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#Surely that squid is not dangerous at all
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Day 2, Squid and Carnivorous
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LOOK AT THIS PRETTY MAN HE SO PRETTY AHHH
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First chapter of my mermay fanfic and some doodles. Warning, this newest chapter has blood
How flamboyant cuttlefish reader is put together and drawn is inspired by @zus-a-fungi's cuttlefish eclipse!!
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llamagoddessofficial · 7 months
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”See the cecaelia handbook for further information.” dude, now I gotta know what the cecaelia handbook says. I’m so curious
Why of course!
Welcome to the cecaelia handbook. This section is dedicated to the rare - but possible - event that a cecaelia has selected you as its mate. Please read the following points carefully.
'Cecaelia' is the colloquial term for any siren whose lower half appears to be that of a cephalopod. This can include aspects of squid, octopus, cuttlefish, etc. They can be uniquely dangerous, thanks to their dexterity and ability to temporarily traverse land.
First, confirm that the cecaelia has indeed fixated on you, and its intentions are romantic. Do they gift you small trinkets? Do they offer you food? Do they change colours for you? These are all signs of intent.
Do not reject a cecaelia.
It's important to understand why. In a cecaelia's highly dangerous native habitats, the connection with/protection of a larger partner is sometimes essential to staying alive. In the wild, the ability to prevent a mate from leaving is often considered proof of strength and suitability as a partner. Your cecaelia will view themselves as the larger, 'protector' partner, and will not only see any attempt to leave them as incredibly dangerous and foolish, but as a perfect chance to prove their worth as a mate. They will do everything in their power to 'save' you.
Cecaelia have kidnapped humans over this issue. Here are some better ways to deal with it. If you're not interested- never give it a straight answer. Accept trinket gifts, but do not accept food gifts. If it ever asks about your feelings, insist you're still thinking. In the wild, cecaelia can live for hundreds of years, so it isn't uncommon for wooing to take decades. They are patient. If you are interested- please be certain that you want this forever. There is no going back. Accept trinkets, and eat (safe) foods offered. If you'd like, offer them something in return; some good gifts are coins, simple jewellery, snacks, anything you personally find interesting that can fit in your palm. Additionally, if you don't want to be drowned, be sure to let them know you want the relationship to remain on land. This won't be an issue at all, cecaelia are very open to this.
Cecaelia are incredibly territorial. Both of their dens, and of people they attach to. Try to let others in the area know if the cecaelia has settled nearby.
Unlike other sirens, cecaelia do not typically form social bonds. Do not bring any friends to meet them, and do not mention your friends to them. Family are fine- but any person not directly related you will be considered as a potential threat.
The safest cecaelia are cuttlefish. They are highly social, and frequently engage with humans. The most dangerous are any deep sea variety.
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naffeclipse · 8 months
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What if y/n was a siren as well and just ended up in Orca!Eclipses area somehow/accidentally
Oh ho!
A siren reader would be a pretty thing with the tail of a beluga whale and a natural affinity for the Arctic sea. You don't expect to encounter anything in particular but you soon become aware of another in the dark blue waters. Then, he's upon you.
Sirens aren't necessarily dangerous to each other, but there is a certain wariness they each hold. You aren't sure what to make of this strong and large orca siren. He's got hungry eyes. You're very careful, respectful, and mean to move along, but he insists you stay in these waters a while long. He'll hunt a meal for you. You aren't used to such an offer, especially one implying the desire to court, but you're curious, and tempted.
But courtship is a dangerous game to play.
You tell him you'd like to see what he has to offer. He's all sharp teeth and promises to return very quickly, so stay right there. Don't move. He'll come back with his offering.
The moment he disappears to hunt, you jet off in the opposite direction. It's for the best. You're not sure how this courtship would have played out, and it's better to keep to yourself so that you can stay free—
But he finds you, a squid in his jaws and hands pulling on your waist, his tail pressing against yours. He spits out the half-dead squirming creature to ask why you didn't heed his words. You stumble through excuses and explanations, but he doesn't give you a chance to defend yourself before he shoves the food in your hands. He says you can enjoy it with him somewhere less open, somewhere you're less likely to get lost again.
And you realize that the courtship has already begun.
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honey-minded-hivemind · 4 months
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🐋Siren AU, Scene One:
(Warning: mentions of cannibalism, Reader being chased from their old home, possible child murder, and Reader wanting to bite everything that tries to touch them. You have been advised)
• The ocean before you spreads beyond you, vast and impending. There is no coral, no colorful fish, no seaweed. It is an unending abyss of blue, fading darker and darker the farther it is from the sunlit water above... But, you have nowhere else to go...
• You used to have a different home, a different life. Born to a school of reef mers, all colorful and elegant, you were different from birth. You were black and white, not a speck of any other color to your tail... And your tail, it wasn't built like the others', full of trailing fins and frills, but bulkier, thicker. While the other guppies made fun of you, you took care of yourself. After all, you were stronger than them. If one bit you, you whapped your tail against their head. If they scratched you, you pinned them to the sandy floor until they begged to be let up. After awhile, you were just left alone, ignored and abandoned in favor of more similar playmates...
• You hated when you found out what you were... It had been a regular day, learning what you could from an elder, playing by yourself, and keeping away from the gossipy guppies, until a hunter had burst into the coral reef. The moment they saw you, they had screeched, "I finally know what they are! A siren!" Murmurs went up, followed by an elder asking for proof... "Proof! Here is your 'proof '" they had spat and they tossed a fin, just like the one along your back, into the group. "I tore that from a siren north of our territory! It was large, a behemoth! In the same colors of that one, bone white and ink black! It wasn't just any siren, but an orca!"
• THAT set the entire school into an uproar. Shrieks and cries burbled into the water as the nearest adults lunged at you, claws aiming for your fins and eyes. You managed to duck by, swimming as fast as you could around the panicking mer. The reef flashed past you as you swam, bits of rock and coral scraping against you as you dodged reaching claws and sharp harpoons. Until finally, you slipped out into the open waters, slapped out by the tail of one of the hunters, who tried to follow you. It only took that for you to turn tail and flee, striking out into the uncharted waters...
• And here you were now, alone, bleeding, and with no skills or school to help you survive. The one thing you had that was yours was your pearl earring, long and dangling, that you had found by yourself when you were only twelve winters old... You weren't sure how it wasn't torn off in the chase, but it brought you a small comfort to keep it. With a bubble-filled sigh, you kept swimming...
• The sea stretched on, never stopping or ending. No signs of any other life were to be found, save for small squid that came up at night, fleeting and swift. It was... unnerving. It had only been a week since you left, and your wounds had started to heal. You found out, only a few hours after leaving the reef, that a harpoon had nicked your tail, leaving a jagged, painful scratch along its side. That complicated swimming, but you couldn't stop. If you stopped, it was likely something would try to eat you while you rested. You couldn't risk a shark, or dolphins, or another siren finding you. If mer would kick out one of their own, someone they had raised, all because they were a siren... Would an actual siren do worse?
• Your reprieve from these thoughts was finding a small, rocky outcrop pointing out of the endless blue. The waters here were colder, foggy and sometimes filled with chunks of white. It wasn't ideal to stop here, but you needed rest, and this was the only opportunity you had had since your escape... Still... You approach the rock carefully, and once found clear of danger, you curl into a small crack, just big enough to fit you.
• Your dreams are fitful, full of sharp claws and deadly spears and familiar voices leering at you, pouncing in for the kill-!
•With a sharp, fearful click, you wake up. Your fingers rub over your arms, as your tail curls up, trying to squeeze yourself into a smaller ball. You feel the small gills of your neck flit, until you are able to calm down from the nightmare... But just as you settle back down... You hear an eerie sound, something that reverberates through the water around you...
• Tensing up, you stay quiet, staring out into the darkness beyond the crack. The moonlight filters through the water, painting everything in alien blacks and silvers, until the noise dies out... Everything is quiet, save for the small rush of a current nearby. The world seems still, unmoving... until something shifts into the light, something large and dark, and you shrink further into the crack. It's the largest thing you've ever seen...
• Another eerie sound rings out, something between a hum and a wail, loud and fervent. You clap your hands over your ears, trying to muffle the noise. Whatever is out there moves again, until you can't see it anymore... With a small shudder, you turn your head away from the crack entrance, and drift back into slumber.
• In the morning, when you wake up, you cautiously approach the crack entrance, sensing the water near it for any vibrations. Luckily, none are there... When you gather your nerves, you slip out, careful not to aggravate the scars on your tail. There are more white chunks in the water, and there are small bits of light turning the water a jewel green. Nothing seems off... No mers, no fish...
• "So, that's where you were hiding."
• A shriek escapes you as you turn around, only to find something larger than you and the rock outcrop...
• It's large, with scars banding it's arm and chest, with old wounds lining its tail. Their teeth are sharp, and their eyes are reddish-brown, like drying blood. Talons as sharp as hooks are at the end of each of its fingers, long and deadly... And their tail... It's... It's... the same as, yours...?
• "What, never seen another siren before, kid?" it asks, in a growl-like voice. In a sharp arc, you dive back into the crack you came out of. A curse echoes around you, as the being shifts around the rock so they can gaze into the small crevice. "Kid, kid, calm down. It's just a joke."
• "..."
• "You've... never seen another siren, have you?" It- he, it sounds like a he- peers at the entrance. One of their claws scrapes at it, but it won't entirely go in. "You can come out, kid, I'm not gonna eat you," he tries. You push yourself as far back as you can go, even when you feel the rough walls scrape your harpoon wound open. A hiss escapes you, following a small stream of blood. Another sound comes from the much (much much) larger siren, like a low growl. "Are you bleeding, kid?"
• You don't answer, only squeezing yourself in further. You're uncomfortable, pressed this far back, but it's the farthest you can get from what is essentially an adult who is bigger and obviously more dangerous than the mers you knew. A billowing sigh escapes the larger creature, the water rippling around it. "Kid... if you're bleeding, it needs to be looked at. Can you please come out?"
• "... No..." You shiver, trying to will yourself to be strong. If push comes to shove, you can't go down without a fight. What are you, afraid? You survived a murder attempt! SEVERAL, murder attempts! You can face some oversized whale, right?!
• "Kid, I can't take 'no' for an answer. Now, please come out. Don't make this difficult." The creature sounds tired now, maybe a little irritated. You let out a warbling click, the most threatening one you can muster. The creature stills, and seems to back off...
• Then... something weird happens. A loud, mournful wail-click, filled with a desperate, assertive tone rocks the waters, sending a cool ripple into you... But... the song sounds nice... Soothing... You shake your head, ripping yourself free from it.
