hello! my name is Aziren, and between university exams and assignments I'm an aspiring fantasy writer. i'm also a DM for a multitude of TTRPGs outside from D&D, but still mostly fantasy. i've been a fanfic writer and a worldbuilder for years now, so i hope you'll enjoy my works
my main wips are Revolve and Unearthly, two series set in the Siliverse alongside their own custom TTRPG system Trick of Life. i try to post stuff about them semi-regularly, from worldbuilding to trope discussions to character intros. i also write for Flash Fiction Friday, so look out for that
my askbox is open for any ask games, and i'd love to be in any tag games!
[masterposts, wip intros and taglists under the cut]
Frequent Tags
#ark writing tips: advice about everything writing
#ark writing resources: circulating writing resources, because real writers don't gatekeep
#ark.txt: random thoughts, events and life updates
#ark writes: pieces of writing by me
#ark draws: pieces of art by me
#diary of a suffering writer: where i talk about my experience with writing
#diary of a suffering artist: where i talk about my experience with art
#ark reblogs: anything that gets reblogged from others, you can find here
#ark originals: any and all talk about my original works goes here
#ark replies: when i get asks, here you'll find the replies
#ark ask games: ask games i'm participating in
#ark tag games: tag games i'm participating in
#flash fiction: Flash Fiction Friday entries
Wip Intros
Revolve
the universe is crumbling. the Void slips into every crack in the Edges. the Realms' only chance is to find the Ashen Gods and convince them to help. it's a 50/50 chance, but it's all they have. it would be easier if everyone could collaborate, but history has the unfortunate tendency to get in the way
wip status ✵ drafting
genre ✵ low fantasy
subgenre ✵ grimdark
target audience ✵ new adult
tag ✵ #ark revolve
other ✵ queer fiction, not a lot of romance, political & social intrigue
✵ see more
✵ get on the taglist
Unearthly
Zeno comes from a family of spirit hunters, but he's the only one his grandpa won't trust to become one full time. so he trains harder than anyone. kills more spirits than anyone else. it becomes a problem when his best friend turns out to be a medium
wip status ⛧ planning
genre ⛧ urban fantasy
subgenre ⛧grimdark
target audience ⛧ new adult
tag ⛧ #ark unearthly
other ⛧ queer fiction, romance, superheroes
⛧ see more
⛧ get on the taglist
The Mortal God
Aren would be happier if there wasn't a prophecy about him, because the hunters never believe him when he says he's trying to control his powers and not to kill the king
wip status ⚙ planning
genre ⚙ gaslamp fantasy
subgenre ⚙ epic
target audience ⚙ young adult
tag ⚙ #ark mortal god
other ⚙ queer fiction, no romance, found family
⚙ see more
⚙ get on the taglist
The Lost Sea Symphony
Talia is a monster in human skin running for safety across the glitching servers, and the voice only she can hear is saying that she'll find safety in the sea
wip status ⚔ planning
genre ⚔ high fantasy
subgenre ⚔ epic
target audience ⚔ young adult
tag ⚔ #ark lost sea symphony
other ⚔ queer fiction, romance, pirates
fandom: original work (ocverse - warcrimes au)
rating: m
cw: various implied human experimentations
wc: 1000 (🤨)
prompt: #fff359 one more chance for @flashfictionfridayofficial
note: some very silly non-canon shenanigans featuring @couriers-mile 's Mickey B. also there's wip art here
---
Trying to wash down the taste of the terrible doughnut with equally terrible coffee, I let my eyes wander across the depressingly cheerfully furnished basement room of the community center. The meeting of 'One More Chance', the support group for victims of scientific research abuse - do these groups all have such lofty names? - is starting to fill up, it's almost twenty people by now. Who would have thought that this is such a common experience after all? And some of them do look a little experimented on - some limbs missing or replaced with strange tech here, some weird skin conditions there, and quite a few visible scars. One guy has what looks like a third eye on his forehead. At least at first glance, I seem to be one of the luckier ones, overall.
A guy around my age in a colorful Hawaiian shirt joins me with a nod, burying his hands in his pockets a little awkwardly. "Hey."
"Hey." I force a smile and glance at his name tag - 'Mickey' - wondering if this is his real name. I considered putting a fake one on mine for a moment, but then decided against it.
"First time?" Mickey asks.
"Yeah," I confirm with a grimace. "You?"
"Yeah."
We small-talk for a few minutes, then Clyde, the group leader, ushers us all to the chairs standing in a circle. He welcomes the new attendees, emphasizing how glad he is that we're here, and that every contribution is very much appreciated. Also, we are all "so brave" to be here.
I scoot around on the hard wooden chair to find a comfortable position while being regaled by one of the members' stories about getting autopsied by 'her' scientist. Most of the others listen intently, nodding along.
"Vivisection," I finally murmur under my breath.
Mickey leans over a little. "What?"
"Well, if she's not dead, it's not an autopsy," I explain, whispering. "It's a vivisection." I got schooled on the difference myself not too long ago, even though mine turned out to be 'just' a hypnosis-induced hallucination, and Helena didn't actually cut me open. Seemed pretty real in that moment, though.
Mickey chuckles, then we join in to half-heartedly applaud the vivisected woman and her account.
Next, group leader Clyde gives a boring, endless talk about our legal rights as scientific test subjects, then he pivots to how most of us are too emotionally entangled with our scientists, making the whole thing a lot more complicated.
"So the first step of getting out of a toxic relationship like this is," Clyde lectures, "you have to want to get out."
"This is bullshit," I whisper to myself with an eyeroll - judging by the way he now looks at me, apparently not quietly enough. Blushing, I scramble to apologize. "Sorry, I didn't mean… sorry."
"No, please." Clyde gives me a forced smile. "We're all about open communication here. Speak your mind."
"It's just…" I gnaw on my lip, trying to find the right words. "I don't see why the goal has to be to get away. I mean, I'm sure it's different for every one of us, but I don't want to leave. I love her. And she's really smart and doing important work, so it's nice to play a part, right? Help with scientific progress? And like, I don't even mind the experiments. Mostly. Well, the plant monster was maybe a little extreme, but…" I frown at the memory for a second, then kick my brain back into focusing on the present. "And I know she'd never actually let anything serious happen to me! But I just would like to get asked beforehand, y'know? Instead of suddenly waking up from getting drugged again, strapped to a table, her looming over me menacingly, eyeing my naked body, and…" I clear my throat, feeling myself blush. "Anyway. I don't think 'getting out' has to be the ultimate end goal. Instead, we could maybe focus on how to achieve a more equal relationship, right? How to approach a consent discussion and things like that?" Getting self-conscious about my spontaneous little speech, I make a face. "Sorry, didn't mean to butt in like that."
Clyde stares at me with a deep frown, but before he can say anything, Mickey suddenly starts applauding, and a few of the others hesitantly join in.
"Thank you," Clyde notes, squinting at my name tag, "…Fia. That is a very valid point for discussion." He gives me another forced smile and looks into the group. "Now, who's next?"
I sink into my chair, a little embarrassed, when the guy with the third eye talks about how his scientist is still trying to clone him, unsuccessfully so far, and how it's messing with his mind, because he thinks he's about to be replaced, and he has mixed feelings about that.
