#careful and at times surprisingly gentle; something they really need to extend to themself more than they do | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chipper-smol · 3 years

Text

Feral Vessel Chain 3

Starting Prompt:

Feral meets the Radiance in a dream and nearly becomes infected before Hollow saves them

I’m putting everything under a readmoree cause these posts are gonna be LOOONG

( @a-hollow-vessel )

Time travel was something finicky. Something that they didn’t quite understand. The vessel would pace the hallway, mind buzzing with a million thoughts. Each and everyone reminding them of how different they were from their sibling, the Pure Vessel.

...Seeing them up close, seeing how their eyes did not yet dance with orange.. It was surreal, something to get used to. Though Ghost knew that their time here was… Limited, at least with their sibling. Their sibling was still to be shipped off to their fate. Nothing they did seemed to stop it. They were a piece of this complicated puzzle now, more than before, and yet, they were oh so helpless.

Their sibling trained, sometimes sparred with them. Did not show a wink of feeling, despite Ghost knowing that it was there. They knew that it had to be. This only stirred the animosity that they towards their father.

They made it their goal to make their father’s life a living hell. And, whilst they mostly succeeded, it was growing difficult to plan their shenanigans. Something felt off. They.. Could feel the presence of Her. They started seeing orange in their usually mundane dreams. Heard that chime in their head.. Which, well, set them on edge certainly. Sleeping now would be dangerous. Sleepless nights became commonplace, each rest they saw more and more of the same dream, felt a sick sluggishness in their chest. Perhaps they had bitten off a bit more than they could chew, stepping in between two higher beings in their strife. The Radiance must have caught onto whatever had caused this.. Time leap, they supposed. They would huff in frustration.. This was no issue that a nail could solve. …

Hollow witnessed their sibling spacing out periodically. They did not acknowledge it, not purposefully. They were the Pure Vessel, after all. To do such a thing would be… Inane. …

This was the longest they had witnessed their sibling stare out into space. Four minutes, 33 seconds. Counting was an impulse, one that they reluctantly allowed themself to keep. It felt like the only thing that kept them from thinking about other things, which strictly was not permitted if they wanted to be of any use. Concern, that was what they were feeling. It brewed inside them like an awful sickness that they wanted to be rid of. They would clutch at their chest beneath their robes, not wanting the sign of imperfection to be seen. But something with Ghost was wrong. And they did not know how to fix it, rather, they could not. Their father could… But their sibling seemed to have a very big dislike towards him, for reasons that Hollow could not fathom.

Their sibling showed this through the pranks they seemed to pull, even when they seemed to droop from tiredness. Why were they so tired all of the time? It was a question that plagued their supposedly questionless mind.

…

Ghost tried to ignore these things. They didn’t have a dream nail, which they viewed as their only way to fix anything relating to the Radiance. It was much more fun to make the Pale King’s life hell. Whilst their sparse dreams grew more and more like what they had heard the infected dreamed of, before it all went downhill.

===

A few weeks into this dreary routine, they would awaken from a slumber with a start. Ghost blinked, letting out a silent breath. Their dream, orange and yellow and full of sickeningly warm light. Yet, yet, yet, their vision was still tinged with it. Their head ached dully, their hands shook. Sluggishly, they would bring themself to their feet and slide out of bed. Ghost landed on the cold floor and would lean one arm against their bed.

Their vision burned, they would blink and stare at the orange. A cold panic coursed through them as they realized that, indeed, the orange tinge was not going away. Ghost would reach a hand up, ghosting it over their vision with a trembling sigh.

This was outside of their control, they felt so helpless. It was.. Hard to focus, but they knew that they couldn’t stick around any longer, risk getting anyone sick, despite how much they despised them. The retainers and citizens did not deserve to be infected and die because of their stubbornness, even they knew that Ghost would lift up their nail, and stare down at the orange tinted metal of it. They felt the weight of it in their hands, before casting it aside. No, no, they did not want to.. Accidentally harm anybody. They took nothing with them as they fled from their room, down the long halls and the courtyard. Out. Hoping that no one had seen them. They would… They did not know, there was no plan in their mind other than not spreading the infection from inside the very palace.