• "No! I'm not going out there! You might eat me! Or WORSE!" you yell, covering your ears. The siren outside let's out an annoyed noise, only for it to pause...
• "Why the h*ll would I eat ya, kid? And what do you mean, 'do worse'?" Then there's a loud, deafening growl, and he speaks again. "The mers... they did that to you, didn't they?" When you don't speak up, he takes that as an answer. "Of course those sons of eels would do that... Kid, look, I'm not like them. We are not like them. We don't do that. We don't scare off kids, we don't try to kill 'em, and we definitely aren't about to make you bleed. Now, I'm going to say this one more time: Please come out."
• You shiver as the water only seems to get colder the longer you stay still... But still... "I... I can't...." You can't go back out there just to be chased off again, or have to battle against a siren whose older and stronger than you, who could easily rip you apart and leave you for the sharks...
• "I'm sorry, kid. That gives me no choice..." The calm wail-click starts again, and even though you try to cover your ears, it does nothing to block it out or to stop the vibrations rocking you gently. Tears enter your eyes, and you try to beg him to stop... But the song seems to echo inside your own head, a peaceful noise offering only relief and warmth... A small whimper escapes you, only for the song to get louder, softer, until you're lying down on the rocky floor and drifting off... The song keeps going, deep and affectionate, until you feel relaxed and tired... A slow rumble halts the song, and you let out a small warble, asking for it to come back...
• " 'Kay, kid, let's see ya." Something clicks besides you, dragging you out of the dark rock and into a warm palm. You sigh contentedly, the heat from it like the warmth of a thermal vent, constant and inviting... Something turns you, until you're staring into dark, vibrant eyes. You blink sluggishly, reaching out a hand to touch it...
• "Oh cr*p, kid... they did a number on you, didn't they?" A sad noise escapes you, and the voice stops. "Don't worry, we'll fix you up... Wait..." A nudge rolls you onto your stomach. "Kid... you look... just like me..." A croon comes from above you, and you feel more warmth pressed into you. "Okay, kid... Looks like I might just have to keep ya, huh? You sure are quite the little survivor, aren't you?" When you nod sleepily, the grip shifts, until your tucked against a warm wall... "'Kay, I can't say no to that... Let's get ya back to the pod, okay, kid? I know the other pups will be happy to see you..."
• You yawn, hearing a deep chuckle. "Seems like you need a nap... Night, kid. Get some rest. I'll keep you safe..." And with the gentle heat keeping you content and sleepy, you fall asleep... "Let's just hope Creed doesn't get word of you..."
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bridenore · 16 days
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HD eight year fic recs : less than 10k words
Here are a few drarry eight year fic recs that are less than 10k words. Posted in alphabetical order, as always.
All I Have to Do by @fluxweeed [9k]
The Patented Daydream Charm (Adult Edition) allows you to enter a top-quality, highly realistic thirty-minute sexual fantasy. Solitude and privacy spells advised. or: Draco finally has some alone time; Harry just needs to nip in for a book.
All We Want Is Danger by @cassiaratheslytherpuff [9k]
Something weird was happening to Draco. It wasn’t something Harry was used to being concerned about. He’d spent most of sixth year sure that Draco was up to something, yes, but this was different. This was – something was off. Wrong. Harry had never in his life been scared of Draco. And yet, something about him had changed enough to make the hair rise on the back of Harry’s neck every time he entered a room. The feeling was only made stranger by the rush of arousal that usually came along with it.
Alpha by @lqtraintracks [2k]
Finding out I’m Malfoy’s Alpha and he’s my Omega might have gone a lot differently had we not still hated each other. But we do, so here’s how it goes
Aurora by @wolfpants [5k]
Eighth Year at a half-built Hogwarts, and Harry is not following Draco Malfoy anymore. At least, that's what he's telling himself.
Awake in the Night by venis_envy [2k]
H/D Post war, eighth year Hogwarts.
Back to You by aibidil & daisymondays [8k]
The eighth years make Harry and Malfoy go head to head and back to back in a question-and-answer drinking game. The worst that can happen is they end up drunk, right?
Bare Feet, Giant Squid, and One Perfect Moment by bryoneybrynn [4k]
Gryffindor may be the House of the brave but Harry’s feeling a bit nervous. It’s one thing to face a dragon or a Dark Lord. It’s quite another to make a move on the bloke who’s been your nemesis for the last eight years…
Brandishing The Wand by @ladderofyears [2k]
When four Eighth Year boys overhear Draco and Harry having sex in the dormitory bathroom, each jumps to a very erroneous conclusion.
Checking out the Opposition by birdsofshore [6k]
Harry and Draco seem quite wound up after their latest game of Quidditch.
The Comfiest Armchair by @xanthippe74 [2k]
In which Harry and Draco won’t stop fighting over the best armchair in the Eighth-Year common room, Hermione takes matters into her own hands, and Harry sees a (ahem) side of Draco that he’s never seen before.
Empty Nights by  winterstorrm [4k]
Draco and Harry have had this ‘thing’ for months now. It’s ‘just sex’ though, right?
Erase the Shame by FleetofShippyShips [6k]
An Inter-House unity party is the last thing Draco wants to go to. It's not long into a game of Truth or Dare when he is reminded why. But maybe his dare is worth it after all.
Flutter by @shiftylinguini [4k]
Being back at Hogwarts is not what Harry expected, and neither is what’s going on between himself and Malfoy, but it feels good, and that? Well, that’s what Harry’s chasing this year. Amid the rebuilding of the school and the budding relationships of the other students at Hogwarts in spring, Harry finds that the flutter of change and the new feelings it brings are exactly what he wants ― and more.
Games Night by @agentmoppet [6k]
Harry has no idea why Hermione decided that an inter-house Games Night would be a good idea, but he’s here now, and he intends to beat Malfoy, no matter what game he chooses. But, who would have thought muggle games could be full of so much... tension?
A Ghost of Blissful Feelings by @alpha-exodus [6k]
Harry hadn’t expected to spend his eighth year fucking Draco Malfoy, but it’s the only thing that helps him let go.
A Good Place to Start by JET_Playin [2k]
Harry is finding 8th year rather dull until he goes to visit Hagrid and ends up helping him deliver Draco Malfoy’s baby. Now he has to protect Malfoy and keep his secrets and he might just be falling a little in love with both Malfoys just to complicate matters.
Good to Me (And I’d Be So Good to You) by AWickedMemory [8k]
Everyone returns to Hogwarts after the war, but nothing is quite the same. Harry’s groupies are creepier than ever, Ron and Hermione are snogging all over the place, and the once-proud Draco is shuffling around like a kicked puppy. But that’s okay: Harry’s got a plan.
Grow by @shiftylinguini [3k]
There’s an abandoned greenhouse, right at the back of the lot. There are unruly trees, and snagged brambles, and the grass is long and lush. It feels like the Forest, but tamer somehow, and Draco likes it. It feels like the spot where the castle meets the wild, or where the wild is trying to creep back in. There’s something mildly thrilling about it at night, the potential for danger, for something to look back at Draco as he stares into the dark, lush woods. Draco’s always loved that feeling.   This is where they meet.
Jump Into the Fog by taradiane [9k]           
Draco returns to Hogwarts for his eighth year carrying a secret that will change not just his life, but Harry’s as well.
Of the Heart's Fullness and Of the Coming Emptiness by tout a coup [9k]
Harry Potter is nineteen, and he's already peaked.
An Old Habit by fireflavored [8k]
The boys have changed a lot over the summer after the war, but Harry hasn’t got over the urge to spy on Malfoy. 
A Pain of Our Choosing by @lqtraintracks [5k]
It’s 8th year and everyone’s still a bit messed up. Harry and Draco fall into being messed up together.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kneazles by curiouslyfic [1k]
Harry sort of comes back to the world to the sound of sniffling, which strikes him as odd.
Room for Improvement by acromantular [2k]
Malfoy’s family-rehabilitation project is going so well. But is Potter worth risking all his hard work?
Sexplanations (Of the Horrible Sort) by @bixgirl1 [7k]
Harry’s willing to put up with a certain amount of injury, as long as he and Malfoy can keep doing… whatever it is they’re doing. Maybe. Mostly. Especially if there might be more to it than sex. Based on a tumblr headcanon.
Snug by @moonflower-rose [6k]
Potter can’t keep his hands off himself. Draco can’t look away.
Sores by mijeli [3k]
It’s been going on for weeks. They don’t talk about it.
Speechless by mayberry_rose [6k]
In which Draco can’t speak, and Harry learns to listen.
Starting Positions by @bixgirl1 [8k]
Later, Harry would wonder if Malfoy regretted that first, surprised mutter after three days of hard-pointed silence. Later, Harry would wonder about his own lack of regret over looking up when he heard Malfoy’s voice. But that would come after everything had already happened, the way events always seemed to, when even a Time-Turner couldn’t change things. The shape of a path, as Harry knew very well by then, once walked, was a lot like a paper crane — unfolded and pressed flat, you could try to fashion it into something different, but the original creases would always remain.
Storm in a Teacup by @faith2wood [7k]
For reasons he’d rather not think about, Draco is obsessed with Potter’s hair. This cannot end well.
swallow your words by icarusinflight [9k]
The truth is, not many things are known about the magic that is behind soulmarks. They’ll turn up when they want and not before. The truth is, you don’t get a choice in your soulmark. The truth is, not everyone is okay with that.
This Heart Shut Wide by @xanthippe74 [4k]
It’s New Year’s Eve and Draco refuses to talk to anyone at this wretched party in the Eighth-Year common room. He’s going to ignore Harry Potter and not think about snogging him in the staircase earlier. And he’s definitely not going to let himself fuck up both their lives by continuing the reckless game they’re playing. As usual, nothing goes according to Draco’s plan.
Trouble with your tie, Potter? by @tenthousandyearsx​ [6k]
The last thing Harry expects when Slughorn partners him up with Zabini is Malfoy shooting them furious looks throughout the whole class and then unceremoniously snogging Harry in the corridor.
the Veela codec by curiouslyfic [3k]
Potter wants obvious. Draco wants Potter. Clearly, some sort of plan will be required.
What Potter Wants by birdsofshore [3k]
Harry definitely didn’t want to do that to Malfoy. Not at all. So why did Malfoy keep saying that he did?
I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!
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wasyago · 10 months
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YAGO!!!! GAHFRHRHAHARHAHRHRF IM BACK (Design Detail Anon back << i dont know what to call myself LOL) I HAVE MORE WORDS
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON BIOLUMINESCENT TRITONS?!!!?! Obviously Gillion's eyes and coral already glow cause of his funky scrungly squelchy magic BUT what if... he had little glowing freckles... scales? im not fully sure how fish people work.