A few accounts later, we reach the last program point - Clyde leading a guided meditation to strengthen our root chakra, so we can better endure whatever is to come.
I'd rather get locked in with the plant monster again, if I'm being honest.
Mickey elbows me. "Wanna get out of here?" he whispers, and I nod promptly. The hell is a root chakra anyway?
Outside, Mickey lights a cigarette. "Well, that sure was… something," he states with a chuckle.
Peeling off my name tag, I laugh. "Sure was."
"You wanna get a coffee together?"
I probably should decline, it's pretty late in the evening, and I don't even know the guy - but maybe this experience has forged a strange bond between us already. "Yeah sure, why not."
While we're walking toward the coffee shop across the street, Mickey glances at me. "Okay, but I just have to ask - this is a sex thing for you, right?"
Stumped, I blink at him. "What, no?! It's not- it's not a sex thing!" I stammer at this sudden intrusive question, feeling myself blush. "…well, not exclusively a sex thing…"
---
further recommended reading, very explicit: the vivisection, the plant monster
lizardwriting pinglist [ask/comment/dm to get on it]: @voidthing @ark-inkweaving @aalinaaaaaa
late submission for Flash Fiction Friday 358, event hosted by @flashfictionfridayofficial
WIP ⚙ The Mortal God
Trigger Warnings ⚙ Implied Terminal Illness
Rating ⚙ Gen
Wordcount ⚙ 982
Lavir wakes like wading through molasses, and he already aches. There's a heavyness to both his limbs and his eyes. His bones, deep under the skin, light up with pain at every brush of the blanket. Though, not his left arm. That doesn't feel like much at all. He tries to move his fingers, maybe tap a rhythm on the mattress. It doesn't make a sound. And Lavir is already tired again.
His eyes roam the infirmary room. The beds are still all empty, and only doctor Helding is in the room, puttering about with his back turned. Lavir tries to call to him, once twice, but only on the third try does his throat cooperate. "Helding?"
Doctor Helding startles before turning around. There is such a deep crease in his forehead that Lavir would be tempted to draw it out in ink if he could move. "Mister Fass, it's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?"
"Where's Yevoz," Lavir asks, completely ignoring the doctor's question. He is quite sure the doctor can see well enough to know he's declining. Rapidly.
The fake smile doctor Holding has in place tightens. Lavir probably shouldn't irritate his doctor, but at this point? He doesn't care. And the doctor does answer him still. "Your boyfriend is out, researching a cure for you. Now, how do you feel?"
"Not a boy, not my boyfriend," Lavir says, and every muscle tightens. It hurts. Anger hurts, and now irritation does too, and it's all so exhausting. It takes him a minute to gather the energy to speak again. "They're still working?"
The doctor looks at him over the edge of his glasses. "He's quite dedicated to you."
Lavir is so tired of people's looks. Of their implications. But he clamps his teeth around the irritation and smiles thinly. "Have them called here?"
Doctor Helding frowns a little more. "If I do so, you will answer my questions."
"Fine," Lavir doesn't spit out, but it's a near thing.
The doctor pokes his head out of the infermary, says something to someone passing by, and comes back in to sit on the stoll by Lavir's bed.
He zones out through the doctor's questions. He knows he answers, simply because his neck and his throat and the sides of his jaw hurt, and he feels more and more tired. Too tired, too rapidly, even if he's not sure how long it takes for Ye to appear in the infirmary doorway. They must have run here from the other end of the Herbarium with how hard they're panting.
"Hey," they say, sidelining the doctor to sit on the edge of his cot and run a gentle finger over his hand. It doesn't hurt. Lavir could cry at this one kindness from the universe.
"Hey yourself," he replies, and his left hand does answer enough for him to curl his fingers around Ye's.
Ye smiles, gentle and warm, and Lavir's body relaxes so much he nearly passes out from it. He doesn't, but only because Ye's hand in his is a lighthouse. Even if Ye looks a little paler, a little thinner. They've been deep in research. "When's the last time you ate?"
"I'm supposed to ask you that," Ye half-laughs and half cries. "I promise it was sometime in the past twelve hours. Sarisa won't let me go more than that. You?"
Lavir's stomach protests at the mere thought of food. "Not hungry."
Doctor Helding frowns and turns to Ye. "He's been refusing to eat since yesteray. Mister Fass appears to have forgotten he needs food while he belongs to the living."
That's not gonna be much longer. Lavir is sure of that. Ye must know it too, because they turn to him with a scared look in their eyes. "La?"
Lavir would shrug if it didn't make everything hurt. Instead, he turns to the side, toward the window. It looks dark outside. "Take me on a picnic?"
Doctor Helding bubbles into protest, but Ye just frowns. "It's three in the morning."
"Even better," Lavir tries to laugh. It doesn't quite work. "I hope it's not cloudy. I want to see the stars once more if I have the chance."
Ye squeezes his hand. "I'll get your wheelchair."
"This is preposterous," doctor Helding squawks. "He can't go–"
"He said he wants to see the stars, so I will take my friend to see the stars," Ye interrupts him, already walking over with the wheelchair.
Doctor Helding goes red in the face. "You can't decide that. You're not his husband, you're not his family and you're not his next of kin, so–"
"But I am his medical proxy, and that means that here him and I have final say. And we're saying I'm taking him outside," Yevoz says. And despite their harsh tone, their hold is gentle and light as they helps Lavir sit up and slide into the wheelchair. "Now, do we need to sign something about this?"
The doctor presses his lips thin, but passes a clipboard over to him. For a second, he's extremely glad to be left-handed.
Yevoz gets them out of the infirmery and out of the building in record time, and not once doe they jostle the wheelchair. The sky above is deep blue, with only the occasional moon-lit cloud to break it up. They're a little too close to the city lights to see all the stars, but there's enough of them that Lavir can find his way around the constellations. "Thank you."
Ye smiles. "Anytime. You just hold on until tomorrow, and you won't have to deal with Doctor Helding again. I've got something that should work, and if not then the cursebreaker are getting here in the afternoon."
Lavir squeezes a hand over Ye's on the wheelchair's handle, even as his heart drops. He doesn't think he has that kind of time.
❊
⚙ The Mortal God Taglist ⚙
@definitely-not-flynn @lizardperson @firesidefantasy @savvyminnow
fandom: original work (ocverse - warcrimes au au? 😬)
rating: m
cw: a little explicit language, age difference, so much gay yearning
wc: 774
prompt: #fff241 hour of denial for @flashfictionfridayofficial (antique prompt)
note: couldn't let yesterday's #fff357 go and wrote an extremely gay follow-up. woops.
---
Addie stirs a little, and for a moment, I'm afraid she's waking up already. But it must be my lucky day - her steady, even breath resumes, and she continues sleeping.
I don't even know how long I've been staring at her sleeping face - an hour, maybe? It's just so rare that I'm awake before her, and who knows if I'll ever get that opportunity again anytime soon. So I will definitely savor every single second of it.