…

Where did they go? Another question that they could not stop thinking about. Why did their sibling suddenly leave in the night?... What was that orange glow in their eyes? Hollow would stare down the hallway they guarded, waiting for their father to come back.. They needed orders to go, didn’t they?.. They could not go without prompting, they were the Pure Vessel. Even if the concern they held for their sibling weighed even more heavily on them than the cloak on their back, even holding all that it signified.

They mustn’t. But… They were to protect their family and the king. And all of the citizens of Hallownest. That order, it extended to their sibling, did it not?.. Who were they to question…

They would leave, clutching their nail tightly to provide themself the slightest bit of comfort. Their mind was surprisingly.. Not empty, as they tried and strived for. Only, worries for their sibling. This was so out of character, clearly they needed their help. Hollow would provide, it was their duty to do so. Hollow took a breath, not visibly moving outwardly. Then, they would begin their march out of the hallway. They did not know where Ghost had gone, but they had to look for them. To find them.. This entire situation was giving them a bad feeling. How they.. Wished. They wished they had a voice to call to their sibling…

Farther and farther they walked, guided namely by the faint presence of their sibling. Some sort of connection between the two of them.. Something that they thought disproved their emptiness.

…

Ghost walked, until they felt too dizzy to continue. Their limbs felt sluggish. They were so.. tired, and perhaps a bit overheated. A fever swirling in their head, yet they felt oddly… Clear headed. In such a way that made it hard to think. It was an oxymoron of sensations that they couldn’t describe. They would collapse into a sit, right next to the hot spring which they had subconsciously guided themself to. They listened to the sound of water gently swaying, trickling around rocks. Vision focused and unfocused on the steam.

Thud. They fell onto their back lightly, hitting the back of their head against the stone floor, but they really weren’t bothered by this.

They supposed this was the fate of someone who bent the rules of the very world. Not change that they sought, but the fury of gods. Ghost would adjust themself a bit, into something that made a mockery of comfort. Their hazy gaze would focus on the ceiling above, which lightly dripped water from some unseen source above.

Bright…

Maybe a rest would do them some good, they thought. There was nothing better to do, and they were so, so, so so tired from their self imposed sleep deprivation.

They would close their eyes, body relaxing further with the gentle sounds of water, right next to their head. Ghost would close their eyes, faintly wondering if their parents would miss them. An odd thing to think, they thought, as sleep took them and they drifted into darkness.

Or, not so darkness.

...

A platform floated amidst yellow fluffy clouds of dream, Ghost stood atop it in their slightly taller, ironically past form, holding nothing. No nail, as they had arrived to the spring. They looked up, wincing slightly at the bright light, almost blindingly bright. But, soon it became inviting. They would tilt their head slightly, looking up to the sky up ahead.

The air was still and warm, comfortable. The space became filled with light chiming sounds. Bells, enchanting sounding, dreamy.

Ghost was silent as they walked the gray and cream colored stone path. They had seen scenes such as this before.. Although the memories associated were not the most pleasant, they felt an odd sense of security. They knew that they should not feel this way, but it was a hard thing to combat. They felt as if someone had stuffed cotton into their mask.

The light only seemed to grow more and more blinding, the warmth more scalding but they didn’t care. They had been here before. But they couldn’t find it within themself to care, step, step, step. And in front of them, the platform opened into a circle shape, and then ended. Something akin to where they had once fought her. A faint voice in their head voiced wary concern, warnings. They wanted to reach for their nail, but they knew it was not there. It was not there. It was not there.

They did not need to fight, anyways. They were safe, they were safe, they were.

A pair of hands were on their shoulders and shaking them. Ghost startled awake, slightly panicked for a moment as they tried to figure out what was going on. Hollow gave a worried, half chirp that sounded strangled. A sound that should never have been heard, and yet they.. Had..?

Ghost squinted.

Their sibling?

They would blink, vision still hazy but they were awake now. Their head would tilt slightly, as their bigger sibling would grab the side of their face and tilt their head up with a confused, concerned look.