Your designs for Gillion and Edyn already do an amazing job of separating their underwater biology from humans like Chip and Jay (thinking of the glossy skin, the tails, and the yellow sclera/slitted eyes)- like it's very easy to tell by looking at them that while they are People they are very much FISH People. Which of course sounds pretty obvious but I mention it because a lot of triton art I see usually just looks like a blue person with gills and fins, if that makes sense.
But to expand on my original question- both Gill and Edyn are from the trench, and, in my logic, adjacent at the very least, to other deep sea creatures like anglar fish and some squids. They already have darkvision but the image of them having little hidden patterns when they get super deep in the ocean is... so cute...
im realizing after Ive written all of this that it kinda stopped being a question and started being a ramble so I do apologize :']
(on another note I love your caspian redesign it does a really sweet job of incorporating literal elements of water into his features *smooches him* **respectfully***)
OMG!!!! i love all your thoughts this is so cool thank you for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and thank you!! i tried very hard to make caspian look like a water spirit and not an ocean creature and still make him interesting visually...)
you know, now that you've said that the trench is deep under water im realizing that it's something i didn't actually think about. like, i remember hearing Gill say that he's from the trench, but it never actually registered in my brain that trench = deep and dark. everything makes so much sense now oh my god.... finn saying "why did they keep this from us" about the sun, because the sun simply doesn't reach to where they live...
i dont know why i imagined the capital as this bright white sunny coral reef when it should be dark and mysterious and harsh with no sunlight. bruh. it makes so much seeeense. and all the talk about strict rules for safety and foodchain and danger, because they're literally so deep there's a lot of giant spooky creatures.... hold on im having a worldview change.... oh god....
considering all this... YES bioluminescent tritons!!!!!!!!!!!! i imagine they don't glow too much, since while tritons are pretty smart they don't have a lot of natural protection from predators and attracting attention would be suboptimal. but they do have glowing parts for um... reasons. idk, they're magical creatures in a magical world.
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i imagine their stripes and eyes and hair and underbellies all emit a glow in low lighting, and in complete darkness only the stripes are visible. and every triton has a unique stripe pattern or color so they're all different like that.
idk how it actually works. like, if they glow in any darkness or only in the darkness under water (although it wouldn't make a difference since they're always wet) or only when they're very deep or if they can choose when to glow or when to not, but its still a very cool detail!!!!!!!!!!! glowy fishy people yayyy
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marlynnofmany · 11 months
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A Worthy Sacrifice
Going on a food run for this spaceship usually didn’t end up in a debate over whose body parts are more expendable. Never, as a matter of fact. Today was the first. And it could have easily been our last.
The trip had such a peaceful start, too. Along with the usual supplies that we paid real money for, Captain Sunlight sent a handful of us to pick up a local delicacy: some plant. I honestly missed the name. I was more interested in the location — inside a vast cave complex with shafts of light filtering in from above, and multiple lakes of poison to make the perfect growing environment. Or maybe they were acid lakes. At any rate, extremely dangerous, and completely at odds with the lovely sun-dappled scenery and brightly colored plantlife.
I stood with some trepidation at the edge of the cave maze, holding an empty bag and wondering if there was maybe an entrance somewhere big enough for a hoverbike. Beside me, the hulking forms of the Frillian twins were similarly hesitant. You can’t punch an acid lake, after all, or lift weights at it.
Down closer to ground level, Mur just looked annoyed. “It’s fine,” he said, flipping a blue-black tentacle forward. “The locals pick these plants daily.” His own bag was on a dinky little hoversled that followed him like a flying puppy, leash and all. The sled also held a couple pairs of pruning shears in case the stems gave us trouble. Mur could have ridden on the sled himself, pushing off the ground like a squid-shaped kid on a snow disk, but that would have been undignified. Strongarms are proud of that tentacle-walking, after all.
And apparently they’re not phased by giant lakes of acid.
“If you say so,” I told him. “Lead the way.”
He did, grumbling. I followed, taking care not to trip over the sled, while Blip and Blop stood tall and brought up the rear.
The entrance tunnel was small, alongside many others, and a few turned out to lead to the same big cavern. My first impression was warmth. I regretted wearing a sweater, thin and utilitarian though it was. I took it off as we walked, tying it around my waist, glad that I at least had my hair tied back in its usual long braid. I didn’t need any extra sweat about my neck today.
Once the sweater was secure, I was free to appreciate the scenery. It really was pretty. The walls were a wash of reds and golds, with multiple types of greenery sprouting from every level surface and a few that weren’t. The lake far below was an evil purple, fading to the innocent blue of tropical seas at the edges. A solid fence lined the cliff edge, which I appreciated.
The wall behind us was awash in climbing vines with dangling blueberry-looking things that sure would be convenient if they were the plants we were here for.
No such luck. Those were on the far side. Lots of them. A vast jungle of treelike things, most of which were bent under the weight of head-sized yellow fruit. As I watched, one particularly spindly trunk lost its biggest fruit to gravity, and sprung upwards to fling the smaller ones away in a comical fashion. I could almost hear the splats against the cave wall.
“Well, they sure look ripe,” I said.
Mur wasn’t interested. “Where’s the— Oh, there it is. We took the wrong door. C’mon.” He slapped away along the path beside that fence, over to where a single large hover platform waited like a ferry.
We were just getting on, with me trying to hide my misgivings and the Frillians doing the same, when a chorus of more slapping tentacle-steps approached at speed.
“Wait!” commanded the large reddish Strongarm in the lead, who was colored much like the cavern walls. She was also shaped more like an octopus than a squid, as was the green one behind her. The beige-gray one had a pointy squid head like Mur.
Mur waited. He’d already figured out the controls for the platform, and he stood there in silence while I clutched the railing with the Frillians, and the newcomers climbed on.
With nods all around, Mur pressed a button to close the gate. Then he removed the lid of the fancy pottery jar big enough for a child to hide inside — I’d assumed somebody had left it behind — and he scooped out a bunch of those blueberry things. As I watched in curiosity, he opened a different lid, this one over a part of the control console that stuck out, baring a dark tunnel like an ominous toilet bowl.
He threw the berries in. The platform’s engine started.
Mur steered us out over the deadly lake, engines humming happily, throwing clusters of berries in every so often. I exchanged looks with the Frillians. The other Strongarms didn’t look impressed.
“Are those fuel berries?” I asked.
“Only for this engine,” Mur said, tapping a sign. “It takes anything organic. Nice of the locals to make sure there’s always a full pot here. There is a note here to refill what we use if possible, and I think we definitely should, but I’m sure that not everyone does.”
The red Strongarm made a flapping noise that I recognized as the equivalent of a snort. Yeah, she probably wouldn’t stick around to do her part.
(And remember that bit about “anything organic”? If you recall how I started this little anecdote, this is where you’ll start to get concerned.)
There was only a moderate level of worry in the air at that point, though. We hadn’t fallen in yet and the rails seemed sturdy, if sparse, and the jungle was approaching at a reasonable pace. The slight breeze even made the temperature pleasant.
When Mur docked the platform headfirst and opened a gate on the other side, I was the first one off among the trees. Picking the yellow fruits turned out to be a great time, especially the way they kept accidentally flying through the air. They were about as heavy as cantaloupes, but with such rubbery outsides that it was like they were made for high-impact comedy. I did my best to pick each tree thoroughly, hanging onto the bent trunk with one hand before letting go. I’d started by taking a single fruit from each tree, but that had not worked.
Blip and Blop had the most efficient strategy: one held a bag and the other shook a tree like they were taking its lunch money. Mur just climbed the lowest trunks and plucked everything he found. One way or another, we filled our bags quickly and met back at the platform.
The strangers were a little slower, but again, we waited politely. Soon enough, we were on the way across the lake that lurked distantly below like malevolent grape jam.
I was just thinking that it had been a while since I’d had a proper PB&J when the trouble happened.
The Strongarms, standing on one side of the platform with their sacks of fruit, produced blasters and demanded ours.
(Yes, Strongarms keep things hidden among their tentacles. Yes, it’s just as gross as it sounds.)
Anyway, they must have taken our politeness and healthy fear of death for the signs of a bunch of pushovers, and wow they were wrong about that.
Blip and Blop swung their sacks of fruit in unison while I dove to one side and Mur took the other. You’d think we did this sort of thing all the time. In reality, there were only so many directions to go in a fenced-in battleground like this.
The would-be bandits were too busy dodging the sacks to aim their blasters properly, though they tried. One shot Blip’s bag of fruit, making her even more angry as yellow globes bounced everywhere. One nearly singed my ear, but didn’t get a second shot when I roundhouse kicked him in the squiddy head.
The other one, the leader, was wrestling Mur, and her shot went right through the center of the berry pot, shattering it and sending the platform’s fuel in every direction.
I mentioned that the railings weren’t exactly close together. And that these looked like blueberries: the little round things. My point is, they rolled. With great talent and speed. Right off the sides and down into that terrifying lake, leaving only a few behind.
“Look what you did!” Mur yelled, wrestling harder.
Blop made an undignified squeak of concern, then tried to find an angle he could help from. He ended up stepping firmly on a red tentacle and pinning the blaster to the floor.
His sister, meanwhile, was slamming an alien cantaloupe against the green guy, whose own weapon was stuck inside a different fruit, making its leisurely way down towards the lake.
The gray dude was out cold, which was a surprise to me. I guess Strongarms are easy to concuss, I thought as I made sure his blaster was safe on our side of the platform. I’d considered throwing it over the side as well, but figured we might want it to keep them in line once they woke up. I sure wasn’t planning on giving it back, though.
Crunch went the third blaster, Ow went the Strongarm holding it, and “Stay down, you arm-dragging limp grub!” went Mur. The red Strongarm stayed down.
So. We won the fight. But we only had a scattered few berries left to fuel the platform, and it had coasted to a stop in what looked to me like the exact stinkin’ center of this terrible, poisonous lake.
Blop looked worried. “Now what?” he asked Mur.
“These?” Blip suggested, holding a yellow fruit out toward the intake.
“No!” Mur shouted, startling everyone. He blocked her path. “Those break the engine. Didn’t you read the sign?”
I glanced at the defeated Strongarms. “I think only you read the sign,” I told him.
“Well, it’s very clear!” he exclaimed, waving dark tentacles like he wanted to tear out hair that he didn’t have. “Only other organics!”
Blip set the fruit down. “What do we have?” she asked, checking her pockets. “I’ve got two shrimp sticks and one of those seednuts that Paint likes.”
We all took stock, coming up with a whole lot of nothing. The unconscious Strongarms woke, and submitted to sitting in the corner with their leader, injured and embarrassed and also not in possession of any spare fuel.