She's so stunningly beautiful, especially now, bare-faced, unguarded. I know she probably wouldn't appreciate it too much that I'm staring at her like this, when she always takes so much care of her appearance. But I can't help it; she's breathtaking. How can I not study every single detail of her? The curve of her brows. Her fine nose, and the way it always does that cute wiggle when she laughs. Her lips. God, those lips. The lines on her face, around her eyes and her mouth. Her dimples.
Her whole body is a marvel. I am addicted to her, to every square inch of her skin, every perfect little imperfection. The few freckles on her shoulders. The tiny, faded scar on her stomach. The birthmark on the inside of her left thigh. Her smell. Her taste.
The way she cums for me. Just completely lets go, unravels for me. God, the noises she makes, and the way the orgasm shudders through her whole body. The little goosebumps it gives her, the way she looks at me, face flushed, breathing hard. I always enjoyed getting my partner off in bed - most people do, I assume? - but this is another level. If she wanted to put me on a leash and keep me under her desk, I'd be fine with that.
We've been sleeping together for three months now, and I'm always grateful when Addie makes time for me in her busy schedule. I don't know how she does it anyway, how she lives her life - running a successful company, and being involved in a million business things, and maintaining an extensive social life at the same time. I barely manage to get my ass out of the house for one non-work activity per week, and my job is considerably less stressful than hers. But she makes it look so easy with her endless energy, it's unreal.
Of course it's casual between us. Addie is so far out of my league on every level, it's a miracle this is even still going on. I'm simply a little distraction for her, some pastime entertainment half her age, that will eventually get replaced - and I intend to enjoy it as long as it lasts. I just have to manage not to fall madly in love with her in the meantime.
Addie moves again, then her eyelids flutter, so it seems my uninterrupted staring time has come to an end. She raises her arms over her head and stretches, making her blanket slip down, and I am momentarily distracted by the way her silky nightgown drapes around her tits. God, how has this woman of forty-eight still such a flawless figure? Well, probably good genetics supported by serious discipline - I have seen her workout routine. My lazy ass sure can't keep up with that.
She smiles her breathtaking smile at me, and my heart skips a beat. "Morning, darling." I love it when she calls me that. Yes, she does that with basically everyone, an overabundant use of pet names is her little quirk - but still. It always feels so strangely intimate.
I can't help but reciprocate her smile. "Hey."
Rolling on her side and facing me, Addie pulls me into a wonderfully gentle kiss, and I already feel like I'm dying of happiness. So many butterflies in my stomach.
She strokes my cheek. "You've been up long?"
"Nah, just woke up a minute ago," I answer. I don't need to emphasize how pathetic I am, it's probably obvious enough as it is.
She treats me to another soft kiss, and I don't see myself ever getting enough of those. "Breakfast?"
I lose myself in her eyes for a moment before I nod half-heartedly. Breakfast means getting up, which isn't exactly what I want, but I know I don't have much choice. "Sure."
After pressing a kiss on top of my head, Addie pushes herself out of the bed and vanishes toward the bathroom. I roll on my back with a sigh and stare at the ceiling.
Don't fall madly in love with her in the meantime. Who am I even kidding?
Fuck.
---
lizardwriting pinglist [ask/comment/dm to get on it]: @voidthing @ark-inkweaving @aalinaaaaaa
well it's not wednesday anymore but oh well. got tagged by @couriers-mile [here - go look at that art y'all!!]
i'm tagging uhhhh @ark-inkweaving @aalinaaaaaa @phoenix-is-still-here @larksingingoverthemeadow and whomstever else i'm currently forgetting and feels like doing this
lets have a tiny bit of the almost finished In Brightest Black chapter that's coming up - Fia being gay.
[Addie] dashes off toward the bar, ordering our drinks, which gives me the opportunity to study her for a moment. God, she looks absolutely stunning once again, it's unreal. And she has that air of confidence around her that just makes you want to stare at her in awe - which is almost the opposite of how Helena usually works on people, because with her, there's always that urge to avert your gaze. Like she's so intimidating that you shouldn't risk eye contact. But Addie draws you in with her magnetism. It's very strange.
She returns, two glasses in hand and a cheerful smile on her face, settling down beside me, and I realize I am really happy to see her.
and also, because i am very hyped for unwholesome oc week - technically not a "wip" because it's finished, BUT everything not publicly posted yet still counts as wip in my book lmao. cw for a little body horror......
When the damn itch starts itching again, I shove up my sleeve and rake my nails over my inner forearm extensively. Fuck, this feels so nice. And at least here, Helena doesn't see me, and I can scratch in peace. It's fine, it's not like I'm breaking the skin or anything, it's all superficial.
I stop my movement without pulling my hand away. Of course, I could break the skin, I just have to press my nails in a bit more… There we go, surprisingly easy - like sharp little knives through butter. It doesn't even bleed much, and almost doesn't hurt. Without thinking, I dig my nails in even more until there is a small flap hanging off.
And then I pull.
I can't believe I've been writing this thing almost every single day for four months, that's kinda wild. It really feels like a journey I went on and I had a lot of fun with it and I'm genuinely kinda sad that it's over. I mean, there's still editing to do, of course, but for now the story is finished and I need to let it cool off for a minute. But man am I going to miss these guys <3
General taglist: @thatrandomlemononyourcounter1, @teacupsandstarlight, @ark-inkweaving
got tagged by @aalinaaaaaa aaaages ago but i always forget about this... oh well. how about dropping some juicy backstory teasers in a random wip bit now lmao
tagging uhhhh @ark-inkweaving @ineedaplacetostay @phoenix-is-still-here @zorilleerrant and whoever else feels like it
Addie looks at me for a moment, then a conspiratorial grin spreads on her face. "Did you know she used to be married?"
I need a second to process her words. "Who? Helena?" Mouth agape, I stare at her, then I start to laugh. "Okay, now you're just messing with me." Her grin gets wider, stopping me dead in my tracks. "You are joking, right?" Addie flutters her eyelashes and takes a sip from her drink, while I still struggle with this information, completely baffled. "Married to whom?!" I finally ask.
"Oh, it's a long story," she replies innocently. "But she probably wouldn't appreciate it too much if I blabbed about it."
fandom: original work (ocverse - warcrimes au au? 😬)
rating: m
wc: 965
prompt: #fff357 it's so obvious for @flashfictionfridayofficial
note: so yesterday, i blabbed a little about how Fia & Addie would also make an interesting couple. and unfortunately the way my brain works, i couldn't let this go lmao. so, this is completely non-canon, AU-of-the-AU, tumblr exclusive because i'm not putting this on ao3 (for now), entirely for self indulgence. and i'm not going to jinx myself by saying i'll never talk about this again (because then i'll end up with a """quick little oneshot""" of 100k again lol) but uhhh yea. we'll see.
---
"Hi. Addie Rhodes. I have an appointment with Amir."
"Hi." My view falls on the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, standing in front of my desk, and my heart stops for an endless second.
Wow.
When I finally manage to forcefully kick my brain back into working mode, I babble away. "He's still on a call, but he should be done very soon, so if you would just make yourself comfortable over there for a minute, he'll be right with you."
"Sure." She gives me an incredibly captivating smile, and I have to remind myself not to stare at her open-mouthed.
