where you came by all this?” she asked as he locked the door behind him.

“Reclaimed loot. It's okay to steal from a thief, right?”

Helix shrugged.

“I'd say so.”

“Keep it on the down low though. City guard might come looking for it. One of their guys got caught up in the greed.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Ugh, cops.”

“Right? Anyway, we gotta stay put, cause I mighta kinda witnessed a murder.”

“You what???”

“Saw a dude get totaled by a friggin minotaur. Did you know there were minotaurs?”

“No, holy shit. You're okay?”

“Ran like the Flash. I ain't getting caught up in that. Oh, I got you these.”

He handed over the mushrooms.

“Oh, funnel caps. I can use these. You didn't touch them with your bare hands did you?”

“Uh...no?”

He eyed her conspicuously bare hands, holding the mushrooms.

“Some of them are very poisonous. Not these, thankfully, but if you are going to go foraging, you should know.”

“Sure thing.”

Right. He should know better than to go grabbing strange plants. He lived in Gotham, for fucks sake. He should know better than to grab strange anything. But this wasn't Gotham. This world didn't work the same way. There were minotaurs, for one thing. The only beastman he knew of was Waylon, and it had been a loooooooong time since he'd swum back into town.

Hopefully, he'd gone right back to the bayou and was living his best life, chowing down on Cajun food.

And maybe the occasional Cajun.

They divided the money up into uneven numbers between them, hiding bits of it away in boots, pouches, pockets. Helix slipped the ring onto her left hand. His eyes kept sliding back to it. It really was the perfect place to hide it.

?~?~?~?~?

#swag!riddler #helix #the elder scrolls #crossover fic