“Let’s at least see how far the berries take us,” Mur said grimly, picking up the nearest.
We gathered all that we could find, and it took us a little way. Pocket snacks and whatnot took us a bit farther. We considered clothes (most were artificial), the fruit-carrying bags (same), and even treating the toilet-looking thing in appropriate but mortifying ways.
As we got increasingly desperate, we were still far from shore.
“Pretty sure this is real leather,” Mur said as he dropped in the leash for his tiny hoversled. “That will take us … not far enough.”
We were sort of close, kind of. Relatively speaking.
“The captain will come looking if we’re gone long enough,” Blop said.
“She doesn’t know which tunnel we took,” Mur reminded him. “Searching could take days.”
“Won’t the locals find us?” Blip asked.
The red Strongarm sneered. “They just finished a work cycle, and it’s a regular holiday. You think we’d try to rob you if they could come in at any moment?”
Both Frillians groaned.
Mur scowled. “Yes, very smart. See where that got you!” Moving slowly for added drama, he picked up a pair of shears from his sled. “Who wants to volunteer something organic?”
There were desperate pleas at that, and stonefaced silence from Mur that I hoped was acting.
“What about them?” the leader said, pointing wildly at the Frillians. “Surely they don’t need all those frills!”
Blip and Blop regarded her with identical shocked expressions. “Yes we do!”
“Well, we need our arms! You think that wouldn’t hurt to cut off?”
The yelling escalated while something very obvious occurred to me. I stepped over to Mur and flopped the braid over my shoulder. “Do you think this would be enough?”
The Strongarms shut up immediately. And they stayed silent while Mur calculated, so silent that I started to wonder.
They answered my question before I could ask it.
“You would volunteer that?” asked the red one quietly.
Ohhh, they think it’s a tentacle covered in hair, I realized. Have they not met a human before? Never mind; let’s see if Mur plays along.
“Yes,” I said solemnly, instead of going “Yeah” like I usually would. “If this is the only way to save all of us, then I will gladly make that sacrifice.” I looked over at Blip and Blop, who were elbowing each other but keeping mum. Good.
Mur ushered me toward the intake with all the grandeur of a high-society attendant. “If you would permit me to do the honors,” he said, “I will be quick.”
So I stood in front of the thing with my back to it so the wide-eyed bandits couldn’t see, told Mur to cut just below the hair tie, and held up my sweater ready to wrap it around my head like a bandage.
Yes, I did feel silly. But the bandits deserved a bit of shame and secondhand anguish. Besides, I’d been wanting to try a short haircut for ages, but never found the right time to chop it all off.
This is definitely the right time, I thought. “Go ahead.”
Mur snipped through the braid with one clean cut — hooray for sharp shears — and I collapsed with an anguished expression and some artful whimpers. Blip helped tie the sweater “bandage,” while Blop shielded us from view and stared down the Strongarms. I didn’t see Mur drop the braid into the intake, since my view was somewhat limited, but I felt the engine kick on with a most welcome hum.
I really hope that was enough, I thought as I lay there with my arms about my head. It’ll suck if we have to snip this down to a buzz cut. That’ll be hard to keep up the act through. And I really don’t want hair THAT short.
But when the engine finally went quiet, it was to a cheer from the Frillians. We were close enough to jump.
Or, more accurately, close enough for Blip to fling Mur across the gap with one of my socks to gather berries in. Mur was a terrible shot when he threw it back, but enough berries reached us that we were able to close the distance.
I pulled the blaster from my waistband and nudged it over the side before I forgot. It was too small for the Frillians to use anyway.
Plus, we didn’t need it. By the sound of her voice, the lead Strongarm had been so humbled by my sacrifice that she might have been considering a career change.
She even offered their collections of fruit, and the other two didn’t object.
Mur accepted graciously. I managed to turn my chuckling into pained noises as strong Frillian arms lifted me. I didn’t uncover my head to look. By the sounds of it, the many fruits were being balanced on Mur’s sled and the shoulders of whichever Frillian wasn’t carrying me.
“Farewell,” Mur said haughtily. “Make better choices in the future.”
We left the cavern to the sound of the ex-bandits promising to do so.
I have no idea if they’ll really go straight, but wouldn’t it be hilarious if they did?
Once we were out of sight, Blip put me down and took her share of the fruit bags. I claimed one too. I felt much lighter without the braid. And the threat of impending death.
I looked at my crewmates cheerfully. “Let’s never do that again.”
“Not without significant backup,” Mur agreed.
“Or more spare headfur!” Blop said.
“I’ve definitely spared enough for one day.” I freed a hand to pull out the hair tie, marveling at how simple a process it was now.
My crewmates all told me I looked incredibly strange with short hair about my face like that.
I told them to wait until I picked a final hairstyle, and I described hair gel to them.
~~~
The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come!
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annaki-octo · 3 months
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Okay, I fully finished Side Order's story with all palettes completed.
Thoughts:
As everyone has been saying already: GAY. SERIOUSLY HOW DID THEY MAKE MARINA AND PEARL SO DAMN GAY IN THIS DLC?? I love them so much.
A lot of people have also been saying this, and now that I have beaten the full game with all weapons, I have to say I agree - an endless mode would be a really good idea.
I also feel like they should have added more bosses. I feel like there aren't enough of a wider variety of bosses in Side Order, I feel like I've fought more bosses in Hero Mode. I never got to play Octo Expansion because I actually only started playing Splatoon 2 over a year ago now. I wanted to make sure I would like the game before spending the money on Splatoon 3 lmfao. And now Splatoon is our special interest lmfao
I feel like the story and lore are just lacking? Not to sound mean lmfao I love Side Order and I like the story, but I do feel like it's not as interesting as it COULD have been. I feel like the trailers and the different promotional art for Side Order really set up a really mysterious kind of story, and lots of theories about like cloning and stuff and I feel like the actual story just didn't end up as interesting as I feel the promotional stuff kinda set it up to be? At least in my opinion.
I love the aesthetics. And the music. GOD THE MUSIC. It's amazing.
I actually like that Side Order is "too easy." It made going up the spire with the weapons I'm usually terrible at using much easier and way more fun than I had anticipated. At some point, it starts to get a little ehhh okay this is kinda boring now but I think that's okay.
I'd love to see speedruns of this.
I think it would have been cool to have different "modes" to play in. Like maybe a mode where you go through the whole spire, but with no color chips, and the rewards are prlz and the higher up you go, the more prlz you get as prize. Or modes where it's all hard floors or all rigorous floors, or all danger, etc.
Speaking of - the danger levels. LMFAO. I love and hate the danger levels. I think
I also think there should've been even more different challenges and stuff.
I think ultimately, I think there just needs to be more variety. Especially considering it's supposed to be a roguelike and how easy and quickly it is to beat the entire game, including the entire game with every weapon.
I love Acht and I so am looking forward to seeing them in future games, I hope!!!
I love Smollusk. I love it so much NFJKDASNK
I had the idea earlier for the final Splatoon 3 splatfest to be Squid Sisters versus Off the Hook versus Deep Cut. I think that would be a genuinely phenomenal way to close off Splatoon 3 :')
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innwaitress · 2 years
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a/n: it's here, the moment you've been waiting for...
genshin characters inncorrect quotes pt. 2!!!!
y/n: I found a note in one of my old word .docs that said Note to self: Get revenge on childe.  y/n: Except I couldn't remember what I was supposed to get revenge for.  y/n: But I trusted my own judgment, so I went with it.  childe: Hmm... I don't know what you were supposed to get revenge for, either.  y/n: I can only assume you got what was coming to you. Not 100 percent sure, though.  childe: Well, whatever I did, I  probably deserved it.  y/n: Let that possibly be a lesson to you.
aether: Isn’t a bit dangerous?  y/n: aether, please. We’ve in a lot of unexpected predicaments before and we always escape unhurt.  aether: … 
aether: Okay, we sometimes escape unhurt.  aether: ...  y/n: Alright, we escaped unhurt once... Then we hurt ourselves in the way home. 
y/n: Who the fuck-  zhongli: Language!  y/n: Whom the fuck-  Zhongli: No.
y/n: Are you having another depressive episode?  xiao: A depressive episode?  xiao: I'm having a depressive series and we're just on season one.
y/n: Hopefully yelan has learned a lesson about respecting other people's feelings.  yelan: Oh, shut up and die y/n.
y/n: When I said bring me something back from the beach I meant like a conch shell!  beidou:*Struggling to hold a seagull* Fucking say that next time!
y/n: I think I'm falling for you.  Kujou Sara: Then get up.
itto: *running towards y/n with open arms*  y/n: *moves out of the way*  itto: Hey, why'd you move?!  y/n: I thought you were going to attack me.  itto: I was going to hug you!  y/n: Why would you hug me?  itto: WHY WOULD I ATTACK YOU!?
y/n: Remember that time you dared me to lick a swingset?  thoma: No, I said "y/n, don't lick that swingset" and you said "Don't tell me what to do" and licked the swingset.
yae miko: I have an idea!  y/n: Does it involve breaking the law?  yae miko: By now don’t you think that’s a given?  y/n: I was just trying to be optimistic.  yae miko: Don’t bother.
barbara: y/n is not a morning person. Or a night person. There’s really only about seven minutes a day you are fun to be around.  y/n: The best part is you never know when they’re coming.
keqing: Remain CALM! *slaps y/n multiple times*
kaeya: Can I have your number?  y/n, visibly texting: I don't have a phone.
ninnguang: Are you ready to commit?  y/n: Like, a crime or a relationship?
ei: *plays shreksophone*  ei: Woo.  ei: Time to listen to this on loop for all eternity.  y/n: ...Genius coping mechanism my friend
 y/n: Why are you drinking? rosaria: I drink when I'm depressed.  y/n: But you're always drinking?  Rosaria: *smug grin*
y/n: Can you keep a secret? 
yoiymia: Well, I'm good until I meet the next person. 
Computer: Please enter a password.  chongyun: *types in y/n*  Computer: Your password is too weak.  chongyun: How fucking DARE YOU-
y/n: Love makes people do stupid things.  xingqiu I love everything!  y/n: That explains a lot. 
y/n: Can I bother you for a second?  diluc: You're always bothering me, but go ahead.
y/n: Bro-  kazuha: No, no, hold up, rewind.  kazuha: My tongue was down in your throat just a second ago and now you're calling me bro?? 
hu tao: Happy October 32nd! Second Halloween!  y/n: That doesn't exist.  hu tao: Not with that attitude.
lisa: y/n, I rebuke thee! I rebuke thee!  y/n: Rebuke? Is that a word?  lisa: You have all invoked my fury! You will all pay recompense for your transgressions!  y/n: What, you got like a word-a-day calendar or something? 
y/n: So what do you have planned for the future?  xiangling: Lunch.  y/n: No, like long term.  xiangling: Oh...um, dinner?
