Judgement

[stormswake-archive]

misery loves company but not you go away

@betrayalswake​ 

      You’ve had better weekends.

      Since you were separated from Martel, you’ve managed to avoid the gaze of the eyebats sweeping the streets without much difficulty. They aren’t hard to fool with noise or debris thrown across their line of sight, and they rarely look up, but your blood still runs cold every time you hear one flapping by. 

      There’s one coming now. You stick close to the wall, reaching out for the knob and pulling yourself quickly through the door the second you touch it. You’re safe for now, inside…

      A room made of meat.

      You wonder if Kratos is having as shitty of a time as you.

[betrayalswake-blog]

This has been hell.

You keep fading in and out from being corporeal; blinking in a moment to whoever seems to be thinking of you. You feel like a ghost, already dead and haunting whoever speaks your name in this world of madness that suddenly twisted itself into being.

But maybe that’s not too far off the mark of how you feel most of the time anyway. You’d rather not think about though, not as you feel yourself fading once more. You shiver. How long will it be until you ‘exist’ once more this time?

You get your answer faster than anticipated and from a surprising place, suddenly teleporting to a room... made of meat. At least it’s not tomatoes, but strikes you as more shocking however is the one who apparently summoned you.

“Yuan.” Is all you say, all you know what to say because you don’t know why he was apparently thinking of you anyway. Your voice echoes. You raise and look at your arm, still see through. Feet aren’t touching the ground. You’re not fully here yet. You wonder if that’s a good thing in this situation. Probably.

[stormswake-archive]

crystallizedgoddess:

It’s your second party since arriving in the city, and it’s a more relaxed affair even with Yuan unimpressed at your costume. You smile to yourself with just a hint of mischief as you curl a blue-dyed braid around your finger. The temporary dye hadn’t fully washed out your own green, but that’s alright; your makeshift Yuan costume is still effective enough to get the point across.

If only you could master his usual disinterested frown for more than five seconds without giggling.

You sent Yuan off to bring you sweets  — the tightly packed crowds around the table would set off the claustrophobia created by your time imprisoned, something he understands —   and it’s when he’s returning that you hear your name called by a familiar voice. Turning to look at him as you feel his hand, you break into a wide, warm smile.

“Kratos,” you greet, voice filled with just as much care as it was four thousand years ago. Judging from his expression, he was either unaware you were here or is just overcome. “It’s really me, even if I’m dressed like him.” You tilt your head at Yuan and grin as though this is a shared joke before reaching up to cup Kratos’ cheeks in your hands. 

More seriously, more emotionally, you add: “It’s so good to see you again, my wonderful friend.”

@stormswake > @betrayalswake

      With your mood lately, it would have taken a life-threatening situation to drag you back out of your apartment – that, or Martel asking you nicely. She was so excited (she mentioned something about a couple contest, an idea that gave you phantom chest pains just thinking about it) you couldn’t dream of saying no, so you picked up a pointed hat from a suspicious looking costume store and decided to suck it up. You’ll just be a mage.

      Martel’s costume took slightly more effort to put together. You’re still not sure whether you should be flattered or mildly insulted, so you go with the latter to be safe.

      Though the party itself isn’t very enjoyable, you don’t find yourself minding when Martel sends you out to collect candy. The variety is much wider and sweeter than anything you could find on Aselia, so you don’t bother trying to pick things out of the bowl – you just dump a handful into your bag and move on. This is a tradition you can definitely get behind.

      You’re almost back at her side when you stop dead in your tracks at the sound of Kratos’s voice. 

      She’s overjoyed to see him again. The last thing you could do is take that away from her, but it does make your stomach twist painfully to see how warmly she greets him, how relieved he is to see her again. Kratos hasn’t spotted you yet, but there’s no avoiding his gaze when Martel gestures toward you with her head. You don’t quite meet his eyes in return, but you nod your head silently in acknowledgement, expression blank.

@betrayalswake -> @crystallizedgoddess

[betrayalswake-blog]

You actually finally notice her costume, and give the tiniest of snorts holding your mouth to prevent laughter from coming out or anyone seeing the grin threatening to break out. It’s a good costume. Better than yours to be sure. Part of you wonders if you should’ve tried dressing up as Lloyd... but Anna wouldn’t have gotten it, and really, the boy wears too much red for someone who shares his distaste for tomatoes.