Hollow watched as the orange swirling in their pitch black eyes finally shrank away, and their sibling looked at them, actually looked at them, for the first time in what felt like eons.

No words were exchanged, there never were. Hollow was not the Pure Vessel. Ghost had known, but they could finally.. Truly know, as their sibling wrapped their arms around them in a tight hug. And they could feel the cold drip of tears on their shoulder.

...They probably weren’t out of the woods, not yet, maybe not ever, but they had their sibling. Not a husk who only followed commands, who never batted an eye to anything despite their best efforts.

Maybe things would be alright now, though.

( @deltaetalan )

( @spiralraven https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/spiralraven )

They found a secret in the mind of a locked up bug. She was lying in the deep stomach of the kingdom, discarded with other hidden treasures. Her mind housed the warriors and higher beings of Hallownest, and Ghost has a terrible, fantastic, awful idea.

If they are all in there… Could they defeat her? Without facing their sibling?

They have to try.

They face their friends, and the first time it happens, they are frozen. Their void is slowly beading up into the air, dissipating as it rises. Their mentor faces them, and for a split second they think the mind-palace made a mistake, it must have.

Oro releases a great big bellow, one that rattles their shell badly enough that his attack catches them off-guard.

They don’t feel their shell split, but they wake up in front of the golden door, unharmed and whole. They get up from the floor and dust themselves off.

They have no lasting injuries, and their soft void doesn’t even ache with the hits they suffered. They glance at the door again.

There must be something very important at the top, if it’s this well guarded.

They take the challenges, opening the golden doors over and over again. It makes the void inside them tremble something terrible as if by taking each challenge they are changing themselves too.

They try and try and try again.

They slowly, painfully, climb up.

That’s the only thing, really, that they can do. That’s how they started, and that’s how they will end it. Their determination fuels them more than anything, their thoughts a swirl of emotion.

They face Oro and Mato. It kills them a little inside when they see their mentors on their knees, knowing that they were the one bringing them down.

They bow as a goodbye, and they leave, the dream arena dissolving into golden clouds.

They shake a little, their void trembling. It is worrisome, but they refuse to stop. They challenge the next door and fight and win.

Facing Hornet once again, without the recognition in her eyes is more painful than they imagined. The fight is over quickly, but they ache inside, not unlike when they take a savage hit from the infected husks.

They stop to rub at their chest, a tight, uncomfortable feeling coiling in them. They don’t want to hurt their friends and fighting this long is taking its toll. But the nervousness drives them forward further and further.

They can’t afford to waste time. This is for their sibling.

They march on determined. They must win, they must fight. No challenge this bug can imagine would ever stop them. None and nothing will.

The final arena is dark. Their soul trembles and their pure nail shakes in their grip. They don’t want to believe what they are seeing. They don’t want to recognise the kneeling figure, and they shake their head in denial.

It can’t be. Their sibling is locked, chained, hidden away.

Their mind goes blank, and only their sharp reflexes save them from the first hit. Their sibling, tall, lanky and grown swipes at them again. Ghost evades the hit and prepares to retaliate.

They fight. Their heart is bleeding with every hit they land on their sibling, and they want, more than anything, to stop. To hug them, to comfort them, but this is only a parody of their sibling. An illusion, a facsimile of a memory that was just as wreathed in darkness as they are right now.

With the last slash, their not-sibling falls to their knees. They look straight at Ghost, and Ghost sees a spark of recognition in their eyes. Ghost approaches, gently laying their hand against the white mask of their sibling. It almost dwarfs their hand, and for a split second their sibling lays their head against them.

The ceiling splits open and Ghost is dragged upwards.

No. No!

They reach back to their sibling, desperate to cling to the sense of comfort for just a second more, but the fake sibling-shape dissolves into motes of void and Ghost is yanked up.

They turn and face the Radiance.

She is an angry god, a screaming ball of fury and flame. The light of her hurts, burning their arms as they challenge her. They stand in front of the onslaught, their face turned up in defiance.

One of them will not leave the arena. And they can’t afford to lose.