Lumine: You know you've made it when you see your picture everywhere you go.  y/n: Those are wanted posters! scaramouche: The universe is cold and unfeeling. The only constant is chaos.  y/n: Was that place out of chocolate-chip pancakes again?
y/n, watching the news: Someone tried to fight a squid at the aquarium today!  shenhe: *walks in covered with ink* Well, maybe the squid was being a dick.
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razputinrp · 1 year
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@the-family-fortune
The ocean was violent tonight.
A trawler had roved far past the usual fishing spaces, well beyond what had been deemed safe for humans and deep into dangerous waters. This was siren territory, among many other powerful and terrifying creatures of the sea, and few crews dared to venture along even such boundaries. Everyone knew, of course, that the best fish could be found out there, but sailors feared the monsters that could easily lure them to horrific deaths for such a transgression as trespassing.
The only exception was this particular ship, who often saw bountiful hauls for its risk-taking and boasted not a single casualty from ocean cryptids no matter how far or how late it traveled. And the reason for that incredibly “luck” was standing on the very top deck, staring down the tumultuous waves as if he could calm them through sheer force of will.
Razputin Aquato, twenty-six years old, was barely bothered by the ship’s severe swaying. He stood with only one hand on the railing for balance while the rest of his crew hurriedly anchored themselves with harnesses and jacklines. A powerful wave crashed into the side of the boat with the force of a furious whale, sending people sprawling and shouting and stumbling. Razputin’s eyes darted down for a moment, counting them all to make sure no one had fallen overboard or had gotten hurt, then looked right back up at the sea.
The sky was cloudless; stars dazzled in a hypnotic display across the vast darkness, surrounding a half-moon, but the water itself raged as though they were in the midst of a hurricane. Many of the crew were superstitious and feared the ocean was finally punishing them for their hubris; putting them in their place as land creatures who had no business being out in this world yet had traipsed so merrily through it all the same.
Razputin knew better.
He stared at the ocean and knew that the unnatural storm came from something below the surface. Be it squid, siren, selkie, or something else entirely, there was no doubt in his mind that the waters raged because something – or someone – had commanded it. He didn’t know if they were targeting the lonely ship of humans, or if they were not even aware of its presence.
So he kept watching, looking for the slightest sign of a cryptid’s swimming shadow, simultaneously hoping that the storm would pass without their ship being noticed at all and wondering whether the source of the storm might be the one he had been searching for all these years.
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mitoad · 11 days
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i had a thought about marine life cod something something sighhhh and now i wanna draw them. all of them.
the first thing i thought of was vampire squid!konig.... you get what i see right, or like, he could be some other (massive) squid
gaz reminds me of a nurse shark.. number one, they're cute and look sweet, number two they look awfully boopable🎀🎀 there's no number three but just look at pictures of them that's literally gaz
soap would be a ray maybe?? specifically a spotted eagle ray. he could be a narwhal too because they're silly <3
phantom jellyfish!ghost obviously!!!
i'm thinking price could be a whale, but i'm not sure what yet? i;m so indecisive... beluga!price or humpback whale!price, perhaps?
and nikolai is a pilot whale like are you joking
i have no ideas for the others yet sadly because i have a little pea brain, but ill probably come up with some things soon...
fellow anon, DRAW THEM . I LOVE MARINE LIFE COD AUS SO MUCH RRHHRHRHRHRHRHRHHRHRHRHRHHRHRHRHHRHRHRHRHRHHRHRHRHHRHRHRHH !!!!!!!!! please pleasep lease dra them if u have time ....... they give me brain juices... .. . .. .
yayaya !!!! konig could definetly be a vampire squid !! tbh ive always seen him as maybe under the octopoda order (mostly due to the insane amounts of cthulu nd octo konig in this fandom) but i can certainly see him as a vampire squid !!! he gives the vibes- generally trying to contain the power he has and not get unnecessary blood on his hands (vampire squids are detritivore) nd a lot less menacing than it seems . more of an avoidant personality as well !!
and YAYAYYYAYAYYA gas is definitely some type of less aggressive shark !!! honestly nurse shark matches him the best but i occasionally believe he is a catshark or epaulette , they're easygoing and docile (IF UNPROVOKED) and so so cutie patootie i project my fav sharks on him bc he is my fav character
and soap does give ray vibes, but hear me out : eel soap >!?!! especially variants that hunt via electricity (like him !! but he uses bombs that arent necessarily IEDs but SAME THING) and r super duper energetic a lot , but oh em gee,,,,,,, he would make such a good spotted eagle ray .....
ok we all agree on phantom jelly ghost its cannon guys he is literally the big mysterious jelly
and price , although i like to think of him as a great white (better dynamics w/ other characters), he honestly would match a lot of species of whale much better . i forgot the name of this species specifically , but i do believe it was some type of bleaked whale ?? they scar white from injuries over time, and have a long lifespan . most of them will turn white over their lifespan due to the injuries that they get, and i think that does go after price's military career and how his scars the events he's lived through have sort of become part of him (ghost could definitely be this species too now i think about it), and how he's lived past points where his allies have fallen .
OK NIK AS A PILOT WHALE . YEYSYYEYS THATS FUNNY AS FUCK HAIJASHFKFH
i would like to think that laswell would be some form of species of whale , maybe one that is intelligent and capable of many forms of mutalism relationships due to her being ... yknow .... insanely based ....
makarov would be an orca. highly intelligent, only realised to be extremely dangerous once studied. ganging up on every fucking fish in the world. capable of competing with other apex predators like great whites.
graves.... unpopular opinion, but he is a stonefish . sneaky bastard and incredibly fucking dangerous . but stupid looking and a silly skrumkle very much so .
nyways i am too tired to think but i will go to sleep dreaming of the 141 eating salmon tonight ......... thank u very mysterious but very lovely fishy anon ...........
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hurtmehurtmeluv · 2 months
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Vast Error and Splatoon fans, how do we feel about these? (custom kits and some explanations under cut!)
Sova (Defensive Utility) - Reef-lux, Splash Wall, Baller I don't really know her that well so this one is probably the most shaky out of all of them. I was hoping to give her a more defensive play style here (Splash Wall and Baller)
Dismas (Evade Skirmisher) - .52 gal, Toxic Mist, Triple Splashdown The .52 is here since it takes 2 shots to hit (in reference to 2xbladekind). Toxic Mist and Triple Splashdown don't have too much reason to be on here except that this all together makes a nasty .52 gal kit.
Arcjec (Tank Skirmisher) - Tentabrella, Autobomb, Taticooler Arcjec would tend to use Autobombs the most while hiding behind the huge shield the Tentabrella provides. Taticooler is in reference to not only his obsession with Code Red, but also how he recovers quickly when pushed down (respawn buff from Taticooler). He's also meant to be paired with Ellsee in a way, since her Squid Beacon's can support this specific play style greatly.
Jentha (Special Utility) - Bloblobber, Angle Shooter, Wave Breaker She just feels like it. Like she just feels like a Bloblobber and I can't really explain it too much. Source: just trust me bro. Angle Shooter would be something she'd use in a panic to try and find someone, just a quick 'throw it out' thing while revealing her location at the same time. Wave Breaker suits the non-aggressive play style that I'm trying to go with her.
Ellsee (Evade Skirmisher) - Inkbrush, Squid Beacon, Ink Storm The Inkbrush is meant to be similar to her staff in a way! Also the movement made with a brush flick reminiscent of dancing, nothing too deep with this choice just that it fits the best out of all the weapons. Squid Beacon is in reference to her portals and goes along with Arcjec (see the desc. of his kit for details). Ink Storm is probably the weakest here since I added it only because her last name is Raines (like raining.... storms.....).
Albion (Crossfire Utility) - Heavy Splatling, Ink Mine, Booyah Bomb The Heavy was picked out mostly because its Deco version is very sparkly and shiny, like her quirk! Ink Mine is mostly to tie the kit together and Booyah Bomb is her sort of 'calling upon her friends'. I think this kit fits her a lot more towards the start of the comic but could still be applied later on.
Serpaz (Special Utility) - Big Swig Roller, Sprinkler, Ultra Stamp I tried to sort of play into the idea that she uses toolboxkind so that's why she has a paint roller and a hammer! The sprinkler is to help her build her special.
Laivan (Trick Skirmisher) - Squiffer, Splat Bomb, Triple Inkstrike A Charger for Laivan felt like the obvious choice since he's known to wield a gun (not sure exactly what kind since he doesn't have a confirmed strifespecibus from what i can tell) but I wanted him to contrast Occeus with quirk charges and shorter shots which is why I ended up giving him the Squiffer. Splat Bombs and Triple Inkstrike don't really have a big reason but I think they overall fit as a simple but effective kit.
Occeus (Anchor) - E-Liter Scope, Toxic Mist, Stingray All of these have reasons, mostly relating to the fact his strifespecibus is lazerkind. E-liter is slow charging but has a very high range, with the scope providing greater accuracy. I considered giving him the Tri-Stringer in reference to his three eyes but I feel like the E-Liter Scope feels more true to the way lazerkind works. Toxic Mist is a bit silly as it's entirely there to reference the fact he's a scientist that works with a lot of weird vials and bottles with potentially dangerous substances inside. Stingray basically works the same as lazerkind, cutting through everything around it to hit its targets.
Taz (Slayer) - Luna Blaster, Burst Bomb, Ink Armor The Luna Blaster is fast, powerful and if the direct hit doesn't get you the splash damage will! Powerful, destructive and makes sure to not leave anyone behind, that's how Taz fights. Burst Bomb isn't a reference to anything, just an effective combo with any shots with a main weapon and helpful when you need to ink something quick. Ink Armor is meant to reference how her chucklevoodoo is always active with the 'glint' in her eye, as well as how she's someone who supports others at heart.
Murrit (Slayer) - Tetra Dualies, Point Sensor, Triple Splashdown (plays Bloblobber sometimes just to piss Jentha off) This was the guy who started this whole thing so lets get into it. I chose the Tetra Dualies to allude to the fact that he uses 2xknucklekind. I was thinking to myself "what feels like getting punched in the face when playing a splatoon match?" and it 100% the Tetra Dualies. Point sensor is meant to not only portray how she keeps tabs on everyone but also how she seems like the type to hunt down her targets. Triple Splashdown is mostly because that also feels like a punch in the face (and also how the animation is literally a punch). Overall, I wanted her play style to come across as high risk, high reward.