You glance upward and freeze the moment you both see each other. Saying your last meeting ended badly would be... an understatement, but you should’ve known he’d be here with Martel. She has her ways of gently pulling Yuan into things, and you know how much they care about one another. At one point you might not have quite understood, but her death and its impact were clear.. and then you met and lost Anna.

You wonder if that’s why he left you alive that day; he had been strong enough to overcome it, fight for what she really wanted despite the grief. Maybe he thought you’d do the same. Your eyes avert to the side in shame, but you nod also. There’d be no bickering between you two tonight, not in front of her, but it’d be foolish to think he’s happy to see you. He never seems to be.

“It’s... a good costume, but easy to see through. You both carry yourselves in different manners,” you note, your attention to and memory of the smallest details pertaining to your old friends a sharp as ever.

She cups your cheek smiling. You tense for a moment, left to wonder if she knows, if she knows all of it. How you failed to defend and take the hit, when it’d always been your intention to do so out of the foursome. What happened after. The shell you’d become, a failure as mentor to her brother. Whatever the case you know her words are still genuine. Only she could forgive you after all you’ve done with such little hesitation.

Eventually you just weakly smile and nod again. “The sentiment is surely returned. I’ve missed you much, my dear friend. Has this city... treated you well?”

@crystallizedgoddess > @stormswake

[betrayalswake-blog]

You see people talking about the contest and the contestants being announced but you tune it out. There’s no need to prove that Anna is and always will be the best wife. So instead, you squeeze her hand as she looks around excitedly to get her attention, before murmuring out your intentions.

“Anna, if you don’t think it will be too taxing, would you.. dance with me?”

@motherswake

[betrayalswake-blog]

Your costume is admittedly unoriginal on your part, but you really didn’t see the point in spending money on a costume when the scientists oh so helpfully provided both your regular wear... and your cruxis uniform. They like rubbing salt in old wounds.Still, it’s just different enough from the people’s everyday garb here that it works, so you’ll take it. 

You go to find punch and some refreshments to soothe your wife’s sudden cravings, and find something much more surprising. Her green hair and figure is unmistakable. You drop the punch you were pouring in a cup and immediately weave through the crowd toward her, toward your old friend- alive, breathing, not trapped in a crystal or seed. It’s like seeing a ghost, but after Anna you know that it is possible- Besides Mithos, she is the one you got along with most, probably because she understood your nature better than the others, but she was always good at that, reading the minds and hearts of her friends and simply caring. It’s the reason you suspect she caught the heart of Yuan and also saw past his prickly nature, because, even when you all were still friends, he.. had his moments. Often.

“Martel-” your voice projects, but there is a waver to it, as you go to put a hand on her shoulder, meeting her face to face for the first time in millennia.

You don’t immediately notice who’s she’s with, too focused on the fact that she’s alive, not bleeding out in front of you when you couldn’t reach her in time.

“Is..is that really you?”

@crystallizedgoddess > @stormswake

[ineffablyevil]

{I made sure to do an open before posting this so i wouldn’t feel guilty but a!ny!way!! 

Surprise this is Tama again and I will be holding another ICON GIVEAWAY but this time HALLOWEEN THEMED. Reblog this post for a chance to get an icon drawn by yours truly!! (examples of previous giveaway icons [x] [x]) Once again, there will be nine winners.

Some Rules:

Your blog must be affiliated with Citta Alveare

1 reblog per account 

Winners will be randomly chosen at the end of meme day (10/2) and icons will be posted once they’re all done (whenever that is, hopefully within a couple of days of picking the winners.

[ineffablyevil]

{I made sure to do an open before posting this so i wouldn’t feel guilty but a!ny!way!! 

Surprise this is Tama again and I will be holding another ICON GIVEAWAY but this time HALLOWEEN THEMED. Reblog this post for a chance to get an icon drawn by yours truly!! (examples of previous giveaway icons [x] [x]) Once again, there will be nine winners.

Some Rules:

Your blog must be affiliated with Citta Alveare

1 reblog per account 

Winners will be randomly chosen at the end of meme day (10/2) and icons will be posted once they’re all done (whenever that is, hopefully within a couple of days of picking the winners.

[betrayalswake-blog]

stormswake replied to your post

oi b*tch you think i’m done with you

i’m walking away i don’t wanna fight-

[betrayalswake-blog]

[tolditslant]

Wolfwood hums, half interested and half curious. Or perhaps that’s the same– either way, he shrugs his shoulders.