As they fight, the void rises. Ghost doesn’t even realise as they grab at its power, pulling it up from the abyss between the dreams and waking thought. Its black liquidy mass rises and the Radiance flees up and up higher, but Ghost chases her. They evade her attacks as the onslaught grows more and more desperate. They arrive at the top of the pantheon, as they have defeated every single warrior left in Hallownest.

They ascend.

As The Void rises to devour the Radiance, Ghost desperately searches. Their sibling must be in there somewhere. They saw them turn back into the void the rose from, and all of The Void is now here.

They descend into the swirling mass of regrets, their nail slipping from their grasp, as the Void eats it. They twist around in the angry waves of the rising Void, looking for a flash of that blindingly white mask. Just a sign of life, just a second to see that they are free. The darkness obscures their vision, as it pours through them. Pressure builds behind their mask, and it spills out from them, but their tears are dark and it swirls easily with the rest of the terrible ocean.

A light catches their attention.

It is not the same burning glare of the Radiance, it is much more subdued. It is pale and white, almost silver, sharp and unfamiliar.

Ghost turns and swims towards its source. The current drags them away, angry and lashing out as they push against it. It doesn’t want to let go, and the moment suspends itself, frozen in time before Ghost crashes through it.

They hang from a platform, its cold metal edge painfully familiar. They hold it, straining against releasing the edge. They pull themself up, their new soft claws scrabbling against the smooth metal surface.

Someone is already there.

They see the bright light of the king and a lonely little silhouette against it. They don’t think, they don’t consider anything other than that their sibling is there. They grab their shoulders and crush them into a hug, their nails clutching at the sibling’s cape. They don’t want to let go.

They know what will happen if they let go.

[ Bonus content:

The King marches them both out of the Abyss, his cold light cutting a sharp line straight ahead. Ghost clutches at their sibling’s hand, refusing to let them go. The king watches them both, Ghost knows this, but they can’t make themself release the limp hand from their desperate grip.

The king leaves it without comment.

The Ancient Basin is just as bleak and lifeless as it was before, although its impressive architecture is a lot less… crumbly.

As they make the journey across to the White Palace, Ghost’s urge to kick the king grows.

They look at his stupid crown, and his stupid palace, as they clutch the claws of their sibling. With a growing sense of satisfaction they slowly realise that they could.]

( @couchcat or @couch-cat )

( @solara-nightshade )

Favoritism

The feral vessel is in the garden practicing different signs when they spot Hollow. They look up from where they had been documenting which of their signs meant what and feel nothing strange upon sensing their presence. It isn’t until Hollow comes into view that Ghost feels anything amiss.

Hollow steps around the flowering shrubbery along the cobbled path to the courtyard, carrying a sword in each hand. One is their usual large pale sword, intricate designs carved with precision, made to perfectly fit them and their size. The other is not nearly as elegant- only half the length, standard, and perhaps slightly better material; a sword meant for an elite warrior rather than soldier.

Before Ghost can even ponder where Hollow obtained the sword, and had started to sign the question, Hollow is thrusting out the extra sword towards them. Message clear.

Fight me.

Fighting Hollow had not been on their list of things to do today, but they figure they can accept the Hollow Knight’s offer, emboldened by their brave show of individuality. The courtyard offers enough space for a good duel, and as long as they don’t destroy the surrounding shrubbery, no one should object to their fight.

With the tingle of excitement, they get up and take the sword.

No sooner had Ghost tested their grip had the Hollow Knight crouched with sword at the ready. Ghost barely has time to adjust their stance before Hollow pushes forward and swings their sword. Ghost is only able to parry by guiding Hollow’s blade upward with their own.

Ghost quickly goes onto the offensive and goes to give a good slap to Hollows side, hoping to move the duel to their favor by giving Hollow a weakness. Hollow is forced to evade and back away before going in for another strike, this time with more force. Knowing their smaller stature will not win against Hollows strength, they quickly maneuver to miss Hollow’s blade.

As soon as the blade passed Ghost goes in for the win, using the time it would take Hollow’s giant blade to make its way back to go in for the kill. Blade ending at the skin of Hollow’s throat.

Ghost cannot help but smirk in triumph.