"Can I get you a coffee while you wait?"
"That would be lovely. Little milk, no sugar, please."
"Coming right up, Ms. Rhodes."
"Just 'Addie', please," she chuckles. "If you don't mind." Oh, I certainly don't.
She settles into one of the plush chairs outside of my boss's office, somehow making it look like she's lounging on a throne, and I hand her a coffee a few minutes later.
"Thank you, darling."
There's this amazing smile again, and I'm pretty sure I am actually blushing a little. Guess I'm not immune to a very charming woman twice my age calling me sweet pet names. "You're welcome."
"You're new here, aren't you?" Addie is apparently a regular enough guest to know that, and I wonder what her relationship with Amir is. He put that appointment on his calendar himself, with only her first name and no further info, so I'm not even sure if this is a professional date. Not that it's any of my business.
"Uhm, yes. Started a few weeks ago," I reply, clearing my throat. Why the hell am I so nervous all of a sudden? I small talk with random people all day, it's no big deal - but right now, I am acutely aware of the way I am standing, and my sweaty palms, and how my voice sounds, as if I have to consciously control how to be a human being.
She's intimidatingly beautiful, it's unreal. And her perfume smells really nice.
We chat for a few minutes about my job here, and if I like working for Amir - which I do, because he seems like a good boss so far, we get along pretty well - and I manage to not make a complete ass of myself. Almost a miracle.
Then Amir emerges from his office, and I can't quite decide if I'm glad he's saving me from further embarrassment, or sad that she'll leave now.
"Addie, hey. Sorry for the wait." They greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, seemingly very familiar with each other.
"Don't worry, darling," she assures him. "I had lovely company." She smiles at me, squeezing my arm, and once again I am blushing, which is so silly. I am not easily flustered, usually. But this woman has me wrapped around her finger after a five-minute conversation. Fuck. It must be so obvious.
"Glad to hear," Amir chuckles. "Now, come on in."
He leads her into his office, closing the door behind them, and I exhale. Was I holding my breath since Addie stepped in here? Probably not, even though it feels like it. When did I turn into such a pathetic mess?
It's not easy with her perfume still lingering in the room, but I manage to turn my focus back to my actual work, more or less. Of course, that focus is immediately shattered again when they re-emerge half an hour later, and I try so hard not to stare. Did she get even more beautiful, somehow?
After they said their goodbyes, she turns to me on the way out. "It was very nice to meet you, darling." God, she needs to stop calling me that, or I'll never stop blushing.
"Likewise," I murmur, very flustered, trying to commit every single detail of her face to memory.
"Until next time." Addie gives us a little wave and another breathtaking smile, then she takes her leave while I stare after her like a lovesick little puppy.
I get pulled back into reality when I vaguely register Amir calling my name.
"I'm sorry, what?" I blink up at him, standing next to my desk with his hands buried in his pockets, giving me an amused look.
"Fia, you still with me?"
"Yes! Yes, I am. Sorry." I really need to get it together. "So… who is she?" I blurt out before I can stop myself.
"Addie? My ex-wife," he shrugs.
"Wait, seriously?" Wouldn't have been my first guess, even though they did seem very comfortable with each other. But she's a good ten years older than him, by my estimate, and most of his fellow successful businessmen buddies seem to go for young trophy wives instead. Perhaps it's not surprising, considering the effect she had on me, too.
"Should I take it personally that you sound so shocked about that?" Amir chuckles.
"No, it's just… she's so beautiful, and-" I bite my tongue, horrified about having actually said that out loud. What the hell is wrong with me? "-and maybe now I should stop talking."
He laughs, taking it in stride, and doesn't seem too offended. "Maybe you should."
Holy shit, this is so embarrassing. I have a massive crush on my boss's ex-wife, twentysomething years older than me, and it must be so, so very obvious. Perhaps I should find a new job - if I don't die of humiliation first.
Amir has mercy and doesn't rub it in, instead switches back to his business tone. "Can you get me the finance guy from this morning back on the phone, please?"
I grimace. "Sure. On it, boss."
God, I hope he never ever brings this up again.
---
lizardwriting pinglist [ask/comment/dm to get on it]: @voidthing @ark-inkweaving @aalinaaaaaa
because i'm a dirty multishipper, especially when it comes to my own ocs, i am currently rotating Fia & Addie in my brain. for funsies.
pros for Fia:
- she finally gets the affection and cuddles and words of affirmation and i love yous she so desperately misses with Helena
- she's finally allowed to get someone else off, because Addie definitely isn't such a mean do-not-touch-ever stone top. quite the opposite. sooo much pussy eating.
- clear conscience because she's not working for and sleeping with a war criminal
- all the pros that come with having a rich & very fashion-minded sugar mommy ("darling i bought you a pretty new dress")
cons:
- wayyyy less kinky sex
- so many social obligations, so few lazy couch sundays
- Addie will fuck her up just as much as Helena does, possibly worse, just a lot more subtle - gentle manipulation vs fucked up mind games
Secrets, Lies, Theories (They're All Iridescent To Me)
written for Flash Fiction Friday 357, event hosted by @flashfictionfridayofficial
WIP ⚙ The Mortal God
Trigger Warnings ⚙ N/A
Rating ⚙ Gen
Wordcount ⚙ 820
If one more person comes up to Yevoz and tells them they should be happy to be on starvine duty — because they're just too pretty! — they are going to throw them into the trough. The starvines can be as beautiful as they want, but they are evil plants.
This does not make Yevoz a hypocrite when they say they love plants. They can love plants and admit that a plant that only blooms on starry nights and must be harvested at a specific temperature while in full bloom was clearly created by one of the crueler spirits. They are a person of multitudes.
If nothing else, Sarisa is suffering with them, and she fully deserves it for the prank she pulled the other morning. The knowledge of it must be why she's oddly quiet, from where she's kneeling in the dirt one row away from them, smiling and humming a song under her breath. Or she's of the same ilk as the spirit that made the forsaken starvines. They wouldn't put that past her, if they were fully honest.
Yevoz is startled out of their musings by heavy, limping steps on the stone-paved courtyard. Their shoulders relax already before they even turn around. "Hey."
"Hey yourself," Lavir answers, smiling in a way that makes starlight catch in his dimples as he comes over. "How are things going here?" they say, already kneeling next to Yevoz and over a starvine flower, a spare pair of shears in hand.
"We're fine. Nearly done too, the starvines are collaborating today," they answer.
"They always collaborate, you just don't like each other," Sarisa laughs, and the ball of irritation in Yevoz's chest coils tighter.
But Lavir shakes his head in a gentle snort, and lightly — carefully — taps his elbow on their arm. "Yeah, but with the way they collaborate with you, you may as well be nightborn."
"Those are dangerous words." Sarisa smiles, but there's a clear warning in her tone.
Yevoz rolls their tongue in their mouth and pushes out the lie. "No one believes you're a sorcerer, Sarisa. You're fine."
"And even if you were, it would not be a problem," Lavir says with one of his kind smiles, cutting another blossom off the vine. "You're surrounded by people smart enough to know that how you got your magic says nothing of your character."
"Mostly. I wouldn't bet on Iannes," Yevoz says, and they do mean it genuinely.