“I was nearby, thought they were picking on a kid so of course I had to get involved. You could’ve handled it, though. Scum is scum.” But also:

“And just what were you after?”

[betrayalswake-blog]

“I see. Well, being proactive about that sort of thing isn’t bad I suppose,” you’d probably do the same if you lived nearby and didn’t have something you had to do.

“Some of my belongings; I found out a loved one is living elsewhere and I rather spend more time with them than on my own in my ‘assigned housing’,” Fuck the system. If the scientists really believe you would stay away from Anna once you found out she’s living here, well, they’re not very bright.

[motherswake-deactivated20221106]

“Trust me, my love, once you see this place, past all the bad there’s just… there’s so much good. People from all sorts of places trying to help each other, creating things, working together. It’s amazing. You don’t have to take my word for it, I’ll show you!”

Okay, admittedly Sectors 2 and 3 were not going to be the best places to show off, especially to her rather skeptical husband, but just because he probably wouldn’t find them beautiful didn’t mean they weren’t, so maybe skipping straight to the more… clean ones would be the better idea.

Maybe a stop at Sector 4 to show him all the beautiful churches, the things she’d found from her friends’ worlds, the- oh, but it was getting a bit late, and the wolf monsters might be out already. Maybe… skip that one too?

Actually, maybe a full tour would be better tomorrow. When things were a little less skeevy. Not that she didn’t like the nightlife, but… but Kratos could be… judgmental. He might not find brothels, wolf creatures, gangs, etc quite so- well- endearing.

“Yes, he is! We came here together. I was sure you weren’t far behind, but I guess they… the Scientists… didn’t drop you in for from reason,” she shrugs that thought off fairly quickly, though. No need to worry about why he wasn’t here before, because he’s here now. And that’s what’s important.

Anna finds herself nearly at the bottom of the stairs much quicker than expected. She’d been focusing too much on him. On the way his hands fit in hers. On the sound of his voice. Every aspect of him. Of course she hadn’t forgotten, but… but everything was so fresh, so new, it was like meeting him all over again. (Though the circumstances here were much more pleasant than their actual first meeting.)

“We’ll go see him first. I’m sure he’ll be so excited!”

[betrayalswake-blog]

“It’s already much better just having you in it,” you say absentmindedly, but he tries harder to pay attention. Just because she’s back doesn’t mean you can let everything slip, let all of you burdens go. No if you can help it she’d never  need to bear some of them ever, you can see her heartbroken and disbelieving face now if you told her.. what happened. How she attacked her family. How she begged you to release her and protect their son. “But you make it sound as if mana were overflowing here.It’ll be nice to see what you mean.”

“I’ll be happy for the tour. You always gave good ones,” you fondly remember the time she showed him all of Luin, and you do mean nearly all of it. She was thorough and proud of her city. Briefly you wonder what she’d think if she heard her son help rebuild it into an even better place? That he took care of the ranch and the man that captured and forced that wretched sphere still on her person.

“I suppose... that perhaps they thought he belonged with you both more,” they certainly were more pure and deserving than you were, even if the creature still effortlessly showered you with affection and trust. “But I’ll be glad to see him again even if he does get a little over excited.”

You’re both back at the entrance quicker than expected, but time always flew with Anna, so fast.. too fast. You squeeze her hand tighter. For the first time in a long time you feel a sense of.. home, despite everything still weighing on you.

“Let’s not keep Noishe waiting then.”

[betrayalswake-blog]

☭ x (ง︡'-'︠)ง

Battle Intro: “Do we have to do this?”Victory: “This brings me no satisfaction. Go get healed elsewhere if you won’t let me attempt it.”Half HP: “Are you satisfied yet?”Low HP: “You wouldn’t forgive me if I gave up now would you?”Defeat: “..You win.”Death: “..Did... you really despise me that much?”Assist: “Watch your back.”Taunt: “Your anger is only hindering you.”Reacting to Taunt: “Hmph.”Flee: “I’m not fighting you, not today.”Reacting to Flee: “Why do you run? All you had to say was stop.”Tie: “... Somehow I think we’re both the fool in this situation.”Perfect Victory: “Try harder.”Low HP Victory: “Are.. we done...”Finishing Move: “I will grant you the same mercy you granted me several years ago. *refuses to finish/kill* ” 

[betrayalswake-blog]

☭ x (did I do this right, the instructions were hurting my head lmao)

(assuming she’s monster mode for all except assist)