Ghost feels Hollow’s body go rigid, frozen in their stance. However, something flashes in the corner of Ghost’s eyes and that is all the warning the feral vessel gets before ducking away to narrowly avoid the soul daggers aimed at their back. The soul daggers dig into the ground and disappear, leaving cracked notches in the stone pathway.

Ghost feels anger briefly course through them, seeing as how they thought this was a sword duel. However, they can adapt. There was no need to stand on the traditions the pale king called acceptable for a sword duel.

With the knowledge that soul attacks were on the table now, Ghost sends a punch of soul towards Hollow, which Hollow side steps to avoid, then sends a wave of soul daggers back towards Ghost. Ghost jumps into the air and swipes at one of the daggers, pogoing off towards the Hollow knight, and fling their sword in an arc above Hollow.

Hollow quickly teleports away and lets loose a whip of void which Ghost tries to avoid, but gets nicked in the side. It stings where the void touched but they ignore it and get back into a defensive stance.

However, when Hollow doesn’t make a move, Ghost takes the chance, switching to offensive, to send another burst of soul towards Hollow which hits Hollow straight in the chest. The power behind the soul attack causing Hollow to slide a few feet backwards.

Hollow looks stunned for a moment, before gripping their sword tightly and teleporting above Ghost and thrusts downwards. Ghost leaps out the way and has to avoid Hollows follow up thrust by dashing through Hollow as soon as their foot hit the ground, turning into intangible void for brief seconds. Turning back around, they plan to hit Hollow again when they see a tell-tale sign of glowing from the Hollow Knight. Knowing what this means, they immediately dash backwards to avoid the explosion of soul around Hollow. Careful to avoid the lingering explosions, they dash back forwards to slap Hollow with their sword during the cooldown they know this spell has.

They don’t expect Hollow to physically grab their blade, causing liquid void to glisten down its length.

It is at this point Ghost starts to worry about Hollow’s intentions behind this fight.

Hollow forces the feral vessel’s blade away and follows up with a broad swing. Ghost feels the wind from the motion just millimeters from their face, followed quickly by swing after swing. Each a strong and powerful stroke, but slowly becoming more and more predictable.

Careless.

Ghost notices they are being backed up onto one of the moss covered walls surrounding the garden and looks for an opening in the swings. When they spot it, they quickly swing in tandem with the offending blade and throw it off course and away. Hollow’s large sword clinking along the ground as it comes to a halt several feet away. Instead of aiming for what should have been the end the first time they did it, they swing themselves onto their siblings back and forced Hollows head upwards, hoping to unbalance him.

The sudden change in scenery caused Hollow to stagger, and with the sudden weight behind, gave enough force to make Hollow fall backwards. Ghost quickly swings back around and thrusts Hollow’s chest to the ground. They follow by digging their blade into the ground just inches away from Hollows neck.

They stared at Hollow. Hard.

When Hollow got over whatever dazed state they should have been in from the sudden vertigo, and noticed Ghosts stare, they looked away. When Hollow ceases to desist, does Ghost finally relax. Knowing Hollow has conceded the fight.

“Well done, my child.” A whispery voice descends upon them from behind Hollow. Ghost looks up and sees the White Lady descending into the courtyard from one of the paths that lead to higher ground.

Ghost, with incriminating evidence of a sword still in hand, quickly drops it and backs off of the Hollow Knight. Quickly signing hello to get the Lady’s eyes off of the sight in front of them.

“Quite the accomplishment, defeating the Hollow Knight. An impressive battle.” She says as she floats into the garden, Dryya following stiffly behind her. They could feel Dryya’s eyes on them like a hawk.

Hollow, on the other hand, was quick to stand and give the White Lady a bow in greeting.

The White Lady simply moves past Hollow and comes to a stop in front of the feral vessel, “I am sure my Wyrm will be quite impressed by the results. Such a talented child for your age.” She praises.

Ghost cannot help but feel embarrassed by such kind words, but signs back, ‘Watch, all?’

“I know of the events, yes. I could feel it through the plants.” She gestures towards the damage they had inflicted to the courtyard and surrounding plant life.

Ghost, who really cares less about the plants, still signs a ‘sorry’ for her.