Lavir and Sarisa both groan. "Hate that guy," she says, snapping her shears with a little too much strenght. The flower — unlike it would have for anyone else — does not protest or wither in the slightest. She looks up at them then, with an apologetic crinkle of her eyes. "Sorry I got you guys caught in the prank Wednesday. I was only aiming for him, I swear."
"What for?"
Sarisa shrugs. Which, fair enough. "Being a boastful, self-important prick?"
"Don't remind me. I have to go deal with him in a few," Lavir groans, clipping a third flower off the vines. That was… awfully slow of him. Yevoz frowns.
"How come?" Sarisa says, beating them to the question.
Lavir lifts the three blossoms, cradling them gently. "Master Veritir wants samples from Clessea and Aliante too."
Well that explains why Lavir is taking his time here. Yevoz rolls their eyes. "And Iannes is manning Aliante?"
"I'm leaving it for last," Lavir says, and it's answer enough.
"What does master Veritir wants with samples from all three grounds?" Sarisa asks, stopping her shearing entirely in the corner of Yevoz's sight. It's… actually a good question.
"And the greenhouses too, but Ailea is taking care of those," Lavir says, then shrugs. "Beats me."
"It's probably the court magisters," Yevoz points out. "It's got to be if Master Veritir is sending out people to get samples in the middle of the night, while we're already harvesting them."
"Could be the cursebreakers," Sarisa says, pointing the shears at them.
"Cursebreakers are court magisters, they're just not aware of it because they're too focused on the Cataclysm. Come on, Sar, everyone knows that."
"Whatever it is, I'm not risking Master Veritir's wrath," Lavir says, laying a hand on their shoulder as he stands.
Yevoz breathes slowly, lets their shoulders fall. "You do that. Good luck dealing with Iannes."
"Kick him for me," Sarisa yells after Lavir. The starvine blossoms still don't protest.
Lavir laughs and waves them off, on his way to the other grounds.
Yevoz smiles and waves back, still holding dirt-stained shears. When they turn back, Sarisa is staring at them with a sly grin. "What?"
"When are you gonna tell him you like him?" she says, making kissy faces at the air.
Yevoz lets his face fall to a deadpan. "I'm still in time to tell Master Tedun you were the one to add peppermint to the stew."
"Oh come on, how do you even know that!"
❊
⚙ The Mortal God Taglist ⚙
@definitely-not-flynn @lizardperson @firesidefantasy @savvyminnow
Full name: Rusefino Belrevas, aka Rusef or Red-Winged Blackbird among the Retjevu people
Race: Human
Culture: ethnically Strasím, member of the Retjevu culture of the Volary
Age: mid-30s at start of prequel
Gender: he/him, cis man
Sexuality: homoromantic asexual
Hobbies: painting, sailing, taking long walks in nature, browsing the Volary’s markets for inspiration pieces
Appearance and Clothing:
Rusef is considered very handsome by other Retjevu. He’s 5’11” with a broad chest and toned arms and shoulders. His brown irises turned deep ruby-red after an alchemical experiment went wrong, which is why he and his sister Garceta are on poor terms now. He has a tan complexion, black hair in short curtain bangs, and a short neat beard.
Despite his coveted status as a fashion designer in the city of the Volary, Rusef usually dresses in plain black shirts and trousers with some splashes of red and gold. He prefers to stay out of the spotlight rather than flaunting himself. On missions for the Retjevu, however, he has worn a wide-brimmed hat and a long black coat with flashy red-and-gold epaulettes that resemble the markings of his bird namesake.
He speaks with a deep, husky voice. (If you’ve seen the critically acclaimed and widely beloved children’s classic, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, he sounds like Delgado but with a different accent. That's awfully specific but the most accurate voice I could find.)
Personality:
Somewhat secretive and guarded, naturally melancholy
Deep thinker and worrier
Compassionate; listens to everyone, no matter who they are or how small their troubles seem
Has a creative eye and sees beauty in every detail of the world, which he enjoys pointing out to others
Hard-working to the point of exhaustion
As a tailor and fashion designer (a position highly valued by the flamboyant Retjevu), he sketches, measures, sews, cuts, and matches clothing. Rusef wants to establish his own business but currently works for the tailoring guildmaster, Peacock, who abuses him and pushes him past his limit.
Rusef struggles with shame over his asexuality, because although he desires love and keeps attracting suitors, every past relationship required more than he could give. After one particularly ugly breakup Rusef placed the blame wholly on himself and thinks he is undeserving of romance. Maybe, as his parents demonstrated, that kind of love isn’t meant to last anyway.
Recently he has sunk into isolation and depression, bewildering his friends when he pushes them away.
Abilities:
Rusef is trained in melee, archery, and stealth and reconnaissance, though his skills are rusty. As a fledged Retjevu he is able to fly by summoning a pair of magical wings. His wings - and the smaller matching wings that appear on his lower legs - are feathered black with splashes of red and gold on their leading edges.
Rusef speaks the Volary's most common dialect of Balso and understands eastern bekk-sign. Because many Retjevu are from the Tetrad or trade with people there, he can speak the Tetradic Alliance's trade language of Breligdan, but he isn't fluent.
Backstory:
Rusef grew up in the shadow of his cold and brilliant older sister, Garceta. He once attempted alchemy at her side, but an experiment gone awry stained his eyes scarlet and caused a rift between the two. He refuses to acknowledge that Garceta is even capable of caring for him.
Rusef’s parents divorced when he was eighteen. In an attempt to prove his worth to them and his new stepfather, he trained as a city guard and became a skilled fighter. But his insecurity led to him picking fights with fellow guards or civilians. His friend, Cassowary, recommended that he transfer to the Butcherbird assassins who defended the Volary from outside its perimeter. Rusef carried out several successful missions with them, but finally realized that his true dream was to create art, not violence. He eventually joined the tailoring guild instead, though he is still remembered for his prowess in combat.
Redbird is a clothing designer and tailor at a high-end shop, Pinions and Pearls. Lately his boss, Peacock, has escalated his unwanted advances on Rusef and lashes out at him with each rejection. Peacock is guildmaster of the Volary’s entire tailoring guild; if Rusef tries to leave, Peacock threatens to sabotage his career by revealing a secret that could ruin Rusef’s reputation...
Rusef has a sprawling family with deep roots in the Volary. His and Garceta’s parents, Sunbittern and Scarlet Ibis, split (mostly amicably) when the siblings were young adults. Ibis remarried to Raggiana, a wealthy “bird of paradise” and an advisor to the Volary’s ruler, the Golden Pheasant. Rusef is distrustful of Raggiana but always attends family gatherings to see his mother and twin stepsiblings, Satin and Flame Bowerbirds.
Rusef is very close to his almitad (sworn platonic partner), Weaver, whom he trusts more than anyone. They can communicate almost imperceptibly and work together in perfect tandem at the same shop. He is already preparing for the heartbreak of her loss, as a bekk’s lifespan is much shorter than a Lopenyan human’s. Weaver and Rusef share an apartment; before she moved in he added perches to the walls and an entrance just for bekk so she would feel more at home there. While Weaver has her own room she likes to sleep in a small hammock beside Rusef’s bed where he can reach over and stroke her fur or hold her tiny claw. He does not entertain anyone calling her his “pet”; he and Weaver are equals.