Calder (Anchor) - Ballpoint Splatling, Curling Bomb, Kraken Royale I tried to find the best way to portray his fighting style (with three different strife specubus's) but the common theme seems to be that they're very long weapons that directly confront the target and have quick 'jabs' at the target. I think the Ballpoint with its ability to have short range bursts accompanied with long range hits, as well as the fact that the fire can be interrupted for continuous fire, portrays that. Curling Bombs feel the closest to golf balls, bouncing around the stage and being able to control how far you put it out (similar to how hard your swing is). Kraken Royale is mostly to allude to the fact that Calder is royalty. He also tends to seem commanding and in control, which is suitable for an anchor.
Obviously, there's plenty of other kits and roles that they can fit into but this is more a kit that reflects bits of themselves rather than the one they would realistically play or would be the best at. I would love to hear some of y'all's opinions on this and your own kit ideas! Here's my attempt at making Murrit in Splatoon.
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legendofmorons · 1 year
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To protect a wolf (Twilight)
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Pairing: Twilight x reader -pre relationship
Rating: T for language and some blood
Summary: While Twilight is incapacitated, you step up to protect him. Obviously, he realizes he loves you at the worst time. But you both take care of each other after.
Warnings: Some blood, some fighting, cursing
Other: Let me know if I missed anything
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This dungeon might actually kill him. Twilight can barley thing straight he hurts so much.
And you're with him - you need his help. He can't just quit.
But you're in the final room facing down the boss. And Twilight's barley able to move.
His leg is broken in at least three places. He's pretty sure the world shouldn't be spotty, and he is bleeding out of his ribs.
And to top it all of it's a water dungeon.
The boss is large, a squid like creature that seems to spit poison ink. There's a weak spot - an eye atop its head.
Always with the eyes.
Fuck his life.
"(Y/n)." He tries.
"Shut up." You hiss, drawing attention to yourself by smacking your sword and shield together.
He really can't do anything but trust to roll out of the way of attacks. He just wants to keep you safe- but he can't even decide which quickly blurring version of you is real.
He hears the fight, sword slashing and shield clanging. He heard movement and curses.
Feels the air move with you and the boss.
He can hear you taunt it.
He hears it fall as you attack it.
He hears the intimidating roar as it gets up.
He can't see shit-
But he hears it all.
He hears your curse and inve as something cracks.
He hears you take some new injury
He even hears the snarling curse as you drive something into the beast.
He bets you still look so beautiful. You always do.
What is he doing thinking about that?
You're in danger-
"Die you bitch!" Yoir voice cuts through his thoughts.
Well, you're still alive. That's very good. He'd hate to lose you before he told you he loved you.
Wait-
Fuck.
This new information is not helpful at all. It's also not surprising.
The sound fades out as you fight the boss, time lost to him.
He doesn't know how long has passed when he opens his eyes again... when did he close them?
"Twi... Link?" You call, kneeling in front of him.
"Hm?"
"I'm going to have to carry you out. I don't have any healing items."
"I can walk-"
"Bullshit. You could barely roll over. I'm going to carry you."
"Bu' 'm too heavy." He slurs out.
"You're really not." You say, relying on your own farm life spent wrestling goats, cows, and horses to the ground when needed.
He just groans.
You move so your kneeling on one knee, the othe in front of you.
He groans louder as you slide your arms under him. One around his shoulders and one under his knees.
"Shhh, I got you Twi. It's okay."
"I'm sorry." He manages.
"Don't be." You say quickly, standing and pulling him off the ground with you.
You hold him close to you, straining under his weight. He's pure muscle. You don't know why you thought you could carry him on a broken ankle without issue.
But you have to get hum out. Thank god for adrenaline.
If Twilight were even slightly more aware he'd demand you leave and come back for him. You're bleeding profusely from your stomach. Along with other places.
You walk, carrying him and your all's things out of the dungeon, wincing every other step.
He's concious but only just.
You walk to camp - each step feeling like you're being punished.
The others see you and rush forwards.
"What happened?!"
"Twilight is hurt. You gotta help him."
"You're hurt too." Legend says.
"Not bad." You say, obviously unaware of how injured you are.
Time takes Twilight from you, moving him so he's laying on the ground just so.
Hyrule releases a fairy over Twilight first. Then he starts in with healing magic.
"Is the world supposed to turn black?" You ask, feeling a lot weaker with no notice.
Time turns to you, "What-"
You collapse as your ears start to ring. You probably should have paid more attention to your own condition. Whoops.
.......
Twilight wakes up with a mouth like the desert and a pounding headache- but he's alive and well. Mostly.
He looks around, finding Hyrule and Wild nearby- but you're not in his sight.
"Where’s-" he summons spit to swallow to wet his mouth, "Where’s (Y/n)?"
Hyrule turns, looking relived to see the wolf shifter awake. "Hey, how do you feel?"
"Where is (Y/n)?" Twilight asks again, more impatient.
"They're resting at an inn. With both of you having lost a lot of blood, old man decided we'd need to stay in an inn for a bit. "Legend says from behind Wild.
"Why aren't we there?"
"Your leg needed to heal all the way before we moved you. They - well, they needed a bed."
"They're hurt?"
"Yeah. They are. But they're better now."
"Take me to them." Twilight says, pushing to sit up.
"Okay. Just wait - Wild's almost done with the hearty stew."
"Don't care, I need to make sure-"
"Twilight. "Sky says gently, "They worked hard to keep you safe, don't insult them by being stubborn and refusing a recovery aid."
"I-" Twilight doesn't known what to say to that.
"Good."
He trusts the boys. He really does!
But after his realization and you taking care of him- he just needs to see you as soon as he can.
He needs to make sure you're okay.
He also needs to figure out how in the name of Ordona to tell you he loves you. But he's way more concerned with your health.
Especially since you woukd have gotten hurt protecting him.
Oh... he really fucked up-
"They aren't mad." Legend says from his spot, "I know they aren't a hero like us- but they can hold their own."
"They shouldn't have had to. I should have protected them better."
Legend makes a face that suggests he'd rather talk to a praticularly stubborn wall than trying to convince Twilight of anything right now.
.......
You wake up to Time fretting over you. His muttering is unnerving paired with the face of grim acceptance.
"Where’s- Where’s Twi?" You ask, looking around and not finding him.
This does nothing to slow your racing heart, finding only Time with you and some dull inn decorating.
"He's at camp. He'll be here shortly."
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's okay."
"Good. I hate squid."
Time snorts at that, seeming relived that you're well enough to be bitter.
"You gave all of us a scare, looked dead when you came to camp, and then collapsed."
"Oh... Whoops."
"You have to be more careful-"
"Twilight would have died. I am not gonna let someone die just cause I'm hurt too!"
"I'm not saying otherwise. I'm just telling you to be more careful."
"Okay. But- is Twi really-"
The door opens with a bang, an exhumed Twilight in the doorway who let's out a breath of air when he sees ypu.
"(Y/n)."
"Twi!"
You try to sit up only to grunt and fall back into bed.
"Stay down," Time says, "You're gonna be sore for a while."
"You're okay." Twilight breathes out, walking over to sit on the bed beside you. "I'm sorry I should have protected you-"
"Don't start that." You manage, "You were really hurt."
"The others said you were too."
"I could walk. You couldn't. It's nothing. "
"(Y/n)." Twilight says sharper than he usually does, "You put yourself in danger for me. Please don't act like I couldn't have done things differently. "
"Twi... I know. It definitely could have gone better. It could have been worse too."
"Yeah."
"I'm really glad you're okay "
Time stands, stretching up, "You're staying in this room too, Twilight. I figured you'd both want to be near eachother. "
"Thank you." You say to Time.
"Seriously though, be careful, (Y/n)."
Twilight has to agree with his mentor.
You just sigh, trying not to move too much. "Okay."
"Good. I'm going to check on dinner plans." Time says before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Twilight just let's out a breath, "I was worried... when I woke up you weren't there."
"I know. I felt the same way."
"I'm sure." Twilight says, not sure how to tell you that he actually doubts that.
Becuase you obviously care for him but how could you love him back?
"Twiligh- Link." You say, the use of his name making him look up quickly.
"Yes?"
"Don't beat yourself up. Everyone gets hurt."
"I'm supposed to protect you though."
"Why?" You ask, feeling hurt already at the implications of the statement. "I may not be a hero but I can hold my own!"
"It's not that... It's just-" he takes a moment.
How does he tell you that he needs to protect you becuase you are someone he loves. That he loves you romantically. With his whole heart?
You stare, waiting for him to continue and really hoping he has a reason that's not just him being a chosen hero.
Twilight sighs, he might as well just tell you. He can't lie for anything- not to you at least... and a lie woukd just confuse you more.
"Because I love you, (Y/n). And I don't ever want to see you hurt."
You choke a little, suprised and touched. That's definitely a better reason than be Hylia's chosen hero.
"And I don't expect you to feel the same-"
"I do. I do feel the same."
"What?"
"I love you too. Have for a whole now- though typically you confess with flowers and not while someone is in bed looking like shit."
"You look beautiful. "
"You're very biased."
"Yeah."
You smile at him, and while you definitely hurt, you feel better than you did when you passed out. And hey, you might just get a boyfriend out of this.
"We should talk about this more later Twi, but can- you just stay with me?"
"Of course. Can I do anything to make you hurt less?"
"No... I'm probably going to fall asleep again soon honestly. I feel like I was run over by a heard of wild horses."
"Ouch. I'm sorry, Darlin'."
You giggle, "I like that name."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
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happy-hermit · 1 year
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LAST LIFE SCAR ANGST PART TWO BABY :D
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm with this fic akdkjdh it really kept me going. ( @stiffyck this is still for you)( @hopepetal here’s the tag u asked for I love your writing by the way I’m so happy you like this fic alskjdjd)
Part One
———
A few days pass where nothing and everything happens in equal measurements. The returned hermits work on settling back into normal — well, relatively normal — life, and they tend to only see each other in passing. They get caught up in old and new projects, filled with an urgency that came from being away for so long.
Scar himself spends most of his time gathering items. It’s mindless, repetitive work. Time consuming. Calming, almost. It’s boring enough that he doesn’t think anyone will bother to bother him. (He ignores the way his chest pangs at the thought. It doesn’t matter. It can’t.)
Jellie follows him around most of the time, even if he can’t always see her. She’s a comforting presence, and he knows that she’s only there because she wants to be. He doesn’t have to write up a contract to convince her to stay. She’s there for him. It’s just… nice, is all. To know that.