“Surely, with all the other damage you have inflicted upon my Wyrm’s palace, you cannot claim differently here. I will pardon it this once, but please do try to keep your tendencies away from my garden from now on? I have duties to attend, but I just wanted to stop by to see what was going on. I will see you later, yes?”

At their signed affirmative she gently floats away from her garden down a different path from which she came, garden repairing itself as she goes by. Ghost takes a look towards Hollow, only to find their head bowed and fists tightly clenched. As soon as the Lady is completely gone, Hollow collapsing onto the ground with the thump startles Ghost from their thoughts.

Black tears start to cascade their way down Hollow’s face.

Ghost approaches slowly, not really knowing how to take this sudden change in Hollow’s demeanor. However, once they get close Hollow only pushes Ghost away before turning away from them. Desperately scrubbing the tears away from their face. Leaving black stains to mark Hollow’s face.

Ghost wasn’t about to let Hollow push them away and quickly marched over and grabbed their face, forcing them to look at Ghost.

“Wrong, what?” They sign, taking one hand away to finger sign.

Hollow stares at them for a moment, before carefully signing back, “White Lady. Hollow. Hello. No.” Their sign is basic, most likely learned from watching Ghost, but Ghost understands it nonetheless.

They hadn’t really been focusing, but they do remember how the White Lady had walked right past Hollow to give Ghost all the attention. Ghost hadn’t thought anything was strange at the time, they having very little knowledge of social customs, but did find it weird that the White Lady had completely ignored Hollow. They tried to think if they had ever noticed the White Lady give the Hollow Knight any attention, and couldn’t think of any examples, and how how she had talked about Hollow in the future-

She had called them Vessel. It. Tarnished by an idea instilled. Considered a blemish.

Perhaps her feelings affected even before their duty was to be fulfilled. Knowing how a simple touch from the King affected them, having to watch as their mother ignored and went on to praise and give love to their sibling…

What a horrible sibling they have been. What little attention they could have gotten, stolen away by their presence.

Wanting to fix this mistake of theirs, they quickly pull Hollow into a hug in apology, before taking their hand and forcing Hollow to their feet. It only takes mere seconds for Hollow to find balance due to their training, and Ghost runs off with Hollow in tow.

They can feel Hollow tugging, trying to get their hand free of Ghost, but Ghost will not fail here. They run down the hall that the White Lady had gone towards, and upon finding her and startling Dryya, they use their momentum to thrust Hollow in front of her. Hollow almost collapsing into her by the sudden loss of momentum. Hands, attempting to find balance, grab onto the White Lady’s robes.

The Hollow Knight lets go just as quickly as if burned. Returning them to their sides.

The White Lady, predictably, looks to the feral vessel for answers, “What is it, my child?”

Ghost pointedly signs, ‘Hug. Hollow.” They circle their arms, finger points touching followed by a single hand with three bent fingers.

The White Lady looks hesitant before looking down at their sibling. Her eyes widen at the sight of black streaks down their face, evidence of tears.

At her hesitation to move, Dryya speaks from her side, “Surely, you do not have to follow the whims of that feral creature, my lady. It is no more than the same thing as this one in front of you.”

Dryya’s words caused the White Lady to freeze. She seemed to think over Dryya’s words.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, with Hollow looking resigned just in front of her, she whispers “Dryya, vow that what I am about to do will stay here?”

Dryya looks taken aback, but immediately takes to a knee and swears, “Anything for you, my lady.”

With that, the White Lady bends down and carefully wraps her arms around the vessel in front of her. Catching said vessel off guard.

She feels their shaking and when she feels a cold wetness at her front she replies, “I am sorry. There is so little I can do for you.”

Ghost can only hope this is a step in the right direction.

( @plyushh )

( @confusedhost )

( @artisticdragons )

( @loops-for-soup https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/loops-for-soup )

( @babystag )

#hollowknight #hollow knight #shitlordau #telephoneknight #otherart #fanart #giftcorner #long post #LOOOONG POST #now will tumblr let me post this lets see #Thank you everyone for participating!#Some of the @'s didn't work and i tried my best to find another way to link to you!#otherfic

368 notes · View notes