Other Facts:
Rusef's favorite color is pastel orange.
He keeps waking early to try and paint the sunrise, but every time he gives up and starts over the next day.
Like most Strasím Rusef worships prominent ancestors of both his family and the Retjevu in general. He believes these Guides are always watching over and influencing him. He chose three patron Guides in particular who represent steadiness, observance, and the freedom of the sea winds.
Rusef keeps his old longbow on display in his home. He has killed with it - he doesn’t want to again.
Other Retjevu think his eyes are a striking fashion statement, which even inspired later copycats, but he resents that it was not his choice to change them.
He regularly eats at the Kook’s Burrow restaurant with his close friends, including his old buddy Cassowary. Rusef sometimes goes rock-climbing with him to destress but has spent less and less time with friends in the past couple of years.
Rusef’s workspace always ends up cluttered no matter how he tries to clean and organize. He's rarely on time but that's a cultural norm in the Volary.
Btw Rusef's appearance was loosly inspired by this low-quality pic of young Andy Garcia:
Coincidentally, you know who voices Delgado in the iconic aforementioned Beverly Hills Chihuahua? That’s right - Andy Garcia.
and as promised, Fia too, because i can't always just talk about the hot older women - their favorite little chewtoy needs some spotlight too.
already done: Helena [here] & Addie [here]
---
fandom (or og story): ocverse - warcrimes au
full name: Sofiya 'Fia' Callahan. literally everyone but Helena calls her Fia.
gender: cis female
pronouns: she/her
age: 31 by the time Helena's brings her back from the dead, although she's still debating if she's technically only 30 then (so, not counting the year of being dead). was 25 when they met, so there's a bunch of texts from those early years.
species: human
race/ethnicity/class: white, Earth-born, middle class. grew up in a pretty average middle class family and never really had to struggle much financially. but also doesn't particularly care for money in general, certainly has no ambitions to 'get rich' in any way.
describe them physically: 5’6’’/167cm, pretty skinny - has a tendency to not eat when she's not well, mentally, so having a few pounds more is actually always a good sign that she's doing ok overall. brunette mop of curly hair (very grabbable), big green eyes, some freckles. very cute.
describe how they dress: pretty normie white woman-style, like probably shops at space H&M or something. moderate amount of colors, cute summer dresses (more since she's with Helena because she just really likes Fia in dresses), or just jeans & tshirt. comfy big snuggly cardigans. shoe-wise either some cute flats or something with a little heel. occasionally jewelry, but nothing expensiveTM because she always lowkey fears to lose it somewhere.
favorite things: music - variety of genres. lazy sundays on the couch. coffee. getting fucked till her brain turns off. Helena.
least favorite things: drinking whiskey - if Helena tastes like it that's fine tho. spiders & a bunch of other crawlies. not getting taken serious. feeling unloved.
hobbies: reading - working herself through Helena's vast library. going out dancing - alone, not talking to anyone, just her & the music in an anonymous crowd. getting experimented on.
quirks: fidgeting & skin picking, if you'd call that a quirk?
what's up in the romance department (and if they're aro, are they in a queerplatonic relationship): madly in love with the worst woman alive lmao. got lowkey dubconned by her boss into some fucked up sex thing, which went on casually for a while, until she realized eventually "wait fuck, i love her. uh-uh". well the problem is, Helena doesn't feel the same because aro. by now Fia has more or less come to terms with that. more or less. she's aware how imbalanced and actually unhealthy their whole relationship is, and occasionally is like "maaan would be better for my mental health probably to get out of here", but also "i'm hers and i don't know how to be without her" soooo that's not happening. my toxic girlies <3
sexual orientation wise - bisexual, and very much has a type of 'older than her, very smart, domineering', no matter the gender. also, shes the subbiest little masochist imaginable. would probably let Helena kill her for sex-reasons, if she's really honest with herself.
best qualities: smart & a great multi-tasker, juggling a million things at once. pretty sweet & personable, like she's a really pleasant person to know, and very loyal. high pain tolerance? 😂
worst flaws: undiagnosed adhd & all the problems that come with that. kinda low self worth, deep down. hard time opening up to people & actually letting them close. kinda aimless & passive, doesn't really know what she wants in life. mommy & daddy issues, probably.
would you say they're a good person: i mean, she's not a bad person. i think she has the inherent desire to do the right thing, in the greater scheme of things. unfortunately she's in love with and works for a war criminal lmao. and there was a time when she struggled with that, but then she just pushed it aside and tried not to think about it too hard. it is kinda gnawing on her sometimes tho. so yea. i think she could be a good person, with better company. and in comparison to Helena, she's a fucking angel anyway lmao
fears/phobias: weird irrational childhood fear of floating in space, alone and untethered - which kinda got worse after coming back from the dead, because this is now somehow a recurring nightmare. also a very deep seated fear of getting left & abandoned by the people she cares about. yea i'm sure her parents loved her enough as a child ✌️
tell us in a few lines how you got the idea for them/how they came to be: talked about that in the Helena one, because these two came into being together. overall, i sometimes joking think of her as my girlsona - if i traded in my autism for a gender, or something lol. but that also always makes her kinda hard to pinpoint sometimes, because i dont want to make her too much like myself so i'm always kinda flipflopping between "well, i wouldnt" and "yea but shes her own character, and she would". idk, its hard to explain lol. but its probably not a coincidence that from the 3 character thingies here, hers is the shortest.
if you feel like it, add some sketches, drawings or pictures of your OC or anything that relates to them:
she <3
[art by @datura-tea]
but also her face claim St. Vincent because look how cuuute she is
got reminded by @ark-inkweaving 's tag [here] that i've been meaning to do this for Addie too... which means Fia will get one too soon, i promise. but Addie is just my shiny new toy i can't stop rotating in my mind currently lmao
not tagging anyone directly because i did the last time, BUT of course whoever feels like it, do iiiiit
Helena [here] for reference
---
fandom (or og story): ocverse - warcrimes au
full name: Adelaide 'Addie' Elizabeth Rhodes
gender: cis female
pronouns: she/her
age: 54 by the time we meet her on Arcadia [in brightest black], but i wrote a few bits of her and Helena meeting in their early-mid 20s already too
species: human
race/ethnicity/class: white, Earth-born, and pretty well off. comes from an old-money-family (which she cut all ties with once her father died and she got her inheritance) and is really good at money thingsTM. managed to take a significant amount of her wealth with her when she left the Empire 10 years ago and built a thriving business in rebel territory the independent colonies. so yea, very comfortable.
describe them physically: ough she's just so beautiful (quote Fia 'intimidatingly, unrealistically beautiful') and i'm just so gay for her. 5’7’’/170cm (plus heels), slender but with some curves (and actually makes an effort to keep herself in shape with sports and shit). dark, shoulder-length curls, usually pinned up, with a broad white streak in the front. if she ever gets more gray, she'll probably start dyeing them. green-brownish eyes. smiles a lot. very conventionally attractive - was always 'the pretty girl', but she actually likes how aging and getting a few lines gave her face more character (although she fears that might eventually dip into 'looking old' which ehhhh not good).