Scar wanders around with shulker boxes full of wood and leaves and sand and he pretends that he’s not avoiding everyone. It’s not like he doesn’t see them at all, and in fact he always grins and waves when he happens to run into someone. He just — doesn’t stay long. Doesn’t want to overstay a welcome he isn’t sure he has.
Daytime is easier. He can be busy during the day. He can forget. At night, though, he lays in bed and he hurts. His chest aches, and he’s cold, and he’s alone, always. Jellie is there, sure, and she counts, of course, but—
Well. Jellie can’t hug him. She can’t talk to him. She doesn’t know why he’s sad.
More than once, he finds himself outside of a Boatem member’s base in the dead of night, hand poised to knock and heart tugging him forward. He can’t do it, though. He doesn’t really know why — doesn’t want to think about it for too long. He’s pretty sure his mind would lead him back to an isolated mountain with a single bed set haphazardly in a corner. Thinks he would only be reminded of the way people had only ever visited if they’d wanted something from him.
He never knocks, those nights. He instead demolishes frankly absurd amounts of land for resources he doesn’t yet have plans for. He doesn’t sleep at night. It’s fine.
He manages to believe that for two weeks before it all falls apart.
———
The nights have been getting colder, since they all got back. Maybe it’s the season changing, or maybe it’s whatever has started happening with the moon; either way, Scar is thankful that he’s wearing a jacket. The fact that he’s soaked through to the bone is a little less ideal.
It’s a well known side effect of glow squid hunting, though, so he can’t really blame it on anyone but himself. It certainly ensured that he wouldn’t be falling asleep on his feet anytime soon. Of which there was a very real danger, if the cotton stuffed into his head and the lead weighing down his eyelids is any indication. The glow ink splattered on his hands and sleeves is starting to look a little blurry, and he instead focuses on just making it back to the Swaggon without keeling over.
The universe has it out for him, though, so when the first phantom crashes talons-first into his back, all he can do is fall.
He hits the ground with a strangled yelp, his sack of hard-earned glow squid ink flying out of his hand and splattering across the grass. It’s pretty. And heartbreaking. He supposes he hadn’t really needed it for anything…
The phantoms screech angrily overhead, and his back throbs and he scrambles to roll over onto it anyway, because he can’t stand up just yet and he at least wants to be able to see what’s coming—
He lurches to the right as another phantom dives towards him, and the talons only connect with his upper arm as opposed to his chest. He’ll call that one a win.
“Oh geez— Ow, come on, you can’t kick a man when he’s down!” Scar scrambles backwards across the grass, voice high and eyes wide as he resorts to attempting to reason with things that don’t understand him.
There are three of them circling him, and he scrambles to his feet just in time to catch a set of razor-sharp teeth in his shoulder. He yells and swats at it blindly, somehow managing to hit its eyes and smear glow ink across its wildly flapping wing. The phantom detaches itself from him, and he doesn’t even have time to be relieved before another is diving towards him.
He runs.
His shoulder hurts and his arm hurts and his back hurts and he’s cold and wet and no one has touched him gently in months, and he runs.
He doesn’t mean to go to Grian’s house. He had wanted to go home. (Maybe it’s telling, that he’d ended up here instead.)
A phantom bites at his leg as he reaches the alleyway, fake stars shining above him and horrifying undead creatures punishing him for his insomnia close behind him. Pain ricochets up his calf and down his ankle and he frantically tries to shake it loose, crashing to the ground again and crying out when the impact aggravates his other wounds. He knows without looking that his health is getting low. Dangerously low. And he hates respawning, he doesn’t want to, and maybe it won’t even work, maybe he’s used up his last life and he’s going to die alone just like he lived alone, and all he’ll be is a ghost haunting a world that barely notices his absence.
(That’s maybe too dramatic, but he’s dying and he’s tired and every night he holds his own hand and pretends he’s not alone. He feels entitled to a breakdown.)
He curls up against the ground with his eyes shut tight, resigned to the fact that he’ll have to get up and pick up his scattered items in a few minutes, resigned to the body aches that will follow him around for the next few days, resigned to the jokes that will pop up in chat after his death message goes out.
All he can hear is his own heartbeat in his ears, phantoms screeching and injuries stinging in a way that feels distant. Any second now. Any moment.
A hand lands on his shoulder, distinctly and painfully human, and he gasps, eyes flying open as he scrambles into a sitting position. His leg throbs angrily and his arm sends shocks of pain throughout his entire body and Scar tries his best to stay quiet — no one can know he’s hurt, they’ll kill him, they’ll make him give up a life — but a high-pitched sound of pain escapes his throat anyway. The blurry shape of a person kneeling in front of him freezes.
“—an you hear me? Scar?” The voice sounds like it’s coming from underwater, but it’s familiar. It feels like safe and danger at the same time. It sounds worried. “You’re hurt, please—“
“‘m fine,” Scar manages to get out, strained and quiet and mostly on autopilot.
“Wha— Scar, you are not fine, you absolute…”
The voice trails off into grumbling and Scar blinks slowly, looking down at himself. He’s covered in glow ink and his own blood and torn clothes. The clothes don’t look like the right color. He’s pretty sure they’re supposed to be purple.
“Wrong…” Scar mumbles, poking at his clothes. It seems important.
“Maybe because you’re bleeding all over it, Scar, just—“ The figure huffs, just a blob of red and tan, and something is moving behind him. Scar squints. The person seems angry. His weak heart rate picks up.
“D’ you… want a life?” Scar asks, confused and hurt. He can’t think. “I won’t… not for free. Let’s… A deal?”
The blurry person makes some sort of noise that makes Scar think he said something wrong. It sounds like it was punched out of them. Something’s wrong, he said something wrong. Scar’s eyelids are starting to droop, but he forces them open with a whine. The person lurches forward a bit, like they’re trying to catch him, but he’s not falling. Is he?
“D… Don’t go,” Scar pleads, mind scrambling to put together a sales pitch on why they should stay. “I can… I have— if you…”
His vision goes darker around the edges, as his own voice starts to echo in his head. The figure is saying something again, sounding frantic, scared. He wonders why. He hadn’t meant to be scary. He doesn’t think he’s in a condition to even try to be.
The last thing he sees before the darkness takes hold is a hand reaching out.
———
The first thing he’s aware of, when he wakes up, is not pain. It’s the gentle touch of a hand on his arm, lifting it and wrapping something around it. It still stings, but less so; most likely he’d been given a health potion. He feels warm. Sleepy. He opens his eyes.
The last thing he remembers is phantoms chasing him into Grian’s alley, and then someone finding him. Now with a slightly clearer head, he can only assume it had been Grian himself.
Slowly, he turns his head against the pillow he’s resting on, and he blinks sluggishly at the person currently bandaging his arm. It is Grian, with lines of worry in his face and his wings folded right against his back in that way that meant he was scared. Scar’s brow furrowed.
“…G?” His voice is hoarse, quiet, but Grian’s head still snaps up as if he’d shouted. “What’s wrong?”
Grian’s wings fluff up a little, something like angry disbelief swirling in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Grian repeats, half-hysterical. He drops the roll of bandages onto the bed and gestures wildly at Scar’s body. “You keel over in my alley dying of blood loss and you’re asking me what’s wrong?”
“Well, you do seem to be taking it harder than I am,” Scar jokes half-heartedly, attempting to sit up. Grian immediately pushes him back down, and Scar is too shocked to protest.
“Nope, you don’t get to deflect,” Grian says, and somehow it’s as gentle as it is stern. “I know what phantoms mean, Scar, and — and you didn’t even know who I was when I found you. So— so get talking. I know you know how.”
Nerves flare in his stomach, and he breaks eye contact to stare at the wall, inspecting all the random knick knacks on the shelves. He doesn’t know what to say. Doesn’t know how to explain what he’s been feeling since the games, especially since everyone else seems to have moved on already. It feels silly, suddenly, for his biggest problem to be that he’s lonely. That he doesn’t think anyone wants him around.
“Scar,” Grian says, and it’s softer now. “I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”
There’s a lump in his throat and a burning in his eyes, and for just a moment Scar pretends that his heartbreak is anger. He sits up, ignoring Grian’s protesting, and he points an accusing finger at the avian.
“Now you want to stay?” Scar says, powering through even when his voice cracks. “Because last I checked, all— all you wanted to do was leave.”
“Scar, what—“
“No, you wanted me to talk! I’m talking!” Scar’s chest hurts, and his hands are cold, and something in him has been breaking for a very long time. “You— you couldn’t wait to tell me that any alliance from the last games were over. And then when I— When I thought I had Mumbo you came and took him away, too.” Scar cradles his shaking hands close to his stomach and looks away, anger slowly draining. “And then Joel— and then I had no one. And no one wanted to— I tried, Grian, but no one wanted to—“
He closes his eyes tightly, trying to stop the inevitable. “No one wanted to stay,” he finishes quietly. “I… I don’t know what I did. I don’t know why no one…”
Scar trails off, laughing a little and rubbing at his eyes, trying to stop the tears before they fall on Grian’s blanket. “I’m sorry. I don’t— I’m just tired.”
“Scar,” Grian says softly, and something about his voice is strange. “Please look at me.”
Scar looks. Grian has asked him, and he looks.
Grian is looking back at him — a small, sad smile on his face — and he’s crying. Scar blinks in surprise, staring, and Grian laughs quietly, reaching up to wipe at his eyes. Scar doesn’t know what’s happening anymore.
“Grian?” Scar says uncertainly.
“Scar,” Grian says, and he sounds both intensely fond and profoundly guilty. “There is nothing wrong with you.”
Scar’s heart skips a beat in his chest, and he swallows hard. Grian keeps going.
“And I’m so sorry,” Grian says, voice cracking. He reaches out a hand and grabs Scar’s, squeezing it tightly. Scar’s breath hitches, his fingers twitching. The touch feels foreign. It almost hurts. He never wants to let go. Grian tugs on his hand, gently, and Scar looks back up at him. Grian looks heartbroken, but focused. “I didn’t mean to leave you alone,” he says.
“Then why did you?” Scar blurts, unable to help it. He feels a little bit pathetic. He can’t care anymore. “Why did everyone—“
“I don’t know,” Grian says, sad and frustrated and desperate. “I know why I did, I— We didn’t end well the first time. Scar, I couldn’t— I couldn’t kill you again. I looked at you and all I could see was…”
(Bloody knuckles. Sandy clothes. Only one gets to win.)
“I know,” Scar says, quietly, both an apology and forgiveness. And then, softer, “I was alone.” His shoulders curl forwards a little. “Everyone had someone and I was…”
Grian puts his other hand on Scar’s uninjured shoulder, and Scar meets his gaze. The avian’s eyes are full of fire, intense determination mingling with stubborn care.