Battle Intro: “No, Anna... Not again.”Victory: “How easily the colors of life are snuffed out without you.”Half HP: “Anna- please!”Low HP: “Our.. son.. I have to..”Defeat: “No..it can’t end.. Lloyd.”Death: “I... leave you alone to suffer like that without me.. I’m sorry.”Assist: “Anna, what are you doing picking a fight?”Taunt: “...”Reacting to Taunt: “I don’t want to kill you- not again.”Flee: “I have to find-”Reacting to Flee: “Anna, wait!”Tie: “I suppose... this is how it should be. Going out... together..”Perfect Victory: “I pray I did not make you suffer long. I-I’m sorry.”Low HP Victory: “Your blood.. it’s on my hands again.. why... why?!”Finishing Move: “May you find peace and may I somehow atone- Judgement.” 

[betrayalswake-blog]

“Can’t you tell the truth for once?”

“I only recall a few times when I directly lied to you.” Give or take several lies of omission.

“Besides, you wouldn’t like the truth.” Not from what he remembers.

[dem-deutschen-volke]

Send ☭ x for a vs. battle quote to your muse

Battle Intro: Victory: Half HP: Low HP: Defeat: Death: Assist: Taunt: Reacting to Taunt: Flee: Reacting to Flee: Tie: Perfect Victory: Low HP Victory: Finishing Move:

[tolditslant]

It’s definitely a gloomy face, but Wolfwood knows a thing or two about that. It’s of no consequence. He can imagine if this man is a warrior there might be some regret.

“You mean to tell me you aren’t disappointed you couldn’t rid this place of scum? Mmm. And no problem, think nothing of it. I was just in the area.”

[betrayalswake-blog]

“No I’m not. It’s frankly not my job and they’re not worth my blade. Though if they want to taste it so bad they’re certainly welcome to try something. Besides my current objective is to just get to sector 2 and then back to sector 5. It’s a long evening already even without stopping to fight every thief or thug on the way.”

“I see. Well what are you doing here then? Cleaning up the ‘scum’? Or do you reside nearby?”

[tolditslant]

He almost can’t believe they– no, Wolfwood absolutely believes they ran off like that. Most of the gangs around here are full of steam, but not a lot of heat. No, those are the real fuckers you’ve got to worry about. He wasn’t looking forward to killing them, that’s for sure.

“No, no. I hadn’t intended to end their lives tonight. Don’t have enough prayers for idiots like that. You look almost disappointed.”

[betrayalswake-blog]

“Disappointed?” You ask almost curiously, raising an eyebrow while putting away your sword. Why would you be disappointed? Perhaps it’s just your face. Mithos always said you had a gloomy resting one. Even now when you’re supposed to be happy, your wife alive, your former student himself, you’re still.. gloomy, pouting, depressed looking.

“I’m not,” you finally clarify, “But I thank you for your help in scaring them off. I told the truth when I said I didn’t want blood to spill or stain.”

[tolditslant]

The sunglasses at night sure as hell don’t help either huh. He’d followed the thugs when it seemed they were in a hurry somewhere, when it seemed they were excited for something. Because that’s never, ever good when scumbags are happy. 

Wolfwood has the feeling the swordsman can handle himself, but in close quarters like these?

“Want a hand? I can give you guys your prayers before you’re sent off to hell.”

That cross on his back? He slings it over his shoulder and smiles with all teeth.

[betrayalswake-blog]

You’re not sure if he’s talking to just them or all of you, but your instincts tell you that you’re not his target. You sidestep so you’re not in the middle of the alley and he can move freely, shot that odd.. cross freely if he wants. You don’t care as long as you’re not in his sights.

The people who barked awful loud about their turf don’t look so confident now that their number advantage diminished. You can hear their heart beats quicken due to heightened hearing; a lone streetlight exposes sweat starting to form on their brow.

“You heard him,” your voice reverberates in monotone, unsheathing your sword, “My blade may be dull but I know how to still crack through your skulls, though honestly I’d prefer not to shed blood on it or myself yet.”

You level the leader with a disdainful glare, pointing your blade in the direction of his chin.

“Can I pass through your ‘turf’ now?”

His lackies run off. He curses something about not seeing the last of him, before running back into the darkness, skittering away like rats. You turn toward the man who had been behind you, sword still drawn in your ever present paranoia.

“I apologize if I just scared off people you intended to kill, with the help of your presence of course, but you can find a better opponent somewhere else in these streets I’m sure. Someone actually worth your breath.”