describe how they dress: this is the first oc i actually made a damn pinterest board for lmao, because usually my nerds just have like one signature outfit and not an actual *style*. ANYWAY. lots of skirts & dresses, pretty blouses, all very well-fitting, and maybe a little too much skin-showing, but she thinks she can still pull it off. lots of lace. stockings. impractical heels. jewelry, dangly earrings. loves make-up (and is really good at it, obvs). has a million different perfumes. like, this is a woman who puts a lot of thought and effort into her appearance. also shoutout to @couriers-mile the other day being like 'fashion is an exact science for her' because yea, that!! [also: style moodboard]
favorite things: pretty clothes. good food (especially when someone cooks for her specifically) & wine. getting pampered & adored in every way. art & art history from a variety of times & places (surprisingly well versed in that regard).
least favorite things: getting her hands dirty, literally and figuratively - while she is entirely capable of rolling up her sleeves and doing what's necessary without complaining about a chipped nail, she is obviously a bit of princess at heart, and would just rather not. like, don't take her camping or something. also: cooking. dogs. her parents & extended family.
hobbies: reading & learning about a variety of things - she just likes having at least a surface grasp of basically everything, because you never know when you'll need it (also makes her great at chatting and small talking with basically everyone). fashion in general - not just 'shopping' but like she also just knows a lot about that topic including history, and she has a good eye for what looks good on other people. socializing - little miss extrovert just likes to spend time with people.
quirks: overabundant use of pet names, like i actually tagged that last smut with her with 'pet names' because theres just SO MUCH darling/honey/sweetie lmao. unless ofc the other person doesn't like that, then she tones it down somewhat - but even Helena gets an occasional 'darling' lol. also very casually touchy overall.
what's up in the romance department (and if they're aro, are they in a queerplatonic relationship): happily married for close to 20 years to a guy who is 10 years younger than her and worships the ground she walks on. like, Amir is Gomez Addams-level of obsessed with his wife lmao. and tbh that's probably one of the top things she loves about him, because she just really needs to be adored.
as for sexual orientation & co, she's very bisexual, and has quite a range of people she's attracted to, like doesn't exactly have 'a type'. and, believe it or not, not all my older women ocs need to be a mean dom - she's a switch, and pretty open to a lot of things, just not the extreme ends usually. like, loves to be in charge but doesn't care much for breaking someone into obedience at all cost like Helena would, or loves a little pain and humiliation (coming from the right people) but will not endure as much as Fia would, for example.
best qualities: very smart - always gets underestimated because, surely, she can't be nice and pretty and smart, right? and then uses that to her advantage ofc. really good with numbers & math, and actually a lot more scientifically minded than people think. insanely good at reading people and telling them exactly what they want to hear to get what she wants, like the master manipulator. stubborn, focused, goal-oriented - can pretty much always put her emotions aside to figure out what needs to be done.
worst flaws: rather selfish, and will probably stab you in the back at some point - or maybe not, because it's usually more useful to keep people around in case you need them later, so good luck i guess. but yea, she's definitely her own top priority, no matter what, and can be very ruthless in pursuing her own agenda. also kinda vain and thinks she is above most people, in general (probably true tho) - but she keeps that to herself.
would you say they're a good person: nah not really. not war-criminal-bad like Helena, but apart from the lower body count (which is not zero, btw lmao) she's probably comparable. like, she also doesn't much care for morals tbh. she just hides it better than Helena.
fears/phobias: well she cares a lot about her appearance, so 'turning ugly' in whatever form is probably the worst that could happen to her, in her opinion - be it getting too old, or some form of disfigurement. also dogs, and she's not great on heights, but she usually manages to pokerface through that enough that people don't really notice.
tell us in a few lines how you got the idea for them/how they came to be: ok so i was like "wouldn't it be fun if i wrote something about Fia getting in the crossfire between Helena and some old nemesis" so of course i had to think about their relationship, because it couldn't be just some rando who annoyed Helena once because then she would have just met a suspicious accidental death. so they must have been at least friends at some point and there had to be some respect left. so that then led to me thinking about what their history is and what kind of person she is - on the surface, very much the opposite of Helena, character-wise, but if you look deeper they are very much alike. two sides of the same coin. and now here we are.
if you feel like it, add some sketches, drawings or pictures of your OC or anything that relates to them:
them <3
[art by @crownedinmarigolds]
and of course this amazing picture of Alannah Myles that is such an inspiration for her lmao:
i've been tagged by @lizardperson (see its post here!!) a while ago to infodump about an oc, and i'm sending this tag off to @vauhna @firesidefantasy @elkieselkiewrites @autism-purgatory and @nossumusstellae + open tag for anyone who wants in
i know this took so long, you will see why in a minute. for now, allow me to infodump a little about my newest shiny silly, Aren
fandom (or og story): The Mortal God
full name: Illis Enodson, Nosto Rainworth, Mise Laven, Pali Toltson, Yann Cantiser, Uzid Entol, Raleisa Seitfall, Aren Forger
gender: completely fucked up, shoved in a box and is currently going ignored and unadressed. most likely multi-gender
pronouns: whatever works best with their current identity, will respond to almost anything
age: 24 at the start of the novel
species: godling (human and god)
race/ethnicity/class: mixed eastern asian and european, in-world born as a citizen of Restamir but of Iennadese heritage. currently lives commission-to-commission with periods in-between with little access to food, but has been dirt poor and homeless
describe them physically: slender, nearly to the point of gaunt. light-skinned but not pale, with soft lineaments and a hint of curves. white opalescent eyes, but they are covered by a blindfold 99% of the time. a series of jagged scars passes by the eyes and over the nose bridge. their hair is black and thick, with loose curls down to the collarbone
describe how they dress: simple, sturdy clothes, usually in dark and muted colors like browns, maroons and beiges. they dress practical and warm, making absolutely sure to have long sleeves and high necklines at all times. slightly loose pants (or the occasional long skirt) are a must for mobility, and boots are comfortable and good to treck in
favorite things: the dark, clinking jewelry, embroidery, the box of keepsakes from past identities, weak scents
least favorite things: bright spaces, clutter, metals, mirrors, most town guards, willful idiocy
quirks: spends an hour each night recarving the runes in their cane, keeps the house dark unless someone else is there, since the others have been staying at her place he's been sleeping with their blindfold on too
what's up in the romance department (and if they're aro, are they in a queerplatonic relationship): definitely aroace, also not in a qpr. never wanted to be, never felt the need to be, never even considered the possibility of a relationship of any kind, not sexual, not romantic, not even platonic or familial (tho that's changing because Rie is a persistent bastard and then the novel happens. Aren totally deeply resents their four assholes. totally)
best qualities: humble, studious, willing to turn a blind eye on small offences (though their definition of small offenses is wider than it should be), extremely socially patient and difficult to irritate
worst flaws: holds everything in until they burst, terrified to death of being discovered, the petience dissolves immediately when others' wellbeing is on the line, their anger runs hot and destructive (it scares them), would rather exist in misery than change
would you say they're a good person: ...highly debatable. in the small things, yes. they are kind, they enjoy helping others and they prefer to be at peace with their community. however, the second they have to choose between saving / helping someone else and keeping their identity and power a secret, they'll prioritize their identity every time. even if they could do miracles without a problem
fears/phobias: being found out as the prophesied one, and connected to that we have losing their blindfold. they are also claustrophobic totally for no reason :D
tell us in a few lines how you got the idea for them/how they came to be: they came to me at exactly the same time as the core idea of the book: prophesied one actively on the run from their prophecy (said prophecy is faster). they've changed a little bit since, but not in the big ways. their core has stayed the same
if you feel like it, add some sketches, drawings or pictures of your OC or anything that relates to them: hahahahahaha have their playlist, because i adore it and i adore it's title too (do you feel immortal yet? do you, Aren??). also, have a moodboard and some art wips too :D
(sorry this came so late. you open the floodgates Jubi, and i've been drawing her for the past two weeks and a half) (yes that is exactly why it took so long)
❊
⚙ The Mortal God Taglist ⚙
@definitely-not-flynn @lizardperson @firesidefantasy @savvyminnow
happy sts!! what is the shittiest job your main character (or anyone idk live ur dreams) has had to work and why was it so terrible?