“Never again,” Grian says, like he’s stating a fact of the universe. Like he’s challenging some malevolent god. Then he softens. “You’re not alone, Scar. Not anymore. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Scar opens his mouth to say something eloquent and thankful and graceful. Instead, he bursts into tears.
Grian pulls him into a hug by the hand he’s still holding, wings coming up to surround them, and for the first time in a long time Scar feels warm. The ache in his chest is fading. His hands aren’t cold. Grian is breathing shakily next to his ear, and he’s being so very careful as to avoid Scar’s injuries, and he’s hugging him.
Scar tucks his face into Grian’s shoulder and cries.
———
In the morning, Pearl busts down the door with soup and a vendetta against apparently unwelcomed emotions.
(“I heard someone was sad. I’m here to beat it up.” She’s grinning, and Scar can’t help but laugh.)
Impulse arrives a few minutes later and drops Jellie into his lap, smiling softly.
(“I think this one missed you somehow more than we did!” Jellie curls up by his injured leg, and if Scar tears up, no one mentions it.)
Mumbo bursts in last, the salvaged remains of the glow squid ink he’d collected gathered into a little bottle.
(“I tried to get you the fresh stuff, but there wasn’t really a way for them to— to ethically sacrifice themselves. Sorry, mate.” Mumbo is covered in glowing ink, looking genuinely apologetic, and Scar laughs until his ribs hurt.)
And he is not alone.
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cuprohastes · 1 year
Text
Lunch In Space (Part 4)
There is an old Human tradition. We keep it alive to this day. When things are Very Bad(tm), for example, your shuttle is about to perform a high-velocity Lithobraking Manouver, you invoke the Ancient Words of the Ancestors. Usually "Oh, sh*t".
I, as I'm sure you're now aware, am culturally sensitive, and cultured, so when chunks of Oscar started becoming Free Range and my life support lit up red, and Oscar's little Atrix-face started doing some very worried little colour combos, I took solace in this hallowed and time-honoured tradition and went with "Ru-ROH".
Now you may be thinking, gee, having your life support blow out while flying around the backside of a planet while everyone is too busy to come to pick you up is bad.
I mean, sure. It literally is.
But what doesn't kill you instantly gives you the opportunity for a really slow, horrible death so you can appreciate it so much more.
I took the life support unit off.
Counter-intuitive, but there you go. I jsut clipped one of my lanyards to the bottom attach point and released all the clips.
All the connectors that move all my various essential fluids and gasses are on failsafe connectors. They close automatically because it'd be super dumb if they didn't.
So now I'm just using passive insulation and things are going to get very hot very soon.
I turned the Life Support unit over and found a... Space Squid. 
I mean that's what it looked like. This conical, bullet-shaped shell,  with tiny little thruster vents, and then on the bottom of the cone, a bunch of little tentacles, sensor windows and what looks like miniature tools.
At first, all I saw was the shell so I grabbed it and yanked it out. I screamed jsut the tiniest amount when it wiggled its tentacles at me, but then it folded up and glared at me, and tried to puff away. 
My mighty human fingers of course were more than a match for this.
My mighty human Brain took a few more seconds to catch up because Oscar wasn't loaded with enough coffee for peak human cognition and I did a comical flail and found two more of the little suckers trying to eat through Oscar's skin.
"I Yeet Thee!" I told them and yanked them off and threw them in the direction of away.
The first little guy was with me but still sulking. I think it was out of gas, to be honest.
So that leaves me inside Oscar, who's rapidly becoming a sauna.
Luckily, I am just covered in tools, patches, and other Fix-things stuff so I started checking the life support pack.
Not good. Squiddy had already chewed some quite important stuff - the valves all closed, but now there's no way to re-circulate a lot of the air supply.
A bit about life support. It's not just a couple of bottles of air mix.
There are coolants, thruster gasses that you just top up while you work, water, which is circulated through Oscar's inner lining, the uh, Yellow and Brown lines, and then the Scrubber which is kind of a back-up and also means you can go longer without an umbilical, or without large air tanks. It also prevents the inside of Oscar from filling up with condensation.
So anyway, the thruster tank and the air tank were basically there but unusable.
Two of four of the batteries were cracked. They got isolated by the technical process of just pulling them out. They're not supposed to be dangerous, but why take the risk?
Oscar was a nice toasty 40ºc by the time I got the life support back on and I almost cried when the cooling started to pull out all that heat.
And then I almost sobbed because Oscar told me I had three and a half hours until station rendezvous and approximately two hours and twenty minutes of life support.
So I shut almost everything down. Inspection lights, most of the computing, interior displays, and after one last use, the uh waste processing.
That got me an extra 40 minutes of power. What else?
Well duh.
My power tools have bi-directional charging. I plugged them into my utility ports and hey OK, now I was only 5 minutes shy. OK.
So what else?
The Scrubber - It's running out of... scrub-ability.
There's a thing you can do that you should never, ever do, because it's suicidally stupid and bad. Honestly, I've always wanted to try it.
I turned the temp down past freezing and told the auto-doc to go to Oetzie mode. 
Now, this isn't an official process. It's one of the macros I've developed in bored moments - I submitted it to a couple of trade journals, both of whom told me I was a dangerous lunatic.
So I asked the Most Dangerous Human.
Miranda is a mutant. She burns 4000Kcal a day sitting still. Her IQ is supposedly about double or more than a normal Genius. She hates her life. Literally everyone in her species is kind of sad and bumbling and unable to grasp concepts she finds simple.
She lacks intellectual stimulation, and just craves novelty or anything that might make her feel for a moment, that she can be part of normal life.
When I met her she was running a comic book store. 
She's considered the most dangerous living human because nobody can figure out if she's going to take a nap, then re-write the rules of linguistics, develop an AI that will take over the Human race or stub her toes and decide to eradicate all living things in a Light Millenium.
As someone who's spent an afternoon shovelling food into her and listening to her do the most hilarious routine on why Comic Books should be weaponised, I can tell you that she has no more ill will toward anyone who doesn't write Justice Interplanetary than the common dog owner has for their pupper.
But Stever Aronnomis and Gixy Lurraine? Your days are numbered. Especially after Issue 17.
Anyway, Mir-Mir took about eight hours and re-wrote the Oetzie protocol, and got published in about 19 interdisciplinary publications. She was nice enough to credit me with the original work, and that got me a job and a weekly visit from the People In Black to check that I'm not also a supervillain or plotting to steal people's essential fluids to make Tsin sports drinks.
Anyway.
Oetzie mode gives you near-fatal hypothermia. It's not quite suspended animation but it's close as you can get while maintaining a really good chance of waking back up.
All I had to do was program a really simple little macro that would ping for immediate assistance and flag the file with re-animation instructions.
Already I was getting chilled. My teeth were chattering and I was trying to relax and jsut lket it happen. My littel budd the spac squid was stuill floting her. gabe it one o th deb bat  klklklkkkkkkkkkk
Ow.
Seriously. I was feeling very disoriented. Everything was too bright and I felt very woozy and my jaw ached, but apart from that, the pins and needles, the way all my clothes felt like broken glass and the uncontrollable shivering, I felt surprisingly not dead.
Also not in Oscar.
I was having trouble focusing my eyes, but hearing I could manage.
Two Tsin were discussing eating me.
Voice One: "Well he's dead. I say we just ask. You know Humans - it's either 'no, you can't because we have a whole bunch of traditions and sacred laws that cannot be broken' or 'haha yeah that's what they'd want' and then they ask you if you want some sauce."
Voice Two: "Yeah but... what if the othre humans get upset that we asked? What if they think we killed this one to get the meat?"
Voice one: "They were in an un-powered EVA suit with no air, and the life support running colder than the Caffeteria Freezer. I don't care what stupid plan they had, not even a Human can survive that."
This is it. The moment that I have been living for all these years. You always hope one day you get the chance, and now finally it's my time to shine!
I sat up and said "Do you two mind? I'm trying to get some sleep."
Their horrified screams were like a warm bath. Ahhhh!
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thornybubbles · 1 year
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What Makes Them Dangerous: Yandere Joseph Joestar
*Note: Here's Joseph's part of this. As I said in the previous post, I'll probably add more characters later, but this is all I have right now. I'm probably going to write some short blurbs for Tumblr for a bit until I get over this writer's block. I'm trying not to leave you guys hanging for too long.
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Another yandere you’ll never suspect to be yandere in a million years, but even if you do, it won’t matter. Joseph is extremely clever. Sure, he may act like a muscle-brained moron or an overgrown child sometimes, but his cunning and wit are sharper than Kars’ arm blades. It’s really easy to write him off as a hopeless goofball when he’s whining about you ignoring him or getting into hamon-infused food fights with Caesar, but don’t be fooled. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’ll use his goofball nature to endure himself to you. I mean, how can you say no to that blinding smile? If you make him sad he’ll pout like a toddler until you apologize and make it up to him. Joseph has a way of wearing you down by simply wearing you out. Dealing with this particular yandere will make you feel like an overworked single mother whose kid is going through the “terrible twos”. He’ll have you so exhausted and annoyed that you’ll give in just to get him to stop his childish antics. 
If that doesn’t work, he’ll revert to sabotage. Oh, you’re going out on a date with someone else? Not if he has anything to say about it! If he can’t convince you to change your mind about the date, he’ll follow you in secret and make sure you have the worst possible time imaginable. He’ll use Hamon, sleight of hand, his ties to the Speedwagon Foundation, bribery, intimidation, or whatever else he has at his disposal to ruin your date. All night long your date gets food dumped on him, wine and other drinks spilled all over his expensive suit, his car has four flat tires for no reason at all, and on top of it all a stray dog decides to use his leg as a toilet. By the end of the night, your date is so stressed and frustrated that he yells at you. Somehow he blames you for everything that happened to him and leaves you to walk home by yourself. Your eyes are blurred with tears so you don’t see who it is that you bump into while attempting the long walk home. You flinch, expecting to be yelled at again only to discover that it’s good ol’ JoJo. He always seems to be there when you need him. You’re so glad to see a friendly face that you don’t even question what he’s doing on this side of town. You tell him all about your terrible date and he decides to cheer you up by taking you on a date to his favorite Italian restaurant. Have you ever had squid ink spaghetti? No? Yeah, it sounds gross, but trust him, it’s the best thing you’ll ever eat!
He’ll wine and dine you and you’ll have so much fun with him that you’ll forget all about how badly your date went. Before long, you won’t even think of dating anyone other than JoJo. And that’s the dangerous thing about Joseph. You may think you have him all figured out, but no matter what, he’ll always be two steps ahead of you.
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