heya Oliver, happy sts to you!
i'm on a The Mortal God kick lately, so you're getting answers for that particular set of bastards :D
Aren has worked a lot of sucky jobs, mostly as an attendant or a seamstress, with the occasional courier job here and there (and two stints as a beggar). currently, they're working as a guild-approved community mage for their town, blessing crops, maintaining roads and reinforcing roofs during rain season. they don't necessarily love it, but it's better than most jobs they've had
Rie was set up by his parents to become a doctor, though xe really didn't like it, however, since xe is good at medicine they did their medical training, got their license and started working as a town medic (not a doctor). xe did a lot of sneaking into the engineering and mechanics classes tho, so xe also does a bunch of artificery under the table
Yevoz's shittiest job is their current one: gamekeeper. he hates it. he took it assuming that it was not unlike being a forest guard, and he was severely disappointed. he has a visceral dislike for the local noble (whose little forest he keeps) and a deep hatred for the idea of harming animals for fun (tho he understands for necessity and food, but he's still vegetarian himself). having to keep the animals in where they're going to brutally die is its own special kind of hell to him
Leta and Cileida are interesting, in that they hold some affection for their worst job since it's the one through which they met (tho Cileida will never admit it)
at the time, Leta was just starting to work with the People's Eye Rebellion, which already was giving her some of the worse jobs she had (fucking with garrison and knight patrols is not for the weak of heart kids), but one particular job was way worse
kinda the same goes for Cileida, who was with the Thieves' Guild at the time and picking up the more difficult stints, such as noble houseolds or knight convoys
those two situations led to the worst job ever. they had to target the same convoy, one to steal a specific artifact that was in it and the other to fuck up a specific knight's chances of a promotion and it went south fast. Cileida and Leta managed to save each others' asses tho, and it led to the Rebellion and the Thieves' Guild collaborating a bunch more and then to Leta and Cileida striking out on their own. they hated that job because it got them way too close to capture and to death too many times, but at least they got each other out of it?
❊
⚙ The Mortal God Taglist ⚙
@definitely-not-flynn @lizardperson @firesidefantasy @savvyminnow
fandom: original work (ocverse - warcrimes au)
rating: m
wc: 764
prompt: #fff356 into the mirror for @flashfictionfridayofficial
---
"Adelaide." Helena clears her throat awkwardly. "I have a favor to ask."
Getting up from behind her desk, Adelaide smiles at her. "Sure, what is it?"
She takes a deep breath. "That fundraising banquet next week… I still think it is a massive waste of time, but Nathaniel has made it very clear that he expects me to 'dress up'. In fact, he insists." And Helena hates it. It's not like she dresses like a slob or anything, but apparently, trading her lab coat for a simple blazer, like she would on that occasion, isn't 'fancy' enough. And apparently, there will be a lot of important people who care about fancy. This is ridiculous; she's a scientist, not a decorative mannequin. "Unfortunately, fashion isn't exactly my forte. So I was wondering if you could maybe give me some pointers."
She hates asking for help, and this whole topic feels especially humiliating for some reason. But she doesn't have time to work this out on her own, and Adelaide felt like the best person to ask, because she certainly always looks exceptionally well dressed, as far as Helena can assess that. Plus, she likes her. They're not friends, because Helena doesn't make friends easily - but they're definitely friendly.
Adelaide grins, almost a little too excited. "Oh, I would love to! When are you free this weekend? We're going shopping!"
Helena makes a face at the sudden enthusiasm. "Actually, I thought you'd just tell me a specific store or two, maybe some general tips, and I'll figure the rest out on my own."
"Oh, no, that's not going to work," Adelaide chuckles. "Not that I don't trust your abilities to 'figure it out', but I can assure you, the result will be so much better - and achieved so much quicker - if we take a little trip together." Before Helena can protest, she adds, "And don't worry, I'm not going to drag you around all day. I'm really good at finding the right stuff quickly."
Helena frowns, hesitating. "Fine. If you insist."
"I have a condition, though."
Oh great, of course she has. "I'm listening?"
"I know how much you like being in charge, but you are not going to fight and debate me on every single detail. Instead, you will trust me to pick the right outfit for you," Adelaide states firmly.
Helena's frown gets deeper, and she considers her options. Then she sighs. "Under no circumstances will I wear a dress, or anything dress-like," she declares, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I can work with that."
"And no cleavage," she adds.
Adelaide beams at her. "Deal. You will look great once I'm done with you."
---
Well, she didn't exaggerate completely.
Helena eyes herself in the big mirror, studying the view closely. She looks surprisingly… dapper. Not pretty, because that would require more than a change of clothes, but still. Not bad, not bad at all. She is still not exactly sure how that was achieved, though, because it's not even that far off from her usual outfit - black pants, white blouse, black jacket. Plus the tie, but even without that, she looks a lot fancier than usual. Very curious.
The whole process was remarkably painless, too. Not that she enjoyed their little shopping trip, but Adelaide wasn't lying when she claimed to be good at this. They only had to visit two different stores, and both times, Adelaide was quick to scan the place and then home in on a few things that all fit exceptionally well. A very strange talent, but definitely useful in this case.
For the night of the banquet, she insisted that Helena would get ready at her place, so she could do her hair too, to quote 'not ruin the outfit with that messy ponytail'. Now her hair is neatly pinned up, which also took a lot less time than Helena thought it would.
"Satisfied with my handiwork?" Adelaide asks, emerging from the other room while putting in a pair of dangly earrings. She's wearing some type of elaborate gown and heels even higher than her usual ones. Helena has no idea how she can walk in them, but she makes it seem effortless. And of course, she looks stunning, which is no surprise.
"Yes," Helena chuckles. "Thank you, by the way. I don't think I mentioned that yet."
"That's what friends are for." She adjusts Helena's tie with a quick motion. "Ready?"
"I think so."
Adelaide links arms with her, pulling her along. "Then let's go charm some of those investors…"
---
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